Digging through Jerod Santo’s tool box (JS Party #343)
Oct 17, 2024
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In this engaging discussion, Jerod Santo, co-host of Changelog and creator of the open-source podcasting platform Atuin, shares insights into his essential development and podcasting tools. He dives into his favorite text editors like Zed and discusses the benefits of advanced terminal tools. Jerod highlights his open-source platform built in Elixir and offers valuable tips for freelancers on selecting essential business tools. Don't miss Jerod's intriguing Big Confession, which adds a personal touch to this tech-savvy conversation!
Jerod Santo emphasizes the importance of selecting efficient coding tools like Zed and terminal utilities for streamlined work processes.
The integration of AI in development environments revolutionizes coding productivity, enhancing tasks like refactoring and bug management.
For successful business operations, utilizing tools like FreshBooks and Gusto can simplify administrative tasks and promote effective team communication.
Deep dives
Streamlining Bug Reporting with Jam
Jam is a tool designed to simplify the bug reporting process for developers and non-technical team members, such as product managers and QA professionals. It allows users to capture detailed information about bugs with a single click, including screenshots, console logs, and network requests, thus eliminating the miscommunication often found between reporters and engineers. This streamlined process reduces the back-and-forth questioning that typically occurs after a bug report is submitted. Users have reported significant time savings, with engineers indicating that they save at least an hour per issue and no longer require repeated follow-up questions about reported bugs.
Jared's Toolbox: Coding Tools and Preferences
Jared Santo shares his journey in finding and utilizing various coding tools, emphasizing that Vim was his primary text editor due to a college requirement. Over time, he has experimented with several editors, ultimately landing on Zed, which he appreciates for its speed and lightweight feel similar to Sublime Text. He notes the importance of not becoming overly reliant on plugins, preferring built-in functionalities that meet his coding needs. His comfort with terminal work, including Tmux for session management, highlights his focus on efficiency rather than maintaining a heavy suite of complex tools.
The Role of AI in Development Environments
AI integration into development environments has transformed coding productivity, allowing developers to handle tasks more efficiently. Tools such as LLM models provide users with enhanced coding assistance and refactoring capabilities, making it easier to manage large codebases or address specific bugs. The incorporation of AI in editors has made processes much quicker, although users must remain vigilant for inaccuracies in AI-generated code. The ongoing development in AI tooling, including established interfaces like Cursor, plays a significant role in modern programming workflows, encouraging developers to explore and adopt these innovations.
Podcasting Tools for Seamless Production
In the realm of podcasting, effective tools play a crucial role in simplifying production workflows. Riverside is favored for recording, offering a robust web-based solution for capturing high-quality audio, while Adobe Audition serves as the go-to software for editing. The importance of custom-built tools for specific needs is emphasized, allowing for unique features that cater to the podcast's requirements, including MP3 file synchronization and advanced metadata handling for episodes. The reliance on cloud services like Dropbox for file management demonstrates the combination of traditional editing techniques with modern technological solutions.
Expanding Business Operations with Efficient Tools
For running a successful business or freelance operation, having the right set of tools is essential. Jared discusses solutions like FreshBooks for invoicing and Gusto for payroll, which streamline common administrative tasks. The adaptability of various collaboration platforms, such as Slack and Zulip, allows teams to communicate effectively, even as their needs evolve. The conversation underscores that while the foundational operations might not require complex systems, having reliable resources in place facilitates growth and adaptability in various business contexts.
KBall interviews Jerod about the tools he uses in development, podcasting & business. We start with text editors & terminal tools, move to podcast recording & editing tools, discuss the open source podcasting platform Jerod built in Elixir, then finish with tools to run a small business & our approaches to genAI. Oh, and you don’t want to miss Jerod’s Big Confession!
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Jam.dev – One click bug reports developers love — Never explain another bug report again. Jam auto-captures all the info engineers need to debug and repro.
Notion – Notion is a place where any team can write, plan, organize, and rediscover the joy of play. It’s a workspace designed not just for making progress, but getting inspired. Notion is for everyone — whether you’re a Fortune 500 company or freelance designer, starting a new startup or a student juggling classes and clubs.