Compose
Compose is an interview podcast for software developers using the Rust programming language to build a better planet. Software's impact on our society is increasing every day. Let's pull things apart so we can learn how to put things back together.
Interview guests are typically the maintainers of open source projects, startup founders, leaders within the technology industry, and the occasional critic.
Each episode aims to teach something new and provoke thoughts that'll last until the next episode and beyond.
Interviews follow a rough format.
We start with something that our guest thinks is interesting. This will typically involve talking tech and/or recent events. This section means that you'll find something to geek out about within the first 5-10mins of every episode.
Then we learn more about our guest(s) by discussing their recent background and how they came to be interested in the thing they're interested in. At this point, we've really started to gain an understanding of their personal system at play and the forces that are upon it.
We'll try to expand on some of those forces. While every interview is unique, some of the themes include the pressures of software engineering within a team, security, creating open source technology, the growth of the Rust language, and trends within the software industry.
Compose is hosted by Tim Clicks, also known as Tim McNamara. Tim is an avid supporter of Rust, and continues to advocate for the language and its promise of reliable, efficient software.
Latest episodes
Jun 3, 2025 • 0sec
David Lattimore – Faster Linker, Faster Builds
David Lattimore is on a mission to expedite builds in Rust projects with his innovative linker, Wild. He shares insights into the complex world of linkers, discussing their critical role in optimizing code compilation. The conversation dives into challenges around linking processes, especially the interaction between Rust and C, and highlights features that can enhance development environments. Lattimore also emphasizes the quest for immediate feedback in programming, making a case for balancing performance with usability in the ever-evolving coding landscape.
Jan 25, 2025 • 0sec
Rahul Kumar: Why verify Rust’s standard library?
AWS and the Rust Foundation are jointly sponsoring an initiative to verify the Rust standard library. Learn why from the initiative's creator, Rahul Kumar.
17 snips
Dec 25, 2024 • 0sec
Reliable software: An interview with Jon Gjengset
In this insightful discussion, Jon Gjengset, an expert in high-quality software engineering, tackles the nuances of developing reliable Rust applications. He emphasizes the importance of effective testing techniques like fuzz testing and model checking to enhance software quality. Gjengset navigates the balance between creativity and quality under tight deadlines, advocating for collaboration among small developers in a challenging capitalist landscape. He also delves into the shift from object-oriented to functional programming, highlighting the value of static typing for improving code reliability.
Dec 10, 2024 • 0sec
Building Rust: an interview with Nell Shamrell-Harrington
Nell Shamrell-Harrington speaks about the Rust project governance, the Rust Foundation, maintainer wellbeing and her own career journey.
Sep 21, 2024 • 0sec
Hazel Weakly: Creating tech tools for humans
This interview discusses erosion of human connection in tech and the importance of designing tools that empower individuals and communities. Hear how programming languages like Rust and Haskell are shaping a more hopeful, and perhaps even more wholesome, future.
Aug 29, 2024 • 0sec
Learn Rust, train doctors – Interview with Caroline Morton
Dr Caroline Morton has created software that exposes trainee doctors to the cognitive overload of the emergency room. Learn about the technical challenges and why her team turned to the Rust programming language. The episode touches on her personal story. She’s been writing software for 9 years, including 4 years full time, and is still […]
Aug 14, 2024 • 0sec
Systems Software for Linux with Rust – Interview with Zeeshan Ali Khan
Zeeshan Ali Khan, maintainer of the zbus crate and a seasoned Linux expert, takes listeners on a fascinating journey through the evolution of Linux and Rust. He discusses the creation and advantages of the zbus library, emphasizing its role in enhancing inter-process communication. Zeeshan shares insights into navigating Rust for systems programming and the challenges of memory safety. He also reflects on his fascinating career, including his time at Nokia and the transition from mobile to desktop development, painting a vivid picture of Linux's ongoing evolution.
Aug 7, 2024 • 0sec
Supercharging Python Tooling – An Interview with Charlie Marsh
In this discussion, Charlie Marsh, the founder of Astral and creator of the lightning-fast code formatter ruff, shares insights from his journey in Python development. He delves into the evolution of Python 3.13 and his switch to Rust, navigating coding complexities. Charlie highlights the importance of impact in his career, his experiences with team dynamics in remote work, and challenges in open-source governance. He also sheds light on the intellectual rigors of developing linter technology, emphasizing collaboration and community support in the developer ecosystem.
