Distributed.

In this episode of Distributed, host Jack Hannah talks to Chris Lucian and Austin Chadwick, the creators of the Mob Mentality Show and longtime engineering leaders at Hunter Industries. Chris, Director of Global Software Development, and Austin, Distinguished Engineer, reflect on mob programming and how practices spread. They open up about what it takes to protect team culture while growing, discuss lessons from their 300+ videos on mob programming and agile, and how AI is just another member of the mob.Highlights:How mob programming went from one team’s experiment to org-wide practiceWhat Chris and Austin learned from publishing 300+ episodes on agile and XPHow AI fits into social coding and the future of pairing and mobbingIn this episode, we cover:(00:00) – Kicking things off with Chris Lucian and Austin Chadwick(01:52) – Rearranging cubicles to make pairing possible(03:09) – The first mob and why it worked(05:01) – Repairing a wonky relationship with the product owner(06:14) – Austin’s first mob and learning a new language on the fly(07:41) – The Mob Mentality Show origin story(09:22) – How Chris and Austin keep their episodes lean and sustainable(12:17) – Diffusion of innovation and spreading practices(15:18) – AI-generated code with domain languages(18:41) – Growing the mob through cellular division while keeping culture(24:49) – What to do when there are no internal XP mentors(28:12) – Using AI like another member of the mob(32:26) – Will AI replace pair and mob programming?ReferencesThe Mob Mentality ShowHuman & AI Collaboration in Mob Programming with Aaron Griffith and Parker BarrettWhere to connect further:Connect with Chris Lucian on LinkedInConnect with Austin Chadwick on LinkedIn Follow TupleWant to hear more? Check out distributed.fmConnect with Jack Hannah

In this engaging dialogue, Benji Weber, Co-founder & CTO at Geordie AI, shares insights on empowering teams through effective leadership. He discusses the delicate balance between giving control and maintaining accountability. Benji explores the value of fostering environments that prioritize curiosity and ownership, while navigating the challenges of remote and in-person work dynamics. The paradox of autonomy versus control in fast-paced settings is unpacked, highlighting how gentle nudging can enhance team collaboration and performance.

Ed Gibbs, Software Engineering Tech Lead at Cisco Meraki, shares his unique journey from physics to tech. He discusses the quirky tradition of 'Fez Friday,' promoting team bonding in a remote environment. Ed dives into innovative practices like meandering syncs, emphasizing collaboration over traditional meetings. He reveals strategies for scaling change within a massive engineering team and the importance of balancing refactoring with delivery in complex systems. Insights on navigating legacy code and the significance of experimentation round out this engaging conversation.

James Simone, Principal Engineer at Salesforce, transitioned from a finance career to tech in just seven years. He discusses the power of collaborative programming and how Salesforce utilizes agile practices to enhance team productivity. James emphasizes the role of reflection in improving workplace happiness and the significance of team agreements. He also dives into metrics for measuring developer satisfaction and the importance of code reviews in fostering communication. His journey showcases how teamwork and continuous learning can drive success in tech.

Obie Fernandez, Principal Engineer at Shopify and a six-time founder, shares his journey from Java to Ruby. He discusses how he revolutionized Rails’ adoption at ThoughtWorks and the significance of AI in enhancing developer experiences at Shopify. Obie highlights the critical role of pair programming in fostering mentorship, while also pondering the future of software development amidst AI advancements. The conversation sheds light on balancing speed with code quality, making it a fascinating listen for tech enthusiasts.

In this engaging conversation, Thomas Paul Mann, cofounder and CEO of Raycast, discusses the successful launch of their iOS app with surprising stealth. He shares insights on prioritizing community engagement over data metrics and the importance of hiring through referrals to maintain quality. Thomas highlights how their biweekly shipping schedule and dogfooding practices enhance product reliability. Additionally, he reflects on navigating startup life during the pandemic and building an effective remote team, emphasizing the power of user feedback in shaping their culture.

Tim Ottinger, a Senior Consultant at Industrial Logic and the Agile Otter, dives into rethinking software development practices. He discusses the pitfalls of solo work and the myths of efficiency in traditional teams. Tim highlights the power of swarm boards for enhanced remote collaboration and emphasizes boosting first-time through rates as a key productivity metric. The conversation also touches on the limitations of AI in coding. Tim advocates for small collaborative experiments to improve workflows and encourages raising team abilities instead of lowering pipeline standards.

In this episode of Distributed, host Jack Hannah speaks with Emily Bache, a technical coach and the creator of Samman Coaching, about her work helping teams improve their development practices. Emily shares her experiences with test-driven development and refactoring, and explains how these practices can transform both code quality and team dynamics.Highlights:The impact of test-driven development on software qualityHow to introduce new practices in a resistant environmentWhy collaborative coding, like ensemble programming, accelerates team growthThe role of leadership in creating a culture of continuous learning and qualityIn this episode, we cover:(00:00) – Kicking things off with Emily Bache(01:25) – First experience with extreme programming in 2000(02:28) – Struggling to get a new team on board with XP(04:03) – Why TDD transformed Emily’s coding approach(05:22) – Becoming a full-time technical coach and YouTuber(06:48) – Defining what a technical coach actually does(07:21) – Inside a high-performing architecture team’s microservices shift(09:04) – Can siloed experts still outperform collaborative teams?(14:42) – Simple tactics to nudge your team toward better practices(20:57) – Ensemble programming explained: many minds, one keyboard(24:45) – Why refactoring skills matter in the age of AI assistantsReferencesApproval Tests and the weekly Approval Tests EnsembleChatGPT & Copilot are NOT Refactoring ToolsWhere to connect further:Connect with Emily Bache on LinkedIn and Samman Technical Coaching SocietyFollow TupleWant to hear more? Check out distributed.fmConnect with Jack Hannah

In this episode of the Distributed podcast, Jack Hannah sits down with Matt Wynne, staff software engineer at Mechanical Orchard and a longtime advocate for Agile and Behavior-Driven Development (BDD). Matt shares his journey from working with legacy systems to co-founding Cucumber Ltd., offering a firsthand look at how testing, pairing, and social programming create more effective teams.Matt also discusses the challenges of modernizing outdated infrastructure, the role of ensemble programming in fostering collective code ownership, and why strong relationships are essential for high-functioning distributed teams.Highlights:The power of social programming: how pairing and ensembling improve collaboration and knowledge-sharingThe evolution of BDD and its impact on software developmentStrategies for handling legacy modernization projects with minimal disruptionWhy creating psychological safety leads to stronger remote teams and better engineering outcomesThe future of automation, AI, and the next wave of innovationIn this episode, we cover:(00:00) - Kicking things off with Matt Wynne(00:13) - From COBOL to modernization: Lessons in legacy systems(05:05) - The origins of Cucumber and BDD(07:44) - Pairing, ensembling, and the power of social programming(11:38) - Extracting knowledge from aging codebases(14:07) - Building tools for faster legacy system migrations(21:01) - Creating psychological safety in engineering teams(29:19) - Selling change: How to introduce new development practices(33:02) - Remote work and the importance of human connectionReferencesWorking Effectively with Legacy Code by Michael FeathersAgile Coaching by Rachel Davies and Liz SedleyWhere to connect further:Connect with Matt Wynne on LinkedIn and his WebsiteFollow TupleWant to hear more? Check out distributed.fmConnect with Jack Hannah

In this latest episode of the Distributed podcast, host Jack Hannah interviews Colin Sidoti, Clerk Cofounder & CEO, to discuss what’s allowed them to grow so rapidly and deliver such an incredible developer experience for users. Colin reflects on how limited process fosters growth and allows his team of engineers and designers to excel.Colin also provides insight into the nontraditional ways Clerk streamlines work, including their hiring practices and unique team dynamics.Highlights:Understanding how Clerk has grown through a highly autonomous team cultureColin's insights on the importance of fluid communication in a distributed teamThe pivotal role the DX Guide plays in creating an amazing productEmpowering teams by trusting their instincts and encouraging adaptabilityIn this episode, we cover:(00:00) – Kicking things off with Colin Sidoti(03:26) – Product development at Clerk(08:29) – Remote work dynamics: synchronizing across time zones(12:54) – Importance of fluid communication: using Tuple for efficient syncs(14:44) – The role of DX Guide: maintaining high standards in product experience(22:28) – Building a culture of customer-centric development(17:40) – Evolving product offerings: from auth to billing and beyond(25:56) – Hiring for passion: finding team members who care deeply(31:55) – Simplifying user onboarding: eliminating friction for developers(33:34) – Impact of removing friction: boosting adoption with minimal stepsWhere to connect further:Connect with Colin Sidoti on X and ClerkFollow TupleWant to hear more? Check out distributed.fmConnect with Jack Hannah