Overcommitted | Software Engineering and Programming Insights

Summary

In this episode of the Overcommitted podcast, host Brittany Ellich and co-hosts Erika, Bethany, and Jonathan Tamsut engage in a conversation with Annie Sexton, a developer advocate at fly.io. They explore Annie's unique journey into developer advocacy, her approach to education and community building, and the importance of teaching techniques in the tech industry. The discussion also delves into the role of AI in learning and development, as well as personal interests outside of software engineering, highlighting the multifaceted lives of software professionals.

Takeaways

• Annie Sexton transitioned from software engineering to developer advocacy through her passion for education.
• Developer advocacy involves community building, education, and marketing to developers.
• Education is a powerful tool for building trust with an audience.
• Asking basic questions is crucial for effective teaching and learning.
• AI can be a valuable resource for research and learning, but fact-checking is essential.
• Understanding the audience's knowledge level is key to effective communication.
• Annie emphasizes the importance of storytelling in education and advocacy.
• The journey to becoming a developer advocate can be unconventional and varied.
• Engaging content can attract a wider audience beyond just product promotion.
• Personal interests and hobbies contribute to a well-rounded life as a software engineer.

Links

• ⁠fly.io
• fly.io YouTube channel
• Annie’s YouTube channel
• Book: Deep Learning A Visual Approach
• Book: A City on Mars
• Show/Book: The Expanse
• Bluesky: @anniesexton.com
• Bluesky: for Annie’s comics
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tech book club Repo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Overcommitted Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Hosts

• ⁠⁠Overcommitted.dev⁠⁠⁠
• Bethany Janos
• ⁠⁠Brittany Ellich⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Eggyhead⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠Jonathan Tamsut

Summary

Software engineering ethics isn't just a buzzword—it directly impacts your career trajectory, mental health, and long-term sustainability in tech. In this episode, we explore how engineers navigate ethical decisions on social media, handle public controversy, and maintain integrity without burning out. Perfect for engineers looking to grow responsibly.

Links

• Video: Why everyone is quitting social media
• Careless People
• Interview on information diet with Herari
• Bill in 1996
• ACM Code of Ethics
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tech book club Repo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠Overcommitted Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Hosts

• ⁠Overcommitted.dev⁠⁠
• ⁠Brittany Ellich⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠Eggyhead⁠⁠
• Jonathan Tamsut

Summary

Great engineers tell better stories—and better stories accelerate careers. On Overcommitted, we explore how software engineers can master storytelling to communicate impact, land opportunities, and build influence without the burnout. From pitching projects to sharing career pivots, storytelling shapes how teams perceive your work and your growth. Discover the narrative techniques that turn technical brilliance into undeniable career momentum.

Links

• ⁠Astro docs
• Julia Evans
• GitHub Blog Post: Documentation done right - A developer's guide
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tech book club Repo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠Overcommitted Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Hosts

• Overcommitted.dev⁠
• ⁠Bethany Janos⁠
• Brittany Ellich⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠Eggyhead⁠

Summary

Gamification isn't just for games—it's a career growth and programming best practices catalyst. In this episode, we explore how engineering culture can adopt game mechanics to boost programmer productivity, prevent burnout, and create sustainable learning environments. From leaderboards to achievement systems, discover how top teams are leveling up development through play.

Links

• Feel good productivity
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tech book club Repo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠Overcommitted Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Hosts

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Overcommitted.dev
• Bethany Janos
• Brittany Ellich⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠Eggyhead
• ⁠Jonathan Tamsut⁠

Summary

AI agents are reshaping how software engineers work—but what exactly are they? In this episode, we break down AI agents for programmers: what they do, how they fit into your software projects, and why understanding them matters for your career growth. Whether you're worried about automation or excited about the productivity boost, this is the primer you need.

Links

• ⁠Building effective agents
• ⁠Balanced Engineer Newsletter
• Plausible Schemes
• Embedding models
• Obsidian Copilot
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Tech book club Repo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Overcommitted Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Hosts

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Overcommitted.dev
• Brittany Ellich⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Eggyhead⁠
• Jonathan Tamsut⁠

Summary

Building a strong personal brand as a software engineer isn't vanity—it's career insurance. In this episode, we explore how programmers can develop authentic visibility and thought leadership to unlock better opportunities, negotiate from strength, and create sustainable growth beyond burnout. Learn the framework top engineers use to stand out.

Links

• Staff Engineer by Will Larson
• Julia Evans
• Cassidy Williams
• Gergely Orosz
• Charity Majors
• ⁠⁠⁠Tech book club Repo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Overcommitted Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Hosts

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Overcommitted.dev⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bethany Janos⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brittany Ellich⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠Eggyhead
• ⁠⁠Jonathan Tamsut⁠

Summary

As AI-driven development tools explode, decentralized protocols like AT Proto and MCP are reshaping how software engineers collaborate and maintain ownership of their work. In this episode, we talk with Nick Gerakines about how open source infrastructure fuels better engineering culture, prevents burnout through intentional tooling choices, and positions your career for the future. Discover why understanding these protocols matters for software development in the era of agentic AI.

Links

• ⁠⁠Connect with Nick Gerakines
• Why AT Protocol blog post
• Smoke Signal Presentation at ATmosphere Conf
• ⁠⁠Tech book club Repo⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Overcommitted Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠

Hosts

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Overcommitted.dev⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Bethany Janos⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Brittany Ellich⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠Eggyhead

Summary

Mentorship can make or break your tech career—but how do you actually build it as an intern? In this episode, hosts Alec Breton, Cole Hartman, and Doris Wang explore the real mechanics of mentorship in tech internships: finding the right mentor, navigating career growth conversations, and using relationships to prevent burnout. Learn the programming best practices that matter less than the human connections that actually shape your software engineering path.

Links

• ⁠Connect with Alec Breton
• Connect with Cole Hartman
• Connect with Doris Wang
• ⁠Tech book club Repo⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠Overcommitted Discord⁠⁠⁠

Hosts

• ⁠⁠⁠Overcommitted.dev⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠Bethany Janos⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠Brittany Ellich⁠⁠⁠
• Eggyhead

Summary

In this episode of the Overcommitted Podcast, host Jonathan Tamsut and co-hosts Brittany Ellich and Bethany engage in a deep conversation with Jennifer Harris, founder and CEO of Technology Management Concepts. They explore Jennifer's journey into entrepreneurship, the evolution of her role as a CEO, and the unique challenges faced by women in tech. The discussion touches on imposter syndrome, the importance of networking, and the dynamics of gender in the workplace, particularly in relation to AI and technology. Jennifer shares valuable insights and advice for women in tech, emphasizing the need for self-advocacy and the importance of building relationships. The episode concludes with reflections on the future of AI and the opportunities it presents for women in business.

Takeaways

• Jennifer's journey began with a passion for solutions and technology.

• Entrepreneurship requires resilience and adaptability.

• Imposter syndrome is a common challenge for folks in leadership.

• Women often face unique challenges in the tech workplace.

• Self-advocacy is essential for folks in tech.

• Building relationships is key to professional growth.

Links

• Connect with Jennifer Harris

• Tech book club Repo⁠⁠

• ⁠⁠Overcommitted Discord⁠⁠

Hosts

• ⁠⁠Overcommitted.dev⁠⁠⁠⁠

• ⁠⁠Bethany Janos⁠⁠

• ⁠⁠Brittany Ellich⁠⁠

• ⁠⁠Jonathan Tamsut
  

Summary

In this episode of the Overcommitted Podcast, Brittany Ellich and her co-hosts engage with Ross Brodbeck, a software engineer at GitHub, to explore the critical topic of software availability. They discuss the definitions of availability, reliability, and uptime, and delve into frameworks for improving availability in software systems. The conversation covers proactive versus reactive approaches to availability, the business impact of availability, and the hidden costs associated with downtime. Ross shares insights on creating effective availability programs, the role of incident commanders, and emerging technologies that may shape the future of availability in software engineering. The episode concludes with book recommendations for software engineers looking to deepen their understanding of the field.

Takeaways

• Availability is subjective and varies by organization.

• Observability is crucial for understanding production behavior.

• Proactive measures can help prevent availability issues.

• On-call burnout is a significant cost to organizations.

• Understanding business needs is key to defining availability.

• SLOs help in measuring and reporting availability effectively.

• Incident commanders play a vital role in managing incidents.

• Game days and playbooks are essential for preparedness.

• Hidden costs of downtime include loss of customer trust.

• Emerging technologies like AI may change availability management.

Links

• Ross’s Blog

• Google SRE Book

• https://sreweekly.com/

• https://uptime.is/

• Catchpoint SRE Report

• Software engineer’s guidebook

• Designing data-intensive applications

• Thinking in systems

• The best software writing one - Joel on Software 

• Algorithms to live by

• The Staff Engineer

• Clean Code

• Pragmatic Engineer Podcast - Thomas Dhomke interview

• Distributed systems by Martin van Steen

• Practical object-oriented design in Ruby

• Looks Good To Me

• Tech book club Repo⁠

• ⁠Overcommitted Discord⁠

Hosts

• ⁠Overcommitted.dev⁠⁠⁠

• ⁠Bethany Janos⁠

• ⁠Brittany Ellich⁠

• ⁠Eggyhead⁠

• ⁠Jonathan Tamsut