Tech Blog: About Outsystems Developer Cloud

As a technical blog, I would like to introduce the learning content that I am working on on a daily basis.

This time, it is the second unit, which is themed on low-code development.

Theme of this time: “About Outsystems Developer Cloud”
We, the second unit, are currently conducting low-code development using OutSystems 11, and in this blog we introduce the development method and other aspects.
This time, we will introduce “OutSystems Developer Cloud”, which was released in Japan by OutSystems in April 2023.

What is an Outsystems Developer Cloud?

Outsystems Developer Cloud (hereinafter referred to as ODC) is a cloud-native (created to run on the cloud) low-code application development platform provided by OutSystems.

It is based on the native cloud service of Amazon Web Service (AWS) and supports Kubernetes, Linux containers, microservices, etc.

Technologies used in ODC

As a cloud-native platform, ODC uses technologies to provide benefits such as agility, availability, and fault tolerance, and is used to support the above services. Here are some of those technologies.

Microservices
Microservices is a technique for building one large application by combining multiple independent small services through communication via APIs and web services. Since the correlation between individual functions is low, failures or increased load in one function are less likely to affect other functions. In addition, since changes and expansions of functions can be made only to the target service, agility in changes and expansions is high.
However, since it is more difficult to maintain consistency as a whole system than creating a single application, attention must be paid to the design of the whole system, data management, and API management.

Containerization
Containerization is a technology in virtualization technology that combines the elements required to run in any computing environment (from the execution environment to the application) into one package. It enables rapid development without having to worry about the underlying environment.

Autoscaling
Autoscaling is a function that monitors the CPU and RAM usage of each application and automatically increases or decreases the capacity of the application according to the load. Autoscaling allows the build service and other services to be used simultaneously without degrading the performance of the platform.

Advantages of ODC


Usually, building a cloud-native application platform requires huge costs and time. With ODC, OutSystems handles the tedious work involved in building it, so you can introduce cloud-native services with less effort than building it from scratch.

Although there are some differences from OutSystems’ existing low-code development platform, OutSystems 11, there are no major differences in basic functions.

With ODC, you can design, develop, and deploy by taking advantage of the high productivity of OutSystems 11 and the advantages of cloud-native services.

Currently, ODC does not have a free trial that you can immediately install like Outsystems 11, but UI images of the development screen are posted on the Outsystems website.

If you have not tried Outsystems products, try installing a trial of Outsystems 11 first and compare it with the ODC screen.

About the trial installation of Outsystems 11:
Engineer blog: Introducing Outsystems and creating sample screens – dandelionS Blog
About the ODC UI:
UI overview of ODC Portal and ODC Studio – ODC Documentation (outsystems.com)

Summary

This time, we introduced “Outsystems Developer Cloud”.
Our company is currently using OutSystems 11, so in the future I would like to delve deeper into the differences between OutSystems 11 and ODC, how to use them for development purposes, and what to do if you want to migrate to ODC!

In the second unit, we will continue to publish blogs for engineers using low-code tools such as OutSystems, so stay tuned.

Employee Introduction

Thank you for viewing.

Nice to meet you. My name is Dat and I joined Dandelions in April this year. I’m from Vietnam. I look forward to working with you.

Reason for joining the company

When I looked at the Dandelions website, I felt that it was an environment where I could work in harmony with everyone. Also, I am interested in IT technology and always want to learn new things, so I studied information systems at school and wanted to use that knowledge to contribute to society. Furthermore, Dandelions has many employees with foreign nationality, so I felt I could work in a global environment and decided to join the company.

My impression after joining the company

Of the things I learned in class as a student, the things that are useful to me now are Excel operations and programming. I joined the company as a beginner in almost everything. When I joined Dandelions, I felt anxious at first and always felt nervous because I had to get used to it quickly, but thanks to everyone’s careful guidance and casual conversations, I have gotten used to the atmosphere of the workplace. I look forward to continuing to work with you all and growing together.

Self-introduction

I am an employee who loves food and traveling! Trying new foods and visiting new places have enriched my life. My hobby is traveling around Japan and experiencing the culture and traditional cuisine of each place. I also enjoy recreating the delicious food I have eaten while traveling. I would like to enjoy working with my seniors while sharing the charm of food and traveling!

Furthermore, one of the places I have visited that has left a particularly strong impression on me is Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto. Around Kiyomizu-dera Temple, you can enjoy delicious foods such as matcha ice cream and Japanese sweets. Even at work, I try to create different cultures and new ideas. I would like to create a fun working environment together with my team. Thank you for your support!

Look forward to the next blog update! ! !

社員紹介

ご覧いただきありがとうございます。

初めまして、今年4月からダンデライオンズに入社したダットと申します。ベトナム出身です。どうぞよろしくお願いいたします。

入社のきっかけ

ダンデライオンズのホームページを見て、皆さんと仲良く働くことができる環境だと感じました。また、私がIT技術に興味を持ち、常に新しいことを学びたいと考え、学校では情報システムを学び、その知識を活かして社会に貢献したいと思ったからです。さらに、ダンデライオンズは外国籍の社員の方が多く、グローバルな環境で働けると感じ入社を決めました。

入社した感想

学生のときに授業で習ったことのなかで、今役に立っていることはエクセルの操作やプログラムです。ほとんどのことが初心者という状態で入社しました。ダンデライオンズに入社してから、最初は早く慣れなければならないと焦る気持ちもあり、いつも緊張していましたが、皆さんの丁寧な指導や何気ない会話のおかげで職場の雰囲気には慣れてきました。今後も皆さんと協力して、共に成長していけることを楽しみにしています。

自己紹介

食べ物と旅行が大好きな社員です! 新しい食べ物を試すことと、新しい場所を訪れることが私の人生を豊かにしてきました。 日本各地を旅しては、その土地の文化や伝統料理を体験することが私の趣味です。 また、旅先で食べた美味しい料理を再現するのも楽しみの一つです。 食べ物と旅行の魅力を共有しながら、先輩方と一緒に仕事を楽しんでいきたいです!

さらに、これまでに訪れた場所の中で特に印象に残っているのは、京都の清水寺です。清水寺の周辺では、抹茶アイスや和菓子などの美味しい食べ物が楽しめます。仕事においても、異なる文化や新しいアイデアを生み出すことを心がけています。チームの皆さんと一緒に、楽しく働ける環境を作っていきたいと思っています。どうぞよろしくお願いいたします!

次回、ブログの更新をお楽しみ!!!

Sleep Course – 2024 –

Thank you for reading! I’m 237 from the Business Management Department, in charge of this blog post.
As a free introduction, I’d like to talk about the “Sleep Lecture” that was held on March 22nd.

Contents of the sleep course

① Sense of smell

Our sense of smell is directly transmitted to the part of the brain that is called instinct, so we can feel scents even while we are sleeping. The instructor recommended that we smell “essential oils” that have a relaxing effect to improve the quality of our sleep.

There are many scents of essential oils, so you can choose the scent that suits your symptoms.
For example, you can choose the scent of rosemary for a migraine, or lavender or citrus scents for a calming effect, so you can choose the scent that suits you at that time. It is also recommended to close your eyes and choose a scent that makes it easy to take a deep breath.

Where can I buy essential oils? As for the question, you can find them on the Internet, and MUJI, a familiar place, has a wide selection of high-quality, inexpensive essential oils.

② Vision

Watching TV or using your smartphone before going to sleep affects your sleep. Especially recently, people tend to watch short videos such as TikTok and Instagram for long periods of time. As a countermeasure, it is important to avoid using your smartphone first, but you can get a good quality sleep without stressing your eyes and brain by watching videos with existing content or lowering the brightness and moving away from the screen.

Also, falling asleep immediately after getting into bed is evidence of lack of sleep, so it is best to take 15 minutes to fall asleep. If you cannot fall asleep even after 15 minutes, one improvement measure is to get out of bed once.

③ Taste

You should also be careful about what you eat and drink before going to sleep.

I have heard that coffee before going to bed is not good, but the caffeine contained in coffee and tea lasts for about 6 hours, so you can get a good night’s sleep by avoiding drinking it at least after 6 p.m.

It is also important to finish eating at least 3 hours before going to sleep. The reason is that if you eat immediately after eating or eat too much, it takes time to digest and absorb, and the sympathetic nervous system becomes active. As a countermeasure, it is important to wait some time after eating before sleeping or to eat less.

Alcohol can help you fall asleep, but it can also lead to shallow sleep, cause your tongue to drop and make you more likely to snore, and in the worst cases, cause breathing to stop, so care should be taken.

People who get irritable when they are hungry are prone to nocturnal hypoglycemia.

In that case, consuming something that improves the quality of sleep, such as Yakult, can help you get a good night’s sleep. If you experience nocturnal hypoglycemia, adrenaline is released, which can lead to shallow sleep, so be careful.

Summary

Taking this sleep course made me realize what I am lacking in terms of sleep. I was able to learn that I am not getting as much sleep as average and that I have been putting strain on my body without realizing it.
I drink a lot of coffee, tea, and alcoholic beverages, so I will be careful not to consume caffeine six hours before going to bed and not to drink too much alcohol.
I also wanted to try the essential oils that the instructor introduced to me to improve the quality of my sleep. During the course, I actually smelled the essential oils and found them to have a great scent. The method of intake is very simple, just place tissues with the essential oils on them next to your pillow, so I recommend you give it a try.

Introducing LuckyBox

What is Lucky Box?

Lucky Box is a subscription service that delivers special Japanese snacks to customers in the United States and France every month. Our team will hand-select the snacks and send them directly to you. Each month is different, so you can enjoy discovering new tastes.

Customers can choose from a one-time purchase or a multi-month prepayment option for 3, 6, or 1 year. Each plan allows you to enjoy snacks that reflect the seasons and culture of Japan, with new surprises every time. In particular, our snacks are mainly sourced from the Tokai region, a little-known area of ​​Japan, and it is a great opportunity to experience the unique flavors and aromas of this region.

In addition, this service is a great opportunity to feel closer to the taste of Japan from far away. Through Lucky Box, we introduce not only traditional Japanese flavors but also the latest popular snacks to customers around the world. Each plan is flexible to suit your needs, making it the perfect gift for yourself or a loved one. Try Lucky Box as a monthly treat.

Why LUCKYBOX?

The reason we started the Lucky Box project is that the Tokai region (Aichi, Gifu, Shizuoka, and Mie prefectures) is not well known overseas, resulting in a low number of foreign tourist visitors. In order to solve the deep problem of the region’s charm and culture not being fully recognized, we are actively promoting the Tokai region through Lucky Box. Our goal is to let people in the United States and Europe know about this beautiful region and increase local business opportunities. We hope that this initiative will raise interest in the Tokai region and serve as a catalyst for attracting more tourists.

Luckybox.jp Introduction

Our website introduces a different Japanese snack in detail each month. Our blog provides detailed reviews and nutritional information on snacks selected by our team, which is a good reference for choosing which snacks. This makes it easier for customers to find snacks that suit their tastes and health. In addition, we publish video reviews on Instagram, where you can enjoy seeing the color, shape, and taste characteristics of the snacks firsthand. These videos make the appeal of the snacks feel closer to you.

Our website also has a wealth of information focusing on the charms of the Tokai region. The Tokai region is a region rich in nature and deep in history. By featuring snacks from this region, we are introducing the region’s specialties and culture widely. We also feature local anime, introducing how the culture and climate of the Tokai region are reflected in anime. Through this section, we are able to convey the unknown charms of the Tokai region to the world.

By using Luckybox.jp, customers will not only be able to find new snacks, but also gain a deeper understanding of Japanese culture and regional characteristics. We aim for our monthly deliveries to provide an opportunity for learning and discovery that goes beyond just food.

Use of SNS

Luckybox.jp actively uses Instagram. We chose this because our target demographic, young people in their 20s and 30s who are interested in Japanese culture, frequently use Instagram. Instagram’s algorithm automatically recommends our content to such users, allowing us to reach our target demographic efficiently.

We post video reviews on Instagram every week, and provide content in English for our American account and in French for our French account. This allows us to take an approach that is tailored to the language and culture of each country, allowing us to reach more followers.

Our main content is snack reviews, and the style is light-hearted and humorous. This fun atmosphere gives viewers a positive impression and increases engagement. We hope that our videos will provide viewers with fun, which will spark their interest in our products and ultimately lead to purchases.

In this way, Luckybox.jp is spreading the appeal of its brand to young people around the world through Instagram, making Japanese snack culture more familiar to them.

Goals

Goals achieved by 2024:

Create a functional website with a polished design.

Create social media accounts to promote the project.

Be active on a regular basis, posting videos on Instagram every week and updating the blog every month.

Goals to achieve by the end of the year:

Increase the number of buyers.

Grow your influence on social media.

Internal Study Session: About Monaca

I’m “xig” from Unit 0, and I’ll be writing this study session article.

The theme of this in-house study session is “Monaca.”

It’s a familiar topic in Unit 0, but we held the study session with the aim of allowing inexperienced people to actually try it out and deepen their understanding. I was the one teaching, but the number of people who participated was greater than we initially expected, so I was a little nervous.

The study session went as follows:

①Outline of Monaca

②Introduction to the environment

③Hands on actually trying out Monaca

Overview of Monaca

In the 0th unit, we used Monaca’s cloud IDE (browser-based development environment),
so we focused on that and explained what Monaca is and what it can do.

I’ve found the following three points to be useful when actually using it,
and I hope that the participants were able to understand them.

〇 Easy to get started with an internet connection

〇 Easy to check operation (on a browser or smartphone)

〇 Easy to publish to the store

Environment introduction

After I gave them an overview, I had them create an account to start using Monaca.
I also showed them an actual screen and explained what items are available.
I personally didn’t feel any resistance to it because the UI is similar to the integrated development environment I normally use, but what did you all think?

Let’sTry

After the explanation, we did some coding exercises using Monaca’s sample programs. Monaca has pre-made templates, so this time we used the Todo app template, changed the background color, and added functions to add and delete database functions to actually create an app.

Summary

In this study session, we actually used Monaca to experience developing a simple app.

– I want to write a simple sample program, but setting up the environment is a hassle…
– I want to quickly develop an app for iOS or Android…
– I hope that when you feel like this, you will remember the exercises from today and put them to good use.

So, please look forward to the article from the next study session!

Tech Blog: ChatGPT-4o: OpenAI Unleashes New Possibilities for Innovative Conversational AI

As a technical blog, I would like to introduce the learning content that I am working on on a daily basis. This is the first unit on the theme of AI and big data. The theme this time is OpenAI’s latest model, ChatGPT-4o. For each section, we will have ChatGPT4o create images and image descriptions.

In the world of artificial intelligence, OpenAI has always been at the forefront of innovative advancements, especially in the field of large-scale language models (LLMs). The newly announced ChatGPT-4o represents a breakthrough in the field of conversational AI, introducing various enhancements that allow users to interact with language in unprecedented ways.

Unlocking the Power of ChatGPT-4o
ChatGPT-4o builds on the foundations of its predecessor, ChatGPT, and introduces a set of sophisticated features that take its capabilities to new heights. Let’s take a closer look at the key features that set ChatGPT-4o apart.

  1. Enhanced Speed ​​and Efficiency:

ChatGPT-4o runs twice as fast as its predecessor while cutting computational costs in half. This incredible efficiency translates into a smoother and more responsive user experience, especially when conducting complex tasks or long conversations.

  1. Expanded Message Limits:

Free users of ChatGPT-4o now have a 5x increase in message allowance, allowing them to interact with the model for extended periods of time without restrictions and explore its full potential. This answers the growing demand to freely explore language capabilities.

  1. Multilingual Mastery:

ChatGPT-4o transcends language boundaries, enabling seamless conversations across multiple languages. This multilingual capability allows users to engage in meaningful interactions with audiences around the world, fostering intercultural understanding and cooperation.

  1. Multimodal Integration:

ChatGPT-4o seamlessly integrates text, audio, and visual data for a more comprehensive and immersive conversational experience. This multimodal capability opens new avenues for creative expression, knowledge exploration, and interactive storytelling.

Explore the applications of ChatGPT-4o
ChatGPT-4o’s enhanced features empower users across a range of sectors to explore its potential.

  1. Content Creation:

ChatGPT-4o can be a powerful tool for content creators, generating a variety of creative text formats, translating languages ​​accurately, and creating engaging content that resonates with audiences.

  1. Education and Learning:

In the education sector, ChatGPT-4o innovates the learning experience by providing personalized instruction, answering questions in an informative manner, and generating summaries of complex topics. This personalized approach caters to individual learning styles and promotes deeper understanding.

  1. Business Solutions:

Businesses can leverage ChatGPT-4o in a variety of ways to enhance their operations. From developing customer service chatbots that provide 24/7 support to conducting market research analysis and generating compelling marketing copy, ChatGPT-4o streamlines business processes and drives growth.

Conclusion: A Look into the Future of Conversational AI
ChatGPT-4o marks an important milestone in the evolution of conversational AI, offering a glimpse into a future where humans and machines can interact with unprecedented levels of understanding and nuance. Its enhanced speed, expanded features, and multilingual capabilities will make ChatGPT-4o a valuable tool for individuals and organizations across sectors. As ChatGPT-4o continues to evolve, we expect to see even more groundbreaking applications emerge, transforming the way we communicate, learn, and create.

Employee Introduction

Self-introduction

Hi, my name is Joseph from Dandelions. I’m a 27-year-old American who has been living in Japan for three years. I’m from Arizona in the United States. What is Arizona like? It’s a very hot area with large cacti. It’s known as one of the hottest areas in the United States, with temperatures exceeding 45 degrees in the summer and 35 degrees at night being the norm. As a result, it doesn’t feel “hot” unless it exceeds 40 degrees, and the summer in Japan is relatively comfortable. I have a variety of hobbies, but recently I’ve become obsessed with game development using a programming language called PYTHON.

Reason for joining the company

Before joining Dandelions, I worked as an English teacher and manager in Maizuru, Kyoto. In that position, I gained a lot of experience, not only teaching English, but also teaching new employees and junior employees in both English and Japanese, and managing operations. Through my work as a manager, I was also involved in schedule management, planning, and human resources, and I began to feel that this job was suitable for me in the future.

One day, a friend who works at Dandelions told me that the company was recruiting new members. After the interview, it became clear that working at Dandelions would allow me to utilize my experience and areas of expertise from my previous job. I was also attracted by the opportunity to try a technical job, so I decided to start a new career and a new life.

Impressions after joining the company

Since joining the company, I have had many wonderful experiences and acquired new skills. There are many skills I have acquired, but I would like to introduce three that are particularly important.

First, Japanese business manners and behavior. Before joining the company, I was unfamiliar with Japanese business culture and was anxious, but thanks to the careful guidance of my wonderful seniors, I learned how to exchange business cards, respond on the phone, and use honorific language correctly, and I was able to gain confidence.

Secondly, technical skills. After joining the company, I greatly improved my IT-related skills. For example, I learned web development technology and was able to be involved in building the company’s website. I also learned the application of programming and the basics of IT, and acquired skills that can be used in the industry.

In addition, my teaching skills have also improved. I work as a lecturer in the Learning Enterprise division. Before starting classes, I received a lot of training, and by actually participating in practice classes and lecturer training within the company, I was able to improve my abilities as a lecturer.

Not only did I acquire skills, but I also had many great experiences. I feel rewarded by being able to work in a great workplace every day and working with great colleagues. In addition to work, there are also many fun activities such as drinking parties and karaoke with all the employees, which are precious memories.

I feel really glad that I joined this company. I will continue to put in even more effort.

Recreation: Handmade gyoza party

Thank you for watching.

I’m Chen from the 1st unit, and I’m in charge of introducing this event!

I’m here to report on the cooking event that was held at the end of March 2024. The theme of this event was “Making delicious dumplings together.” We made both boiled dumplings and pan-fried dumplings, and enjoyed comparing the taste.

Preparing to make dumplings

First, the participants were divided into two groups. One group made gyoza skins, and the other made gyoza filling. The gyoza skin group kneaded the dough using strong flour and weak flour, let it rest, and then rolled it out into a circle to make gyoza skins. On the other hand, the gyoza filling group mixed minced meat and seasonings to make meat filling, which they then seasoned well.

We decided to use store-bought wrappers for the pan-fried dumplings, and focused on making the boiled dumplings by hand. Once everything was ready, we started to make the boiled and pan-fried dumplings. We boiled the boiled dumplings in a pot and ate them with soup. We steamed the pan-fried dumplings in a frying pan, and finished them off with sesame oil to add flavor.

After cooking was finished, everyone enjoyed the gyoza they had made. Homemade gyoza have a special taste, and making them together as a team made them even more delicious. Through this cooking event, all participants had fun while learning cooking techniques and had a fulfilling time.

Looking back on the cooking party

I would like to report on the overall impressions of the cooking event. This was our first attempt at a cooking event, and although there were many issues, we were able to make it a success. We would like to take everyone’s opinions into consideration and make the next event even better.

First of all, although we were in a hurry due to lack of preparation, we felt that it was a success in the end. Some people also felt that it was fun to work together as a team because there was a lot to do. Many people said that it was great that we were able to keep to the schedule even though it was our first cooking event. Some people also mentioned that they should have communicated each person’s duties more clearly. Others said that they learned how to make boiled dumplings, felt a sense of teamwork by working together, and that the food was delicious as good points. On the other hand, some people pointed out that the start time was later than scheduled and the importance of time management.

Future events mentioned include a mini 4WD tournament, a sports day, athletics, a picnic, and an amusement park. This cooking event was both educational and fun. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation. Let’s make use of the lessons learned from this event to make our next event even more fulfilling. We’re looking forward to our next event. If you have any comments or suggestions, please let us know. Finally, the content of this blog was written using ChatGPT.

That’s all for today’s introduction. Please look forward to our next in-house event introduction!

Employee Introduction

My name is 237 and I joined the company in December 2023 as a mid-career hire.
This time, I would like to introduce a little about myself, what led me to join the company, and my impressions afterwards!

Reason for joining the company

After graduating from school, I worked as a sales clerk for a company that manufactures precision parts for automobile parts and home appliances.
During that time, I want to go out more and talk to more people! This feeling became stronger, and I decided to change jobs to sales because I wanted to try my hand at IT, which I had always been interested in.
I chose Dandelions because I was attracted to its personnel evaluation system and the ability to communicate with employees a lot.
After that, I applied to Dandelions and am currently working as a sales representative in the business management department.

Impressions after joining the company

Since joining the company, I have had many new discoveries and experiences.
I started traveling around the office in sales and had meetings with salespeople from various companies to discuss work and meet salespeople I had in common with, so it was a bit of a test of energy, but it was very rewarding. I am enjoying my work.
In addition, the company environment is very interesting, and one of the characteristics of Dandelions is that about 40% of the employees are foreign nationals, and I enjoy every day being able to learn about the cultures and ways of thinking of different countries.

About my hobbies

I am working hard to “Oshikatsu” in my daily life.
Through Oshikatsu, I go to Tokyo and Osaka for live performances and performances, and go to cafes with friends I’ve made through Oshikatsu.
In Tokyo, you can find Korean gourmet food in Shin-Okubo, stylish cafes in Omotesando, and in Osaka, try takoyaki and kushikatsu in Dotonbori! ! I eat a lot of different things, so when I got home and stepped on the scale, I cried when I realized that I had gained weight.

I increase my motivation for work through pushing activities.

Why not try Oshikatsu to relieve stress or spend some meaningful time at a cafe?

Please enjoy the next employee introduction♬