Coding Blocks

Coding Blocks episodes:

• 04.14.2024

  Ktor, Logging Ideas, and Plugin Safety

  Picture, if you will, a nondescript office space, where time seems to stand still as programmers gather around a water cooler. Here, in the twilight of the workday, they exchange eerie tales of programming glitches, security breaches, and asynchronous calls....

  
• 04.01.2024

  Importance of Data Structures, Bad Documentation and Comments and More

  In this episode, Allen, Joe and Michael finally make it back to record together! Allen revisits the basics, Michael kicks off boomer hour nicely, and JZ let’s us know that the dream of an 8-bit looking keyboard is not dead....

  
• 03.18.2024

  Decorating your Home Office

  This time we are missing the “ocks”, but we hope you enjoy this off…ice topic chat about personalizing our workspaces. Also, Joe had to put a quarter in the jar, and Outlaw needs a cookie. The full show notes are...

  
• 03.04.2024

  Multi-Value, Spatial, and Event Store Databases

  We are mixing it up on you again, no Outlaw this week, but we can offer you some talk of exotic databases. Also, Joe pronounces everything correctly and Allen leaves you with a riddle. The full show notes are available...

  
• 02.19.2024

  Overview of Object Oriented, Wide Column, and Vector Databases

  We have a different combination of the hosts for this episode where we continue the series on the types of database systems available and why you might choose one over another. Michael continues impressing by recalling everything we’ve ever said...

  
• 02.05.2024

  Picking the Right Database Type – Tougher than You Think

  You asked, we listened! A request from one of our Slack channels was to go over the various types of databases and why you might choose one over another. Join us in another information filled episode where Joe won’t be...

  
• 01.21.2024

  There is still cool stuff on the internet

  This episode we are talking about keeping the internet interesting and making cool things by looking at PagedOut and Itch.io. Also, Allen won’t ever mark you down, Outlaw won’t ever give you up, and Joe took a note to say...

  
• 01.08.2024

  Reflecting on 2023 and Looking Forward to 2024

  It’s that time of year…the time we (reluctantly) look back at what we said we were going to do this past year and see if we actually did it. Then, we repeat history and set some goals we’ll likely look...

  
• 12.18.2023

  Gartner Top Strategic Technology Trends 2024

  This episode we are talking about the future of tech with the Gartner Top Strategic Technology Trends 2024. Also, Allen is looking into the crystal ball, Joe is getting lo, and Outlaw is getting into curling. The full show notes...

  
• 11.25.2023

  2023 Holiday Season Developer Shopping List

  It’s that time of year again when the three of us reflect on the things we’ve bought and loved, or the things we want to get…and want to love…So, come join us in this episode for our usual amount of...

  
• 11.13.2023

  Gartner and your Life Partners

  Ever looked at a Gartner report? We talk about the Technology Adoption Roadmap for Midsize Enterprises 2022, and the cloud services you’re married to in this episode. Also, Joe’s drumming up business ideas, Allen’s laying down the law and Outlaw...

  
• 10.30.2023

  Open Telemetry – Instrumentation and Metrics

  Join us as we get back into the world of Open Telemetry. Piggy-backing on previous conversations from the Google SRE series as well as DevOps, metrics and instrumentation is a key component of understanding what’s happening with your systems. Follow...

  
• 10.15.2023

  Keyboards, Cloud Costs, Static Analysis, and Philosophy

  We’ve got a smorgasbord of delights for you this week, ranging from mechanical switches to the cloud and beyond. Also, Michael’s cosplaying as Megaman, Joe learns the difference between Clicks and Clacks, and Allen takes no prisoners. See the full...

  
• 10.02.2023

  Code Confidence using NASA’s Ten Simple Rules

  We’ve mentioned in the past that the code we write isn’t maintaining heartbeats or being used in life-critical settings, but what if your code is? NASA happens to be a company who has code that is life and mission critical...

  
• 09.17.2023

  GitHub Actions

  In this episode, we are talking all about GitHub Actions. What are they, and why should you consider learning more about them? Also, Allen terminates the terminators, Outlaw remembers the good ol’ days, and Joe tries his hand at sales....

  
• 09.05.2023

  Tracing Specifics – Know your System with OpenTelmetry

  Get a behind the scenes intro to some of the interesting conversations we have before we even get into the content. We’ll be jumping into the meat of this episode and looking at the specifics of tracing using OpenTelemetry. Before...

  
• 08.21.2023

  What is OpenTelemetry?

  In this episode, we’re talking all about OpenTelemetry. Also, Allen lays down some knowledge, Joe plays director and Outlaw stumps the chumps. See the full show notes at https://www.codingblocks.net/episode216 News What is OpenTelemetry? It’s all about Observability Reliability and Metrics Distributed...

  
• 08.07.2023

  Software in Audio and How to Lead

  In this episode, Allen, Michael and Joe discuss the latest update with the Reddit saga, software for designing audio and reproducing analog sounds, an open-ended interview question and tips on how to be a great leader. Reviews Huge thank you...

  
• 07.23.2023

  Team Leadership, TUIs, and AI Lawsuits

  In this episode, we’re talking about the history of “man” pages, console apps, team leadership, and Artificial Intelligence liability. Also, Allen’s downloading the internet, Outlaw has fallen in love with the sound of a morrvair, and Joe says TUI like...

  
• 07.10.2023

  Better Application Management with Custom Apps

  Last episode, it might have been said that you can become a senior engineer in just one short year. Our amazing slack community spoke up and had some thoughts on that as well…we revisit that, and what does senior even...

  
• 06.25.2023

  Errors vs Exceptions, Reddit Rebels, and the 2023 StackOverflow Survey

  In this episode, we’re talking about lessons learned and the lessons we still need to learn. Also, Michael shares some anti-monetization strategies, Allen wins by default, and Joe keeps it real 59/60 days a year! The full show notes for...

  
• 06.11.2023

  Easy and Cheap AI for Developers, Reddit API Changes and Sherlocking

  We’re back after a brief break for a busy month of May, and we’re here to talk about some pretty cool stuff happening in the developer world. Outlaw took vacation and can remember nothing, Joe introduces us to Sherlocking, and...

  
• 05.15.2023

  Gitlab vs Github, AI vs Microservices

  In this sequence of sound, we compute Joe’s unexpected pleasure in commercial-viewing algorithms, Michael’s intricate process of slicing up the pizza, and Allen’s persistent request for more cheese data augmentation. Will you engage in this data streaming session? The full...

  
• 05.01.2023

  Supporting Your Code, README vs Wiki and Test Coverage

  In this episode we talk about several things that have been on our mind. We find that Joe has been taken over by AI’s, Michael now understands our love of Kotlin, and Allen wants to know how to escape supporting...

  
• 04.16.2023

  Water Cooler GPT

  We’re doing a water cooler talk today. Also, Allen can tell you how not to leak secrets, Michael knows how to work a spreadsheet, and Joe has been replaced by an AGI. The full show notes for this episode are...

  
• 04.03.2023

  Understanding Serial Transactions for Databases like Redis

  We’ve got a new / old opening…Allen goes off / on script? Michael denies Joe the “swing” vote, and Joe is all in on AI assistance Testing for concurrency issues is hard because it’s non-deterministic – basically you get unlucky...

  
• 03.20.2023

  Designing Data-Intensive Applications – Lost Updates and Write Skew

  What are lost updates, and what can we do about them? Maybe we don’t do anything and accept the write skew? Also, Allen has sharp ears, Outlaw’s gort blah spotterfiles, and Joe is just thinking about breakfast. The full show...

  
• 03.06.2023

  ChatGPT and the Future of Everything

  There’s this thing called ChatGPT you may have heard of. Is it the end for all software developers? Have we reached the epitome of mankind? Also, should you write your own or find a FOSS solution? That and much more...

  
• 02.20.2023

  Designing Data-Intensive Applications – Weak Isolation and Snapshotting

  Ever wonder how database backups work if new data is coming in while the backup is running? Hang with us while we talk about that, while Allen doesn’t stand a chance, Outlaw is in love, and Joe forgets his radio...

  
• 02.06.2023

  Designing Data-Intensive Applications – Multi-Object Transactions

  It's time we learn about multi-object transactions as we continue our journey into Designing Data-Intensive Applications, while Allen didn't specifically have that thought, Joe took a marketing class, and Michael promised he wouldn't cry.

  
• 01.23.2023

  Designing Data-Intensive Applications – Transactions

  We decided to knock the dust off our copies of Designing Data-Intensive Applications to learn about transactions while Michael is full of solutions, Allen isn't deterred by Cheater McCheaterton, and Joe realizes wurds iz hard.

  
• 01.02.2023

  2023 Resolutions

  Michael spends the holidays changing his passwords, Joe forgot to cancel his subscriptions, and Allen's busy playing Call of Duty: Modern Healthcare as we discuss the our 2023 resolutions.

  
• 12.19.2022

  200th Episode Extravaganza!

  We step back and look at how things have changed since we first started the show while Outlaw is dancing on tables, Allen really knows his movie monsters, and Joe’s math is on point. The full show notes for this...

  
• 12.05.2022

  Job Hopping and Favorite Dev Books

  We talk about career management and interview tips, pushing data contracts “left”, and our favorite dev books while Outlaw is [redacted], Joe’s trying to figure out how to hire junior devs, and Allen’s trying to screw some nails in. The...

  
• 11.21.2022

  Technical Challenges of Scale at Twitter

  We take a peak into some of the challenges Twitter has faced while solving data problems at large scale, while Michael challenges the audience, Joe speaks from experience, and Allen blindsides them both.

  
• 11.07.2022

  The 2022 Shopping Spree

  It's that time of year where we've got money burning a hole in our pockets. That's right, it's time for the annual shopping spree. Meanwhile, Fiona Allen is being gross, Joe throws shade at Burger King, and Michael has a...

  
• 10.24.2022

  As the Watercooler Turns

  We gather around the watercooler to discuss the latest gossip and shenanigans have been called while Coach Allen is not wrong, Michael gets called out, and Joe gets it right the first time.

  
• 10.10.2022

  Git from the Bottom Up – Reset, Stash, and Reflog

  We wrap up Git from the Bottom Up by John Wiegley while Joe has a convenient excuse, Allen gets thrown under the bus, and Michael somehow made it worse.

  
• 09.26.2022

  Git from the Bottom Up – The Index

  This episode, we learn more about Git's Index and compare it to other version control systems while Joe is throwing shade, Michael learns a new command, and Allen makes it gross.

  
• 09.12.2022

  Git from the Bottom Up – Rebasing

  It's time to understand the full power of Git's rebase capabilities while Allen takes a call from Doc Brown, Michael is breaking stuff all day long, and Joe must be punished.

  
• 08.29.2022

  Git from the Bottom Up – Commits

  We are committed to continuing our deep dive into Git from the Bottom Up by John Wiegley, while Allen puts too much thought into onions, Michael still doesn't understand proper nouns, and Joe is out hat shopping.

  
• 08.15.2022

  Git from the Bottom Up – Blobs and Trees

  It's surprising how little we know about Git as we continue to dive into Git from the Bottom Up, while Michael confuses himself, Joe has low standards, and Allen tells a joke.

  
• 08.01.2022

  Understanding Git

  After working with Git for over a decade, we decide to take a deep dive into how it works, while Michael, Allen, and Joe apparently still don't understand Git.

  
• 07.18.2022

  Stack Overflow 2022 Survey Says …

  Once again, Stack Overflow takes the pulse of the developer community where we have all collectively decided to switch to Clojure, while Michael is changing things up, Joe is a future predicting trailblazer, and Allen is "up in the books"

  
• 07.05.2022

  Site Reliability Engineering – More Evolution of Automation

  We're going back in time, or is it forward?, as we continue learning about Google's automation evolution, while Allen doesn't like certain beers, Joe is a Zacker™, and Michael poorly assumes that UPSes work best when plugged in.

  
• 06.20.2022

  Site Reliability Engineering – Evolution of Automation

  We explore the evolution of automation as we continue studying Google's Site Reliability Engineering, while Michael, ah, forget it, Joe almost said it correctly, and Allen fell for it.

  
• 06.06.2022

  Site Reliability Engineering – (Still) Monitoring Distributed Systems

  We finished. A chapter, that is, of the Site Reliability Engineering book as Allen asks to make it weird, Joe has his own pronunciation, and Michael follows through on his promise.

  
• 05.23.2022

  Site Reliability Engineering – Monitoring Distributed Systems

  We haven't finished the Site Reliability Engineering book yet as we learn how to monitor our system while the deals at Costco as so good, Allen thinks they're fake, Joe hasn't attended a math class in a while, and Michael...

  
• 05.09.2022

  Site Reliability Engineering – Eliminating Toil

  We say "toil" a lot this episode while Joe saw a movie, Michael says something controversial, and Allen's tip is to figure it out yourself, all while learning how to eliminate toil.

  
• 04.25.2022

  Site Reliability Engineering – Service Level Indicators, Objectives, and Agreements

  Welcome to the morning edition of Coding Blocks as we dive into what service level indicators, objectives, and agreements are while Michael clearly needs more sleep, Allen doesn't know how web pages work anymore, and Joe isn't allowed to beg.