The freeCodeCamp Podcast

Andrea Griffiths, a self-taught programmer and Developer Advocate at GitHub, shares her transformative journey from construction to tech. She discusses the importance of critical thinking in an AI-driven world and offers practical tips for busy parents wanting to learn new skills. Andrea emphasizes breaking problems into chunks and the value of foundational knowledge. She also reflects on her experiences in the U.S. Army and running gyms, advising listeners to embrace humility and curiosity in their career paths.

Alison Co and Cindy Cui, talented software engineering students and hackathon winners, discuss their project BrailleLearn, which helps visually impaired individuals learn Braille. They share insights on the challenges of low literacy rates and the importance of accessible tools. The duo dives into the role of AI in their development process, stressing its limitations while emphasizing hands-on learning. They also reflect on securing internships, the value of teamwork, and their experiences at GitHub Universe, revealing how collaboration can spark innovative solutions.

David J. Malan, a Harvard computer science professor and instructor of the popular CS50 course, shares his insights on learning programming. He explains why he still advocates for mastering the C language in today's tech landscape. Malan discusses the value of fundamental concepts like data structures, even as AI evolves. He encourages adaptive learning environments and innovative teaching methods, such as theatrical demonstrations, to enrich understanding. Emphasizing exploration over rushing mastery, he argues for a more immersive and relaxed approach to education.

Abbey Perini, a self-taught developer who embarked on her programming journey at 27 after working in recruitment, shares valuable insights. She discusses tackling large legacy codebases and highlights tips for onboarding junior developers. Abbey reveals how her late ADHD diagnosis reshaped her work habits and productivity strategies, emphasizing the importance of flexibility and creativity drawn from her hobbies like knitting and cosplay. Her spirited take on interview follow-ups and networking adds a refreshing perspective for job seekers.

Patrick Hartley, a self-taught developer with nearly a decade of experience, shares his journey from college dropout to founding engineer. He turned down a job with Amazon to prioritize his family's needs. The discussion covers self-teaching programming while raising kids, networking as an introvert, and the evolving landscape of remote work. Patrick emphasizes the importance of soft skills over pure technical prowess for job readiness and offers insights on finding the right job fit and managing productivity in meetings.

Eric Carlson, a self-taught software engineer at Cisco, shares his inspiring journey from teacher to developer at 45. He discusses mastering programming while raising kids and emphasizes just-in-time learning. Eric describes how he transitioned to backend work by volunteering and taking on projects that saved his company thousands. He also offers tips on building mental stamina for coding and the importance of note-taking for retention. Tune in for insights on pivoting careers and embracing new technologies, like AI, in the tech world!

Kaleb Garner is a self-taught software engineer and former college baseball player whose career was derailed by a knee injury. He shares his surprising journey from sports to tech, discovering programming through resources like freeCodeCamp and the 100Devs community. Kaleb discusses the challenges of job hunting after a layoff, emphasizing the importance of targeted applications and community support. He also highlights lessons on overcoming imposter syndrome and the benefits of community college for aspiring developers, offering valuable insights for anyone looking to break into tech.

Evan You, the self-taught creator of the Vue framework and Vite build tool, shares his journey from art school to coding legend. He discusses how design principles influenced his development tools, making them more user-centric. Evan delves into the rapid adoption of Vite and why he created Rolldown, a new Rust-based bundler. He also reflects on the Chinese open source scene and offers insights into collaborating with developers there. Lastly, he highlights AI's role as a brainstorming aid, stressing its limits in tackling complex legacy bugs.

Thomas Gooch, a self-taught software engineer, transitioned from years in manufacturing to his first developer role at 43. He shares the realities of 12-hour shifts and how freeCodeCamp's free curriculum helped him learn programming. Thomas discusses the challenges of switching from JavaScript to Java, the importance of networking, and running meetups to support junior developers. He also reflects on using AI in coding, emphasizing the value of foundational skills over reliance on tools. Thomas's journey is an inspiring testament to perseverance and community.

Tom Mondloch, an open-source contributor and freeCodeCamp staff member, shares his journey from quitting programming to becoming a key architect for the relational databases curriculum. He discusses tips for brushing up on coding skills after a break, the importance of contributing to open source, and sensibly using AI coding tools. Tom also dives into his love for the outdoors and remote work, and shares insights on creating daily coding challenges that enhance interactivity and learning.