#041 - From Roblox to software founder feat. Lewis Menelaws
Feb 19, 2024
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Explore Lewis Menelaws' coding journey from Roblox to software founder. Topics include tech stacks, challenges of freelancing, shift to content creation, and the value of understanding programming topics deeply. Delve into the blurred lines of websites vs. web apps, navigating the freelance tech industry, and transitioning into content creation. Learn about video production quality for engaging educational content.
Developers should strive to understand technology deeply before relying on frameworks for better control over their applications.
Transitioning from freelancing to content creation as a developer influencer requires balancing professional work and passion projects.
Staying credible as a developer influencer involves creating valuable, educational content while adapting to changing platform preferences.
Deep dives
The Transition to Freelancing
The podcast episode discusses the host's transition to freelancing and starting their own web development agency with friends. They initially focused on building WordPress websites for marketing purposes, but later pivoted towards creating custom software solutions. The episode highlights the challenges and benefits of working as a freelancer, including the need for additional skills in marketing and finding clients.
Making the Move to Content Creation
The podcast episode explores the host's decision to start creating coding videos and content. The host explains that they started on TikTok, making simple videos talking about open-source projects and gradually improved the quality of their content over time. The host emphasizes the importance of inspiring developers through their videos, even if they don't consider themselves an expert programmer. They aim to motivate others and instill a passion for coding.
Discussing Developer Influencers
The podcast delves into the topic of developer influencers and offers a critical perspective. It examines how developers who become influencers often face a dilemma between their day job and content creation. The episode raises concerns about burnout, mental health, and the potential negative impact on their professional work. It also touches on the need for developers to strike a balance between their day job and content creation pursuits.
The Importance of Understanding the Technology Before Using Frameworks
In the podcast episode, the speakers discuss the importance of gaining a deep understanding of the technology before relying heavily on frameworks. They share their own experiences of initially using frameworks without fully grasping the underlying concepts, which led to insecurity and a lack of confidence in their applications. They emphasize the value of going one layer deeper in your knowledge and being the glue between different components, even when using libraries or frameworks. By understanding the inner workings of the technology, developers can have better control over their applications and make more informed decisions.
The Challenges and Insights of Being a Developer Influencer
The speakers engage in a discussion about the challenges and responsibilities of being a developer influencer. They highlight the dilemma of maintaining credibility and honesty when creating content influenced by external factors like algorithms or financial incentives. They also delve into the importance of creating valuable, educational, and storytelling-driven videos to connect with viewers on a deeper level. The speakers touch on the need to balance personal passion projects, like building applications, with maintaining relevance in the fast-changing landscape of social media platforms. They express the desire to keep producing high-quality, informative content while adapting to the preferences and trends of different platforms.
In this episode, Lane chats with Lewis Menelaws, a Full-Stack developer and entrepreneur. Today he takes us through his coding journey and insights as a developer influencer. From his early days coding Roblox games, tech stacks, and the challenges of freelancing, to his shift into content creation and thoughts on the current programming meta.
Learn back-end development - https://boot.dev Listen on your favorite podcast player: https://www.backendbanter.fm
