In this episode of the Maintainable Software Podcast, Robby sits down with Saron Yitbarek, founder and CEO of DiscoLink, to explore the challenges of maintaining early-stage software while balancing multiple streams of income. Saron shares her journey from being a solo developer to hiring her first teammate and the lessons learned along the way about code maintainability and business logic.

Episode Highlights

[00:05:32] Introduction to Saron's Background: Robby and Saron discuss her startup, DiscoLink, and the initial development of its MVP.
[00:10:50] The Importance of Context in Code: Saron emphasizes why understanding the business decisions behind code is crucial for maintainability.
[00:15:10] Onboarding a New Developer: Saron shares her experience hiring her first developer and how it changed her approach to software maintenance.
[00:20:32] Multiple Streams of Income: Saron explains her motivation behind building DiscoLink to help professionals manage different revenue streams.
[00:25:40] Transparency Around Money: A candid conversation about developers’ fears around charging for their work and how to overcome them.
[00:30:45] Ethics and Side Projects: Robby and Saron discuss ethical considerations when working on side projects while employed full-time.
[00:35:12] How Podcasting Shaped Saron's Career: Saron talks about how being a podcast host impacted her career growth and networking.

Key Takeaways

Maintainability Beyond Code: Saron highlights the importance of documenting not just the code but also the business rationale behind decisions.
Onboarding Challenges: Bringing a new developer into a solo-built project requires strong communication, context sharing, and flexible documentation practices.
The Power of Multiple Income Streams: Saron’s vision with DiscoLink focuses on helping tech professionals build financial security through various revenue channels.
Confronting Money Anxiety: Many developers struggle with charging for their work, but transparency and community conversations help break down those barriers.
Ethical Side Projects: It's important to consider the ethical implications of using work-learned skills for personal projects.

Resources

Saron Yitbarek on LinkedIn
Saron Yitbarek on Twitter
DiscoLink Website
Book Recommendation: Formerly Known as Food by Kristin Lawless

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