Hi there 👋

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.
Why Style Guides Cause More Arguments Than They Solve Bugs

Why Style Guides Cause More Arguments Than They Solve Bugs

Introduction Style guides are like the unsung heroes (or villains, depending on who you ask) of the software development world. They’re meant to bring order to the chaos of coding, ensuring that everyone on a team is on the same page. But more often than not, they seem to cause more arguments than they solve bugs. In this article, we’ll dive deep into why style guides can be a double-edged sword and explore some strategies for making them more effective....

March 2, 2026 · 4 min · 679 words · Maxim Zhirnov
Backup Strategies That You Actually Test and Trust

Backup Strategies That You Actually Test and Trust

Introduction In the digital age, data is the lifeblood of any organization or individual. Losing critical data can be devastating, whether due to hardware failure, cyberattacks, or human error. That’s why having a robust backup strategy is not just a best practice but a necessity. In this article, we’ll explore various backup strategies that you can trust and actually test to ensure your data’s safety. Why Backups Matter Imagine losing years of work in an instant....

February 27, 2026 · 4 min · 647 words · Maxim Zhirnov
Are Developer Advocacy Roles Just Developer Relations PR?

Are Developer Advocacy Roles Just Developer Relations PR?

Introduction In the ever-evolving landscape of tech, the roles of Developer Advocacy and Developer Relations have become increasingly prominent. But are these roles just fancy titles for Public Relations (PR)? This question sparks a lively debate within the tech community, and in this article, we’ll dive deep into the nuances of these roles, exploring their similarities, differences, and the unique value they bring to organizations. Developer Advocacy vs. Developer Relations What is Developer Advocacy?...

February 23, 2026 · 4 min · 807 words · Maxim Zhirnov
Designing APIs that can survive 10+ years: versioning, compatibility, and contracts

Designing APIs that can survive 10+ years: versioning, compatibility, and contracts

Designing APIs that stand the test of time is no small feat. In this article, we’ll dive deep into the world of API design, focusing on versioning, compatibility, and contracts. We’ll explore best practices, provide code examples, and offer step-by-step instructions to help you create APIs that can withstand the test of time. Versioning: The Art of Evolution Versioning is a critical aspect of API design. It allows you to make changes to your API without breaking existing clients....

February 20, 2026 · 3 min · 604 words · Maxim Zhirnov
Building an event-driven product analytics pipeline

Building an event-driven product analytics pipeline

Introduction In the fast-paced world of product development, understanding user behavior is key to staying ahead of the competition. An event-driven product analytics pipeline allows you to collect, process, and analyze user interactions in real-time, providing valuable insights that can drive business decisions. In this article, we’ll explore the steps involved in building such a pipeline, complete with code examples and diagrams to help you visualize the process. What is an Event-Driven Product Analytics Pipeline?...

February 20, 2026 · 4 min · 737 words · Maxim Zhirnov