Overcommitted

Annie Sexton, a developer advocate from fly.io and YouTube content creator, shares her inspiring transition from software engineering to advocacy. She discusses the importance of teaching complex concepts in simpler terms and emphasizes authentic communication in tech. Annie highlights how storytelling can build trust and engage audiences, and the role of AI in learning. The conversation also touches on personal interests that enrich the lives of tech professionals, showcasing a well-rounded approach to life in the industry.

SummaryIn this episode of the Overcommitted Podcast, Brittany, Erika, and Jonathan delve into the complex relationship between software engineering, social media, and ethics. They explore their personal experiences with social media, the evolution of algorithms, and the monetization strategies that have transformed platforms into profit-driven entities. The conversation highlights the societal impacts of social media, particularly on mental health, and discusses the responsibilities of engineers in creating user-centered designs. They also consider potential regulatory measures, such as profit caps, and the need for a code of ethics in software engineering to mitigate harm.TakeawaysThe promise of social media was to increase social connection.Algorithms have shifted from social interaction to maximizing engagement.Monetization strategies have created a creator economy.Social media platforms often prioritize profit over user well-being.The societal impact of social media is profound and concerning.Engineers have a responsibility to consider the human impact of their work.Regulation may be necessary to address the harms of social media.Profit caps could help redirect funds towards community projects.An information diet can help mitigate negative effects of social media.A code of ethics for software engineers could guide responsible development.LinksVideo: Why everyone is quitting social mediaCareless PeopleInterview on information diet with HerariBill in 1996ACM Code of Ethics⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tech book club Repo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Overcommitted Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hosts⁠Overcommitted.dev⁠⁠⁠Brittany Ellich⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eggyhead⁠⁠Jonathan Tamsut

Dive into the art of storytelling in tech! Discover how effective visuals and compelling narratives can transform complex information into engaging presentations. Learn techniques for tailoring content to different audiences, especially novices and executives. Explore the balance between AI-generated content and genuine human connection in communications. Lastly, enjoy a humorous tech tale that combines whimsy with critical insights on documentation and audience engagement. Perfect for anyone looking to elevate their technical storytelling!

Discover how gamification impacts software development, from reducing the fear of failure to fostering creativity through trial and error. Explore the Super Mario Effect and its role in promoting innovation, while balancing internal and external motivations for engagement. The conversation highlights potential pitfalls of gamification, urging a supportive team culture with genuine recognition. Finally, enjoy a playful segment where hosts share their favorite video game characters, blending nostalgia with insights on game mechanics.

Dive into the fascinating realm of AI agents and their revolutionary role in software engineering. Discover how these agents tackle cognitive tasks and enhance user experiences. The discussion critiques outdated job searching methods while exploring AI's potential for personalized career development. Delve into the complexities of hiring practices, emphasizing the need for innovative solutions and the impact of human bias. Learn how customizable AI could transform data retrieval and empower personal growth in the tech landscape.

Dive into the world of personal branding for software developers! Discover the power of authenticity in a landscape often dominated by polished personas. The discussion emphasizes the importance of community, mentorship, and the unique challenges faced by women in STEM. Explore how personal values can shape your professional identity and the balance between self-promotion and staying true to oneself. Plus, enjoy anecdotes about engaging with tech influencers who inspire passion and curiosity in their work!

SummaryIn this episode of the Overcommitted podcast, hosts Bethany, Brittany, and Erika engage with guest Nick Gerakines to explore the intricacies of the AT Protocol, its implications for user data ownership, and the evolution of social media platforms. They discuss the importance of user control, the concept of a credible exit from platforms, and the development journey of applications built on the AT Protocol. The conversation also touches on the complexities of OAuth in modern applications and the significance of community involvement in open source projects.TakeawaysNick Gerakines is a software engineer with a rich background in online education and infrastructure.AT Protocol focuses on identity and data ownership, allowing users to control their data.Decentralized identifiers (DIDs) are crucial for user identity in the AT Protocol ecosystem.User mobility is a key feature of AT Protocol, enabling users to move their data across platforms.The concept of a credible exit allows users to leave platforms without losing their data.Development on AT Protocol has been a rewarding journey for Nick, leading to innovative applications.The future of social engagement is promising with new tools and communities emerging.OAuth presents unique challenges in the context of agent-based systems.Building community and engaging in open source projects is essential for developers.Diversity of thought enhances problem-solving and innovation in technology.Links⁠⁠Connect with Nick GerakinesWhy AT Protocol blog postSmoke Signal Presentation at ATmosphere Conf⁠⁠Tech book club Repo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Overcommitted Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠Hosts⁠⁠⁠⁠Overcommitted.dev⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bethany Janos⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brittany Ellich⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eggyhead

SummaryIn this episode of the Overcommitted Podcast, hosts Erika, Bethany, and Brittany Ellich interview Alec Breton, Cole Hartman, and Doris Wang, a mentor and two summer interns from GitHub, to discuss the importance of mentorship in tech internships. They explore what defines a successful internship, the structure of the internship program, and the dynamics of mentorship relationships. The conversation also delves into the significance of psychological safety in fostering a productive learning environment, the balance between using AI tools and personal learning, and offers advice for aspiring interns and mentors. The episode concludes with a fun segment where guests share their ideal mentors.TakeawaysA successful internship is about learning and contributing.Interns should feel comfortable asking questions.Psychological safety is crucial for growth.Being a good mentee is also important.Use AI as a tool, not a crutch.Be your authentic self in interviews.Building trust is essential in mentorship.Understanding the product is key before coding.Mentorship is about leading and learning together.Links⁠Connect with Alec BretonConnect with Cole HartmanConnect with Doris Wang⁠Tech book club Repo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Overcommitted Discord⁠⁠⁠Hosts⁠⁠⁠Overcommitted.dev⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bethany Janos⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brittany Ellich⁠⁠⁠Eggyhead

SummaryIn this episode of the Overcommitted Podcast, host Jonathan Tamsut and co-hosts Brittany Ellich and Bethany engage in a deep conversation with Jennifer Harris, founder and CEO of Technology Management Concepts. They explore Jennifer's journey into entrepreneurship, the evolution of her role as a CEO, and the unique challenges faced by women in tech. The discussion touches on imposter syndrome, the importance of networking, and the dynamics of gender in the workplace, particularly in relation to AI and technology. Jennifer shares valuable insights and advice for women in tech, emphasizing the need for self-advocacy and the importance of building relationships. The episode concludes with reflections on the future of AI and the opportunities it presents for women in business.TakeawaysJennifer's journey began with a passion for solutions and technology.Entrepreneurship requires resilience and adaptability.Imposter syndrome is a common challenge for folks in leadership.Women often face unique challenges in the tech workplace.Self-advocacy is essential for folks in tech.Building relationships is key to professional growth.LinksConnect with Jennifer HarrisTech book club Repo⁠⁠⁠⁠Overcommitted Discord⁠⁠Hosts⁠⁠Overcommitted.dev⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bethany Janos⁠⁠⁠⁠Brittany Ellich⁠⁠⁠⁠Jonathan Tamsut

SummaryIn this episode of the Overcommitted Podcast, Brittany Ellich and her co-hosts engage with Ross Brodbeck, a software engineer at GitHub, to explore the critical topic of software availability. They discuss the definitions of availability, reliability, and uptime, and delve into frameworks for improving availability in software systems. The conversation covers proactive versus reactive approaches to availability, the business impact of availability, and the hidden costs associated with downtime. Ross shares insights on creating effective availability programs, the role of incident commanders, and emerging technologies that may shape the future of availability in software engineering. The episode concludes with book recommendations for software engineers looking to deepen their understanding of the field.TakeawaysAvailability is subjective and varies by organization.Observability is crucial for understanding production behavior.Proactive measures can help prevent availability issues.On-call burnout is a significant cost to organizations.Understanding business needs is key to defining availability.SLOs help in measuring and reporting availability effectively.Incident commanders play a vital role in managing incidents.Game days and playbooks are essential for preparedness.Hidden costs of downtime include loss of customer trust.Emerging technologies like AI may change availability management.LinksRoss’s BlogGoogle SRE Bookhttps://sreweekly.com/https://uptime.is/Catchpoint SRE ReportSoftware engineer’s guidebookDesigning data-intensive applicationsThinking in systemsThe best software writing one - Joel on Software Algorithms to live byThe Staff EngineerClean CodePragmatic Engineer Podcast - Thomas Dhomke interviewDistributed systems by Martin van SteenPractical object-oriented design in RubyLooks Good To MeTech book club Repo⁠⁠Overcommitted Discord⁠Hosts⁠Overcommitted.dev⁠⁠⁠⁠Bethany Janos⁠⁠Brittany Ellich⁠⁠Eggyhead⁠⁠Jonathan Tamsut