Adventures in DevOps

Jillian returns to the podcast after a significant move from Doha, Qatar to a quaint town in New Hampshire. She shares her experiences of adjusting back to life in the U.S., both personally and professionally. The discussion delves into the logistics and emotional aspects of relocating internationally—what it’s like leaving behind furniture deemed disposable overseas, starting fresh with new purchases, and dealing with unexpected challenges along the way.Additionally, they talk about the Dora metrics and the emphasis on why measuring these metrics is crucial for understanding DevOps efficiency within organizations. They also dive into the importance of setting hypotheses when attempting organizational changes. And discuss the challenges faced by companies who fail at measuring progress post-experimentation.SocialsLinkedIn: Jillian RoweLinkedIn: Will ButtonLinkedIn: Warren Parad

Brian Vallelunga, founder of Doppler and former Uber security expert, shares his insights into the intricate world of secrets management. He emphasizes the necessity of robust practices for handling sensitive information in development. The conversation highlights the importance of integrating security from day one and the potential of identity-based authentication to simplify access. Brian also discusses the evolving security landscape, practical tips for safeguarding data, and the challenges of achieving SOC 2 compliance—all while keeping developer productivity in focus!

Today, we have a dynamic discussion lined up with Will and special guest, Ben Johnson, the CEO of Particle 41. In this episode, they delve deep into the evolving landscape of the tech industry, from incentivizing certifications to the current economic conditions affecting startups.Ben shares his insights on the importance of experience and specialized knowledge, advocating for a system that prioritizes certifications as objective measures of learning. Will critiques the education system and proposes an apprenticeship model as a solution to existing gaps.The conversation also navigates the complexities of the modern job market, the impact of layoffs, and the startup ecosystem's challenges due to economic constraints. We explore innovative paths like personal entrepreneurship, brand building, and creating niche software solutions.Ben and Will also debate the merits of generalism versus specialization, the use of AI in development, and the strategic value of certifications. Plus, we'll touch on the transformative potential SocialsLinkedIn: Ben Johnson

Charles is joined by Caleb Fornari and Jeffrey Groman as we discuss the challenges of public versus private package managers and the security implications of using public repositories.LinksAdventures in DevOps - Devchat.tvDependency Confusion: How I Hacked Into Apple, Microsoft and Dozens of Other CompaniesDevchat.tv | JSJ 357: Event-Stream & Package Vulnerabilities with Richard Feldman and Hillel WayneMalicious code found in npm package event-stream downloaded 8 million times in the past 2.5 monthsGitHub | The Node Security PlatformPicksCaleb- Have a plan to mitigate damage if someone is able to get inside your network. Don’t just secure the public side of your technical infrastructure, make sure your internal security as just as strong as your external security.Charles- Dev Heroes Accelerator | Devchat.tvCharles-  The Umbrella Academy | NetflixCharles- Personal RetreatJeffrey- Asset management: Know and document where all of your digital assets reside. Whether servers, VMs, EC2 instances, and all of your structured and unstructured data.Jeffrey- You can’t secure what you don’t know about

Dive into the challenges of career longevity in tech, as the discussion uncovers the significance of staying with projects to master complex issues. Explore the delicate balance between technical and soft skills necessary for effective management. Hear about the nuances of job satisfaction and the value of adaptability in navigating career transitions. The speakers share humor and insights on personal development, burnout, and the lessons from influential literature that shape professional growth.

In today's episode, Warren and Will dive into the difficulties of coordinating between marketing and engineering teams, particularly around handling increased traffic and sales during the holiday season. The discussion covers the importance of auditing code and looking for potential issues or technical debt at the end of the year. The hosts also explore strategies for pitching and justifying technical projects or rewrites to management, emphasizing the need to frame them in terms of business impact. They conclude by reflecting on the value of stepping back from day-to-day tasks at the end of the year to gain a broader organizational perspective.SocialsLinkedIn: Warren ParadLinkedIn: Will ButtonPicksWill - Half-Life: Alyx

Will, an advocate for mastermind groups, and Warren, a participant, explore how these groups can elevate careers in DevOps. They unravel the origins of mastermind groups, discussing why most fail and what makes the successful ones tick. Sharing personal anecdotes, they connect accountability to emergency preparedness, drawing insights from military training. The conversation also dives into networking strategies, public speaking tips, and the significance of meaningful relationships in professional growth, all sprinkled with practical advice for forming effective mastermind groups.

In today’s episode, Will Button and Warren are joined by special guest Eyal Solomon, co-founder of Lunar.dev. This episode dives deep into pressing DevOps topics like the complexities of Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions and the intricacies of the API economy. They explore the challenges of API management, the importance of visibility and monitoring in API consumption, and strategies to prevent issues like rate limiting and billing surprises.Eyal shares his journey from infrastructure optimization to specializing in API management, highlighting how Lunar dot Dev helps companies handle API quotas, security, and performance through their innovative platform. We also delve into integrating AI within APIs, managing API costs, and the rising trend of AI agents.Join them as they dissect the importance of combining storytelling with educational insights in various content forms, from books to YouTube channels. Learn how running can be a form of meditation and problem-solving, and get top book recommendations from our hosts. Whether you’re dealing with API challenges or looking to optimize your DevOps practices, this episode is packed with valuable insights straight from the experts. Don’t miss out!LinksLunar.devSocialsLinkedIn: Eyal Solomon

Today, Will and Warren dive into the intersection of DevOps and AI with our special guest, Görkem Ercan, CTO of Jozu and a seasoned expert in developer tools and DevOps. In this episode, they explore the practical applications and challenges of integrating Machine Learning into DevOps workflows, utilizing real-world examples like global shirt distribution and the US Army's sizing issues. They also discuss the critical role of psychological safety in successful teams, the surprising origins of the webcam, and the remarkable engineering feats of the Voyager spacecraft.Moreover, they unpack the intricacies of AI model management, confronting issues like non-deterministic outcomes, data drift, and the need for a unified control plane to handle complex, dynamic environments. They touch on the rise of internal AI management, the innovative use of sentiment analysis in customer support, and the surprising interest from consulting firms in AI-driven solutions.SocialsLinkedIn: Görkem ErcanGorkem Ercan 

In this engaging conversation, Markus Thurner, director of technology at Vista, delves into the realm of DevOps and engineering excellence. He highlights the crucial balance between training engineers and maintaining productivity. The group discusses the evolving landscape of cloud services versus on-premise data centers, and the complexities of managing costs. Drawing fascinating analogies from sports, they emphasize the importance of teamwork, scalable coding practices, and continual improvement. Plus, they share tech recommendations and an inspiring Metallica twist tied to history!