Fallthrough

Nick Gerace, Engineering Manager at System Initiative, shares insights on the cutting edge of infrastructure management and AI-native tooling. He discusses how System Initiative's imperative model contrasts with traditional IaC, emphasizing that Git isn’t the ultimate source of truth. The conversation explores the role of AI in automation, Nick's advocacy for domain-driven design in Rust, and the ethical implications of AI on industries like music. He encourages curiosity and embracing new tools amidst the evolution of software development.

Kris and Matt dive into their exciting plans for 2026, including Matt's upcoming fatherhood. They discuss the importance of personal growth and the need for nuance, especially in tech discussions like AI. Kris shares his newfound understanding of electricity with help from LLMs, while they explore how these tools can enhance learning. The duo also touches on their DIY projects, blending software skills with physical making and the evolving landscape of education. Plus, they tackle the local AI infrastructure and the value of trades over traditional paths.

We decided to do our own wrap up for the year. We've called it Stack Trace, and we pulled a bunch of stats from the first year of Fallthrough. In this episode, Kris, Matt, and Dylan talk through these stats and how they feel about Fallthrough's first year.If you prefer to watch this episode, you can view it on YouTube.This week's episode of break continues the conversation. Watch it on YouTube or listen with your favorite podcasting app! Learn more by going to https://break.show/22.In this week's bonus content, we've got some extra stats! Not a supporter yet? Fix that today by heading over to https://fallthrough.fm/subscribe where you'll get not only extra content but also higher quality audio. Sign up today!Thanks for tuning in and happy listening!Table of Contents:Prologue (00:00:00)Chapter 1: A Year of Fallthrough In Stats (00:03:37)Chapter 2: Better and Smaller Platforms (00:36:28)Chapter 3: Who Had The Longest Monologues? (00:41:33)Chapter 4: It's Different In The Moment (00:49:13)Chapter 5: The Spicy Content That Wasn't (00:54:16)Chapter 6: More Stats! [Extended] (01:00:48)Chapter 7: Thinking About The Future (01:01:05)Epilogue (01:12:35)Hosts Kris Brandow - Host Dylan Bourque - Host Matthew Sanabria - Host Socials:WebsiteBlueskyThreadsX/TwitterLinkedInInstagram (00:00) - Prologue (03:37) - Chapter 1: A Year of Fallthrough In Stats (36:28) - Chapter 2: Better and Smaller Platforms (41:33) - Chapter 3: Who Had The Longest Monologues? (49:13) - Chapter 4: It's Different In The Moment (54:16) - Chapter 5: The Spicy Content That Wasn't (01:00:48) - Chapter 6: More Stats! [Extended] (01:01:05) - Chapter 7: Thinking About The Future (01:12:35) - Epilogue

Dive into the clash of ideologies between New Jersey's simplicity and MIT's pursuit of perfection. Discover how Go reflects this tension, with its pragmatic design choices and recent shifts towards correctness. The hosts explore the pitfalls of semantic versioning and the impact of idealism on electric vehicle adoption. They critique the trend of new languages that fail to solve real problems, advocating for a pragmatic approach that embraces practicality over idealism. Tune in for insights on dependency management and the future of programming.

Kris and Matthew dive into the mediocrity that plagues the tech industry, questioning if innovation is just hype. They dissect the frustrations within the Go community while critiquing paternalism in design. A discussion on accountability reveals how industry changes often gloss over deeper issues. The hosts connect repeated mistakes in AI and crypto to a wider pattern of failure driven by hype. They emphasize that popularity doesn't equal quality, showcasing that some widely used tech is still mediocre. Genuine innovation does exist, but the value of unflashy systems is also acknowledged.

This discussion dives into a recent Cloudflare outage and a critical vulnerability in React that poses significant risks. The hosts explore how project management should shift from task execution to proactive risk management, emphasizing the importance of including domain experts early. They also reflect on supply chain vulnerabilities using the DDR5 example and critique rigid processes, advocating for cultural flexibility and bottom-up decision-making. Expect insights on effective estimating and planning strategies that can enhance project outcomes.

Exploring the impact of libghostty, the hosts dive into how new AI models like Opus 4.5 and Gemini are reshaping the tech landscape. They discuss the balance of convenience and privacy, particularly regarding data accessibility from major players like Google. The conversation also touches on the challenges of using AI for software specifications and personal financial planning. With a vision for modernizing terminal experiences, they argue for richer user interfaces and standardization across platforms. Plus, a pragmatic take on AI's role underscores its potential as a powerful tool.

This cannot keep happening. Another day, another outage. On this week's episode Kris and Matt talk about the recent Cloudflare outage. And boy do they have thoughts, we really hope you enjoy this exchange of monologues.If you prefer to watch this episode, you can view it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/LsOgDolc9FwThis week's episode of break continues the conversation, with a few more monologues and some thinking about the state of things. Watch it on YouTube or listen with your favorite podcasting app! Learn more by going to https://break.show/17.And we've got bonus content for our supporters, where you'll hear about the Cloudflare outage in a bit more depth and hear the duos take on being a generalist versus a specialist. Not a supporter yet? Fix that today by heading over to https://fallthrough.fm/subscribe where you'll get not only extra content but also higher quality audio. Sign up today!Thanks for tuning in and happy listening!Table of Contents:Prologue (00:00:00)Chapter 1: The Cloudflare Outage (00:02:17)Chapter 2: Too Much Centralization? (00:20:24)Chapter 3: Communication Matters (00:26:22)Chapter 4: Magic Numbers Take Down The Internet [Extended] (00:29:50)Chapter 5: Programming Language Hate and AI versus Tools (00:30:19)Chapter 6: The Generalist and The Specialist [Extended] (00:49:29)Epilogue (00:50:03)Hosts Kris Brandow - Host Matthew Sanabria - Host Socials:WebsiteBlueskyThreadsX/TwitterLinkedInInstagram (00:00) - Prologue (02:17) - Chapter 1: The Cloudflare Outage (02:52) - Chapter 2: Too Much Centralization? (26:22) - Chapter 3: Communication Matters (26:43) - Chapter 4: Magic Numbers Take Down The Internet [Extended] (30:19) - Chapter 5: Programming Language Hate and AI versus Tools (35:05) - Chapter 6: The Generalist and The Specialist [Extended] (50:03) - Epilogue

The panel dives deep into the marketing failures surrounding AI and blockchain, highlighting how overpromising often misrepresents innovation. They explore the nuances of adopting AI, distinguishing between basic use and advanced applications. The discussion critiques sci-fi comparisons to AI while emphasizing LLMs as advanced reference tools. Practical applications of AI in writing and coding are showcased, alongside the importance of iterative dialogue with technology. They also caution against vague AGI claims and examine risks tied to infrastructure.

Dive into the identity crisis of software engineering where some aspire to be artists while others cling to traditional roles. Kris and Matt explore the issues plaguing the industry, from rushed MVPs leading to poor user experiences to the pitfalls of project management. They tackle the challenge of invisible maintenance in software and the need for deliberate tool choices. The conversation highlights the importance of holistic planning and the evolving role of AI in enhancing team productivity. Tune in for insights that challenge the status quo!