Daniel S. Billing

Blog A collection of my thoughts and writings.

Writing Effective Git Commit Messages

Clear and concise commit messages are essential for maintaining a well-organized project history. Good commit messages provide context, improve collaboration, and make code reviews and debugging much easier. In this blog post, I will cover some essential conventions and best practices for writing effective commit messages. These are my personal insights and approaches that have proven effective in the teams I've worked with in the past and currently work with. Why good commit messages matter...

5 minute read · 589 views · 3 likes

Securing Git Commits: Why GPG Signing is Essential for Protecting Your Codebase

As someone with over 12 years of experience in this field, I understand the critical importance of protecting both our source code and that of our clients. One challenge I have often faced with Git committing is ensuring proper commit attribution. When a developer pushes a commit to a repository, their email address becomes part of that commit’s metadata. In Git-based SCM systems, such as GitHub, this email address is linked to a specific user account. From a security standpoint, relying on some...

4 minute read · 542 views · 1 like

Moving On and Refocusing On What I Love

The past year has been a rollercoaster, especially with how things ended at my previous company around Easter. It was a tough and frustrating time, where I felt let down and overwhelmed by changes beyond my control, compounded by being silenced from discussing it publicly. However, since then, I've found myself in a much better place, starting fresh at a new company that truly aligns with my values and passion for tech. Earlier this year, I created a separate Instagram account for my car to avo...

1 minute read · 772 views · 1 like

Hiring the Person, Not Just the Code: A Perspective from a Backend Lead

As the Backend Lead in our dynamic tech industry, I've had the privilege of being involved in the hiring process for new Backend Developers. Over time, I've come to realize that it's not just about finding someone who can write code proficiently, but rather, finding someone who can bring more to the table. In today's tech landscape, it's become increasingly common for companies to rely heavily on technical tests during hiring. While these tests can certainly assess a candidate's ability to pe...

1 minute read · 3.9k views · 13 likes

Why Your GitHub Profile Matters More Than Your CV

In my journey through the tech industry, I've donned several hats, from being a junior and senior developer to my current role as a backend lead. My diverse experience has given me a unique perspective on the hiring process. Having also gained insights into the hiring practices of frontend and app development teams, I want to share my perspective on the significance of a well-maintained GitHub profile when evaluating backend developer candidates. Traditional Resumes When I first emb...

3 minute read · 1.3k views · 3 likes

Adding Giscus and Getting Back on Track

I recently integrated giscus into my website and blog. For those unfamiliar, giscus is a comment system fueled by GitHub discussions. It's a neat tool that turns the comments section into a more engaging platform, allowing all of you to share your insights directly on the blog posts. Setting up giscus on my site was relatively straightforward – a bit of code here, some adjustments there, and voila. But behind this simplicity is a powerful mechanism that brings a whole new level of interactivi...

1 minute read · 733 views · 4 likes

Reflecting on My Goals for 2022

It's already the end of the year, and it's time to reflect on my goals for 2022. Here are the goals I set for myself at the beginning of the year: Release my blog Learn to read faster and type faster Create an active open-source project Create a SAAS Grow my presence online Get rid of "projects" I do not have time for Learn more about PestPHP, TALL stack, and databases This was mentioned in this tweet....

2 minute read · 678 views · 4 likes

Balancing Work and Vacation on Your Birthday

Even though I'm on vacation and celebrating my birthday with my family at the cabin, I also have to be available for work as I'm on call. It can be a bit stressful to always be ready in case of an emergency, but I understand that being on call is a necessary part of my job and it's important for me to fulfill my responsibilities. To strike a balance between enjoying my vacation and being available for work, I've set boundaries for myself. I designated certain times of the day when I'm availab...

1 minute read · 890 views · 6 likes

Exploring the Different Git Workflows: Feature Branch, Gitflow, and Fork and Pull

Git is a version control system that allows developers to track changes to their codebase and collaborate with others on projects. There are several types of workflow within Git, including the feature branch workflow, the Gitflow workflow, and the fork and pull workflow. The feature branch workflow involves creating a new branch for each new feature or piece of work, while the Gitflow workflow involves creating long-lived branches for active development and stable, release-ready code. The for...

41 minute read · 2.1k views · 15 likes

Review: '21 Tesla Model 3 after 10k km

For reference I drive a Tesla Model 3 2021 Long Range Dual Motor with Enchanced Autopilot, and I previously owned a 2014 Tesla Model S 85, non-AP but with OP (OpenPilot) from 2017 until 2020. If you're considering purchasing a Tesla, one of the questions you may have is about the vehicle's durability and performance after driving for a significant distance. After all, 10,000 km is a lot of mileage for just owning it for a couple of months, and you want to be sure that your investment will hol...

3 minute read · 590 views · 6 likes

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