Tech Lead Journal

Milan Milanović is a seasoned CTO and author of the 'Tech World with Milan' newsletter. He shares valuable insights on what it takes to be a great engineer, emphasizing that technical skills alone aren't enough. Milan discusses the importance of soft skills, a product-focused mindset, and continuous learning. He talks about mastering engineering fundamentals, dealing with imposter syndrome, and practical strategies for enhancing productivity. Ultimately, he encourages a growth mindset to navigate the evolving tech landscape.

Dagna Bieda, an engineer turned coach and author of 'Brain Refactor,' discusses how common obstacles like imposter syndrome, burnout, and self-marketing struggles hinder engineers' careers. She introduces the concept of 'brain refactoring' to debug mental frameworks and shares practical strategies for overcoming these challenges. Dagna emphasizes the importance of feedback and collaboration, drawing parallels between programming conflicts and personal growth. Tune in for valuable insights on setting boundaries and enhancing communication skills in the tech world.

Andrew Boyagi, a DevOps Evangelist at Atlassian, discusses the findings of the 2024 State of Developer Experience Report. He reveals a significant disconnect between engineering leaders and developers regarding productivity and AI's role. Andrew emphasizes the need for better communication, highlighting practical strategies to enhance developer experience. He also explores the impact of engineering culture and internal platforms, underscoring the importance of developer feedback and a nuanced approach to measuring productivity.

Thiago Ghisi, an engineering leader and Director of Engineering at Nubank, dives deep into the world of Staff+ engineers. He discusses the vital attributes that differentiate successful Staff+ engineers, emphasizing high impact, strategic planning, and ownership. Thiago shares insights on the importance of soft skills like stakeholder management and highlights the role of mentors over checklists in career growth. He also reflects on his own journey from development to leadership, showcasing how real-world experiences shape effective engineers.

Dr. Michaela Greiler, a code review advocate, shares her expertise in making code reviews more effective and enjoyable. She discusses the challenges teams face and emphasizes the need for a balanced approach that combines technical skills with social dynamics. Michaela highlights the importance of psychological safety and a positive feedback culture in enhancing developer experience. She also provides practical tips, including the use of checklists and customizing review processes to improve team collaboration and productivity.

Vladik Khononov, a renowned expert in software design and author, returns to share insights from his book on coupling. He deftly explains how coupling impacts software complexity and modularity, emphasizing that it's neither inherently good nor bad. Key discussions include the shared lifecycle concept, essential vs. accidental complexity, and the three dimensions of coupling: integration strength, distance, and volatility. Vladik challenges traditional views on modularity, stressing the significance of knowledge boundaries for creating maintainable systems.

Richard Rodger, author of "The Tao of Microservices," dives deep into the philosophy and practice of microservices. He discusses the misconceptions surrounding monoliths versus microservices, emphasizing that both can be unreliable. Richard shares core principles like 'messages first' and pattern matching for effective communication. He highlights the importance of accepting a baseline error rate as a business issue and explores the significance of dynamic message routing and data consistency. His insights into fostering a blame-free culture in tech development are particularly enlightening.

Stephan Schmidt, a CTO coach and author of "Amazing CTO," shares insights on managing tech teams effectively. He discusses common struggles CTOs face, such as accountability and delegation. Schmidt emphasizes the importance of setting a clear vision, conducting meaningful one-on-ones, and fostering a culture of growth. He also touches on self-management, work-life balance, and overcoming imposter syndrome. With practical advice from his 140 bite-sized rules, he aims to guide aspiring and current CTOs in driving innovation and team success.

Chris Jones, a Partner at Silicon Valley Product Group and co-author of "TRANSFORMED," shares his insights on revolutionizing organizational structures. He discusses the Product Operating Model (POM) and its three dimensions: building, problem-solving, and prioritizing problems. Chris emphasizes empowering cross-functional teams and fostering trust among stakeholders. He also highlights the importance of a CEO and product leaders in driving transformations and the necessity of real-time data monitoring for agile decision-making.

Join Lewis Prescott, coauthor of “Contract Testing in Action,” as he demystifies contract testing. Discover its role in software integration, differences between consumer-driven and provider-driven approaches, and practical implementation with tools like Pact. Learn about contract testing benefits, CI/CD integration, and getting team buy-in. Valuable insights for developers of all levels.