**Software Engineer's Insights into Middleware Development** A software engineer, who wishes to remain anonymous due to a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), has shared their experiences working on middleware development for a chatbot AI and various services. The engineer uses JavaScript and Node.js, with the app running on multiple Red Hat Linux servers. The developer highlights the benefits of Node.js, including its asynchronous model and ease of horizontal scaling. They also emphasize the importance of customizability and strong security practices in their chosen environment. However, the engineer notes that one of the most challenging aspects of their job is communicating with others, particularly when requesting input from other teams or engineers. Additionally, they mention that the fast-paced nature of their work often leaves little time for following best practices like Test-Driven Development. Source: https://dev.to/norbs/engineering-the-unseen-my-work-as-a-software-engineer-abp