Engineering Culture by InfoQ cover image

Engineering Culture by InfoQ

Latest episodes

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30 snips
Jul 18, 2025 • 27min

Building a Product-First Engineering Culture in the Age of AI

Zach Lloyd, founder of Warp and former Google engineer, discusses the need for a product-first engineering culture. He emphasizes core values like honesty and user focus in shaping teams. Zach also highlights fostering ownership among engineers and adapting to AI in software development. He stresses the importance of integrating AI tools while maintaining code quality and foundational programming skills. Lastly, he calls for a revised computer science curriculum that balances traditional knowledge with practical skills in a rapidly changing tech landscape.
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9 snips
Jul 11, 2025 • 30min

GitHub Next: how their research and prototyping team operates

Idan Gazit, leader of GitHub Next and previous core contributor to Django, joins the discussion alongside Eddie Aftandilian. They share how their playful approach to prototyping fuels innovation in AI-powered development tools. The conversation dives into interdisciplinary collaboration within their team, navigating project development challenges, and the importance of user feedback. They highlight the power of demos in creative processes and the role of AI models in simplifying programming learning, inspiring listeners to engage with new software tools.
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16 snips
Jul 4, 2025 • 29min

Trust-first Leadership and Building Great Teams

Natan Žabkar Nordberg, an Engineering Manager with a passion for people management and team environments, shares his insights on trust-first leadership. He discusses the importance of treating team members as whole humans and the concept of guided autonomy, providing clear boundaries for empowerment. Natan emphasizes the value of diversity in teams and approaches leadership with a focus on individual growth through personalized strategies. He also highlights how constructive conflict and improvisational principles can enhance teamwork and innovation.
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6 snips
Jun 27, 2025 • 26min

From Code to Strategy: Drive Organizational Impact Through Strategic Conversations and User Focus

Mark Allen, Head of Engineering at Isometric and a leader in climate tech, discusses how engineers can extend their influence through strategic conversations and user-focused development. He shares insights on the dual impact of technology, emphasizing its benefits and challenges in addressing climate issues. Mark highlights the significance of engaging in meaningful dialogues and effective mentoring for professional growth. He also underscores the importance of understanding user needs and the role of incident management in fostering team dynamics.
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16 snips
Jun 20, 2025 • 26min

Productivity Through Play: Why Messing Around Makes Better Software Engineers

Holly Cummins, an engineer on the Quarkus team at Red Hat, shares her insights on enhancing productivity through unconventional methods. She discusses how "messing around" and integrating playful downtime can significantly boost problem-solving abilities in software engineering. Holly emphasizes the importance of managing cognitive load as engineers shift from coding to more complex roles involving AI tools. By fostering curiosity and creativity, she advocates for a balanced approach that nurtures long-term performance and combats burnout in the tech industry.
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31 snips
Jun 13, 2025 • 29min

Technology Radar and the Reality of AI in Software Development

In this engaging discussion, Rachel Laycock, Global CTO of ThoughtWorks, shares her insights from 15 years in technology leadership. She delves into the importance of the Technology Radar, which encourages rich debate on software trends. Laycock expresses skepticism about the current AI hype, emphasizing its true potential in tackling complex issues like legacy code rather than merely speeding up coding. The conversation also highlights the need for human creativity and expertise as automation rises, ensuring that seasoned engineers remain invaluable in the evolving tech landscape.
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25 snips
Jun 6, 2025 • 23min

Using AI Code Generation to Migrate 20000 Tests

Sergii Gorbachov, a Staff Engineer at Slack, shares insights on a groundbreaking project that migrated 20,000 tests in just 10 months. He discusses the blend of AI and traditional coding techniques, emphasizing that AI alone wasn't sufficient without human oversight. The conversation highlights the evolving role of developers as they collaborate with AI to tackle complex tasks and ensure code quality. Sergii also touches on the challenges of pull request dynamics, the impact of testing metrics, and how generative AI can be harnessed for specific engineering problems.
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19 snips
May 30, 2025 • 35min

Emerson Murphy-Hill on Engineering Productivity, Team Dynamics and Equity

Emerson Murphy-Hill, a research scientist at Microsoft specializing in developer tools and productivity, shares valuable insights from his vast experience at Microsoft and Google. He discusses the complexities of measuring developer productivity, emphasizing the importance of team dynamics and psychological safety. The conversation also highlights systemic biases in engineering, particularly in code reviews, and how AI tools can both aid and hinder equity among engineers. Emerson advocates for inclusivity while navigating the evolving landscape of remote work and AI in the tech industry.
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13 snips
May 23, 2025 • 29min

Technical Leadership: Building Powerful Solutions with Simplicity and Inclusion

Bhavani Vangala, Head of Engineering at Onimus, is a tech leader with a rich background in both startups and large companies. She discusses the significance of simplifying technology in healthcare to enhance user experiences. The conversation also touches on the cautious integration of generative AI and the need for human verification. Vangala highlights the importance of fostering an inclusive environment for women in tech, emphasizing collaboration and leveraging strengths to overcome challenges. Compassionate leadership is framed as essential for a thriving engineering culture.
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10 snips
May 9, 2025 • 1h 7min

InfoQ Culture & Methods Trends in 2025

Charity Majors, co-founder and CTO of Honeycomb.io, joins Ben Linders, Raph Gamel, and Craig Smith to discuss how AI is reshaping software development. They delve into balancing AI advancements with team collaboration and the crucial role of mentorship for junior engineers. The conversation highlights the importance of psychological safety, effective communication, and using performance metrics to boost team productivity. Listeners will also learn about the evolution of observability in tech and its impact on fostering a high-performing culture amidst rapid innovation.

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