As a product manager, it's crucial to have a basic understanding of technology. In this article, we'll discuss the core topics that product managers should be familiar with to make informed decisions and lead their product development teams effectively.

💻 System Architecture

System architecture refers to the high-level design of a software system that defines how it is organized and functions. It outlines the components, relationships, and data flow between them. Understanding system architecture helps product managers make informed decisions about the design, development, and deployment of their products.

Key points to consider when evaluating system architecture:

Scalability: Can the system handle increased demand?
Performance: How fast will the system respond to user requests?
Availability: How reliable is the system?
Security: How secure are the system and its data?
Cost: What is the cost of building and maintaining the system?

🛠️ Tech Stack Fundamentals

A "tech stack," also known as a "solution stack," refers to the combination of programming languages, frameworks, and tools used to build a software application. Understanding the basics of different tech stacks helps product managers make informed decisions about the technology choices for their products.

Common tech stacks include:

LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP)
MEAN (MongoDB, ExpressJS, AngularJS, NodeJS)
Ruby on Rails
Django (Python)
Java Spring

🌤️ Cloud Overview

Cloud computing refers to the delivery of computing services—including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence—over the internet to offer faster innovation, flexible resources, and economies of scale. Understanding the basics of cloud computing is crucial for product managers who want to make informed decisions about the deployment and scaling of their products.

Key cloud computing providers include:

Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Microsoft Azure
Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
IBM Cloud

🧪 Software Dev & Release Cycle

The software development and release cycle refer to the process of designing, building, and deploying software applications. Understanding the basics of this process helps product managers work effectively with their development teams and ensure that their products are delivered on time and meet user needs.

Key stages of the software development and release cycle include:

Planning: defining requirements and setting goals for the product
Development: Building the product using a defined tech stack
Testing: Verifying that the product meets the requirements and works as expected
Deployment: Making the product available to users
Maintenance: Keeping the product up-to-date and fixing any bugs or issues that arise

In conclusion, technology is a key component of product management, and product managers need to have a basic understanding of system architecture, tech stacks, cloud computing, and the software development and release cycle. This knowledge will help them make informed decisions, work effectively with their development teams, and ensure that their products meet user needs and deliver value.

🤓 This is a comprehensive overview of the technology topics that product managers should be familiar with. By understanding these concepts, product managers can make informed decisions, lead their product development teams effectively, and deliver high-quality products that meet user needs.

Technology for Product Managers