M Bytes
Watch. Read. Apply. One topic every week.
🟧 M Bytes #22: A few lessons about Docker -- want more?
by M.academy Hey Reader, I'm finding Docker to be increasingly relevant in the dawn of AI coding. You'll typically want to test out new code in a containerized environment before deploying it (eliminates the "it works on my machine!" madness), or provide the AI with a way to run rogue without your oversight (such as running Claude Code within a container using the `--dangerously-skip-permissions` flag). I've been using Docker for well over a decade and was an early adopter, using it in my...
🟧 M Bytes #21: The Magento cache command that could break prod
by M.academy Hey Reader, Last week, a dev messaged me: "I ran cache:flush instead of cache:clean on prod, and now our site's throwing errors. Why?" This is exactly why Adobe puts this type of question on the certification exam. On the surface, cache:clean and cache:flush seem identical. Both clear the cache and make changes visible. But one deletes from matching tags, and the other nukes the entire cache storage (including external services!). When you flush, you are also wiping caches from...
🟧 M Bytes #20: Never gonna make you cry (over Adobe Commerce certifications)
by M.academy Hey Reader, After a couple years in the making, we are celebrating this week's M Bytes with the release of M.academy's newest course: Adobe Commerce Developer Professional Certification Prep This is the only cert-prep course created (by anyone) within the last few years, and the only one based on the newest version of the exam, AD0-E724. I just opened up a few more lessons from the course so you can get a feel for the lessons. They are quick, short, and easy to digest. Rick...
🟧 M Bytes #19: Can you "vibe code" a production-ready app?
by M.academy Hey Reader, M.academy's upcoming Adobe Commerce Developer Professional Cert-Prep course is almost complete! We're in the final stretch, and have made a ton of updates to the course platform as well. This includes making upcoming lesson percentage visible in the progress bar, and better highlighting the current lesson you are on (so you don't get lost): This app is already in production. We haven't really officially announced it yet (and are still working on completing it), but...
🟧 M Bytes #18: Creating a generation of incompetent programmers
by M.academy Hey Reader, I had post go semi-viral on LinkedIn yesterday, and it was all about how we are creating an entire generation of incompetent programmers. As a teacher, I can't help but think all of the ways newb developers are just not gonna make it. And how others — smart enough to get by without the help of AI — are letting their brain atrophy. We need to take back some agency. Own the process. Push back on the AI/LLM and guide it, rather than have it guide us. This goes into a...
🟧 M Bytes #17: The GitHub-to-Magento trick every dev should know
by M.academy Hey Reader, June already. Where the heck did the first half of 2025 go? 🙃 Ever feel like you're running a marathon without shoes? That's been my 2025 so far. I hit 40 ready to conquer the world. Instead, I spent most mornings wondering if I could even get out of bed. Major sciatica, back pain, massive fatigue... it all took over. I was almost ready to lay down and just tap out. But I pushed through: I trained and worked with my AI coach to help me through rough times and refined...
🟧 M Bytes #16: Know how to debug product collections in Magento?
by M.academy Hey Reader, I'm continuing to work through my cert-prep course, but in doing so, realized that some of the planned lessons went against my atomic principle: only one concept per lesson. In the targeted study practice section, which aims to focus on just the topics you need to pass the exam, I previously had 21 lessons written out and finalized. Then I realized I need to break them down even more. I've focused a lot on my linear-learning process (teaching things in a certain order...
🟧 M Bytes #15: Deep-dive into Magento routers, routing, and the response lifecycle
by M.academy Hey Reader, For the past few weeks, I've been heads-down creating a new Adobe Commerce Certified Developer Exam Prep course, and am excited to share a bit of the behind the scenes about my approach. From the start, I never believed you should have to read 300+ page study guides to pass these exams. That process is painfully inefficient, and honestly not how I managed to pass them myself. Instead, I've identified core concepts that consistently appear throughout the exams. The new...
🟧 M Bytes #14: Why Magento around() plugins increase call stack size
by M.academy Hey Reader, I hope you've had a chance to play around with Magento 2.4.8 this last week or so (if not, check out my What's New in Magento video to learn all about it). This week, we're learning all about plugins. If you've been a bit stumped about plugins (also known as "interceptors"), you can check out the new short Magento plugins playlist to dive in. There are also links to some of the new video lessons below 👇 Keep coding, Mark Shust Teacher / M.academy Say hi 👋 on LinkedIn,...
🟧 M Bytes #13: What's new in Magento 2.4.8 and PHP 8.4
by M.academy Hey Reader, Magento 2.4.8 just dropped Tuesday with a ton of updates! I've broken down all the key features in my latest YouTube video, What's New in Magento 2.4.8. Now's a great time to check it out to stay ahead of the curve. While I'm deep in development on my Adobe Commerce Developer Cert-Prep course, I'm also building something I've wanted for years: M.academy's own custom course platform. The first two parts of it are already complete: ✓ Individual lesson pages (great for...
Watch. Read. Apply. One topic every week.