Showing items from Tactics

The Real-World Trade-Offs of Natural Language to SQL Systems

Natural language to SQL (NL2SQL) systems are one of the most compelling applications of language models—but also among the hardest to get right in production. Turning messy human questions into precise, performant SQL queries touches nearly every challenge in AI: ambiguity, domain context, schema evolution, and validation. Here’s a breakdown of the core lessons learned from real-world implementations—and why building a robust NL2SQL stack requires more than just dropping an LLM behind an input box.

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Effective Practices for Measuring and Managing Technical Debt

Technical debt is a concept familiar to many software developers: the idea that suboptimal solutions or shortcuts taken during development can result in challenges down the road. This metaphor likens it to financial debt, where the “interest” is paid over time through the cost of maintaining or updating substandard code. Managing this debt is crucial for maintaining long-term productivity and system health.

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Leading with Data for Better Decision Making

In an age where data is more accessible than ever, organizations that harness its power are setting themselves apart from the competition. Yet, the value of data doesn’t lie in its volume—it lies in how it’s used. Leading with data is about more than dashboards and reports; it’s a mindset shift that prioritizes evidence-based decisions over gut feeling or tradition.

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Rolling Out On-Call Without Losing Your Team (or Your Mind)

The On-Call Dilemma Rolling out an on-call rotation is one of those leadership rites of passage that feels equal parts necessary and terrifying. Necessary, because someone has to be around when things inevitably go sideways. Terrifying, because done poorly, it can torpedo team morale, erode trust, and burn people out faster than a buggy deploy on a Friday afternoon.

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