PODCAST

Atomic Spin

Atomic Object’s blog on everything we find fascinating.

All Episodes

3 Lessons From Nearly Blowing Up a Production Database

Atomic Spin ·

2025/10/13

Recently, I learned how important it is to regularly check database utilization in production environments. I often connect to our production database with TablePlus to pull up data for debugging, but I never thought to check storage space usage. But a few weeks ago, our client flagged a steady increase in utilization and asked us […] The post 3 Lessons From Nearly Blowing Up a Production Database appeared first on Atomic Spin.

en-US

PottyMon: Keeping the Bathroom Monitor Tradition Alive

Atomic Spin ·

2025/10/12

Our Grand Rapids office has had bathroom monitors for longer than I’ve been working here (the kind of monitors that let you know when a bathroom is free; not the kind that tell the boss how you spend your time!) What started as a hobby project has become an integral part of the office culture: […] The post PottyMon: Keeping the Bathroom Monitor Tradition Alive appeared first on Atomic Spin.

en-US

You Should Be Doing Project Retrospectives

Atomic Spin ·

2025/10/11

After finishing a consulting project, my instinct is always to dive straight into the next one. There’s usually another client waiting, deadlines approaching, and the completed project feels like yesterday’s news. But over the years, I’ve learned that taking time to reflect on what just happened is one of the most valuable things I can […] The post You Should Be Doing Project Retrospectives appeared first on Atomic Spin.

en-US

Here’s How Software Makers Can Stay in the Game Even...

Atomic Spin ·

2025/10/10

Fall is my favorite time of the year. The cool, crisp air and leaves turning into a quilt of colors bring me joy. But there’s another reason that generates the most excitement – the start of another football season! I join many fans who look forward to being in the stands, settling in to watch […] The post Here’s How Software Makers Can Stay in the Game Even While on the Bench appeared first on Atomic Spin.

en-US

Apply Iterative Development Practices to Legacy...

Atomic Spin ·

2025/10/09

One of the most important practices when building software is iterative development. It is key to delivering successful projects on schedule and an invaluable part of running an effective Scrum process. The idea is associated with building out new products, but it is equally important when rebuilding existing ones that you may encounter during legacy […] The post Apply Iterative Development Practices to Legacy Modernization Projects appeared first on Atomic Spin.

en-US

4 Core Truths of a Great Software Partner

Atomic Spin ·

2025/10/04

Recently, I shared a post on 4 Things You Should Expect From Your Software Partner. As I’ve continued sharing these ideas in conversation, it’s become clear that this way of working is surprisingly rare coming from an external partner. Atomic Object has built its reputation on being both thoughtful consultants and capable doers. Atoms (our […]The post 4 Core Truths of a Great Software Partner appeared first on Atomic Spin.

en-US

How I Know When It’s Time to Add Lightweight QA on a...

Atomic Spin ·

2025/10/03

In startup projects, I often see speed take priority over everything else. Teams are running experiments, shipping features, and chasing new ideas as quickly as they can. In the earliest days, that is a fine approach. The priority is momentum, not polish. If the project doesn’t get cancelled, then there will certainly come a point […] The post How I Know When It’s Time to Add Lightweight QA on a Startup Project appeared first on Atomic Spin.

en-US

3 Trends in Conversational Web Interfaces

Atomic Spin ·

2025/10/02

It’s an exciting time for AI research and development, as it starts to affect all areas of our lives. One interesting use for AI that I feel doesn’t get enough coverage is how it’s about to change the way we design the user interfaces (UIs) for our web applications. A lot of common features we’ve […] The post 3 Trends in Conversational Web Interfaces appeared first on Atomic Spin.

en-US

Maintenance: Your Software Isn’t Something You Can Be...

Atomic Spin ·

2025/10/01

I’ve recently helped a few clients out with codebases in need of love and attention. The usual reason folks become aware that the software they’ve come to rely on needs attention is that one of the service providers they’ve been relying on has been sending them increasingly urgent emails. In some more dire cases, the […] The post Maintenance: Your Software Isn’t Something You Can Be Done With appeared first on Atomic Spin.

en-US

3 Tips to Get More Out of Postman

Atomic Spin ·

2025/09/30

When you’re building or testing APIs, debugging can take forever. It usually means sending off requests, inspecting big JSON blobs, and repeating the same setup steps over and over. That’s where Postman shines. It’s not just for sending requests—it’s a powerful debugging tool. Three features in particular have made my workflow faster and less painful: Visualizer, […] The post 3 Tips to Get More Out of Postman appeared first on Atomic Spin.

en-US

Here’s How I Built a Virtual Pet App in Flutter

Atomic Spin ·

2025/09/29

Building a reliable app in Flutter starts with managing state. What better way to practice than by building a cute, virtual pet? In this post, we’ll build a simple virtual cat companion that eats, plays, and remembers you. Under the hood, it’s really a lesson in state management: how to represent state, update it over […] The post Here’s How I Built a Virtual Pet App in Flutter appeared first on Atomic Spin.

en-US

Here’s What Made My Scratch Games Go Viral

Atomic Spin ·

2025/09/28

Scratch is a block-based programming language/editor created by the MIT Media Lab in 2007 with the goal of teaching kids to code. It is a widely popular tool and has been used by millions of people. It was also my introduction to the world of computer science, and it is a huge reason why I’m […]The post Here’s What Made My Scratch Games Go Viral appeared first on Atomic Spin.

en-US

Stakeholder Communication Strategies for Successful...

Atomic Spin ·

2025/09/27

In software consulting, effective stakeholder engagement is just as important for project success as the excellent technology we deliver. As consultants, we want alignment, clarity, and support from our client stakeholders who oversee and ultimately champion our work. Our client stakeholders, in turn, want progress and value, but not all stakeholders are the same. When […] The post Stakeholder Communication Strategies for Successful Software Projects appeared first on Atomic Spin.

en-US

Stop Overcomplicating Accessibility: 6 Simple HTML...

Atomic Spin ·

2025/09/26

Business and software teams are often overwhelmed at the mention of accessibility. The assumption is clear: accessibility adds an exponential amount of complexity to already challenging projects that everyone is struggling to control the scope for. This assumption is wrong. When considered from the outset, accessibility becomes a natural part of the software development process […] The post Stop Overcomplicating Accessibility: 6 Simple HTML Standards Fix Most Accessibility Issues appeared

en-US

Want to Launch Prototypes Quickly? Try Vibe Coding...

Atomic Spin ·

2025/09/25

I kept hearing whispers about vibe coding, and I wanted to check it out. I’m not talking about comments like, “I use Cursor and it autocompletes and can generate code from a prompt.” (What dev isn’t doing that?) I’m talking about hearing things like, “I have 20 agents that run like horses pulling a carriage” […] The post Want to Launch Prototypes Quickly? Try Vibe Coding with Claude appeared first on Atomic Spin.

en-US

Create Sick Web Animations in Three.js with GSAP

Atomic Spin ·

2025/09/24

Have you ever wondered how to create smooth animations for your Three.js web app? This can be a tedious process, but luckily we have a handy tool called GSAP. Here is a quick example of an animation I created using that tool. Cool right? Below, I will discuss how I used GSAP to create these […] The post Create Sick Web Animations in Three.js with GSAP appeared first on Atomic Spin.

en-US

Design Icons That Work: Insights From Neighborhood Signs

Atomic Spin ·

2025/09/24

The other day, while walking my dog, I noticed a sign in a neighbor’s yard. It immediately caught my attention, not because it was flashy, but because of how clearly it communicated its message. With just a simple image, I knew right away to steer myself (and, more importantly, my dog) away from a bush […] The post Design Icons That Work: Insights From Neighborhood Signs appeared first on Atomic Spin.

en-US

Use Claude Code Sub-Agents For .NET and Angular...

Atomic Spin ·

2025/09/23

For the past few weeks, I’ve been exploring Claude Code’s sub-agent capabilities, specifically how they can improve development workflows. Sub-agents fundamentally change how you approach complex features that span multiple services and technologies. They allow parallel execution of specialized tasks, but they also come with trade-offs that need careful consideration. Here’s what I’ve learned about […] The post Use Claude Code Sub-Agents For .NET and Angular Development

en-US

An Ansible Role to Install my Proxmox Backup Client...

Atomic Spin ·

2025/09/22

A while ago I wrote about the Proxmox Backup Client wrapper scripts I use and published to GitHub. Over the weekend, I authored a new Ansible role for installing and configuring the scripts onto a target machine. Here’s what I did and how to use the new role. The repository, scripts, and Ansible role The […] The post An Ansible Role to Install my Proxmox Backup Client Scripts appeared first on Atomic Spin.

en-US

Use the Elimination Method for Identifying Stressors

Atomic Spin ·

2025/09/21

Recently, I found myself facing a huge setback. Due to some complicated medical mumbo jumbo, I needed surgery with a long recovery time. Coming back to work with fresh eyes made it clear (clearer) what was leading me to fatigue and burnout, by inadvertently using elimination and reintroduction techniques. Elimination and Reintroduction Elimination diets are […]The post Use the Elimination Method for Identifying Stressors appeared first on Atomic Spin.

en-US

487 results