
Two's Complement
If you come to a fork in the road, take it! Two’s Complement is a programming podcast, hosted by Matt Godbolt and Ben Rady; two programmers who both grew up wanting to make video games. One of them did, one of them didn’t, but now they both work together despite coming from very different backgrounds.
Latest episodes

Aug 22, 2023 • 44min
Ben Walks A Tree
Ben ventures into the forest and finds a tree traversal problem. He gets fascinated by a hash map and Matt suggests zombies. They come up with a solution and discuss how to test it.

4 snips
Jul 17, 2023 • 45min
Video Games and Other Diversions
Matt and Ben talk about what they would do if they founded a game studio. And ASICs. And testing because why not. Join our hosts as they speculate on whether anyone has made a successful open source video game instead of just taking 5 minutes to Google it.

Jun 20, 2023 • 1h 2min
Yak Shaving, Part 2, Also Live!
The hosts tackle ongoing SSL certificate struggles with a mix of humor and technical insight. They discuss the branch-based environment approach and the cost benefits of serverless services. The intricacies of DNS management and the challenges of AWS IAM permissions are thoroughly explored. Personal anecdotes highlight troubleshooting in production environments, while innovative CI configuration strategies also take center stage. A live troubleshooting session brings real-time problem-solving to life, showcasing the importance of meticulous planning in cloud infrastructure.

May 22, 2023 • 1h 5min
Yak Shaving, Live!
Join the hosts as they hilariously juggle yak shaving and tech troubleshooting! They dive into the labyrinth of DNS issues, share quirky conspiracy theories, and reminisce about past projects like a recipe tracking website. With playful banter, they navigate Terraform integration, discuss AWS credential management, and tackle the often convoluted world of Makefiles. All the while, they illustrate tech complexities with humor, making even yak shaving sound like an engaging venture!

5 snips
Apr 18, 2023 • 37min
Integration Tests are a Scam
The hosts amusingly share their battles with winter colds, blending humor into their recovery tales. They delve into the complexities of integration testing, discussing its pitfalls and high costs. With a focus on simplifying practices, they advocate for test doubles and learning from production failures. The conversation also touches on the challenges of writing integration tests for rare errors and the advantages of mock tests. Finally, they explore using read-only API credentials for effective testing while questioning the efficacy of traditional integration methods.

4 snips
Mar 20, 2023 • 31min
The Compiler Explorer Problem
Discover the intriguing world of algorithm design focused on sponsor visibility in open-source projects. Dive into the complexities of balancing limited ad slots while maintaining fairness among sponsors. Explore the challenges of incorporating randomness in algorithms and the innovative testing methods to ensure correctness. Personal anecdotes add a twist, including one speaker's near-financial disaster from an unexpected venture into banking. A fascinating blend of tech, fairness, and financial education awaits!

Feb 17, 2023 • 37min
Slightly Less Terrible Tech Interviews
Ben and Matt plunge into the chaotic realm of tech interviews, revealing the harsh realities of today’s job market and major layoffs. They propose a revolutionary approach to interviews that emphasizes transparency and collaboration over superficial metrics. Exploring the emotional weight of hiring decisions, they discuss the significance of personal chemistry. With engaging anecdotes, they also highlight the friendships formed during the interview journey, showcasing the human side of a typically stressful process.

Jan 17, 2023 • 37min
Not Invented, Hear?
Discover the quirky side of software development as Matt and Ben dive into their penchant for building custom solutions instead of leveraging open source options. They hilariously recount their own missteps in this creative quest. The conversation flows through the complexities of package management systems and the emotional investment in engineering decisions. Balancing the allure of innovation with practicality, they encourage a thoughtful approach to using existing tools while still embracing the joy of reinventing the wheel.

13 snips
Dec 18, 2022 • 44min
Time For Computers
Ben and Matt dive into the incredible speed of computers, comparing their lightning-fast operations to our more leisurely human cognition. They humorously showcase the challenges of multitasking, both in machines and for us squishy-brained folks. With playful analogies, they tackle the significance of cache performance and the quirks of tech timelines, including the comical delays of data retrieval. The duo also stumbles through the complexities of calculating light travel times, making tech talk both entertaining and relatable!

8 snips
Nov 16, 2022 • 37min
A Bit Rusty
Matt and Ben dive into the intricacies of the Rust programming language, sharing their hobby projects and experiences. They discuss Rust's challenging features, like its memory management and borrow checker. The complexities of Ethereum and its node software modifications are explored, alongside the dynamics of prediction markets. With a sprinkle of humor, they touch on GPU inefficiencies in video calls and make a fun Weird Al reference while reflecting on their coding journeys.
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