Storytelling Over Feature Dumping with Jeff Geerling
Oct 10, 2023
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Jeff Geerling, owner of Midwestern Mac, joins Corey on Screaming in the Cloud to discuss the importance of storytelling, problem-solving, and community in the world of cloud. They delve into the value of beginner-friendly content and storytelling in cloud marketing. They also compare managed Nat Gateway's and Raspberry Pis and highlight the importance of community in technology. Being an independent content creator and the importance of a lasting point of contact are also discussed.
Storytelling in technical documentation can improve user engagement and adoption.
The Raspberry Pi's success is attributed to continuous improvement, community support, and open-source nature.
Deep dives
The Value of Documenting Everything
The podcast episode features a conversation with Jeff Geerling, who emphasizes the importance of documenting everything he does. He shares how he started documenting his experiences, learning from his father who is an engineer. He believes that documentation is crucial for personal learning and for helping others. By sharing his documentation through blog posts, videos, and GitHub projects, Jeff has been able to provide valuable insights and attract a community of learners and users.
The Power of Storytelling in Technical Documentation
The podcast explores the significance of storytelling in technical documentation. Jeff and Corey discuss the importance of framing technical topics in the context of real-world scenarios and problems that users can relate to. They highlight that software and infrastructure engineers should focus not only on showcasing features but also on providing value and practical solutions for users. They believe that storytelling and human-centric approaches in technical documentation can make a significant difference in user engagement and adoption.
The Rise of Raspberry Pi and Mini PCs
The podcast delves into the growing popularity of Raspberry Pi and mini PCs for various projects and home labs. Jeff explains that the availability, affordability, and flexibility of these devices have made them a preferred choice for hobbyists and developers. He highlights that the Raspberry Pi Foundation's dedication to continuous improvement, community support, and open-source nature have contributed to its success. The discussion also addresses the challenges faced by alternative single-board computers in gaining traction due to lack of software support and established communities like Raspberry Pi.
The Impact of Alienating Community Goodwill
The podcast touches upon the negative consequences of alienating community goodwill by making decisions that disregard the needs and expectations of users. The example of Red Hat's CentOS changes sparks a discussion on the importance of trust and community in open-source projects. Corey expresses his disappointment with Red Hat's decision to shift CentOS from a long-term stable version to CentOS Stream, undermining the trust established with the community. Jeff shares his own experience of becoming disenchanted with HashiCorp due to licensing changes. They both highlight the long-lasting effects of breaking promises and losing community goodwill in terms of adoption and advocacy for a product or project.
Jeff Geerling, Owner of Midwestern Mac, joins Corey on Screaming in the Cloud to discuss the importance of storytelling, problem-solving, and community in the world of cloud. Jeff shares how and why he creates content that can appeal to anybody, rather than focusing solely on the technical qualifications of his audience, and how that strategy has paid off for him. Corey and Jeff also discuss the impact of leading with storytelling as opposed to features in product launches, and what’s been going on in the Raspberry Pi space recently. Jeff also expresses the impact that community has on open-source companies, and reveals his take on the latest moves from Red Hat and Hashicorp.
About Jeff
Jeff is a father, author, developer, and maker. He is sometimes called "an inflammatory enigma".