Hello, before we start, let me give you some context. In my day-to-day work, we are creating an amazing project called Kanvas Ecosystem. Kanvas started as a backend-as-a-service (more or less), and currently, it works as a middle platform between your DataSource and the world.
The best example of this is a client—let’s call her "Wanda." Wanda runs an online store with a huge inventory of products. And when I say huge, I mean a MASSIVE inventory. These products are sold across different channels: her Web Store, WhatsApp, and a physical shop.
Now, let’s get to the problem. The Web Store is hosted on Shopify, a well-known e-commerce platform. Shopify Basic has a lot of limitations for my taste, but that’s one of the reasons we use Kanvas—to overcome the restrictions on selling channels.
In January 2025, Wanda needed to randomly gift items to web store clients. But how could we know if a customer was making multiple purchases just to get extra gifts? The answer: their shipping address. The catch? I’m a backend PHP developer, not a Shopify developer.
And that’s exactly why I’m writing this article—because your best soft skill is solving problems. You’re not just a JS coder, a PHP coder, or a Golang coder. You are a problem solver, and that makes you the best software engineer in your workplace.
The solution was simple: in Kanvas, we store all orders from different sales channels (WhatsApp, Web Store, and others). Every time a user enters their shipping address; I can check if that address has already been used to claim the gift item. With a serverless app, I can block or cancel the order if it’s a duplicate. Sounds simple, right? But at the time, it was a real challenge, requiring extensive testing. In the end, the promotion was a success, and everything worked perfectly.
This kind of challenge always reminds me that, in programming, every business problem has a solution. Some solutions take a long time, others just a little—but if you believe in yourself, you can do it.
So next time you face a challenge outside your comfort zone, remember: you're not just a coder, you're a problem solver. And that’s what makes you great.
My name is Frederick, a simple coder 😛. Thanks for reading!
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