Book Overflow

Cal Newport, an MIT-educated computer scientist and productivity expert, shares his insights on 'slow productivity.' He discusses working at a natural pace and obsessing over quality, contrasting these principles with traditional productivity norms. Newport emphasizes the importance of adapting work to natural rhythms and taking quality breaks to enhance creativity. Through personal reflections and examples, he illustrates how improving one's taste in art can elevate creative endeavors, highlighting the significance of commitment and community in achieving meaningful work.

Neal Ford, a seasoned software architect and author, dives deep into the insights of his book, Building Evolutionary Architectures. He explores the dynamics of co-authoring and the creative process behind branding in technical writing, sharing amusing anecdotes about his signature red glasses. The conversation covers 'last responsible moments' in agile development, the role of AI in enhancing architectural decisions, and the balance between coupling and microservices in modern software. Listeners will appreciate the blend of technical discussions and personal stories.

Explore the transformative concept of 'Slow Productivity' and its crucial role in combating burnout among knowledge workers. Discover how prioritizing high-value tasks can foster genuine productivity while avoiding the pitfalls of mere busyness. The discussion sheds light on personal experiences and historical insights, emphasizing the importance of intentional focus over hustle culture. Gain practical strategies for managing tasks effectively, establishing routines, and enhancing collaboration—ultimately leading to reduced stress and improved efficiency.

In this special episode of Book Overflow, Adrienne Braganza joins Carter Morgan and Nathan Toups to reflect on her book, "Looks Good To Me." Join them as they discuss what motivated her to learn so much about code reviews, the process of becoming an author, and what motivated her to become a software engineer in the first place! -- Books Mentioned in this Episode -- Note: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. ---------------------------------------------------------- Looks Good To Me by Adrienne Braganza https://amzn.to/3AZHTFz Working Effectively With Legacy Code by Michael C. Feathers https://amzn.to/3Xox8UJ You Don't Need a Title to Be a Leader by Mark Sanborn https://amzn.to/3AUWamU Della Fattoria Bread: 63 Foolproof Recipes for Yeasted, Enriched & Naturally Leavened Breads by Kathleen Weber https://amzn.to/4e54QpK The Best Simple Recipes: More Than 200 Flavorful, Foolproof Recipes That Cook in 30 Minutes or Less by America's Test Kitchen https://amzn.to/4efcE8t ---------------- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5kj6DLCEWR5nHShlSYJI5L Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/book-overflow/id1745257325 X: https://x.com/bookoverflowpod Carter on X: https://x.com/cartermorgan ---------------- Book Overflow is a podcast for software engineers, by software engineers dedicated to improving our craft by reading the best technical books in the world. Join Carter Morgan and Nathan Toups as they read and discuss a new technical book each week! The full book schedule and links to every major podcast player can be found at https://www.bookoverflow.io

In this episode of Book Overflow, Carter Morgan and Nathan Toups discuss "Looks Good To Me" by Adrienne Braganza. Join them as they discuss what makes a bad code review, pair programming, AI automation, and more!

Stephen Wolfram, a renowned scientist and author, dives into his book about ChatGPT, revealing insights from his experiments with OpenAI. He connects his early work in particle physics to modern LLMs, questioning if ChatGPT exhibits genuine intelligence. The conversation explores the intricacies of neural networks, emphasizing the importance of data quality and the ethical challenges in AI. Wolfram also touches on the unpredictable nature of LLMs and the necessity for clarity in AI outputs, showcasing how curiosity fuels innovation in technology.

In this episode of Book Overflow, Carter Morgan and Nathan toups discuss "Looks Good To Me" by Adrienne Braganza. Join them as they discuss everything about code reviews, including automation, team procedures, and more! Carter on For Your Amusement: https://youtu.be/rhdyrTXbvlg?si=9csVUrBEWonG40VY To get links to the books mentioned in this episode, check the YouTube episode description at https://youtu.be/8B4_hl2dcow 00:00 Intro 04:30 About the Book 07:04 General Thoughts on the Book 12:49 A high-level overview of code reviews 16:14 Learning together, knowledge-sharing, Jargon, Process, and Automation 27:00 Keys to Effective Code Review Process, Roles, and Expectations 46:07 Tools, Platforms, and Patterns Standards for Code Reviews 01:03:46 Closing Thoughts Tools and technology mentioned in the episode: - Phabricator https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phabricator - Phorge (successor to Phabricator) https://we.phorge.it/ - Gerrit https://www.gerritcodereview.com/ - Conventional Commits https://www.conventionalcommits.org/en/v1.0.0/ - Github https://github.com/ - Semantic Versioning (SEMVER) https://semver.org/ Book Overflow is a podcast for software engineers, by software engineers dedicated to improving our craft by reading the best technical books in the world. Join Carter Morgan and Nathan Toups as they read and discuss a new technical book each week! The full book schedule and links to every major podcast player can be found at https://www.bookoverflow.io

Carl Brown, an incredibly well-read software engineer with a 35-year career, shares insights from his extensive literary journey. He discusses the enduring relevance of foundational tech books like 'Mythical Man-Month' and 'Philosophy of Software Design'. Carl emphasizes the importance of clean coding practices and navigates the challenges of freelancing, shaped by his experiences with ADHD. He also recommends essential reads for tackling database management and debugging, highlighting how critical literature fosters deep understanding in complex engineering discussions.

Delve into the world of evolutionary architectures and their nuances in software design. Learn about the pitfalls of tight coupling and the importance of adaptability in data engineering. Discover the challenges posed by low-code solutions and the strategic decision-making required in agile development. The discussion emphasizes the need for a deep understanding of architectural anti-patterns, fostering a culture of awareness to avoid common mistakes, all while advocating for informed, iterative practices in tech.

In this special episode of Book Overflow, Carter Morgan and Nathan Toups sit down with Scott Tolinski, the host of the web development podcast Syntax. Join the three of them as they discuss Scott's favorite books, his career as a developer, and what you can learn by being a voracious reader! Links to all the books discussed in the episode can be found in the YouTube episode description: https://youtu.be/kJs9pVy94jM