Shows
Acima DevelopmentEpisode 79: Evaluating VendorsThis episode of the Acima Development Podcast focuses on the complexities of evaluating and selecting vendors, whether for software, contract labor, or specialized services. Host Mike opens with a cautionary tale about a vendor that initially impressed with a knowledgeable representative but turned out to have major security flaws, poor integration practices, and overall incompetence once the contract began. The group discusses how this mirrors a broader challenge—companies often get only a brief, curated glimpse of a vendor before committing, with little opportunity to see the full team’s capabilities. This leads to a conversation about the importance of s...
2025-08-201h 00
Acima DevelopmentEpisode 46: Coding MythsOn this episodes, the panelists dive into common myths surrounding software development. Kicking off with a reference to Fred Brooks' "The Mythical Man-Month," the conversation challenges the notion that adding more developers to a lagging project will speed up its completion. The discussion quickly expands to explore contexts where adding skilled, senior developers might indeed be beneficial, drawing analogies with emergency services during crises where more hands on deck can mean saving more lives.
As the episode progresses, the group delves deeper into the complexities of software development projects compared to other types of engineering and construction...
2024-05-2236 min
Acima DevelopmentEpisode 44: Conformity vs AutonomyThe panelists explore the tension between conformity and autonomy within software development teams and the balance of standardization and flexibility in coding practices. The conversation revolves around their efforts at Acima to standardize pull request assignments and the dual roles in code reviews, highlighting their team's unique approach of using a chatbot compared with other teams using GitHub Actions. They also discuss the challenges of integrating new developers into standardized practices, especially for teams with a lot of junior developers.
Eddy emphasizes the importance of standardization across teams to reduce the onboarding time and confusion when developers...
2024-04-2452 min
Acima DevelopmentEpisode 35: Which IDE is Best For Developers?This week, the panelists discuss the best Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for beginners. Eddy emphasized the importance of an IDE being ready to use post-installation, reducing the need for additional configurations or extensions. Steve advocated for a minimalist UI to help beginners, suggesting simpler interfaces are more approachable. The conversation covers various IDEs, with Visual Studio Code holding a significant market share. Notepad++ was humorously mentioned as a practical option for beginners. They also touch on the suitability of IDEs for different types of development, such as mobile or game development, highlighting the specialized needs like managing assets in...
2023-12-2040 min
Acima DevelopmentEpisode 25: How Do You Get Up to Speed When Starting in a New Codebase?This conversation explores various coding strategies, the role of AI tools like ChatGPT, and the handling of legacy codebases. The panelists share their methods for understanding code, including the importance of struggling with code for deeper learning, and raise concerns about future dependence on AI and its potential impact on coding habits. The conversation also emphasizes the art of reading code, the importance of recognizing and learning from quality code, and reflects on the joy of reading well-communicated code.
Transcript:
TAD: Hello and welcome to the Acima Development Podcast. My name is Tad Thorley, and...
2023-08-1638 min
Acima DevelopmentEpisode 1: What Self-Taught and Bootcamp Grads MissToday we talk about what self-taught programmers and bootcamp graduates potentially miss out on by not attending traditional 4-year brick and mortar universities.
Transcript:
DAVID BRADY: Hello, and welcome to a podcast that still needs a name. I'm David Brady, and I am a self-taught programmer who's been self-teaching for a couple of decades now or more. And today, on our panel, we have Swapnil Bhosle.
SWAPNIL: Hello.
DAVID BRADY: Welcome. We have Brian Parry.
BRIAN: Hello, gang.
DAVID BRADY: Welcome, welcome. We have David Solano.
2022-09-2842 min