Welcome to The Steady Beat, a weekly-ish round-up of hand-picked articles and resources for people who make software products: designers, engineers, product managers, and organizational leaders.
By the Numbers - AI and Phishing
- 6000 new computer viruses are created and released every month
- 90% of cyber attacks start with a phishing email
- 95% of CIOs surveyed believe LLM-generated email will prevent automated phishing detection
- Beware of your inbox đł
Figma AI: Distraction or Disruption?
Mia Blume argues that Figma AI doesnât fundamentally change the design landscape because the trajectory towards genAI in design was already set. Tools like Galileo and Uizard have been hinting at this future for a while. The real issue isnât the AI itself, but how designers respond to these tools. If designers donât evolve beyond just creating visuals and fail to showcase their broader strategic value, they risk obsolescence. Blume emphasizes the need for designers to actively participate in integrating AI, focusing on strategic skills, and ensuring their contributions are recognized, rather than getting caught up in the latest social media drama.
Designing with AI, 5m #ai #design
Agileâs Paradox: From Silo Smashers to Silo Builders
Remember when Agile was supposed to bridge the gap between business and tech? Well, surprise! It mightâve actually made it worse. Agile frameworks, especially Scrum, introduced roles like Product Owners and Scrum Masters, but left out crucial details about coordinating multiple teams and integrating business strategy. Instead, IT managers often got stuck in the middle, creating new silos rather than smashing them. The anti-manager sentiment within the Agile community didnât help either. Now, with AI on the rise, the spotlight on Agile is fading, but real agilityârooted in effective leadershipâremains more vital than ever.
Cliff Berg, 6m #agile #productmanagement
The Bossâs Secret Sauce: Radical Candor
Kim Scott, former Google director and Apple University faculty, champions âradical candorâ as the ultimate managerial tool. This conceptâmerging direct challenge with personal careâtransformed her leadership approach, thanks to a candid critique from Sheryl Sandberg. Scott emphasizes that clear, compassionate feedback fosters a productive, joyful work environment. Her framework, HHIPP (Humble, Helpful, Immediate, In Person, Doesnât Personalize), guides managers in delivering feedback that works for both parties.
First Round Review, 7m #leadership #management
How Halo Solved Database Drama with Saga
Neo Kim breaks down the Saga design pattern, a lifesaver for distributed systems facing data consistency headaches. Bungieâs Halo pivot from a failing strategy game to a blockbuster shooter spurred massive data growth, straining their single SQL database. At first they tried database partitioning, but this brought issues with atomicity and consistency. Enter the Saga pattern: splitting transactions into manageable sub-transactions, each with its own compensating transaction for failures. An orchestrator oversees this, keeping track via a durable log, ensuring smooth operations without tight coupling.
System Design Newsletter, 4m #engineering #development
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