Craig Kerstiens is a product leader at Crunchy Data, specializing in managed Postgres services, distributed databases, and performance optimization. He curates Postgres Weekly, speaks at conferences, and helps enterprises scale and optimize their Postgres deployments.
164 articles from this blog
Analyzes the 2008 tech downturn, questioning the sustainability of niche skills like Facebook apps and iPhone development amid layoffs and market saturation.
Argues that relying solely on ads is not a viable business model for many web platforms, especially those where users are not in a transactional mindset.
A 2008 blog post praising Google Chrome's smooth performance and potential, despite early limitations like a lack of plugins.
Analysis of how eBay missed a major opportunity to become a social network for collectors and niche communities in the early 2000s.
Explores the unique value and targeting strategies of social network advertising compared to traditional search-based ads.
Analyzes the similar business tactics of Microsoft and Apple, questioning why public perception differs despite both limiting features for future revenue.
A comparison of early social aggregators FriendFeed and Socialthing, analyzing their strengths for tech conversations versus personal social updates.
Analyzes Facebook's platform evolution, focusing on user engagement, app quality, and the need for better third-party integration tools.
A 2008 review of FriendFeed, a web 3.0 startup aggregating updates from 35+ social media sites, analyzing its features and limitations.
A 2008 critique of the original iPhone's lack of true Web 2.0 capabilities, focusing on push notifications, an open app store, and video streaming.
A critique of common pitfalls that hinder success in Silicon Valley's tech startup scene, focusing on mindset and behavior.
Explores how content commoditization increases the value of personal branding and trusted sources in the tech information landscape.
Discusses the pitfalls of short-term, quarterly-focused business strategies in tech companies and the advantages of long-term planning.
Analysis of Adobe's strategic moves in 2007-2008, including acquisitions and new web-based products like Photoshop Express and Acrobat.com, showcasing their competitive push.
Analyzes if Web 2.0 can become profitable by moving beyond simple ads to targeted, data-driven referrals, using Mint.com as a key example.
A reflection on the balance between consuming and creating content in the tech industry, and how information accessibility changes expertise.
The article explores Web 3.0's core goal of reducing online noise, which requires users to trade personal data for personalized filtering and transparency.
Explains why Twitter is important for businesses, enterprises, power users, and consumers as a communication and feedback tool.
Discusses the scalability advantages of the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model, using examples like Facebook and Salesforce.
A developer argues that mobile devices should focus on data accessibility and integration with existing services, not replicating full desktop applications.
