It depends on your workload etc - but there are TONs of advantages for the monolith approach when you factor in dev environments, access to good data for testing/development, dependencies on components/libraries/services etc.
Note: I'm saying microservices CAN be the right answer, just not always and we should over-engineering.
sauce: I work as a product engineer where we use microservices extensively. I have also worked on monoliths. Preferred working on the monoliths overall I think.
I used Gemini recently to upgrade my 10-year old desktop PC. I listed my current components, budget, requirements and it walked me through different options/components etc. Gave me all kinds of tips. I committed probably ~£450 to the project and more or less trusted it.
The handful of times I did a manual "spot check" of it's advice, it turned out to be good. The upgrade was a success and I'm very happy.
My take away is that AI is a wonderful tool and if this "AI laptop" is optimised for that then it's a bet/product worth trying. Well done Google, I'll watch with interest.
I remember 1999/2000-ish I had both a Pentium III/Intel motherboard and Athlon PC. The Pentium III system was rock solid, and performed fantasic. Even the CPU and motherboard looked amazing.
The Athlon was solid but less reliable, various reboots and glitches. I kind have always had a preference for Intel since then.
Sorry to hear that. Being a sysadmin, I guess you're mainly interacting with systems rather than people and need to focus. They should exempt you from RTO except for the odd "all hands" meeting days.
I'm a software engineer in a Product Engineering team and it's about 75% hands-on engineering, 25% Slack/Teams interaction and alignments between people. I find being in the office helps to make connections with other staff in other teams (eg. bumping into people while making coffee in staff kitchen etc). I think thats important from a career perspective.
The London office commute is 30 minutes train and 25 minutes walk. I really like that balance as it gives me sunlight, exercise and fresh air.
I work from a library on the other day, thats a 30 minute drive. I tend to leave before 0700 when the roads are peaceful. My car is pretty fuel efficient, i try to hypermile it and get ~50mpg.
I'm introverted but very glad I have the option of working from the office and being among fellow staff, we also have a lunchtime exercise club once a week. It's much better for my mental health.
In fact, I've added two days working outside of home instead of one because of the benefits. I think 3 days home/2 days office is the sweet spot.
Taking AI out of the equation for a minute - they don't build anything, engineers do. A carpenter builds a chair, table etc using the skill he has accumulated over the years.
I went into software because I like building things and coming up with solid solutions to business problems that are of use to society. I would not describe myself with "love to code". It's a means to an end to pay bills and have a meaningful career. I think of myself more like a carpenter or craftsman.
I used a coding agent for the majority of my current project and I still got the "build stuff" itch scratched because Engineers are still responsible for the output and they are needed to interface between technical teams, UX, business people etc
I work mostly remotely, recently our Fibre internet upgrade left us without internet for a week. It forced me to work from a nearby university library - which turned out to do wonders for my mental health.
I found a little thriving town in the university with all the important things I needed and the most important thing of all: human social interaction and seeing people around me.
It reminds me of the Star Wars content thats come out recently - before there was the Original Trilogy which we all watched many times and the lines became iconic. Since then it's all become a mismash and blur of mediocrity due to over-exposure.
(except The Mandalorian, and I can't believe I'm using the word "content" :/)
edit: Totally forgot about Andor & Rogue One sorry, great film and two seasons of top-notch storytelling.
This gives me a homebrew project idea - to create something portable that would allow me to sniff Bluetooth devices on my daily train commute into the office.
Has anyone done this or can give me ideas where to start?