Shows
Build and LearnTravel Tech/Gear and Learning Game DevThis week we talk about travel from a tech/gear lens and learning game development. CJ is back from Italy apple pay, currency conversion, splitwise, train, google maps, translation apps, tour headsetsColin's food tip: Topjaw on youtubeAiralo for esimTrain travel in europe is amazing!One-bag travel, having an extra smaller bagPack HackerColin learning UnityFlappy bird tutorialCJ is winding down from Craftwork, what's next!Interviews and AIAdvent of Code 2024!
2024-12-3046 minBuild and LearnWordpress Drama and Discord ActivitiesIn this episode, we discuss the WordPress vs. WP Engine drama. We also chat about Discord Activities, the new way to embed games and experiences directly in Discord. Resourceshttps://replicate.com/ https://mikecann.co.uk/posts/battletabs-global-launch-on-discord-activitieshttps://a16z.com/discord-activities-social-gaming/Tech Crunch Wordpress Drama Explained https://techcrunch.com/2024/11/07/wordpress-vs-wp-engine-drama-explained/
2024-11-2545 minBuild and LearnTo AI Assist or not to AI Assist?CJ and Colin chat about AI tools and coding environments. Pros and cons, daily workflows, and challenges of various AI-driven coding tools like VS Code, Cursor, and Copilot.We also talk about the broader implications of AI in content generation, particularly on platforms like LinkedIn, and emphasize maintaining a human touch in communication to avoid hollow, AI-generated content.- Avante nvim plugin- Cursor- Github Copilot
2024-11-1143 minBuild and LearnPersonal Knowledge Management (Second Brain)In this episode, you'll learn about the PARA Method for organizing your notes and tasks, emphasizing the importance of balancing craftsmanship with delivering real customer value. Discover insights from Pieter Levels' success with straightforward tech stacks and recurring revenue from multiple startups. The discussion covers the power of building in public, optimizing productivity with personal CRMs and AI tools, and managing digital notes using Obsidian and Logseq. Tune in to explore practical challenges and solutions for enhancing your workflow and staying connected.00:00 Introduction and Catching Up00:20 Lex Friedman and Pieter Levels Interview Discussion01:09 Frameworks and...
2024-10-2840 minBuild and LearnOur Daily Drivers: Hardware and Software EditionIn this episode, Colin and CJ discuss their audio and video setups, ideal microphones, cameras, and software for content creation. They dive into the specifics of the equipment they use and recommend budget-friendly options for those just getting started. Additionally, they touch upon some useful applications and tools that streamline their workflows, and discuss their experience with various developer-related projects.Our Daily Drivers1. Shure SM7B2. Shure SM583. Cloudlifter4. Triton Fethead5. Scarlett Solo6. Eleven Labs7. YouTube Studio8. Google Experimental Music Effects 9. Descript 10. Apple Studio Display 11. Sony...
2024-10-1436 minBuild and LearnRails 20th Anniversary, Writing CultureIn this episode, we celebrate the 20th anniversary of Ruby on Rails, reflecting on its impact and vibrant community. We share Rails origin stories from the late 2000s and early 2010s. You'll hear about different companies' reading and writing cultures, including practices like decision documents, meeting notes, and internal newsletters.You'll hear updates on current projects, with Colin discussing a major documentation initiative and the challenges of balancing meta-work with actual work. CJ provides an update on a large-scale refactoring project, detailing the process of converting enums to models across various parts of the codebase. You'll also...
2024-09-2342 minBuild and LearnDevRelCon, Red Eyes, and EnumsWe discuss visiting NYC, DevRelCon, red-eye flights, and why enums are terrible.Some of the bits and bobs mentioned in this episode:- DevRelCon - Chef's Table (S2E1 Grant Achatz) / Alinea- Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon- CJ enumerating lessons about enums
2024-09-1044 minBuild and LearnTwo Years of Build & LearnWe're celebrating our 50th episode and two years of podcasting. In this milestone episode, we reflect on what has kept us consistent, our laid-back approach to podcasting, and give a shoutout to you! We also explore how social media affects consumer behavior and share tips for managing digital consumption and mental health.You'll also hear about our latest projects, including optimizing Redis for better performance in our Rails app and our current work at Discord and Craftwork. Plus, we dive into the world of AI tools for content creation, using them to create engaging short-form videos. Thanks...
2024-08-2743 minBuild and LearnEnum Types, Coworking Software, and more Atomic HabitsProducer's note: This episode should have gone out as episode 48 ahead of Webhooks! This is our missing episode. Join us next episode for episode 50!Colin has a fitness update: working on the lungs, breathing and stress in general. CJ is digging into enums and converting them to models at Craftwork. More to come on that topic soon. Colin continues to avoid building Coworking Software (to everyone's applause) and CJ is digging back into James Clear's Atomic Habits.Colin: Fitness update / massage / breathing CJ: Big refactor from an enum to a model - evolving pricing modelsCJ's sleek lidar mop v...
2024-08-1341 minBuild and LearnWebhooks!In this episode, you'll learn about webhooks and how they enable event-driven integrations. We cover webhooks, how they work, and best practices for providers and consumers.Topics:- The evolution of webhooks and how they compare to traditional API polling methods- Implementing webhooks securely, including verification techniques- Strategies for handling and processing webhook data- Challenges you might face with versioning and payload changes- Useful tools and resources for working with webhooksWe share our experiences implementing webhooks across various platforms, mentioning Stripe, Twilio, and Slack...
2024-07-2339 minBuild and LearnSummer Fit Check, Cron Schedulers, and Sample AppsCJ and Colin with the summer updates and fitness check-in. We dive into cron jobs, scheduling those jobs with various tools and services and best practices for when/how to cron.- Summer updates- CJ's live peloton class in the studio- Peloton hotel finder- Colin gives a RTO recap- Craftwork update, one year of the Rails codebase- Realtime project view tracking with action cable (who’s looking at the same doc as me)- Command Palette using Ninja Keys - CJ on Enums in Rails an...
2024-07-0944 minBuild and LearnMonoliths, GraphQL, Next.js, and DevRel InsightsColin and CJ explore the ongoing debate between monolithic architectures versus API-driven frontends, touching on the pros and cons of GraphQL and REST. The conversation also covers the intricacies of integrating Next.js with Rails applications. On the personal front, CJ shares his solar pool heater project and Colin prepares for his upcoming relay race, Reno Tahoe Open (RTO). Both hosts reflect on their work anniversaries and discuss the challenges and strategies for effective Developer Relations (DevRel).Monoliths vs. API-driven Frontends: The pros and cons of each approach, including the challenges of maintaining large JSON...
2024-06-2438 minBuild and LearnLast RailsConf, Gameboy Nostalgia, and Platform RiskThis week, CJ and Colin talk about content clickbait, Gameboy nostalgia, and the in-vogue topic of AI/LLMs. CJ dives into some cautionary tales around more API integrations and his steps to avoid platform risk while trying to build software at a growing company. Finally, we bid farewell to RailsConf and discuss the market for Ruby/Rails conferences in 2024 and beyond.Colin's Gameboy nostalgia a dose of retro gaming wifi gameboy cartridge right to repair Retro Future YouTube Acquired FM: The Complete History & Strategy of Nintendo Analogue Pocket Gen Alpha == Generation AIWizards of the Coast/D&D and A...
2024-06-1047 minBuild and LearnSlow Productivity, Write The DocsIn this episode, you'll hear about the Write the Docs conference in Portland, a must-attend for anyone in the tech writing community. CJ and Colin chatted about the unique, community-focused vibe of the event, which was akin to RailsConf or RubyConf, and shared some standout talks. One highlight is Calvin Fung's "Beyond Words: Strategies for Leveling Up Your Tech Writing Career," where he details practical tips for documenting your work and aligning it with your job description to advance your career. They also discuss creative ways to enhance documentation using interactive elements, and offers tips on how to get...
2024-05-2740 minBuild and LearnAPIs, Acquisitions, and Event EmittersThis week, we discuss building companies on top of API integrations and recent acquisitions that we've been following closely and dig into some tech we're both using in our daily work. If you feel like you have a lot going on in your world right now, we also tease our upcoming episode on Cal Newport's newest book, Slow Productivity.- Postman acquires Orbit! Congrats to the team!- Discussing building companies that are heavy on integrations- Autocode shut down- Cloudflare acquires Partykit- Using Turbo at Craft- Calendaring and...
2024-05-0640 minBuild and LearnGDC, Buckets, and more calendarsIn this episode, Colin shares insights from the Game Developers Conference (GDC) on cutting-edge technologies like motion capture and AI-powered game creation. We'll chat candidly about the challenges of achieving work-life balance, recognizing burnout signs, and staying productive amid demanding software projects. Additionally, we'll explore personal finance topics, such as budgeting, emergency funds, and leveraging AI and APIs to optimize spending and financial planning.Resourcesfrvr.ai https://www.frvr.ai/ Robin desk booking software https://robinpowered.com/Tailwind UI Calendars https://tailwindui.com/components/application-ui/data-display/calendars Tailwind Catalyst https://tailwindcss.com/blog/introducing-catalyst Fullcalendar htt...
2024-04-2242 minBuild and LearnDigital homesteading, Discord SDKs and more house stuffIn this episode, we talk about that subscription fatigue that is coming for us all. CJ has been working on some homesteading projects, including maple syrup harvesting and an AI birdspotting camera. Colin finally reveals what he's been working on at work: a new SDK! What we're building- CJ is homesteading: maple syrup - Raspberry PI + camera + AI to detect birds in the yard- Colin finally shares what he's been working on at work: documenting a new Discord SDK!What we're learning- Our lessons learned when buying (or...
2024-04-0850 minBuild and LearnCreating vs Consuming, Consistency & FitnessThis week, Colin and CJ discuss how differently we can feel when we get caught in the mindless doomscrolling traps of consuming content rather than creating things, interacting with other IRL humans, and more! - Accountability/fitness update- Quick update on Buckets!- Consumption vs Creation- Learning styles- Badass Course Creators podcast: Raising the bar for online learning with Greg RogNext episode, we're digging into the Campfire codebase from 37Signals/Once.glhf!
2024-03-0446 minBuild and LearnPerformance review season, OpenAPI, Twilio, and calendar appIn this episode of Build and Learn you'll hear CJ and Colin discuss the following:CJ's weekend project of installing new kitchen cabinets. They share the DIY process of customizing and installing inexpensive cabinets from Lowe's.Running and training tips, including focusing on "zone two" aerobic base training. Colin shares his goals to rebuild his running foundation and get faster this year.How performance reviews work at their companies, the process of self-reviews and peer feedback, and how 5:15s "five fifteens" help document accomplishments.CJ is building API documentation using OpenAPI spec and integrating Twilio APIs into his...
2024-02-1938 minBuild and LearnOur Daily Drivers: The Tools We Use2024! This week, we're sharing the various tools we use day-to-day in our work and side projects. Let us know if you have any favorites on Twitter @buildandlearn_BuildingCJ: working on a side project, https://buckets.cjav.devColin: working on some fun docs projects at workLearning: Sharing Our Tools in 2024Tools by CategoryTerminalEditorAPI tools/clientsContent Creation/EditingMac Helper AppsNotesCalendarEmailCJ's ToolkitWarp terminal ohmyzsh with my own theme which is based on Sarah Drasner’s night owlRaycastneovimfzf and telescopetpope: vim-rails, vim-commentary, vim-fugitivevim-testale - lintingAI: copilot + butterfishSkitch for screenshot ann...
2024-02-0543 minBuild and LearnCo-Founders, Layoffs, Ruby Memory, Docs ProductIn this episode, we'll touch on office setup and soundproofing, with a focus on effective techniques and materials. We talk about the challenges and strategies in finding non-technical co-founders for startups, emphasizing the importance of shared values and complementary skills. The episode also delves into the impact of AI on the tech industry, particularly concerning recent layoffs. Additionally, we discuss technical topics like API documentation, memory management in Ruby and Rails, and the art of content creation and screencasting.Resources:Google Music FX - Text to Music https://aitestkitchen.withgoogle.com/tools/music-fxHammerstone Dev Podcast...
2024-01-2339 minBuild and LearnReplacing Mint, Finishing Things & VimChris and Colin wrap up 2023 chatting about personal finance, website annotations, vim and a growing need to "finish" something over starting yet another thing.Replacing Mint Colin is using Copilot moneyCJ was using YNAB earlier this yearTagging + podcast expenses: notion, zencastr, transistor, descriptUse our referral code 7X6AQD to get 2 months free https://copilot.money/link/9p7G8LwLqNWGkfrL6BuildingColin: Website AnnotationsAnnotate the webRap GeniusCJ: Lots of little API integrations: PostHog, Segment, Deputy, TwilioLearningColin: Actually finishing projects before starting new onesStartup weekend vs Finish weekendResolutions and goalsCJ: Couple new...
2024-01-0840 minBuild and LearnAdvent of Code, Economic DevelopmentIn this episode, Colin and CJ discuss their experience with Advent of Code challenges. They use it as a virtual meetup for their local developer group and the value of solving problems in new languages.They also talk about live streaming using Twitch's built-in Stream Together feature and alternatives like Meld Studio for multi-person streaming setups.Other topics include potentially writing code with voice in the future, resources for learning Ruby like Avdi Grimm's Graceful Dev, and managing home maintenance through preventative care rather than reactively.Advent of Code- The coding challenges...
2023-12-2637 minBuild and LearnCoworking: Grit or Quit & Polish Week at CraftworkThis week we're digging into when to hold on and when to call it quits when it comes to a business. The team at Craftwork is paying down tech debt with Polish week. We also chat about USB hubs, llamas, and how to get started on YouTube.BUILDINGCJ: Polish week at Craftwork - cleaning up code formatting, todos, tests, UI polish and clean up, DX clean up, etc.Colin: Coworking space deep diveRunning numbers on business modelsUsing chatGPT to run forecastsSustainabilityBook: Quit by Annie DukeGrit vs QuitSunk Cost & IdentityLEARNINGCJ: Started doing...
2023-12-1248 minBuild and LearnAI launches, Docs, CalendarsIn this episode, we catch up on recent tech events, discussing in detail the AI launches at both OpenAI and GitHub. We chat about the Hu.ma.ne AI pin, and touch on GitHub Universe. We also talk about Docs implementations and the challenges of managing and maintaining code snippets in documentation. Show notes:Docs Astro Starlight - https://starlight.astro.build/Tailwind UI protocol - https://tailwindui.com/templates/protocolAngular - angular.devMarkdoc - https://markdoc.dev/Calendars cal.com infrastructure https://cal.com/infrastructureCalendly - https://calendly.com/Nylas - https://info.nylas.com/Fu...
2023-11-2840 minBuild and LearnMint Shutting Down, Project CatchupEpisode 31Intuit is apparently shutting down Mint, pushing folks to Credit Karma Colin's school bus updateBuildingCJ is continuing to build out a comms center for managing customer comms in a scalable way for Craftwork. SAML`Colin is working on the conference room booking app,Likely use jumpstart for all stuff you need when you build something newCJ talks more about his new side project, Story Fuel LearningColin is also learning a lot about sending/receiving audio over socket connectionsThe ‘Enshittification’ of TikTok Or how, exactly, platforms die." from Cory DoctorowThe Imminent Enshit...
2023-11-1344 minBuild and LearnBuilding Tools and Staying AccountableIn this episode, we'll share updates and talk about what we're learning and working on. First up, is the exciting prospect of buying a short school bus and converting it into a fun project. We'll touch on UI frameworks like PhlexUI, as well as share updates about our experiences with different diet and fitness regimens. We'll chat about some more AI tools. Lastly, we'll share updates on the conference room booking app and the Reno Colective co-working space's accountability group.ResourcesPhlexUI - https://www.phlexui.com/RailsUI - https://railsui.com/ShadCN - https://ui...
2023-10-3033 minBuild and LearnShiny New Tech: LLMs, iPhones and Ray BansNo cut off date + multi-modal ChatGPTGenerating AI voices with ElevenLabsLooking cool with New Ray Ban + Meta Smart Glasses?Making an epic screencast set up with Screencasting.com from Aaron FrancisWho’s upgrading to the new iPhone 15 with USB CTraveling with international / regional esim cards from AiraloBetting against SaaS? Once from 37SignalsCalculating customer lifetime valueNot having to deal with churnHashicorp and the Business Software License OpenTofu - open terraform initiativeCJ is working on calendaring with FullCalendar and tinkering with Rails generators.Colin is exploring prose linter options for docs and keeping docs quality high without relying purely on...
2023-10-0947 minBuild and LearnOn LearningThis time around Colin and CJ talk about learning styles and how to learn to learn. We highlight a documentation framework called "Diataxis," which provides a structured approach to content categorization, differentiating between tutorials, how-to guides, explanations, and references. The significance of recognizing and adapting to varied learning styles, such as visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. We share our personal experiences and emphasize the importance of diverse teaching methods and creating content even when the subject might have been covered elsewhere. Mentioned were unique projects like an offline Wikipedia on a tablet and a hacked Casio watch that s...
2023-09-2532 minBuild and LearnEverything Old Is New Again & Niching DownIt's the One Year Anniversary of Build & Learn! In this episode we chat about refreshing OAuth tokens and building CRM features with SMS/voice APIs. CJ and Colin also talk about the tradeoffs of building "calm", bootstrapped companies versus venture-backed startups. It seems like everything that is old is new again! What startups from the 2009-2012 vintages do you think could do with some disruption today?Some resources mentioned:GoRailsTwilio FlexFollow along off-pod!@colinloretz on Twitter@cjav_dev on Twitter
2023-09-1132 minBuild and LearnCalendar Discord Bot and Turbo Stream GotchasIn this episode you'll hear about Colin's adventure of building a Google Calendar Discord bot using CloudFlare, mastering Google Calendar APIs, and navigating serverless Postgres with neon.tech. We'll also share our insights on the benefits of being part of Y Combinator, and the unexpected hiccups we faced with Rails' Turbo Streams. Dive in and learn from our experiences!Resources:* https://neon.tech/* Jason's tweet: https://twitter.com/jmcharnes/status/1687286039356829698 * Cloudflare Worker docs: https://developers.cloudflare.com/workers/* Jumpstart Pro starter kit for Ruby on Rails: https://jumpstartrails.com/* Turbo Streams d...
2023-08-2140 minBuild and LearnRole Reversal & Summer CatchupWelcome back after the summer break! CJ and Colin get caught up after a summer of adventure and... new job announcements!CJ update Tahoe Time / Family TimeE-Bike with DadBoat / Plane flight simulatorColin update Spending time on the coworking spaceSummer campingRole reversals and announcement We have new jobs!Context switching Colin: product & engineering → developer relationsCJ: developer relations → product & engineeringFewer guard rails, much less narrow focus, wearing more hats, more autonomy, freedom and responsibilityCJ is now at CraftwerkNextJST3 stackMySQL with PlanetscaleDrizzle ORMZod schema validationBack office/Admin CRUD app in RailsColin is now at DiscordCurrently onboarding and learningBuilding a Google Calendar app to g...
2023-08-0741 minBuild and LearnDave Paola: Agency of LearningIn this episode, we chat with Dave Paola, the founder of the Agency of Learning, an organization aimed at getting early-career developers job-ready, especially developer boot camp graduates. We delve into the history of boot camps, identify key gaps in current education methods, and explore how the Agency of Learning addresses these gaps by simulating a real-team environment and emphasizing technical and non-technical skills.Resources and LinksVisit the Agency of Learning to learn more about Dave's innovative approach to junior engineer hiring and management.For a more in-depth understanding of teaching for mastery...
2023-06-1249 minBuild and LearnStreamlining global ingress with ngrokIn this episode, we're joined by Alan Shreve, the founder and CEO of ngrok, to discuss the future of software development and the emergence of innovative tools that simplify complex tasks -- like ingress. We talk about ngrok's solid approach to error handling, which enhances troubleshooting and user experience by assigning unique codes to each error. The conversation also delves into the evolution of ngrok, an "ingress as a service" platform designed to streamline the setup of web application infrastructure by abstracting complexities of networking, thereby reducing your workload.We address the challenges in distributed systems and...
2023-05-1540 minBuild and LearnForest Bathing, RailsConf, and Developer CommunitiesCJ and Colin are back to chat about getting outside, recap the recent RailsConf and discuss building and participating in developer communities in 2023.Getting OutsideThe Nature Fix bookOutside 365RailsCamp in HawaiiRailsConf 2023 and Webhooks WorkshopWebhooks Workshop Github Repo Marp Markdown Presentation ToolRuby Central YouTube Channel RubyConf San DiegoSome other cool events/conferences that we've attendedBlue Ridge Ruby ConfRails SaaSRailsConfRubyConfRailsWorldLaraConWordCampGDCApple’s WWDCGoogle I/OStartup WeekendsNASA Space AppsFollow us on Twitter@buildandlearn_@cjav_dev@colinloretz
2023-05-0132 minBuild and LearnChatGPT, LLMs, OpenAI, doom or boon?In this episode, Colin and CJ discuss using the new GPT tools for work and play.Open AILarge language modelsGenerative AIHow do we use it, and is it going to be doom & gloom?How We Use ItBrainstorming & riffing on ideas I was building something in React and hadn’t touched React in a few years. I had all this iteration going on in my components to generate dynamic content. Still, I wanted the topmost component to be able to have references to all these components to download them all as images in a zip file.Ass...
2023-04-1736 minBuild and LearnDigging into the HackerRank Survey 2023In this episode we dig into the HackerRank annual survey that was released a few months ago for 2023 including the top in demand skills from employers in this uncertain tech and economic environment. Note from Colin & CJ: This episode was recorded in November 2022. It is amazing how much changes in a few months.Languages By Volume of HackerRanksJavaPythonSQLC++JavascriptBashC#GoTypescriptRPHPCSwiftRubyMethodology for languages To estimate employer demand for specific programming languages, we looked at HackerRank Work tests where a specific programming language was required, or where specific library questions were asked. Sk...
2023-04-0334 minBuild and LearnKeith Casey: Webhooks & webhooks.fyiIn this episode about webhooks.fyi, we're joined by Keith Casey from ngrok. You'll hear about webhooks.fyi an information-rich resource for learning how to build and consume webhooks. webhooks.fyi is an open source knowledge base and directory listing and analyzing different webhook providers. We discuss webhook security, signature verification, forward compatibility, and more. Other Links from the Showhttps://webhooks.fyingrok.comWebhooks to Revolution the Web from @progriumWhat are Webhooks The Self Provisioning Runtime CaseySoftwareBuild and Learn around the web- Twitter: @buildandlearn_- Colin: @colinloretz- CJ: @cj...
2023-03-2042 minBuild and LearnChelsea Otakan: Design and build systems, not just featuresThis week we are joined by Chelsea Otakan, infamously also known as @chexee on most of the internet. Chelsea is a product designer and front-end developer, currently working at Lattice. In this episode, we learn more about Chelsea's design origin story, her philosophies on product design, and why you should "build a skateboard, not a wheel".Chelsea's design philosophies- Ship quickly, ship for the user- Design is continuous- Design and build systems, not just features- Don't be afraid to dig deep- Critique early, often, and...
2023-03-0649 minBuild and LearnCustom codegen for SDKsIn this episode of Build and Learn, we discuss code generation (codegen) and how Stripe uses it to generate SDKs for its APIs automatically. We talk about how a declarative shape of an API (such as Open API spec or GraphQL schema) can be fed into a tool to generate an SDK in a specific programming language. This process helps ensure that the SDKs are always in sync with the API and that any changes to the API are automatically reflected in the SDKs. Most SDKs today are still hand-written, but automatic generation is becoming more popular.
2023-02-2041 minBuild and LearnBuilding Developer Relations Teams with TragIn this podcast episode, we are diving into the world of developer advocacy and developer relations with Chris Traganos, aka "Trag." While Chris and CJ originally met working together in developer advocacy at Stripe, Trag talks to us about his new role leading the Developer & Appstore Evangelism program at Amazon. How DevRel strategies change depending on the type and size of companyTradeoffs that come with "where" a DevRel team is situated on in an organizationSales & MarketingEngineeringThe ever-evolving role of DevRel within a companyDevRel as "on-screen talent"As a DevRel manager, how to advocate for advocatesHow to h...
2023-02-0737 minBuild and LearnBuilding things that excite you with Charlie GerardIn this podcast episode, the we discuss a range of topics related to learning and building cool projects. We begin by discussing the recent snow day and share some funny tips and tricks kids use to create a snow day. Charlie Gerard, a senior dev advocate at Stripe, introduces herself and talks about her role as a creative technologist, primarily working in JavaScript. She shares her love for solo traveling, reading, tinkering, and building. We also discuss Charlie's previous projects and how she comes up with project ideas. She rarely starts from scratch but builds on something...
2023-01-2346 minBuild and LearnIC to Lead: Building Confidence In Your Skills with Lindsay BarrettIn this episode, you'll hear Lindsay's path from graphic designer to support engineer and how she now manages a team of support engineers. We discuss what this transition has looked like for her as well as the training and learnings she undertook along the way.In the second half of the episode, we dig into more specific tactics that her and her team have encountered like supporting customers through API version migrations, authentication issues and squashing bugs with their product engineering team. ResourcesLindsay Barrett on LinkedInLeadDevSupport Driven Slack, Podcast, Blog, Job Board, EventsGrowth...
2023-01-1041 minBuild and LearnAWS Amplify and Front-end Frameworks with Erik HanchettIn this episode, you'll hear Erik's developer journey and learn about AWS Amplify. We discuss some ƒront-end trends and continue reiterating the value of rolling up your sleeves and building small things to learn new programming languages and frameworks.We compare and contrast working with Vue and React. We touch briefly on trends seen at Vercel with server-side generation and rendering. Shopify's acquisition of Remix and the dilemma of choice. The advent of code style challenges to build more small projects to learn from. In the second half of the episode, Erik teaches Colin and C...
2022-12-2641 minBuild and LearnMike Bifulco: Building a Developer BrandWe talk about some of the keys to building a personal brand as a software developer.• Authenticity• Consistency• Why you should (or shouldn't) think about developing your brandThis Episode's Links •Twitter and the Perils of Obedience • Coolors: the super fast color palette generator• BuildSpace Creator Linked List• Monica Lent: building profitable indie products • Paul Jarvis: Fathom Analytics and Company of One• Scott Hanselman: blogger, dev, speaker, author, teacherThanks again to Mike for joining us, you can find all things Mike Bifulco at https://mikebifulc...
2022-12-1242 minBuild and LearnGetting hired as a developerSourcing where you want to apply Make a list of the tools/apps/companies you like to useOutbound (Make a top 10 list)Inbound (review inbound recruiter outreach from the past 3 months or more)Networking (who do you know, try to do some coffee chats to see if they like their company and team)Cold outreach is tough (numbers game)Timing - interviewing such that offers come in around the same timeResume & cover letter & LinkedIn & Social Have these reviewed by your peers and iterate on feedbackMake sure you communicate the things you’ve done that add value, ideally how...
2022-11-2539 minBuild and LearnCFPs! Submitting talks to conferencesSome LinksLaravel Bootcamp Rails Hackathon Ruby Archaeology by Nick Schwaderer "Build vs Buy" on Rails by Colin Loretz Content Creation for Software DevelopersCFP LandWhy speak at a conference?Share your hard-won learningsMeet other peopleGrow an audienceBuild your talent brand to hire peopleWhat makes a conference worth speaking at?Do you need to be very senior to speak at a conference?No!Picking a topicWhat are you interested in?What are you excited about?What do you know a lot about?Components of a CFP
2022-11-1434 minBuild and LearnContent creation for developersTypes of ContentTweetBlog Posts / newsletterLive Streaming (Twitch, etc)YouTube & YT ShortsTikTok & InstagramResourcesRubyists who tweet useful and helpful stuff https://twitter.com/websebdevhttps://twitter.com/siaw23https://twitter.com/ShinoKoudaNiche blogsBlended Edge on building integrations: https://www.blendededge.com/blogNewsletters Ruby Radar: https://rubyradar.dev/Ruby Weekly: https://rubyweekly.com/Short Ruby: https://newsletter.shortruby.com/rendezvous with cassidoo: https://cassidoo.co/newsletter/Podcasts Syntax.fm https://syntax.fm/ChangeLog https://changelog.com/podcastMaintainable https://www.maintainable.fm/Art of Product https://artofproductpodcast.com/Planet Argon’s top 10 Ruby podcasts: https://blog.planetargon.com/entri...
2022-10-3142 minBuild and LearnCode Reviews: Giving and Receiving FeedbackDisclaimer: The episode on Creating Pull Requests got lost so Episode 6 ended up being our Build vs Buy episode. Upcoming Conferences Of NoteRails SaaS - Oct 6-7, 2022 (already happened)Ruby Conf Mini - Nov 15-17RubyConf - Nov 29-Dec 1Chirp - Nov 16thPull Request Guide from ThoughtbotOther Tips for giving a nice PR reviewRemember the person on the other end of your review is a human. As devs it’s easy to mix our identity with the code we write and any criticism of that code can...
2022-10-1836 minBuild and LearnBuild vs. BuyColin's RailsConf 2022 Talk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-GDhlBTHoo Innovation tokens blog post - Choose Boring TechnologyReadMe jobs - https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/readme/jobs
2022-10-0342 minBuild and LearnPTO and Taking Time Off- PTO & Taking Time Off - Self-care - Accrual caps - Burnout - Unlimited time off - good or bad? - Trap of not taking enough, personal guilt, fear of letting team down - Brad Feld’s 1 week a quarter - completely off grid, no work (= 4 weeks a year) - Why taking time off is good for your team / company - Marathon / not a sprint, you need to be able to take time off - Ensures you are not the blocker for things - Encourages better docs, better sociali...
2022-09-1930 minBuild and LearnIs there a “traditional background” for programmers anymore?PathsEducational paths toward programming Self-taught - blogs, articles, tutorials, online platforms like Udemy, code academy4-year computer science degree2-year “web design” degree12-week full-time boot camp6-month part-time bootcampsBootcamps that specialize in a discipline like data science, graphics designBootcamps that serve underrepresented groups - resilient coders, shecodes.io, time, attention, resourcesMaster in computer scienceSide door and back door entryways to tech Product management The mom testproduct schoolProject managementSupport, then technical supportSolution architectsDeveloper marketingAdvice for people thinking about getting into programmingLearn hello worldGo through a codeacademy or similar interactive courseTry to build something on repli...
2022-09-0548 minBuild and LearnThe 2022 Stack Overflow SurveyWelcome from Build & Learn!Learnings from our first full episode: The First PancakeStack Overflow Developer Survey 2022In May 2022 over 70,000 developers told us how they learn and level up, which tools they’re using, and what they want.Developer Profile EducationLearning to codeExperienceRolesWhereWhoTechnologies Most lovedMost dreadedMost wantedWorked with vs Want to work withVersion ControlWeb3Work / EmploymentCommunityProfessional DevelopersInteresting HighlightsDaily time spent searching for answers/solutions - 60% spend 30-120 minutes a day88% of Professional Developers code outside of work, with 73% of them coding as a hobby.66% of Professional Developers have at least some influence over their organization’s purc...
2022-08-2245 minBuild and LearnThe First Pancake: Hello WorldWhy a podcast? Fun to hang outWe learn a lot from one another.Chance to share what we’re building and learning in publicChance to meet and elevate other folks in the communitySet the stage for what to expect on the show We are figuring this out, so don’t hold us to it in these first few episodes ;)Building and learning from Software Development but also lifeIntroduction and background - Our Origin Stories First web dev momentsCJTI89 games (2003)MySpace (2004?)Perl for seismology lab (2005)free 000webhost style domain with ads (2005)PHP pamphlet sites for air conditioning companyUNR Student...
2022-08-0842 minBuild and LearnIntroducing Build & LearnWelcome to Build & Learn, a podcast about software development and developing ourselves as software engineers. Hosted by CJ Avilla and Colin Loretz.
2022-08-0500 min
How You Spend Your DaysThe Money Life Coach: Tawnya SchultzIn this episode, I'm joined by Tawnya Schultz, The Money Life Coach, to discuss our mindsets around money and why zero-based budgeting is the best thing you can be doing right now, especially during the current pandemic.Recommendations from TawnyaYou are a Badass at Making Money by Jen SinceroMoney, A Love Story by Kate NorthrupFollow Tawnya OnlineGet her free budgeting spreadsheet at The Money Life CoachFollow @tawnyaschultz on InstagramThe Money Life Coach on YoutubeThe Money Life Coach on Facebook
2020-05-1331 min
How You Spend Your Days2020 Update on My Debt NumbersMy Numbers in Episode 2Credit Cards: $27,293.00IRS Back Taxes: $16,000.00In Between Episode 2 and Episode 45:+$10,037 added to IRS Back TaxesNew IRS Back Tax Total: $26,037Adjusted my payment plan with the IRS in light of covid-19 and accelerate my pay down of consumer debtMy Numbers in Episode 45:Credit card balance remaining: $27,443IRS Back Taxes remaining: $12,147Next up for me will be to set milestone goal dates for my first credit card.Have any questions, comments, or feedback? Want to share your own #debtfreejourney?Get in touch!Instagram: @howyouspendFacebook: How You...
2020-05-0609 minHow You Spend Your DaysGetting Out of Debt with QoinsThis week I talk to Christian Zimmerman, CEO and co-founder of Qoins. We get to talk about the motivations behind Qoins, how it helps its users to pay off debt, and the importance of personal finance during the coronavirus pandemic.Here are some of the links and apps that we mentioned during the show:Qoins - Pay off debt faster and save money without even thinking about itFollow along with Qoins' Tuesday Tips on the Qoins InstagramPlaid is a great tool for software developers building apps on top of financial institutionsCatch - My go-to for...
2020-04-2923 minHow You Spend Your DaysPersonal Finance during the CoronavirusIncomeUnemploymentPandemic Unemployment Assistance ProgramSpendingTaking stock in where your money is goingTackling DebtNegotiate your debtsSavingEmergency FundHow to Build an Emergency Fund during an Emergency from Paula Pant, Afford AnythingLife Happens Fund from Tanja Hester, Our Next LifeInvestingTips from Tanja Hester, @our_nextlifeDon't try to time the marketInvest consistently over time, no matter what the markets are doingAvoid making panicked decisions with regards to the marketThink Long-TermIndividual StimulusEconomic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP)
2020-04-2227 minHow You Spend Your DaysHY$YD: Year 2 MontageThis is a little bit of a different episode since we've been on hiatus but I'm excited about the launch of Year 2! You can think of this as a Season 2 of HY$YD and I'll be documenting my continued journey of getting out of debt and investigating the habits that influence our decisions to save, get out of debt and live a healthy life - physically, emotionally and financially.This episode is a little fast-paced as a lot happened since October. Buckle up and enjoy! Future episodes will have more structure and slower pacing ;) Montage...
2020-04-1528 minHow You Spend Your DaysOne Year Update - One Year Anniversary Episode!Reposting this as this episode appears to have disappeared from our feed!Ep41: Holy cow! We’ve hit one year of How You Spend Your Days!In this episode, I look back on some of the conversations we’ve had since October 2018.Overview of how Atomic Habits has changed how I approach moneyOne year update on my numbers and progress toward getting out of debtOn track for being debt-free in December 2020.Radical Personal FinanceAvilla Theory: Finances & GroceriesFollow HY$YD or send us questions/feedbackTwitter: @howyouspendInstagram: @howyouspendWeb: howyouspendyourdays.com
2019-10-3031 minHow You Spend Your DaysWhat If Money Was No Object – Alan WattsEp40: We’re mixing it up a little bit this week with a meditation on money and life from philosopher and thinker, Alan Watts.Next week we’ll be back to our regular episodes for episode 41, which marks exactly ONE YEAR of this show. I’ll be providing an update and talking about what has happened in the last year.Follow HY$YD or send us questions/feedbackSend me an email: howyouspend@gmail.comTwitter: @howyouspendInstagram: @howyouspendWeb: howyouspendyourdays.com
2019-10-0904 minHow You Spend Your DaysPaying off debt and owning things with Monica ThompsonEp39: This week we talk to Monica Thompson about hitting one of her financial milestones and learn more about how she has taught herself what she knows about financial literacy today. We touch on buying cars, mortgages, credit cards and feeling financially secure. Congrats on paying off the adventure wagon, Monica!Our Guest This WeekMonica ThompsonFollow HY$YD or send us questions/feedbackTwitter: @howyouspendInstagram: @howyouspendWeb: howyouspendyourdays.com
2019-09-2531 minHow You Spend Your DaysSubscriptions, Subscriptions, SubscriptionsEp38: In this episode, we talk about subscriptions. Today we have access to more subscriptions than ever. We have subscriptions for movies and television (Netflix, Hulu), toothbrushes (Quip), meal prep (HelloFresh), underwear (MeUndies), and even pet food (The Farmer’s Dog).Now there is no judgment on this next part but how many subscriptions do you have? How many of those do you really use? Are they materially contributing to your life in some way or is it like a gym membership that you keep “hoping to get to someday?”In this episode, I break down m...
2019-09-1223 minHow You Spend Your DaysLove & Money – Talking about money in relationships37: This week I’m talking about money in relationships and put my girlfriend, Chanelle Bessette, in the hot-seat. We walk through a list of questions to see how each of us manage money individually and how we approach discussing money in our relationship.Our Guest This WeekChanelle Bessette, Personal Finance WriterInstagram: @crbessette Follow HY$YD or send us questions/feedbackSend me an email: howyouspend@gmail.comTwitter: @howyouspendInstagram: @howyouspendWeb: howyouspendyourdays.com
2019-08-2845 minHow You Spend Your DaysIdentifying Financial Fatigue36: This week we talk about identifying financial fatigue and how to combat it and avoid it altogether.
Identifying Financial Fatigue
Some of the feelings that come along with financial fatigue include:
The feeling that managing your finances is tedious
The end doesn’t seem to be in sight
Your efforts seem hopeless
These feelings can cause a cycle of anxiety that can be difficult to break out of:
Your mind feels always on
You constantly worry about finances
You feel overwhelmed to the point of avoiding action
Your inaction and do...
2019-08-2117 minHow You Spend Your DaysPlan A Money Date With YourselfEp35: This week I sat down and reevaluated my finances and refactored my “Numbers” spreadsheet.
This is a little bit of update episode since it has been a minute since the last one. This is also a good reminder for you to sit down and take a look at how you are doing financially and course-correct as necessary!
The newly revamped HY$YD website will be available shortly with new resources for your money goals.
Follow HY$YD or send us questions/feedback
Send me an email: howyouspend@gmail.com
Twit...
2019-08-0810 minHow You Spend Your DaysHow to make freelancing (or your side hustle) work for youEp34: This week we get very tactical and jump into how to make the numbers work around freelancing or being an independent worker.
Come up with a number
Align your expectations
Timebox your work
Reduce and automate the meta work
Track Your Time
Automate Invoicing, Proposals, and Contracts
Automate Withholding Taxes & Retirement
“Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion” – Parkinson’s Law
Tools to automate your freelancing or side hustle
Harvest – time tracking, invoicing
Bonsai – time tracking, invoices, proposals and contracts (what I like to use)
Timeular – time tracking (what I like to us...
2019-07-3128 minHow You Spend Your Days7 Things You Should Do For Your Financial FitnessEp 33: This week we dive into seven things you should do to make sure you stay financially fit.
Check your Credit score
Nerd Wallet
Credit Karma
Mint
Set a savings goal and create a named virtual savings account for that goal
Take inventory of your recurring expenses
Evaluate how you can make more money
If you have a salary, ask for a raise
If you’re a freelancer, can you charge more or change your pricing structure?
Fall in love with cooking
Calculate your net worth (assets minus liabilities)
Personal Capital
Invest in developing healthy habits
Creating healthy hab...
2019-07-2414 minHow You Spend Your DaysPlaying with FIRE – The DocumentaryEp 32: This week is a fun update! HY$YD is hosting a screening of the documentary Playing with Fire. You can listen to my interview with Scott Reickens in Episode 10 if you’d like to hear more about Scott’s background and why he set out to make this documentary.
Get tickets for the Reno screening: https://www.tugg.com/events/playing-with-fire-tdrl
Get the book: https://www.amazon.com/Playing-Financial-Independence-Retire-Early/dp/1608685802
Follow HY$YD or send us questions/feedback
Send me an email: howyouspend@gmail.com
Twitter: @howyouspend
Instagram: @howyouspend
Web: howy...
2019-07-1007 minHow You Spend Your DaysPaying Off Student Loans by Learning to Code w/ Lindsay Barrett#31: In this episode, we’re joined by Linsday Barrett who conquered $37,000 in student loan debt in 3 years after graduating from college and investing in herself with a web developer bootcamp. I’m honored to have played a small part in her journey as I was the teacher for that bootcamp so it was a lot of fun to bring this full circle and hear how far she has come in her own financial journey since learning web development.
We are constantly hearing that everyone should learn to code. While I don’t agree that *everyone* should learn how to...
2019-06-1922 minHow You Spend Your DaysEp30: Freelance Finance with Lara CattlinThis week, I chat with Lara Cattlin, friend and freelance copywriter, about the ins and outs of freelance finance. Freelancers have a gauntlet of tasks that they have to do in addition to doing the work that they specialize in. We talk about cash flow management, the pros/cons of freelancing and how to set boundaries for your time.
Finding clients
Scoping out projects
Getting the projects
Doing the project
Getting paid for the project
From that, we have to pay taxes, any other expenses for running our businesses
Rinse & repeat
Our Guest This Week
2019-06-1224 minHow You Spend Your DaysEp29: Your Debt Payoff DateThis week, I sit down and calculate my official debt free date and discuss why it’s important to have a clear and defined date. This date allows you to make informed decisions on where you spend your time and money and increases the likelihood of you hitting your goal.
Essentialism by Greg McKeown (Essentialism episode coming soon)
Calculate your debt pay off date: Undebt.it – Debt Calculator *
*This is my Undebt.it affiliate link which does help me out if you end up signing up for a paid account.
Follow HY$YD or s...
2019-06-0514 minHow You Spend Your DaysEp28: Negotiating with Credit Card CompaniesThis week, I called my credit card companies to confirm my interest rates and attempt to negotiate down my interest rates with each card. My results were mixed as you will hear in this episode but getting your credit card companies on the phone is a good idea, even if it’s just to confirm the status and health of your accounts.
I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi
Credit Karma
The 7 best Balance Transfer and 0% APR Credit Cards from Nerdwallet
Follow HY$YD or send us questions/feedback
Twitter: @howyouspend
In...
2019-05-2921 min