The Stack Overflow Podcast

Join Kathleen Vigneault, VP of Software Engineering at Capital One, as she shares her fascinating journey from structural engineering to tech innovation in banking. Discover how Capital One transitioned to a 99% cloud-based environment, mastering serverless architecture and tackling challenges like cold start issues. She also discusses the transformative role of AI and open source in financial services, along with the importance of compliance in software development. Plus, dive into the community’s role in tech through collaborative insights!

Jan Sierodinski, a security engineer and pentester at GuardSquare, discusses critical vulnerabilities in mobile application security. He explores the pressing risks of editable mobile code and identity verification, illustrated by real-world examples like a food delivery app's security breach. The conversation dives into advanced strategies for defending against binary-level code attacks, including obfuscation techniques and encryption. Sierodinski also highlights the evolving role of AI in code analysis and the importance of adapting security practices in today's landscape.

Will Wilson, Co-founder and CEO of Antithesis, shares his transformative journey from tech skeptic to passionate developer. The conversation dives into deterministic simulation testing, showcasing how it revolutionizes bug detection and enhances developer efficiency. Wilson emphasizes the power of AI in automating tedious debugging tasks and discusses the intricate relationship between simulations and generative AI. He also reveals innovative strategies for managing bugs effectively, ensuring software stability while tackling technical debt.

Glen Coates, VP of Product at Shopify, shares insights into enhancing the developer experience on the platform. He discusses the challenges of maintaining backwards compatibility while introducing new features. The focus shifts to the evolution of Shopify themes, showcasing how AI is simplifying development. Glen also weighs the pros and cons of building versus buying solutions, emphasizing the importance of effective tools. Finally, he highlights community engagement in addressing developer challenges, celebrating the contributions of users in advancing the platform.

Dan Shiebler, Head of Machine Learning at Abnormal Security, shares his extensive AI expertise and insights into cybersecurity. He discusses the powerful integration of AI agents in threat detection and how they enhance productivity in enterprises. Challenges in AI implementation are highlighted, particularly the balance between traditional methods and modern capabilities. Ethical considerations and the importance of safeguards against AI misuse are crucial themes, alongside the excitement surrounding AI's transformative potential in protecting sensitive data.

Douwe Kiela, CEO of Contextual AI and a pioneer in retrieval augmented generation, shares insights on building platforms for RAG agents. He delves into the evolution of AI and its impact on natural language processing. A key topic is addressing the hallucination issue in generative models, showcasing how RAG enhances accuracy. Douwe also discusses the role of synthetic data in model training and the future possibilities of intelligent agents, emphasizing the transformative potential of these technologies.

Tyler McEntee, a Senior Software Developer at Jona, discusses his journey from electrical engineering to gut health tech innovation. The conversation dives into the collaboration between AI engineers and medical professionals for gut biome analysis. Tyler shares insights on using TypeScript for better team dynamics and transitioning to a performance-focused architecture. He also highlights enhancements in report generation processes and emphasizes the importance of prioritization in fast-paced development environments.

Matthew McCullough, VP of Product for the Android Developer Experience, shares insights on the latest updates in Android Developer’s Studio. He discusses the push towards more efficient development through innovative tools and automation. The integration of AI in prototyping is highlighted, showcasing how it enhances creativity while safeguarding privacy. Also featured are advancements in Kotlin and its community impact, coupled with an exploration of extended reality's role in consumer confidence. McCullough's passion for improving developer experiences shines throughout.

Jeremy Edberg, CEO of DBOS and former tech leader at Reddit and Netflix, and Chen Li, Co-founder and researcher from Stanford and MIT, dive into the world of durable execution. They discuss how DBOS Transact simplifies error recovery in microservices, crucial for today’s demanding AI applications. The conversation highlights the significance of database checkpointing and the role of tools to enhance reliability in machine learning pipelines. Their insights illuminate the need for resilience in an increasingly complex software landscape.

Christophe Kunratz, SVP of DevRel at Salesforce, shares his passion for empowering developers with cutting-edge technology. He dives into the new Developer Edition that includes Data Cloud and Agentforce, designed for building autonomous AI agents. The conversation explores how these agents can enhance employee productivity and customer support. Christophe also discusses the transformative potential of agentic AI, emphasizing the shift to conversational interfaces and the role of hackathons in driving innovation for developers.