https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/categories/developer-life/Recent content in Developer Life on Joe McCarthyHugoen-gbSun, 02 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/posts/26/08/prefer-boring-technology/Sun, 02 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/posts/26/08/prefer-boring-technology/“Boring” tech is often the most reliable. Here’s why I lean toward proven tools instead of chasing trends.https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/posts/26/07/every-tool-has-a-cost/Sun, 19 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/posts/26/07/every-tool-has-a-cost/Every technology decision comes with tradeoffs—whether you acknowledge them or not. Here’s how I evaluate tools.https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/posts/26/07/what-production-ready-means/Sun, 05 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/posts/26/07/what-production-ready-means/“Production-ready” is often overused. Here’s what I think actually matters before shipping something real.https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/posts/26/06/stop-building-for-scale-you-dont-have/Sun, 21 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/posts/26/06/stop-building-for-scale-you-dont-have/Designing for millions of users sounds smart—until it slows you down. Here’s how I think about scaling realistically.https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/posts/26/06/simplicity-scales-better/Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/posts/26/06/simplicity-scales-better/Complex systems don’t just fail differently—they fail more often. Here’s why I bias toward simplicity in everything I build.https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/posts/26/05/developer-tools-i-actually-use/Sun, 24 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/posts/26/05/developer-tools-i-actually-use/A no-BS look at the tools I rely on daily—and why I’ve avoided adding more.https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/posts/26/05/learning-technology-without-burnout/Sun, 10 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/posts/26/05/learning-technology-without-burnout/There’s always something new to learn—but trying to learn everything is a fast track to burnout. Here’s how I stay focused.https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/posts/26/04/over-engineering-side-projects/Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/posts/26/04/over-engineering-side-projects/Side projects are supposed to be fun and useful—not production replicas of Big Tech. Here’s how over-engineering kills momentum.https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/posts/26/04/most-developers-dont-need-kubernetes/Sun, 12 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/posts/26/04/most-developers-dont-need-kubernetes/Kubernetes is powerful—but for many developers, it adds more complexity than value. Here’s when it makes sense and when it doesn’t.https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/posts/26/03/qcon-london-2026-reflection/Sun, 22 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/posts/26/03/qcon-london-2026-reflection/A reflection on attending QCon London 2026, from the reality of commuting again to the sessions that actually delivered value.https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/posts/26/03/2026-progress-update-1/Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/posts/26/03/2026-progress-update-1/A short update on what has been going on so far for 2026 and what’s to come over the coming months. Also the lacking of content so far.https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/2025-year-in-summary/Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/2025-year-in-summary/A practical review of 2025 across the home lab, office climate control, automation, networking resilience, writing cadence, and where I can improve in 2026.https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/cbujo-archived-refocus/Mon, 01 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/cbujo-archived-refocus/CBujo has been archived for now. My focus has shifted, and it’s been moved down the list to revisit only when I need something different to work on.https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/better-release-notes-and-versioning/Wed, 29 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/better-release-notes-and-versioning/Practical patterns for useful release notes and clear versioning. When to choose semantic or date based versions, what to include in each note, and how bad releases and version numbers hurt teams.https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/better-commit-messages-and-prs/Sun, 12 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/better-commit-messages-and-prs/Practical patterns for writing commit messages and pull request descriptions that speed up reviews, preserve intent, and keep projects healthy. Includes templates you can drop into any repo.https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/back-on-the-blog/Thu, 11 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/back-on-the-blog/After a busy few months of work, renovations, and family time, I’m back to posting. Here’s a quick update on what’s been happening and what to expect next, including some upcoming Home Assistant projects.https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/one-month-on-raspberry-pi-5/Mon, 05 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/one-month-on-raspberry-pi-5/After a month using a Raspberry Pi 5 as the daily machine, general work and coding are smooth, heavy CAD and slicing stay on the desktop, and the constraints noticeably improve focus and output.https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/distraction-free-development-raspberry-pi/Sat, 29 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/distraction-free-development-raspberry-pi/A Raspberry Pi 5 set up as a no-distraction development box, with no audio and a bit of physical friction, turned browsing time into building time.https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/fix-the-workspace-first/Fri, 07 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/fix-the-workspace-first/Early 2025 stalled out, so the plan is simple. Clear the room, add heat, build storage, and make the desk work for typing and tinkering.https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/thinking-about-2025/Sat, 04 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/thinking-about-2025/A focused plan for 2025 that builds on last year’s progress, covering Night Sky Pi upgrades, two small Python tools, a cleaner workspace, and a quieter Pi cluster.https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/multiple-python-versions-with-tox/Mon, 25 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/multiple-python-versions-with-tox/A repeatable workflow to install several Python versions with pyenv, run tests across them with tox locally, and mirror the matrix in GitHub Actions.https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/maven-and-java-21/Mon, 18 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/maven-and-java-21/Clean install of Oracle JDK 21 and Apache Maven 3.9.8 on Linux without relying on outdated distro packages. Commands, PATH updates, and quick verification.https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/dyslexia-and-chatgpt/Mon, 02 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/dyslexia-and-chatgpt/A practical, repeatable workflow for writing with dyslexia that uses ChatGPT as a patient drafting partner: outline from a messy list, draft in small chunks, fix correctness and readability, check the arc, and format for clarity so posts actually ship.https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/moving-back-to-github/Mon, 26 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/moving-back-to-github/After five months on Codeberg, missing integrations made the case to return to GitHub and restore the workflow that actually works.https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/posts/24/07/july-24/Tue, 16 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/posts/24/07/july-24/A short note on stepping back from projects and why the break helped reset and refocus.https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/replacing-lightroom-on-linux/Tue, 11 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/replacing-lightroom-on-linux/Dropped the last Windows dependency by pairing digiKam for library management with RawTherapee for RAW edits on Linux, with a clear note on round-trip and storage trade offs.https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/what-i-learnt-today-with-terminal-clear/Wed, 22 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/what-i-learnt-today-with-terminal-clear/A small but satisfying discovery: Ctrl+L clears the terminal instantly, reducing friction and keeping momentum while working.https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/raspberry-pi-5-daily-driver/Sat, 11 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/raspberry-pi-5-daily-driver/A Pi 5 with an NVMe base and Pi OS handles day to day work across Codium, terminal, and Chromium, with the main issue being cooling under full screen video.https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/moving-away-from-github/Tue, 12 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/moving-away-from-github/After years on GitHub, shifting priorities and ethical concerns prompted a decision to move to a better-aligned platform. Updates will follow once the migration is settled.https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/using-aws-codecommit-with-github/Tue, 13 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/using-aws-codecommit-with-github/Private daily commits in AWS CodeCommit, then pushing to GitHub when ready.https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/devoxx-uk-2023/Sun, 14 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/devoxx-uk-2023/Reflections on sessions, the welcoming atmosphere, and a standout swag moment.https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/qcon-london-2023/Fri, 31 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/qcon-london-2023/Key takeaways from sessions and hallway conversations that made the ticket worth it.https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/why-developers-should-have-a-blog/Fri, 10 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000https://joe-mccarthy.github.io/why-developers-should-have-a-blog/Benefits of keeping a developer blog for learning, documentation, and career visibility.