Whiskey Web and Whatnot: Web Development, Neat

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Engineering Management vs Individual Contributor, Travel, and Inflation with Taylor Poindexter Nov 09, 2023

Show notes

Being a great engineer doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be a great engineering manager. So how do you know if a leadership role is right for you? Taylor Poindexter, Software Engineering Manager at Spotify, believes you have to try before you can decide and also know when to walk away.

Taylor started out as a tech lead. She knew she wanted to help people advance their careers, and that passion led her to management. She emphasizes that emotional intelligence and patience are a major part of the role and the signs of an effective leader because people are complex. She talks about some of her personal strengths as a leader and the importance of motivating your team, giving feedback, and taking uncomfortable criticism. Managing people isn’t an easy job, and Taylor’s advice for engineers who realize they don’t love leadership is to walk away before creating an unhappy work culture for your team.

In this episode, Taylor talks to Robbie and Chuck about tech hot takes, building effective engineering cultures, and the challenges and rewards of being an engineering manager.

Key Takeaways

[00:50] - Introduction to Taylor Poindexter.
[02:38] - A whiskey review: Barrel Private Release DJX2.
[12:19] - Tech hot takes.
[18:32] - Taylor talks about her skills as an engineer and manager.
[22:26] - Taylor’s advice for a developer who isn’t sure they want to be a manager.
[27:41] - Types of employees managed by Taylor.
[35:01] - Taylor unpacks her tweet about food spending.
[42:15] - Chuck, Robbie, and Taylor talk about the subscription model.
[45:10] - If Taylor wasn’t in tech, what career would she choose?
[48:32] - Chuck talks about his trip to France.

Quotes

[19:32] - “I think I’m really good at motivating people. I think partially because, at the end of the day, they know I’m really honest and trustworthy.” ~ Taylor Poindexter

[20:19] - “The constant iteration of improving things makes the team a good place.” ~ Taylor Poindexter

[23:03] - “I realized that it was so important to me to give somebody else an enhanced career in whatever way I could.” ~ Taylor Poindexter

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This show is brought to you by Ship Shape. Ship Shape’s software consultants solve complex software and app development problems with top-tier coding expertise, superior service, and speed. In a sea of choices, our senior-level development crew rises above the rest by delivering the best solutions for fintech, cybersecurity, and other fast-growing industries. Check us out at shipshape.io.

Tech Talk, Social Media Use, and Netflix with The Primeagen Nov 02, 2023

Show notes

The Primeagen is known for embracing controversy. He returns to the podcast for a conversation on a range of topics like masculinity, social media, and pornography. He also opens up about his father’s passing and his journey growing up with a single mother.

Michael Paulson aka The Primeagen, Software Engineer at Netflix, is an influential figure in the tech community. He shares his thoughts on React's evolution and the impact it has on web applications and offers a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of Netflix and the problem-solving initiatives he led. He also discusses social media use and explains how he leverages platforms like Twitter, Twitch, and YouTube to express his thoughts while fostering an engaging online community.

In this episode, The Primeagen talks to Robbie and Chuck about his views on frameworks like React, the perils of pornography, and how he is saving Netflix millions of dollars.

Key Takeaways

[01:06] - Introduction to The Primeagen.
[03:48] - A whiskey review - Spirits of French Lick William Dalton Single Barrel Bourbon.
[13:40] - Tech hot takes.
[44:16] - The Primeagen talks about limiting social media use.
[56:05] - What The Primeagen would do if he wasn’t in tech.
[01:01:52] - The Primeagen’s take on pornography.
[01:17:36] - The influence of The Primeagen's father's passing.
[01:21:15] - How The Primeagen saved Netflix millions of dollars.

Quotes

[18:50] - “It feels like React, at this point, is in this state where it’s the industry standard, but I don’t feel like people are happy with it.” ~ The Primeagen

[24:45] - “When people start relying on you as some sort of open source provider, you do still have some level of obligation.” ~ The Primeagen

[35:26] - “The thing about Bun is that I really like it. It’s just not 1.0.” ~ The Primeagen

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Privacy, Cyber Crime Stories, and Tech with Jack Rhysider Oct 26, 2023

Show notes

Social media platforms have become our virtual playgrounds, and the choices we make in this realm can have profound impacts on our lives. Are we sacrificing our privacy for the sake of convenience

Jack Rhysider, Creator of the Darknet Diaries podcast, brings an interesting perspective on the world of online communities, privacy concerns, and the delicate balance between convenience and safeguarding personal data. He blends his creativity and knack for storytelling with his expertise in digital security to report some of the fascinating, and sometimes unsettling, stories from the dark corners of the internet. Jack shares his thoughts on whether it’s harmful for people to flock to online communities where everyone is like them. He also delves into his opinions on Twitter and the privacy issues that arise from using the platform.

In this episode, Jack talks to Robbie and Chuck about his experience with various programming languages, the dynamic world of social media, and the perpetual tug-of-war between privacy and convenience in the digital age.

Key Takeaways

[00:27] - Introduction to Jack Rhysider.
[03:23] - A whiskey review: Stellum Rye the Lone Cypress.
[11:11] - Jack's experience as a craps dealer in Las Vegas.
[20:41] - Jack discusses TunnelsUp and programming in Perl.
[28:38] - Jack’s favorite story he has told so far.
[34:39] - Music genres that Jack enjoys.
[42:40] - How Jack feels about the current state of Twitter.
[46:24] - Jack talks about obtaining privacy online.
[55:01] - If Jack didn’t have his podcast, what would he be doing?

Quotes

[02:48] - “That’s my favorite when truth is stranger than fiction.” ~ Jack Rhysider

[23:11] - “I used to have the motto, ‘Windows at work, Apple at home, and Linux everywhere else.’” ~ Jack Rhysider

[32:57] - “Always it’s been, I want those people that can’t tell their story, I want the story that’s never been told, I want that secret stuff.” ~ Jack Rhysider

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Self-Taught Engineering, Boot Camps, and Veganism with Welch Canavan Oct 19, 2023

Show notes

Some engineers have a linear path to their careers, but most of them take unconventional routes to become a developer. For Welch Canavan, Principal Engineer II at Stitch Fix, his journey into coding was a complete accident.

Welch was thrown into coding after the entire senior team above him left the company. He had two choices, sink or swim. With very little coding experience, he decided to tackle the problem-solving on his own and pick up the pieces that the senior team left. That experience propelled him into his career today. According to Welch, once you are motivated enough to learn, you might not need to invest in a boot camp. He also touches on some important aspects of tech like the complexities of maintaining state in URLs and highlights the innovative solutions by T3 stack.

In this episode, Welch talks to Robbie and Chuck about his journey into becoming a self-taught engineer, his responsibilities at Stitch Fix, and how he quit veganism after 20 years.

Key Takeaways

[01:11] - Introduction to Welch Canavan.
[02:21] - A whiskey review: Ritual Zero Proof Whiskey Alternative.
[07:11] - Tech hot takes.
[11:26] - Self-taught web development.
[20:46] - Chuck, Robbie, and Welch talk about the current state of boot camps.
[23:59] - Welch’s current position at Stitch Fix.
[32:35] - Why Welch is no longer a vegan after 20 years.
[38:20] - Welch’s hobbies.
[39:36] - What career would Welch pursue if he wasn’t in tech?
[42:43] - Projects Welch is currently interested in.

Quotes

[13:05] - “I have been making websites as a hobby essentially since I was in middle school.” ~ Welch Canavan

[24:21] - “I kind of got a weird amount into my career without learning much about code.” ~ Welch Canavan

[29:56] - “I really am a big believer that the only worth in a progressively more senior engineer is their ability to teach other people.” ~ Welch Canavan

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The Framework Wars, Certifications, and Cincinnati Chili with Dr. Kate Holterhoff Oct 12, 2023

Show notes

As the tech industry advances at breakneck speed, traditional university programs are struggling to keep pace. Outdated course content and failure to adapt are encouraging developers to go the untraditional route. Can certifications carry the weight of tech education?

Dr. Kate Holterhoff, Analyst at RedMonk, is an educator championing certifications in the tech space. Her background in academia, including teaching stints at institutions like Carnegie Mellon and Georgia Tech gave her a wealth of insights on what is best for the future of tech education. Kate sheds light on the challenges faced by tech education, emphasizing the role of community-driven learning, and exploring the impact of certifications on the modern job market. She also explores the contrast between the knowledge gained in traditional universities and the skills demanded by the tech industry.

In this episode, Dr. Holterhoff talks to Chuck and Robbie about her thoughts on popular X (Twitter) debates, the shifting landscape of tech education, and the role of certifications in developer education.

Key Takeaways

[00:43] - Introduction to Dr. Kate Holterhoff.
[02:46] - A whiskey review: Hirsch Horizon Bourbon.
[09:08] - Tech hot takes.
[20:30] - The next chapter for SPAs after the framework wars.
[31:15] - Certifications in the tech industry.
[50:45] - Kate, Chuck, and Robbie talk about RenderATL.
[54:44] - Chuck and Kate talk about restaurants in Cincinnati.

Quotes

[21:41] - “React isn’t going anywhere. So if what you’re worried about is a job, React is a good place to go.” ~ Dr. Kate Holterhoff

[28:58] - “That’s what always comes up when I think about AI. Everyone has got a chatbot now.” ~ Dr. Kate Holterhoff

[35:02] - “Folks with CS degrees, information science degrees. They actually have to upskill themselves after they get that degree.” ~ Dr. Kate Holterhoff

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Adaptability, HTMX, and DivOps with Jonathan Creamer Oct 05, 2023

Show notes

Jonathan Creamer, Senior Software Engineer at Microsoft and a tech enthusiast, is carving out a niche in the world of front-end tooling. He's even coined the term "DivOps" with the help of his team. Jonathan is passionate about creating and experimenting with new tools that enhance developer workflows. He is on a mission to reduce the reliance on YAML configuration in CI/CD pipelines by converting repetitive tasks into code. For him, it's all about making these processes more efficient, maintainable, and testable.

Jonathan shares one of his core beliefs, which is the importance of staying adaptable in a tech career. He encourages developers to stay open to new languages and concepts. His advice? Invest time in specializing for a few years to gain an in-depth understanding, then move on to the next thing. According to Jonathan, the hallmark of a senior engineer is someone who continually broadens their skill set.

In this episode, Jonathan talks to Robbie and Chuck about hot takes on popular tech topics, the world of front-end tooling, and the importance of staying adaptable as an engineer.

Key Takeaways

[01:26] - Introduction to Jonathan Creamer.
[04:38] - A whiskey review: 13th Colony Southern Bourbon Whiskey
[16:58] - Tech hot takes.
[30:18] - How HTMX will change the way apps are built.
[37:08] - Jonathan talks about how he came up with the term, “DivOps”.
[55:27] - If Jonathan wasn’t in tech, what career would he choose?

Quotes

[30:51] - “There’s no way in Office we’re going to decide, let's get rid of the 20 million lines of React code that we have in our code base and switch to HTMX.” ~ Jonathan Creamer

[35:36] - “There are so many ways to solve problems on front-end development. There’s just no reason to bash anybody for anything.” ~ Jonathan Creamer

[47:51] - “If you’ve been writing front-end code for 10 years and you don’t know how back-end works still, I would imagine you probably do.” ~ Jonathan Creamer

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SST, AWS, and Ember with Dax Raad Sep 28, 2023

Show notes

Dax Raad, Founder of Bumi and Ironbay and SST Core Maintainer, is a passionate open-source developer who knows his way around the startup tech space with over a decade of experience under his belt. He is intimately involved in the Serverless Stack Toolkit (SST) and sheds some light on what it’s all about.

Dax reveals the story behind the inception of SST and its unique role in the software development ecosystem. He explores how SST is revolutionizing the way developers approach serverless applications by streamlining deployment on AWS while also focusing on developer experience. Dax also touches on the integration of Next.js and how SST has become an essential tool for deploying Next.js applications on AWS seamlessly. The discussion shifts gears to the world of cloud computing, where AWS is the big kingpin. Dax explains how being the first big player gives AWS a huge advantage in terms of money and customers. Other companies like Google Cloud and Azure have a hard time catching up because of AWS’ head start.

In this episode, Dax talks to Robbie and Chuck about his experience in early-stage startups and open-source projects, SST's role in simplifying AWS development, and how JSON API and Ember.js are changing the landscape of web development.

Key Takeaways

[00:32] - Intro to Dax Raad.
[01:35] - A whiskey review: Belle Meade Sour Mash Straight Whiskey.
[11:04] - Tech hot takes.
[18:46] - When Dax got involved in the SST project.
[25:19] - Why businesses build on top of AWS.
[30:35] - The relationship between Next.js and the SST project.
[36:50] - Dax’s experience using Ember.js.
[41:49] - The career Dax would be in if he wasn’t in tech.
[43:55] - Chuck and Dax discuss Lionel Messi being in Miami.

Quotes

[25:43] - “I don’t believe you can catch up with a company that started before you in the cloud business.” ~ Dax Raad

[33:08] - “It is extremely tedious. It is extremely hard to keep up with intentional changes that Vercel and Next.js make but also breakages that they do accidentally.” ~ Dax Raad

[33:43] - “The vast majority of Next.js users, Next,js isn’t the thing they live and die by.” ~ Dax Raad

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Hot Takes, Ember Data, and Open Source with Chris Thoburn (Runspired) Sep 21, 2023

Show notes

After years in the tech game, senior developers know that it’s important to find a balance between innovation and stability in engineering. How can developers strike the balance between embracing new tools and ensuring the steadfastness of their applications over the long haul?

Chris Thoburn (Runspired), Staff Software Engineer at AuditBoard, is a big deal in the open-source community, particularly within the Ember community. He explains how his journey has been a unique blend of teamwork and adapting and elaborates on the philosophy behind Ember Data. Chris mentions that the framework is like a solid foundation, built to provide a consistent and stable data layer while allowing developers to evolve their apps over the years. His vision is for Ember Data to be a trusted companion for developers creating web apps.

In this episode, Runspired talks to Robbie and Chuck about his views on controversial tech topics like HTMX, the power of Ember Data and its role in creating stable, scalable, and evolving applications, and the pivotal role that open-source plays in shaping technology.

Key Takeaways

[00:50] - Intro to Runspired.
[02:04] - A whiskey review: Hibiki Blended Japanese Whiskey.
[10:52] - Tech hot takes.
[30:26] - How Runspired would rename Ember Data.
[39:40] - Runspired’s success pitching open source.
[47:35] - The career Runspired would be in if he wasn’t in tech.
[50:09] - Runspired shares whether HTMX will change the way web apps are built.
[01:00:21] - Runspired’s first choice karaoke song.

Quotes

[27:25] - “I’ve been around enough, seen enough to realize that getting really caught up in one approach is just an exercise in long-term frustration that I don’t need.” ~ Runspired

[35:35] - “How do you get a company to invest in open-source? It's not about open-source, it's about value to a company.” ~ Runspired

[51:07] - “I think we are approaching a very different era in the maturity of Javascript development.” ~ Runspired

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Vite, Debugging, and PNPM with Ed Faulkner Sep 14, 2023

Show notes

The landscape of tech is always changing and adaptability is key. Ed Faulkner, Ember Core Team Member and Founder at Polynomial LLC shares his insights into the dynamic world of software engineering.

Ed kicks things off by shedding light on the importance of using efficient tools in software development. Ed dives into Vite, a build tool known for its speed and user-friendliness. He explains how Vite tackles the slow development process that some old-school build tools bring along. While Vite might not fit every situation, Ed highlights its usefulness for projects where speedy development matters. The conversation takes a turn as Ed dives into the world of package management, discussing PNPM and how mixing Vite with Ember can shake things up for developers.

In this episode, Ed talks to Robbie and Chuck about the challenges with package management, how using Vite with Ember will impact developer experience and the value of knowing how to debug.

Key Takeaways

[00:51] - Intro to Ed Faulkner.
[01:36] - A whiskey review: West Cork Whiskey Cask Strength.
[07:51] - Tech hot takes.
[24:43] - What Vite unlocks for the developer community.
[29:27] - The importance of debugging.
[33:30] - The skills required to build a package manager.
[49:49] - The career Ed would choose if he wasn’t in tech.

Quotes

[08:35] - “As my own career has progressed, I’m definitely a library person. I’m happier building the tools to build applications.” ~ Ed Faulkner

[29:30] - “Software is hard. You can’t work in software and not hit bugs on a daily basis.” ~ Ed Faulkner

[40:35] - “Some stuff is really hard to choose your own adventure with and package management is just one of them.” ~ Ed Faulkner

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Polaris, Vite, and Exploring the Future of Ember with Jared Galanis and Preston Sego Sep 07, 2023

Show notes

Recorded at EmberConf from the heart of the Multnomah Whiskey Library with Jared Galanis, Software Engineer on the Ember Learning Team, and Preston Sego aka NullVoxPopuli, Software Artificer at AuditBoard, Chuck and Robbie delve into the evolution and future of the Ember framework.

Though Ember isn’t often in the spotlight for being cutting-edge, Jared and Preston unravel the exciting developments in the Ember ecosystem. The conversation centers around Ember Polaris, the eagerly awaited next edition of the Ember framework. Preston explains the concept of "editions" in semantic versioning and how Polaris aims to provide a cohesive story for integrating new features. They also discuss Ember's shift to Vite as a modern build system, resulting in improved performance, startup time, and enhanced plugin ecosystem. Jared sheds light on the Ember learning team and his background in front-end and back-end development. He reinforces Ember's commitment to offering smooth upgrade paths for applications over the years, giving developers a sense of security and longevity.

In this episode, Jared and Preston talk to Robbie and Chuck about the upcoming release of Ember Polaris and its compatibility with Vite, the unique reactivity primitives of Ember, and how changes can modernize the Ember framework while ensuring long-term app stability.

Key Takeaways

[00:29] - Intro to Jared and Preston.
[02:32] - A whiskey review: Willett Straight Rye Whiskey.
[14:50] - Tech hot takes.
[25:25] - Jared and Preston’s favorite programming language.
[27:29] - New developments in Ember, including Polaris.
[39:44] - A whiskey review: Four Roses Single Barrel.
[46:45] - Preston’s opinion on Glimmer.
[56:26] - Chuck, Robbie, Preston, and Jared discuss gaming.

Quotes

[18:58] - “One thing that I’ve appreciated about Tailwind is that it has done a better job of teaching people actually CSS than where people go to learn CSS.” ~ Preston Sego

[30:07] - “It’s exciting to see Ember moving towards being able to use standardized build systems that are used widely throughout Javascript.” ~ Jared Galanis

[52:34] - “People in the React ecosystem are perfectly fine with half-baked things and are willing to try an idea and run with it in their production code.” ~ Preston Sego

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