Toptal Blog

The Toptal Blog is the top hub for developers, designers, management consultants, executives, and entrepreneurs, featuring key technology updates, tutorials, freelancer resources, and management insights.

Toptal core team members share their experience, expertise, and perspectives on the Toptal Edge Blog

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Computer Vision Pipeline Architecture: A Tutorial

Build a simple, reusable foundation for your video processing apps and alleviate the common challenges of video manipulation.

10-minute readContinue Reading

Nathan Babcock

Nathan is a front-end developer and video processing expert. He developed Hypetrigger, an open-source computer vision tool for use with streaming services. Nathan also spent five years as a full-stack engineer at Motorola Solutions, where he worked with React, Angular, Svelte, and native web components, and led the development of the company’s internal design system.

Remote or On-site? The Real Cost of Office Space for a Venture-backed Startup

For funder-backed startups, brick-and-mortar offices cost more than just money–they dilute founder equity.

13-minute readContinue Reading

Erik Stettler

Erik is a co-founder of a global venture capital fund that has invested in 50 startups (raising more than $500 million) and has realized six exits. He serves as Toptal’s Chief Economist.

5 Common Mistakes in Requirements Gathering

Requirements gathering is a crucial but often overlooked part of the development process. Steer clear of these five ineffective approaches and identify meaningful ways to improve your requirements gathering process.

8-minute readContinue Reading

Michael Reeb

Michael is an experienced program, project, and product manager with in-depth knowledge of large-scale, global IT solutions. He has held several roles at Microsoft, including senior build product manager and senior program manager. Michael holds a master’s degree in cybersecurity, and also has a professional degree from the General Management Program at Harvard Business School.

Tested Solutions: Working With React Design Patterns

Design patterns offer a convenient way to tackle challenges with tried-and-tested solutions, saving developers time and effort. Here’s how React design patterns allow for coherent modules with less coupling.

15-minute readContinue Reading

Mudassir Ijaz

Mudassir is a full-stack software engineer specializing in JavaScript frameworks and libraries. He has built many React apps as a senior engineer and has worked across the globe at companies like SAP, Bit, Kwanso, and VoicePing.

AI in Design: Experts Discuss Practical Applications, Ethics, and What’s Coming Next

In this wide-ranging Q&A, two Toptal designers delve into the influence of generative AI on design and its implications for creative thinking, user research, and entry-level designers.

10-minute readContinue Reading

Darrell Estabrook

Darrell is a UX designer with more than 25 years of experience designing highly complex apps for companies such as IBM, CSX, and CarMax. His redesign for the IBM Maximo mobile app won the 2021 Gold Spark Design Award for product design.

Why Your Startup Pitch Needs Sensitivity Analysis

To impress risk-averse investors, you have to prove that you’re ready for whatever may come.

18-minute readContinue Reading

Nicholas Piscani

Nicholas is a corporate strategy and FP&A expert who works with businesses to optimize their operations and execute high-priority strategic initiatives. He has helped entrepreneurs raise more than $600 million through financial modeling and pitch deck development.

3 Product-led Growth Frameworks to Build Your Business

Adoption of product-led growth strategies is soaring, particularly among SaaS companies. This overview of three key frameworks can help you decide which one is right for your company.

7-minute readContinue Reading

Arkapravo Chakraborty

Arkapravo is a senior product manager with more than a decade of experience. With a background in software engineering and an MBA, he has helped develop and launch global products at Fortune 500 companies, including BT (British Telecom) and Accenture.

In this ask-me-anything-style Q&A, leading Toptal AI developer Joao Diogo de Oliveira fields questions from fellow engineers about resources for pivoting to ML, approaches to large language models, and the most critical future applications of AI.

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Joao Diogo de Oliveira

Joao is an AI developer with more than 10 years of experience at Fortune 100 companies like Procter & Gamble and startups in the healthcare, energy, and finance industries. Joao holds a master’s degree in computer science from the University of Porto and has multiple certifications in ML and deep learning.

Drive Commercial Success With a Product-led Growth Culture

Aligned teams create a seamless customer experience. Unlock the potential of product-led growth in your organization with these six tips.

8-minute readContinue Reading

Philippe Araujo

Philippe is a growth product manager, Agile expert, and digital innovation consultant. Over the past 15 years he has helped clients such as Fujitsu and Michelin develop engaging products and transform their businesses to be more customer-centric.