[kr0bat]

Yup, that one paragraph left me scratching my head. In my mind the (very thinly described) image upload functionality should have failed regardless of configuration.

Maybe by "the images simply wouldn't upload." the author meant "did not display", and the file was being uploaded to the data store, was visible when viewed in the data store directly, but would not be displayed in app when requested.

I got the feeling that this is one of those 500-mile email[1] stories, where technical details are omitted for easier storytelling

[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9338708

[gwbas1c]

It's not the technical details that's omitted, though. The 500 mile email story told us about the debugging process and limitations imposed by the speed of light.

Shawn correctly points out that it's okay to get stuck for awhile: It happens to everyone. But he never actually has a lesson that he applies to his job.

In the 500 mile email story, the real lesson is has more to do with understanding the risks of upgrades and the need to manage them.