The Pragmatic Engineer

Join Lauren Darcey, Head of Mobile Platform at Reddit, along with iOS Platform Lead Brandon Kobilansky and Principal Android Engineer Eric Kuck, as they dive into the nitty-gritty of building Reddit’s mobile apps. They discuss the complexities of a 2.5 million line codebase, the architectural shift to MVVM, and the strategic decisions behind using Jetpack Compose and avoiding SwiftUI. The trio also shares insights on improving developer experience, enhancing testing infrastructure, and the challenges of scaling a remote-first engineering team.

Dave Anderson, a former Engineering Manager and Director at Amazon, offers a fascinating insider's perspective on the tech giant's engineering culture. He discusses the rigorous hiring processes, the role of bar raisers, and the unique promotion paths for software engineers. Dave elaborates on Amazon's extreme frugality and how teams enjoy significant autonomy in choosing their technology stacks. He also shares insights on navigating performance evaluations and maintaining strong relationships with managers, all while reflecting on his transition to writing creatively after retirement.

John Ousterhout, a Stanford professor and creator of the TCL scripting language, shares his insights on software design in the age of AI. He argues that as AI tools advance, strong design principles become even more crucial. The discussion covers the pitfalls of prioritizing speed over quality in coding, the value of deep modules, and the importance of empathy in design. Ousterhout also critiques common practices like TDD and emphasizes the need for a balanced approach to design. His 'design it twice' principle offers a fresh perspective for developers.

Tomas Reimers, a former engineer at Meta and co-founder of Graphite, shares fascinating insights into Meta's custom developer tools. Discover why Meta opted for in-house solutions over industry standards like GitHub. He explains the benefits of stacked diffs and monorepos, which have redefined coding practices at Meta. The discussion dives into how AI's rise is reshaping code reviews and testing, emphasizing the need for rigorous oversight. Reimers also touches on Graphite's evolution and why tool integration is crucial for developer productivity.

Noah Finer and Jonathan Kaufman, founding engineers of Figma Slides, share their journey of transforming a hackathon project into a widely used tool with over 4.5 million slide decks. They discuss the innovative tech stack behind Figma Slides, the challenges of prioritizing grid view over single slide view, and their unique 'vibe testing' approach. The duo also delves into how beta testing shaped the product and the importance of managing slide order in collaborative settings, offering insights into the complexities of real-time design collaboration.

Join Greg Kroah-Hartman, a Linux kernel maintainer for 25 years and a Linux Kernel Foundation Fellow, as he dives into the fascinating world of Linux development. He shares insights on the kernel's nine-week release cycle and the complexities of integrating code changes. Greg emphasizes the unique trust model that drives its reliability and advocates for contributions to open source. Discover why Linux is so widespread and how it serves as an interface for diverse hardware. Plus, learn about the exciting integration of Rust into the Linux kernel!

Gautam Korlam, co-founder of the AI startup Gitar and former mobile engineer at Uber, shares hilarious tales from his time at Uber, including the infamous accidental deletion of their Java monorepo. He discusses the pros and cons of monorepos while detailing unique engineering solutions like SubmitQueue. Gautam highlights the importance of building trust among engineers and how AI tools are revolutionizing developer productivity. He also dives into the evolving skills needed as automation transforms the industry, making for an insightful conversation on future tech trends.

Balint Orosz, Founder and CEO of Craft, shares his journey in designing user-friendly software. He discusses the complexities of blending engineering with a design-first approach. Balint emphasizes the importance of dynamic animations in enhancing UI experiences and the emotional connections users form with their tools. He reflects on navigating from startup culture to corporate challenges, the significance of small teams, and how AI is shaping modern software development. His insights challenge conventional views on engineering and design in tech.

Manu Cornet, a senior software engineer and cartoonist renowned for his tech-themed comics, shares his unique insights in this conversation. He discusses his viral org chart comic that humorously depicts Big Tech's complexities. Manu reveals how Google's 20% time policy spurred innovation and his comic that predicted the failure of Google Stadia. He also reflects on the atmosphere at Twitter post-Elon Musk's acquisition, highlighting the chaotic environment and its impact on employees. Expect laughs and thought-provoking commentary on tech culture!

In this engaging discussion, Dr. Nicole Forsgren, a leading expert in developer productivity and co-creator of the DORA and SPACE frameworks, dives into the complexities of measuring productivity in software development. She explores the importance of holistic metrics that prioritize developer well-being and communication. Nicole shares insightful strategies for improving team dynamics, the impact of AI tools on workflows, and the value of investment in platform teams to boost productivity. It's a treasure trove of knowledge for tech leaders and engineers alike!