Coding Chats episode 52 - Robert Balicki discusses Isograph, an opinionated framework designed to simplify the development of data-driven applications, particularly with GraphQL and React. He explains the challenges faced in web development, such as over-fetching data and network waterfalls, and how Isograph addresses these issues by allowing developers to focus on specific components and their data needs. The discussion also covers the technical foundation of Isograph, built using Rust, and the challenges of compiler development. Robert emphasizes the importance of testing, CI/CD integration, and the potential for Isograph to scale effectively in large projects. He invites developers to get involved in the project and contribute to its growth.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Isograph05:11 Understanding the Problem Isograph Solves09:57 The Concept of Opinionated Frameworks13:40 Exploring Network Waterfalls16:43 Testing and CI/CD Integration20:49 Scaling with Monorepos and Integration27:57 Future Vision for Isograph28:04 Understanding Isograph's Runtime and Compiler29:40 The Influence of Rust in Compiler Development32:04 The Challenges of Building a Compiler35:53 Transitioning from Batch to Incremental Compilation45:28 Leveraging Rust for Enhanced Developer Experience52:55 Community Engagement and Future of Isograph56:32 Exploring Related ContentLINKSRobert's Links:Isograph: http://isograph.dev/John's Links:John's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrickett/John’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johncrickettJohn's Twitter: https://x.com/johncrickettJohn's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/johncrickett.bsky.socialCheck out John's software engineering related newsletters: Coding Challenges: https://codingchallenges.substack.com/ which shares real-world project ideas that you can use to level up your coding skills.Developing Skills: https://read.developingskills.fyi/ covering everything from system design to soft skills, helping them progress their career from junior to staff+ or for those that want onto a management track.TakeawaysIsograph simplifies building data-driven applications.The framework is opinionated, promoting best practices.Network waterfalls can degrade user experience.Isograph allows for precise data fetching.Testing is a key focus in Isograph's development.Rust provides safety and performance benefits.The framework aims to support SQL backends in the future.Isograph encourages a full-stack development approach.Community involvement is welcomed through Discord.The developer experience with Isograph is superior to other frameworks.
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From fire fighting to AI pair programming: Shane Harger's journey
Coding Chats episode 51 - Shane Harger shares her unique career journey from web development and graphic design to firefighting and back to tech, emphasizing the importance of pair programming, incident management lessons, and the evolving role of AI in software development. She discusses the significance of DevOps and platform engineering in enhancing team collaboration and efficiency, while also highlighting the value of junior developers in fostering a learning environment within teams.Chapters00:00 Shane Harger's Unique Career Journey05:32 Transitioning from Firefighting to Tech10:12 The Importance of Pair Programming15:01 Lessons from Incident Management20:02 DevOps and Platform Engineering Insights27:44 The Dynamics of Code Review and Pair Programming29:54 AI as a Partner in Programming34:03 Key Learnings from AI Pair Programming Experiments45:37 The Importance of Diverse Pairing in Development TeamsShane's links:https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaneharger/John's Links:John's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrickett/John’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johncrickettJohn's Twitter: https://x.com/johncrickettJohn's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/johncrickett.bsky.socialCheck out John's software engineering related newsletters: Coding Challenges: https://codingchallenges.substack.com/ which shares real-world project ideas that you can use to level up your coding skills.Developing Skills: https://read.developingskills.fyi/ covering everything from system design to soft skills, helping them progress their career from junior to staff+ or for those that want onto a management track.TakeawaysShane's career spans web development, firefighting, and consulting.Firefighting provided unexpected tech opportunities in incident management.Pair programming fosters camaraderie and knowledge sharing.DevOps emphasizes ownership and collaboration in software development.AI can assist in coding but lacks the human element of teamwork.Juniors bring fresh perspectives and questions that benefit teams.Effective incident management requires calmness and basic troubleshooting skills.Automation in DevOps enhances response times and reduces handovers.Product thinking is essential for infrastructure teams to meet customer needs.The transition from POC to production can be challenging without clear requirements.
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How to manage technical debt with Lou Franco
Coding Chats episode 50 - Lou Franco discusses the concept of technical debt, its implications for software development, and the importance of quantifying it. He emphasizes that technical debt is not just a financial metaphor but a real issue affecting developer productivity and team dynamics. The discussion also covers the role of managers in understanding and addressing technical debt, the importance of metrics, and the eight questions that can help teams evaluate their technical debt. Additionally, the conversation touches on the impact of AI on technical debt management, highlighting both its potential benefits and challenges.Chapters00:00 Understanding Technical Debt03:17 The Financial Metaphor of Tech Debt06:04 Defining Technical Debt: Internal vs External Effects08:59 The Role of Developer Productivity12:05 The Team Responsibility of Technical Debt14:51 Why Managers Should Care About Tech Debt18:05 Quantifying Technical Debt for Visibility20:57 Improving Developer Productivity23:43 Communicating Tech Debt to Executives26:41 Understanding Technical Debt and Its Management36:37 The Eight Questions for Managing Technical Debt46:29 AI's Role in Technical Debt: A Double-Edged SwordLou's Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loufranco/Book: https://loufranco.com/tech-debt-bookJohn's Links:John's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrickett/John’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johncrickettJohn's Twitter: https://x.com/johncrickettJohn's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/johncrickett.bsky.socialCheck out John's software engineering related newsletters: Coding Challenges: https://codingchallenges.substack.com/ which shares real-world project ideas that you can use to level up your coding skills.Developing Skills: https://read.developingskills.fyi/ covering everything from system design to soft skills, helping them progress their career from junior to staff+ or for those that want onto a management track.TakeawaysTechnical debt is often misunderstood and miscommunicated.The financial metaphor of technical debt can be misleading.Technical debt can arise from changing technologies, not just poor choices.Developers experience anxiety due to technical debt affecting estimates.Managers need to understand the visible effects of technical debt.Quantifying technical debt helps in communicating its impact.The eight questions framework aids in evaluating technical debt.AI can assist in managing technical debt but requires careful oversight.Collaboration with other teams can provide valuable insights into technical debt.Technical debt should be viewed as a team responsibility, not just an individual issue.
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An introduction to cybersecurity - from physical breaches to digital intrusions
Coding Chats episode 49 - John Crickett and Kev Milne delve into the critical realm of cybersecurity, exploring its various facets from social engineering to the importance of penetration testing. They discuss the evolution of attacks, the role of AI, and the significance of mainframes in modern security. The conversation also highlights the career paths in cybersecurity and the necessity for continuous investment in security measures to protect digital assets.Chapters00:00 Understanding Cybersecurity03:38 The Evolution of Attacks: Physical vs. Digital06:18 Social Engineering: The Art of Deception09:15 The Importance of Penetration Testing12:02 Career Paths in Cybersecurity14:49 The Diverse Landscape of Cybersecurity17:56 The Necessity of Ongoing Security Measures20:34 The Cost of Neglecting Cybersecurity25:48 The Evolution of Wi-Fi Security27:04 Mainframes: The Misunderstood Giants28:15 Mainframe Security: Myths and Realities30:02 The Challenge of Legacy Code32:20 Balancing Security and Functionality34:12 Defense in Depth: A Security Strategy35:35 AI's Role in Cybersecurity37:50 The Threat Landscape: Script Kiddies and Beyond38:34 Training the Next Generation of Cybersecurity Experts41:36 The Importance of Conferences in CybersecurityKev's Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinmilne/Website where folks can obtain the Mainframe Offensive Security Tester course, download the Gibson Mainframe Simulator or purchase the Cyber Coach labs: https://offensivesec.orgTry out some free labs Kev has created: https://cyber-coach-labs-bd010da0.base44.app/FreeLabsJohn's Links:John's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrickett/John’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johncrickettJohn's Twitter: https://x.com/johncrickettJohn's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/johncrickett.bsky.socialCheck out John's software engineering related newsletters: Coding Challenges: https://codingchallenges.substack.com/ which shares real-world project ideas that you can use to level up your coding skills.Developing Skills: https://read.developingskills.fyi/ covering everything from system design to soft skills, helping them progress their career from junior to staff+ or for those that want onto a management track.TakeawaysCybersecurity is essential for protecting digital assets.Social engineering remains a significant threat today.Red teaming involves advanced penetration testing techniques.Understanding networking is crucial for aspiring penetration testers.Mainframes are still vital for processing transactions.AI can both aid and complicate cybersecurity efforts.Continuous investment in cybersecurity is necessary for businesses.Penetration testing should be a standard practice for all companies.Security requires a layered defense approach.Conferences are valuable for staying updated in cybersecurity.
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Career growth strategies in software engineering: start-ups vs bigtech
Coding Chats episode 48 - John Crickett and Gilad Naor explore the differences between working at startups and big tech companies, discussing the pros and cons of each environment. They delve into career growth, the importance of mentorship, and the balance between specialization and generalization in tech careers. The discussion also covers the management track versus individual contributor roles, the role of managers in creating positive change, and the significance of interview preparation. Additionally, they highlight the value of side projects and the necessity for managers to build empathy through understanding various roles within their organizations. The conversation concludes with advice on taking ownership of one's career and the importance of continuous personal development.Chapters00:00 Startups vs. Big Tech: A Comparative Overview03:19 Navigating Career Growth in Tech06:08 The Reality of Big Tech Work09:06 Specialization vs. Generalization in Tech Careers11:39 The Management Track: Leadership vs. Management14:28 Creating Positive Change as a Manager17:14 Interview Preparation for Managers20:33 Choosing the Right Stories for Interviews26:59 Navigating Conflict in Technical Leadership29:12 Addressing Gaps in Management Experience32:15 Interview Strategies for Senior Roles35:17 Demonstrating Depth of Experience in Interviews38:52 The Role of Side Projects in Personal Development42:02 The Importance of Technical Empathy in Management47:32 Taking Ownership of Your CareerGilad's Links:Gilad's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/giladnaorGilad's Website: https://managementdeltas.com/ John's Links:John's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrickett/John’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johncrickettJohn's Twitter: https://x.com/johncrickettJohn's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/johncrickett.bsky.socialCheck out John's software engineering related newsletters: Coding Challenges: https://codingchallenges.substack.com/ which shares real-world project ideas that you can use to level up your coding skills.Developing Skills: https://read.developingskills.fyi/ covering everything from system design to soft skills, helping them progress their career from junior to staff+ or for those that want onto a management track.TakeawaysWorking at startups allows for a broader range of experiences.Big tech offers more mentorship opportunities for career growth.The term 'startup' can encompass a wide range of company sizes and structures.Career growth in tech often requires navigating internal mobility.Specialization can provide a competitive advantage in tech careers.Management and leadership are distinct roles that require different skill sets.Interview preparation is crucial for both managers and individual contributors.Building empathy as a manager involves understanding various roles in the organization.Side projects can help maintain technical skills and foster personal development.Taking ownership of your career is essential for success.
On Coding Chats, John Crickett interviews software engineers of all levels from junior to CTO. He encourages the guests to share the stories of the challenges they have faced in their role and the strategies and tactics they have used to overcome those challenges providing actionable insights other software engineers can use to accelerate their careers.
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