In this engaging episode of 99 Dev Problems, host Tessa Kriesel welcomes guest, Amy Dutton, a seasoned web developer with 24 years of experience. Amy shares her journey from starting web development at 16 to becoming the lead maintainer of RedwoodJS. The conversation touches on her evolution from design to development, her early career experiences, and her latest ambitious project, Build Twelve—a year-long challenge to develop 12 projects in 12 months.

Amy dives deep into the tech stacks and decision-making processes behind her projects, including her experiences with Laravel and Next.js, as well as the complexities of framework development. She also discusses the challenges of balancing technical work with building and maintaining a community, particularly in her Part-Time Startup initiative.

The two share insights on getting unstuck as developers, leveraging AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT, and balancing the desire for perfection with the need for progress. Amy highlights the importance of walking away when stuck and embracing tools and workflows that play to individual strengths.

This episode is packed with valuable lessons for developers at every stage, from overcoming technical hurdles to balancing the human and technical aspects of community-building.

Where to Find Amy Dutton

• Twitter/X: @SelfTeachMe
• Website: buildtwelve.com – Subscribe for project updates and insights.
• Podcast: Compressed.fm

Tune in to hear Amy’s inspiring journey and practical advice, and stay connected for future collaborations and insights!