Schalk Venter schalkventer

⛅ Cloud Codependence

Rediscovering the Simplicity of Local-First Software

On 20 October 2025, Amazon Web Services (AWS) suffered a massive international outage. As to be expected, this disrupted a range of products built on the AWS cloud infrastructure, including Amazon itself. Within a few seconds a large portion of the internet imploded: from Disney+, Roblox, OpenAI and (even on local shores) Standard Bank.

For most of these products a cloud-based service, able to broker communication between devices scattered across vast ranges of fibre optic and copper cables is simply the cost of doing business.

Feedback for Juniors

Over the last two years I've reviewed several applications for junior front-end positions.

Each position has generally gotten about 500+ applications. I think it would be useful to share some general feedback based on the applications I've received thus far. The goal here is honesty, so I hope it doesn't come across as harsh, but instead as a useful perspective from the other side of the hiring table.

🔥 The tech hiring space is a dumpster-fire at the moment. We need to start with the acknowledgment. It is not that you are not good enough, or doing something wrong. The market is over-saturated with junior applicants. According to Offerzen applications rose by 300% in only 12 months.

	import { useEffect, useState } from "react";
	import { useAccount } from "../../new-data/account";
	import { useLocation } from "react-router-dom";

	const PHASES = [
	"LOGIN",
	"CREATE",
	"INVITED",

	"CONNECTION_REQUIRED",

	<!-- Video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAVDDiBT5hA&ab_channel=FrontendEngineering%26DesignSouthAfrica%28FEDSA%29 -->

	<!DOCTYPE html>
	<html lang="en">
	<head>
	<meta charset="UTF-8" />
	<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" />
	<title>Document</title>

	<link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com" />

	export const html = (staticArray, ...dynamic) => {
	const stringArray = staticArray \|\| [];

	const array = (dynamic \|\| []).map((singleDynamic, index) => {
	const singleDynamicString = Array.isArray(singleDynamic) ? singleDynamic.join('') : singleDynamic
	return `${stringArray[index] \|\| ""}${singleDynamicString \|\| ""}`;
	});

	const lastIndexStatic = stringArray.length - 1;
	return `${array.join("")}${stringArray[lastIndexStatic]}`;

	const STRING_WORKER = `
	const createId = () => {
	const randomizer1 = (Math.random() * 1000000).toFixed();
	const randomizer2 = (Math.random() * 1000000).toFixed();
	return \`\${randomizer1}\${new Date().getTime()}\${randomizer2}\`;
	};

	const promiseOpen = (name) => {
	return new Promise((resolve) => {
	const openRequest = indexedDB.open(name, 1);


	// Available variables:
	// - Machine
	// - interpret
	// - assign
	// - send
	// - sendParent
	// - spawn
	// - raise
	// - actions

	I'm currently reviewing applications for a junior front-end position I advertised recently. For those that applied, it's going to take a while to get back to you. I've gotten about 300 applications. However, I think it would be useful to share some general feedback based on the applications I've received thus far. The goal here honesty, so I hope it doesn't come across as harsh, but my goal is to provide a (hopefully helpful) perspective from the other side of the hiring table.

	1. The tech hiring space is a dumpster-fire at the moment. We need to start with the acknowledgment. It is not that you are not good enough, or doing something wrong. The the market is over-saturated with junior applicants. According to Offerzen applications rose by 300% in only 12 months.

	2. Due to the above, you only get a couple of seconds of eyeball time. There is no way someone can properly review your application. Let's say hypothetically I spend 5 minutes on each application, given that there are 300 applications, this would t

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Schalk Venter schalkventer

⛅ Cloud Codependence

Feedback for Juniors

Component Helpers