Welcome to this week's Top 7, where the DEV editorial team handpicks their favorite posts from the previous week.

Congrats to all the authors that made it onto the list 👏

@karsten_biedermann explains how to visualize and simplify trigonometric functions using creative metaphors like Ferris wheels and practical animation examples. This post makes math feel intuitive for anyone working with web animations or curves.

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@huijing challenges the industry’s obsession with new tools by showing the elegance and power of "old-school" CSS. They walk us through how timeless techniques can still be the most effective and maintainable.

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@erikch shares takeaways from "vibe coding" sessions — low-pressure, exploratory coding without goals — and how it helped rekindle their creativity. The post encourages developers to make space for unstructured time as a way to rediscover joy and flow.

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@kurealnum recounts the unexpected frustrations of building a terminal user interface (TUI) in C. Through candid lessons and detailed explanations, they highlight why even simple UI tasks can spiral when working too close to the metal.

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@darkosubotica demystifies the Makefile and argues for its enduring value in modern development workflows. With clear examples, they show how embracing Make can streamline tasks and be enjoyable.

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@wimadev questions the default use of secrets managers, especially for frontend or hybrid apps. The post provides a practical breakdown of when they work — and when they might just be security theater.

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@lausalin introduces Amazon Bedrock Guardrails, a system for applying responsible AI controls across generative AI apps. This post walks through how developers can enforce ethical boundaries and operational safeguards at scale.

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And that's a wrap for this week's Top 7 roundup! 🎬 We hope you enjoyed this eclectic mix of insights, stories, and tips from our talented authors. Keep coding, keep learning, and stay tuned to DEV for more captivating content and make sure you’re opted in to our Weekly Newsletter 📩 for all the best articles, discussions, and updates.