Elasticsearch is a distributed, scalable analytical search engine that supports complex aggregations for unstructured data.

Akin to NoSQL data stores, Elasticsearch is built to handle unstructured data formats and dynamically determine fields’ data types. Its primary data format is JSON (Javascript Object Notation) documents. JSON’s schema-less format allows for flexible data storage and ease of adding data without managing or creating relations.

However, Elasticsearch isn’t necessarily interchangeable to NoSQL databases. Elasticsearch differs from NoSQL databases and has its own set of limitations. For example, Elasticsearch distributed system adds a layer of complexity when performing transactions. …

I grow weary addressing the mountain of questions and comments as a software developer. Most of the questions and comments don’t make sense because they‘re grounded in stereotypes.

What we learn and what we do takes a lot of time, energy, and dedication. Our profession is no different than the other hard-working professions out there. And what people tend to forget is, developers are people too. We have our own lives, and we have boundaries. Unfortunately, some people like to cross those boundaries.

So here are some things you should stop saying to every developer you meet. …

Hey Landy, how many donuts does your dad eat?

Hey Landy, your name rhymes with Candy!

Hey Landy, your middle name is pretty rachet …

Hey Landy …

After 26 years of poorly made jokes, insults, and puns, it’s thrilling and warming for someone to ask, “Hey Landy, who are you?”

I’m a 26 years old, single, Afro-Caribbean Canadian woman. I grew up in Toronto, Ontario, in a low-income Jamaican family. I’m also an only child in Canada, but I have half-brothers living in Jamaica. …

This year has put everyone’s mental and physical health to the test, including yours truly. There’s the ongoing pandemic, the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, the 2020 American elections, the End Sars movement; the list goes on. This year, I’ve dealt with an assortment of health issues, which became incredibly hard to deal with once quarantine reduced the number of available health services. Between trying to manage my mental health, physical health and working from within these four walls formerly known as my bedroom — I’m exhausted.

No, in fact, I am BURNT OUT, and I know I’m not the only one feeling this way. …

The COVID-19 response introduced new work from home policies in 2020, and for many people, personal spaces have become working spaces. According to Statistics Canada, approximately 2.4 million Canadians worked from home as a response to the pandemic in 2020; that’s 2.4 million people who never typically work from home. The abrupt transition left many people, like yours truly, with spaces unoptimized for working from home. And unfortunately, many companies are not compensating workers for home office upgrades. Upgrading your workspace is an expensive task and a risky task when there’s no guarantee when one will return to work.

This month I decided to address a few small problems with my workspace. I realized it was not the most efficient or ergonomically-friendly place to be for 8 hours. Furthermore, it was taking a toll on my mental and physical health. Although these problems I addressed were relatively small, the bill turned out to be pretty high. …

If you’re unaware, I’m a software developer, and I’ve been in the industry for four years. I’ve met people of all technical experience levels and have heard some tragic stories. The saddest thing to hear is a person who’s spent thousands of dollars for their dream application and received a hot mess. This year, I’m opening my consultation doors to talk to friends, families, and strangers about what they need to know before starting a technical project.

As eager as you may be to get your product out to the public, it’s essential to understand who developers are, what software development entails, and the prices for a product. …

It’s tax season at last and the Government of Canada is offering Canadians a tax deduction for home office expenses for the 2020 tax year. You can claim this on your income tax; the deduction will reduce your income tax liability.

To be eligible, one must meet all of the following criteria. All information is from the Canada Revenue Agency website. Please visit for more details.

- you worked from home in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic or your employer required you to work from home

- you worked more than 50% of the time from home for a period of at least four consecutive weeks in…

For December, I thought it would be fun to do an Advent Calendar challenge! I wrote consistently from December 1st to December 25th, and the results were shocking!

I didn’t know what to expect throughout this journey, and I faced many unmotivating days. But, I discovered a well of untapped potential, and I realized my most significant obstacle is my listlessness.

What did you learn?

Getting up to write every day is exhausting; I’m still somewhat exhausted from the challenge. But, writing every day doesn’t necessarily mean publishing every day. Having an abundance of drafts is a writer's most significant advantage. On the days I found my ideas were lacking or I faced listlessness, it was easy to reach into my tiny archive of drafts and make an old idea new again. Despite the draft's lacklusterness, it was a resourceful base to bring an old idea to light. But, when my archive began to dwindle, I struggled to conjure ideas to push for the day. …