DevTalk LA

This week's topic: Domain storytelling

As described in Thoughtworks Technology Radar Vol. #31.

Domain-driven design (DDD) has become a foundational approach to the way we develop software. We use it to model events, to guide software designs, to establish context boundaries aroundmicroservices and to elaborate nuanced business requirements. DDD establishes a ubiquitouslanguage that both nontechnical stakeholders and software developers can use to communicateeffectively about the business. Once established, domain models evolve, but many teams find it hardto get started with DDD. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to building an initial domain model. One promising technique we’ve encountered recently is domain storytelling. Domain storytelling is a facilitation technique where business experts are prompted to describe activities in the business. As the experts are guided through their narration, a facilitator uses a pictographic language to capture the relationships and actions between entities and actors. The process of making these stories visible helps to clarify and develop a shared understanding among participants. Since there is no single best approach to developing a domain model, domain storytelling offers a noteworthy alternative or, for a more comprehensive approach to DDD, companion to Event Storming, another technique we often use to get started with DDD.

Zoom link will be added about 5 min before the event starts.

Discussion Resources :

Domain Storytelling
https://domainstorytelling.org/

Building Better Software: The Role of Domain Storytelling in DDD by Rodrigo Luque
https://roluquec.medium.com/building-better-software-the-role-of-domain-storytelling-in-ddd-95091a93d89b

Domain Storytelling by NimblePros
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWHpoIYMhQQ

This week's topic: LiteLLM

As described in Thoughtworks Technology Radar Vol. #31.

LiteLLM is a library for seamless integration with various large language model (LLM) providers’ APIs that standardizes interactions through an OpenAI API format. It supports an extensive array of providers and models and offers a unified interface for completion, embedding and image generation. LiteLLM simplifies integration by translating inputs to match each provider’s specific endpoint requirements. It also provides a framework needed to implement many of the operational features needed in a production application such as caching, logging, rate limiting and load balancing. This ensures uniform operation across different LLMs. Our teams are using LiteLLM to make it easier to swap various models in and out — a necessary feature in today’s landscape where models are evolving quickly. It’s crucial to acknowledge when doing this that model responses to identical prompts vary, indicating that a consistent invocation method alone may not fully optimize completion performance. Also, each model implements add-on features uniquely and a single interface may not suffice for all. For example, one of our teams had difficulty taking advantage of function calling in an AWS Bedrock model while proxying through LiteLLM.

Zoom link will be added about 5 min before the event starts.

Discussion Resources :

TBD

This week's topic: Visual regression testing tools

As described in Thoughtworks Technology Radar Vol. #31.

We’ve highlighted visual regression testing tools before and have observed their algorithms evolve from primitive pixel-level comparison to sophisticated pattern-matching and optical character recognition (OCR). Early visual regression tools generated many false positives and were only useful in later stages of development when the interface became stable. BackstopJS avoids this problem by configuring selectors and viewports to pinpoint visual tests to specific elements on the page. But machine learning has made it easier to detect and compare visual elements more accurately, even if they happen to have moved or contain dynamic content. These tools have become steadily more useful and are well-positioned to take advantage of the latest developments in AI and machine learning. Several commercial tools such as Applitools and Percy now claim to use AI in their visual regression tests. One of our teams has been using Applitools Eyes extensively and have been happy with the results. Although visual regression tests are no substitute for well-written end-to- end functional tests, they’re a valuable addition to the testing toolbox. We’re moving them to adopt because they have become a safe default option as one element in a comprehensive UI test strategy.

Zoom link will be added about 5 min before the event starts.

Discussion Resources :

TBD

This week's topic: Function calling with LLMs

As described in Thoughtworks Technology Radar Vol. #31.

Function calling with LLMs refers to the ability to integrate LLMs with external functions, APIs or tools by determining and invoking the appropriate function based on a given query and associated documentation. This extends the utility of LLMs beyond text generation, allowing them to perform specific tasks such as information retrieval, code execution and API interaction. By triggering external functions or APIs, LLMs can perform actions that were previously outside their standalone capabilities. This technique enables LLMs to act on their outputs, effectively bridging the gap between thought and action — similar to how humans use tools to accomplish various tasks. By introducing function calling, LLMs add determinism and factuality to the generation process, striking a balance between creativity and logic. This method allows LLMs to connect to internal systems and databases or even perform internet searches via connected browsers. Models like OpenAI’s GPT series support function calling and fine-tuned models like Gorilla are specifically designed to enhance the accuracy and consistency of generating executable API calls from natural language instructions. As a technique, function calling fits within retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and agent architectures. It should be viewed as an abstract pattern of use, emphasizing its potential as a foundational tool in diverse implementations rather than a specific solution.

Zoom link will be added about 5 min before the event starts.

Discussion Resources :

TBD