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Knowledge Base: Building Software Products

You'll learn: How to make positive contributions to your product roadmap.

Knowledge Base information is split up into 4 sections, organized by how it important it is to know each bit; peruse at your own leisure.

Pro tip: bookmark any post by clicking the bookmark icon on the right, and you'll be able to see it in your account's reading list.

Core concepts every PM should understand about software development, including code basics, internet infrastructure, APIs, and version control

Let's begin with the top 5 things PMs should know about software to get oriented.
At its core, everything in software starts with understanding what code actually is.
All software runs on the internet, the global network that connects everything.
Modern apps run in the cloud, which provides flexible computing power.
Applications communicate with each other through APIs, which are like contracts for sharing data.
Developers track changes to their code using version control systems like GitHub, which helps teams collaborate effectively.
Many of the tools developers use are open source, meaning anyone can view and contribute to the code.

Understanding the distinction between frontend and backend development, and how features get implemented across both layers

Apps are split into frontends and backends - the parts you see and the parts you don't.
It's useful to understand the entire process of how a feature gets made, from code being written to code being deployed.

Introduction to modern frontend development concepts including React and web applications

HTML defines the structure of every web page, like the floorplan of a building.
CSS is how you style web pages with color, borders, fonts, and more.
Frontend engineers often use specialized libraries like React to build user interfaces.
Anything you access from your browser is a web app, whether on your laptop, phone, or TV.

Comprehensive overview of backend technologies including databases, APIs, authentication, and data management tools

It's important to understand the different types of databases and how they're used in modern applications.
Relational databases are the most common way to store structured data in applications.
When data doesn't fit neatly into tables, developers use NoSQL databases instead.
There's a lot more to running databases in production than just storing data.
Understanding database schemas and structure is crucial for working with data-driven applications.
GraphQL is a modern way to build flexible and efficient APIs.
Webhooks allow applications to automatically notify each other when events happen.
Software integrations allow different software systems to work together and share data.
Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) help developers work with databases using their preferred programming language.

When database structure changes, developers need to run database migrations to update existing data.
Understanding APIs are fundamental to how modern software works together.
Developers usually prefer to query databases via APIs for security purposes.
Proper authentication is crucial for keeping user data secure and private.

Modern deployment practices and technologies including containers, Kubernetes, observability, and serverless architecture

Understanding what causes application outages helps you prepare for and handle outages effectively.
Observability helps teams understand how their systems are performing in production.
CI/CD pipelines automates testing and deployment of new code changes.
Going deeper on Continuous Integration (of CI/CD) - how developers test and verify their code is ready to go.
PaaS, or Platform as a Service, lets developers pay extra to avoid managing their own infrastructure.

Docker containers help developers package and run their applications consistently.
Kubernetes helps organizations manage large-scale container deployments.
Microservices break down large applications into smaller, manageable pieces.
Serverless computing also lets developers pay extra to avoid managing their own infrastructure, but there's even less managing involved.

Essential knowledge for enterprise software development including compliance and certification requirements

To sell software to enterprise customers, you'll need to build many boring (but critial) security features.
SOC 2 certification proves that a company follows security best practices.

Understanding product analytics implementation, session replay technology, and data team tools

Understanding how product analytics work is crucial for data-driven product decisions.

Session replay technology helps teams understand exactly how users interact with their product.
Understanding data team tools and processes helps you work better with data scientists.