Dev Interrupted

Tyson Singer, Head of Technology and Platforms at Spotify, discusses the transformative journey from spreadsheets to Backstage in managing their microservices ecosystem. He reveals how Spotify aligns teams with 'golden paths' and adopts a product mindset for internal tools. Tyson highlights the success of the AI Knowledge Assistant, which slashed support tickets by nearly 50%. He also explores the evolution of Backstage into a SaaS offering and shares insights on cultivating a culture of sustainable innovation within engineering teams.

The hosts explore the viral "Ralph Loop" phenomenon, highlighting its role in reshaping code unit economics. They unpack the chaotic "Gas Town" concept for AI orchestration and debate whether AI is threatening the individual contributor role. Additionally, they share a humorous take on a creepy link generator that tests our online trust. With insights on automation and new engineering paradigms, this discussion is a mix of innovation and levity.

Geoffrey Huntley, the mind behind the 'Ralph' coding loop, discusses the transformation of software development into a more autonomous and efficient practice. He emphasizes the importance of deterministic context allocation and the implications for unit economics in coding. Huntley explores managing context rot and the concept of building personal 'Gas Towns' of coding agents. His insights on the future of engineering versus mere development push for a reevaluation of roles and encourage curiosity in adapting to the evolving landscape.

Ameesh Paleja, EVP of Enterprise Platforms at Capital One, leads a tech-driven transformation in banking. He shares how Capital One operates like a tech company, empowering 14,000 engineers to innovate swiftly in a regulated space. Ameesh emphasizes the importance of standardization for scaling, enhancing resilience, and freeing developers to focus on customer needs. He also discusses leveraging AI for code reviews and emphasizes effective communication as key to professional advancement. His insights offer a fascinating look into modernizing finance through technology.

The hosts reflect on a transformative year, celebrating their growth and gratitude. They dive into the potential of AI in automating mundane tasks, allowing more room for creativity. A discussion on MCP agents highlights the need for safeguards and accountability for AI-generated code. They reassess outdated engineering principles and tackle the ongoing shift to remote work, questioning if return-to-office mandates are merely masking layoffs. Plus, insights from Cloudflare on internet traffic trends add a timely touch.

Manoj Mohan, an engineering executive with experience at Intuit, Meta, and Apple, shares insights on the evolving role of leadership in tech. He argues that as AI becomes more integrated, the demand for strategic oversight is skyrocketing. Manoj outlines his '3GF' framework for responsible AI and stresses the importance of starting with customer pain points. He also discusses reducing developer toil through automation, and the necessity for leaders to cultivate daily learning and adaptability in the age of AI.

Elliot Marx, co-founder of Chalk and fintech infrastructure expert, discusses the crucial shift from pre-computed data towards real-time data pipelines for AI and ML. He highlights how real-time compute can significantly reduce costs and latency, and emphasizes the importance of strong problem-solving skills over specific programming language expertise. Elliot advocates for incremental development, empowering engineers, and maintaining close customer relationships to shape product roadmaps. He also touches on the necessity of leadership skills in the AI era.

Erin Yepis, Research Manager at Stack Overflow, discusses the 2025 Developer Survey. She highlights a rebound in developer job satisfaction, driven by autonomy and pay increases. Erin explores the happiness gap between junior and senior engineers and reveals a surprising decline in trust for AI tools despite rising adoption. They also analyze why 'vibe coding' isn't resonating with professionals and offer strategies for leaders to engage developers better in an evolving tech landscape.

Craig McLuckie, Co-founder and CEO of Stacklok and Kubernetes co-creator, navigates the future of AI with a bold 'AI maximalism' mindset. He argues for a shift in leadership thinking from 'can we?' to 'why can't we?' Delving into the probabilistic nature of large language models, Craig discusses their successes and failures. He also explores the evolving roles in teams, the concept of disposable code for rapid prototyping, and the risks of shadow IT. His insights aim to empower organizations to thrive in an AI-driven landscape.

Anush Elangovan, VP of AI Software at AMD, shares insights on the transformative power of innovation speed in AI. He advocates for AMD's open-source ROCm strategy, emphasizing how collaboration fuels faster development compared to proprietary systems. Anush explores the balance needed for diverse user needs and reveals how real-world applications like automating mundane tasks represent the 'last mile' opportunity in AI. His vision for openness not only accelerates progress but also empowers developers to tackle complex challenges collectively.