Top 7 Featured DEV Posts of the Week
TL;DR
This week's Top 7 DEV posts feature diverse tech insights, including framework comparisons, startup lessons, game engine development, database performance hacks, AI-powered testing, vanilla web tools, and UI pluralization tips.
Key Takeaways
- β’Alicia Sykes built an app in multiple frontend frameworks to compare performance and developer experience, offering a data-driven analysis of the modern web ecosystem.
- β’Aryan Choudhary shared reflections from his first week at a startup, emphasizing the steep learning curve, agility, and rapid growth from wearing multiple hats.
- β’Melvin Cheah documented building a game engine from scratch in C++, covering memory management and rendering loops for aspiring graphics programmers.
- β’Polliog replaced Redis with PostgreSQL for caching, showing improved performance through unlogged tables and benchmarks, challenging common architectural assumptions.
- β’Alicia Marianne created an AI-powered tool to generate API tests from Swagger documentation using Python and LLMs, automating testing workflows and improving code coverage.
Tags
Welcome to this week's Top 7, where the DEV editorial team handpicks their favorite posts from the previous week.
Congrats to all the authors that made it onto the list π
I built an app in every frontend framework
Alicia Sykes γ» Jan 5
@lissy93 takes on the ambitious challenge of building the exact same application across multiple frontend frameworks to compare performance and developer experience. The resulting analysis offers a comprehensive, data-driven look at the strengths and weaknesses of the modern web ecosystem.
The First Week at a Startup Taught Me More Than I Expected
Aryan Choudhary γ» Jan 9
@itsugo shares personal reflections from his first week at a startup, highlighting the steep learning curve and the shift in mindset required to adapt. The post emphasizes the value of agility and the rapid growth that comes from wearing multiple hats in a small team.
I Built a Game Engine from Scratch in C++ (Here's What I Learned)
Melvin Cheah γ» Jan 7
@montmont20z documents the technical journey of building a custom game engine from scratch using C++ and SDL2 to create a Breakout clone. The author breaks down the complexities of memory management and rendering loops, offering a hands-on guide for aspiring graphics programmers.
I Replaced Redis with PostgreSQL (And It's Faster)
Polliog γ» Jan 9
@polliog challenges common architectural assumptions by demonstrating how replacing Redis with PostgreSQL for caching actually improved performance for their specific use case. The post details the configuration of unlogged tables and provides benchmarks to support this unconventional infrastructure choice.
From Swagger to Tests: Building an AI-Powered API Test Generator with Python
Alicia Marianne π§π· γ» Jan 3
@m4rri4nne walks us through the creation of an AI-powered tool that automatically generates API tests by parsing Swagger documentation. By combining Python with LLMs, the author shows how to automate tedious testing workflows and improve code coverage with minimal manual effort.
Vanilla HTML, CSS, JavaScript Markdown, Syntax Highlighting, Mathjax Article Viewer
Warren Jitsing γ» Jan 5
@warren_jitsing_dd1c1d6fc6 presents a lightweight solution for building a feature-rich article viewer using only vanilla HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. The tutorial covers integrating Markdown parsing, syntax highlighting, and MathJax support without relying on heavy frontend frameworks.
A Story About Pluralization In Code (2 Items vs 2 Boxes)
John Eliud Odhiambo γ» Jan 5
@johneliud dives into the nuances of pluralization in user interfaces, discussing the logic required to distinguish between "items" and "boxes" dynamically. The author highlights how attention to these small linguistic details significantly improves the overall user experience.
And that's a wrap for this week's Top 7 roundup! π¬ We hope you enjoyed this eclectic mix of insights, stories, and tips from our talented authors. Keep coding, keep learning, and stay tuned to DEV for more captivating content and make sure youβre opted in to our Weekly Newsletter π© for all the best articles, discussions, and updates.