In this episode of 99 Dev Problems, Tessa Kriesel welcomes Aaron Francis, co-founder of Try Hard Studios, to discuss his unique journey from accountant to developer educator, his love for Laravel, and the grit it takes to thrive in tech and business.

Aaron shares how his background in accounting shaped his problem-solving mindset and led to a passion for teaching complex topics like databases and development frameworks. As a self-taught developer, Aaron emphasizes the value of perseverance, curiosity, and putting your work out there—even when you feel unqualified. He discusses his latest project, an open-source Laravel library, and the balancing act of preparing for its big reveal at an upcoming conference.

The conversation also dives into the joys and challenges of running Try Hard Studios, a developer education company specializing in high-quality video courses on topics like SQLite and Postgres. Aaron reflects on the emotional highs and lows of entrepreneurship, navigating family responsibilities, and the unexpected twists of starting a business.

Where to Find Aaron Francis:

• Try Hard Studios: tryhardstudios.com
• X/Twitter: @aarondfrancis
• YouTube: Aaron Francis
• Personal Blog: aaronfrancis.com

Additional Resources:

• Laravel Framework: laravel.com
• Check out Aaron’s courses: High Performance SQLite and Mastering Postgres on Try Hard Studios' website.