In this talk, we explore the human side of software development—where collaboration, understanding, and compassion are just as critical as code quality and system design. Through the lens of a real-world technical transformation at cars.com, this talk follows the journey of implementing a Server Driven UI (SDUI) architecture to unify feature delivery across web, iOS, and Android platforms.
As we set out to support all three platforms from a single source of truth, a critical architectural decision was made: step back from a LiveView-focused ecosystem and move toward a more flexible, client-agnostic GraphQL layer. While the technical ambition was bold, the true story lies in the people—engineers navigating the complexity of multi-platform development, and the friction—and growth—that comes from learning to support one another.
This talk is both a deep dive into architectural change and a reflection on why being a great teammate matters just as much as being a great technologist.
Key Takeaways for the Audience:
- You can’t build scalable, cross-platform systems like Server Driven UI without deeply understanding the pain points and perspectives of your teammates across engineering, product, and design.
- Good teammates ask questions, listen actively, and clarify assumptions. In a fast-moving, multi-team environment, clear, kind, and empathetic communication is just as essential as clean code.
- The success of SDUI wasn’t just about rendering components from a server—it was about designing a system that enabled people to work together better, reduce redundant effort, and scale features more thoughtfully.