

Fallthrough
Fallthrough Media
A deep and nuanced conversational podcast focused on technology, software, and computing.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 28, 2025 • 59min
Maintainers, Monetization, and Making The Time
Maintaining software is challenging, but monetizing it while properly valuing your time complicate matters even more. Doing all of this for open source projects is a challenge that few have figured out. In this week's episode Matt and Angelica are joined by Carlos Becker to discuss maintaining and monetizing open source projects, what it's like to work out an open source company, and how to value your own time. Plus, we've got some unpopular opinions at the end of the episode.Supporters get access to an extended conversation including a chapter on valuing time, the tools Carlos uses, and the groups thoughts on AI tooling! Get access by signing up at https://fallthrough.fm/subscribe.Thanks for tuning in and happy listening!Notes:Carlos's WebsiteTable of Contents:Prologue (01:11)Chapter 1: How Carlos Got Started (03:12)Chapter 2: Open Source Product Management (12:29)Chapter 3: Go Releaser's Architecture (15:47)Chapter 4: Monetization (23:23)Chapter 5: The Value Of Time [Extended Episode Content] (27:05)Chapter 6: Life at Charm (27:37)Chapter 7: Monetizing Open Source Projects (32:38)Chapter 8: Valuing Your Own Time (39:45)Chapter 9: The Tools Carlos Loves [Extended Episode Content] (46:57)Appendix UNPOP: Unpopular Opinions (46:57)Epilogue (56:06)Hosts
Kris Brandow - Producer
Carlos Becker - Guest
Matthew Sanabria - Host
Angelica Hill - Producer
Socials:WebsiteBlueskyThreadsX/TwitterLinkedInInstagram
(01:11) - Prologue
(03:12) - Chapter 1: How Carlos Got Started
(12:29) - Chapter 2: Open Source Product Management
(15:47) - Chapter 3: Go Releaser's Architecture
(23:23) - Chapter 4: Monetization
(27:05) - Chapter 5: The Value Of Time [Extended Episode Content]
(27:37) - Chapter 6: Life at Charm
(32:38) - Chapter 7: Monetizing Open Source Projects
(39:45) - Chapter 8: Valuing Your Own Time
(46:57) - Chapter 9: The Tools Carlos Loves [Extended Episode Content]
(46:57) - Appendix UNPOP: Unpopular Opinions
(56:06) - Epilogue

Apr 21, 2025 • 1h 15min
From TinyGo to Takeoff
Most of us write code for servers and systems with terabytes of storage and gigabytes of RAM. This week, we're talking about Go in the small. Patricio Whittingslow joins Dylan and Angelica to discuss how he got started with Tiny Go; how he's used Go in software ranging from trajectory simulations to rocket fueling systems to rocket engine fuel injectors to 3D modeling; and so much more. To top it all off, he's got some unpopular opinions as well!Supporters get access to an extended conversation including a bonus unpopular opinion from Patricio, conversations about getting a mechanical engineering degree, and more! You can get access by signing up at https://fallthrough.fm/subscribe.Thanks for tuning in and happy listening!Notes:3Blue1BrownTeach Yourself Go In 24 HoursGopherCon 2023: Cognitive Load and Go - Patricio WhittingslowAutomate Your Home Using Gosoypat/lnetoLTerra#44253 proposal: spec: generic parameterization of array sizesTable of Contents:Preface (01:23)Chapter 0: Mechanical Engineering (Supporter Only)Chapter 1: Pato's Early Years (02:16)Chapter 2: Simulating Rocket Trajectories in Go (09:52)Chapter 3: Fueling Rockets with Go (14:21)Chapter 4: What Makes Go Great? (15:24)Chapter 5: Trying to catch (19:01)Chapter 6: An Early Unpop! (Supporter Only)Chapter 7: TinyGo! (26:40)Chapter 8: 3D Design (42:01)Chapter 9: Back to aerospace (53:52)Chapter 10: Solving Interesting Problems with Go (56:12)Appendix UNPOP: Unpopular Opinions (01:06:05)Epilogue (01:10:29)Hosts
Patricio Whittingslow - Guest
Dylan Bourque - Host
Angelica Hill - Producer
Kris Brandow - Producer
Socials:WebsiteBlueskyThreadsX/TwitterLinkedInInstagram
(01:23) - Preface
(02:16) - Chapter 1: Pato's Early Years
(09:52) - Chapter 2: Simulating Rocket Trajectories in Go
(14:21) - Chapter 3: Fueling Rockets with Go
(15:24) - Chapter 4: What Makes Go Great?
(19:01) - Chapter 5: Trying to catch
(25:58) - Chapter 6: An Early Unpop! (Supporter Only)
(26:40) - Chapter 7: TinyGo!
(42:01) - Chapter 8: 3D Design
(53:52) - Chapter 9: Back to aerospace
(56:12) - Chapter 10: Solving Interesting Problems with Go
(01:06:05) - Appendix UNPOP: Unpopular Opinions
(01:10:29) - Epilogue

Apr 14, 2025 • 1h 26min
The Podcast Pipeline
The hosts delve into their first quarter of podcasting, sharing insights on feedback and storytelling evolution. They discuss the challenges of adapting content to engage listeners while navigating community dynamics. The conversation shifts to the significance of vulnerability and constructive criticism in shaping their narratives. Unpopular tech opinions on AI and Apple make waves, and they reflect on podcast growth through audience interactions. With humor and introspection, they reveal the complexities of crafting compelling episodes and integrating video.

14 snips
Apr 7, 2025 • 1h 29min
APIs: Design Imperfectly, Improve Relentlessly
Jamie Tanna, a Co-maintainer of OAPI CodeGen, dives into the fascinating world of API design. He shares invaluable insights on building APIs—embracing mistakes and the iterative process. The discussion highlights the importance of flexibility and planning, addressing challenges like pagination and versioning. They advocate for continuous improvement and separating application layers for better functionality. Plus, Jamie humorously introduces the concept of 'unpop' and encourages self-reflection with the idea of creating a 'Manual of Me' for better team understanding.

Mar 31, 2025 • 1h 53min
What Even Is A Senior Software Engineer?
Bill Kennedy, Founder of Arden Labs and a key figure in the Go community, joins the discussion to delve into the essence of being a senior software engineer. He emphasizes the importance of ongoing education and the transformative role of AI in training new engineers. The conversation shifts to the ethical responsibilities of tech companies supporting open-source projects and the need for effective documentation. Bill also critiques conventional hiring practices and highlights the significance of mentorship in fostering talent in the ever-evolving tech landscape.

Mar 24, 2025 • 1h 36min
Translating The Law for Software Engineers
Software is hard to build. From knowing which regulations apply to us to understanding what's in our software, there's a lot to learn. On top of that, regulation is coming for all of us. In this episode, Luis Villa joins Kris, Ian, and Angelica, to discuss the laws and regulations that will change the way that you build and deploy software. We discuss the EU's Cyber Resilience Act, the difficulty in interpreting the law and staying within its bounds, how these new laws differ from what we're used to, artificial intelligence, and so much more.Supporters get access to an extended conversation with Luis, where we discuss AI, the Deno vs Oracle lawsuit, writing personal code on employer devices, and more! You can get access by signing up at https://fallthrough.fm/subscribe.Thanks for tuning in and happy listening!Notes:The Draghi ReportMacPherson v. Buick Motor Co.Table of Contents:Prologue (1:11)Panel introductions (1:24)Introducing Luis Villa (2:32)Chapter 1: What's even in our software? (5:58)What is the Cyber Resilience Act? (9:31)Why software engineers need to care (12:06)Ambiguity begets flexibility (15:57)Law is eventually consistent (19:29)The rooms where law is made (21:14)Open source has power (23:51)The reach of regulation (28:25)Thinking on the global scale (36:17)Silicon Union: Rebuilding Silicon Valley in Europe (41:25)Challenges in regulating open source (43:47)Regulations aren't our adversaries (46:47)What's even in this (software) stuff? (51:24)Regulations Sticks vs Monetary Carrots (55:41)Chapter 2: AI & Legal Knowledge Graphs (1:06:07)The law lacks a linter (1:10:16)Chapter 3: Open Source & Business Licenses (1:16:08)Epilogue (1:33:42)Hosts
Kris Brandow - Host
Ian Wester-Lopshire - Host
Angelica Hill - Producer
Luis Villa - Guest
Socials:WebsiteBlueskyThreadsX/TwitterLinkedInInstagram
(01:11) - Prologue
(05:58) - Chapter 1: What's even in our software?
(01:06:07) - Chapter 2: AI & Legal Knowledge Graphs
(01:16:08) - Chapter 3: Open Source & Business Licenses
(01:33:42) - Epilogue

Mar 17, 2025 • 1h 49min
Choosing, Expanding, & Evolving Communities
Kelsey Hightower, a former Google employee and an expert in cloud-native technologies, discusses the evolution of tech communities, especially the Go programming community. He shares his insights on the balance between innovation and simplicity, and the need for open dialogue. Kelsey reflects on the shift towards metrics-driven dynamics, emphasizing decentralized leadership. He also explores the perpetual nature of software development and the importance of authentic human connections in tech. Plus, enjoy anecdotes from his post-retirement life!

12 snips
Mar 10, 2025 • 1h 16min
An Exploration of APIs, Versioning, & HTTP
Jamie Tanna, a Senior Software Engineer at Elastic and co-maintainer of the OpenAPI2Go code generator, joins the conversation to dive deep into the world of APIs. He discusses the critical aspects of API design and the often-overlooked intricacies of versioning, including how to communicate breaking changes effectively. The role of documentation is emphasized, with Tanna advocating for a strategic approach to clarity and user experience. They also explore the complexity of HTTP status codes and the ongoing debate between XML and JSON in API interactions.

Mar 3, 2025 • 1h 54min
Tools We Love
We all have tools that make our lives better. Software tools, hardware tools, and everything in between. In this episode, Matt is joined by Kris, Ian, and Dylan to discuss some of their favorite tools, what they use them for, and why they chose them.Want to hear about the tools we don't like? Become a supporter and enjoy bonus content and higher quality audio today, and additional perks and benefits when we add them in the future.Thanks for tuning in and happy listening!Tools:(01:36) Tool #1: Jujitsu(05:40) Tool #2: MyRepos(08:56) Tool #3: GitHub Actions(14:54) Tool #4: ZFS(17:02) Tool #5: GNU Stow(19:15) .ignore in your .gitconfig(19:49) Subshell for mktmp -d(27:29) Tool #6: ZSA Moonlander(32:47) Tool #7: A good office chair(37:25) Tool #8: KitchenAid Professional 600(39:17) https://flameka.com(40:47) Tool #9: Sourcegraph(42:53) Tool #10: Comby(43:25) Tool #11: Kagi(47:14) Tool #12: Datagrip(48:57) Tool #13: govers(51:15) Tool #14: Mage(53:22) Tool #15: NeoVim(55:57) Tree-sitter(58:44) Tool #16: Ghostty(01:00:57) Tool #17: 1Password(01:06:02) Tool #18: B5 Paper(01:12:22) Tool #19: Leuchtturm1917(01:13:26) Tool #20: Uni Kuru Toga(01:13:52) Tool #21: Koh-i-noor Rapidomatic(01:16:36) Tool #22: Hardened steel ruler(01:17:37) Tool #23: LAMY Safari(01:19:01) Tool #24: Baron Fig Strategist(01:20:42) Tool #25: Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro(01:21:12) Tool #26: Schiit Vali(01:21:51) Tool #27: Sony MDR-7506(01:22:24) Tool #28: Shokz OpenRun(01:28:56) Tool #29: BlackMagic Design Ultra Studio Recorded 3G(01:31:16) Tool #30: OBS(01:33:05) Tool #31: SM7B(01:33:47) Tool #32: Ziess lens wipes(01:34:58) Tool #33: Apple M2 Macbook Air(01:41:36) Tool #34: iFixIt Mako driver kit(01:42:46) Tool #35: American Giant hoodie(01:44:17) Tool #36: Epson ES-300W portable scanner(01:45:37) Tool #37: HP LasterJet P1102W(01:47:30) Tool #38: IKEA SKADISChapters:(00:00) - Intro
(01:36) - Tech Tools
(23:49) - Shift Lock & Escaping Vim (tangent)
(27:29) - Keyboards
(30:29) - Typing Classes (tangent)
(32:47) - Office Gear
(37:25) - Kitchen Gear
(40:47) - More Tech Tools
(46:17) - Ad Auctions (tangent)
(47:14) - Even More Software
(01:06:02) - Stationery
(01:20:42) - Audio & Video Gear
(01:42:46) - Other Tools
(01:50:53) - Tools We Don't Love
(01:52:01) - Outro
Hosts
Kris Brandow - Host
Ian Wester-Lopshire - Host
Dylan Bourque - Host
Matthew Sanabria - Host
Socials:WebsiteBlueskyThreadsX/TwitterLinkedInInstagram

7 snips
Feb 24, 2025 • 1h 35min
Ghosttying Go
Mitchell Hashimoto, co-founder of Hashicorp and creator of Vagrant and Terraform, joins the discussion to unveil Ghostty, an innovative terminal emulator. He shares insights about its development challenges and the importance of community feedback. The conversation also dives into the Zig programming language, highlighting its advantages over Rust and Go. Hashimoto reflects on the evolving identity of Go amidst generics, urging a focus on creativity in programming languages. Plus, they explore the significance of contributing to open source projects and the power of expressing unpopular opinions.


