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Crafting Teams
November 8, 2024

Beyond Code: The Human Element Driving High-Performing Remote Teams

Discover how high-performing remote teams succeed beyond technical skills. A unique “Glue” role fosters team cohesion among freelancers, bridging gaps and building trust for smoother collaboration. See why empathy and shared interests matter as much as efficiency in a virtual workspace.

Remote Team Building
Remote Team Culture
Remote Team Management
Remote Work Challenges
Remote Team Leadership
Starting Rockets
October 15, 2024

Applying Lean Startup Concepts in Existing Product Development

Learn how established companies can innovate like startups! Applying Lean Startup methods helps teams quickly test ideas, save resources, and build products customers truly want. Discover the secrets of MVPs, rapid testing, and agile learning to stay ahead in a fast-changing market.

Lean Startup Method
Agile Product Development
Customer Validation
Innovation Strategy
Rapid Prototyping
Target Real Problem
October 1, 2024

Solving Real Problems: A Startup’s Key to Market Success

To succeed, startups must solve real problems of their target market. Learn how early validation and continuous feedback can help you achieve product-market fit and sustainable growth. Discover effective strategies in this article!

Product-Market Fit
Startup Success
Market Validation
Customer Feedback
Agile Development
Software Development Workplace
September 24, 2024

The Secret Sauce to Seamless Cross-Platform Development Using Jira

Unlock the secret to faster cross-platform development! Discover how top teams use Jira to streamline workflows, avoid costly delays, and boost productivity with one simple strategy. Don’t let backend issues slow you down – find out how to fix it now!

Cross-Functional Development Teams
Agile Project Management in Jira
Backend and Frontend Coordination
Cross-Platform App Development Strategy
Streamlined Workflow
Team Work
September 9, 2024

Ode to My Favorite Team Member

Nobody is perfect, and no team is perfect. But there are pretty near perfect actions we can take in the face of imperfection. Over the years I've remembered a few wholesome behavioral patterns, tried to emulate them, and deeply respected people you consistently showed them. Here's the list.

Team Productivity
Effective Leadership
Teamwork Strategies
Proactive Team Management
Collaboration and Communication
Startup Evolution
August 8, 2024

From Startup to Scaleup: Navigating the Journey Without Losing Your Way

Lessons and strategies for avoiding common pitfalls as your company grows from a small startup to a larger, more complex organization. Discover how to maintain efficiency, manage team dynamics, and balance creativity with structure to ensure a smooth transition from startup to scaleup.

Startup Growth Strategies
Scaleup Challenges
Team Dynamics Management
Avoiding Corporate Pitfalls
Efficient Business Scaling
Sustainable Business
July 14, 2024

Building Tomorrow with Squads Member Fund’s Sustainable Innovation

Discover how Squads Member Fund is transforming startups with a focus on sustainability and digital innovation. Learn about their unique sociocratic decision-making, success stories like BOAS, and how they minimize investment risks through experienced guidance.

Sustainable Innovation
Regenerative Business
Sociocratic Decision-Making
Startup Investment
Digital Transformation
Sociocracy
June 13, 2024

Sociocracy at Squads… Lessons Learned

Why is Squads operated sociocratically? How does it work? What are the biggest advantages? What are the biggest pains we felt

Non-Hierarchical Organizations
Sociocracy in Practice
Agile and Sociocracy Integration
Empowerment in Teams
Decentralized Decision Making
Tools
June 2, 2024

Achieving Seamless Production Readiness

Achieving seamless production readiness involves strategies in build artifacts, testing, versioning, configuration management, secret management, logging, health checks, resource usage, application metrics, security, infrastructure as code, and state backup.

Production Readiness Best Practices
DevOps and Testing Techniques
Kubernetes Resource Management
Infrastructure as Code Automation
Application Performance Monitoring
Distributed Environment
May 26, 2024

Ensuring Data Consistency in Distributed Environments

CRDTs (Conflict-free Replicated Data Types) ensure data consistency in distributed systems. This article explores CRDTs' types, benefits, and real-world applications, demonstrating how CRDTs maintain consistency and reliability even under challenging network conditions.

CRDTs in Distributed Systems
Data Consistency with CRDTs
Conflict-free Replicated Data Types
Distributed Data Management
CRDT Applications
Unit Testing
May 19, 2024

Enhancing Software Quality: Advanced Strategies for Effective Unit Testing

Unit testing is vital for software quality. This article covers essential principles of effective unit tests, advanced strategies, practical implementation tips, and integration into workflows like TDD and CI. Tools like JUnit, pytest, and NUnit are highlighted.

Unit Testing Best Practices
Effective Unit Testing Strategies
Test-Driven Development (TDD) Integration
Continuous Integration (CI) Testing Tools
Advanced Unit Testing Techniques
Local-First
May 12, 2024

Building Better Apps with Local-First Principles

Explore how Local-First principles enhance app development with better data privacy, offline functionality, and user control, while simplifying backend complexity. Learn to implement and overcome challenges with technologies like CRDTs and Automerge.

Local-First
Offline App Functionality
Data Privacy Solutions
CRDT Technology
Peer-to-Peer Apps
Design System
May 5, 2024

Building Blocks of Success – Why Startups Need a Design System

Explore the benefits of implementing a design system for startups, focusing on scalability, efficiency, and brand identity. Learn how to build, maintain, and evolve a design system.

Design System Development
Startup Branding Strategies
UI/UX Design for Startups
Efficiency in Product Development
Scalable Design Solutions
Digital Shopping
April 28, 2024

Building a Tailored eCommerce Platform with Payload CMS

Explore the potential of Payload CMS for building a tailored eCommerce platform: fully customizable, scalable, and supported by modern technologies. Learn how to leverage its extensive API capabilities for unique business needs.

Payload CMS eCommerce
Custom eCommerce Platform
Headless CMS for eCommerce
Open-source eCommerce Solutions
eCommerce Platform Development
Digital Mind
April 21, 2024

The Digital Mind: How Technology Shapes Our Culture and Thoughts

Discover how the digital age is reshaping our culture and autonomy with Squads offering a cooperative model that champions ethical and human-centric approaches. Dive into the full discussion on how we can navigate this new reality.

Digital Strategy
Tech Adaptability
Ethical Tech
Remote Teamwork
Corporate Influence
Designer and Frontend Developer Colaboration
April 14, 2024

Enhancing Web Development by Integrating Figma and Code for Dynamic Design

Learn how integrating Figma with front-end coding improves web development. Discover techniques for using Figma variables in CSS and JavaScript for cohesive designs and responsive layouts, enhancing teamwork between designers and developers.

Figma Integration
Front-end Development
Responsive Web Design
CSS Variables
Design Collaboration
Cooking with Data
April 9, 2024

Cooking with Data: Recipes for Data Transformation Success

A humorous article offering recipes for data transformation, blending culinary metaphors with data engineering concepts for delightful insights, served with style and precision.

Data Engineering
ETL Processes
Real Time Data
Big Data Analytics
Machine Learning Models
Personalisation
April 7, 2024

Making Shopping Personal with Apache Spark

Discover how Apache Spark powers personalized retail experiences, from data loading to crafting smart product recommendations with the ALS algorithm.

Apache Spark
Machine Learning
Retail Analytics
Product Recommendations
Data Processing
High-Speed Train
April 2, 2024

Optimizing Data Lakes – Techniques for Real-Time Ingestion

This article explores real-time data lake ingestion, detailing techniques like stream processing and CDC, and tools such as Apache Kafka and NiFi. It emphasizes best practices for data quality, scalability, and security.

Real-Time Data Ingestion
Data Lake Architecture
Apache Kafka
Stream Processing
Data Management Best Practices
eCommerce Wizard
March 31, 2024

Seamlessly Integrate ECommerce into Your Website in No Time

Discover how to effortlessly integrate Shopify into your existing website, enhancing your online store with code examples, practical tips, and expert advice for success.

Shopify Integration
E-Commerce Solutions
Online Store Setup
Website Integration with Shopify
Shopify API and Widgets
City of the Future
March 26, 2024

Harnessing AI for SEO Supremacy

Explore how AI and LLMs revolutionise SEO, enhancing keyword research, content creation, and UX. This guide offers insights and examples for leveraging AI while highlighting the indispensable human touch.

AI in SEO
Content Creation with AI
Keyword Research Techniques
Enhancing User Experience
Generative AI for Marketing
Blockchain Garden
March 24, 2024

Blockchain's New Frontier in SEO and Digital Marketing

Blockchain has the potential to revolutionise digital marketing and SEO with enhanced transparency and security, levelling the playing field for SMEs by prioritising quality content and verified reviews. However, there are challenges ahead...

Blockchain Digital Marketing
SEO Transparency Security
SME Online Visibility
Content Authenticity Blockchain
Verified Reviews Blockchain
Marketing Channels Like An Orchestra
March 19, 2024

Integrating SEO with Other Marketing Channels

The article provides practical advice on integrating Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) with other marketing channels. It emphasises consistency in messaging across platforms and offers examples like using social media to share SEO content and incorporating SEO in email newsletters.

SEO Integration
Digital Marketing Strategy
Social Media SEO
Email Marketing SEO
Offline SEO Tactics
UX KPIs
March 11, 2024

Unlocking UX/UI Success: Simple Metrics for Powerful Results

Unlock the secret to effortless, impactful UX design. We reveal how to leverage key metrics and budget-friendly tools to elevate user experiences and drive success. Let’s make tech more human!

UX/UI Design Best Practices
Measuring UX/UI Success
Cost-Effective UX/UI Metrics
User Experience UI Optimization
Startup UX/UI Strategies
LangChain
March 4, 2024

LangChain: Building Smarter Language Model Applications

LangChain, an open-source Python library, enables Large Language Models to tap into diverse knowledge sources and interact with external tools. Featuring chains, agents, and prompt templates, it streamlines advanced AI application development, signifying a major leap in AI technology.

LLM
AI Application Development
Open-Source AI Tools
Knowledge Management
LangChain
Centralise-Decentralise
February 27, 2024

Why Almost Everything Should Be Refactored Out Of Central Control

Central control is dangerous. Decentralization is hard, and counterintuitive. Still, decentralization is essential for the survival of any organization at scale. In this article we unravel the arguments for central control, and suggest how to decentralize without failing.

Decentralisation in Business
Management Strategies
Autonomous Teams
Corporate Culture Transformation
Organizational Innovation
AI
February 25, 2024

The Risks and Opportunities of AI

Squads is using AI more and more, but we have strong reservations. This article tries to shine light on the reasons why we are reluctant, and to cut away some FUD surrounding AI. A left brained, down to earth look at it, to balance against the hyperbole that you can find everywhere else.

AI Technology Risks
AI Opportunities
Ethical AI Use
Technological Singularity
AI and Innovation
action-for-refugee-life
February 21, 2024

Action for Refugee Life (AReL)

AReL, a refugee-led organization in Kakuma, empowers refugees with digital skills for a sustainable future. They seek donations for transport, technology, and local instructors to overcome barriers and enhance education. Support their mission to transform lives.

Refugee Empowerment
Digital Skills Training
Sustainable Development
Education Accessibility
Social Impact
Rugby Match
February 7, 2024

How to Launch Your Product Without Hiring Staff

Launching a product without a team is challenging due to compensation expectations. Collaborating with teams like Squads cuts costs, ensures stability, and progresses projects, enabling cost-effective management and project continuity without significant upfront investment.

Software Development
Startups
Product Development
Outsource
MVP Development
Photo by Mark Duffel from Unsplash
January 29, 2024

Implementing Regression Test Automation to Reduce Risk

Explore the shift from manual testing to automation in software development. This article reveals how automating regression tests enhances efficiency, cuts risks, and boosts product stability. Transform your software strategy with this insightful read.

Software Testing
Regression Testing
Automation
Software Testing Life Cycle
Quality Assurance
BOAS screenshot
December 19, 2023

Squads invested in BOAS, the vintage fashion platform that saves lives

Fast fashion contributes to 10% of global CO2 emissions and consumes 93 trillion liters of water annually. BOAS not only addresses the environmental toll of fast fashion but also channels 90% of its profits to life-saving charities. So Squads' members invested in BOAS, and BOAS saved its first live.

Sustainable Fashion
Tech for Good
Environmental Impact
Social Entrepreneurship
Circular Economy
Southpark computer guy
December 7, 2023

Fully Distributed Teams: Squads’ development solution 

Overview of the lessons we learned and practices we implemented to overcome challenges of distributed collaboration.

Distributed Teams
Remote Work Innovation
Agile Development Process
Team Productivity
Collaboration in Tech
picture_blog_revolutionizing_tech
December 1, 2023

Beyond Directive Management: Fostering Self-Organized Tech Teams for Innovation

Explore a shift in tech leadership towards collaboration and self-organization to tackle industry challenges. Learn about guilds, enabling teams, and the role of coaching in fostering a culture of innovation and shared problem-solving.

Self-Organizing Teams
Tech Team Innovation
Collaborative Frameworks
Leadership in Technology
Agile Methodologies
Sustainability project stockphoto
October 30, 2023

Sustainable Innovation: The Power of Regenerative Entrepreneurship in IT

Were you aware that the IT industry contributes 2-3% to global greenhouse gas emissions? It's quite astonishing, considering it releases as much carbon as the entire aviation industry. This fact often goes unnoticed as we continue to enjoy the conveniences it provides.

Regenerative Entrepreneurship
Sustainable IT Solutions
Environmental Innovation
Green Technology
Corporate Responsibility
Overwhelmed by Elena Covalciuc Vieru
September 26, 2023

Fixing the world can only be done one change at a time, but where do I start?

The world we live in has a lot of features, many of which may seem broken. That's a lot of things to fix, and this can become overwhelming. Here's a simple algorithm to help find focus. It's based on the general recipe to fix performance bugs in software.

Impactful Change
Sustainability Efforts
Problem Solving Strategies
Environmental Awareness
Productivity
Remote work is not without its challenges
February 1, 2023

The most important things remote employers get wrong the first time

Remote jobs on LinkedIN have risen from less than 1% to over 14% since the start of the COVID pandemic. More interestingly, these 14% of jobs get more than 50% of all the applications. Still there are many companies struggling with remote work policies. Squads lessons from a decade of experience.

Remote Work Challenges
Employee Productivity
Remote Work Contracts
Business Management
Workplace Innovation
Lightning crossroads
October 19, 2022

Why I changed my mind on Bitcoin's energy consumption problem

A bitcoin transaction uses 800.000 times more energy than a credit card transaction. This seems to be a problem, but is it, really? There's a place for bitcoin. The possible transformation of energy into money, and the incentive for electrical heating may well offset the waste.

Bitcoin Energy Consumption
Cryptocurrency Sustainability
Environmental Impact of Crypto
Renewable Energy in Blockchain
Energy Efficiency in Technology
brooke-cagle--uHVRvDr7pg-unsplash
September 6, 2022

Scaled Agile Framework for Dummies

Scaled agile framework (SAFe) is one of the cutting-edge software development methodologies today. It has been tailored to help accommodate fast-paced technology innovation, new product development. Here is a breakdown of what the framework is and how you can use it in your business.

Scaled Agile Framework
Agile Methodology
Software Development
Product Management
Team Collaboration
chris-liverani-NDfqqq 7QWM-unsplash
August 31, 2022

How to survive trends as a business

Business people dread the moment when they need to scale their team and the best new developer explains that the application is beyond maintenance and new features can only be added after a complete rewrite. Squads will give you the golden tip on what to consider before investing in costly rewrites.

Business Adaptability
Code Maintenance
Startup Growth
Technology Trends
Software Development
Marie-Louise
August 30, 2022

Sanoma's experience with Squads

Squads definitely understands the lean start-up approach, so it was the perfect match from the start. (...) I appreciated that they would question me as a product owner “do we really need this feature or can we make it simpler to see if it works?”

Remote Team Management
Lean Startup
Agile Development
Digital Product Development
Client Collaboration
loic-leray-fCzSfVIQlVY-unsplash
August 29, 2022

Manage Your Startups Risks: How to Use Lean Principles

Want to de-risk your business? Our proffesional team at Squads has created a Startup Risk Management Sheet that will be a game-changer for you and your future mental health as an entrepreneur.

Lean Startup
Risk Management
Startup Growth
Lean Principles
Risk Management
burst-kUqqaRjJuw0-unsplash
August 22, 2022

Spreading Containers using Docker

Are you a programmer and want to know more about Containers using Docker, click to read the blog below.

Docker Containers
Virtualization
Software Development
DevOps
Cloud Computing
krakenimages-376KN ISplE-unsplash
July 31, 2022

How to Support Lean Startups

The secret tips on how to run your succesful lean start up directly from our expert programmers. Read this article if you want to learn how to de-risk your business!

Lean Startup
Startup Development
Agile Project Management
Product-Market Fit
Customer Development Strategy
webdeveloper-1024x768
July 12, 2022

A Day In the Life of a Web Developer

Have you ever wondered what a web developer does? Wonder no more. Here's what a typical day looks like for a web developer.

Web Development
Software Engineering
Team Collaboration
Coding Best Practices
Tech Career Insights
Handsome-Male-and-Beautiful-Fe-1024x576
October 11, 2021

5 Reasons Why You Should Hire an App Developer for Your Business

An app for your business can help make things easier and more streamlined for your clients. Learn why and how to hire an app developer here.

App Development
Mobile Technology
Software Engineering
Business Strategy
Digital Transformation
woman working behind laptop
September 21, 2021

6 Reasons why we need an Elance alternative

In this story we will hear from Evelyne de Jong a Squads member who left Elance, a Freelance service marketplace, to start a new career at Squads. "The Elance-oDesk remote era is over."

Freelance Platform
Collaborative Teamwork
Remote Work
Startup Support
Agile Development
Cryptocurrency-future-of-payment
May 5, 2021

What Elon Musk Doesn’t Talk About: How Buying Cryptocurrency Kills Our Planet

Major cryptocurrencies demand unreasonable amounts of power for their proof of work blockchains. Bitcoin is causing a lot of energy waste, while much of this power is not sustainably produced. We need to change the way we deal with crypto and favor more energy efficient solutions

Sustainable Crypto
Eco Friendly Blockchain
Digital Currency