Welcome to this week's Top 7, where the DEV editorial team handpicks their favorite posts from the previous week.

Congrats to all the authors that made it onto the list 👏

My AI Blindspot: I Wasn't Convinced, Then the Llama LLM Changed Everything About My Development Workflow!?

Bradston Henry ・ Nov 19

#ai #productivity #llm #softwaredevelopment

@bradstondev shares their journey from AI skepticism to AI believer. Read on for their insights and a simple Step-by-Step on how to host a LLM (Large Language Model) on your local machine.

A special two-for-one highlight:

Alphanumeric / Natural sort in MySQL - 30 years and we still can't do this? 😤

GrahamTheDev ・ Nov 16

#mysql #webdev #sql #programming

True Alphanumeric / natural sorting in MySQL - why is the answer always recursion?

GrahamTheDev ・ Nov 17

#mysql #sql #webdev #programming

@grahamthedev tackles the challenge of implementing true alphanumeric sorting in MySQL. The first post is a deep dive into the problem and the second post is the solution!

From LEGO Bricks to Data Blocks: Adventures with PromptQL

Jared Short ・ Nov 19

#ai #llm #database #datascience

@shortjared explores PromptQL's capabilities using LEGO dataset analysis as a fun practical example.

A Story of Developers, Data, and Diversity

Sacha Greif ・ Nov 18

#javascript #diversity #women

@sachagreif examines the complexities of diversity in tech through the lens of the State of JS survey. Their analysis reveals how data-driven decisions can inadvertently perpetuate existing biases and the importance of actively addressing representation.

What's a Principal? A Conversation With my Head of Eng.

Manuel Artero Anguita 🟨 ・ Nov 18

#career #beginners #productivity #softwaredevelopment

@manuartero breaks down the concept of engineering career progression through a conversation about spheres of influence. Through clear visualizations and examples, they illustrate how impact expands from junior to principal engineer roles.

Microsoft Autogen Has Split in 2... Wait 3... No, 4 Parts

Maxim Saplin ・ Nov 18

#machinelearning #ai #llm #agents

@maximsaplin provides a detailed breakdown of Microsoft AutoGen's recent fragmentation into multiple projects. They clarify the relationships between different forks, versions, and future plans for this popular AI agents framework. Read the comment section for more details!

Why WASM: Quickstart

Michael Levan ・ Nov 19

#kubernetes #docker #cloud #programming

@thenjdevopsguy delivers a clear introduction to WebAssembly's key benefits and use cases. Their explanation covers WASM's advantages in compatibility, speed, security, and cross-platform capabilities.

And that's a wrap for this week's Top 7 roundup! 🎬 We hope you enjoyed this eclectic mix of insights, stories, and tips from our talented authors. Keep coding, keep learning, and stay tuned to DEV for more captivating content and make sure you’re opted in to our Weekly Newsletter 📩 for all the best articles, discussions, and updates.