DEV Community: Ken Harrison

The CLI Superpower: A TPM’s Journey Through Terminal Productivity

Ken Harrison — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 08:48:16 +0000

As a Technical Program Manager, I find myself straddling two worlds daily — the business landscape of roadmaps and stakeholder…

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Writerside: Your New IDE for Documentation Excellence

Ken Harrison — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 10:02:59 +0000

In the realm of software development, JetBrains has long been synonymous with excellence. Their products, like IntelliJ IDEA and PyCharm…

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Say Goodbye to Nano, Vim, and Neovim: Meet Your New Terminal-Based Text Editors!

Ken Harrison — Wed, 25 Oct 2023 14:54:56 +0000

Are you tired of the same old terminal-based text editors? Looking for a fresh and more efficient way to work with your code and text…

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Prioritization frameworks and strategies for Product Teams

Ken Harrison — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 16:03:08 +0000

Prioritization in product management is the disciplined process of evaluating the relative importance of work, ideas, and requests to…

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Sourcery: A Free Tool for Better Python Code!

Ken Harrison — Fri, 10 Feb 2023 08:51:20 +0000

Image to accompany the article. An image of an expression grand wizard and witch making computer code.

Python is a popular programming language for its simplicity and versatility. However, even experienced Python developers can make mistakes or write code that is difficult to maintain. Enter Sourcery, an open source tool that helps you write better Python code by automating common code patterns and catching errors before they become a problem. There’s also a pro version that packed with full project scan, d uplicate code detection and advanced refactorings.

Sourcery is a static code analysis tool for Python. It uses advanced algorithms to detect and correct common issues in your code, such as typos, formatting errors, and incorrect variable names. Sourceryalso offers automated refactoring tools that help you optimize your code for readability and performance. By using Sourcery, developers can quickly identify potential issues with their code before they become an issue and ensure their projects are up-to-date with the latest best practices. It works with some of the most popular IDE/Text-Editor such as VS Code, PyCharm, Sublime and Vim.

💡 You can also install Sourcery to your GitHub repos

Benefits of Sourcery

Improves code quality : Sourcery analyzes your code and generates suggestions for improvement based on best practices and industry standards. This helps you write cleaner, more maintainable code.
Increases efficiency: By automating repetitive tasks and catching errors early, Sourcery saves you time and effort in the long run. You can focus on writing new code instead of fixing old code.
Encourages code consistency : By enforcing consistent coding styles, Sourcery helps to keep your codebase organized and easy to read. This makes it easier for others to understand and contribute to your code.
Enhances development workflow: Sourcery integrates seamlessly with your existing development tools and workflows, making it easy to use and implement.

How to Use Sourcery

Sourcery is easy to set up and use. Here’s how you can get started:

Install the Sourcery package from PyPI using pip or your preferred package manager.
Create a configuration file in your project directory, which defines the rules that Sourcery will follow when analyzing your code.
Run Sourcery in your project directory to analyze your code and generate suggested improvements.

Installation

Sourcery can be installed via pip:

pip install sourcery

After installation, you can run Sourcery in your project directory to analyze your code and generate new files with proposed improvements.

Code Examples

Here are a few examples of how Sourcery can improve your Python code:

Type hints: Sourcery can automatically add type hints to your code, making it easier for others to understand what each variable represents. This also makes it easier to catch type errors before they become a problem.
Automatic documentation: Sourcery can automatically generate documentation for your code, saving you time and effort. This makes it easier for others to understand how your code works and what it does.
Exception handling: Sourcery can help you catch and handle exceptions more effectively, improving the stability and reliability of your code.
Code refactoring: Sourcery can recommend changes to your code that make it more readable and maintainable. This can help you write better code that is easier to understand and modify in the future.

Example 1

Here’s an example of a code refactoring that Sourcery can perform:

Suppose you have the following code that calculates the factorial of a given number:

def factorial(n):
  if n == 0:
    return 1
  else:
   return n * factorial(n-1)

While this code works, it can be improved in terms of readability and maintainability. For example, the function could benefit from adding a docstring and using a more descriptive variable name.

Sourcery can automatically perform these improvements for you with just one command. After running Sourcery, you might see the following updated code:

def factorial(num: int) -> int:
  """Calculate the factorial of a given number.
  Args:
  num (int): The number to calculate the factorial of.
  Returns:
   int: The factorial of the given number.
 """
  if num == 0:
   return 1
 else:
   return num * factorial(num - 1)

As you can see, Sourcery has added a docstring to the function, indicating what the function does and what it returns. It has also added type hints to the parameters and return value, making the function easier to understand and use. These small improvements can make a big difference in the readability and maintainability of your code.

Example 2

Here’s an example of how Sourcery can refactor a long nested loop into a more concise and efficient list comprehension:

Suppose you have the following code that creates a list of squares for a given range of numbers:

def create_square_list(start, end):
  squares = []
  for i in range(start, end + 1):
    for j in range(i):
      squares.append(j ** 2)
  return squares

While this code works, it can be improved in terms of readability and efficiency. By using a list comprehension, we can simplify the code and make it run faster.

Sourcery can perform this optimization for you with just one command. After running Sourcery, you might see the following updated code:

def create_square_list(start, end):
  """Create a list of squares for a given range of numbers.

  Args:
   start (int): The start of the range.
   end (int): The end of the range.

  Returns:
 list: A list of squares for the given range.
 """
 return [j ** 2 for i in range(start, end + 1) for j in range(i)]

As you can see, Sourcery has transformed the nested loops into a single list comprehension, making the code more concise and efficient. This small optimization can make a big difference in the performance of your code, especially when dealing with large data sets.

You also can hoover over your function and get a metrics on your code such as size, complexity, working memory and a quality score:

Conclusion

Sourcery is a powerful tool that helps you write better Python code. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting out, Sourcery can help you write code that is cleaner, more maintainable, and easier to understand. So why wait? Give Sourcery a try today and start writing better Python code!

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5 of my favourite Python Libraries you need to try!

Ken Harrison — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 19:36:29 +0000

5 favorite Python Libraries you need to try!

Python is a popular programming language that has a wide range of libraries and tools available for various tasks. In this article, we’ll take a quick look at five libraries that can be particularly useful for automating tasks, creating cloud infrastructure, formatting code, and managing dependencies.

📣 Notes : None of the following library is not a built-in library in Python, so you will need to pip install each library. I have linked the home page of all the libraies.

File & Folder Management

Is your desktop disorderly? You are unable to locate anything in your documents and downloads. Is it too time-consuming to manually sort and rename all of these files? It’s time to automate it once so you can profit from it always.

organize: is a Python library that allows you to automate repetitive tasks by writing a simple YAML config file. The library provides a simple command line that makes it easy to interact with the underlying operating system, such as running commands and reading and writing files. This can save a lot of time and effort, especially when working with large amounts of data or when performing tasks that need to be done frequently.

Here is an example of the YAML file

rules:
  - name: "Find PDFs"
    locations:
      - ~/Downloads
    subfolders: true
    filters:
      - extension: pdf
    actions:
      - echo: "Found PDF!"

Here is a simulation of how I clean my downloads folders:

gif of the organize library cleaning my downloads folder

For Cloud Computing

You don’t want to waste time connecting ten AWS services to create a website or backend?

pulumi: pulumi is a Python library that makes it easy to create, update, and manage cloud infrastructure using code. It allows you to write infrastructure as code (IaC) using Python, which can be more efficient and easier to understand than using a web-based interface or a configuration file. With pulumi, you can define your infrastructure using Python classes and methods, and the library will take care of provisioning and updating resources on various cloud providers such as AWS, Azure, Google cloud and more.

You can view a host of examples here .

Code Formatting

Do you want to spend more time focusing on your logic and code solution and less on formatting along the way?

black: black is a popular Python library that helps you format your code automatically. It can help you to keep your code consistent and easy to read, by automatically applying a set of rules to your code. Black is especially useful when working on large codebases with multiple contributors, as it can help to ensure that everyone’s code looks the same.

black has a playground for you to see its magic at work

Handling Date & Time

Need a simplify way to handle date and time?

pendulum: pendulum is a library for handling dates and times in Python. It provides a simple and easy-to-use API for working with dates and times, and it is compatible with the datetime module in the Python standard library. The pendulum library provides a lot of additional functionality such as localization and support for time zones, advanced formatting options and more.

Example:

import pendulum

now = pendulum.now("Europe/Paris")

# Changing timezone
now.in_timezone("America/Toronto")

# Default support for common datetime formats
now.to_iso8601_string()

# Shifting
now.add(days=2)

Dependency Management

Need to manage your package with ease and at scale ?

poetry: poetry is a Python dependency management tool that makes it easy to install and manage your Python dependencies. It allows you to declare your dependencies in a single file, and it will handle installing them and creating a virtual environment for your project. Poetry can also be useful for packaging and publishing your own Python packages. It makes the process of creating, publishing and distributing python packages easy and consistent.

Here is a great article to get you started with poetry

So to sum up, organize, pulumi, black, pendulum, and poetry are five powerful Python libraries that can help you automate tasks, create and manage cloud infrastructure, format your code, handle dates and time and manage dependencies respectively. They are widely used in many Python projects and have proven to be very effective and useful. If you are looking for ways to make your work easier and more efficient, these libraries can be a great way to get started.

5 Python Libraries you need!

Ken Harrison — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 19:36:29 +0000

Python is a popular programming language that has a wide range of libraries and tools available for various tasks. In this article, we’ll…

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Warp — The Terminal Game Changer

Ken Harrison — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 18:34:22 +0000

Warp — The Terminal Game Changer

Make the switch today, and thank me later! 🙌🏾✨

What is a Warp Terminal?

Warp terminal is a powerful and versatile tool that can greatly enhance your workflow and productivity. One of the things that makes it stand out is its ability to automatically warp text to fit the size of the terminal window, eliminating the need to manually scroll or resize the window. This can be especially useful when working with large or complex files, or when using multiple terminal windows at once.

⚠️ Note: Currently for macOS only.

How Does a Warp Terminal Work?

Built using Rust, the warp terminal works by automatically wrapping text so it fits within the size of the window. This eliminates the need to manually scroll or resize windows when working with large or complex files, and makes it easier to work with multiple windows at once. The warp terminal also supports multiple tabs, allowing you to easily switch between different sessions and tasks without having to open and close multiple windows. Finally, the warp terminal is highly customizable and extensible, allowing you to add new features and functionality through plugins and extensions.

Benefits of Using a warp Terminal

There are many benefits that come from using a warp terminal over traditional terminals:

Increased efficiency: By automatically wrapping text so it fits within the size of the window, users can save time by not having to manually scroll or resize windows when working with large or complex files.
• Improved multitasking capabilities: With support for multiple tabs, users can quickly switch between different sessions without having to open and close multiple windows — making multitasking much easier.
Highly customizable: With its wide range of customization options (including font size/color adjustment, custom background/foreground colors etc.), users can tailor their experience according to their specific needs — making them more productive in less time!. Here is a list of themes that are simple YAML files.
Extensibility: Through plugins/extensions, users can extend their experience even further — adding new features & functionalities as needed.

I develop a lot using python and one repetitive task is to create a new virtual environment, activate it and update pip (package manager).

Without Warp, the process would be this 😒:

$ mkdir folder_name
$ cd folder_name 
$ python3 -m venv venv
$ source ./venv/bin/activate
$ python3 -m pip install --upgrade pip

With Warp’s Workflows, it can be simplified to _shift + ^ + R venv _😏:

Note: The python enviroment workflow isnt preinstalled but you can copy it here

https://medium.com/media/319e4924b6a62f0bff29aacbabf86a87/href

Conclusion

The warp terminal is a powerful and versatile tool that can greatly enhance your workflow and productivity. By automatically wrapping text to fit the size of the window, eliminating the need for manual scrolling or resizing, and supporting multiple tabs, it makes multitasking much easier — saving users time & energy in the process.

Furthermore, its wide range of customization options make it highly customizable — allowing users to tailor their experience according to their specific needs. Finally, with support for plugins/extensions, users can extend their experience even further — adding new features & functionalities as needed. All in all, if you are looking for a powerful & flexible terminal that can help you work more efficiently & effectively — then look no further than the warp terminal!

Happy Building 🧰🚀

Adaptive architecture & Progressive web apps

Ken Harrison — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 11:43:09 +0000

Build scalable cloud infrastructure and web applications with the utmost speed and flexibility

Examining two paradigms to take into account when creating new web applications

Adaptive architecture is a framework that allows for the dynamic adaptation of a software system’s structure and behavior in response to changing conditions. One key component of this framework is the use of a cloud-based platform to support the scalability and flexibility necessary for this type of system.

Utilizing automation tools to manage the deployment and administration of the system’s infrastructure, such as Klotho and Pulumi, is another crucial aspect of adaptive architecture. While Pulumi is a cloud development platform that enables developers to use their existing knowledge of programming languages like Python to define and manage their infrastructure as code, Klotho is a software tool that automates the creation and management of cloud infrastructure (more on these later).

These platforms and tools work together to offer a potent set of capabilities for creating adaptive systems that can instantly adapt to changing conditions and demands. This offers a level of flexibility and agility that is crucial in today’s quickly shifting business environment, as well as enabling organizations to quickly and easily scale their systems to meet changing demands.

Additionally, as the most widely used language in cloud development, Python plays a significant role in this adaptive architecture, allowing developers to build efficient and robust applications by leveraging its vast libraries.

Next, we have Progressive web apps (PWAs).

PWAs are web applications that simulate the functionality of native apps in a browser. PWAs give users an app-like experience, including offline functionality and the ability to be installed on a user’s device, by utilizing contemporary web technologies like service workers and web manifest files.

Adaptive architecture refers to the design of systems that can adapt to changing conditions and environments. In the context of PWAs, adaptive architecture can involve using different technologies and techniques to provide a consistent user experience across a wide range of devices and network conditions.

One way to implement adaptive architecture in PWAs is through the use of Klotho, an open-source tool that can be used to build adaptive and responsive user interfaces. Klotho uses machine learning to adapt the layout and behavior of a website or app based on factors such as screen size, network conditions, and user behavior.

Another way to implement adaptive architecture is through the use of Pulumi, a cloud-native development platform. Pulumi allows developers to use familiar programming languages such as JavaScript, TypeScript, and Python to define and deploy their infrastructure as code, making it easy to create, manage, and update the infrastructure that powers a PWA.

Additionally, using cloud services such as AWS, GCP or Azure is another option for Progressive Web App to enable Adaptive Architecture. Cloud services offers scalability, flexibility, security, and cost-efficiency which are key features for a production-ready PWA.

To sum up, adaptive architecture refers to a method of creating software systems that enables dynamic adaptation in response to shifting circumstances. This framework is backed by a cloud-based platform and automation tools like Klotho and Pulumi, with Python as the main programming language. This allows organizations to quickly and easily scale their systems to meet changing demands and achieve a level of flexibility and control. Progression Web Apps and Adaptive Architecture can be a powerful combination for providing a rich, app-like experience to users across a wide range of devices and network conditions. With tools like Klotho and Pulumi, developers can build PWAs that adapt to the user’s environment and provide a seamless, personalized experience. Along with cloud services which enable the necessary infrastructure for the PWA to work efficiently.

Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) tools

Ken Harrison — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 11:08:03 +0000

follow-up article to the What is Personal knowledge management (PKM) ?

Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) tools are designed to help users collect, organize, and retrieve information effectively. In this article, we will compare three popular PKM tools: Logseq, Zettlr, and Obsidian.

Logseq is a PKM tool that is built around the concept of “logical sequences,” where users can link notes together in a logical and meaningful way. Logseq is a privacy first open-source tool that is available for Windows, Linux, and macOS. It is a web-based application that allows users to store and access their notes from anywhere. With great feature such as:

It also has a feature for version control and collaboration, which makes it easy for users to work together on the same notes.

Zettlr is a markdown-based note-taking and writing application for Windows, Linux, and macOS. It is designed to be a simple and minimalist note-taking tool that can be used for everything from writing research papers to keeping a personal diary. Zettlr provides a variety of tools for organizing, linking, and tagging notes, which makes it easy to find the information you need quickly.

Obsidian is a markdown-based note-taking application that is built around the concept of “graphs.” Users can create links between notes, creating a web of interconnected ideas that can be easily navigated. Obsidian is available for Windows, Linux, and macOS, and it allows users to create notes in the form of markdown files which can be easily moved to other applications.

All three of these PKM tools have their own unique features and benefits. Logseq is best for beginners because it has a simple interface and is easy to use. Zettlr is best for users who are looking for a simple note-taking tool with advanced organizational features. Obsidian is best for advanced users who want to create a web of interconnected ideas and have more control over their note-taking workflow.

What is Personal knowledge management (PKM) ?

Ken Harrison — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 10:50:23 +0000

What is Personal knowledge management (PKM) ?

Personal knowledge management (PKM) is the process of actively gathering, organizing, and applying knowledge gained throughout your life, whether through work, study, or casual internet browsing.

You can improve your productivity, decision-making abilities, and overall effectiveness in both your personal and professional lives by implementing effective PKM techniques. Starting with PKM is simple and straightforward. The first step is to decide what kinds of data you want to collect and organize. This could include articles, notes, research, and ideas. Once you’ve determined what you want to collect, you can begin using tools to assist you.

The concept is not revolutionary per se; however, a deliberate, well managed PKM is a game changer.

A few key components for starting your PKM journey are:

A note-taking app
A single source of truth (on the cloud, local desktop or mobile)
Tags to organize your notes and folders

Evernote is a well-known PKM tool. Evernote is a note-taking and organizational app that allows you to record audio, save articles, and take notes. The app also has a web clipping feature that lets you save articles from the web with a single click. It also supports tagging, making it easy to find what you’re looking for. Another tool similar to Evernote is Microsoft OneNote, which offers more flexible formatting options and can integrate with other Microsoft tools such as Word.

Personally, I don’t use either because I prefer to write in Markdown. I have a Markdown article here. Also I have an article on note-tasking apps here

Another important element of PKM is the ability to access and use your knowledge when needed. One method is to use a mind mapping tool such as XMind or MindNode. Mind mapping allows you to visually organize your thoughts and ideas, making connections and relationships between different pieces of information easier to see.

Last but not least, you must be sure to regularly review and update your knowledge. This could entail scheduling time each day or each week to review and arrange your notes, or it could even entail setting up reminders to go over specific subjects or information at predetermined intervals.

Overall, PKM is a powerful and effective way to stay organized and make the most of the knowledge you acquire throughout your life. By using tools like Evernote, OneNote, and mind mapping apps to collect and organize your information, and by setting aside time to review and update your knowledge on a regular basis, you can easily boost your productivity and effectiveness in both your personal and professional life.

Forget MS Word, switch to Markdown

Ken Harrison — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 08:01:54 +0000

Markdownis a lightweight markup language for creating formatted text using a plain-text editor. It enables plain text formatting syntax aimed at making writing for the internet easier.

Why Markdown

The philosophy behind Markdown is that plain text documents should be readable without tags mussing everything up, but there should still be ways to add text modifiers like lists, bold, italics, etc. It is an alternative to WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) editors, which use rich text that later gets converted to proper HTML.

Markdown is Future-proof. By “future-proof,” this means for as long as plain text is the standard (which it will be for a long, long time), Markdown will be usable and openable by modern programs. Compare this to Microsoft Word, which has over 10 different file types as of 2022. Keeping things plain text ensures there will never be an outdated version, so software doesn’t need to update to keep up with the format.

Markdown does have its own filename extension: .md. It is designed to be perfectly readable as a raw text file. So it’s safe to say that Markdown isn’t going anywhere.

Example

Here’s a quick example:

To make words bold using Markdown, you simply enclose them in ** (asterisks). So, **bold word** would look like bold word when everything is said and done.

Below is a list of guides and editors for Markdown! The ⭐️ denotes my personal favorites.

Guides

Markdown Guide is a free and open-source reference guide that explains how to use Markdown, the simple and easy-to-use markup language you can use to format virtually any document ⭐️
CommonMark is a strongly defined, highly compatible specification of Markdown

Text Editors

Visual Studio Code is a code editor redefined and optimized for building and debugging modern web and cloud applications.⭐️
Zettlr: With Zettlr, writing professional texts is easy and motivating: Whether you are a college student, a researcher, a journalist, or an author — Zettlr has the right tools for you. Watch the video or continue reading to see what they are! ⭐️
Obsidian : A knowledge base that works on local Markdown files.⭐️
Logseq is a privacy-first, open-source knowledge base that works on top of local plain-text Markdown and Org-mode files. Logseq is a privacy-first, open-source knowledge base that works on top of local plain-text Markdown and Org-mode files.
Workflowy offers a simpler way to stay organized. If you have a crazy job or an ambitious project, we will be your trusty sidekick.

Online Editors

Dillinger is an online cloud based HTML5 filled Markdown Editor. Sync with Dropbox, Github, Google Drive or OneDrive. Convert HTML to Markdown. ⭐️
Parsedown : Fast and extensible Markdown parser in PHP. It supports GitHub Flavored Markdown and it adheres to CommonMark.
StackEditallows you to insert inline comments and embed collaborator discussions in your files, just as well as Microsoft Word and Google Docs. Write offline!
Minimalist Online Markdown Editor : This is the simplest and slickest online Markdown editor. Just write Markdown and see what it looks like as you type. And convert it to HTML in one click.
LetsMarkdown : The easiest way to collaboratively write markdown files with others on the Internet, supporting live preview

Support tools:

Mermaid : Mermaid is a JavaScript based diagramming and charting tool that uses Markdown-inspired text definitions and a renderer to create and modify complex diagrams. The main purpose of Mermaid is to help documentation catch up with development.
reavel.js: reveal.js is an open source HTML presentation framework. It’s a tool that enables anyone with a web browser to create fully-featured and beautiful presentations for free. You can use Markdown to creates presentations slides.
Markdown Table Generator : This online generator is used to quickly make, create and generate Markdown Table. You can also edit Markdown Table using Excel-like table editor.
Markdown-to-HTML : Convert your markdown to HTML in one easy step
Markwhen : A text-to-timeline tool. You write markdown-ish text and it gets converted into a nice looking cascading timeline.

Simply put, Markdown is a great way for all (students, knowledge workers, content creator, engineers etc.) to write for the web using plain text.