Grains of Salt

Online multiplayer games are a staple of modern entertainment. But internet connectivity is an unpredictable factor in the experience. That’s why netcode exists. But what is it? And how does it really affect players? 

From healthcare to banking, there’s a lot of industries that require the utmost protection for sensitive data. But for those sectors, innovation is also essential. That’s why disconnected environments—or air-gap environments—can be seen across the IT landscape. But how do they work? How do technologists ensure the data is accurate and usable, and how can these environments foster innovation?

Red Hat Enterprise Linux has been around for a while. For many technologists, be they professional or hobbyist, it jump started their interest in open source. But how did the operating system, and the culture behind it, strike a chord with so many people?

We all know what industry conferences are for. You see the talks, you do the networking, you get the swag. Anything else? Well, yes, actually. In our second episode on tech conferences, we cover how to make the most of attending them. How can you prepare? What do you do in the moment? And how do you use that experience after you return to the office?

Last year, we discussed the impact of data centers on the global power grid. We know open source technology can help us optimize our power consumption. But people are looking at sustainable energy usage beyond the server. How can technologists think about the balance between sustainability, business operations, and their customers’ needs?

Career paths are full of unexpected challenges. In the last installment of our career series, we hear how a little empathy and authenticity helped two budding IT professionals stay the course and find their calling.

Everyone wants to work for a good boss. That’s not always possible. Sometimes, a bad boss is easy to spot. Sometimes, a boss who’s been great will say something devastating. They’ll make you want to move on. We hear stories about managers who stalled their employees’ careers—and how those workers found a way to thrive in spite of those bad bosses.

We all start somewhere. For these two IT professionals, the ground floor is where they found their way into the tech industry. When you don’t know how to navigate a career in technology, it pays to be flexible. Because as Luis Martin and Victor Santiago would learn, where someone begins isn’t necessarily where they end up.

We could all use some help making decisions. The advice we get isn’t always the most helpful. Sometimes, it’s easy to spot the bad advice. But what do you do when you can’t tell? Two technologists share times of indecision where they had to figure out whether the guidance they asked for was really in their best interests.

Big mistakes. Colossal setbacks. Bad days. We’ve all been there. But how do we find a way forward? The Compiler team shares two stories of unexpected challenges and happy endings.