In this episode of 99 Dev Problems, Tessa Kriesel chats with Genghis Philip, an engineering manager at Kipsu, who shares his journey from archaeology to tech, his passion for coaching (both in ultimate frisbee and engineering teams), and his thoughtful approach to career growth and team building.

Genghis discusses the importance of building high-performing teams by aligning incentives, fostering autonomy, and creating a culture where engineers thrive. He highlights the value of succession planning—not just for individual careers but as a critical strategy across teams and organizations. From enabling junior developers to embrace problem-solving without over-relying on AI tools, to guiding senior engineers toward impactful roles, Genghis offers practical insights for every stage of a developer's career.

We also explore his three-pronged framework for career growth: management, architecture, and technical sales, and the often-overlooked potential of solutions architecture roles. Genghis emphasizes the importance of engineers understanding the "why" behind their work, aligning their personal goals with business needs, and fostering inclusivity in tech.

This episode is packed with actionable advice for developers, managers, and anyone passionate about growing their career or supporting their teams. Plus, hear Genghis' inspiring call to action for fostering community and creating opportunities for the next generation of engineers.

Where to Find Genghis:

• Blog: MilkyWayFarers.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/genghisphilip/
• X/Twitter: https://x.com/Hawksfire
• BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/genghis.bsky.social

Tune in for an insightful conversation that bridges tech, leadership, and the human side of building impactful careers and teams.

In this episode of 99 Dev Problems, Tessa Kriesel chats with Alex Standiford, founder of Novatorius, Siren, and creator of PHP Nomad. Alex shares his journey from WordPress developer to agency founder, shedding light on the challenges of balancing client work with product development. He dives deep into PHP Nomad, a groundbreaking framework designed to enable nomadic programming, allowing code to seamlessly transition across platforms like WordPress, Laravel, and beyond.

Listeners will learn how Alex utilizes AI tools like ChatGPT for problem-solving and project management, why he designed PHP Nomad to decouple integrations for maximum flexibility, and how his nomadic framework is reshaping how developers approach platform-dependent programming. Alex also shares his philosophy on work-life balance, highlighting how he built his business to enable freedom and mobility, inspired by his own travels while working remotely.

Whether you're a WordPress developer looking to broaden your skill set or simply curious about the future of programming frameworks, this episode offers a treasure trove of insights and practical advice. Plus, Alex discusses opportunities to collaborate with Novatorius, whether you're looking for project work or quick development "snacks."

Links from the Show:

• Find Alex on LinkedIn
• Alex Standiford’s Personal Site
• PHP Nomad
• Join Alex's Team of Devs

Don’t miss Alex’s passion for building tools that empower developers and his call to action for those ready to join him on this journey. Tune in and find your edge in the developer ecosystem!

In this episode of 99 Dev Problems, Tessa Kriesel chats with Mike Bifulco, CTO and co-founder of Craftwork, a Y Combinator-backed company redefining the home services experience with innovative technology. Mike shares insights into Craftwork's mission to modernize home painting services through thoughtful tech integration and human-centric design.

From leveraging Rails, React Native, and Next.js to tackling multilingual software challenges and behavioral economics in UX design, Mike provides a deep dive into the technical and human aspects of building scalable, customer-focused products. He also discusses the importance of curiosity, collaboration, and leadership in engineering teams—and offers advice for developers navigating the ever-changing tech landscape.

Discover how Craftwork combines cutting-edge tech with a personal touch to redefine customer experiences and learn how Mike approaches challenges, innovation, and team building.

Key Takeaways:

• How Craftwork’s software ecosystem empowers both painters and customers.
• Lessons from transitioning complex features into user-friendly solutions.
• The importance of listening to user feedback and embracing iteration.
• Why leadership and alignment with values matter when choosing tools and teammates.
• Insights into the hiring process and what makes a great engineering culture.

Job Opportunity: Craftwork is hiring a full-stack Rails developer! If you're curious, passionate, and eager to join a team transforming the home services industry, please look at the job posting below.

Guest Links:

• Mike Bifulco’s Website
• APIs You Won’t Hate
• Craftwork Job Posting

Tune in, learn, and get inspired by the intersection of tech and humanity.

In this episode, we sat down with Neal Tovsen, a seasoned fractional CTO who brings over two decades of enterprise and startup experience to the tech industry. After working at companies like GE and Siemens, Neal ventured into entrepreneurship before finding his passion in fractional CTO work, where he helps non-technical founders and coaches technical founders navigating the startup world. Throughout the conversation, Neal shared invaluable insights on technical leadership, discussing how development decisions need to align with business context and goals. He offered a fresh perspective on the perpetual challenge of balancing code quality with business needs, suggesting that developers should "change the definition of perfection to match the need at the time."

Neal also delved into the cultural aspects of different programming languages and frameworks, from Ruby/Rails to JavaScript/TypeScript, and provided practical advice for developers looking to introduce new tools to their organizations. His approach to technology selection and team building reflects a deep understanding of how technical decisions impact business outcomes, making this episode particularly valuable for both developers and technical leaders looking to bridge the gap between technical excellence and business objectives.

Neal can be found on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/nealtovsen, where he's open to connecting for mentoring and technical leadership discussions.

In this episode, Chris Swift, a senior engineer in FinTech shares insights from his 13-year journey in tech. The conversation explores the evolution of development tools, the shifting landscape of remote developer culture, and practical approaches to solving complex integration challenges. From discussing the importance of foundational programming knowledge to sharing real-world strategies for communicating technical needs to business stakeholders, this episode offers valuable perspectives on modern software development.

Key topics include the evolution of adopting AI developer tools, changing dynamics in technical leadership, approaches to technical problem-solving, and building effective developer relationships in remote environments. Whether you're interested in developer productivity, career growth, or technical leadership, this episode offers practical insights from someone actively building in highly regulated environments.