Aaron VanSledright

Category: Random

  • 2024 Year in Review: A Journey Through Code and Creation

    As another year wraps up, I wanted to take a moment to look back at what I’ve shared and built throughout 2024. While I might not have posted as frequently as in some previous years (like 2020’s 15 posts!), each post this year represents a significant technical exploration or project that I’m proud to have shared.

    The Numbers

    This year, I published 9 posts, maintaining a steady rhythm of about one post per month. April was my most productive month with 2 posts, and I managed to keep the blog active across eight different months of the year. Looking at the topics, I’ve written quite a bit about Python, Lambda functions, and building various tools and automation solutions. Security and Discord-related projects also featured prominently in my technical adventures.

    Highlights and Major Projects

    Looking back at my posts, a few major themes emerged:

    1. File Processing and Automation: I spent considerable time working with file processing systems, creating efficient workflows and sharing my experiences with different approaches to handling data at scale.
    2. Python Development: From Lambda functions to local tooling, Python remained a core focus of my technical work this year. I’ve shared both successes and challenges, including that Thanksgiving holiday project that consumed way more time than expected (but was totally worth it!).
    3. Security and Best Practices: Throughout the year, I maintained a strong focus on security considerations in development, sharing insights and implementations that prioritize robust security practices.

    Community and Testing

    One consistent theme in my posts has been the value of community feedback and testing. I’ve actively sought input on various projects, from interface design to data processing implementations. This collaborative approach has led to more robust solutions and better outcomes.

    Looking Forward to 2025

    As we head into 2025, I’m excited to increase my posting frequency while continuing to share technical insights, project experiences, and practical solutions to real-world development challenges. There are already several projects in the pipeline that I can’t wait to write about. I also hope to ride 6000 miles on my bike throughout Chicago this year.

    For those interested my most popular Github repositories were:

    • bedrock-poc-public
    • count-s3-objects
    • delete-lambda-versions
    • dynamo-user-manager
    • genai-photo-processor
    • lex-bot-local-tester
    • presigned-url-gateway
    • s3-object-re-encryption

    Thank You

    To everyone who’s read, commented, tested, or contributed to any of the projects I’ve written about this year – thank you. Your engagement and feedback have made these posts and projects better. While this year saw fewer posts than some previous years, each one represented a significant project or learning experience that I hope provided value to readers.

    Here’s to another year of coding, learning, and sharing!

  • Working From Home Tips

    I’ve been working from home for some time now and have gotten into a pretty good routine that keeps me sane, healthy and happy.

    1. Create a schedule. You need to have a routine that you stick to starting with waking up at a decent time. You don’t have to commute to an office which is nice but you should still plan on waking up before 9AM
    2. Get dressed. A lot of people I know don’t get out of their pajamas when they work from home. This is a HUGE mistake. Get up, take a shower and get dressed as if you were going to your office. Maybe you can dress down a little bit and wear jeans instead of dress pants but put real pants on!
    3. Create a distraction free work space. If you have an home office now is the time to use it. Clean it up and get yourself setup like you would in your real office. If you need an extra monitor then go get one!
    4. Eat regular meals. When you get up have your breakfast like normal. For me that is usually just a protein bar and a glass of water. Eat a small but filling lunch to keep your body happy.
    5. Take breaks. I can’t stress this one enough. When you aren’t working from home you will often take breaks that you don’t even realize like: chatting with coworkers, going to get coffee. I often take breaks to stretch or walk around. The most important thing to do is stop working for a few minutes and remember that you need to recharge for just a few minutes.

    I hope these tips help some of you if you are new to working from home. If you have any other tips feel free to add them below in the comments!