Alan’s backend is written in Python, using Flask under the hood. We actually manage a few applications within the same codebase, and sometimes found ourselves needing a way to execute code at startup time. We discovered we could do this with the site module, let’s see how! Using Python’s site module In Python, the…

At Alan, we’ve always been committed to providing the best user experience possible, and this extends to our own engineers, through what we call the developer experience. We believe that a great developer experience is essential for building high-quality software and that it’s a key factor in attracting and retaining…

Building secure applications is a top priority for any organization. At Alan, we had been using our home-grown authentication solution that catered to our needs efficiently. However, with the growing complexity of our requirements, we realized the need for a more comprehensive solution. After researching various options, we decided to…

Alan is now 7 years old, and it’s a good age to take a step back on our technical journey. We would like to showcase the journey of how our backend architecture evolved during those years. And especially, why it evolved that way. …

This is a companion article of the more global one the engineering career path at Alan. This article focuses on the level F. Level F You are a leader for Alan. Scope of Impact: You consistently identify and solve Alan’s hardest member and business problems. You may own a large scope or…

This is a companion article of the more global one the engineering career path at Alan. This article focuses on the level E. Level E You are a leader in your department. Scope of Impact: You consistently deliver a large impact on ambiguous member problems and on our business. You impact the…

This is a companion article of the more global one the engineering career path at Alan. This article focuses on the level D. Level D You are a driving force on the topics that you own. Scope of Impact: You can demonstrate impact on member and business problems. You impact the trajectory…

This is a companion article of the more global one the engineering career path at Alan. This article focuses on the level C1. Level C1 Same as C0: Your mandate is to grow while actively contributing. Scope of Impact: You can demonstrate a clear impact on problems that you own within your…

This is a companion article of the more global one the engineering career path at Alan. This article focuses on the level C0. Level C0 Your mandate is to grow while actively contributing. Scope of Impact: You can demonstrate clear impact on problems that you own. Expertise: You are autonomous on core…