Overcommitted

SummaryIn this episode of the Overcommitted Podcast, hosts Brittany Ellich and Erika engage with Brad Heller, co-founder and CTO of Tower, discussing his journey from software engineer to startup founder. They explore the evolution of software engineering careers, the challenges of entrepreneurship, and the skills necessary for success in the tech industry. Brad shares insights on the importance of aligning passions with work, the realities of startup life, and advice for aspiring engineers. The conversation also touches on the impact of AI on coding and the importance of understanding the fundamentals of software development.TakeawaysBrad's journey from corporate life to startups was driven by a desire for impactful work.Working at startups can provide invaluable learning experiences compared to big tech.Entrepreneurship requires aligning your passions with your work for true success.Delegating tasks is a crucial skill for founders, but often difficult to master.Understanding the entire business process is essential for engineers in startups.The tech landscape has changed, with many entering the field for financial reasons rather than passion.AI is transforming the coding landscape, but understanding the fundamentals remains critical.Networking skills developed in big tech can be beneficial in startup environments.It's important to recognize when to hire and delegate responsibilities as a founder.The romanticized view of entrepreneurship often overlooks the hard work involved.LinksBrad Heller on LinkedInTower.DevPaul GrahamWill Larson - A forty-year careerPIE PDXRick TuroczyHostsOvercommitted.devBrittany EllichEggyhead

SummaryIn this episode of the Overcommitted Podcast, hosts Bethany and Brittany discuss their experiences at recent tech conferences, including Cascadia JS and GopherCon. They reflect on their goals from the past quarter, sharing successes and challenges, and set new objectives for the upcoming quarter. The conversation also touches on the importance of community engagement and personal development in the tech industry, culminating in a fun segment where they share ideas for potential TED talks.TakeawaysThe importance of community in tech events.Reflecting on past goals helps in personal growth.Engagement in newsletters can shift focus from self-promotion to sharing others' work.Attending conferences can provide fresh insights and networking opportunities.Setting realistic goals is crucial, especially during busy times.Public speaking can be a rewarding experience despite initial anxiety.Finding enjoyment in activities is essential for long-term commitment.Quarterly retrospectives can help realign personal and professional goals.Exploring new interests can lead to unexpected opportunities.Community engagement is vital for mental well-being in remote work environments.Links⁠CascadiaJSGopherConMagnoliaConf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tech book club Repo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Overcommitted Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hosts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Overcommitted.dev⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bethany Janos⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brittany Ellich⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

SummaryIn this episode of the Overcommited podcast, the hosts engage in a deep conversation with Indrajith Premanath, an engineer at GitHub, who shares his journey of transitioning from an individual contributor to an engineering manager during an interim manager role while his manager was on leave. Indrajith discusses the challenges and lessons learned during his six-month stint as an interim manager, emphasizing the importance of team dynamics, transparency, and personal growth. The conversation also touches on career aspirations, technical interests, and the significance of building strong relationships within a team. Indrajith offers valuable advice for future managers and reflects on his childhood aspirations, providing a well-rounded perspective on his career journey.TakeawaysThe shift from coding to management requires a change in mindset and priorities.Building relationships with team members is crucial for effective management.Transparency in decision-making fosters trust within the team.Indrajith found that he became a better individual contributor after his management experience.Understanding team members' career goals enhances team dynamics.Indrajith emphasizes the importance of long-term planning in management.He advocates for rotation programs for aspiring managers to gain experience.The role of AI in coding is changing the landscape of software development.Indrajith's childhood aspiration was to be a theater kid, not a software engineer.LinksIndrajith Premanath LinkedInCharity Majors Engineer/Manager Pendulum Article⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tech book club Repo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Overcommitted Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hosts⁠⁠⁠⁠Overcommitted.dev⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brittany Ellich⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eggyhead⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jonathan Tamsut⁠

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