Breaking into software development isn’t about finishing another tutorial—it’s about building something that matters. In this episode, I’ll show you how to choose a side project that proves your skills, keeps you motivated, and actually impresses employers.

You’ll learn:

• Why great data makes or breaks your app
• How to apply the 80/20 rule—stick with tech you know, sprinkle in something new
• Picking a project you’re emotionally invested in (so you don’t abandon it)
• Tools that make you look sharp fast—React, Next.js, Tailwind CSS, and smarter database picks
• Adding AI functionality to make your project stand out
• Building a real MVP, deploying with Vercel or the cloud, and estimating time like a pro

Here's the link for the free APIs on GitHub: https://free-apis.github.io/#/browse

And—don’t miss it—we’re giving away a full Parsity scholarship. 

👉 Apply here 👈

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🧑‍💻 Join Parsity - Become a full stack AI developer in 6-9 months.

✉️ Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here

Zubin's LinkedIn (ex-lawyer, former Googler, Brian-look-a-like)

The tech job market is sending seriously mixed signals in 2025. While social media overflows with doom and gloom about hiring freezes and impossible entry barriers, actual data tells a surprisingly different story. 

Job openings are trending upward, with big tech companies like Meta, Google, and Apple actively expanding their engineering teams.

What's really happening is a massive shift in what companies need from their developers. "AI engineering" positions have exploded, increasing 5-6x since 2023 alone. But here's the critical insight most are missing: these roles don't primarily require deep machine learning expertise or data science backgrounds.

This represents a golden opportunity for software developers willing to expand their skills in the right direction.

Let's explore.

Here's the link to the original article: https://substack.com/inbox/post/172584839?utm_source=unread-posts-digest-email&inbox=true&utm_medium=email&triedRedirect=true

Apply for Parsity's AI Developer Program: https://www.parsity.io/ai-developer

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🧑‍💻 Join Parsity - Become a full stack AI developer in 6-9 months.

✉️ Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here

Zubin's LinkedIn (ex-lawyer, former Googler, Brian-look-a-like)

Remember when coding bootcamps promised you could learn to code and land a job in just three months? 

That golden era of easy entry into tech has fundamentally changed, yet the marketing hasn't caught up with reality.

In this eye-opening conversation, ex-Google engineer Zubin and host Brian cut through the hype to deliver a reality check about what it actually takes to transition into software development in 2025.

What separates those who succeed from those who don't? 

It's rarely about raw talent or technical aptitude. Instead, it's about creating systems that allow for consistent practice despite life's inevitable challenges.

"I've seen computer science grads fail and French fry cooks succeed"

Let's dig into why.

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🧑‍💻 Join Parsity - Become a full stack AI developer in 6-9 months.

✉️ Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here

Zubin's LinkedIn (ex-lawyer, former Googler, Brian-look-a-like)

AI is changing coding faster than anyone expected. 

Two years ago, autocomplete felt wild—now people with zero dev experience are shipping apps over a weekend. 

The question isn’t “is AI replacing developers?” It’s “how do you actually use it without wrecking your codebase?” 

In this episode, I’ll break down when to use AI (and when not to), why Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) is the real game-changer, and how you can stay valuable as a new developer in a world full of hype.

Send us a text

Shameless Plugs

🧑‍💻 Join Parsity - Become a full stack AI developer in 6-9 months.

✉️ Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here

Zubin's LinkedIn (ex-lawyer, former Googler, Brian-look-a-like)

It’s Labor Day weekend and, honestly? I’m burned out.

Maybe this isn’t the best business move, but I’d rather keep it real with you than fake the whole “everything is great in tech” narrative.

I’ve been plenty vocal about why AI isn’t about to replace us all tomorrow, much to the dismay of to all the AI bros out there.

But here’s the other side: being a developer is nothing like those “day in the life” TikToks where someone shows up to the office around 10AM, gets a fancy coffee, fixes a UI bug and then gets a 400K salary with stock options.

So here it is—my three worst parts of being a software developer.

... and why I still enjoy what I do.

Send us a text

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🧑‍💻 Join Parsity - Become a full stack AI developer in 6-9 months.

✉️ Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here

Zubin's LinkedIn (ex-lawyer, former Googler, Brian-look-a-like)

What happens when you give an AI agent full control over a small business?

I mean, what could go wrong?

Things started off rough and then got down right creepy near the end of this experiment.

You can read the original article here: https://www.anthropic.com/research/project-vend-1

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🧑‍💻 Join Parsity - Become a full stack AI developer in 6-9 months.

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Zubin's LinkedIn (ex-lawyer, former Googler, Brian-look-a-like)

What does it actually mean to be an “AI Engineer”? 

Honestly—not much. The title is overloaded and vague. 

But what is meaningful right now is knowing how to build real projects with AI that go beyond toy chatbots and portfolio fluff.

In this episode, I walk you through the exact project I’ve been building at two different AI startups: a Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) app. You’ll learn how to:

• Scrape and store content in a vector database
• Use embeddings to turn your text into something a model can understand
• Stream responses back to your frontend with Next.js + TypeScript
• Reduce hallucinations and add structured, reliable outputs
• Understand why this is the skillset employers are actually hiring for right now

👉 Check out the repo and code from this episode here: https://www.parsity.io/ai-with-rag

If you’ve been wondering how to actually learn AI engineering skills that matter in 2025, this is the place to start.

Send us a text

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🧑‍💻 Join Parsity - Become a full stack AI developer in 6-9 months.

✉️ Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here

Zubin's LinkedIn (ex-lawyer, former Googler, Brian-look-a-like)

In this episode of Develop Yourself, I sit down with Gabe Rucker, CEO of Founding Titans, to discuss everything from entrepreneurship and building startups to the practical side of networking and getting money from thin air.

We also dive into how Parsity students gained valuable, hands-on experience through an internship with Founding Titans, working alongside a real AI startup team.

Topics we cover include:

• Gabe’s journey from coder to founder—and what he’s learned along the way
• How to raise capital, attract the right investors, and avoid common startup pitfalls
• Validating your ideas and building a minimum viable product (MVP) that people actually want
• Why networking is critical—for both startups and job seekers
• The role of AI in software development today—and its limitations
• Behind-the-scenes: how our internship with Parsity students worked in a live startup environment

Connect with Gabe Rucker on LinkedIn:

→ Gabriel Rucker (CEO, Founding Titans)  

Send us a text

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🧑‍💻 Join Parsity - Become a full stack AI developer in 6-9 months.

✉️ Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here

Zubin's LinkedIn (ex-lawyer, former Googler, Brian-look-a-like)

When I first tried to learn JavaScript, I hated it so much I told myself I’d just be an HTML and CSS developer and never touch it again. 

Of course, my first job threw me straight into Angular, C#, SQL, and a mountain of JavaScript I wasn’t ready for.

In this episode, I share what made JavaScript so brutal for me (and for almost every student I’ve worked with), the mistakes that keep people stuck, and the science-backed strategies that actually helped me go from totally lost to confident. 

If you’ve been banging your head against for loops, callbacks, or just “getting it,” this one’s for you.

Send us a text

Shameless Plugs

🧑‍💻 Join Parsity - Become a full stack AI developer in 6-9 months.

✉️ Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here

Zubin's LinkedIn (ex-lawyer, former Googler, Brian-look-a-like)

When your only tool is a hammer - everything looks like a nail.

2 of these database I'm sure you've heard and 2 might be completely new to you.

Let's go past MongoDB and SQL to learn what tool is best for what job and what's the database choice for AI in 2025.

If you're interested in learning SQL, check out this episode: https://open.spotify.com/show/69BHCbRAl6rHT9LlNhFWUy

Send us a text

Shameless Plugs

🧑‍💻 Join Parsity - Become a full stack AI developer in 6-9 months.

✉️ Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here

Zubin's LinkedIn (ex-lawyer, former Googler, Brian-look-a-like)