Chats with James Podcast cover image

Chats with James Podcast

004 - François Baldassari

Jan 19, 2021
François Baldassari, Founder and CEO of Memfault and an expert in embedded software from Pebble and Oculus, shares insights on engineering practices in the tech sector. The conversation covers the evolution of embedded systems, emphasizing the shift toward a software-centric mindset. François highlights the critical role of code reviews in improving quality and collaboration within teams. He also discusses strategies for navigating change in technical environments, the importance of coding standards to enhance team cohesion, and the value of consistency in practices.
48:36

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • François Baldassari stresses the need for embedded developers to adopt traditional software engineering practices like continuous integration to boost productivity.
  • The podcast discusses the cultural challenges in evolving engineering practices, emphasizing social dynamics as significant hurdles compared to technical ones.

Deep dives

Introduction to Memfault and Embedded Development

François Baldassari, founder and CEO of Memfault, elaborates on how the company creates developer tools tailored for hardware teams, addressing issues related to identifying device problems in the field. His extensive background in embedded software engineering, including notable roles at Pebble and Oculus, provides him a unique perspective on the integration of software engineering practices within hardware development. He emphasizes that while developing embedded systems, the practice often mirrors the methodologies of traditional software engineering, such as continuous integration and frequent updates. This highlights the necessity for embedded developers to adapt proven practices to enhance productivity and outcomes.

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