In this episode of the Liquid Weekly Podcast, host Karl Meisterheim and co-host Taylor Page welcome Alex Abbott, the creator of Dezi, an AI-powered visual builder for Shopify. The conversation explores Alex's journey into software development, the challenges of self-learning, and the impact of open source tools. They discuss balancing family life with a demanding career, time management strategies, and the integration of AI into development processes. Alex shares insights on building Dezi, its tech stack, and the vision for its future, emphasizing the importance of creating impactful tools for the community.
*Takeaways*
Alex Abbott's journey into software development began with a college internship.
Balancing family life and a career in tech is a common challenge.
The tech stack for Desi includes Next.js and SuperBase, with plans for future improvements.
Integrating AI into development can enhance prototyping and user experience.
Creating impactful tools is more rewarding than focusing solely on financial gain.
*Sound bites*
"I built a Shopify app for my wife."
"I think it was a lot of luck involved."
"I have a pizza oven."
*Timestamps*
00:00 Welcoming Alex and His Background
02:16 Alex's Journey into Software Development
06:59 Building Tools and Open Source Contributions
10:14 Learning and Growth in Software Engineering
15:54 Balancing Family Life and Career Development
31:50 Introducing Dezi: The AI-Powered Visual Builder
40:37 Creating Impact Beyond Financial Gain
48:04 Navigating Work-Life Balance and Career Choices
51:01 Tech Stack Decisions and Reflections
54:43 Integrating AI into Development
01:02:42 Future Vision and Prototyping
01:03:44 Final Thoughts and Changelog Discussion
*Dev Changelog*
[action required] Upgrade to the latest version of Checkout Kit to avoid issues with iOS 26 - https://shopify.dev/changelog/upgrade-to-the-latest-version-of-checkout-kit-to-avoid-issues-with-ios-26
New components available for Polaris in Admin - https://shopify.dev/changelog/new-components-available-for-polaris-in-admin
Metaobject field definitions offer new capabilities - https://shopify.dev/changelog/metaobject-field-capabilities
Facebook (Meta) orders support native exchanges - https://shopify.dev/changelog/facebook-meta-orders-support-native-exchanges
Order metafield definitions and values can now be used as filters in the Shopify Admin UI - https://shopify.dev/changelog/order-metafield-definitions-and-values-can-now-be-used-as-filters-in-the-shopify-admin-ui
App recommendations in Sidekick now available - https://shopify.dev/changelog/app-recommendations-in-sidekick-now-available
Built for Shopify update to grace period for uninstall and app embed requirements - https://shopify.dev/changelog/built-for-shopify-update-to-grace-period-for-uninstall-and-app-embed-requirements
*Picks of the Week*
Alex - gozney roccbox pizza oven - https://us.gozney.com/products/roccbox?srsltid=AfmBOooj7h2NoNjY74oK49wrsAFoCxhpM9TKD_-Xoexv2QL53sdHWJhS
Karl - The Long Walk, by Stephen King - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Long_Walk_(novel)
Taylor - Baked potato he recently ate at a football game... - https://www.google.com/search?q=picture+of+a+baked+potato
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