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My name is Maksim Zhirnov. I’m a Growth Marketing Expert & MarTech Engineer. I help tech companies scale through data-driven marketing strategies, powered by my engineering background. I love building marketing systems that drive growth and sharing insights on the intersection of technology and customer acquisition.
The Case Against Always Using Agile User Stories

The Case Against Always Using Agile User Stories

Look, I’m going to say something that might get me uninvited from the next Agile conference: user stories aren’t always the answer. There, I said it. Before you close this tab and write an angry comment about how I “don’t understand Agile,” hear me out. I’ve spent years watching teams religiously convert every single requirement into the sacred “As a… I want… So that…” format, even when it made absolutely no sense to do so....

October 8, 2025 · 2 min · 388 words · Maxim Zhirnov
Building Serverless Applications with AWS Lambda and Python: A Developer's Journey to the Cloud

Building Serverless Applications with AWS Lambda and Python: A Developer's Journey to the Cloud

Ever felt like managing servers is about as fun as watching paint dry? Well, you’re in for a treat! Today we’re diving headfirst into the wonderful world of serverless computing with AWS Lambda and Python. Think of it as having a magical cloud butler who only shows up when you need them, does exactly what you ask, and then vanishes into thin air – no server maintenance, no capacity planning headaches, just pure, unadulterated code execution bliss....

October 7, 2025 · 13 min · 2720 words · Maxim Zhirnov
Avoiding Cross-Platform Development When Native is Better

Avoiding Cross-Platform Development When Native is Better

Picture this: you’re at a coffee shop, sipping your overpriced latte, when suddenly you overhear two developers arguing about whether to build their shiny new app using React Native or go full native. One developer waves their hands dramatically, shouting “Code reusability!” while the other counters with “Performance and user experience!” Sound familiar? Well, grab another coffee because we’re diving deep into when you should absolutely, positively, without-a-doubt choose native development over cross-platform solutions....

October 6, 2025 · 8 min · 1516 words · Maxim Zhirnov
The Case Against Always Using Reactive Programming

The Case Against Always Using Reactive Programming

Let me tell you a story. Last week, I walked into a codebase that looked like it was written by someone who had just discovered reactive programming and decided that everything needed to be reactive. Every button click, every API call, every sneeze was wrapped in observables. It was like watching someone use a chainsaw to slice bread – technically possible, but you’re left wondering if they’ve lost their mind. Don’t get me wrong – reactive programming has its place....

October 6, 2025 · 10 min · 2099 words · Maxim Zhirnov
Developing Emotional Intelligence for Enhanced Team Collaboration

Developing Emotional Intelligence for Enhanced Team Collaboration

Picture this: You’re in a meeting where tensions are rising faster than a soufflé in a hot oven, and suddenly someone with the emotional intelligence of a seasoned diplomat steps in. They don’t just defuse the situation – they transform it into a productive discussion that leaves everyone feeling heard and energized. That’s not workplace magic; that’s emotional intelligence (EQ) in action, and it’s the secret sauce that turns good teams into extraordinary ones....

October 5, 2025 · 7 min · 1417 words · Maxim Zhirnov