
Book Overflow
In a world of short-form content, it's important to engage with long-form ideas. Book Overflow is a podcast created for software engineers, by software engineers to discuss the best technical books in the world. Join co-hosts Carter Morgan and Nathan Toups each week as they discuss a new technical book! New episodes every Monday!
Latest episodes

7 snips
Jan 27, 2025 • 1h 11min
Make Web 1.0 Great Again! - Hypermedia Systems by Gross, Stepinski, & Akşimşek
Explore the challenges of JavaScript fatigue and the simplicity of HTML for UI development. The hosts celebrate community engagement and their journey into Hypermedia Systems. Discover the transformative power of HTMX and its practical applications in modern web development. They revisit Web 1.0's design philosophies, critiquing contemporary practices. A discussion on the evolution from client-side to server-side rendering reveals insights for enhancing user experience. The podcast emphasizes integrating simplicity in tech while comparing HTMX to traditional frameworks.

19 snips
Jan 23, 2025 • 1h 6min
Kent Beck Reflects on Tidy First?
Kent Beck, author of "Tidy First?" and a pioneer in software engineering, shares insights on programming design and its artistry. He discusses the power of tidying practices, contrasting them with refactoring, and the economic benefits of clean code. Kent emphasizes the necessity of play and creativity for innovation while advocating for 'slow productivity'. He also highlights the balance of theory and practice, underscoring the impact of thoughtful decision-making in software engineering.

8 snips
Jan 20, 2025 • 1h 26min
Project Leadership & Understanding the Business - The Software Engineer's Guidebook by Gergely Orosz
Explore the nuances of project leadership in tech, with insights on stakeholder management that can transform your approach. Understand the delicate balance of work/life dynamics and how to enhance communication in diverse teams. Discover the importance of mentorship for career growth and the varying management styles between leading tech giants. Enjoy personal anecdotes that highlight the path from structured roles to more autonomous positions, shedding light on productivity measures and the value of psychological safety in the workplace.

13 snips
Jan 13, 2025 • 1h 17min
Owning Your Career - The Software Engineer's Guidebook by Gergely Orosz
Discover the secrets of software engineering careers! The hosts dive into compensation strategies, performance review tips, and the nuances of career paths in tech. They compare experiences at big companies and startups, stressing the importance of aligning personal goals with organizational cultures. Gain insights on how to take charge of your career, track your achievements, and navigate terminal levels effectively. Personal anecdotes and valuable lessons make this discussion engaging and practical for any engineer!

Dec 16, 2024 • 55min
Guess That Quote! - Book Overflow 2024
Carter and Nathan put their knowledge to the test by guessing quotes from technical books discussed throughout the year. The trivia challenge adds a fun twist as they blend competition with humor, reflecting on themes like adaptability in software design. They dive into evolutionary architecture and its role in continuous delivery, while also examining the balance between software architecture and managing technical debt. The discussion extends to effective code review practices and the significance of naming in software design, wrapped up with anecdotes and light-hearted banter.

4 snips
Dec 9, 2024 • 1h 3min
Our Top Five Books! - Book Overflow 2024
This discussion features the hosts' top five technical books of the year, emphasizing the standout title on Software Architecture. They dive into their personal reading influences and contrasting tastes—like chiptunes versus orchestral music. A lively chat explores the future of AI in workplaces, addressing misconceptions about AI's evolution. They also reflect on their podcast journey, the significance of storytelling in tech, and the importance of foundational texts that shape software engineering perspectives.

Dec 2, 2024 • 1h 22min
Accountability Retrospective - Book Overflow 2024
Carter and Nathan reflect on their growth from reading technical books, sharing successes and lessons learned. They dive into coding strategies influenced by 'The Practice of Programming' and embrace their curiosity about software architecture, highlighting challenges with Git and Unix. With humor, they tackle legacy code and discuss preferences in programming languages like Rust and Go. Collaborative pair programming and fitness functions for system testing emerge as key topics, pursued to enhance productivity and refine methodologies in their professional journeys.

16 snips
Nov 25, 2024 • 1h 14min
Agile, Good or Bad? - The Agile Manifesto
Dive into the influential Agile Manifesto and its legacy in modern software development. The hosts discuss its core principles, contrasting Agile with traditional methods, and share personal critiques from the engineering community. They explore the challenges of remote team communication and the importance of face-to-face interactions. Also, discover the balance between agility and quality in delivering software. Finally, they reflect on the evolution of Agile and the need to uphold its foundational ideals amidst commercial pressures.

14 snips
Nov 18, 2024 • 1h 11min
Web App Fundamentals - The Twelve-Factor App
Explore the Twelve-Factor App methodology, essential for building resilient web applications. Discover how scalability, statelessness, and structured logging can enhance development practices. The conversation also dives into monorepos, the transition from SQL to NoSQL, and the importance of clean software architecture. Learn about managing application releases with feature flags and the necessity of treating administrative tasks as automated processes. This insightful discussion covers the evolution of deployment strategies and the role of containers in modern development.

Nov 11, 2024 • 1h 7min
Brian Kernighan Reflects on Unix: A History and a Memoir
Brian Kernighan, a pivotal figure in computer science known for his work on Unix and the C programming language, shares his insights on innovation and legacy. He reflects on his time at Bell Labs, the unique environment that fostered creativity, and the contributions of overlooked figures like Doug McIlroy. Kernighan discusses the evolution of programming concepts like associative arrays, the ongoing relevance of Unix philosophies, and the challenges of modern tech innovation. He also muses on whether another groundbreaking idea like Unix could emerge today.