Software Engineering Radio - the podcast for professional software developers
se-radio@computer.org
Software Engineering Radio is a podcast targeted at the professional software developer. The goal is to be a lasting educational resource, not a newscast. SE Radio covers all topics software engineering. Episodes are either tutorials on a specific topic, or an interview with a well-known character from the software engineering world. All SE Radio episodes are original content — we do not record conferences or talks given in other venues. Each episode comprises two speakers to ensure a lively listening experience. SE Radio is brought to you by the IEEE Computer Society and IEEE Software magazine.
Episodes
Mentioned books
24 snips
Mar 6, 2025 • 1h 12min
SE Radio 658: Tanya Janca on Secure Coding
In this discussion, Tanya Janca, author of 'Alice and Bob Learn Secure Coding' and a leading voice in application security, shares her insights on integrating security throughout the software development lifecycle. She emphasizes the importance of defining security requirements early and using threat modeling in design. Tanya details secure coding practices, effective testing strategies like SAST and DAST, and the necessity of continuous security monitoring post-deployment. With a focus on practical techniques and real-world examples, she guides developers on enhancing software security.
31 snips
Feb 27, 2025 • 40min
SE Radio 657: Hong Minhee on ActivityPub and the Fediverse
Hong Minhee, an open source developer behind the Fedify ActivityPub library, dives into the intricacies of the ActivityPub protocol and the expansive Fediverse. They discuss the fascinating interoperability of microblogging apps like Mastodon and Threads and the challenges these platforms face. The conversation also covers the complexities of JSON-LD, the semantic web’s role in improving data accessibility, and innovations for decentralized messaging. Finally, Minhee highlights the vibrant development community in Asia and practical applications of Fedify in app development.
28 snips
Feb 20, 2025 • 50min
SE Radio 656: Ivett Ördög on Rewrite versus Refactor
Ivett Ördög, creator of LeanPoker and a thought leader in software development, shares insights on the often contentious choice between rewriting and refactoring code. She challenges the conventional wisdom of avoiding rewrites, discussing conditions for successful large-scale transitions. Ivett also examines the implications of legacy code, the role of technical debt in startups, and strategies for obtaining management support. Their conversation highlights incremental improvement versus large-scale changes, emphasizing customer value during software evolution.
60 snips
Feb 13, 2025 • 55min
SE Radio 655: Charles Humble on Professional Skills for Software Engineers
Charles Humble, a seasoned IT professional and author, discusses essential skills for software engineers, focusing on communication and critical thinking. He explains how systems thinking has become vital as technology grows more complex. Humble shares practical techniques for improving empathy and collaboration in remote work. He emphasizes the importance of professional writing and documentation, encouraging engineers to engage with open source projects and develop strong networking skills. Expect insights that can reshape your approach to engineering challenges!
96 snips
Feb 4, 2025 • 1h 9min
SE Radio 654: Chris Patterson on MassTransit and Event-Driven Systems
Chris Patterson, founder of MassTransit, shares his expertise on building efficient distributed systems. He breaks down the role of message buses in event-driven architecture, emphasizing asynchronous communication and decoupled architectures for scalability. Chris discusses implementing saga patterns and routing slips for complex processes, and addresses the challenges of debugging in distributed environments. He also highlights the significance of observability with tools like OpenTelemetry, focusing on how to balance innovative solutions with practical real-world application.
6 snips
Jan 30, 2025 • 1h
SE Radio 653: Asanka Abeysinghe on Cell-Based Architecture
Asanka Abeysinghe, the CTO at WSO2 and architect of cell-based architecture, shares his insights on creating scalable systems that adapt swiftly to change. He discusses how cell-based architecture integrates application and team structures, emphasizing manageable ownership and domain-driven design. Asanka also digs into defining cell boundaries, the significance of clear team ownership in enhancing agility, and the intricate relationship between components using tools like Kubernetes. He wraps up with practical advice for implementing this innovative architecture.
14 snips
Jan 21, 2025 • 52min
SE Radio 652: Christian Mesh on OpenTofu
Christian Mesh, tech lead of the OpenTofu project, shares his insights from 14 years in software engineering. He discusses the origins of OpenTofu as a fork of Terraform, in response to licensing changes. Mesh elaborates on compatibility challenges and the new features in OpenTofu, like state encryption and provider-defined functions. He highlights the project’s governance structure and the importance of community feedback in shaping its roadmap. Listeners get a glimpse into the collaborative spirit driving this innovative open-source initiative.
4 snips
Jan 17, 2025 • 1h 8min
SE Radio 651: Paul Frazee on Bluesky and the AT Protocol
Paul Frazee, CTO of Bluesky and a pioneer in decentralized applications, discusses the innovative Authenticated Transfer Protocol (ATProto). He highlights the importance of user empowerment and data portability in a decentralized social network. The conversation includes insights on federated systems, cryptographic identifiers, and challenges in content moderation. Frazee also explores customizable user experiences through personalized domain names and algorithmic feeds, emphasizing a future where users have greater control over their online identities.
15 snips
Jan 17, 2025 • 50min
SE Radio 650: Robert Seacord on What's New in the C Programming Language
Robert Seacord, Standardization Lead at Woven by Toyota and an expert on C programming, dives into the latest advancements in the C language. He outlines the significance of the upcoming C23 standard, sharing eight key features that enhance safety and portability. The conversation also touches on C's pivotal role in automotive systems and compares its safety measures to Rust. Seacord emphasizes the importance of robust coding standards and tools, while highlighting why understanding C remains crucial for developers in 2025.
26 snips
Jan 8, 2025 • 52min
SE Radio 647: Praveen Gujar on Gen AI for Digital Ad Tech Platforms
Praveen Gujar, Director of Product at LinkedIn, shares insights from over a decade of experience in AI-driven digital advertising. He discusses how generative AI is reshaping content creation, enhancing campaign management, and ensuring privacy while automating tasks. The difference between retrieval-augmented generation and fine-tuning in AI models is explored, alongside the importance of vector embeddings in contextual content retrieval. Praveen also emphasizes the evolution of cross-functional AI teams, highlighting their role in promoting collaboration and proficiency across organizations.
