SleepyDev Blog Feed
I haven't updated this website in a long time. I return to it weary and hungry for sanctuary. I started this blog several years ago during a four month career break, a brief respite before boarding a new ship that took me on a three year journey that has concluded with another sabbatical. I don't know how long this break will last, and I am in the process of making peace with the prospect of…
I’ve been intentionally unemployed for nearly two months, a decision made during a ferocious burnout induced mental breakdown near the end of 2022. I’m thankful for the privilege to take a break, but despite popular sentiment about sabbaticals - “funemployed” is not a word that I’d use to describe my current experience. My productivity levels have been unstable. I teeter between “furiously…
"Code Review" is a term that often summons a feeling of dread in developers. Long, arduous, and confusing code reviews have become standard. "Bikeshedding" is a competitive sport. Jira tickets hover in the "review" lane for days while project managers inquire about ways they can help "get the ball rolling" (if you'd like to facilitate this debate thread about the readability of line 242 in…
I decided to write my own minimal Static Site Generator for this Neocities site rather than use an established system like Hugo or Gatsby (Although, as a React supremacist, I was tempted by Gatsby). Both options mentioned are robust and perfectly capable, but were a bit bulky for my needs. Considering my current state of having too much time on my hands , I decided to jump on the chance to learn…
Tech companies, particularly startups, have adopted a cult-like atmosphere that can mask employee exploitation. One of the ways this is accomplished is by feigning an interest in employee wellness by offering “perks”. Many of the most predatory companies offer elaborate “perk packages” that entice the employee into developing an impenetrable loyalty. Home office and “personal development”…
Around a month ago, I decided to do something terrifying: check the Screen Time app on my phone. While I knew that I wouldn't be pleased with my discovery, I still wasn't prepared for the number reveal. I was averaging 6 hours of screen time a day, nearly 40% of my total waking hours. The remaining percentage of my conscious time was largely spent at work. I was living to work, sleep, and doom…
So you have a static site. You've hand coded the markup and styling, and it's a breathtaking sight to behold. Perhaps you're wondering if it's accessible . (And if you're not wondering this, I would encourage you to give it some thought.) While it's true that the rules of web accessibility can be sometimes complex, there are a few simple things that you can keep in mind when developing static…
In the middle of December 2022, I decided to quit a newly acquired engineering job of 3 months and place myself on a "sabbatical" to focus on my mental health. I am not entirely sure how long this sabbatical will be, but I'm starting with an estimated 3 months. Many people questioned this decision, which is perfectly reasonable considering my short tenure. I myself still question it. Did I make…
When I was a small child, I was obsessively terrified of going blind, falling deaf, or becoming mute. I do not know what triggered this intense fear, but it stayed with me for several years. Having grown up in an evangelical Christian household, my method of dealing with this anxiety was praying feverishly that I'd avoid this plight. This praying was methodical and exhausting. I'd repeat the same…
If you've spent any time in the tech world, you've likely heard about "web accessibility", or stumbled upon less transpicuous phrases such as "a11y" or "WCAG". This is a good thing, as in earlier years there was little to no regard for making apps and websites accessible. The web was a wild west, and those with any level of disability were left to navigate it in the dark. While I am delighted to…