This week, while looking for blog posts to write about, I came across an article by Kiera Abbamonte on the Zapier blog called “The Best Free Project Management Software in 2025.” Kiera’s article dives into eight top project management tools that are totally free and packed with features for task management, collaboration, and keeping things productive. Zapier really went all out testing each one, breaking down what each tool does best. It’s a great find if you’re trying to manage projects without spending a ton.

Kiera starts off by explaining that while some people manage fine with just a to-do list or calendar, teams usually need more structured tools to keep everyone on the same page. When you’re working with others, it’s important to have ways to track tasks, communicate easily, and stay organized. Her list includes some well-known options, like Trello, which is big on visual task organization, and Asana, which focuses on teamwork. She also mentions tools like ClickUp for flexible task views and Airtable for custom workflows. For developers, Jira is recommended because it’s designed with Agile in mind, and Height even has some AI features for automating repetitive tasks. Finally, there’s Paymo, which is especially helpful for freelancers since it includes time tracking and invoicing all in one place.

I chose this article because it lines up well with what we’re learning about project management. It doesn’t just list a bunch of apps; it actually dives into why certain features—like flexibility, integrations, and collaboration tools—matter. Kiera does a great job highlighting the pros and cons, which helped me think about what I’d really want in a project management tool. It also got me thinking about how each tool might suit different types of projects.

After reading, I feel like I have a better sense of how the right project management setup can make a difference, especially for group projects. Trello’s visual boards, for example, seem like a simple, flexible way to keep tasks organized, whether it’s for personal projects or something with a team. Asana’s team-focused features make me realize how much clear task assignments and easy communication can help everyone stay on track. This article has definitely given me a few ideas on organizing future group projects to keep things moving smoothly.

If you’re curious about free project management tools, I’d definitely recommend checking out this article. It’s a practical guide for anyone looking to get organized without spending a fortune, and Kiera’s insights make it easy to see which tools might fit best based on your project needs.

Link to the post: The Best Free Project Management Software in 2025

From the blog CS@Worcester – Harley Philippe's Tech Journal by Harley Philippe and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

This week, while exploring some articles, I found one that really caught my attention: Happy Patel’s article titled, “Why Python Is So Popular Even Though It’s Super Slow.” Patel’s post dives into Python’s popularity in the programming world, even though it’s known for being slower than other languages. After a quick look into Patel’s background, I found that he’s a knowledgeable voice in tech, sharing insights into why developers choose Python despite its limitations. His article offers a well rounded look at the unique benefits of Python, such as its simplicity, versatility, and productivity, which contribute to its wide usage in various fields like web development, data science, and automation.

Patel kicks things off by breaking down why Python is generally considered “slow.” For instance, he mentions that Python’s code is interpreted rather than compiled, which can make it lag behind other languages in execution speed. Another reason for this lag is Python’s Global Interpreter Lock (GIL), which only allows one thread to execute at a time within a process. Although these details may seem like drawbacks, Patel points out that these traits also make Python flexible and user-friendly. Its high level syntax closely mirrors human thought, allowing developers to think more about problem-solving than strict coding rules. Patel sums it up well by explaining that Python essentially lets computers handle the heavy lifting, letting humans focus on creative coding.

Then, Patel goes on to highlight the reasons for Python’s enduring popularity, despite the speed limitations. One key factor he points out is that Python’s simplicity and readability make it incredibly productive. Development cycles are often much shorter, which can be a huge plus for companies where employee time is one of the most valuable resources. He argues that for many businesses, development speed and efficiency matter more than code execution speed. Patel also emphasizes that Python’s scaling capabilities, like horizontal scaling, let developers manage performance limitations, making Python adaptable for many real-world applications.

I chose this article because it not only aligns with our course material but also sheds light on Python’s “personality” in the coding world. I liked Patel’s casual and practical tone it’s informative without being overly technical. His points gave me a new perspective on how Python’s user-friendliness outweighs its slower speed, especially in environments where development time is critical. Patel’s discussion encouraged me to think about how Python’s design might be useful in my own coding projects, as it shows how the language’s efficiency and adaptability make it great for rapid prototyping.

Reading this article reinforced why Python is considered beginner friendly and why its productivity makes it so popular across industries. I’m excited to apply what I’ve learned, especially Python’s fast development approach, in future projects where flexibility and quick prototyping will be valuable. Patel’s article makes a strong case for why Python is more than just “slow” it’s practical, versatile, and adaptable, which are all reasons I’d recommend Python to anyone entering the programming field.

Link to the post: https://medium.com/@innvonixtechsolutions/why-python-is-so-popular-even-though-its-super-slow-cedfa2b8fe68

From the blog CS@Worcester – Harley Philippe's Tech Journal by Harley Philippe and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

Blog Title: Aligning Product-Driven Organizations with Customer Experience: Key Insights

This week, I listened to a podcast titled “How to Align Your Product-Driven Organization to the Customer Experience.”  The episode goes into and explores the challenges that product-driven companies face in ensuring their offerings truly meet customer needs. It explains in detail how organizations can align internal processes and product development strategies in concert with the overall customer experience and emphasizes the importance of both understanding and responding to customer feedback throughout the product life cycle.

The host starts off by discussing the gap that often exists between a company’s internal product focus and what customers actually want. They explain how organizations can get caught up in their own innovations, losing sight of customer pain points. The podcast stresses the need for continuous customer engagement, using both qualitative feedback and quantitative data to drive product decisions. They also highlight the role of cross-functional collaboration, urging teams across departments to work together to create products that not only function well but also deliver real value to users.

I chose this podcast because it directly relates to our course discussions on systems thinking and customer-centric design, both of which are crucial in software development. This points to a greater and broad development process: aligning internal systems with customer’s needs externally. More particularly, I felt that the guest speaker has done a very good job in bridging the gap between product innovations and customer satisfaction, a very crucial gap in most of the tech-driven industries today, including software development.

The one important thing I took from the episode has to do with how significant it is to assess products from a customer’s perspective. This is something that up until this point I had considered in terms of features against functionality. In this podcast, it helped me understand how important it would be to always reassess if those features actually impact the user experience. I also liked the talk about cross functional teams because it helped me confirm that successful collaboration among different departments brings much better results for any product. 

With my understanding now, using what I’ve learned can be used to integrate  into my approach to project work. Whether it’s in software development or product management, understanding the customer’s journey will be key to delivering value. I now see the importance of continuous feedback loops and how integrating customer experience into every phase of development can lead to better, more successful products. This episode has given me a fresh perspective on how to bridge the gap between product design and customer satisfaction, and I’m excited to apply what I’ve learned in future team projects.

Link to Podcast: How to Align Your Product-Driven Organization to the Customer Experience

From the blog CS@Worcester – Harley Philippe's Tech Journal by Harley Philippe and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

Blog Title: Exploring Software Development Methodologies: A Review

This week while searching for a blog I came across Kacper Rafalski’s blog post titled Software Development Methodologies: A Comprehensive Guide, which dives into the wide range of methodologies used in software development. From a few google searches I learned that Rafalski is a well established figure in the tech industry, known for his skills and knowledge in structured development processes, and his work provides insights on how various methodologies, such as Agile, Waterfall, and Lean, shape the success of software projects. In this post, Rafalski emphasizes the importance of choosing the right methodology based on project goals, team dynamics, and what a client needs. 

To start, Rafalski begins by explaining traditional methodologies like Waterfall, which follows a straight line in a downward sequential structure; this method is ideal for projects with clear, unchanging requirements. He contrasts this approach with the agile methodology, known for its repetitive and flexible approach, which accommodates changing client needs and fosters collaboration. Agile, according to Rafalski, prioritizes working software and client feedback over long and boring documentation, this makes it really useful in a fast paced working environment. He also highlights Lean one we have not covered yet in class hopefully soon. Lean is designed to  eliminate waste and maximize efficiency by focusing only on value-adding processes. He lastly mentions the newer methodologies, including Rapid Application Development-RAD and the Spiral model; each of them presented unique solutions for some particular project obstacles such as rapid prototyping and risk management.

I chose this blog posting for the following reasons: firstly, because it broadly and in great detail covers methodologies, highly relevant, therefore, to our course material. The tone of Rafalski is approachable and informative; he shows throughout by explaining complex subjects without getting too complicated on the reader.  I also liked his balanced discussion of the methodologies, which gave me the chance to think on how these approaches may apply to different software programming projects that I may encounter in my future. Also, the organization of the post makes it clear to follow and understand each methodology clearly. 

Reading this post clarified how to choose the appropriate methodology for a project. I really came to appreciate Agile’s iterative process and how in such an approach, adaptation to circumstances and collaboration is greatly enhanced, something that I hope to apply in future team projects. Generally speaking, I really recommend this post by Rafalski to anyone who wants to get a clear understanding of the diverse landscape of software development methodologies. This is not only an informative guide but also highly practical in field practice for software development.
Link to the post: Software Development Methodologies: A Comprehensive Guide

From the blog CS@Worcester – Harley Philippe's Tech Journal by Harley Philippe and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.