diff --git a/src/content/daily-email/2023-07-25.md b/src/content/daily-email/2023-07-25.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c1638464 --- /dev/null +++ b/src/content/daily-email/2023-07-25.md @@ -0,0 +1,40 @@ +--- +title: > + Working backwards +pubDate: 2023-07-25 +permalink: > + archive/2023/07/25/working-backwards +tags: [] +--- + +Today, I did a show-and-tell session with my team where I demonstrated an integration I've been working on for a few months and recently released to production. + +The simplified workflow is we collate some data, send it to a third-party system for translation, receive the translated file and import the translations into Drupal's translation system. + +## Where did I start? + +The first thing I did was not to collate the data and generate the file but to send a minimal, hard-coded version of the contents to the third-party system. + +I'd have started with the code to import the translated strings if I hadn't already done this in an earlier spike. + +This allowed me to send the file, check the response from the third party and ensure they could work with that file type and my proposed content structure. + +If needed, I could have changed direction and avoided investing much time. This wouldn't have been the case if I'd left this until the end of the process. + +I also have a working end-to-end test, and I can send a file and get the response I need. + +What if I'd written all the code and discovered something wouldn't work? + +## What next? + +Now, I can work backwards and start to make the content dynamic. + +I can introduce more authentic and complicated data, remove the hard-coded test data, and check that things still work. + +I still have the quick feedback loop, as I can always send the data to the third-party system and verify things work as I iterate on my implementation. + +With the main pieces of the puzzle in place, I can continue building and filling in the others. + +Once I have a complete feature with all the pieces in place, I can refactor as needed. + +I still have the same finished puzzle - I just built it in a different order.