--- title: "Resources: AI, engineering & product insights" description: "Field notes on shipping production AI, building reliable software, and running product teams that last, from Tarmac’s senior engineers and builders." canonical_url: "https://www.tarmac.io/resources/" last_updated: "2026-09-02" --- Resources # Field notes from teams who ship Practical writing on production AI, reliable engineering, product design, and the culture behind long-term partnerships. No thought-leadership fluff. AllAI & DataEngineeringProduct & DesignCulture [ AI & Data ## Tarmac is now an OpenAI Select Partner Tarmac joined the OpenAI Partner Network as a Select Partner. What OpenAI's $150M ecosystem investment buys, and how it shows up in client work. Tarmac · Sep 2, 2026 Featured Read article → ](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/openai-select-partner/) [Engineering ### C4 diagrams your AI agents can actually read Confluence PNGs are invisible to your coding agents. C4, ERD, and sequence diagrams belong in the repo as Mermaid text, not a picture nobody updates. Aug 25, 2026](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/c4-diagrams-for-ai-agents/) [AI & Data ### Do something cool with it: a week on Databricks A CTO handoff of raw CSVs becomes a Databricks analytics platform, natural language queries, and a transactional app in about a week, for $4.65 a day. Aug 11, 2026](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/databricks-platform-in-a-week/) [Engineering ### A definition of done for humans and agents Works on my machine is not a definition of done. A field guide to the checks that make done mean done, for human pull requests and AI agents alike. Jul 30, 2026](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/definition-of-done-humans-and-agents/) [Engineering ### Go, Rust, or Python: picking a backend at scale When success at scale strains Python, the fix is rarely a rewrite. How to choose Go, Rust, or Zig for the one service that needs it. Jul 27, 2026](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/go-rust-python-backend-at-scale/) [AI & Data ### A builder's guide to your own Claude Code usage Claude Code will tell you how you actually work with it. Here's how I turned my own usage report into a monthly habit that makes me better. Jul 21, 2026](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/ai-usage-retrospective/) [AI & Data ### Lakebase branching: a database per pull request Import your real database into Lakebase once, then branch it per pull request: production-fidelity preview environments that build and destroy themselves. Jul 16, 2026](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/lakebase-branching-per-pr/) [Engineering ### We deleted our CMS. Claude and git replaced it We deleted our content management system. A git repo, Claude, and a wall of build checks replaced it, and the site got faster and safer. Jul 15, 2026](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/claude-and-git-replaced-our-cms/) [Engineering · Download ### PCI DSS in AWS: a technical implementation guide A practical guide that translates each PCI DSS control family into the AWS architecture decisions it actually implies, written for engineering and platform teams. Jul 13, 2026](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/pci-dss-in-aws/) [AI & Data ### How to build your 2026 AI summer reading list A method for building an AI reading list that can change your mind: pair opposing books, favor falsifiable claims, and weight the papers above the books. Jul 12, 2026](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/ai-summer-reading-list/) [Culture ### Who sets your software partner's growth targets? Outside capital is good for plenty of companies. When your software development partner takes it, someone who is not you starts setting their growth targets. Jul 12, 2026](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/who-sets-your-partners-growth-targets/) [AI & Data ### Databricks Lakebase: what it is and how to prepare Databricks Lakebase merges your operational database with the lakehouse. What it actually changes, and how to get your data foundation ready for it. Jul 10, 2026](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/databricks-lakebase/) [AI & Data ### Production AI vs. the demo: what actually ships A convincing AI demo takes an afternoon. A dependable AI feature takes evals, guardrails, and a data foundation. Here's the gap, and how to close it. Jul 8, 2026](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/production-ai-not-demos/) [AI & Data ### RAG that doesn't hallucinate: grounding your data Retrieval-augmented generation is the most reliable way to put an LLM to work on your data, if you get the retrieval right. A guide to the parts that matter. Jun 24, 2026](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/rag-that-doesnt-hallucinate/) [Engineering ### The Tarmac 10, explained: how we de-risk delivery Quality isn't a promise you make on a sales call. It's a process you can point to. Here's the set of engineering practices behind every Tarmac engagement. Jun 10, 2026](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/tarmac-10-explained/) [Product & Design ### First UX, then UI: research-led product design Beautiful screens built on the wrong assumptions are expensive to unwind. Why we resolve the workflow before we style the pixels. May 27, 2026](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/first-ux-then-ui/) [Engineering ### Cutting cloud spend by 50%: a FinOps playbook Cloud bills balloon quietly, one convenient default at a time. The unglamorous moves that have cut client cloud spend by half, without slowing anyone down. May 13, 2026](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/cutting-cloud-spend-finops/) [Culture ### Why 85% of our new work comes from referrals The most honest metric a services firm can share isn't a survey score. It's whether clients stake their own reputation on you. Ours do, 85% of the time. Apr 29, 2026](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/why-referrals/) [Engineering · Download ### The Tarmac 10 Field Guide (free download) A practical, printable checklist of the ten engineering practices we use to de-risk delivery on every project, with the questions to ask your own team. Apr 15, 2026](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/tarmac-10-field-guide/) [AI & Data ### Databricks Data Engineer Associate (2025): a study guide During the month of June this year, I successfully passed the Databricks Certified Data Engineer Associate exam with a high score. Jul 1, 2025](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/achieving-a-high-score-on-the-databricks-data-engineer-associate-certification-2025-a-practical/) [AI & Data ### From a Whiteboard during Client Week to a Stage at the Databricks Data + AI Summit Back in January, during our Client Week in Montevideo — an annual in-person event hosted by Tarmac for our clients — an idea was born inside a windowless room we. Jun 20, 2025](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/from-a-whiteboard-during-client-week-to-a-stage-at-the-databricks-data-ai-summit/) [Engineering ### Beyond Cloud Migration: Why the real challenge has only just begun Back in 2020, I, like many others, believed the hardest part of cloud adoption was almost behind us and opportunities laid ahead if only we could get our cloud. Jun 9, 2025](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/beyond-cloud-migration-why-the-real-challenge-has-only-just-begun/) [Product & Design ### The Tome of Communication: Pixel-Perfect Conversations Communication is the bridge between ideas and reality — especially in the world of design. Apr 14, 2025](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/the-tome-of-communication-pixel-perfect-conversations/) [AI & Data ### How AI is Transforming the Market and the Future of Software Development Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping industries and revolutionizing the ways companies operate, develop products, and interact with customers. Mar 17, 2025](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/how-ai-is-transforming-the-market-and-the-future-of-software-development/) [Engineering ### Practical Cloud Cost Control: Insights and Strategies When it comes to AWS, those tiny cents can quickly balloon into dollars — and if you’re not paying attention. Mar 7, 2025](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/practical-cloud-cost-control-insights-and-strategies/) [Product & Design ### Critical Thinking in the Design Process — Thoughts, challenges, and application I will try not to give you any spoilers but watching the Zima Blue episode from Love, Death & Robots really clicked something for me,it explores how, in the end. Feb 1, 2025](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/critical-thinking-in-the-design-process-thoughts-challenges-and-application/) [Culture ### Remote work: boosting productivity in changing scenarios How a fully remote, globally distributed team stays productive when the ground keeps shifting. Practical habits from Tarmac's engineers. Jan 15, 2025](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/remote-work-productivity/) [Engineering ### Create Web 3D experiences with Godot (it’s open source!) If you’re thinking of making a 3D or 2D web-gamified experience or even games that run on various platforms, Godot is the way to go! Dec 18, 2024](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/create-web-3d-experiences-with-godot-its-open-source/) [Engineering ### MongoDB secrets every beginner must know The MongoDB lessons a beginner usually learns the hard way: indexes, aggregation pipelines, counting documents, unique values, and Atlas. Nov 18, 2024](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/things-that-i-wish-to-knew-when-i-just-started-with-mongodb/) [Product & Design ### Tarmac6 for Design The design practices Tarmac uses on every project, from doing UX before UI to writing things down, and how they cut design debt and communication problems. Nov 14, 2024](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/tarmac6-for-design/) [Product & Design ### You Suck At Estimating! (but don’t worry there is a better way) You suck at estimating. It is ok, we all do. Why software estimates are fundamentally flawed, and what to measure instead if you want to deliver predictably. Sep 23, 2024](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/you-suck-at-estimating-but-dont-worry-there-is-a-better-way/) [Engineering ### Crafting Digital Realms: The Diverging Paths of Infrastructure as Code In the dawn of digital construction, crafting cloud infrastructure was akin to forging swords in medieval smithies— tedious, skill-intensive. Jun 24, 2024](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/crafting-digital-realms-the-diverging-paths-of-infrastructure-as-code/) [Culture ### Candidate experience: leading candidates the right way Clear communication, real feedback, and a hiring process that treats candidates like people, not ticket numbers. How Tarmac runs candidate experience. Mar 12, 2024](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/candidate-experience-hiring-process/) [Engineering ### Memory Mayhem: From Scrimping Bytes to Splurging Gigabytes Once upon a byte, in a not-so-far-off land of punch cards and blinking terminal screens, lived a group of heroic beings known as software developers. Jan 25, 2024](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/memory-mayhem-from-scrimping-bytes-to-splurging-gigabytes/) [Engineering ### How I reduced the total execution time of backend integration tests by 15x Get ready to improve your team productivity with the tips presented on this article. Nov 8, 2023](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/how-i-reduced-the-total-execution-time-of-backend-integration-tests-by-15x/) [Engineering ### Feature Flags setup in Flutter with Firebase Remote Config This article aims to teach how to setup some feature flags logic in your flutter app using Firebase Remote Config free service. Sep 19, 2023](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/feature-flags-setup-in-flutter-with-firebase-remote-config/) [Engineering ### Centralized remotely configurable exception handler in Flutter In this article you will learn how to implement a centralized exception handler in Flutter. Sep 11, 2023](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/centralized-remotely-configurable-exception-handler-in-flutter/) [AI & Data ### Feeling uninspired? Let the AI assist you with your end-of-day status emails! Being a developer is not just about coding. We need to keep good communication with the people involved on our projects. Aug 21, 2023](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/feeling-uninspired-let-the-ai-assist-you-with-your-end-of-day-status-emails/) [Culture ### Why speed matters: the benefits of swift recruitment Why Tarmac keeps hiring fast and low on bureaucracy: speed wins the best candidates, and it shows respect for their time before they ever join. Apr 18, 2023](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/swift-recruitment-approach/) [Engineering ### What do you know about Shadow DOM? If you are web developer, you need to know about this feature. One common problem of web development is encapsulation. Nov 23, 2022](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/what-do-you-know-about-shadow-dom/) [Culture ### Tarmac at 10: strategies for a unique workplace culture Ten years in, the thing that held Tarmac together was never perks. It was people, trust, and clarity about what is expected. A look back at the culture. Jun 15, 2022](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/tarmac-10-years-workplace-culture/) [Engineering ### The Problem With Modern Software Architecture Today is more true than ever that everyone is in a rush. That is even more accurate when you put it in the context of software. Feb 8, 2022](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/the-problem-with-modern-software-architecture/) [AI & Data ### Truck loads of data The global telematics market is highly competitive and businesses must continually innovate in order to meet customer demand while delivering cost efficient. Nov 2, 2021](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/truck-loads-of-data/) [Engineering ### DevOps Launch Control Greenfield projects feel pure until the problems pile up. Five ground rules for launching a project properly, starting with security you build in from day one. Jun 14, 2021](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/devops-launch-control/) [Engineering ### How to convert a React Class Component to a Function Component Since the React 16.8 update which added hooks to function components, you might have seen function components replacing class components everywhere. May 4, 2021](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/how-to-convert-a-react-class-component-to-a-function-component/) [Culture ### We’re hiring — Usetrace Head of Sales We are looking to hire a Head of Sales for our new Usetrace entity. The experience we are looking for, and what the role involves day to day. Mar 17, 2021](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/were-hiring-usetrace-head-of-sales/) [Culture ### Tarmac just bought a SaaS company via Zoom. This is what I learned Rollback to 2019, a time when we could travel, meet people and have a beer in a pub. Oh, how I miss those days. Mar 10, 2021](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/tarmac-just-bought-a-saas-company-via-zoom-this-is-what-i-learned/) [Engineering ### A good way to auto-save on change events If you don’t want to drown your application with API calls and updates, but still retain the wonderful auto-save on input change for a web form. Feb 8, 2021](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/a-good-way-to-auto-save-on-change-events/) [Culture ### Tarmac acquires Finnish SaaS company Usetrace Acquisition enhances Tarmac’s automation service offering, helps companies reach market faster. Jan 21, 2021](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/u-s-based-software-consultancy-tarmac-acquires-finnish-saas-company-usetrace-a-software/) [Engineering ### React useMemo() hook simple example Cutting right to the point where and when to use the useMemo() hook for code optimization. Jan 12, 2021](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/react-usememo-hook-simple-example/) [Engineering ### Mocking React higher-order components(HOC) with Jest Testing a React component wrapped in a higher-order component can stall your whole suite. How to mock the HOC with Jest and get moving again. Jan 5, 2021](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/mocking-react-higher-order-components-hoc-with-jest/) [Engineering ### The Cloud Arms Race Think the race to the cloud is over? Migration was the easy part. The next phase is what you do with the platform once you are on it. Dec 2, 2020](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/the-cloud-arms-race/) [Engineering ### Someone changed your terraform! Someone deployed with Terraform, someone else changed it, and now it is your turn to fix it. Working through the drift on a Google Cloud Functions setup. Nov 16, 2020](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/someone-changed-your-terraform/) [Engineering ### Gitflow with Github and Cloud Build How to implement Gitflow using GitHub and Google Cloud Build, and why a well defined branching process keeps a team consistent and makes onboarding faster. Oct 6, 2020](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/gitflow-with-github-and-cloud-build/) [Engineering ### To mesh or not to mesh I was told that a Service Mesh such as Linkerd, Consul or Istio, adds a lot of overload in my cluster. Sep 14, 2020](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/to-mesh-or-not-to-mesh/) [Engineering ### Your software needs to be hopeless Over the years of working in IT, first as a developer, now as DevOps, I’ve seen a certain recurring pattern in all aspects of software development that I believe. Aug 27, 2020](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/your-software-needs-to-be-hopeless/) [Engineering ### Once you drop, you can’t stop In the essay “Why software is eating the world” from a decade ago Marc Andreessen makes the case for why “every company needs to become a software company”. Jul 22, 2020](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/once-you-drop-you-cant-stop/) [Engineering ### DevSecOps Toolbox: MFA DevSecOps and its tooling are a subject one can write tomes on. One blog post could not possibly do that. But a series of posts just might. May 20, 2020](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/devsecops-toolbox-mfa/) [Culture ### Working remote? Start with Good Morning At the risk of being the 100th blog post you’ve read this week on remote work techniques. Apr 13, 2020](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/working-remote-start-with-good-morning/) [Culture ### Will the delayed IR35 rules still impact the flexibility of your business? The coronavirus situation has highlighted the importance of flexibility in every business. Apr 6, 2020](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/will-the-delayed-ir35-rules-still-impact-the-flexibility-of-your-business/) [Culture ### 6 Tips to Keep Morale High while Working Remote Companies everywhere, including many of our clients are implementing remote work practices for the first time. Mar 30, 2020](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/6-tips-to-keep-morale-high-while-working-remote/) [Culture ### You’re outsourcing for the wrong reason. Having worked previously with outsourced teams, the experience was often hit and miss and the results rarely matched expectations. Mar 27, 2020](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/youre-outsourcing-for-the-wrong-reason/) [Engineering ### Continuous Delivery to Test Flight with Ionic and Cordova on CircleCI without Fastlane It’s a stormy summer Sunday in Minneapolis as I do this write-up on an interesting engineering challenge I was handed this week. Jan 23, 2020](https://www.tarmac.io/resources/continuous-delivery-to-test-flight-with-ionic-and-cordova-on-circleci-without-fastlane/) No articles in this category yet. Check back soon. ## Want this kind of thinking on your team? That’s the whole idea behind Team as a Service. Let’s talk about what you’re building. [Let’s team up→](https://www.tarmac.io/contact/?source=resources) ## Sitemap See the full [sitemap](https://www.tarmac.io/sitemap.md) for all pages on tarmac.io.