Development Tools
Category for discussing development tools and IDE’s for VoiceXML and voice applications.
-
Engineering smaller burdens
The performance of a website or digital service has direct implications for the size of the burden placed on users. Reducing the size of this burden requires agencies to think carefully and to engineer services to make potential burdens as small as possible. Continue reading
-
What to know about no code development tools
Low-code and no-code tools present an attractive option for government agencies under pressure to deliver new digital solutions quickly. But they also come with tradeoffs. Understanding these tradeoffs is important for agencies to position themselves to most effectively deliver new and improved digital services. Continue reading
-
Friction as Security
Too often, the concept of friction as a control mechanism finds its way into the software and technology platforms that are used by government agencies. There is a better way. Continue reading
-
The Hidden Costs of Robotic Process Automation in Government
Robotic process automation is increasingly popular as a way to speed up government work. But this isn’t always the answer — and at times, it may cause an agency unforeseen headaches down the road. Continue reading
-
How DevOps Improves the Customer Experience
DevOps is an approach that agencies can use to deliver high-quality, secure software to their customers. In the end, this is what matters most for government agencies and those they serve. Continue reading
-
How AI and LLMs will change government websites
With the rise of AI and large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, government websites will need to change again in response to these new technologies. Continue reading
-
JavaScript for Policy Makers
This is a highly technical talk focused on the tradeoffs facing front-end developers as they make decisions around how to use JavaScript in their applications. I think it is a perfect talk for government policy makers to watch – even those that don’t have a clue about building web apps. Continue reading
-
Real Results for Government with Generative AI
It can be hard to cut through all the hype and hysteria around ChatGPT and Generative AI. For government agencies, states, and cities, focusing on what matters most is the best way to ensure these sophisticated new tools bring real value to those that need it most. Continue reading
-
Which Less is More?
There’s no shortage of hype these days surrounding ChatGPT, LLMs and other generative AI tools. A good way for governments to cut through the hype and determine if these tools provide real value in helping to develop digital solutions is to ask whether they are interested in WRITING less code, or writing LESS code. Continue reading
-
The Federal Government Needs Platform Evangelists
If shared services like Login.gov are going to be successful in the long run, they need a healthy, vibrant, and growing community of users around them. This is a job that is perfectly suited for a platform evangelist. Continue reading
About Me
I am the former Chief Data Officer for the City of Philadelphia. I also served as Director of Government Relations at Code for America, and as Director of the State of Delaware’s Government Information Center. For about six years, I served in the General Services Administration’s Technology Transformation Services (TTS), and helped pioneer their work with state and local governments. I also led platform evangelism efforts for TTS’ cloud platform, which supports over 30 critical federal agency systems.
Civic Innovations 