Maintainable

Ryosuke Iwanaga, President of OpsBR Software Technology Inc., shares his extensive knowledge on software architecture and maintenance. He discusses the importance of single-threaded ownership for better software maintenance and the evolving strategies to manage technical debt in legacy systems. Ryosuke emphasizes effective change management and the benefits of phased rollouts with feature flags. He dives into cell-based architecture, exploring its scalability and reliability, while also addressing the need for operational excellence through automation and monitoring.

Julia Ferraioli, an Open Source AI/ML Strategist at AWS and co-founder of Open Source Stories, dives deep into the world of open source. She discusses what makes software well-maintained and the balance between creativity and clarity in coding practices. Julia highlights untold stories from open source contributors, addressing the challenges they face. She also explores the evolving landscape of technical debt and the importance of narratives in shaping a supportive community for developers.

In this episode of Maintainable, Robby Russell sits down with Tanmai Gopal, the CEO and co-founder of Hasura. Tanmai shares his insights into the characteristics of well-maintained software and the importance of a codebase that no team member fears. He emphasizes the need for accessibility and understandability in code, making it easier for developers to work with and iterate upon.Tanmai dives deep into the metaphor of technical debt, urging teams to prioritize product outcomes over best practices. He highlights the value of addressing technical debt contextually and in a way that aligns with product goals.A significant portion of the discussion revolves around the concept of the "super graph" in GraphQL. Tanmai explains how a unified API, created through federated GraphQL, can streamline API integration and reduce latency. He compares GraphQL with RESTful APIs, showcasing the advantages of a graph-based approach for handling complex data relationships.Tanmai also introduces Hasura's platform, which introspects databases, code, and APIs to create a comprehensive super graph. This platform simplifies API management, making it easier for developers to maintain and evolve their applications.Listeners will also learn about Hasura's upcoming user conference and the new features they plan to unveil. Tanmai shares his top science fiction book recommendations and where to follow his thoughts on software engineering online.Key Takeaways:The importance of a fearless codebase for well-maintained software.Strategies to improve code accessibility and understandability.The metaphor of technical debt and its contextual importance.The concept and benefits of a super graph in GraphQL.How Hasura simplifies API management through introspection.Upcoming Hasura user conference and new features.Resources Mentioned:HasuraTanmai Gopal on LinkedInN.K. Jemisin's Broken Earth TrilogyNaomi Novik's UprootedMartha Wells' Murderbot DiariesThanks to Our Sponsor!Turn hours of debugging into just minutes! AppSignal is a performance monitoring and error tracking tool designed for Ruby, Elixir, Python, Node.js, Javascript, and soon, other frameworks.It offers six powerful features with one simple interface, providing developers with real-time insights into the performance and health of web applications.Keep your coding cool and error-free, one line at a time! Check them out! Subscribe to Maintainable on:Apple PodcastsSpotifyOr search "Maintainable" wherever you stream your podcasts.Keep up to date with the Maintainable Podcast by joining the newsletter.

In this episode of the Maintainable Software Podcast, Robby Russell sits down with James Socol, a Staff Engineer at Fastly, to discuss the art of maintaining legacy code and the nuances of technical debt versus technical depreciation.Key Topics Discussed:Characteristics of Well-Maintained Code: James shares his insights on what defines well-maintained code, emphasizing the importance of continuous maintenance, testing, and encapsulation.Technical Debt vs. Technical Depreciation: James introduces the concept of technical depreciation, distinguishing it from technical debt and explaining how time affects software maintenance.Balancing Old and New Patterns: The discussion explores the challenges of integrating modern standards into legacy systems and finding a healthy balance.20% Time for Maintenance: James advocates for dedicating a portion of engineering capacity to maintenance tasks, drawing parallels to Google's 20% time concept.Onboarding Strategies: James offers valuable advice for new hires, emphasizing observation, gradual involvement, and building social capital within the team.Continuous Delivery and Big Changes: Insights into managing significant changes in a continuous delivery environment, with practical strategies for maintaining stability.Resources Mentioned:Riot Engineering Blog: A Taxonomy of Tech DebtSilicon Valley Product GroupLaura Hogan's Donut TheoryBooks:Getting to Yes by Roger Fisher & William UryTurn the Ship Around by L. David MarquetThanks to Our Sponsor!Turn hours of debugging into just minutes! AppSignal is a performance monitoring and error tracking tool designed for Ruby, Elixir, Python, Node.js, Javascript, and soon, other frameworks.It offers six powerful features with one simple interface, providing developers with real-time insights into the performance and health of web applications.Keep your coding cool and error-free, one line at a time! Check them out! Subscribe to Maintainable on:Apple PodcastsSpotifyOr search "Maintainable" wherever you stream your podcasts.Keep up to date with the Maintainable Podcast by joining the newsletter.

In this episode of Maintainable, Robby chats with Paola Ducolin, Staff Engineer at Datadog. Paola shares her insights on the characteristics of well-maintained software, the common struggles teams face, and effective strategies for working with stakeholders to prioritize refactoring.Key Topics Discussed:Characteristics of Maintainable Software: Paola explains the importance of well-documented code and having tests that automatically detect breaks.Challenges in Maintaining Software: The impact of business pressures on maintaining code quality and how teams can navigate these challenges.Working with Stakeholders: Strategies for communicating the importance of refactoring and measuring the impact of technical debt on business objectives.Role of Staff Engineers: Paola’s journey to becoming a staff engineer and the responsibilities that come with the role, including coordination and networking.Documentation and Design Systems: The power of documentation and how design systems can serve as a model for well-documented and maintainable code.Observability and Monitoring: An overview of Datadog's tools for observability and monitoring, and how they help in maintaining software quality.Resources Mentioned:DatadogMy Path to Staff EngineerSarah Drasner: The Art of Code CommentsBook RecommendationsRadical CandorCrucial ConversationsBe sure to follow Paola on LinkedIn and stay tuned for more insightful conversations on Maintainable.Thanks to Our Sponsor!Turn hours of debugging into just minutes! AppSignal is a performance monitoring and error tracking tool designed for Ruby, Elixir, Python, Node.js, Javascript, and soon, other frameworks.It offers six powerful features with one simple interface, providing developers with real-time insights into the performance and health of web applications.Keep your coding cool and error-free, one line at a time! Check them out! Subscribe to Maintainable on:Apple PodcastsSpotifyOr search "Maintainable" wherever you stream your podcasts.Keep up to date with the Maintainable Podcast by joining the newsletter.

In this episode, Robby welcomes Robin Heinze, Director of Engineering at Infinite Red, to discuss the intricacies of building and maintaining robust software systems. Key topics covered include:Characteristics of Maintainable Software: Robin shares insights from her team on what makes software maintainable, emphasizing the need for clear documentation, robust setup scripts, and ongoing code refinement.Technical Debt: They delve into managing technical debt, particularly in a consultancy setting, and how to balance client expectations with software quality.React Native: Robin explains the advantages of using React Native for cross-platform development, highlighting its efficiency and accessibility to a broader range of developers.Consultancy Challenges: The conversation also covers the unique aspects of working in a consultancy, including how to embed standards while respecting client processes.Major Takeaways:Effective communication and a proactive approach to maintenance are crucial in software development.Visual elements like graphics can significantly enhance the accessibility and appeal of open source projects.Book Recommendation:A Thursday Murder Club Mystery Series by Richard OsmanHelpful Links:React NativeInfinite RedChain React ConferenceReact Native Radio PodcastFor more insights, make sure to follow Robin on: LinkedInTwitterThanks to Our Sponsor!Turn hours of debugging into just minutes! AppSignal is a performance monitoring and error tracking tool designed for Ruby, Elixir, Python, Node.js, Javascript, and soon, other frameworks. It offers six powerful features with one simple interface, providing developers with real-time insights into the performance and health of web applications. Keep your coding cool and error-free, one line at a time! Check them out! Subscribe to Maintainable on:Apple PodcastsSpotifyOr search "Maintainable" wherever you stream your podcasts.Keep up to date with the Maintainable Podcast by joining the newsletter.

Scott Hanselman, a VP at Microsoft, and host of Hanselminutes Podcast, discusses fear in maintainable software. He talks about addressing technical debt rooted in fear, building team culture of confidence, and using inner and outer loop thinking for better software development.

In this episode of Maintainable, Robby chats with Stig Brautaset, Staff Software Engineer at CircleCI. Stig shares his insights on maintaining well-documented but complex legacy code, the impact of team dynamics on software maintenance, and his experiences with the SBJSON library.Stig discusses the characteristics of well-maintained software, emphasizing the importance of team experience, domain knowledge, and risk appetite. He reflects on his own career journey, highlighting the transition from overconfidence to a balanced approach to risk-taking.A significant portion of the conversation delves into Stig's concept of "Alien Artifacts," which describes highly resistant legacy code written by highly skilled engineers. He explains the challenges of modifying such code and shares examples from his own experiences.Stig also talks about his work on the SBJSON library, addressing the complexities of handling multiple versions and dependency conflicts. He advocates for developers maintaining the software they ship and discusses the balance between shipping features quickly and maintaining long-term code quality.Key TakeawaysThe influence of team dynamics on software maintenanceUnderstanding the concept of "Alien Artifacts" in legacy codeStrategies for handling multiple versions of a software libraryThe importance of developers being on call for the software they shipManaging different types of technical debtBook Recommendation:The Scout Mindset by Julia GalefStig Brautaset on LinkedInAlien Artifacts Blog PostSBJSON Library CircleCIThe Confident Commit PodcastHelpful Links:Stig Brautaset on LinkedInAlien Artifacts Blog PostSBJSON Library CircleCIThe Confident Commit PodcastWant to share your thoughts on this episode? Reach out to Robby at robby@maintainable.fm.Thanks to Our Sponsor!Turn hours of debugging into just minutes! AppSignal is a performance monitoring and error tracking tool designed for Ruby, Elixir, Python, Node.js, Javascript, and soon, other frameworks. It offers six powerful features with one simple interface, providing developers with real-time insights into the performance and health of web applications. Keep your coding cool and error-free, one line at a time! Check them out! Subscribe to Maintainable on:Apple PodcastsSpotifyOr search "Maintainable" wherever you stream your podcasts.Keep up to date with the Maintainable Podcast by joining the newsletter.

Join Robby as he welcomes Brit Myers to the podcast. Brit, currently thriving as the VP of Engineering at System Initiative, discusses the intricacies of maintaining software. She emphasizes the importance of navigable software, where the ease of tracing the code and understanding its structure is paramount. Brit highlights the significance of clear naming conventions and inline documentation, as they help in maintaining a cohesive narrative within the software. The conversation touches on the challenges posed by discrepancies in vocabulary between product management and engineering, and how glossaries can bridge these communication gaps. Brit advocates for the use of glossaries more as a reflective tool rather than a proactive one, given the dynamic nature of software development. She also delves into strategies for managing legacy code and technical debt, proposing a pragmatic approach where wrapping and modularizing legacy components can mitigate risks. She discusses the balance between immediate feature delivery and long-term code health, stressing the importance of aligning technical risks with business objectives. The episode explores the impact of company culture on development practices, the benefits of synchronous work environments, and the evolving landscape of DevOps. Tune in to tap into Brit’s valuable wisdom.Book Recommendation:Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High By Kerry Patterson, Stephen R. Covey, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al SwitzlerHelpful Links:System InitiativeBrit on LinkedInSPACE FrameworkDORA metricsThanks to Our Sponsor!Turn hours of debugging into just minutes! AppSignal is a performance monitoring and error tracking tool designed for Ruby, Elixir, Python, Node.js, Javascript, and soon, other frameworks. It offers six powerful features with one simple interface, providing developers with real-time insights into the performance and health of web applications. Keep your coding cool and error-free, one line at a time! Check them out! Subscribe to Maintainable on:Apple PodcastsSpotifyOr search "Maintainable" wherever you stream your podcasts.Keep up to date with the Maintainable Podcast by joining the newsletter.

Andrea Guarino, Software Engineer at Sonar, discusses the importance of leveraging static analysis tools for maintaining clean and adaptable code. He emphasizes consistency, responsibility, and preventing security leaks. Andrea addresses challenges of maintaining code consistency in legacy code and offers pragmatic advice on managing technical debt. He advocates for code quality, time allocation, and integrating tools like Sonar into the development workflow for long-term sustainability.