In this third and final episode of our "Standing Out as a Developer" mini-series, we dive deep with founding engineer and Criclang creator Manthan Gupta into the art of continuous learning while juggling a day job. With AI reshaping the industry and technical skills becoming obsolete faster than ever, this episode is a masterclass on staying ahead of the curve.In this episode:
- Why junior engineer roles are decreasing with AI advancement
- The "algorithm hacking" strategy for curating your learning feed
- Building a learning funnel.
- The single word that can transform your upskilling approach
- Research papers as your secret weapon for cutting-edge insights
- How to approach mentors the right way (and avoid generic advice)
- Project-based learning lessons from building Criclang in 20 days
- Why you need to stop relying on your job for knowledge growthchapters
00:00 In this episode
01:03 Breaking Prod intro
01:27 The upskilling crisis in AI era
03:05 AI impact on junior engineers
03:37 "Deer in headlight" moment
08:21 Algorithm hacking masterclass
09:13 Curating your feed for tech discovery
10:01 The learning funnel strategy
11:05 The power of asking "WHY"
12:02 International interview insights
12:46 Research papers: The hidden hack
14:03 How to approach research papers
15:09 Reading books the right way
16:16 Project-based learning approach
16:55 Criclang: 20-day programming language
18:13 Breaking the "it's too hard" mindset
18:25 Swift Mac app project example
20:26 Finding the right mentors
21:01 Mentor misconceptions
21:29 How to approach mentors correctly
22:24 Showing up and building reputation
23:04 AI tools lowering learning barriers
24:03 Final advice: Stop relying on your job
24:25 Asking "WHY" as a superpowerManthan's Socials
- Twitter https://twitter.com/manthanguptaa
- GitHub https://github.com/manthanguptaa
- CricLang https://manthanguptaa.in/posts/criclang/
- Website https://manthanguptaa.in/Manthan's latest AI Project -
https://manthanguptaa.in/posts/water/Vivek's Socials
- Twitter https://twitter.com/viveknigam_
- Instagram https://www.instagram.com/viveknigam3003
- Website and blogs https://www.viveknigam.io/About Breaking Prod
Breaking Prod is the no-fluff tech podcast where curious builders break down real-world systems—and themselves—to rebuild smarter, stronger, and more human. It's a home for anyone who's building, breaking, or just figuring it out.