This Developer's Life

What is taste? What is style? Do you have it? Scott and Rob have no idea what it is or how to get it - but they know it's important. In this show they talk to a designer who flexes his good taste for a living - and a developer who is committed to spreading good taste where he can.Michael Bach Designer at MicrosoftGeoffrey Grosenbach Owner/Founder of PeepCodeMusicThe music tracks this week are a combination of Fair Use, Royalty-free, and Mashups. As with most of our mashups I won't link the source but you can find them on any video serving site.Jeff Buckley - HallelujaHymn - HymnNine Inch Nails - GhostsJag - My Momma Told MeLow and Spring Heel Jack - Hand So Small

Scott and Rob discuss the value of a degree - and talk to two developers who used their passion to pull them through school and into their careers.Aqueelah Grant QA Specialist at Trimmer MediaSeth Juarez Developer Evangelist at DevExpressMusicThe music tracks this week are a combination of Fair Use, Royalty-free, and Mashups. As with most of our mashups I won't link the source but you can find them on any video serving site.Deftones - Change in the House of Flies - Accoustic VersionMusic Inside - Sound ObjectsThe Kills - The Good OnesLisa DeBenedictus / Sidetrack - DJ CarySwampland - touchingGraceThe Kills - Tape SongTricky Sandman - Mark Vidler

Scott and Rob talk to a group of Top Gun developers: the StackOverflow team, about the day their database melted - and how the team responded.Geoff Dalgas - developer on StackOverflowSam Saffron - developer and data geek at StackOverflowJeff Atwood ,Mr. CodingHorror and co-founder of StackOverflowMusicThe music tracks this week are a combination of Fair Use, Royalty-free, and Mashups. As with most of our mashups I won't link the source but you can find them on any video serving site.Beastie Boys - SabotageNine Inch Nails - Ghosts VIStar Garden - RutileCalexico - Whipping the Horse's EyesRildrim - Linber

In this episode we talk to three developers about criticism - some they've given and some they've received. In addition we talk to a very vocal critic of this podcast.Ayende Rahien - a prominent developer in the .NET community and a force of natureG. Andrew Duthie - a Developer Evangelist at MicrosoftBoris Pavlović , a Serbian developer living with his wife and family in SwitzerlandMusicThe music tracks this week cycle around remixes of a single song: On We March by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. The different faces of the music seemed to mirror the phases people go through when confronting criticism - either from others, or their very own.Nine Inch Nails - On We March - various RemixesDavid Bowie - Sorrow - InstrumentalNine Inch Nails - Perfect Drug (Grind Mix)

In this special episode we explore the Egyptian revolution. We talk to Remon Zakaria about his experience writing software for a day job and overthrowing the government at night. Big thanks to Ahmed Remy and Reem Ahmed for their help. We recorded hours and hours of content to bring you this show. We wish we could have used everyone's story - there were so many.Remon Zakaria works at DashSoft, a software consultancy in downtown Cairo specializing in turnkey solutions for offshore companies.MusicThe music this week, aside from the very last song, is from a single composer: Jami Sieber (Lush Mechanique). If you've listened to this show for any significant amount of time - you know that music is a big part of it. This week is no exception: Jami's music is evocative, wonderful, compelling and simply a joy to listen to. Go download these things. All of them. They're wonderful.The final track is a song from Ramy Essam - an Egyptian folk musician who became the "Singer of the Revolution" and led the masses in Tahrir Square in song.The track we ended with is a remix of his famous song, found on YouTube.

Rob Sullivan talks about his obsessiveness and how it helps him, and hinders him in his job. Rory Blythe and Scott then talk openly about Rory's compulsion to keep learning - which he has embraced completely.Rob Sullivan submitted our very first listener story about what drives him as a DBA - sometimes a bit too farRory Blyth - the smartest man in the world talks openly and candidly about his obsessions - and how he can't just learn something a little bit.MusicWe featured some remixes this week from Nine Inch Nails which is issued under Creative Commons. The band allows you to download their tracks, remix, them, and then load them back to their site for common consumption. If you like the following tracks, please support the band by buying their CDs.Nine Inch Nails - Zero Sum - InstrumentalNine Inch Nails - All The Love In the World - InstrumentalOther tracks for this week are used under Creative Commons from Magnatunes. In addition we have some bootlegs and I've linked to the DJ's websites:Jami Sieber - Secret HeatRildrim - Dead SunThe following tracks were used under fair use (played for 30-60 seconds):Foo Fighters - Everlong

In this episode we talk to competitors who are also programmers. Or, programmers who also compete. Are coders pre-wired for this? Jon Skeet, David Fowler, Aaron Jensen and Danielle Banks share their stories.Jon Skeet shares how he stays at the top of the Stack Overflow points pileDavid Fowler talks about TopCode and flying to DisneyWorld to watch coders codeAaron Jensen quits his job to play poker professionallyDaniele R. Banks is just getting started but is already building competing robotsMusicWe featured some remixes this week from Nine Inch Nails which is issued under Creative Commons. The band allows you to download their tracks, remix, them, and then load them back to their site for common consumption. If you like the following tracks, please support the band by buying their CDs.Nine Inch Nails - Only (Richard X Mix)Nine Inch Nails - In Motion (Discrete Omni's Angular Momentum Mix)Nine Inch Nails - Heresy (Instrumental)Other tracks for this week are used under Creative Commons from Magnatunes. In addition we have some bootlegs and I've linked to the DJ's websites:Stargarden - MuralSwivel Neck Jones - BurnHeavy Mellow - Maybe It'll RainMatt Hite - Me and You and Yazoo

In this episode Scott and Rob talk to 4 entrepreneurs about the risks they take, and what's happened as a result. Dave Nielsen, Tom Preston-Werner, and Nate and Niki Kohari.Dave Nielsen tells us about working only for himself and what sleeping on a couch in a basement storeroom feels likeTom Preston-Werner talks to us about founding Github and turning down $300,000 from MicrosoftNate and Niki Kohari talks to us about starting up, and then selling, a tech company while being marriedMusicMost of the the tracks for this week are used under Creative Commons from Magnatunes. In addition we have some bootlegs and I've linked to the DJ's websites:2 Many DJs - Beatles Vs KraftwerkNine Inch Nails - GhostsGeneral Fuzz - Red BalloonNine Inch Nails Remixes - We are Alone/On We MarchWilliamson - 2 percent erRildrim - LinberWilliamson - what's on the ceilingMark Vidler - Go Home Productions - The Weather EpisodeThe following tracks were used under fair use (played for 30-60 seconds):Puscifer - Momma SedMC 900 Foot Jesus - Buried At SeaIn addition - we used a few clips from the movie Rushmore. If you haven't seen it - go get it.Wes Anderson - Rushmore

In this episode Scott and Rob talk to Chad Myers, Chad Fowler, and Doug Rohrer about the scars they've received from dead end projects they've been on. In addition - Sara Chipps contributes her first story for us - interviewing Scott Reynolds.Chad Myers tells us about one of the first lead positions he had working for a sleazy business guy.Chad Fowler talks to us about being an imposterSara Chipps contributes her first story to This Developer's Life, interviewing Scott Reynolds about his dream jobsDoug Rohrer talks to Scott about bonding under extreme, Enterprise circumstancesMusicThe tracks for this week are used under Creative Commons from Magnatunes. In addition we have some bootlegs and I've linked to the DJ's websites:Fissunix - Whole Sex Lotta MachineDJ Cary - Dreaming of ThisNine Inch Nails - GhostsGeneral Fuzz - Smiling PerspectivesRildrim - LinberDJs From Mars - Enter Telephone

This week it's just Scott and me - Scott gets to go off to Disneyland with his wife and 2 boys, and I get to hang out with my girls for a week as their mom goes on a retreat in California.MusicThe tracks for this week are used under Creative Commons from Magnatunes:Nine Inch Nails - GhostsGeneral Fuzz - A Spy in the House of LoveGeneral Fuzz - Walking HomeJohn Williams - Days EndMelissa Polinar - Perfectly Distracted. You can see more of Melissa at http://www.melissapolinar.com.Rildrim - LinberOGMA -Jasmine's SongThe following tracks were used sparingly, but are not Creative Commons. If you like them - please buy them:Hapa - Justin's LullabyeHapa - Ka Uluwehi O Ke Kai