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Ibrahim Diallo

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2025

February

I downloaded 23MB on dial-up

I downloaded 23MB on dial-up

Before hopping on the computer, I went to see my mother with a well rehearsed speech. She was in the living room, talking on the wall phone balancing it on a shoulder while watching TV. I sat down beside her, rehearsing my speech in my head while waiting for her call to end. She noticed me fidgeting.

My Tony Robbins Experience

My Tony Robbins Experience

When I was a kid, my sister came home with a book she claimed could give you superpowers. People said that after reading it, they could levitate. I had no idea what that meant, but I was sold. The book was Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins.

Tell Me Why Your Method Is Better

Tell Me Why Your Method Is Better

As a manager, if I propose a solution and someone on the team has a better way, all they need to do is defend their method, and we’ll use it.

What's the Point of Playing?

What's the Point of Playing?

When the pandemic was in full force, my kids were at the perfect age to love the playground. Other parents stood at a distance, armed with Lysol wipes and full COVID gear, watching and waiting for their turn. I, on the other hand, hovered protectively over my kids like a human bubble. The unspoken rule was clear: the sight of another parent approaching the playground was our cue to leave. Looking back, my kids barely got to enjoy the playground during those years.

Seniority

Seniority

In some jobs, your superior is the person who knows how to do your job better than you do. They’ve spent years honing their skills, mastering the nuances of the work, and rising through the ranks. Eventually, they are promoted to leadership roles, where their expertise guides the rest of the team to perform at their best. This model of seniority, where experience and skill in the task itself are paramount, is common and highly effective in many professions.

January

How Much Do I Need to Know to Answer Your Question?

How Much Do I Need to Know to Answer Your Question?

After reading thousands of Stack Overflow questions, I've come to a conclusion: people don't provide the necessary details to get their questions answered effectively. This is a recurring problem, not just on forums but in any situation where someone seeks help. To get a useful answer, you need to include all the relevant variables, and just as importantly, filter out the irrelevant ones.

You Didn't Notice MP3 Is Now Free

You Didn't Notice MP3 Is Now Free

The MP3 format, once the gold standard for digital audio files, is now free. The licensing and patents on MP3 encoders have expired, meaning you can now include them in your applications without paying royalties. For software developers and audio enthusiasts, this might seem like a big deal. But, surprisingly, almost no one noticed. Why? Because the world of technology has changed so drastically that MP3's significance has faded into the background.

The LinkedIn Recruiter Won

The LinkedIn Recruiter Won

As a software developer, the best way to get a raise isn’t by waiting for your annual performance review. It’s by applying for a new job. This has been the industry standard for years. In many sectors, raises rarely keep up with the cost of living, and recent inflation has only made this gap more glaring. Today, this dynamic is no longer limited to the tech industry; in nearly every field, the easiest way to secure a pay bump is to leverage an external job offer. Consequently, job boards are no longer primarily used by the unemployed. They’re increasingly a tool for career advancement.

Interviews: Beyond the expected answer

Interviews: Beyond the expected answer

A long time ago, a colleague recounted how his latest interview with a candidate went. Something about the candidate’s work experience seemed off, so my colleague decided to test him with a seemingly simple question.

You Can Read the Source

You Can Read the Source

Internet speed keeps getting faster every year, and today’s mobile devices often outperform older desktops. But just a few years ago, catering to mobile users was a delicate art. If you wanted to offer a smooth experience, you had to minimize the number and size of JavaScript files. A large file could freeze or even crash a mobile device. Desktop users on older browsers like Internet Explorer faced similar challenges.

JS Tip of the day

Why Use Prototype in JavaScript

There is a clear reason why you should use prototypes when creating classes in JavaScript. > They use less memory. When a method is defined using this.met…

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