Eckardt Briedenhann

Upgrade Your React / Next.js Applications - Vulnerability (CVE-2025-66478) Many small and large companies across Australia are rapidly adopting React and Next.js. If you're currently using React, now is the time to ensure your application is upgraded and secure. Upgrading can be costly for large organisations—especially those with multiple micro Next.js applications across different teams. Development, testing, and deployment efforts all add up. However, strong automation (CI/CD, E2E Test) and the use of monorepo tooling (Turborepo, Nx) can significantly reduce these costs and streamline the upgrade process. Affected Next.js Versions Applications using React Server Components with the App Router are affected when running: Next.js 15.x Next.js 16.x Next.js 14.3.0-canary.77 and later canary releases Next.js 13.x, Next.js 14.x stable, Pages Router applications, and the Edge Runtime are not affected. More information: https://lnkd.in/gs_YMjPn

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Hey 👋 I'm Connor. I'm a full stack dev based in Brisbane. I build production AI systems at Zettle, a digital conveyancing startup where I lead technical decisions. Over the last 4 years I've shipped RAG pipelines, AI agents, contract review automation, and customer support platforms that serve thousands of users monthly. I've seen what works in production and what doesn't. I also build things on the side for fun! 🎭 Break A Leg.. stealth for now 🥋 Mat Mind a one-click video intelligence platform for BJJ Athletes. Upload footage and it automatically breaks it into clips, tags techniques, provides positional metrics, and builds a searchable curriculum. No editing required. Built for the tight-knit BJJ community. Over the next few months I'm going to be posting about: → AI tools I'm testing and what's actually worth your time → Lessons from shipping production AI (the real ones, not the hype) → Building side projects as a full time dev → What's happening in the AI agent and open source space If you're a developer, founder, or just curious about what AI looks like when it actually ships... follow along. Let's connect. 🤝 #AI #SoftwareDevelopment #BuildInPublic

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Just shipped code to NZ's biggest site! 🇳🇿 I’m thrilled to share that the new "𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿" feature, is now live on Trade Me! The problem was simple: 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻. My solution? A real-time feature that predicts and suggests the top 3 most relevant categories based on the job title, instantly eliminating that friction. It was an amazing experience to own a feature from 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁 to 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁. During this process, I learned so much about: • 𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹-𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: Building the UI and integrating logic to help users list jobs faster. • 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮-𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: Setting up analytics in GTM and designing A/B tests to measure adoption and conversion rates. • 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗢𝗽𝘀 & 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: Stepping out of my comfort zone to join the on-call rotation, monitoring system health and resolving live incidents. • 𝗔𝗴𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Running "3 Amigos" sessions with TA and Design to ensure quality and alignment. A huge shout out to my buddy Jack Orchard for the guidance, and to the rest of the Trade Me Jobs team for making this such a supportive place to learn. None of this would have been possible without Summer of Tech — thank you for the opportunity! Check out the video below to see the real-time prediction in action! #SummerOfTech #TradeMe #SoftwareEngineering #Internship #DevOps #WomenInTech #NewZealandTech #ShippedIt

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Thinking about moving from perm to contract in the NZ dev market? Here’s how it actually works 👇 How people really land their first contract? -> Recruiters they already know -> Ex-employers calling them back Cold applying almost never works. Who contracting actually works for? 👌 -> 5–10 years’ experience -> Strong backend/ full stack engineers -> Auckland enterprise = .NET land Think: -> C# / ASP.NET / .NET Core -> Microservices -> Azure -> Middleware & integrations (RabbitMQ, IBM MQ service bus, etc.) -> Not heaps, but a decent amount of mobile development. Large enterprise and banking environments in Auckland are consistently contractor-heavy in this stack. Timing (this is the most important bit) ⏲️ -> Best time: straight after redundancy, immediately available -> Worst time: quitting a safe perm role in a tight market hoping something turns up. Money 💴 💵 💶 -> Typical rates clearing: $80 –$125/hr -> These rates usually require sole contractor setup -> PAYE costs more for the employer → noticeably lower take-home -> Expect 4–10 interviews a year as normal churn If the market slows, you can be without work for 6–12 months. (I have someone on my books who has contracted for 12 years within NZ enterprises, and unemployed since 2024) P.S. - Contracting pays more because someone has to carry the risk. That someone is you ❤️ If you are considering a move like that, come chat.

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Had a bad time hiring offshore developers? The problem probably wasn't the talent. Most companies go one of three routes: Freelance platforms - you're drowning in applications, half ghost you after the first week, and you've got no idea if their portfolio is even real. BPOs - they assign you whoever's available, mark up every hour, and the person doing the work changes every few months. Outsourcing firms - you hand off a project, lose all control, and pray it comes back working. When it doesn't, good luck getting anyone on the phone. None of these models are built for you to actually build a team. They're built to bill you. Here's what actually works: Hire the developer directly. They work for you, on your team, in your workflows. One-off placement fee. No ongoing markups. You're in control. https://lnkd.in/eR6yDajF

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Blueprint Finance NZ knew their WordPress site wasn't a long-term solution — slow load times, generic templates, and ongoing security maintenance. So they made the switch to a static website built on CloudCannon. No more plugin chaos. No more generic templates. No more “niggling stress.” “With WordPress, even if you’re comfortable maintaining it, there’s a niggling stress that isn’t there with CloudCannon.” — Timmy Brown, Head of Marketing Now? ⚡ A website that's 10x easier to edit 🔒 Zero need for maintenance 🎯 A focused, professional website that increased weekly customer leads Full story: https://lnkd.in/g9hUhdtG

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🚀 Tech Stack Trends in Australia 2025 Here’s what I've been seeing the most so far this year Frontend - React continues to dominate. Next.js is quickly becoming the default for full-stack apps. Backend - Node.js, Go, and Python are all heavily used, however, I'm finding a lot of businesses wanting more Python developers right now. Databases - PostgreSQL is the go-to to but MongoDB and DynamoDB are also common. Cloud & DevOps - AWS is the most widely used. Docker, Kubernetes, and serverless frameworks are also now standard. What does your current stack look like compared to this? Am I on the money?

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Is Your Tech Holding You Back? Here’s a Quick Checklist for Kiwi Businesses. Running a business in 2025 means your tech should help you grow, not slow you down. But for many small to mid-sized Kiwi teams, outdated systems are quietly costing time, money, and customers. Here’s a quick reality check: ✅ Can your team answer phones if the internet drops out? ✅ Is your Wi-Fi solid everywhere in the building? ✅ Do you have a backup internet plan if the fibre gets cut? ✅ Can your phone system follow your team when they work remotely? ✅ Do you actually know who to call when something breaks? If you said “no” or “eh, kind of” to any of these, there’s a good chance your tech is holding you back. Want to see what better looks like? Let’s talk.

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Hi everyone, I attended an 8-hour Foundation-Level Software Architecture Bootcamp by FARO, led by Mr BHARATH HEGDE (fondly known as the encyclopedia of knowledge 🙂) – and what an eye-opening experience it was! This workshop truly highlighted how the journey to becoming a software architect starts with one essential skill: asking the right questions. It's not just about having answers, but about diving deep into the details that drive architectural decisions. Throughout the session, we explored what it really means to think like an architect – understanding trade-offs, prioritizing clarity in diagrams, measuring impact, and building strong fundamentals. The emphasis on process, structured thinking, and clarity of thought was incredibly valuable. For anyone aspiring to step into software architecture or looking to strengthen their grasp of software design principles, I highly recommend this bootcamp. It reinforced a powerful truth: most complex problems can be tackled by mastering the basics and cultivating the right mindset. Thanks for session BHARATH HEGDE. Interested in attending? Sessions are conducted every Saturday. You can find more details and connect with the organizer here: 👉 https://lnkd.in/gixd6vSz This session was not just informative – it was truly a transformative experience. #SoftwareArchitecture #LearningJourney #FARO #TechWorkshops #CareerGrowth #ArchitectureThinking #DesignPrinciples #StructuredThinking

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Excited to be speaking at Code Camp Wellington on: Beyond Code: When Leadership Shapes Careers—and When Teams Break. https://lnkd.in/e9b6Jzrc A personal and practical talk on how leadership behaviours shape confidence, ownership, team health, and long-term career direction. Because leadership does not just shape what teams deliver. It shapes what people become. #Leadership #CodeCampWellington #Engineering #CareerGrowth #SoftwareEngineering

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Big week at Billda 🚀 The pot system sits at the core of everything we do. It's how every penny on a job gets tracked, split, and paid — no spreadsheets required. Here's what we shipped this week: I built out a brand-new notifications system. Gang leaders and workers now receive real-time updates as their pot moves through approval and payment. William Mumby overhauled the UI/UX across the app. Cleaner navigation, a smoother booking flow, and a layout that actually works when you're on site. Both features came were prioritised from feedback from our early access customers. Whether you're a subcontractor on the tools or part of a back-office team, Billda takes the headache out of pay day: Book the work. Split the pot. Get paid. No guesswork. No chasing. No confusion. Built by people who actually listen to the people using it. Still early. Still shipping fast. Want early access? Join the wave at billda.org 🌊

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Here’s a paradox worth noting. Recent data shows 84% of Kiwi workers are already using AI tools day-to-day. That could be anything from automating reporting to using copilots for coding and design. At the same time, most leadership teams don’t yet have a formal AI strategy in place.   In our Director Kaleb’s view, this gap is significant. It means employees are ready, but organisations are still catching up. Those who act now can unlock productivity faster and attract talent who are already AI-literate.   AI is projected to add $76B to New Zealand’s GDP by 2038. The businesses that plan early, train their people, and hire strategically will be the ones positioned to benefit.   What steps are your organisation taking to move AI from experimentation into everyday value? #RecruitIT #AI #futureofwork #nztechcommentary Sources: - Microsoft NZ AI at Work Report: https://lnkd.in/gRWaYjnt - NZ National AI Strategy: https://lnkd.in/gPy9hmdM

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CTO tip: Build less, maintain better. Before writing a single line of new code, ask: “Can we optimise what we already have?” At HelloDev Pty Ltd, we specialise in brownfield software support - bringing life back to legacy systems, improving stability, and extending app value without blowing your budget. Modernisation isn’t always a full rebuild. Sometimes it’s just a smart patch, a performance uplift, or replacing code that no one wants to touch with a ten-foot pole. 👉 Contact hello@hellodev.com.au 📬 Or use the webform at hellodev.com.au for a free consult #SoftwareLifecycle #BrownfieldRescue #LegacyApps #CTOTips #HelloDev

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"Privacy isn’t just a technical checkbox, it’s a cultural decision. Finding the right balance between AI-driven productivity and protecting code confidentiality is essential for responsible adoption." Great discussion today with Yalla Cooperative

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Ready to make smarter business possible with AI? It can be hard to know where to begin, so we’ve put together a practical guide so you can get started safely and stay on track. We look at where AI’s adding value for Kiwi businesses, risks, 5 steps you can take to get AI-ready, and the latest stats from NZ research. It's a free, no-nonsense resource with expert advice that’ll help you work smarter and safer. Check it out here https://lnkd.in/gASsMYq2. #TribeNZ #BetterTogether #AI

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