Heather Downing
@heatherdown.ing
Software dev & speaker. Developer Advocate @YugabyteDB & Microsoft MVP. #dotNET/APIs/identity/data/AI. Technical, curious and traveling often from KC, Missouri. KCDC crew.
We are hiring director level in engineering at @yugabytedb.bsky.social π₯ - REMOTE USA!
www.linkedin.com/posts/heathe...
www.linkedin.com/posts/heathe...
Come lead this incredibly hard working team. We are doing the real work, with founders who care and have worked in iconic databases for years. I'm constantly impressed by what we are building.
if...
Come lead this incredibly hard working team. We are doing the real work, with founders who care and have worked in iconic databases for years. I'm constantly impressed by what we are building.
if you...
www.linkedin.com
January 9, 2026 at 5:13 PM
We are hiring director level in engineering at @yugabytedb.bsky.social π₯ - REMOTE USA!
www.linkedin.com/posts/heathe...
www.linkedin.com/posts/heathe...
Reposted by Heather Downing
Database Development with AI in 2026 - Brent Ozar www.brentozar.com/archive/2026...
January 9, 2026 at 4:27 PM
Database Development with AI in 2026 - Brent Ozar www.brentozar.com/archive/2026...
Zemblanity (or zemblanitous) is the WORD OF THE YEAR for software.
Human agency embeds fragility into systems, creating misfortune by design. Resilience depends on dismantling the patterns that make bad luck inevitable.
blogs.lse.ac.uk/businessrevi...
Human agency embeds fragility into systems, creating misfortune by design. Resilience depends on dismantling the patterns that make bad luck inevitable.
blogs.lse.ac.uk/businessrevi...
The hidden architecture of failure β understanding βzemblanityβ - LSE Business Review
Human agency embeds fragility into systems, creating misfortune by design. Resilience depends on dismantling the patterns that make bad luck inevitable.
blogs.lse.ac.uk
January 8, 2026 at 7:27 PM
Zemblanity (or zemblanitous) is the WORD OF THE YEAR for software.
Human agency embeds fragility into systems, creating misfortune by design. Resilience depends on dismantling the patterns that make bad luck inevitable.
blogs.lse.ac.uk/businessrevi...
Human agency embeds fragility into systems, creating misfortune by design. Resilience depends on dismantling the patterns that make bad luck inevitable.
blogs.lse.ac.uk/businessrevi...
Which developer recognition programs do you think nail it, and WHY? What's the actual value to you? Examples (not an exhaustive list, just some usual suspects - but share yours!):
MSFT MVPs
Google GDEs
Github Stars
Docker Captains
AWS Heroes
What is the best thing about these types of programs?
MSFT MVPs
Google GDEs
Github Stars
Docker Captains
AWS Heroes
What is the best thing about these types of programs?
January 8, 2026 at 6:35 PM
Which developer recognition programs do you think nail it, and WHY? What's the actual value to you? Examples (not an exhaustive list, just some usual suspects - but share yours!):
MSFT MVPs
Google GDEs
Github Stars
Docker Captains
AWS Heroes
What is the best thing about these types of programs?
MSFT MVPs
Google GDEs
Github Stars
Docker Captains
AWS Heroes
What is the best thing about these types of programs?
Do you prefer experimenting locally, in a Docker container, or with a cloud database instance directly when you are learning something?
I am team local DB all the way.
I am team local DB all the way.
January 7, 2026 at 4:18 AM
Do you prefer experimenting locally, in a Docker container, or with a cloud database instance directly when you are learning something?
I am team local DB all the way.
I am team local DB all the way.
Reposted by Heather Downing
Happy Holidays from everyone at Yugabyte!
December 22, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Happy Holidays from everyone at Yugabyte!
As a Missourian, I feel this.
π¨BREAKING: More than 300,000 Missourians have signed a petition demanding that the gerrymander be put to a statewide referendum, advocacy organization People Not Politicians announced as it delivered those signatures to the state government Tuesday. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
300,000 Missouri Voters Sign Petition To Put GOP Gerrymander to Statewide Vote
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
December 10, 2025 at 10:52 AM
As a Missourian, I feel this.
Reposted by Heather Downing
ICYMI: (05/13/2020): "What It Means to be a Software Engineer." RPs and feedback are always appreciated! https://jjg.me/2Arl4eN #Articles #Technology
What It Means to be a Software Engineer
There has been much talk on social media about being a Software Engineer/Developer/Programmer in the last week or so, probably because we are all being safe and staying in our houses with not much else to do. Conversations have included what it takes to be an engineer, how to get started in engineering, and explaining what a βSoftware Engineerβ does.
www.josephguadagno.net
December 10, 2025 at 9:00 AM
ICYMI: (05/13/2020): "What It Means to be a Software Engineer." RPs and feedback are always appreciated! https://jjg.me/2Arl4eN #Articles #Technology
The happiest faces! I'm sure you crushed it. Welcome back to the stage.
December 5, 2025 at 3:52 AM
The happiest faces! I'm sure you crushed it. Welcome back to the stage.
Delighted to be on the inaugural Delta nonstop from LAX to MEL with my Aussie husband.
December 4, 2025 at 3:23 AM
Delighted to be on the inaugural Delta nonstop from LAX to MEL with my Aussie husband.
I have the best people in my life. Care packages like this are always welcome, and this time came from Ireland. β€οΈ
December 2, 2025 at 9:47 PM
I have the best people in my life. Care packages like this are always welcome, and this time came from Ireland. β€οΈ
Off to Vegas with @bendechr.ai on this snowy Missouri day βοΈ. The airfield closed for a bit to clean off the runway but 3 hours later we are off!
MCI βοΈ LAS
MCI βοΈ LAS
December 1, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Off to Vegas with @bendechr.ai on this snowy Missouri day βοΈ. The airfield closed for a bit to clean off the runway but 3 hours later we are off!
MCI βοΈ LAS
MCI βοΈ LAS
Ooh, actually pretty interesting! Thanks for the share.
December 1, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Ooh, actually pretty interesting! Thanks for the share.
I'm asking because I am unsure of what the answer is. Should we keep neighborhoods racially exclusive? Leave it run down? Have urban revitalization only by the people who live there? Isn't it the city's responsibility to work together to make an area safer and cleaner? How do we help and not hurt?
November 30, 2025 at 7:34 PM
I'm asking because I am unsure of what the answer is. Should we keep neighborhoods racially exclusive? Leave it run down? Have urban revitalization only by the people who live there? Isn't it the city's responsibility to work together to make an area safer and cleaner? How do we help and not hurt?
Honest question. Is there an example that has been done of the right way to lift run down black neighborhoods to where everyone shares in the wealth?
November 30, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Honest question. Is there an example that has been done of the right way to lift run down black neighborhoods to where everyone shares in the wealth?
I think we are just dying for a bit of real, original thought that seems remotely human at this point.
βοΈ It's not high-brow, it's not erudite, but it is a ranty af blog post about AI slop: rmoff.net/2025/11/25/a...
#enshittification #AISlop #blogging
#enshittification #AISlop #blogging
AI Smells on Medium
As part of compiling the monthly interesting links posts, I go through a ton of RSS feeds, sourced from specific blogs that I follow as well as general aggregators. These aggregators include qualityβ¦
rmoff.net
November 26, 2025 at 9:34 PM
I think we are just dying for a bit of real, original thought that seems remotely human at this point.
Can't believe I grew things this year for the first time. Grateful for the support of mother nature, my husband, local experts and many gardening YouTube channels as I accept this delicious award.
November 26, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Can't believe I grew things this year for the first time. Grateful for the support of mother nature, my husband, local experts and many gardening YouTube channels as I accept this delicious award.
Just over 2 months in, and I am so impressed with how much every single person contributes and matters at @yugabytedb.bsky.social. High performing, but also warm and generous with their time. I see why our customers enjoy working with us.
November 26, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Just over 2 months in, and I am so impressed with how much every single person contributes and matters at @yugabytedb.bsky.social. High performing, but also warm and generous with their time. I see why our customers enjoy working with us.
Halloween. I'll not be taking questions at this time.
November 25, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Halloween. I'll not be taking questions at this time.
Folks, you sound the same on "hot take" posts. The style of AI shines through as a similar structure and voice. Makes me roll my eyes. Overly long winded, yet punchy - it's obvious you used AI for it. Next strategy, please. I'm over it.
November 25, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Folks, you sound the same on "hot take" posts. The style of AI shines through as a similar structure and voice. Makes me roll my eyes. Overly long winded, yet punchy - it's obvious you used AI for it. Next strategy, please. I'm over it.
Same. But, eventually, there will be inherent expectations of things based on something.
November 25, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Same. But, eventually, there will be inherent expectations of things based on something.
Are you ever really ready for that?
November 25, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Are you ever really ready for that?
At what point in your career are you expected to be a "master" versus an "eternal student"?
November 25, 2025 at 4:33 PM
At what point in your career are you expected to be a "master" versus an "eternal student"?