DEV Community: Devendra Variya

Why I built a screen time app that doesn't trust me

Devendra Variya — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 19:05:21 +0000

I tried every screen time app. Apple's built-in limits, Opal, Forest, the grayscale trick, all of it. They failed in the same place every time: a polite little button to ignore the limit. At 11pm, mid-scroll, with no willpower left, I tapped it without thinking. The decision to stop and the decision to keep going were both being made by the same tired person. That version of me won every night.

That is the real problem, and it is not screen time. Every tool hands the decision to the least rational version of you, in the exact moment you are least able to make it. A button you can dismiss is not a limit. It is a suggestion.

So I built one with no exit. ScreenFine uses Apple's Family Controls to lock the apps you choose at the OS level. When you hit your limit, they just don't open. No popup to swipe away, no five more minutes, no Ignore. The phone says no, and there is nothing to argue with, because the OS is the one saying it.

To get back in, you move. 25 pushups counted by the camera, 1,000 steps, 10 mindful minutes, or any Apple Watch workout. On-device, no honour system. Most nights I decide it isn't worth the pushups, which is exactly the point.

And when the shield drops, it does not stay quiet. One of six characters tells you what you just chose. One of them told me I had ninety minutes for the algorithm and not ten for myself. Funny right up until it isn't.

A few things I will never add. No pause button, because that is just the Ignore button in a new shirt. No Android until the APIs there let me build a shield that actually holds. The camera never leaves your phone. A dollar a week, seven days free, no tiers.
If you know the 11pm scroll, try it on TestFlight or see how it works at ScreenFine.

Cloud Computing Showdown: AWS vs GCP vs Azure

Devendra Variya — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 10:01:31 +0000

Introduction

The adoption of cloud computing has become a significant turning point in the digital world. Businesses, irrespective of their size, are leveraging cloud services to streamline operations, increase productivity, and foster innovation. The most notable players in the market are Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and Microsoft Azure.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into a detailed comparison between these cloud service providers, including their strengths, weaknesses, and unique offerings, to help you make an informed decision for your business.

What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing is the provision of computing services—such as servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, artificial intelligence, and more—over the internet ("the cloud"). The major benefits include cost efficiency, scalability, flexibility, and a broad array of advanced services that drive business innovation.

Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Founded in 2006, AWS is the oldest and most comprehensive player in the market, offering over 200 fully featured services globally.

Pros:

Extensive Services and Features: AWS provides the widest range of services, including computing power, database storage, content delivery, and other functionalities.

Highly Scalable: AWS enables businesses to increase or decrease storage according to the need of the organization, providing high scalability.

Strong Support and Large Community: With a global presence, AWS has a vast ecosystem of partners and a large community, making resources and support easily accessible.

Cons:

Complex Pricing: AWS's pricing model can be intricate and challenging to navigate, often requiring careful management to control costs.

Steep Learning Curve: Due to the breadth of its services, AWS can be overwhelming for beginners.

Google Cloud Platform (GCP)

GCP is Google's cloud platform offering, which is recognized for its command in data analytics and machine learning capabilities. It operates on the same infrastructure that Google uses internally for its user-centric products, such as Google Search, YouTube, and more.

Pros:

Impressive Data Analytics and Machine Learning: GCP provides top-notch data analytics and machine learning services, which are two rapidly growing areas in cloud computing.

Live Migration of Virtual Machines: GCP is the only cloud provider offering live migration of virtual machines, an advantageous feature for businesses needing to mitigate downtime.

Cost-Effective and Transparent Pricing: GCP provides an easy-to-understand, customer-friendly pricing model.

Cons:

Smaller Range of Services: While GCP offers high-quality services, the range is less extensive compared to AWS and Azure.

Lesser Market Share: GCP entered the market later than AWS and Azure, resulting in a smaller market share and community.

Microsoft Azure
Azure, Microsoft's cloud platform, integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft products, making it the preferred choice for businesses already utilizing Microsoft software.

Pros:

Great for Hybrid Cloud: Azure provides superior hybrid cloud capabilities, appealing to businesses wanting to retain some on-premises servers.

Integration with Microsoft Products: If your business relies heavily on Microsoft software, Azure offers seamless integration.

Enterprise Agreement Advantage: Microsoft's enterprise customers can take advantage of existing licensing agreements, reducing the cost of Azure services.

Cons:

Complex Interface: Azure's user interface can be complex and confusing, especially for beginners.

Support Structure: Despite improvements, Azure's support structure sometimes doesn't match up to AWS or GCP.

Comparing AWS, GCP, and Azure
Market Presence: AWS has the largest market share due to its early entry, followed by Azure and GCP. However, both Azure and GCP are growing rapidly.

Service Offerings: AWS leads in the number of services, closely followed by Azure, while GCP trails behind with fewer services but excels in quality.

Pricing: Each platform offers a variety of pricing options that can be customized based on specific needs. However, GCP is known for its clear, customer-friendly pricing model.

Open Source Integration: All three platforms have embraced open-source technologies. Google, with its deep roots in open source, often leads in this area.

Data Centers: AWS has the most extensive network of data centers globally, leading to lower latency and better performance. Azure and GCP also have substantial networks, and GCP leverages Google's global network.

Hybrid Cloud: Azure stands out for its hybrid cloud capabilities, while GCP and AWS have also begun focusing more on hybrid cloud offerings.

Conclusion

The decision between AWS, GCP, and Azure depends on your business needs, the services required, pricing, and the existing software ecosystem. All three providers offer high-quality services, but their strengths align with different business strategies and requirements.

AWS, with its vast range of services and robust community, is ideal for businesses needing a wide variety of services and tools. GCP, with its expertise in data analytics and machine learning, suits businesses focusing on data-driven decision-making. Azure, with its seamless integration with other Microsoft products and hybrid cloud capabilities, is perfect for businesses deeply entrenched in the Microsoft ecosystem.

The "best" cloud provider is subjective, depending on what you value most for your project or organization. It might even make sense to adopt a multi-cloud strategy, using different providers for different tasks based on their strengths. The important thing is to understand your needs thoroughly and choose the provider that aligns best with your specific requirements.

What is DevOps?

Devendra Variya — Tue, 30 May 2023 11:05:09 +0000

DevOps, which stands for Development and Operations, is all about teamwork and collaboration. Just like you and your friends work together to build a sandcastle, DevOps brings together different people with different skills to work as a team and create amazing computer programs.

Imagine you have a big project, like building a sandcastle on the beach. You and your friends need to work together to make it the best sandcastle ever. DevOps is like having a whole team of friends who work together to make the sandcastle the best it can be.

In the world of software development, there are two main groups of people: developers who write the code for the programs, and operations people who make sure the programs run smoothly on computers and servers. In the past, these groups often worked separately and didn’t communicate very well. But with DevOps, they come together as one team.

DevOps has some important principles that guide how this teamwork happens:

Collaboration and Communication: DevOps is all about working together and talking to each other. Developers and operations people share ideas, ask questions, and help each other. Just like you and your friends talk and share ideas while building the sandcastle, DevOps teams communicate and collaborate to create great software.
Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD): DevOps teams use a special process called continuous integration and continuous deployment. This means that developers regularly combine their code changes into a shared place called a repository. This helps everyone stay on the same page and makes it easier to catch any problems early. It’s like if you and your friends added your own sandcastles together to make one big sandcastle. Then, you can quickly fix any issues and make the sandcastle even better.
Infrastructure as Code (IaC): In the world of software, there are also things called infrastructure, like servers and databases, that help the programs run. With DevOps, instead of setting up and managing infrastructure manually, teams use a special technique called Infrastructure as Code. This means they write code to set up and manage the infrastructure. It’s like if you had a special sandcastle-building machine that you programmed to build the sandcastle for you. It makes things faster, more reliable, and easier to repeat.
Monitoring and Feedback Loops: DevOps teams also pay close attention to how the software is working. They use special tools to monitor things like how many people are using the program, how fast it is, and if there are any problems. This helps them get feedback and find ways to make the software even better. It’s like if you had a special sandcastle detector that could tell you if there were any weak spots in the sandcastle that needed fixing.

Now that we understand the principles of DevOps, let’s explore the benefits it brings:

Increased Speed and Efficiency: DevOps helps teams work faster and more efficiently. By automating repetitive tasks and using continuous integration and deployment, developers can quickly build and test their code. This means they can release new features and updates to users more frequently, keeping them happy and engaged.
Improved Collaboration and Communication: DevOps breaks down the barriers between developers and operations people. By working together, sharing ideas, and communicating effectively, teams can solve problems faster and deliver better results. It’s like if you and your friends worked together on the sandcastle, each bringing your own skills and ideas to make it amazing.
Enhanced Reliability and Stability: With DevOps, teams focus on making software that works well and is stable. By catching problems early through continuous integration and automated testing, they can ensure that the software runs smoothly. It’s like building a sandcastle with strong walls and a sturdy foundation so that it doesn’t fall apart easily.
Scalability and Flexibility: DevOps allows organizations to scale their software and infrastructure easily. With tools like cloud computing and containerization, teams can handle increased user traffic and adapt to changing needs. It’s like if your sandcastle had a special feature that allowed it to grow bigger and accommodate more friends who want to play in it.
Continuous Improvement: DevOps teams are always learning and looking for ways to improve. By monitoring the software and gathering feedback, they can identify areas that need enhancement. It’s like if you and your friends talked about what you liked and didn’t like about the sandcastle and made plans to make it even better the next time.

In conclusion, DevOps is a game-changer in the world of software development. By adopting its principles of collaboration, automation, and continuous improvement, you can revolutionize your projects. Embrace DevOps and experience faster delivery, improved reliability, and a culture of innovation. Join me on this exciting journey and unlock the full potential of your software development endeavors. Let’s make a difference together!