Tech Lead Journal

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Tired of API dependencies slowing down your development and testing?

Dive into my conversation with Tom Akehurst, creator of WireMock, and discover the art of using API mocking to build successful software in complex distributed environments.

Key topics discussed:

• The origin story of WireMock, born from integration challenges at Disney
• How WireMock became a leading API mocking tool with millions of monthly downloads
• Insights on building and maintaining successful open-source projects
• The key benefits of API mocking for developer productivity and experience
• The shift from the traditional testing pyramid to a “testing trophy” approach
• Leveraging API mocking for API-first design and rapid prototyping
• The distinction between API mocking and contract testing
• The future of API testing and development in the age of microservices and AI

Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting out your journey in API development, this episode provides valuable insights into the power of API mocking and the journey of building a successful open-source project.  

Timestamps:

• (02:11) Career Turning Points
• (08:08) WireMock OSS Success Story
• (15:15) Welcoming & Aligning with Contributors
• (18:05) Benefits of WireMock & API Mocking Tools
• (19:59) API Mocking & Testing Pyramid
• (22:05) API Mocking vs Contract Testing
• (25:25) The Economics of API Mocking
• (27:27) API First Design
• (32:32) Impact to the Developer Experience & Productivity
• (35:32) Working More Effectively with Distributed Systems
• (38:15) API Virtualization/Simulation
• (41:13) AI Advancement in API Development
• (44:25) Building API for AI Agents
• (47:25) 3 Tech Lead Wisdom

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Tom Akehurst’s Bio
Tom Akehurst is the creator of WireMock, the open source API mocking tool, which he’s now been working on for well over a decade. Lately he’s also the CTO and co-founder of WireMock, Inc., where he’s helping complex engineering organisations effectively adopt API simulation techniques in order to build better software faster.

Tom has been developing software for over 20 years. He’s built large-scale web systems for media, travel, hospitality, retail and government, applying lean, eXtreme Programming, Continuous Delivery and DevOps principles along the way.

Follow Tom:

• LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/tomakehurst
• Email – [email protected]
• WireMock – wiremock.org

_____

Our Sponsors

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Check out FREE coding software options and special offers on jetbrains.com/store/#discounts.
Make it happen. With code.

Manning Publications is a premier publisher of technical books on computer and software development topics for both experienced developers and new learners alike. Manning prides itself on being independently owned and operated, and for paving the way for innovative initiatives, such as early access book content and protection-free PDF formats that are now industry standard.

Get a 40% discount for Tech Lead Journal listeners by using the code techlead24 for all products in all formats.

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Show notes & transcript:techleadjournal.dev/episodes/210.
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Discover the secrets to early retirement and financial independence from a tech industry veteran!

In this episode, we dive deep into the inspiring journey of Kristine Howard, who transitioned from a dynamic career in tech to a life of early retirement, reaching financial independence and personal fulfillment along the way.

Key topics discussed:

• Learn why tracking your expenses is the key to financial freedom
• Master the balanced money formula for budgeting success
• Uncover smart investing strategies, including the power of index funds and diversification
• Understand how aligning your career with personal values can lead to greater satisfaction
• Learn the “4% rule” and how it can help determine your retirement readiness
• Gain insights into the emotional journey of transitioning to early retirement
• Hear the unexpected benefits of early retirement, including more time for personal growth
• Discover the three keys to staying healthy in retirement: staying active, engaged, and contributing

Whether you’re just starting your career or dreaming of early retirement, don’t miss out on these valuable lessons for achieving financial independence and living life on your own terms!  

Timestamps:

(02:07) Career Turning Points

(07:01) Getting into Early Retirement

(09:16) Financial Independence vs Early Retirement

(10:13) Can We Reach Financial Independence?

(11:56) The Shares/Equity Lever

(15:43) Working in Startups vs Corporates vs Big Tech

(18:34) The Importance of Financial Tracking

(23:36) Building Automation & Doing Periodic Reviews

(29:17) Focus on the Spending Rather than Income

(30:43) Budgeting

(33:12) Trade CapEx for OpEx

(35:36) Saving & Investing

(38:53) On Diversification

(41:17) The Importance of Emergency Fund

(43:12) How Did it Feel Getting Closer to Retirement?

(48:19) The Feeling of Significant Income Drop

(51:01) Things Anyone Can Do Even Before Retirement

(56:00) 3 Tech Lead Wisdom

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Kristine Howard’s Bio
Kristine Howard is an American-Australian residing in Sydney, Australia. Her extensive career features significant roles within technical teams at prominent companies such as Channel 9, Canva, and AWS. She is married to the Snook, and together they share a passion for global travel and culinary exploration. Kristine also expresses her creativity through knitting and sewing, finding joy in crafting handmade items. Notably, she has shared her expertise and insights at over 100 tech meetups, conferences, and events worldwide.

Follow Kristine:

• LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/kristinehoward
• Blog – web-goddess.org

_____

Our Sponsors

Enjoy an exceptional developer experience with JetBrains. Whatever programming language and technology you use, JetBrains IDEs provide the tools you need to go beyond simple code editing and excel as a developer.
Check out FREE coding software options and special offers on jetbrains.com/store/#discounts.
Make it happen. With code.

Manning Publications is a premier publisher of technical books on computer and software development topics for both experienced developers and new learners alike. Manning prides itself on being independently owned and operated, and for paving the way for innovative initiatives, such as early access book content and protection-free PDF formats that are now industry standard.

Get a 40% discount for Tech Lead Journal listeners by using the code techlead24 for all products in all formats.

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(07:37) Brought to you by Lemon.io

⁠⁠⁠Lemon.io⁠⁠⁠ is your go-to platform for hiring top-tier, pre-vetted software engineers from Europe and Latin America. You'll get matched with your developer in just 48 hours.

Tech Lead Journal listeners get 15% off your first 4 weeks of work at ⁠⁠⁠lemon.io⁠⁠⁠.

Ever wondered what it takes to climb the tech leadership ladder from engineer to executive?

In this episode, we follow the journey of Norman Noble, CTO of Mindvalley, as he shares his insights and experiences navigating these challenging transitions.

Here’s what you’ll discover:

• How to successfully transition from an individual contributor to a manager, and ultimately to an executive
• Effective hiring strategies to attract and retain top talent
• Strategies for building high-performing teams, including creating the right team architecture
• Insights into Mindvalley’s unique culture and diversity that foster personal growth and transformation
• The importance of mindfulness and well-being for effective leadership

Timestamps:

(02:06) Career Turning Points

(09:59) Transitioning From an IC to a Manager

(12:10) Learning From Psychology & Management Books

(15:36) Becoming a Better Manager

(17:32) Building High-Performing Teams

(20:23) Hiring Strategy & Philosophy

(24:06) Engineering Interview Strategy

(28:19) Transitioning From a Manager to an Executive

(32:09) Upskilling Across Domains

(36:03) Mindvalley Culture

(38:41) The Power of Diversity

(40:46) Practising Mindfulness

(43:48) Making Space for Thinking

(45:50) 3 Tech Lead Wisdom

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Norman Noble’s Bio
Norman Noble is the CTO of Mindvalley. He is a people-focused technology leader, lean/agile practitioner and systems thinker. He focuses on strategic outcomes that deliver real value to organisations and their customers, whilst building high-performing technology teams that move quickly and get things done.

Follow Norman:

• LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/normannoble

_____

Our Sponsors

Enjoy an exceptional developer experience with JetBrains. Whatever programming language and technology you use, JetBrains IDEs provide the tools you need to go beyond simple code editing and excel as a developer.
Check out FREE coding software options and special offers on jetbrains.com/store/#discounts.
Make it happen. With code.

Manning Publications is a premier publisher of technical books on computer and software development topics for both experienced developers and new learners alike. Manning prides itself on being independently owned and operated, and for paving the way for innovative initiatives, such as early access book content and protection-free PDF formats that are now industry standard.

Get a 40% discount for Tech Lead Journal listeners by using the code techlead24 for all products in all formats.

Like this episode?
Show notes & transcript:techleadjournal.dev/episodes/208.
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⁠⁠Lemon.io⁠⁠ is your go-to platform for hiring top-tier, pre-vetted software engineers from Europe and Latin America. You'll get matched with your developer in just 48 hours.

Tech Lead Journal listeners get 15% off your first 4 weeks of work at ⁠⁠lemon.io⁠⁠.

Want to communicate more effectively and get your work the attention it deserves?
Learn how to harness the power of storytelling in a business setting with Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic, the bestselling author of "Storytelling with Data" and "Storytelling with You"!

In this episode, Cole joins me to dive into the art of storytelling and explore how we can use it to communicate data, insights, and our work more effectively.

You'll learn:
- Storytelling in business: Why it's crucial for making your work stand out.
- The "Plan-Create-Deliver" framework: The 3 steps to creating compelling stories.
- Low-tech planning: Why pen and paper beats jumping straight to slides.
- The power of the "Big Idea": Craft one impactful sentence that captures your message.
- Storytelling with data: Present data that is both informative and engaging.
- Crafting a powerful intro: Grab your audience's attention from the start.
- AI for storytelling: How AI can enhance your data analysis and communication.
- Teaching kids about data: Empower the next generation to be critical thinkers and storytellers.

Timestamps:
(00:02:17) Career Turning Points
(00:06:22) What is Storytelling?
(00:09:55) Why Become Better Storytellers
(00:12:25) Storytelling in Business Settings
(00:15:51) Plan-Create-Deliver Framework
(00:24:01) Low Tech Planning
(00:28:57) The 3-Minute Story and The Big Idea
(00:33:06) TLDR and BLUF
(00:37:09) Creating Slides
(00:41:43) Storytelling with Data
(00:44:39) Pie Charts
(00:46:42) Data Visualization Tools
(00:49:00) Teaching Kids about Data
(00:55:04) Giving a Powerful Intro
(00:59:13) How AI Can Help in Data & Storytelling
(01:02:02) 3 Tech Lead Wisdom

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Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic’s Bio
Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic tells stories with data. She is founder and CEO of storytelling with data (SWD) and author of Storytelling With Data: A Data Visualization Guide for Business Professionals and Storytelling with Data: Let’s Practice! SWD’s well-regarded workshops and presentations are highly sought after by data-minded individuals, companies, and philanthropic organizations all over the world. Learn more at storytellingwithdata.com.

Follow Cole:

• LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/colenussbaumer
• Website – storytellingwithdata.com
• 📚 Storytelling with Data – https://www.amazon.com/Storytelling-Data-Visualization-Business-Professionals/dp/1119002257
• 📚 Storytelling with You – https://www.amazon.com/Storytelling-You-Deliver-Stellar-Presentation/dp/1394160305
• 📚 Daphne Draws Data – https://www.daphnedrawsdata.com/
• 🎥 Storytelling with Data YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/storytellingwithdata

_____

Our Sponsors

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Check out FREE coding software options and special offers on jetbrains.com/store/#discounts.
Make it happen. With code.

Manning Publications is a premier publisher of technical books on computer and software development topics for both experienced developers and new learners alike. Manning prides itself on being independently owned and operated, and for paving the way for innovative initiatives, such as early access book content and protection-free PDF formats that are now industry standard.

Get a 40% discount for Tech Lead Journal listeners by using the code techlead24 for all products in all formats.

Like this episode?
Show notes & transcript:techleadjournal.dev/episodes/207.
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(06:49) Brought to you by Lemon.io

⁠Lemon.io⁠ is your go-to platform for hiring top-tier, pre-vetted software engineers from Europe and Latin America. You'll get matched with your developer in just 48 hours.

Tech Lead Journal listeners get 15% off your first 4 weeks of work at ⁠lemon.io⁠.

Want to learn the key principles and future of DevOps that can help you ship code faster and more reliably?

In this episode, I sit down with Yevgeniy Brikman, co-founder of Gruntwork and author of “Terraform: Up & Running,” to discuss his upcoming book, “The Fundamentals of DevOps and Software Delivery.”

We explore:

- Common pitfalls and anti-patterns in DevOps implementations
- The concept of “minimum effective dose” and "incrementalism" in adopting technologies
- Why application developers should understand infrastructure and software delivery
- The future of DevOps, including “infrastructureless” and the impact of GenAI
- The importance of “secure-by-default” practices in modern software development
- Recent changes in open source licensing and their impact on the tech industry
- The power of continuous learning and sharing knowledge in tech careers
Listen out for:

(00:02:15) Career Turning Points
(00:08:32) Deliberate Time for Learning
(00:16:27) Transitioning from App Dev to Infra
(00:24:19) Understanding How to Deliver Software
(00:32:05) Minimum Effective Dose
(00:40:34) DevOps Antipatterns
(00:44:02) Incrementalism
(00:49:37) The Future of DevOps and Software Delivery
(01:10:39) Recent Trend in Open Source License Changes
(01:20:32) 3 Tech Lead Wisdom

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Yevgeniy Brikman’s Bio
Yevgeniy (Jim) Brikman loves programming, writing, speaking, traveling, and lifting heavy things. He does not love talking about himself in the 3rd person. He is the co-founder of Gruntwork, a company that offers products & services for setting up world-class DevOps Foundations. He’s also the author of three books published by O’Reilly Media: Fundamentals of DevOps and Software Delivery, Terraform: Up & Running, and Hello, Startup. Previously, he spent more than a decade building infrastructure and products that served hundreds of millions of users while working as a software engineer at LinkedIn, TripAdvisor, Cisco Systems, and Thomson Financial.

Follow Yevgeniy:

• LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/jbrikman
• X / Twitter – @brikis98
• Website – ybrikman.com
• 📚 The Fundamentals of DevOps and Software Delivery – https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/fundamentals-of-devops/9781098174583/

_____

Our Sponsors

Enjoy an exceptional developer experience with JetBrains. Whatever programming language and technology you use, JetBrains IDEs provide the tools you need to go beyond simple code editing and excel as a developer.
Check out FREE coding software options and special offers on jetbrains.com/store/#discounts.
Make it happen. With code.

Manning Publications is a premier publisher of technical books on computer and software development topics for both experienced developers and new learners alike. Manning prides itself on being independently owned and operated, and for paving the way for innovative initiatives, such as early access book content and protection-free PDF formats that are now industry standard.

Get a 40% discount for Tech Lead Journal listeners by using the code techlead24 for all products in all formats.

Like this episode?
Show notes & transcript:techleadjournal.dev/episodes/206.
Follow @techleadjournal onLinkedIn,Twitter, andInstagram.
Buy me acoffee or become apatron.

(03:55) Brought to you by Lemon.io

Lemon.io is your go-to platform for hiring top-tier, pre-vetted software engineers from Europe and Latin America. You'll get matched with your developer in just 48 hours.

Tech Lead Journal listeners get 15% off your first 4 weeks of work at lemon.io.

Ever wonder what a credit score for your codebase would look like?

In this episode, Matt Van Itallie, founder of Sema, discusses how his company is revolutionizing the way we assess and understand code quality, including the portion of GenAI usage. Learn about Sema’s innovative approach to technical due diligence and their comprehensive credit score system.

Key topics discussed:
- The concept of “code as data” and how it’s changing codebase evaluation
- Measuring and improving developer productivity in the age of GenAI
- The importance of the Generative AI Bill of Materials (GBOM) in technical due diligence
- Why having 15-30% of your code originating from GenAI could be optimal
- The seven modules Sema uses to evaluate codebases, including GenAI usage, security, and team retention
- The CTO dashboard concept and its potential to transform software engineering metrics
- Why treating code as a craft is crucial for effective communication with non-technical stakeholders

Whether you’re a developer, engineering leader, or investor, this episode offers invaluable insights into the evolving landscape of software evaluation and the growing importance of quantitative metrics in technical due diligence.

Listen out for:
(02:05) Career Turning Points
(05:15) Treating Code as Data and a Craft
(11:09) Comprehensive Codebase Scans
(14:31) How to Explain Codebase Health
(20:31) Measuring & Improving Developer Productivity
(23:33) GenAI for Increasing Developer Effectiveness
(25:59) CTO Dashboard & The 7 Metrics
(29:55) Measuring GenAI Usage
(31:51) Healthy Dose of GenAI Usage
(36:50) Generative AI Bill of Materials (GBOM)™
(39:24) Technical Due Diligence
(45:18) Sema Adoption
(49:48) Integrating with Sema
(52:17) 3 Tech Lead Wisdom

Matt Van Itallie's Bio
Matt Van Itallie is the Founder and CEO of Sema.

Formerly, Matt was an Operating Executive at Vista Equity Partners portfolio companies, Chief Analytics Officer for a $1BN operating organization, and a McKinsey consultant. Matt has a JD from Harvard Law School.

Sema is the leading provider of comprehensive codebase scans that assess the risks of software and tech-enabled businesses. They have analyzed over $1.6T of software enterprise value.

Sema is a leading expert on managing GenAI risks, with presentations to leading investors and operators across sectors. They are the inventors of the Generative AI Bill of Materials (GBOM).

Follow Matt:
* LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/mvi
* Sema – semasoftware.com
* Comprehensive Codebase Scans – semasoftware.com/comprehensive-codebase-scans

_____

Our Sponsors

Enjoy an exceptional developer experience with JetBrains. Whatever programming language and technology you use, JetBrains IDEs provide the tools you need to go beyond simple code editing and excel as a developer.
Check out FREE coding software options and special offers on jetbrains.com/store/#discounts.
Make it happen. With code.

Manning Publications is a premier publisher of technical books on computer and software development topics for both experienced developers and new learners alike. Manning prides itself on being independently owned and operated, and for paving the way for innovative initiatives, such as early access book content and protection-free PDF formats that are now industry standard.

Get a 40% discount for Tech Lead Journal listeners by using the code techlead24 for all products in all formats.

Like this episode?
Show notes & transcript:techleadjournal.dev/episodes/205.
Follow @techleadjournal onLinkedIn,Twitter, andInstagram.
Buy me acoffee or become apatron.

Are you tired of cargo cult engineering leadership?

In this episode, David Guttman, author of “The Superstruct Manifesto”, shares his intriguing manifesto on building and leading high-performing engineering teams. We explore:

- Why daily standups are overrated and what to do instead
- How to avoid the trap of the "10x engineer" myth
- Why computer science riddles don't belong in your interviews
- The importance of estimates (hint: it's not about the accuracy!)
- How to treat your developers like adults

If you are an engineering leader or founder looking to build a high-performing engineering team, this episode is for you!

Listen out for:
(03:06) Career Turning Points
(07:10) The Meaning Behind Superstruct
(07:44) The Superstruct Manifesto
(09:30) "We Will Not Inflict Daily Standups on Our Devs"
(16:05) Alternatives to Daily Standups
(18:26) Status Report & Accountability
(25:48) "We Will Not Recruit 10x Developers"
(33:19) "We Will Not Test Devs with Computer Science Riddles"
(38:04) Interview Best Practices
(43:12) "We Will Not Let Devs Start without an Estimate"
(51:11) Improving Our Estimates
(53:55) Estimate vs Fixed Deadline
(56:21) 3 Tech Lead Wisdom

David Guttman's Bio
David Guttman is a developer and consultant obsessed with building repeatable systems for recruiting, onboarding, and managing remote software engineers. Over the course of his 20+ years in software development, David has led engineering teams to ship massive and innovative projects, including the content platform that powers Disney.com and StarWars.com (along with over 170 other sites, across dozens of languages and regions); video ad servers that handle over 10 billion requests per day; and an LMS that TIME magazine listed as one of the Best Inventions of the Year 2020. David is also a leader in the tech community.

As the organizer of the monthly event series js.la, the host of the Junior to Senior podcast, and a champion in the Node.js mentorship initiative, he has helped thousands of developers level up. David is the author of two popular JavaScript books, has over 90 open-source packages on npm, and has given talks at tech events and conferences like JSConf and JSFest.

Follow David:
- LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/david-guttman

- Website – david.app

- Superstruct – https://superstruct.tech/

- 📚 Superstruct Manifesto – treatdevslikeadults.com

_____

Our Sponsors

Enjoy an exceptional developer experience with JetBrains. Whatever programming language and technology you use, JetBrains IDEs provide the tools you need to go beyond simple code editing and excel as a developer.
Check out FREE coding software options and special offers on jetbrains.com/store/#discounts.
Make it happen. With code.

Manning Publications is a premier publisher of technical books on computer and software development topics for both experienced developers and new learners alike. Manning prides itself on being independently owned and operated, and for paving the way for innovative initiatives, such as early access book content and protection-free PDF formats that are now industry standard.
Get a 40% discount for Tech Lead Journal listeners by using the code techlead24 for all products in all formats.

Like this episode?
Show notes & transcript: techleadjournal.dev/episodes/204.
Follow @techleadjournal on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.
Buy me a coffee or become a patron.

Is your ML project stuck in POC hell and failing to deliver real value?

In this episode, I sit down with David Tan and Dave Colls, co-authors of the book “Effective Machine Learning Teams” to discuss the complexities of building and deploying ML models, building and managing effective ML teams, and ensuring successful ML projects.

Key topics discussed:
- Learn the key differences between ML engineering and traditional software engineering.
- Why so many ML projects fail to reach production or deliver real business value and how to overcome common challenges.
- Discover the ideal ML team composition and how to apply concepts like team topologies for effective collaboration.
- The importance of product thinking in ML projects and best practices for designing robust, valuable ML products.
- Essential engineering best practices for successful ML projects, including automated testing, continuous delivery, and MLOps practices.

Listen out for:
(02:35) Career Turning Points
(04:54) Writing "Effective Machine Learning Teams"
(08:29) ML Engineering vs Other Types of Engineering
(12:24) ML and LLM
(14:59) Why Many ML Projects Fail
(19:53) ML Success Modes
(23:32) Ideal ML Engineering Team Composition
(31:39) Building the Right ML Product
(39:23) ML Engineering Best Practices
(49:14) MLOps
(52:44) Make Good Easy
(53:56) 3 Tech Lead Wisdom

Tune in to learn how to build and deploy ML products that truly make a difference!

David Tan’s Bio

David Tan is a lead ML engineer with more than six years of experience in practicing Lean engineering in the field of data and AI across various sectors such as real estate, government services and retail. David is passionate about engineering effectiveness and knowledge sharing, and has also spoken at several conferences on how teams can adopt Lean and continuous delivery practices to effectively and responsibly deliver AI-powered products across diverse industries.

Follow David Tan:

- LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/davified

- X – @davified

- GitHub – https://github.com/davified

Dave Colls’ Bio

Dave loves building new things and helping others build too – products and services, people and teams – using technology, Data & AI.

His work building the Thoughtworks Data & AI practice shows how these elements combine: creating a new business, consulting to leaders and making a home for data people to grow. Currently, Dave is working at Nextdata, pushing the frontiers of how organisations work with data.

David thrives on navigating complex challenges and evolving environments. His extensive experience in large-scale digital transformations and deep tech R&D has honed his ability to align efforts and drive impactful results.

A dedicated mentor, David is passionate about guiding data professionals in their career growth. He actively shares his expertise as a speaker, blogger, and author of the book “Effective Machine Learning Teams.”

Follow Dave Colls:
- LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/davidcolls

Links:

- 🎧 #198 - Better Software Faster: Measure & Improve Developer Productivity with DX Core 4 - Laura Tacho – https://techleadjournal.dev/episodes/198/

- 📚 Effective Machine Learning Teams – https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/effective-machine-learning/9781098144623/

- Free preview and overview – https://www.thoughtworks.com/content/dam/thoughtworks/documents/e-book/EffectiveMLTeams_preface.pdf

_____

Our Sponsors

Enjoy an exceptional developer experience with JetBrains. Whatever programming language and technology you use, JetBrains IDEs provide the tools you need to go beyond simple code editing and excel as a developer.
Check out FREE coding software options and special offers on jetbrains.com/store/#discounts.
Make it happen. With code.

Manning Publications is a premier publisher of technical books on computer and software development topics for both experienced developers and new learners alike. Manning prides itself on being independently owned and operated, and for paving the way for innovative initiatives, such as early access book content and protection-free PDF formats that are now industry standard.
Get a 40% discount for Tech Lead Journal listeners by using the code techlead24 for all products in all formats.

Like this episode?
Show notes & transcript: techleadjournal.dev/episodes/203.
Follow @techleadjournal on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.
Buy me a coffee or become a patron.

“Looking at the development pace of this area, it’s just a question of when generative AI will take over larger parts of software engineering. It’s a leadership responsibility to ensure your organization is ready for AI and you are taking the right path.”

AI is changing EVERYTHING – including the way we build software. Are you READY for it?

In this episode, we dive deep into the impact of AI on the future of work, particularly in the software development space. Join me and André Neubauer as we explore:

* The evolution of AI: From early code generation to today’s advanced Generative AI and Large Language Models (LLMs).

* The rise of Agentic AI: How AI agents are collaborating to automate complex tasks and reshape software development workflows.

* The impact on organizations: How companies can leverage AI to boost productivity, foster innovation, and navigate the challenges of this new era.

* The future of software teams: Will AI replace developers or empower them? Discover why smaller, leaner, high-performing teams might be the way forward.

* Leadership in the age of AI: Essential strategies for leaders to successfully integrate AI into their organizations and address the concerns of their teams.

Listen out for:

(00:02:11) Career Turning Points

(00:07:56) Giving a Talk on “The Role of AI in Future Workplaces”

(00:10:30) What Drives the AI Advancements

(00:18:54) The Levels of AI Advancement

(00:25:01) AI in Software Engineering

(00:26:53) Concerns on Tech Debt and Issues

(00:31:11) Impact of AI to Organizations

(00:34:34) Smaller and Leaner Teams

(00:37:15) The Rise of Solopreneurship

(00:41:32) Getting People Onboard to AI

(00:44:40) Leadership Measures for Adopting AI

(00:49:34) 3 Tech Lead Wisdom

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André Neubauer’s Bio

For nearly two decades, André Neubauer has shaped Tech & Product and its interface with the business in varied settings, from startups to major corporations. His journey began in software engineering and evolved into technical leadership, a role he’s passionately undertaken for the past 15 years.

As CTO, he’s spearheaded transformative projects and strategies, backed by an academic foundation in informatics and business economics. Always at the forefront of modern leadership practices, he’s transformed companies into tech powerhouses. Beyond his role as CTO, he actively mentors tech leaders and consults businesses, guiding them through their tech challenges.

Follow Andre:

* LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/andreneubauer

* Newsletter – devpg.substack.com

_____

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“Evolutionary architecture became a necessity, not because anybody wanted it to be, but because you didn’t have a choice. You have to be able to change your systems to keep up with changing business and consumer expectations, let alone regulatory frameworks.”

In this episode, I have an insightful conversation with Rebecca Parsons, coauthor of Building Evolutionary Architectures and ex-CTO of ThoughtWorks, on the topic of evolutionary architecture. Rebecca shares the definition and principles of evolutionary architecture, as well as some important practices that software engineering teams can adopt to support it. Rebecca also offers her perspective on the impact of AI in software development and evolutionary architecture.

Key takeaways:

- Evolutionary architecture supports guided, incremental change across multiple dimensions.

- Fitness functions are a key tool for implementing evolutionary architecture.

- Some of the important engineering practices for evolutionary architecture include continuous delivery, evolutionary database, contract testing, and choreography over orchestration.

- AI coding assistants can help analyze and understand complex legacy systems, aiding in refactoring and modernization efforts.

- Over-reliance on AI coding assistants may hinder the development of proper abstraction and critical thinking skills, especially in junior developers.

Listen out for:

(00:02:35) Career Turning Points

(00:08:38) Why Adopt Evolutionary Architecture

(00:11:06) Evolutionary vs Rewrite

(00:13:41) Architecture Definition

(00:16:45) Evolutionary Architecture Adoption

(00:20:56) Evolutionary Architecture Definition

(00:22:32) Fitness Function

(00:26:07) Commonly Adopted Fitness Functions

(00:29:33) Principles of Evolutionary Architecture

(00:35:24) Conway’s Law & Postel’s Law

(00:39:40) Practices of Evolutionary Architecture

(00:45:41) The Impact of AI to Evolutionary Architecture

(00:48:44) The AI Worries

(00:52:32) 3 Tech Lead Wisdom

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Rebecca Parsons’ Bio
Dr. Rebecca Parsons is currently independent, having been Thoughtworks CTO and CTO Emerita for over 15 years. She has more years of experience than she’d like to admit in technology and large-scale software development. She recently co-authored the book Building Evolutionary Architectures with Neal Ford and Pat Kua.

Before ThoughtWorks she worked as an assistant professor of computer science at the University of Central Florida, after completing a Director’s Post Doctoral Fellowship at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Her interests include parallel and distributed computation, programming languages, domain specific languages, evolutionary architecture, genetic algorithms, and computational science. Rebecca received a BS in Computer Science and Economics from Bradley University, and both an MS and Ph.D. in Computer Science from Rice University.

Follow Rebecca:

LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/dr-rebecca-parsons

X – x.com/rebeccaparsons

📚 Building Evolutionary Architectures – https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/building-evolutionary-architectures/9781492097532/

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Our Sponsors

Enjoy an exceptional developer experience with JetBrains. Whatever programming language and technology you use, JetBrains IDEs provide the tools you need to go beyond simple code editing and excel as a developer.
Check out FREE coding software options and special offers on jetbrains.com/store/#discounts.
Make it happen. With code.

Manning Publications is a premier publisher of technical books on computer and software development topics for both experienced developers and new learners alike. Manning prides itself on being independently owned and operated, and for paving the way for innovative initiatives, such as early access book content and protection-free PDF formats that are now industry standard.
Get a 40% discount for Tech Lead Journal listeners by using the code techlead24 for all products in all formats.

Like this episode?
Show notes & transcript: techleadjournal.dev/episodes/201.
Follow @techleadjournal on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.
Buy me a coffee or become a patron.