Josh Snow

Software Developer

[Josh Snow @Joshsnow]

I’m getting very tired of this black box approach. Reliability is terrible.

We have many instances of workflows that haven’t been touched and have run flawlessly for over a year suddenly and randomly misbehave.

This then creates a shitstorm and the solutions to resolve are often some dinky cumbersome series of workflows which always makes me nervous about what’ll happen next that we can’t foresee.

Did someone say house of cards?

[Josh Snow @Joshsnow]

@george_nqu @bubble

[Josh Snow @Joshsnow]

@benspringwater Hey 👋

[Josh Snow @Joshsnow]

@KMkota0 👋

[Josh Snow @Joshsnow]

What a shitty SaaS billing experience @PageFlows. Last year you sent me a reminder 1 week out from the renewal - perfect 👌

Silly me expected the same again and didn't get it 🙄

Actually, I haven't had a single email from you since that reminder a year ago... since then you've arbitrarily decided I don't need billing reminders?

Complete silence from you over the last year until you charge my card.

Why not send reminders to all people on all plans. Why not keep is consistent from year to year?

[Josh Snow @Joshsnow]

@george_nqu Maybe great for SaaS but not a small agency! Really shows they understand your business model 🙄

[Josh Snow @Joshsnow]

It’s an easy path to get lost down. I see it all the time where clients will spend too much time focusing on the how instead of the why in the first place.

The best processes to automate with tech are the ones that are already burning admin time and causing you pain. Not the ones you anticipate causing an issue at some stage in the future.

It’s an easy decision when you spend 1 hour automating something that then saves 12 hours of admin time every month after that.

But I can’t tell you how many processes I’ve had clients insist needed to be automated that took considerable effort and cost, only to be so rarely used. Many months later we’ve still spent something like 20 hours automating away 30 minutes of work. Madness!

Simple always wins!!

[Josh Snow @Joshsnow]

@george_nqu @PeterSasMusic @bubble Well your app should connect directly to your database for CRUD operations. I wouldn’t have everything piped through n8n

Then use db triggers, functions and edge function in Supabase do all the simple stuff.

What’s left? Complex automations right?

[Josh Snow @Joshsnow]

@PeterSasMusic @bubble Sounds like you’ve got the right approach. I don’t understand where Bubble fits in all of this 😂

[Josh Snow @Joshsnow]

@yelkhayami Just make sure they’re not your keys. That sounds expensive 😅

[Josh Snow @Joshsnow]

@NigelGodfrey Haha yes, and somehow all of the no-code platforms are totally secure and you’re prevented from doing stupid things 🥱

https://t.co/XnyiiJO8z2

[Josh Snow @Joshsnow]

Coding with AI isn’t perfect, but imagine this:

You need to get across town in rush hour in the most efficient way. Do you:

a) Plan your route for the entire journey and only once you know how you’ll get there you start moving

b) Decide at every corner which way to turn

Those that struggle with AI usually approach it a bit like B. A series of disconnected statements that lack context.

One of the things I always do is have it generate a plan first that includes a bunch of things including testing, highlighting likely issues, identifying alternate approaches.. you name it.

Then once you have a solid plan and steps to implement you can grab a coffee and let it do its thing. It may not one-shot it but I’ll get close if you’ve got a clean project and it has access to your browser to debug.

[Josh Snow @Joshsnow]

@ClausISaidSo It was a shitty way to start the day when I opened the workflow tab on an app no other devs are actively developing on.

My heart instantly dropped and I knew deep inside at that moment there was no going back. One hurried click through the settings confirmed it. 😔😂

[Josh Snow @Joshsnow]

@elibeachy I feel like this mostly explains my day to day life 😂

Man the amount of time burnt navigating limitations and weird quirks. It’s a perpetual motion machine!

[Josh Snow @Joshsnow]

@NocodeTalks Yeah we talk fast also and use a bit of a different vocabulary as well 😂

[Josh Snow @Joshsnow]

Only if they take a proper open approach.

Adding AI to a closed model where you don't have freedom with the code is going to become increasingly less attractive.

The AI builders will push quickly into providing a seamless experience where you get the visual UI tools, one-click deployments and so on (so benefits of existing no-code platforms) while retaining control if/when you want it.

I don't think most of the no-code tools get this yet. They still think locking down the codebase or simply offering an export will be sufficient. I don't think it will.

My issue with weweb is while I have an export function and can theoretically do what I like, how do I manage the codebase then? I can't. So it's kind of like unlocking a door to an empty room.