Software Development, Finance and Economics
We’ve been doing Software Development and Architecture work for a while at Snowpal, and currently have several B2B and B2C products in production. In this podcast, we’ll share our experiences on a regular basis to help you & your teams build great software. The topics covered in this podcast will include Product Management, Project Management, Architecture, Development, Deployment, Security, Release Management, Sales, Marketing, Advertising, and just about everything else an ambitious, fast growing startup based out of the US is likely to be involved in. So, join us. Let’s become better!
Episodes

Thursday Jan 25, 2024
Thursday Jan 25, 2024
In this podcast, Krish explores the process of digital analysis and how to take the analysis forward. He discusses different approaches to analyzing product usage, including general product usage analysis, client-specific product usage analysis, feature-specific product usage analysis, ad hoc analysis, and usage pattern analysis. Krish emphasizes the importance of communicating the analysis to the product team and translating it into meaningful requirements for the engineering team.
Takeaways
Digital analysis involves analyzing product usage and user behavior.
Different approaches to analysis include general product usage analysis, client-specific product usage analysis, feature-specific product usage analysis, ad hoc analysis, and usage pattern analysis.
Communicating the analysis to the product team is crucial for making informed decisions.
Translating the analysis into meaningful requirements helps guide the engineering team.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Recap
03:58 Communicating Analysis to Product Team
04:59 General Product Usage Analysis
09:34 Client Specific Product Usage Analysis
14:51 Feature Specific Product Usage Analysis
20:39 Ad Hoc Analysis
25:25 Usage Pattern Analysis
31:03 Translating Analysis into Requirements
Snowpal Products
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Mobile Apps on App Store and Play Store
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Education Platform for Learners and Course Creators

Tuesday Jan 23, 2024
Tuesday Jan 23, 2024
This podcast episode explores digital analytics tools, with a focus on FullStory. The host provides an overview of digital analytics and its importance in understanding user behavior and improving online marketing strategies. The features and configuration of FullStory are discussed, including the ability to analyze user activity, track frustrated sessions and rage clicks, and use UTM campaigns for tracking. The episode also touches on the use of DataDog for digital analytics and highlights the various aspects that can be analyzed, such as session length, user behavior, and conversion rates. The episode concludes with the importance of using digital analytics to improve business performance.
Takeaways
Digital analytics tools help gather, analyze, and interpret data from digital sources to understand user behavior and improve online marketing strategies.
FullStory is a digital analytics tool that provides detailed insights into customer behavior, allowing for optimization of webpages, marketing campaigns, and online initiatives.
Features of FullStory include analyzing user activity, tracking frustrated sessions and rage clicks, and using UTM campaigns for tracking.
Session length and active time are important metrics to consider for user engagement and scalability.
Frustrated sessions and rage clicks can provide insights into user experience issues and areas for improvement.
UTM campaigns and sources can be used to track and analyze the performance of digital marketing campaigns.
DataDog is another tool that can be used for digital analytics and offers features for monitoring and observability.
Digital analytics can be customized to analyze different aspects such as user behavior, page performance, and conversion rates.
Using digital analytics can help businesses improve their online presence, understand user needs, and make data-driven decisions for growth and optimization.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Context
01:27 Overview of Digital Analytics Tools
03:49 Exploring FullStory
07:14 Configuring FullStory
09:40 Analyzing User Activity in FullStory
13:13 Additional Features of FullStory
19:00 Importance of Session Length and Active Time
20:04 Optimizing User Experience and Scalability
21:45 Frustrated Sessions and Rage Clicks
22:33 Understanding Frustrated Sessions and Rage Clicks
23:37 UTM Campaigns and Sources
26:34 Using UTM Codes for Tracking
28:38 Customizing Analysis Parameters
29:42 Exploring DataDog for Digital Analytics
31:56 Analyzing Different Aspects of Digital Analytics
38:00 Using Digital Analytics to Improve Business
39:16 Conclusion
Snowpal Products
Backends as Services on AWS Marketplace
Mobile Apps on App Store and Play Store
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Education Platform for Learners and Course Creators

Monday Jan 22, 2024
Monday Jan 22, 2024
In this podcast, Krish discusses how each individual represents not only themselves but also a larger population. He emphasizes the importance of credibility, professionalism, clear communication, and commitment to deliverables. Krish also highlights the significance of reputation and how it can impact others who share similarities. He advises learning the paradigms of the organization and reacting gracefully to transitions. Krish concludes by reminding listeners that a job does not define their worth as a person.
Takeaways
Representing oneself also means representing a larger population.
Credibility is crucial in building trust and reputation.
Clear communication and professionalism are essential in the workplace.
Commitment to deliverables and meeting deadlines is important.
Helping others and reacting gracefully to transitions can have a positive impact.
A job does not define an individual's worth.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
00:58 Representing a Larger Population
03:25 Changes in the Hiring Process
08:05 Credibility
09:58 Location and Availability
12:17 Professionalism
13:19 Communication
15:25 Commitment to Deliverables
16:48 Reputation
18:31 Learning Organizational Paradigms
19:53 Confidence
20:58 Helping Others
23:01 Reacting to Transitions
25:20 Job Does Not Define You
26:39 Conclusion
Snowpal Products
Backends as Services on AWS Marketplace
Mobile Apps on App Store and Play Store
Web App
Education Platform for Learners and Course Creators

Monday Jan 22, 2024
10+ ways to improve Employee Retention
Monday Jan 22, 2024
Monday Jan 22, 2024
In this podcast episode, Krish discusses employee retention and the overall employee experience. He shares insights and tips based on his experience in software development and running a startup. The conversation covers various topics such as job descriptions, recruiter reach out, interview processes, communication and feedback, onboarding, promotions and pay raises, time off policies, equipment, happiness check, training, engagement, restructuring, and moving on. Krish emphasizes the importance of treating employees as individuals and creating a positive work environment.
Takeaways
Job descriptions should be engaging and reflect the company culture.
Recruiters should reach out to candidates in a personalized and clear manner.
The interview process should be well-defined and relevant to the role.
Regular communication and feedback are crucial for employee satisfaction.
Onboarding should be seamless and include necessary resources and support.
Treating contractors and consultants with respect and clarity is important.
Promotions, pay raises, and titles should be personalized to meet individual preferences.
Time off policies should be flexible and considerate of employees' needs.
Providing the right equipment and tools for work enhances productivity and satisfaction.
Engagement activities should be tailored to the team's preferences and promote a positive work culture.
Restructuring should be handled with empathy and transparency.
When moving on, employees should give notice and assist with the transition process.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:42 Job Description
04:46 Recruiter Reach Out
08:52 Interview Process
12:23 Communication and Feedback
13:21 Onboarding Process
15:21 Treating Contractors and Consultants
17:05 Feedback
18:05 Promotions, Pay Raises, and Titles
20:24 Time Off
22:01 Equipment
25:31 Happiness Check
27:00 Training
28:30 Engagement
30:59 Restructuring
34:36 Moving On
35:36 Conclusion
Snowpal Products
Backends as Services on AWS Marketplace
Mobile Apps on App Store and Play Store
Web App
Education Platform for Learners and Course Creators

Friday Jan 19, 2024
Friday Jan 19, 2024
In this episode, Krish and Kramer discuss the impact of the automated economy on global economic growth. They explore the differences in the adoption of automated economy between countries and the role of culture in this process. They also identify the countries that are likely to have the largest impact on the automated economy, including India, African countries, South Asian countries, and Latin American countries. The conversation explores the impact of the automated economy on different countries and regions. It discusses the growth potential of India, Africa, South Asia, Latin America, China, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. The chapters also highlight the relationship between GDP and the automated economy. They explore the contribution of automated economy to GDP growth and how it is not directly proportional. They also discuss the importance of the percentage of automated economy and its contribution to GDP. Additionally, they delve into the concept of accelerating economic growth through automation and how the growth potential of an economy is directly proportional to the level of automation. Finally, they summarize the key takeaways, including the role of automated economy in driving economic growth and the importance of understanding the cultural and political perspectives.
Takeaways
The automated economy is driving global economic growth, with the GDP generated from the automated economy increasing from $13.5 trillion in 2018 to $53.3 trillion in 2022.
The adoption of automated economy varies between countries, with factors such as disposable income, government support, and cultural readiness playing a role.
Countries like India, African countries, South Asian countries, and Latin American countries have the potential for significant growth in the automated economy.
The growth of the automated economy is driven by consumer demand for convenience and personalization, as well as the ability of businesses and governments to implement and support automation. India has a high growth capability due to automation and a focus on middle-income growth.
Africa has the potential to become a stellar growth region, but disposable income growth may hinder its economic impact.
China may struggle with middle-income growth, resulting in a lower impact from the automated economy.
Latin America has the economic capability for growth, but cultural adoption may slow down the impact of automation.
The growth potential of different countries and regions is not directly proportional to their GDP. The contribution of automated economy to GDP growth is not directly proportional.
The percentage of automated economy and its contribution to GDP is an important factor to consider.
Automation can accelerate economic growth by increasing the expansion capability of an economy.
The growth potential of an economy is directly proportional to the level of automation.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
11:03 Differences in Automated Economy between Countries
19:14 Culture and Automated Economy
35:27 Countries with the Largest Impact on Automated Economy
42:55 The Impact of the Automated Economy on Different Countries
44:20 China's Struggle with Middle Income Growth
45:38 India's Growth Capability Due to Automation
48:01 The Growth Potential of Latin America
53:23 The Growth Potential of Western & Rest of Europe
55:02 The Growth Potential of Australia & New Zealand
58:02 The Impact of GDP & Automated Economy
01:20:03 Accelerating Economic Growth through Automation
01:23:12 Summary
Snowpal Products
Backends as Services on AWS Marketplace
Mobile Apps on App Store and Play Store
Web App
Education Platform for Learners and Course Creators

Friday Jan 19, 2024
Friday Jan 19, 2024
In this podcast, Prasanna Veeraswamy discusses his travels to 200 countries and the cultural differences he encountered. The conversation explores the hypothetical scenario of introducing technology to individuals from different countries and the potential impact on happiness. The shared experiences and commonalities between people in Africa are also discussed. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the impact of technology on people's beliefs and the continuation of the topic in the next podcast.
Takeaways
Traveling to different countries provides valuable insights into different cultures and perspectives.
Shared experiences and connections with others can bring a sense of calm and happiness.
Despite cultural differences, there are often commonalities that bind people together.
The impact of technology on people's beliefs and values is a complex topic that requires further exploration.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
01:17 Hypothetical Scenario
04:51 Discussion on Happiness
08:04 Shared Experiences
11:30 Sadness and Commonalities in Africa
13:11 Design Patterns and Commonalities
15:42 Technology and People18:51Relaxation and Travel
19:30 Impact of Technology
Snowpal Products
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Friday Jan 19, 2024
Friday Jan 19, 2024
In this podcast episode, Krish and Prasanna continue their conversation about Prasanna's travels. They focus on Africa, discussing its diversity and unique characteristics. They also explore the impact of technology, specifically YouTube consumption, in different regions. The episode concludes with a thought-provoking question about happiness in different cultural contexts.
Takeaways
Africa is a diverse continent with distinct regions and cultures.
Africa has a raw and primitive feel, with limited technological advancements compared to other continents.
YouTube consumption varies significantly across different regions, with Africa having the lowest consumption rates.
Cultural context plays a significant role in determining happiness levels.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
01:04 Continuing the Conversation
03:00 Africa: A Continent of Diversity
06:25 Africa's Unique Characteristics
08:05 Technology and YouTube Consumption
09:34 Happiness in Different Cultural Contexts
10:47 Conclusion
Snowpal Products
Backends as Services on AWS Marketplace
Mobile Apps on App Store and Play Store
Web App
Education Platform for Learners and Course Creators

Friday Jan 19, 2024
Friday Jan 19, 2024
In this podcast episode, Krish and Prasanna discuss the challenges and strategies for building relationships and effective communication in remote work environments. They explore the cultural differences that can impact communication styles and offer insights on how to bridge those gaps. They also discuss the importance of creating off-sites and team building activities to foster connections among remote team members. Additionally, they address the fear of being judged and provide suggestions for individuals to take initiative in building relationships. Overall, the conversation emphasizes the value of understanding and adapting to different cultures in order to create successful remote work environments. The conversation explores the complexity of cultures and the adjustments required when working with teams in different parts of the world. It emphasizes the importance of work-life harmony and the need for companies to invest in their employees. The blurring of personal and professional relationships is discussed, along with the cultural differences in weddings and drinking culture.
Krish and Prasanna discuss various topics related to cultural differences and their experiences in different countries. They explore the concept of leadership in different cultures, highlighting the importance of personal attention and mentorship in countries like China. They also express their interest in Africa and its unique qualities, such as its raw and elemental nature. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the value of diversity and the potential future topic of social group travel.
Takeaways
Cultures are complex and require understanding and adjustments when working with teams from different parts of the world.
Work-life harmony is more important than work-life balance, as it allows for flexibility and integration of personal and professional lives.
Companies should invest in their employees and create a positive work environment to retain talent.
Cultural differences can be seen in various aspects of life, including weddings and drinking culture.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
01:41 Cultural Differences in Communication
06:12 Finding a Middle Ground for Remote Work
09:06 Creating Offsites and Team Building Activities
11:44 Overcoming Social Barriers in Remote Work
16:23 Balancing Transactional and Relational Work Relationships
17:46 Individual Initiatives for Building Relationships
20:43 Addressing the Fear of Being Judged
22:13 Creating a Live Call Environment
26:26 Navigating Cultural Differences
34:44 Cultural Complexity
36:01 Adjustments in Different Parts of the World
39:01 Work-Life Balance and Cultural Differences
46:24 Retaining Employees in a Changing Workforce
48:20 Blurring the Line Between Personal and Professional Relationships
49:45 Forming Personal Relationships at Work
51:11 Work-Life Harmony
56:01 The Evolution of Work-Life Balance
59:32 The Importance of Work-Life Harmony
01:03:31 The Blending of Personal and Professional Lives
01:06:37 Cultural Differences in Weddings
01:08:30 Cultural Differences in Drinking Culture
01:09:13 Cultural Differences in Leadership
01:11:27 Interest in Africa
01:13:40 Uniqueness of Africa
01:16:03 Appreciation for Diversity
01:18:23 Future Topics: Social Group Travel
Snowpal Products
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Education Platform for Learners and Course Creators

Thursday Jan 18, 2024
(Part 3/N) Terraform: Create Image Resource
Thursday Jan 18, 2024
Thursday Jan 18, 2024
In this podcast, Krish continues the Terraform series by bringing another resource under Terraform's management without using the import block. He demonstrates how to create and modify a Docker container image using Terraform. He also explores the process of destroying resources and discuss some limitations and considerations.
Takeaways
You can bring existing resources under Terraform's management without using the import block.
Terraform allows you to modify the configuration of resources and apply the changes.
Destroying resources in Terraform can sometimes result in errors, but they can usually be resolved.
The next episode will focus on using Terraform with AWS and explore other cloud providers.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Recap
06:12 Bringing a Resource Under Terraform's Management
15:24 Modifying Configuration and Destroying Resources
17:08 Summary and Next Steps
Snowpal Products
Backends as Services on AWS Marketplace
Mobile Apps on App Store and Play Store
Web App
Education Platform for Learners and Course Creators

Thursday Jan 18, 2024
Thursday Jan 18, 2024
In this podcast, Krish explores the various connectors available in Confluent Cloud. He starts by recapping the previous podcasts and the basics of Confluent Cloud. Krish then focuses on connectors, explaining their value and why they can reduce the need for writing code. He explores different connectors, such as the data gen source connector and the MongoDB Atlas connectors. Krish also discusses different data formats, including Avro, Protobuf, and JSON. He briefly touches on implementing custom connectors. Krish explores the topic of connectors in Confluent Cloud. He discusses the process of creating connectors and the different types of connectors available. Krish also delves into configuring connectors and defining configuration parameters. He explores the concept of custom connector configuration and the use of connector properties files. Krish then explores existing connectors, such as the HTTP source and sync connectors, and discusses the process of publishing custom connectors. He concludes by mentioning the Confluent CLI for managing connectors.
Takeaways
Connectors in Confluent Cloud provide value by reducing the need for writing code.
Different connectors are available for various data sources and destinations, such as MongoDB, Amazon S3, and Elasticsearch.
Data formats like Avro, Protobuf, and JSON can be used with connectors.
Implementing custom connectors allows for more flexibility and integration with specific systems.
Connectors enable seamless data integration and propagation between different systems. Connectors in Confluent Cloud allow for seamless integration with various systems and services.
Custom connectors can be created and published to Confluent Cloud.
Configuration parameters for connectors can be defined and managed.
The Confluent CLI provides a command-line interface for managing connectors.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
00:35 Recap of Previous Podcasts
01:05 Focus on Connectors in Confluent Cloud
02:16 Exploring Data Gen Source Connector
03:43 Different Formats: Avro, Protobuf, JSON
08:07 Differences Between Avro and Protobuf
10:03 Exploring Other Connectors
11:14 Using MongoDB Atlas Connectors
12:08 Testing Different Formats with Connectors
13:36 Handling Avro Format with Consumer
16:58 Exploring More Connectors: Snowflake, Amazon S3, Elasticsearch
20:33 Implementing Custom Connectors
27:31 Exploring More Connectors: Salesforce, Oracle, Jira
35:16 Exploring More Connectors: SQL Server, MySQL
38:43 Implementing Custom Connectors
43:24 Exploring More Connectors: Kafka, File
46:20 Understanding Connector Implementation
49:06 Creating Custom Connectors
50:00 Summary and Conclusion
50:59 Creating Connectors
52:04 Configuring Connectors
54:00 Custom Connector Configuration
56:08 Defining Configuration Parameters
57:38 Configuration Properties
59:49 Self-Managed Connectors
01:00: 27 Connector Properties File
01:01:28 Creating Custom Connectors
01:02: 09 Publishing Custom Connectors
01:03: 37Existing Connectors
01:04: 14HTTP Source Connector
01:06:40 HTTP Sync Connector
01:08:34 Other Connectors
01:10:34 Managing Connectors
01:12:14 Confluent CLI
Snowpal Products
Backends as Services on AWS Marketplace
Mobile Apps on App Store and Play Store
Web App
Education Platform for Learners and Course Creators