In this episode of Voices of the Code, hosts Karl Murray and Steven Fox welcome Bogdan Kharchenko, who shares his journey into coding, his experiences with Laravel, and insights into the development community. They discuss the importance of not over-engineering applications, the benefits of using Laravel's ORM, and the value of community engagement through meetups. Bogdan also shares his personal interests, including motorcycle racing and mountain biking, highlighting the balance between work and life. The conversation emphasizes the significance of developer experience and practical advice for new Laravel developers.

UpstatePHP: https://upstatephp.com/
Over Engineered Podcast: https://overengineered.fm/

Takeaways

• Bogdan's journey into coding began with a computer gifted by his parents.
• Laravel's documentation was a key factor in Bogdan's choice to use it.
• The importance of community engagement through meetups is highlighted.
• Over-engineering applications can hinder progress; focus on delivering value.
• Mastering Laravel's ORM can significantly enhance development efficiency.
• Pair programming fosters collaboration and knowledge sharing among developers.
• Legacy code migration requires careful planning to avoid disruptions.
• Developer experience is crucial for productivity and satisfaction.
• Balancing work with personal interests leads to a fulfilling life.
• The Laravel community remains strong and supportive. 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Context
02:44 Bogdan's Coding Journey
05:30 Transition to Laravel
08:40 Working with Laravel and Developer Experience
11:20 Current Work at InterNACHI
17:21 Migrating Legacy Code to Laravel
20:12 Handling Web Traffic and Legacy Systems
24:02 Tools and Developer Environment
26:11 Remote Collaboration Tools and Pair Programming
28:23 The Importance of Meetups in a Remote World
32:43 Key Takeaways from Laracon
36:29 Valuable Tips for New Laravel Developers
42:44 Balancing Coding with Extreme Sports
46:23 The World of Custom Keyboards
49:50 The Impact of Thumb Clusters
50:56 Custom Key Commands and Efficiency
52:05 Programming Keyboards for Personal Use
52:26 The Gateway to Advanced Keyboards
53:16 Meetup Insights and Community Engagement
54:18 Sign Off and Future Guests