Develop Yourself

Brian Jenney
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Sep 4, 2025 • 20min

#270 - Coding in the Age of AI: What No One’s Telling You

AI is changing coding faster than anyone expected. Two years ago, autocomplete felt wild—now people with zero dev experience are shipping apps over a weekend. The question isn’t “is AI replacing developers?” It’s “how do you actually use it without wrecking your codebase?” In this episode, I’ll break down when to use AI (and when not to), why Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) is the real game-changer, and how you can stay valuable as a new developer in a world full of hype.Send us a textShameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Join Parsity - Become a full stack AI developer in 6-9 months. ✉️ Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Zubin's LinkedIn (ex-lawyer, former Googler, Brian-look-a-like)
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Sep 1, 2025 • 13min

#269 - I'm Burnt Out! The 3 Worst Parts About Being a Software Developer (and why I still love it)

It’s Labor Day weekend and, honestly? I’m burned out.Maybe this isn’t the best business move, but I’d rather keep it real with you than fake the whole “everything is great in tech” narrative.I’ve been plenty vocal about why AI isn’t about to replace us all tomorrow, much to the dismay of to all the AI bros out there.But here’s the other side: being a developer is nothing like those “day in the life” TikToks where someone shows up to the office around 10AM, gets a fancy coffee, fixes a UI bug and then gets a 400K salary with stock options.So here it is—my three worst parts of being a software developer.... and why I still enjoy what I do.Send us a textShameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Join Parsity - Become a full stack AI developer in 6-9 months. ✉️ Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Zubin's LinkedIn (ex-lawyer, former Googler, Brian-look-a-like)
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Aug 28, 2025 • 12min

#268 - An AI Agent Horror Story: What Happens When AI Runs a Business?

What happens when you give an AI agent full control over a small business?I mean, what could go wrong?Things started off rough and then got down right creepy near the end of this experiment.You can read the original article here: https://www.anthropic.com/research/project-vend-1Send us a textShameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Join Parsity - Become a full stack AI developer in 6-9 months. ✉️ Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Zubin's LinkedIn (ex-lawyer, former Googler, Brian-look-a-like)
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Aug 25, 2025 • 25min

#267 - Step-by-Step: Build a Real AI Project with Next.js & RAG

Explore the intriguing world of AI engineering and discover what it truly means to build real projects. Learn how to develop a Retrieval Augmented Generation app using Next.js and TypeScript. The discussion covers techniques like web scraping, storing content in vector databases, and reducing AI hallucinations for reliable outputs. The host shares insights from their experience in AI startups, highlighting the skills that employers are currently seeking in the ever-evolving tech landscape.
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Aug 21, 2025 • 41min

#266 - Startups 101: Insider Secrets for Aspiring Developers

Gabe Rucker, CEO of Founding Titans and a seasoned entrepreneur, shares insights from his transition from coder to founder. He discusses essential strategies for raising capital and validating startup ideas. Gabe emphasizes the importance of networking for both startups and job seekers. He also highlights how Parsity students gained hands-on experience through internships, collaborating with real AI teams. The conversation further dives into the role of AI in development and the cyclical nature of tech innovation, urging a balanced approach to leveraging technology.
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Aug 18, 2025 • 19min

#265 - Why JavaScript Feels So Hard To Learn: You're Making One of These Mistakes

When I first tried to learn JavaScript, I hated it so much I told myself I’d just be an HTML and CSS developer and never touch it again. Of course, my first job threw me straight into Angular, C#, SQL, and a mountain of JavaScript I wasn’t ready for.In this episode, I share what made JavaScript so brutal for me (and for almost every student I’ve worked with), the mistakes that keep people stuck, and the science-backed strategies that actually helped me go from totally lost to confident. If you’ve been banging your head against for loops, callbacks, or just “getting it,” this one’s for you.Send us a textShameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Join Parsity - Become a full stack AI developer in 6-9 months. ✉️ Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Zubin's LinkedIn (ex-lawyer, former Googler, Brian-look-a-like)
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Aug 14, 2025 • 23min

#265 - The 4 Databases Every Developer Should Know (Including 2 You Probably Don't)

Discover the vital databases every developer should master, including some you may not have heard of. Unearth the differences between relational and NoSQL databases and learn how to choose the right tool for your projects. Explore the significance of search index and vector databases, particularly in AI applications. Gain insights into how these technologies can enhance your data management and responsiveness in future developments.
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Aug 11, 2025 • 29min

#264 - Stack Overflow's 2025 Developer Survey: Surprising Takeaways on AI, Coding Languages and Work

Discover intriguing insights from a vast developer survey that reveals shifting demographics and the growing significance of AI tools. Many developers express skepticism about AI's integration into coding, raising questions about its real impact on quality. The conversation highlights the rise of full-stack development and the evolving skill sets required in the industry. Dive into the shifting landscape of programming languages and the ongoing relevance of traditional skills as developers navigate these exciting trends.
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Aug 7, 2025 • 13min

#263 - They're Lying to You About AI Productivity: Hype vs Reality for Coders

Maybe I'm just coping.Maybe.I’ve been pretty vocal about the over-hype of AI coding tools and I always get the same responses from AI bros:“YoU gOtta PrOmpt bEtteR!”“This iz a skillz issue dawg”“I’m using [x] and it works perfectly”“I’m a super duper senior architect and I’ve replaced my entire team with AI agents. You’re coping.”I’d be lying if I said I didn’t doubt myself.Maybe they’re right, maybe I’m just not using these tools correctly.Let’s take a look at some big fax and small fax to understand where the truth ends and the hype begins.Sources: TrueUp Software Engineering Job Trends (June 2025)Business Insider: Google engineers just 10% more productive with AI (June 2025)Computerworld: Minimal productivity gains from AI chatbots TechRepublic: IBM Study on AI ROI (2025)https://metr.org/blog/2025-07-10-early-2025-ai-experienced-os-dev-study/Send us a textShameless Plugs 🧑‍💻 Join Parsity - Become a full stack AI developer in 6-9 months. ✉️ Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Zubin's LinkedIn (ex-lawyer, former Googler, Brian-look-a-like)
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Aug 4, 2025 • 35min

#262 - 12 Months to Hired: A No-Fluff Roadmap to Becoming a Software Developer

In this insightful discussion, the hosts lay out a pragmatic 12-month roadmap for aspiring software developers. They emphasize mastering in-demand technologies like React and Node, while warning against pitfalls like over-relying on certification. Effective networking strategies are highlighted, particularly in leveraging existing contacts. The importance of meaningful projects is underscored, and there's advice on gaining initial experience with smaller companies. Dive into system design insights and discover key books that can enhance your career prospects!

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