Geppetto and I

By Linny Santoro

 

"Geppetto and I" is a compelling narrative that intertwines the worlds of technology, startup culture, and personal growth. Through the protagonist's journey, the book delves into the complexities of navigating the tech industry, the challenges of startup life, and the transformative power of stepping out of comfort zones. The story unfolds as a dialogue between the author and a reader, offering insights into the dynamic world of web development, the intricacies of various technologies and the strategic mindset required in the startup ecosystem. The protagonist's encounters with AI tools like GPT-4, their role in the development of an equestrian event management app, and the integration of personal passions into professional endeavors make this a unique blend of a tech guide and an inspiring personal story. This book is a must-read for those fascinated by the intersection of technology, entrepreneurship, and self-discovery.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Linny
• Release date: Jan 18, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224249855

Book preview

Chapter 1: Between Interviews and Startups: The Intricacies of a Developer's Journey

AUTHOR: AH, THERE YOU are. It's high time we had a candid chat. You know, many people see Silicon Valley or the shiny glass buildings of tech firms and think, Ah, the dream. But allow me to demystify something for you. It isn't always so.

I was already ensconced in the epitome of tech affluence. A job at one of the world's leading tech companies. However, comfort zones are, in fact, the invisible prisons that stifle growth. This comfort, while reassuring, sparked in me a desire for the dynamic and uncharted territories of startup culture, pushing me to seek new challenges. That's why I found myself scrolling through job listings for an early-stage startup that specialized in vintage clothing. Ah yes, this was amid the clamor that followed GPT-4's grand entrance into the world—a fascinating time, indeed.

Reader: Oh, let me guess, you wanted to see if the machine learning hype was real, am I correct?

Absolutely. So, I dusted off my interview skills and found myself staring at a coding task that nearly gave me an aneurysm. Why? The required stack was—get this—a convoluted mix of React, TypeScript, SQLite databases, and yes, GraphQL. What's more? My last contact with TypeScript and databases was eons ago. My comfort zone was miles away.. The idea struck me then - why not build an app using this stack as a practical way to prepare for the interview? It would be a hands-on method to brush up on TypeScript, databases, and GraphQL. This project wasn't just about the job opportunity; it was a self-imposed challenge to reacquaint myself with these technologies in a real-world context, beyond the abstract nature of interview prep.

Reader: And yet, you were no stranger to startups, right?

Correct, I was already a startup veteran—a veritable journeyman in the ever-volatile, ever-exhilarating world of new ventures. My initial foray was a healthcare dashboard, an ambitious platform conceived from scratch. We were a small team armed with the React framework, and that experience was both a proving ground and an arduous trial by fire. Amidst frenetic iterations and pivots, the startup eventually stumbled and fell; we'd bitten off more than we could chew, a classic overreach born from the enthusiasm of solving all healthcare issues in one fell swoop.

Reader: Ah, the risk of being overly ambitious.

Indeed. But you know, each mistake was a lesson engrained. My next adventure was at another early-stage startup where I had the Herculean task of revamping a vendor management application. Unlike my prior venture, this one had a pre-existing codebase. The challenge