This weeks newsletter (#1233)

* This weeks newsletter

Author: NiallJoeMaher

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+Tue, Jan 14, 2025 • Niall Maher
+
+# ⚡ That moment when 270,000 users hit deploy at once...
+
+Something I've been excited about recently (and think you should be too) is AI Agents.
+
+AI agents are changing how our apps handle user input. Previously, users had to fill out forms exactly right, or the app would break. Agents can understand messy, natural input and still get the job done.
+
+Here's a real example: Say you type 'remind me to call Dave from the backend team about the database next Thursday.' An agent is smart enough to:
+
+- Create a calendar invite (since it seems you want to meet)
+- Find Dave in your work directory and add him
+- Put the details in the invite
+- Set up a reminder
+- Mark it as a tech meeting
+
+Before agents, we had to write many rigid rules to handle this. We'd need code to check if something should be a task or a calendar event, find the right person, and set everything up. It was like building a huge decision tree where everything had to be spelled out. Now agents can figure this stuff out on their own, making our apps much more flexible and user-friendly.
+
+The best part? You don't need to wait to start building with agents. You can build your own multi-agent systems with tools like [AutoGen](https://microsoft.github.io/autogen/stable//index.html), [LangChain](https://www.langchain.com/), and [CrewA](https://www.crewai.com/)I today.
+
+Trust me, you'll have a blast seeing how flexible they can be.
+
+Now after my little bit of excitement, here's the rest of the newsletter.
+
+## 📚 This Week's Picks
+
+[**Your Journey to the Tech Stage: A Speaker's Guide (13 min)**](link)\
+​​​​​​​Something I wrote this week: A practical roadmap for developers wanting to share their knowledge through conference speaking. From crafting a compelling proposal to delivering your talk with confidence, this guide breaks down every step of becoming a tech conference speaker. Whether you're submitting your first CFP or looking to improve your speaking game, you'll find actionable insights to help you succeed.
+
+[**Node's new built-in support for TypeScript (4 min)**](https://2ality.com/2025/01/nodejs-strip-type.html)\
+Big news for TypeScript developers: Node.js v23.6.0 now supports TypeScript out of the box without transpilation. Learn about the experimental type-stripping feature, which extensions to use (.mts, .cts, .ts), and important limitations like no JSX support or decorators. Perfect for teams considering dropping their TypeScript build step.
+
+[**Rombo: Tailwind Animation Made Simple (Tool)**](https://rombo.co/tailwind/) A game-changing toolkit that makes creating smooth UI animations with Tailwind CSS a breeze. Perfect for developers looking to add polished motion design to their projects without the complexity of custom animation code. Their visual editor makes it easy to experiment with animations and export production-ready Tailwind code.[](link)
+
+[**The State of LLMs: 2024 in Review (27 min)**](link) A comprehensive deep dive into how Large Language Models evolved in 2024. From breakthrough architectures to surprising capabilities, this analysis covers the pivotal moments that shaped AI development. Essential reading for anyone working with or interested in the future of AI technology - exploring both technical advances and their practical implications.**[](https://surfingcomplexity.blog/2024/12/21/the-canva-outage-another-tale-of-saturation-and-resilience/)**
+
+**[Canva's December 2024 Outage Analysis (13 min)](https://surfingcomplexity.blog/2024/12/21/the-canva-outage-another-tale-of-saturation-and-resilience/)**\
+A masterclass in modern system failures - see how a stale CDN rule combined with high latency created a "thundering herd" of 1.5 million requests per second. Features insights about:\
+
+- How CDN caching turned into an unexpected synchronization barrier\
+- Why load balancers sometimes make overload situations worse\
+- The battle between autoscaling and the Linux OOM killer Perfect for anyone working with distributed systems or handling high-scale deployments.
+
+## 🧠 AI Crush CFP
+
+I'm hosting my first conference!
+
+It's called AI Crush and it's in Belfast. We are looking for presenters to share their insights on May 9th, 2025. This inaugural event represents a unique opportunity to be part of something special in Northern Ireland's growing tech scene.
+
+Whether you're building AI-powered applications, exploring machine learning architectures, or implementing practical AI solutions, we want to hear your story. As a first-year conference, speakers have the rare opportunity to help shape the event's direction and be part of its founding moment.
+
+Think you've got something valuable to share? Know someone who does? The CFP (Call for Presentations) is open now - don't miss your chance to be part of this groundbreaking event!
+
+It's dual track (one stage for developers and one for leadership) so we need talks for both stages.
+
+Here's the link: [https://www.crushconf.com/cfp](https://www.crushconf.com/cfp)
+
+## 📖 Book of the Week
+
+[​​​​​​**​Run and Jump: The Meaning of the 2D Platformer (Playful Thinking)**](https://amzn.to/3WeH1EX)
+
+A fascinating exploration of how 2D platform games created lasting impact through seemingly simple design choices. Author Peter D. McDonald deconstructs over 40 years of gaming history to reveal how elements like character movement, level design, and even coin collection communicate deeper meaning to players.
+
+Perfect for game developers, designers, and anyone interested in understanding the psychology behind engaging game mechanics. Best suited for readers who want to explore the intersection of game design theory and practical implementation, whether they're creating their own games or just fascinated by how games communicate with players.
+
+## 🛠️ Something Cool\
+
+[**AWS Community Builders Program (Applications Open!)**](https://aws.amazon.com/developer/community/community-builders/)
+
+For the AWS folks in my network: the AWS Community Builders program is currently accepting applications until January 20th, 2025. This 12-month program offers developers unique access to AWS product teams, technical resources, and a global community of cloud practitioners.
+
+Community Builders get exclusive perks like:
+
+- Direct access to AWS service teams for technical deep-dives
+- Credits for AWS services to experiment with new technologies
+- Early access to AWS launches and beta features
+- Swag
+
+Whether you're building side projects on AWS or architecting enterprise solutions, this program is perfect for developers looking to deepen their cloud expertise while connecting with fellow builders. With only a few days left to apply, now's the time to throw your hat in the ring.
+
+I've been a community builder for a few years and really enjoy having access to such a smart community!
+
+## 🔗 Quick Links
+
+- Codú TikTok: [https://www.tiktok.com/@codu.co](https://www.tiktok.com/@codu.co)
+- Our YouTube channel: [https://www.youtube.com/@codu](https://www.youtube.com/@codu)
+- Find us on Twitch: [https://www.twitch.tv/codudotco](https://www.twitch.tv/codudotco)
+
+If you have any ideas or feedback, reply to this email.
+
+Thanks, and stay awesome,
+
+Niall
+
+Founder @ [Codú](https://www.codu.co/?ref=newsletter)