Adventures in DevOps

In this episode, they explore the realms of DevOps management and team dynamics. Will is joined by Warren and Jillian to delve into the challenges and strategies involved in transitioning from a ticket queue system to using epics for task management. They discuss how this shift prioritizes objectives, enhances team focus across global time zones, and improves communication with product teams.
The conversation also touches on documenting processes, managing support work, and the importance of adaptability and transparency within organizations. From humorous anecdotes about technical issues to practical advice on handling resistance from higher-ups, the episode is packed with real-world examples and expert insights. Tune in to learn how to better align stakeholder priorities, balance planned and unplanned work, and foster a more efficient and cohesive DevOps team. 

Socials

• LinkedIn: Jillian Rowe
• LinkedIn: Warren Parad
• LinkedIn: Will Button

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Jillian returns to the podcast after a significant move from Doha, Qatar to a quaint town in New Hampshire. She shares her experiences of adjusting back to life in the U.S., both personally and professionally. The discussion delves into the logistics and emotional aspects of relocating internationally—what it’s like leaving behind furniture deemed disposable overseas, starting fresh with new purchases, and dealing with unexpected challenges along the way.

Additionally, they talk about the Dora metrics and the emphasis on why measuring these metrics is crucial for understanding DevOps efficiency within organizations. They also dive into the importance of setting hypotheses when attempting organizational changes. And discuss the challenges faced by companies who fail at measuring progress post-experimentation.



Socials

• LinkedIn: Jillian Rowe
• LinkedIn: Will Button
• LinkedIn: Warren Parad

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/adventures-in-devops--6102036/support.

In this episode, Will, Warren and Jillian dive into the complexities of secrets management and developer productivity with our esteemed guest, Brian Vallelunga from Doppler. Join them as Brian shares his journey from facing security challenges at Uber to founding Doppler, an innovative solution aimed at transforming how developers handle secrets.They delve into the critical importance of secrets management, Doppler's unique approach to making security practices not only essential but enjoyable for developers, and the future of authentication with identity-based methods. Brian also offers valuable advice on integrating security from day one and discusses the hurdles and necessities of secure secret management.

Tune in as they explore the evolving landscape of security standards, the impact of SOC 2 compliance, and the balance between immediate security fixes and long-term stability using tools like Terraform. They also touch on personal experiences with data security, practical tips for safeguarding information, and a touch of light-heartedness with fun picks from our hosts.


Don't miss this engaging conversation filled with practical insights, expert advice, and a visionary look at the future of secure development practices. 

Socials 

• LinkedIn: Brian Vallelunga

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Today, we have a dynamic discussion lined up with Will and special guest, Ben Johnson, the CEO of Particle 41. In this episode, they delve deep into the evolving landscape of the tech industry, from incentivizing certifications to the current economic conditions affecting startups.
Ben shares his insights on the importance of experience and specialized knowledge, advocating for a system that prioritizes certifications as objective measures of learning. Will critiques the education system and proposes an apprenticeship model as a solution to existing gaps.
The conversation also navigates the complexities of the modern job market, the impact of layoffs, and the startup ecosystem's challenges due to economic constraints. We explore innovative paths like personal entrepreneurship, brand building, and creating niche software solutions.
Ben and Will also debate the merits of generalism versus specialization, the use of AI in development, and the strategic value of certifications. Plus, we'll touch on the transformative potential 


Socials

• LinkedIn: Ben Johnson

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Charles is joined by Caleb Fornari and Jeffrey Groman as we discuss the challenges of public versus private package managers and the security implications of using public repositories.

Links

• Adventures in DevOps - Devchat.tv
• Dependency Confusion: How I Hacked Into Apple, Microsoft and Dozens of Other Companies
• Devchat.tv | JSJ 357: Event-Stream & Package Vulnerabilities with Richard Feldman and Hillel Wayne
• Malicious code found in npm package event-stream downloaded 8 million times in the past 2.5 months
• GitHub | The Node Security Platform

Picks

• Caleb- Have a plan to mitigate damage if someone is able to get inside your network. Don’t just secure the public side of your technical infrastructure, make sure your internal security as just as strong as your external security.
• Charles- Dev Heroes Accelerator | Devchat.tv
• Charles-  The Umbrella Academy | Netflix
• Charles- Personal Retreat
• Jeffrey- Asset management: Know and document where all of your digital assets reside. Whether servers, VMs, EC2 instances, and all of your structured and unstructured data.
• Jeffrey- You can’t secure what you don’t know about

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Will and Warren dive deep into the world of career longevity and adaptability in the fast-evolving tech industry. They explore the often-overlooked importance of staying with a project long enough to understand and resolve complex issues, and how job dissatisfaction can be a tool for negotiation rather than a cue to immediately move on.
They touch on early career experiences and the shift towards specialization, echoing advice from past guest Kelsey Hightower. Warren  also shares his intriguing perspective on the value of early career terminations, the necessity of soft skills, and the challenges of expanding teams. The conversation will unfold to reveal a balanced view on the evolution from hands-on engineering to management roles, the continual learning required to stay relevant, and the often humorous realities behind career transitions.
Listen in as they discuss scaling career paths, the nuances of job switching, and the criticality of balancing technical and business acumen. They also delve into the personal facets of tech careers, from dealing with burnout to the idea of retirement, all while sharing our thoughts on professional books and the lessons they impart. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a seasoned developer, or someone navigating the complexities of the tech industry, this episode promises a wealth of knowledge and a dose of humor to keep you engaged. 


Socials

• LinkedIn: Warren Parad
• LinkedIn: Will Button

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/adventures-in-devops--6102036/support.

In today's episode, Warren and Will dive into the difficulties of coordinating between marketing and engineering teams, particularly around handling increased traffic and sales during the holiday season. The discussion covers the importance of auditing code and looking for potential issues or technical debt at the end of the year. The hosts also explore strategies for pitching and justifying technical projects or rewrites to management, emphasizing the need to frame them in terms of business impact. They conclude by reflecting on the value of stepping back from day-to-day tasks at the end of the year to gain a broader organizational perspective.

Socials

• LinkedIn: Warren Parad
• LinkedIn: Will Button

Picks

• Will - Half-Life: Alyx

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Will and Warren dive deep into the world of Mastermind groups and their impact on career success within the DevOps landscape. They explore the origins of mastermind groups from Napoleon Hill’s "Think and Grow Rich" and debate why a staggering 99% of them might be ineffective, according to Will. Warren shares his own experiences and expresses his curiosity about what truly makes such groups effective.
They also draw intriguing parallels between accountability in mastermind groups and emergency preparedness in aviation, emphasizing the importance of ingrained habits and continuous skill development. From military training insights to the challenges of creating genuine, trust-filled mastermind groups, we'll cover it all.
Additionally, they touch on the broader aspects of professional growth—public speaking, networking, mentorship, and the evolving dynamics of teamwork. Plus, don't miss on practical tips on forming mastermind groups and fostering meaningful professional relationships. Tune in for an episode packed with valuable insights, compelling analogies, and shared experiences that can help you navigate and succeed in your career!


Picks

• Warren - The Formula
• Will -  Onyx

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In today’s episode, Will Button and Warren are joined by special guest Eyal Solomon, co-founder of Lunar.dev. This episode dives deep into pressing DevOps topics like the complexities of Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions and the intricacies of the API economy. They explore the challenges of API management, the importance of visibility and monitoring in API consumption, and strategies to prevent issues like rate limiting and billing surprises.


Eyal shares his journey from infrastructure optimization to specializing in API management, highlighting how Lunar dot Dev helps companies handle API quotas, security, and performance through their innovative platform. We also delve into integrating AI within APIs, managing API costs, and the rising trend of AI agents.


Join them as they dissect the importance of combining storytelling with educational insights in various content forms, from books to YouTube channels. Learn how running can be a form of meditation and problem-solving, and get top book recommendations from our hosts. Whether you’re dealing with API challenges or looking to optimize your DevOps practices, this episode is packed with valuable insights straight from the experts. Don’t miss out!


Links

• Lunar.dev

Socials

• LinkedIn: Eyal Solomon

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Today, Will and Warren dive into the intersection of DevOps and AI with our special guest, Görkem Ercan, CTO of Jozu and a seasoned expert in developer tools and DevOps. In this episode, they explore the practical applications and challenges of integrating Machine Learning into DevOps workflows, utilizing real-world examples like global shirt distribution and the US Army's sizing issues. They also discuss the critical role of psychological safety in successful teams, the surprising origins of the webcam, and the remarkable engineering feats of the Voyager spacecraft.
Moreover, they unpack the intricacies of AI model management, confronting issues like non-deterministic outcomes, data drift, and the need for a unified control plane to handle complex, dynamic environments. They touch on the rise of internal AI management, the innovative use of sentiment analysis in customer support, and the surprising interest from consulting firms in AI-driven solutions.

Socials

• LinkedIn: Görkem Ercan
• Gorkem Ercan 

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/adventures-in-devops--6102036/support.