Enhanced Makefile for Multi-Channel Data Management

📅 2025-10-23 — Session: Enhanced Makefile for Multi-Channel Data Management

🕒 12:50–14:00
🏷️ Labels: Makefile, Automation, Data Management, Python, Workflow
📂 Project: Dev

Session Goal:

The session aimed to update and optimize a Makefile for managing outputs from multiple communication channels, such as Instagram, WhatsApp, and Email, ensuring non-overwriting and accurate data handling.

Key Activities:

• Makefile Update: Implemented changes to handle outputs from different channels without overwriting, including a deterministic merge step and a wipe & rebuild functionality.
• Data Handling Improvements: Addressed shared filename issues across different adapters by using staging directories and sanity checks to prevent data contamination.
• Error Fixes: Resolved IndentationError in Python within Makefile by correcting heredoc indentation and used Awk for sanity checks to maintain Makefile integrity.
• Normalizer Patch: Updated the Instagram normalizer to emit handles even without available messages, ensuring data completeness.
• Workflow Optimization: Enhanced the integration process for WhatsApp and Email, ensuring smooth operations without dependency on Instagram.
• Email Data Structure: Improved email data structures with specified CSV fields and a Python script for immediate backfill.

Achievements:

• Successfully updated the Makefile for better data management across multiple communication channels.
• Resolved Python indentation issues and improved the overall workflow for data handling.
• Enhanced data structures for email processing, ensuring standardized formats.

Pending Tasks:

• Further testing and validation of the updated Makefile and data handling processes to ensure robustness in production environments.