Food

Product Vs. Outsource Company: What’s Better For Software Developers?

Software Developers Adopt New Programming Tools Amidst COVID-19

The Software Developers are firmly in the saddle to ride the surge in demand for development services in the coming decade. The entry-level software developers see two businesses with differing perceptions. The in-house product niche and the outsourcing industry. As a developer, which is the better option?

Let’s examine what differentiates the product company and outsourcing to help developers gain a better perspective on career choices.

The In-House IT Set-Up Appears Exciting, Attractive, And Fulfilling For Developers

As in-house software developers, you’re always available, fully committed to a working model. And entirely in tune with a work culture that is instinctively comfortable, unabashedly your own to mould in the way you decide.

You have to answer for every step of the journey, from product ideation, creative inputs, and design to its implementation and market delivery. There are fewer spatial or cultural boundaries between staff, greater involvement, and face-to-face communication is top of the line.

Cost-effectiveness, security consciousness, application efficiency, and time-to-market will consume all your time and energy, and there’s no room for error. The product ownership rests with the promoters.

Recruitment to an established company takes an average of 35 days and the time spent in training depends on the experience you bring to the team.

In a small enterprise, you could be the sole developer with greater freedom, maximizing the value of applications. You wouldn’t compromise on coding quality because you have to live with the consequences. It gives you enormous pride to see your creation receiving accolades from end-users.

In larger companies, you share the space with four or five developers, working hours will be longer, and apps will become more complex. Cooperation is the mantra, and team building will be the goal, so be prepared to sacrifice a bit more of your time and freedom in bigger workspaces.

Your outsourcing project expertise evolves as you add more skills to raise your profile. As you manage and maintain software products, you prepare the ground to assume greater responsibility and wider industry exposure moving forward.

Product Or Outsource Company: Which Is The Superior Option For The Developer?

According to Kansas City software development company, Active Logic the globalization of the IT field encourages companies to leverage the booming economy and immense talent pool to create innovation hubs, and outsourcing developers holds the key.

As the size and complexity of businesses grow, the demand for developers rises in tandem. Outsourcing becomes inevitable when companies require higher technology, in-depth specialization, or professional expertise beyond in-house staff capabilities.

For the software developers, the experiences in the in-house and outsourced domains will be different, and it’s worth knowing the difference to decide the career path that suits one’s temperament and skills.

Product Or Outsource Company: Involvement And Engagement

In a product company, you are involved in the process from start to finish and take pride in a product that performs well. As the product manager, you have to find the best solutions and ensure everybody is happy above the rungs and below you.

In outsourcing, you drive the functionality of a product, tend to a customer’s needs, and move on to another project. One day you’re a product developer, tomorrow a firefighter, then taking over as Line Manager with collective responsibility.

The sense of purpose you feel and the degree of attachment to the company lessens as multiple tasking engages attention.

Product Or Outsource Company: Creative Control Vs. Client Concerns

In an outsource company, developers work exclusively to the priorities and concerns outlined by the client. The developer ensures the end product’s quality, sustainability, and efficiency.

In the product company, you are fully involved in the software development life cycle, invested in the company’s growth, and your strategic inputs are critical to decision making, even in deciding whether a particular function is needed.

Product Or Outsource Company: Salaries And Career Path

In the product company, which recruits, trains, and nurtures your skills, you enjoy the safety net and stability of growing salaries with seniority and experience.

Product companies have fewer middlemen and offer more excellent opportunities to grow your expertise combined with better salary packages. The startups with office space and overheads on a leash would be more invested in retaining you than an outsource company packed with experienced players.

In outsourcing companies, developer salaries and perks are satisfying but demand-based because everything is billed hourly to the client, and there’s not much leverage to tinker with wages. But there is a silver lining for earnings.

Because outsourcing has a broader footprint, there is a gap between developers’ earnings in Eastern Europe and the West. Some countries pay double the wages for the same skills.

Outsourcing is popular among developers because of the sheer variety of work involved and opportunities for tapping higher salaries.

Product Or Outsource Company: Roles, Responsibilities, And Risk Management

In product companies with a leaner management chain, you are virtually on your own and entirely responsible for the result. Growing responsibility gives you more experience and nurtures brighter growth opportunities. The risk levels are higher, but the avenues for personal growth compensate for the risk.

In an outsourcing company, developers sharing new ideas must approach the business analyst who discusses the issue with the business owner and awaits the final approval of the product manager. In outsourcing, developers must work to the priorities of the overseas client, and there’s not much leverage to push a robust reformist agenda.

Conclusion

There are less well-established product companies with low salaries and poor growth opportunities. At the same time, many outsourcing companies pay handsomely, nurture a sound management culture, and give maximum freedom and choice to their developers.

If challenge and innovation are the USP and you wish to improve skills and maximize learning, go for outsourcing.

If you crave the gut satisfaction of creating a brilliant product and becoming a leader in your domain, a product company would be your call.

Food

America’s French Fry King Sounds An Alarm

Americans are revolting against McDonald’s and other fast-food establishments. This is harming French fry suppliers like Lamb Weston.

Lamb Weston, North America’s largest manufacturer of french fries and a significant supplier to fast-food chains, restaurants, and grocery stores, is closing a production facility in Washington state. Last week, the company stated that it would lay off almost 400 employees, or 4% of its workforce, and temporarily shut down manufacturing lines in response to falling customer demand.

Lamb Weston (LW) shares have plummeted 35% this year.

America’s French Fry King Sounds An Alarm

The potato giant is oversupplied at a time when demand is low. In recent years, restaurant prices have risen faster than grocery store prices, prompting shoppers to avoid fast-food establishments.

This move has had an impact on Lamb Weston because individuals are less inclined to prepare French fries at home. According to Lamb Weston, fast-food restaurants account for around 80% of all french fries consumed in the United States.

Fast-food restaurants, such as McDonald’s, are offering bargain menus to entice customers back. McDonald’s has introduced a $5 meal that contains a McDouble cheeseburger or a McChicken sandwich, small french fries, four chicken nuggets, and a small soft drink. However, these promotions are not benefiting Lamb Weston because customers are purchasing fewer portions of fries.

“Many of these promotional meal deals have consumers trading down from a medium fry to a small fry,” Lamb Weston CEO Thomas Werner stated during an earnings call last week.

Lamb Weston did not immediately reply to CNN’s request for comment.

McDonald’s, Lamb Weston’s largest customer, accounts for 13% of revenue. As McDonald’s goes, so does Lamb Weston.

America’s French Fry King Sounds An Alarm

And McDonald’s is struggling. Sales at US restaurants open at least a year declined 0.7% last quarter compared to the same period a year ago, dragged down by fewer consumers visiting the brand.

Lamb Weston is also heavily exposed to other fast-food companies, according to analyst R.J. Hottovy of analytics firm Placer.ai, in a research note to clients last week.

Customer traffic to fast-food restaurants fell 2% last quarter and 3% the prior quarter compared to the same period last year, according to Lamb Weston.

SOURCE | CNN

Food

Logan Paul And MrBeast Have A Lunchables Competitor That They Say Is Healthy

YouTube’s top stars have launched their competitor to Lunchables.

MrBeast, Logan Paul, and KSI are collaborating on a “groundbreaking new better-for-you lunch option” called Lunchly, combining all their goods into a single meal geared at their younger fans.

The all-in-one meal includes a bottle of Prime Hydration, a sports drink alternative founded by Paul and KSI that has grown in popularity; a Feastables milk chocolate bar created by MrBeast, a popular YouTube star with over 300 million subscribers; and one of three processed food options, including pizza, nachos, or turkey aand cheese with crackers.

Logan Paul And MrBeast Have A Lunchables Competitor That They Say Is Healthy

“Our ultimate goal has always been to offer not only high-quality products, but also healthier alternatives,” Lunchly cofounder Logan Paul stated in a press release. He also stated that the school lunch industry has been “dominated by Lunchables” since he was a child, and that it is “time to provide a better option for those looking for a convenient, healthier choice.”

Lunchly promises to be “healthier” since Prime contains more electrolytes than a Capri Sun in Lunchables, and Mr. Beast’s chocolate bar contains less sugar than a Kit Kat or Crunch bar.

Lunchly’s launch comes after Lunchable, owned by Kraft Heinz, announced a huge initiative last year to participate in school lunch programs. However, the company had to reformulate the components first to guarantee that the items met regulatory rules, which included incorporating fresh fruit into their meals.

Consumer Reports reported in 2024 that it recently studied the nutritional profiles of two Lunchables kits supplied in schools and discovered that they contain significantly more sodium than the Lunchables kits available in stores.

Logan Paul And MrBeast Have A Lunchables Competitor That They Say Is Healthy

Of course, KSI, Paul, and MrBeast know how to create brands, thanks partly to their devoted following. Despite government worries about the caffeine content of some of its drinks, Prime sales have risen, threatening industry leaders such as Gatorade and BodyArmor.

“Prime brings a youthful buying cohort that hasn’t had a lot pitched their way beyond traditional kids’ drinks,” Jeffrey Klineman, editor-in-chief of BevNet, previously told CNN. “Paul is significantly more intriguing to a 13-year-old than a juice box.”

SOURCE | CNN

Food

Beyond Soups and Stews: Unexpected Ways to Utilize Your 5 Litre Pressure Cooker

Pressure cookers are very popular cooking utensils for preparing soups, stews, and tenderising meats in quick time. However, their versatility and uses go far beyond these traditional uses.

If you’re trying to use your 5 litre pressure cooker differently, you are at the right place, as we are going to explore unexpected and creative ways to use this essential kitchen utensil.

Infused oils and extract

You can use your pressure cooker to prepare infused oils and extracts. To do that, you have to put the herbs, spices, or citrus peels in a jar filled with oil or alcohol. Then, seal the jar and cook under low pressure for a short time to infuse the flavours uniformly.

By this method, you can extract intense flavours in a quick time as compared to what it takes through traditional infusion methods. You can also experiment with combinations like rosemary-infused olive oil or vanilla extract for baking.

Artisanal Curd Making

You can use your pressure cooker to prepare yoghurt. To do that you have to heat the milk to a proper and specific temperature, and then cool it down before adding yoghurt culture. After that, keep the mixture in jars, seal, and ferment in the pressure cooker with the use of the yoghurt setting. And yes, after that, you will have creamy, homemade yoghurt at a much lower cost than store-bought varieties. You can add up your yoghurt, various flavours and toppings for a healthy breakfast or snack option.

Quick pickling

You can also prepare quick pickles using your pressure cooker. For doing that combine the ingredients such as vinegar, water, salt, and your choice of vegetables or fruits in the cooker.

Now, after that, cook under pressure for a few minutes to infuse the flavours rapidly.

Once it is done and cooled, your quick pickles will be ready to eat and enjoy, giving a taste of tangy flavour to sandwiches, salads, or charcuterie boards. You can do this using different spices and herbs to prepare unique flavour profiles for your pickles.

Steaming vegetables and seafood

You can use your pressure cooker’s steaming capabilities to cook vegetables and seafood very easily and quickly. To do that, you have to place a steamer basket inside the cooker, add water, and put your ingredients.

Then, after that, cook under pressure for a few minutes to keep the nutrients intact and also get the perfect tenderness. From crisp-tender asparagus to succulent shrimp, the possibilities of preparing the dishes are many. You can add different flavours using aromatic herbs, spices, and citrus zest.

Homemade bread and desserts

You can amaze your family with freshly baked bread and delicious desserts that can easily be prepared in your pressure cooker. To do that, use the cooker as a makeshift oven by placing a trivet inside and also adding water to it.

After that, you have to place your bread dough or dessert batter in a heat-proof container, cover it, and then cook under low pressure. In very little time, you will get tender bread or delicious desserts without even messing up the kitchen. You can also try various other recipes like chocolate lava cake or savoury herb bread for a delightful treat.

One-pot pasta dishes

You can easily prepare one-pot pasta dishes that are cooked perfectly in your pressure cooker. To do that you have to combine pasta, sauce, vegetables, and protein in the cooker, and also remember to check and put enough liquid for cooking. Then, seal and cook under pressure for a few minutes. This will allow the flavours to get mixed beautifully.

And with this, from classic spaghetti marinara to creamy Alfredo, your pressure cooker can do it all. You can enhance your pasta with your favourite ingredients and garnishes.

Conclusion on a pressure cooker

Cooking indeed is a creative method. Do justice to your creative culinary spirit with your 5-litre pressure cooker. Bake bread, make homemade yoghurt, and make several main dishes as well as side dishes using a wide pressure cooker.

Impress everyone and yourself! Make the best out of your culinary instincts.

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