FROM THE TRENCHES Issue №287

Practical decisions for AI and software

Technical guides to choose models, verify software and plan delivery.

Latest articles

New comparisons, practical guides and engineering lessons.

SmythOS Studio self-hosting guide: visual workflows, local infrastructure and runtime boundaries AI & Agents

SmythOS Studio Self-Hosting: Docker Setup, Costs and Limits

An MIT-licensed visual agent builder on your infrastructure. A source-based guide to Docker setup, real costs and the gap between a local demo and a public service.

Kevin Riedl
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Two approval paths: review by the Shopify merchant or authorisation by the buyer’s manager Delivery & QA

Shopify B2B Order Approvals: Native Features, Apps, or a Custom Buyer Portal?

Customer approval is not employee purchase approval. Compare native Shopify controls, buyer-team apps and the custom layer needed for budgets and ERP handoffs.

Kevin Riedl
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One returns workflow branches into separate inventory and payment controls for a Shopify ERP integration Delivery & QA

Shopify–ERP Returns and Refunds: When the Standard Connector Is Not Enough

One full refund is not an integration test. Use 18 acceptance scenarios to check partial refunds, split invoices, exchanges and recovery before replacing a connector.

Kevin Riedl
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Abstract bars representing implementation, operation and migration in a three-year internal-tool cost comparison Business & Regulation

Retool vs Custom Internal Software: A Three-Year Cost Comparison That Includes Maintenance

Three transparent cost scenarios for the same internal application. Include maintenance, user mix and migration without inventing Enterprise pricing or a universal break-even.

Kevin Riedl
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Layered paths representing supported file exchange, read-only data access and controlled ERP integration Delivery & QA

Integrating an ERP Without an API: File Exchange, Database Access, RPA, or Replacement?

No API does not mean RPA is the only option. Compare supported access paths, prove recovery, and decide whether to integrate, keep a manual boundary or replace.

Kevin Riedl
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Two paths from shared B2B portal requirements toward a managed platform or a custom application Business & Regulation

Power Pages vs a Custom Customer Portal: Costs for External B2B Users

Count active users per website, not customer records. Compare two illustrative 36-month budgets, seasonal usage, permissions, ERP integration and maintenance.

Kevin Riedl
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Multiple store data layers converging into one shared operational view Delivery & QA

Managing Multiple Shopify Stores: Reporting App or Custom Operations Dashboard?

Reporting shows a delivery problem. An operational workflow gives it an owner and a verified outcome. Compare existing tools, extensions and custom work using the MyMerch case and 14 proposed tests.

Kevin Riedl
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DeerFlow agent harness: connected context, sandbox and workflow layers AI & Agents

DeerFlow 2.0: Docker Setup, Sandboxes and Memory

A practical DeerFlow guide beyond the launch claims: configure Docker, understand shared sandboxes, troubleshoot memory and define production acceptance checks.

Kevin Riedl
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Wavect editorial illustration of layered execution environments for an Apple Container migration Delivery & QA

Apple Container vs Docker: Compose, Networking and Migration

Can Apple Container replace Docker on your Mac? Check Compose and Docker API dependencies, fix localhost assumptions, preserve data and pilot the switch.

Kevin Riedl
Read
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