Author: Matt Nedrich

Compressing 3D Model Files with Draco

Historically used for CAD and video games, 3D computer models are working their way into the mainstream. This is, in part, due to the rise in popularity of things like augmented reality and 3D printing.

My current project uses 3D model data, and my team was looking for an efficient way to upload this data to our server. The file sizes for 3D models can often be very large, so compressing the files was a requirement. We initially tried using standard compression approaches (e.g., gzip, 7-Zip, etc.) and were able to make some progress, but even the compressed files were still pretty large. Then we discovered Draco. Read more on Compressing 3D Model Files with Draco…

Debugging Strategies You Can Use on Every Project

I’ve wanted to write a post about debugging for a while, but it’s a topic that can be really difficult to discuss in a general way. Approaches to debugging vary wildly and span multiple technologies and domains (hardware vs. software vs. other).

Bugs can also exist on all types of scales—everything from users reporting an issue in your production application, to code failing to compile, to your app crashing when you use it in a certain way. Read more on Debugging Strategies You Can Use on Every Project…

Mob Programming: How We Stumbled Upon and Learned to Love It

I’ve been reflecting on how my current team is both super-productive and fun to work with. One key element of this is that we recently started to practice mob programming. We did this organically without actually knowing what the practice was, but we have since learned how to apply it in certain situations. The results have been extremely positive.
Read more on Mob Programming: How We Stumbled Upon and Learned to Love It…

Preparing to Launch a Rewrite for a Public-Facing Website

Launching a rewrite of an existing public-facing website is an exciting, yet tricky process. It’s exciting because you know that you’re working on a well-tested and market-validated idea. You already have users—something that new companies and products need to work hard to obtain. Read more on Preparing to Launch a Rewrite for a Public-Facing Website…

React and TypeScript – The Basics

React is great, and with TypeScript, it can be even better.

If you haven’t used TypeScript with React, you might be wondering how much work is required to get started, and how React development with TypeScript is different than JavaScript. I’m going to address these questions, covering everything I would have liked to find in one place when I was getting started with TypeScript—specifically, what is required to set up a React/TypeScript project, and how some of the basic React/Redux type definitions work. Read more on React and TypeScript – The Basics…

Getting Started With React Native – Easy or Hard?

I’ve been watching React Native for a while. The idea of using a React (and Redux) approach to developing cross-platform-ish native apps is really appealing. Since I have no React Native experience, I wanted to understand how much work is required to get started. Read more on Getting Started With React Native – Easy or Hard?…