Posts

Showing posts from February, 2020

Stork, Part 4: Implementing Statements and Wrapping Up

The development of our lightweight programming language created in C++ is nearing completion and we can finally see it in action. In the final part of our Stork series, Toptal Full-stack Developer Jakisa Tomic explains how to implement statements, tuples, and modules.

An Introduction to Workarea Commerce Platform

The global eCommerce market has grown from $2.8 trillion to $3.5 trillion over the last year, and the projected growth remains at a staggering 18% per year. Workarea is positioning itself as a highly flexible and customizable offering for enterprise clients to satisfy the growing demand.

A Design License Is Not the Answer

Design decisions can be complex, with potential legal and ethical ramifications. Designers have a responsibility to produce work that will not harm others, but is design licensing the best solution?

Feeding the Future – An Overview of Agrifood Technology

As environmental, social, and demographic factors increasingly put pressure on traditional food production, investors and entrepreneurs are turning to innovation. Many promising startups are emerging, all with a focus on producing food in a more efficient and sustainable way.

Stork, Part 3: Implementing Expressions and Variables

Developing a new programming language from scratch tends to create unique challenges, followed by unconventional solutions that may go against some programming dogmas. In Part 3 of our Stork series, Toptal Full-stack Developer Jakisa Tomic elaborates on how C++ macros can help and why expression implementation might not be as straightforward as expected.

How to Prepare a Cash Flow Statement Model That Actually Balances

When a cash flow statement model doesn’t balance, it can cause immense frustration and wasted time. The root cause of this problem most commonly resides in models being built with inconsistent and contradictory data sources.

Consistency Is Key – How to Build a Figma Design System

Figma has advanced features that are tailored to meet expectations for consistency during the design process. This tutorial outlines how a Figma component library can work well within a design system.

Visual Shelf Life: Why Web Design Illustrations Go Stale

Illustration makes the web a brighter place, but there’s a risk it will grow stale. We explain how designers can avoid imitation with web design illustrations that give clients a competitive edge.

EdTech Industry Analysis & Trends (2020)

Education has rapidly evolved away from the red-brick schoolhouse model. About $7.0 billion was invested globally by VC funds into the edtech market in 2019. This is expected to grow 3x over the next decade. Where is the money going? What characteristics do new competitors need to be sustainable?

Corporate Venture Capital: The Devil...or an Innovative Growth Channel?

In industries seeing stagnant growth or a negative impact from uncontrollable, outside forces, many companies are turning to corporate venture capital as an alternative means to innovation. Yet, famed venture capitalist Fred Wilson once said that corporate venture capital was the “devil.”

The Need for Speed: A Toptal JavaScript Coding Challenge Retrospective

Toptal's JavaScript Speed Coding Challenge invited creative solutions from the beginning. As the week played out, competitors got closer and closer to the maximum theoretical score. Then something unexpected happened...

Stork, Part 2: Creating an Expression Parser

Would you rather develop a statically or dynamically typed programming language? How would you devise your expression parser? In the second part of our Stork series, Toptal Full-stack Developer Jakisa Tomic outlines his preferred approach and demonstrates how you can create a functional expression parser.

Why Is Market Share Important? Because Bigger Is Better Than Better

Product leaders have been force-fed the notion that market leadership is a function of delivering the best client experience. And yet, overperforming product managers focus first on being bigger, not better.

Why Use Material Design? Weighing the Pros and Cons

Google’s Material Design guidelines have become the signature look of their websites and apps. Still, there are plenty of use cases outside of Google’s platforms where Material Design is also a solid choice.

Feeding the Future: An Overview of the Agrifood Industry

The amount of money pouring into Agrifood tech has increased more than sixfold since 2012: from $3 billion to almost $18 billion. In the first part of this series, we examine the three changing conditions making this field ripe for innovation and analyze emerging technologies.

Stork: How to Make a Programming Language in C++

Did you ever consider creating your very own programming language, either as a result of necessity or professional curiosity? In part one of our series, Toptal Full-stack Developer Jakisa Tomic takes the first steps toward creating a lightweight scripting language written in C++.

Gray Matter: What is a Mind Map in the Design Process?

Mind maps are widely used as a thinking tool. Designers can use them to organize ideas into an arrangement for clarity as well as untangle system complexity to make things more understandable.

Do Your Homework: 7 AWS Certified Solutions Architect Exam Tips

Cloud architects with the AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate qualification are in high demand, with good reason—the AWS exam sets the bar high. What's the best way to prepare for it?

Safe by Design: An Overview of UX Security

Interface designers: A disregard for UX security places users at risk—financially, professionally, and emotionally. Learn why security is a crucial aspect of interface design.

Human vs. Machine: The Next Frontier of Wealth Management

Since the introduction of index funds in the 1970s, the investment management industry has embraced the use of software to enhance its decision-making. With robo-advisors reaching further prominence, will machines replace humans in the world of wealth management?