Thanos Diakakis on Surviving the Software Apocalypse – AI, Agile, and Good Engineering

Aug 20, 2025

Thanos Diakakis, a software leadership expert with over 25 years in development, discusses the evolving landscape of AI in coding and engineering. He introduces the concept of 'vibe coding' and its implications on team dynamics and mental well-being. Thanos emphasizes the importance of maintaining engineering fundamentals even in the AI era while sharing his 'seven mental models' for effective software practices. Listeners will gain valuable insights into navigating AI tools and the shifting bottlenecks in development workflows, making this a must-listen for tech enthusiasts.

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INSIGHT

AI Boosts Productivity But Doesn’t Replace Judgment

AI dramatically boosts productivity if used correctly and with judgement.
It cannot replace engineering fundamentals or human guidance for production systems.

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ADVICE

Avoid Shipping Vibe-Coded Prototypes

Don’t let AI-generated prototypes go straight to production without review.
Always guide the model, verify outputs, and keep doing good engineering practices.

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ADVICE

Use AI To Write Tests And Rubber-Duck Problems

Use AI to write unit tests and act as a rubber duck for problem solving.
Review the generated tests and correct edge cases rather than blindly trusting them.

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On this episode of Data Driven, we venture into the ever-shifting landscape of software engineering, AI-assisted coding, and the sometimes chaotic future of development teams with special guest Thanos Diacakis—no, not the Marvel villain, but a powerhouse in software leadership whose career spans scrappy startups to tech giants like Uber.

Hosts Frank La Vigne, Andy Leonard, and resident AI BAILeY welcome Thanos for an insightful, witty, and sometimes philosophical conversation about the promise and perils of AI in software engineering. From the rise (and risks) of “vibe coding” to the changing definition of good engineering, Thanos shares firsthand experiences, pitfalls to avoid, and why solid fundamentals matter now more than ever—even with AI churning out code at lightning speed.

We also explore how AI is reshaping workflows for both solo developers and large teams, the difference between local and global efficiency, and how bottlenecks are shifting in this new era. Thanos breaks down his “seven mental models” for effective engineering, demystifies the right way to work with AI tools (instead of letting them run wild), and explains why junior devs still deserve a seat at the table.

If you’re curious about the real impact of AI-assisted coding, worried about the next wave of software “apocalypse,” or just eager for practical strategies to keep your teams productive and sane, this episode is packed with the wisdom, humor, and actionable takeaways you’ll want to hear. Buckle up as we dive deep into the code base—this is Data Driven, where the only thing disappearing is inefficiency.

Time Stamps

00:00 "Exploring AI Coding with Thanos"

05:20 Revolutionizing Productivity with Code

08:18 Cross-Platform Utility Development

12:14 Database Costs Drop, Demand Surges

14:43 Unauthorized Copying of Software Manuals

17:54 "Chunked Narratives Enhance LLM Performance"

19:43 Grox Impressive Despite Incompletion

24:40 Reviving a Startup with AI

28:53 Bottleneck Identification and Resolution Strategy

29:37 Incremental Improvements Drive Success

34:40 Agile's Evolution: Remembering Its Roots

38:41 Balancing Features and Tech Debt

42:50 Software Estimations: A Management Trap

45:55 Managing Project Time Expectations

47:47 Trust Building Through Incremental Delivery

51:23 Language Models: Human Cognition Parallel?

56:04 "Exploring Intelligence: Brains vs. AI"

58:06 "Data Driven Episode Conclusion"

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Thanos Diakakis on Surviving the Software Apocalypse – AI, Agile, and Good Engineering

AI Boosts Productivity But Doesn’t Replace Judgment

Avoid Shipping Vibe-Coded Prototypes

Use AI To Write Tests And Rubber-Duck Problems

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