Introduction
Hello, my name is Paritosh Tripathi, and I'm an intern software engineer at Anakin. I got the chance to work on numerous projects involving data processing, web scraping, and documentation throughout my time there. I will talk about my internship experience and the knowledge and skills I picked up while working at Anakin in this blog.
The blog's goal is:
This blog's objective is to give a summary of my internship as a software engineer at Anakin, emphasising the activities and projects I worked on there. I want to share my knowledge and experiences with others who are considering a career in software engineering or data science through my blog. Readers can anticipate learning about the actual tasks and difficulties faced by a software engineer intern at a start-up with a quick expansion like Anakin.
I will go over my duties and responsibilities as a software engineer intern, the projects I worked on, the skills I developed while there, and the effect my work had on the business in the sections that follow. For people who are curious about a dynamic start-up like Anakin and the daily activities of a software engineer intern, I hope this blog will be educational and insightful.
Overview of Anakin
About Anakin
New York-based firm Anakin is expanding quickly and focuses on creating fully automated pricing engines for major eCommerce businesses like Walmart and Uber. The business helps customers raise their income by up to 12% by using cutting-edge technology and sophisticated algorithms to gather and analyse data on pricing, products, and competitor patterns.
The goal of Anakin is to give its clients a competitive edge by optimising their pricing strategies with the help of data-driven insights.
Their pricing system is built to instantly and automatically alter prices for millions of products across over 15 countries. With six multi-billion dollar eCommerce organisations as clients, Anakin has already built a strong reputation in the sector
Anakin is a Y Combinator-backed startup that has recently secured a seed round of funding worth $1.7 million. The funding was led by Abstract Ventures, a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm, with participation from other investors, including Village Global, Tectonic Capital, and more.
Company Culture
I had the chance to collaborate closely with the technical team and help design their pricing engine while serving as a software engineer intern at Anakin. The company's culture was alive and welcoming, with an emphasis on teamwork and creativity. I was made to feel like a valuable team member right away, and my thoughts and opinions were constantly encouraged and respected.
The emphasis on growth and learning was one of Anakin's culture's most outstanding features. The organisation offered lots of chances for career advancement, and the technical team was always eager to impart its knowledge and skills. They also pushed interns to take charge of their work, which helped me hone my abilities and boost my confidence.
Work-life balance was another distinctive aspect of the Anakin culture. The company made sure that workers had the freedom to take breaks and recharge as necessary since it understood how important it was to create a harmonious balance between work and personal life.
In conclusion, Anakin is a cutting-edge business that is making waves in the eCommerce sector. Their mission to provide clients with a competitive edge through data-driven insights is both exciting and innovative. As an intern, I had an incredible experience working with a talented and supportive team that encouraged me to learn and grow. I would highly recommend Anakin to anyone looking for a challenging and rewarding internship experience.
Tasks and Projects
Tasks
I had the chance to work on a variety of interesting and hard jobs and projects while I was an intern at Anakin. One of my key tasks was to use Python to process data using AWS, Pandas, and S3. To do this, data had to be gathered from multiple sources, cleaned up, transformed, and then stored in the cloud for easy access by other team members.
I also contributed to the company's existing knowledge base by providing more than 50 pages of documentation, which was a significant project. This involves gathering knowledge by reading, writing, and organising it in a clear, succinct manner for quick reference on a variety of subjects about the company's goods and services.
I also had the chance to work on web scraping for e-commerce websites utilising a variety of Python tools and methods. This was a particularly difficult project since I had to be inventive and adaptable in my strategy while also making sure the data I was gathering was correct and trustworthy.
Challenges
One of the biggest challenges I faced during my internship was learning how to work with large amounts of data efficiently. With the help of my colleagues, I was able to learn new techniques and tools that allowed me to work more effectively and efficiently with data.
- Some of the tools I got to learn were docker, EC2, EFS, S3, GIT, and GITHUB. Additionally, I had to learn how to work independently and manage my time effectively to meet deadlines and complete my tasks on time.
Results
Furthermore, my work on improving the company's knowledge base contributed to enhancing the overall customer experience and satisfaction. By providing clear and concise documentation, we were able to ensure that the engineering team could easily find the information they needed and quickly resolve any issues they were facing to cater for the needs of this customer.
- In summary, my internship experience at Anakin provided me with valuable skills and knowledge in data processing and documentation, as well as in web scraping using Python. It also allowed me to develop a strong understanding of how to provide businesses with a competitive advantage by delivering crucial data insights.
Skills and Knowledge Gained
During my internship at Anakin, I was fortunate to gain a plethora of valuable skills and knowledge that will undoubtedly aid me in my future career. The most significant skills and knowledge that I gained include proficiency in Python and AWS, data processing and documentation, and web scraping.
One of the primary tasks I worked on during my internship was processing data through AWS, Pandas, and S3 using Python. This required me to develop a solid understanding of Python programming language, which is an essential skill in the software engineering industry. Additionally, working with AWS gave me hands-on experience with cloud computing, which is becoming increasingly vital in today's digital age.
Another task I worked on was improving the existing knowledge base by adding over 50 pages of documentation. This required me to develop strong documentation skills and attention to detail, which are valuable skills for any software engineer. Clear and concise documentation is critical for efficient communication and successful project management.
I also worked on conducting web scraping for over ten e-commerce websites, which helped me develop expertise in web scraping techniques and tools in Python. I gained a deep understanding of how to extract valuable information from websites and how to organize and manage data. This skill is highly desirable in the software engineering industry, especially for companies that rely on data analysis to make informed decisions.
Future Benefit
These skills and knowledge gained during my internship at Anakin will be incredibly useful in my future career. Proficiency in Python and AWS is essential for software engineering positions. The ability to process, organize and manage data, and create clear and concise documentation are also valuable skills. Additionally, web scraping knowledge is increasingly important in today's data-driven world.
Overall, my internship at Anakin provided me with a comprehensive set of skills and knowledge that will undoubtedly aid me in my future career in software engineering.
Lessons Learned and Takeaways
I obtained a wide range of useful skills and learnt a lot about the software engineering profession during my internship at Anakin. However, the most crucial lessons I discovered had nothing to do with technical abilities and instead focused on the soft skills that are crucial for success in any industry.
The significance of cooperation and communication was one of the most significant lessons I learned from my internship. It's crucial to be able to collaborate well with people and convey ideas succinctly and clearly if you want to succeed as a software engineer. I discovered that I could work more productively with my team and generate better work by actively listening, asking questions, and being receptive to feedback.
The value of documentation was another essential lesson I picked up. By carefully documenting my work, I was able to keep track of my progress and make it easier for my team to understand and build upon my work. I also learned that good documentation is essential for effective communication with non-technical stakeholders, such as clients or managers.
Finally, I gained a deep appreciation for the impact of data insights on businesses. By providing data-driven insights to e-commerce clients, I saw firsthand how this information could be used to drive growth and increase revenue. This experience taught me the value of using data to make informed decisions and the importance of being able to communicate these insights clearly and effectively.
Overall, my internship at Anakin was an incredibly valuable experience that taught me a lot about the software engineering industry and the importance of soft skills. My advice to future interns or aspiring software engineers would be to focus not only on developing technical skills, but also on building strong relationships with colleagues, communicating effectively, and being open to learning and feedback. By doing so, you can set yourself up for success and make the most of your internship experience.
Conclusion
In conclusion, my internship experience at Anakin (YC S21) was an incredibly valuable opportunity for me as a software engineering student. I was able to work on a variety of tasks and projects that helped me to develop my skills in Python, AWS, data processing, and web scraping, among others.
I also learned important lessons about collaboration, communication, documentation, and the impact of data insights on businesses. My experience at Anakin has given me a solid foundation for my future career in software engineering and I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked with such a talented and supportive team.
For future interns or aspiring software engineers, I would advise them to be proactive, ask questions, and take advantage of every opportunity to learn and grow. I also encourage them to prioritize collaboration and communication, as well as documentation, which can make a big difference in the success of a project.
Overall, my internship at Anakin has been an incredible experience and I am excited to take the skills and knowledge I gained with me as I continue on my career path in software engineering.