Compiler

Latest Episodes:

Random Acts Of Automation Sep 10, 2026

Show notes

Forget the high-stress fire drills and chaotic, late-night maintenance shifts. Not only does automation provide identical, predictable environments—it acts as a structured foundation for security and compliance, turning daunting, multi-step manual processes into reliable push-button tasks. But what happens when we combine automation and AI? Global automation strategist Chad Ferman joins the show to demystify how automation and artificial intelligence can work together, rather than competing.

Data Security 101 Jan 22, 2026

Show notes

They say "data is king." From secret recipes to performance metrics and beyond, organizations use mountains of data every day. It's important to keep that data safe from scammers, the competition, or anyone else who could misuse it. Securing that data isn't easy. Clarence Clayton, Director of Global Privacy + AI Risk and Compliance at Red Hat, lays out the foundations of data security. He covers what needs to be protected and explains some of the basic principles you should follow to keep data thieves out of your database.

Year In Review Dec 21, 2023

Show notes

It’s been a year of growth at Compiler, and we want to celebrate and share with our guests and listeners some of our favorite moments from the show. Thank you for all of the support, we’ll see you in 2024!

The Sysadmin And The Script Mar 02, 2023

Show notes

System(s) Administrators don’t get enough credit. They set up systems. Maintain them. Make sure everything follows security best practices. All while having to know code and infrastructure and looking out for crises. And if you think you can automate away their jobs, you’re in for a surprise: They can do it better and continue to make other valuable contributions to your company.

The company, its business activities and its employees depicted in this podcast are fictional and are not intended to represent or depict any current or former business organization or any individuals living or dead. Any resemblance to any individual or organization is purely coincidental.

From CodeNewbie: The new wave of frontend developer tools are on their way Dec 08, 2022

Show notes

Compiler is on a holiday break and will return in January 2023—but we're sharing an episode made by our friends at CodeNewbie that we think you'll like: To welcome back our show for Season 22, we talk with a familiar face to the CodeNewbie Podcast, Chris Ferdinandi. Chris is the author of the Vanilla JS Pocket Guide series and the creator of the Vanilla JS Academy training program. On today's episode, Chris talks about what he's learned since coming on the show in 2020, how he sees the future of frontend development evolving over the next few years, and what tools might help in your next job search. Check out the CodeNewbie site for complete show notes and more episodes: https://www.codenewbie.org/podcast/the-new-wave-of-frontend-developer-tools-are-on-their-way

The Overlooked Operating System Oct 13, 2022

Show notes

The operating system wars are over. We’re still left with Windows, Linux, and MacOS—along with Android and iOS. Many argue that there’s little left to accomplish with the bottom of the software stack. But work on the OS is far from over.
The kernel and user space provide the literal foundation for the rest of the software stack. Drivers, networking, and countless other features are abstracted away as common resources so the other layers of the stack can focus on their own functions. So when the overlooked layer gets an upgrade, it can really make a difference.

Are Big Mistakes That Big Of A Deal? Part 2 Jul 07, 2022

Show notes

Mistakes are part of growth. If we’re lucky, we’re in an environment where they’re not punished harshly. That lets us fix the problem, learn to do better, and move on—but also to tell the story once the sting has passed.
Last episode, we heard three stories of people blundering into trouble and coming out the other side a little bit wiser. This episode adds three more stories of mistakes being made—but the culprit isn’t always as clear.

Who's Afraid Of Compilers? Mar 31, 2022

Show notes

It’s about time we asked a question about compilers. It’s been a scary proposition. Compilers have a reputation for density, complexity, and a fair bit of mysticism. But when we looked into them, we learned they’re really just like any other program. So we wondered: Who’s afraid of compilers?
In this episode of Compiler, we start to break down the reputation by opening up the black box. What do compilers do? How do they work? And what can you gain by learning more about the inner workings of compilers?

How Do Roads Become Smarter? Mar 17, 2022

Show notes

Traffic jams and congested streets are an annoyance many people have to endure. Turns out, the same technology keeping us constantly connected—the Internet of Things—can also improve how we move people and things from place to place. But what are the considerations for technologists? Connectivity can’t be the only piece of the puzzle. Smart road technology can make travel safer, easier, and more efficient. But how can it make travel enjoyable?

Mailbag: Managers, Technical Debt Jan 06, 2022

Show notes

Since the debut of Compiler, our team has posed a few interesting questions, and the answers have gotten people talking. Do the words ‘manager’ and ‘leader’ mean the same thing? How can technical debt become more complex, outside of team areas of responsibility?

We revisit some of our past topics on the show and let others weigh in on what they liked, what they didn’t like, and what we may have missed on the first pass.

Want to learn more about Jeff Walter’s work? Pay a virtual visit the Atmospheric Data Science Center or earthdata.nasa.gov.