In this episode of 99 Dev Problems, Tessa Kriesel sits down with long-time friend and developer extraordinaire Carl Alexander. Carl shares his journey from building robotics projects as a child to becoming a prominent figure in the WordPress and PHP communities. With a passion for programming deeply ingrained in his DNA, Carl dives into the challenges of navigating a non-linear career path, the joys of building developer tools, and the importance of creating spaces where developers can thrive together.

The conversation explores fascinating topics, including Carl’s insights on neurodivergence and the “double empathy problem,” how developers communicate, and why connecting with other like-minded individuals is crucial for growth. Carl also highlights the evolution of developer tooling, the role of AI in programming, and how his product, Emyr, is simplifying infrastructure management for WordPress developers.

Whether you’re a developer who loves solving problems, building communities, or just nerding out about PHP and Laravel, this episode has something for everyone.

Where to Find Carl Alexander:

• Ymir: https://ymirapp.com/
• Personal Blog: carlalexander.ca
• GitHub: github.com/carlalexander
• LinkedIn: Carl Alexander

Additional Resources:

• Carl’s book on object-oriented programming in WordPress: https://carlalexander.ca/object-oriented-programming-wordpress/
• Developer community hub: hub.builtfor.dev

Tune in to discover how Carl’s love for programming has shaped his life and how his innovative tools are empowering developers around the world.