Author

Swapnil Srivastava

278 Articles

I Missed One Environment Variable in Production. Everything Went Down at 9AM.

3 Min Read

Introduction The morning of September first was a day that would be etched into our company’s history. At exactly 9:00 AM, our system went down without warning or prior notification to any team member. The error message displayed on the screen read…

I Let a Junior Dev Lead the Sprint. The Team Surprised Everyone Including Me.

By Swapnil Srivastava

2 Min Read

Introduction In the world of software development, leadership often falls to seasoned professionals with years of experience under their belts. However, my recent sprint led me to reconsider traditional hierarchies and discover that sometimes, junior…

I Left a Stable Job for a Startup. Salary Dropped 30%. Best Trade I Ever Made.

By Swapnil Srivastava

3 Min Read

Introduction The decision to leave a stable job and embark on a startup journey is not one that comes easily. It often involves weighing numerous factors, including financial security, professional growth, and personal aspirations. In this article, I…

I Launched Without a Rollback Plan. Never Again.

By Swapnil Srivastava

3 Min Read

Introduction Launching any product, service, or website without a rollback plan can be a costly and risky endeavor. It often happens when time pressures are high, and stakeholders believe they have thoroughly tested all the elements before deployment.…

I Joined a Company with No Processes. Built Them from Scratch. Here’s What Worked.

By Swapnil Srivastava

3 Min Read

Introduction Starting a company without established processes can be daunting, but it offers an opportunity to innovate and build systems that are tailored specifically for your organization’s needs. In this article, I will share my experiences of…

I Ignored a Small Warning in the Logs. It Became a 6Hour Outage.

By Swapnil Srivastava

3 Min Read

Introduction The story of a minor oversight leading to a significant outage is one that underscores the importance of vigilance and meticulous attention to detail, especially in digital environments where even the smallest error can have cascading…

I Ignored Technical Debt for a Year. The Interest Rate Was Brutal.

By Swapnil Srivastava

3 Min Read

Introduction Technical debt, in software development, refers to the cost of decisions made during the early stages that are likely to incur additional work later on. It is a term often used by developers and project managers when they postpone…

I Hired Fast Because We Needed People. It Cost Us More Than the Gap Would Have.

By Swapnil Srivastava

2 Min Read

Introduction In today’s fastpaced business environment, hiring quickly has become a necessity for companies seeking to maintain their competitive edge and meet market demands. However, making decisions without adequate time often leads to poor…

I Gave an Internal Tech Talk for the First Time. Got Noticed by a VP I’d Never Met.

By Swapnil Srivastava

2 Min Read

Introduction The moment you stand in front of a room full of professionals and share the fruits of your labor, it’s not just a conversation it’s a testament to all your hard work and dedication. For me, this experience was both exhilarating…

I Gave My Team Fridays for Side Projects. Three Became Real Features.

By Swapnil Srivastava

3 Min Read

Introduction In an age where innovation and creativity are paramount, traditional work methodologies often fall short of meeting the challenges that arise from rapid technological advancements and evolving customer needs. This article explores how giving…