Technology Made Simple

Technology Made Simple explores a range of computer science concepts, software engineering careers, machine learning, tech industry insights, and programming interview tips. It offers deep, yet understandable insights targeting tech leaders, coders, and managers, with a focus on practical application in tech and enhancing career pathways.

Software Engineering Careers Machine Learning Tech Industry Insights Programming Interviews Computer Science Data Structures and Algorithms System Design Ethics in Technology Financial Aspects of Tech Career Development in Tech Artificial Intelligence Data Privacy and Security

The hottest Substack posts of Technology Made Simple

And their main takeaways

Problem 83: Packing Robots [Brilliant]

79 implied HN points • 13 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Problem Solving AI Machine Learning Coding Subscription
  1. The post discusses a problem about packing robots with specific arrangement requirements that can help in developing problem-solving techniques.
  2. It emphasizes the importance of consistency in learning by providing weekly problems for practice and solutions.
  3. The author encourages sharing content and referrals as they help in personal growth and reaching more people.

How to ARCHITECT a search engine like Google Search[System Design Sundays]

99 implied HN points • 29 Jan 23
🕹 Technology System Design Machine Learning Search Engine Software Engineering
  1. Design complex systems by layering multiple smaller solutions for better results instead of focusing on individually engineered tasks.
  2. Building a search engine like Google involves accommodating various types of search results like images, text, gifs, and videos while ensuring search quality.
  3. Handling the massive scale of data in Google's search engine system involves using semi-supervised labeling techniques to manage unlabeled data efficiently.

How influencers are stealing from you[Finance Fridays]

79 implied HN points • 18 Mar 23
💰 Finance Scams Courses Economics Influencers
  1. Influencers often sell false promises to make money, especially in fields like AI and machine learning.
  2. Scam courses claim to provide huge returns with minimal effort or investment, but in reality, expertise is developed through practice and experience.
  3. Beware of 'super simple' methods that promise quick success; if something is easy and profitable, there will be a lot of competition, driving down profits.

What is CI/CD [Systems Design Sunday]

119 implied HN points • 28 Nov 22
🕹 Technology Software Development
  1. CI/CD stands for continuous integration & delivery. It involves frequently merging code changes and running them through automated tests.
  2. Continuous integration (CI) ensures constant code integration, helping developers catch outdated processes and maintain updated systems.
  3. Continuous delivery (CD) automates the testing and integration of code changes, ensuring smooth and efficient updates to production.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

How bad is Architectural Complexity [System Design Sundays]

79 implied HN points • 06 Mar 23
🕹 Technology System Design Developer Productivity Software Quality
  1. Complex architectures can significantly impact developer productivity, software quality, and turnover, with potential for 50% drops in productivity and significant increases in defect density and staff turnover.
  2. Architectural complexity can lead to increased defect density in codebases, higher time consumption, and a higher probability of developers leaving the firm.
  3. Complexity can breed more complexity, creating a cycle that hampers future system developments.

Understanding the CAP theorem [Math Mondays]

99 implied HN points • 10 Jan 23
🕹 Technology Systems Tradeoffs Consistency
  1. The CAP theorem states that in a distributed system, you can only guarantee 2 out of 3 desirable traits: Consistency, Availability, and Partition Tolerance.
  2. Consistency in the CAP theorem ensures that all nodes in a network have the same data at the same time.
  3. Availability means that every read or write request will either succeed or receive an error message, with every node responding in a reasonable time.

[Solution]Problem 77: Gas Station [Microsoft]

79 implied HN points • 03 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Problem Solving
  1. The problem involves solving for the starting gas station's index on a circular route given gas and cost arrays.
  2. The solution should account for the unique constraints and requirements of the problem, such as unlimited gas, specific costs, and potential limitations in traveling the circuit.
  3. By improving fundamental coding concepts, problem-solving skills, and practicing with similar scenarios, tackling complex interview problems becomes more manageable.

2022 Introspective

99 implied HN points • 27 Dec 22
🕹 Technology AI & Machine Learning Content creation Community Building Audience Growth Online Platforms
  1. The newsletter is going on break till January 5th to recharge and will have a 'start here' section for newcomers.
  2. More AI/Machine Learning content will be integrated into the newsletter on specific days to cater to a general audience.
  3. The growth of the newsletter was mainly influenced by partnerships, Substack recommendations, and content on other platforms including LinkedIn and Medium.

6 YouTube channels for developing your problem solving skills [Technique Tuesdays]

79 implied HN points • 08 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Problem Solving Computer Science Skill development
  1. Study underlying concepts and practice problems to improve problem-solving skills
  2. Watching experts solve problems can help you learn and progress in your own problem-solving journey
  3. Subscribing to specific YouTube channels like Byte by Bte, Back to Back SWE, Abdul Bari, Ryan Schachte, MindYourDecisions, and TED-Ed can provide valuable insights and techniques for sharpening your problem-solving skills

Group Theory. The Math Twin to Object Oriented Programming[Math Mondays]

79 implied HN points • 31 Jan 23
🕹 Technology Programming Mathematics Learning Design Online Platforms
  1. Group theory in mathematics helps in understanding inheritance and polymorphism in Object-Oriented Programming.
  2. In OOP, inheritance allows classes to inherit properties, similar to how groups inherit properties from subgroups.
  3. Group theory provides a framework for designing efficient and modular systems by understanding class and object relationships.

Understanding Cryptocurrency's Ponzi-nomics [Finance Fridays]

99 implied HN points • 03 Dec 22
💰 Finance Cryptocurrency Investing Market Analysis Financial risk
  1. Some cryptocurrency firms were using tokens as collateral for loans, potentially allowing them to have infinite money, but this practice made the system very inter-connected and vulnerable to collapse.
  2. Using tokens as collateral is similar to companies using shares as collateral; if the value of the token or coin drops, the collateral becomes worthless, leading to the collapse of the ecosystem.
  3. The issue arises when multiple firms in the industry follow the same practice, creating a facade of liquidity, but in reality, the entire system is built on a risky foundation, vulnerable to collapses.

Invite your friends to read Technology Made Simple

59 implied HN points • 20 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Benefits
  1. Share the Technology Made Simple newsletter with friends to get special benefits and access.
  2. By referring friends, you can earn complimentary subscription months based on the number of referrals.
  3. Use the referral link provided to invite friends via text, email, or social media.

How to make your teams more independent[Storytime Saturdays]

59 implied HN points • 30 Apr 23
💼 Business Leadership Autonomy Productivity Professional development
  1. Leaders often find dealing with people the most challenging part of their work, including the urge to micromanage their employees.
  2. Creating autonomy in teams has multiple benefits: happier employees, more time for leaders to focus on important tasks, and opportunities for growth and skill development.
  3. Encouraging autonomy in employees can lead to increased satisfaction, fulfillment, and better performance at work.

Google Cloud's Core Principles of System Design [System Design sundays]

59 implied HN points • 04 Sep 23
🕹 Technology System Design Cloud Computing Documentation Architecture
  1. A robust system design should be secure, reliable, scalable, and independent, allowing for iterative changes without disruption.
  2. Document everything to help visualize deployments, collaborate effectively, and guide future design decisions.
  3. Simplify system design, use fully managed services, decouple architecture, and strive for a stateless architecture to improve reliability and scalability.

4 hours of work for a promotion- How a Pintrest Android Engineer made waves with a weekend project[Storytime Saturdays]

59 implied HN points • 06 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Software Engineering Career development Side Projects Promotions Tech industry
  1. To stand out for promotions, focus on meaningful projects that showcase your skills and impact.
  2. Instead of waiting for approval, consider building a useful side project to demonstrate your value to your organization.
  3. By presenting a strong proof of concept project, you can negotiate effectively and secure impactful work opportunities for yourself.

Book Review- Ikigai: The Japanese secret to a long and happy life [Storytime Saturdays]

59 implied HN points • 11 Jun 23
📚 Literature Book review Personal Development
  1. The book 'Ikigai: The Japanese secret to a long and happy life' is reviewed in the post, prompting readers to think about what brings them happiness and purpose.
  2. Feedback from the audience is crucial for improving newsletters and content, even when experiencing growth and success.
  3. It's important to acknowledge personal biases when reviewing content, as individual perspectives can influence interpretation.

A better way to approach Systems Design Interviews [Storytime Saturdays]

59 implied HN points • 25 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Systems Design
  1. Approaching Systems Design Interviews requires a systematic strategy to not feel overwhelmed. Leetcode interviews test core ideas, while Systems Design interviews have a larger, more ambiguous scope.
  2. When preparing for Systems Design Interviews, focus on balancing depth and breadth. Avoid getting lost in esoteric details and ensure coverage of essential aspects of complex questions.
  3. Use a framework that views the system as a product to identify core components and showcase expertise effectively during Systems Design Interviews.

Tech Leaders, here's why you should care about the Reddit Blackouts[Finance Fridays]

59 implied HN points • 17 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Social media Monetization
  1. Redditors are protesting against new Reddit API pricing changes that impact third-party apps like Apollo, showing the importance of understanding the dynamics of platform and app relationships.
  2. Third-party apps enhance user experience on social media platforms and can be crucial for integrating feedback quickly due to smaller organizations.
  3. Big tech companies are seeking new monetization streams, pushing for growth to keep investors interested. Developers should grasp basic finance and business concepts to spot opportunities in this evolving market.

[Solution]Problem 83: Packing Robots [Brilliant]

59 implied HN points • 14 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Coding Problem Solving Artificial Intelligence
  1. To solve complex problems efficiently, focus on variable reduction, ordering, and systematic problem solving.
  2. Practice quick problem-solving to excel in interviews, especially as the trend steers away from traditional Leetcode questions.
  3. Mastering the right methods for solving simpler questions can greatly help in tackling more challenging problems in the future.

How to improve developer productivity [Storytime Saturdays]

59 implied HN points • 18 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Development Productivity Podcasts Engineering
  1. Learning from the mistakes and successes of others through stories can help in personal and professional development.
  2. Insight from top-tier developers at Google, like Chris Laffra, can provide valuable lessons on improving developer productivity.
  3. Subscribing to resources like Beyond Coding podcast can offer access to high-quality content for continuous learning and growth.

How Writing has helped me- even though it's failed [Storytime Saturdays]

59 implied HN points • 28 May 23
🚌 Education Writing Learning Communication Documentation Personal Development
  1. Creating content can provide exposure and opportunities, leading to networking and industry insights.
  2. Content creation can enhance learning by fostering a continuous search for knowledge and interactions with followers.
  3. Crafting content improves communication skills, critical thinking, and documentation, which can have a positive impact on personal and professional growth.

Randomness- A billion dollar problem in Software Engineering [Math Mondays]

59 implied HN points • 22 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Software Math Computing Engineering Programming
  1. Randomness in software engineering introduces unpredictability and can be used for various reasons like generating different outputs and introducing randomness into systems.
  2. Careful consideration is needed when using randomness in software engineering to avoid security risks and unnecessary complexity.
  3. To test the randomness of a system, consider using Diehard tests, which are intuitive and effective in evaluating randomness.

Substack fights Elon Musk [Finance Fridays]

59 implied HN points • 15 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Social media Tech industry Content creation Online Platforms Digital Communication
  1. Substack introduced a new feature called Notes resembling Twitter, aimed at enhancing writer engagement.
  2. Substack's focus on paid subscribers sets it apart from traditional social media platforms, indicating a unique strategy.
  3. The move by Substack to introduce Notes hints at a strengthening independent writer community and a shift in digital content consumption trends.

Using the Rabin Karp Algorithm to speed up your code[Technique Tuesdays]

59 implied HN points • 19 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Algorithms Programming AI Tech industry
  1. The Rabin Karp algorithm is a string-searching technique that uses hashing to efficiently find patterns in texts.
  2. It is useful for tasks like detecting plagiarism, finding keywords, or searching for DNA sequences in large texts.
  3. The algorithm works by calculating hash values at each position of the text, making it faster than naive string-matching algorithms.

The Secret Behind Great Hybrid Cultures- Harvard Business Review[Storytime Saturdays]

59 implied HN points • 30 Jul 23
💼 Business Remote work Leadership Productivity Professional development
  1. Remote work offers benefits like better employee satisfaction, flexibility, and cost savings.
  2. Hybrid work can be a good transition for organizations unsure about fully remote work, providing a balance between remote and in-person collaboration.
  3. Understanding and implementing great hybrid cultures can unlock productivity gains for teams and leaders.

[Solution]Problem 85: Count Complete Tree Nodes [Amazon]

59 implied HN points • 05 May 23
🕹 Technology Coding Data Structures Algorithm Software Engineering
  1. The post discusses a problem related to counting the number of nodes in a complete binary tree, emphasizing the importance of understanding recursion, trees, and data structures.
  2. It mentions starting with a brute force solution to count nodes but highlights the need for optimization to achieve time complexity better than O(n).
  3. The approach for solving the problem involves using a recursive template to count nodes efficiently by considering the root and the number of nodes in the left and right subtrees.

Problem 81: Daily Temperatures [Microsoft]

59 implied HN points • 30 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Programming
  1. The problem discusses finding daily temperatures using a monotonic stack.
  2. Given an array of temperatures, the task is to calculate the number of days to wait for warmer temperatures.
  3. Examples provided show how the output array is generated based on the input temperatures.

Three traits of the software engineers that are promoted fastest[Storytime Saturdays]

59 implied HN points • 26 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Software Engineering Career growth Communication
  1. Top engineers integrate feedback to grow faster by seeking and incorporating detailed feedback, and following up on the impact.
  2. Top engineers prioritize their time by focusing on high-return activities and ruthlessly assessing what is worth pursuing.
  3. Top engineers communicate effectively by articulating the 'why', avoiding jargon, tailoring messages to the audience, and sharing updates regularly.

Solving f'(x)= f^(-1)(x) [the inverse of f(x)] [Math Mondays]

79 implied HN points • 17 Jan 23
🚌 Education Math Problem Solving Software Engineering
  1. Solving f'(x)= f^(-1)(x) is a powerful technique in problem solving used in Math and Software.
  2. Math and coding share similar neural pathways, making a Math background beneficial for coding.
  3. When solving problems, start with a warm-up, rely on pattern matching, attack problems from multiple angles, and remember that complex solutions can have simple building blocks.

Why your manager sucks [Finance Fridays]

99 implied HN points • 12 Nov 22
💼 Business Management Leadership Organizational Culture Career development Work Relationships
  1. The Dilbert Principle explains how incompetent employees may be promoted to management to get them out of the way.
  2. The Invisible Man Principle highlights how mediocre employees may end up in important projects when all the top performers are busy with other tasks.
  3. The Peter Principle shows that competent workers may be promoted until they reach a role where they struggle, impacting their career progression.

Why you should analyze the distribution of your Data [Math Mondays]

59 implied HN points • 14 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Data Analysis Math Software Engineering Modeling Statistics
  1. Analyzing the distribution of your data is crucial for accurate analysis results, helps in choosing the right statistical tests, identifying outliers, and confirming data collection systems.
  2. Common techniques to analyze data distribution include histograms, boxplots, quantile-quantile plots, descriptive statistics, and statistical tests like Shapiro-Wilk or Kolmogorov-Smirnov.
  3. Common mistakes in analyzing data distribution include ignoring or dropping outliers, using the wrong statistical test, and not visualizing data to identify patterns and trends.

Monoliths vs Microservices [System Design Sundays]

99 implied HN points • 24 Oct 22
🕹 Technology Software Architecture
  1. Monolith architecture involves building and maintaining all components together, requiring a full rebuild when changes are made.
  2. Microservices architecture deploys and maintains different parts of the system independently, allowing for scalability and flexibility but requiring careful planning.
  3. Monoliths offer simplicity and easier testing, while Microservices provide scalability and quicker deployment but demand more setup effort and planning.

Why does Tech Hire and Fire so quickly [Finance Fridays]

59 implied HN points • 04 Mar 23
💼 Business Tech Finance Employment Management Economy
  1. Tech companies hire and fire quickly due to the boom and bust cycle - the economy goes through periods of growth and recession, affecting staffing decisions.
  2. Big tech companies compete aggressively, leading to hiring for unprofitable projects and mass layoffs later on.
  3. Hiring in tech can sometimes be driven by ego and market image, leading to quick layoffs as well. Stay aware of trends and project impact to protect your job.

SBF is a fraud. But he was never the problem [Finance Fridays]

79 implied HN points • 24 Dec 22
💰 Finance Cryptocurrency Fraud Scams Social media Investing
  1. The Crypto Industry is plagued by frauds like SBF, but the root problem runs much deeper and extends beyond just cryptocurrencies.
  2. Mainstream media plays a significant role in perpetuating misinformation and misleading narratives, contributing to the success of individuals like SBF.
  3. To protect oneself from falling for scams, it's essential to critically evaluate products, look beyond social proof, and consider the utility and legitimacy of investment opportunities.

How to use Machine Learning for your Small Business [Storytime Saturdays]

79 implied HN points • 17 Dec 22
🕹 Technology Machine Learning Small business AI Data Analysis Implementation
  1. Machine Learning can be effective for small businesses too, not just large corporations, opening up opportunities for growth and innovation.
  2. Understanding the process of implementing AI can benefit professionals across various roles, not just those directly working in AI fields.
  3. Having the right skills and knowledge about AI implementation can significantly increase your chances of success and career advancement.

[Solution]Problem 76: Combination Sum [Google]

59 implied HN points • 24 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Programming Algorithms Graphs Recursion Backtracking
  1. The problem involves backtracking, recursion, and graph modeling to find unique combinations that sum to a target.
  2. Modeling the problem as a graph with states and transitions helps in traversal mechanics using DFS.
  3. Implementing a simple graph traversal algorithm, backtracking, and a global variable to track combinations can efficiently solve the problem.

Personal Finance for Tech 101 [Finance Fridays]

79 implied HN points • 26 Nov 22
💰 Finance Personal Finance Investing Debt Management Financial planning
  1. Have an Emergency Fund: Save 6-12 months of expenses to prepare for unexpected layoffs without selling investments.
  2. Pay off Debt: Prioritize paying high-interest debt to prevent it from draining your finances over time.
  3. Allocate Finances Wisely: Follow the 50-30-20 rule to budget your income for expenses, investments, and savings, ensuring a balanced financial plan.