In this special episode of Databased, Jamie speaks with Web Dev Cody, a prominent technical content creator with almost 250,000 YouTube subscribers, about the evolving landscape of developer education and content creation. 

They discuss the delicate balance between maintaining authenticity and managing sponsored content, the impact of AI tools on both development and teaching, and practical insights into building genuine connections with technical audiences. 

Through candid discussion and real-world examples, Cody also illuminates how content creators can adapt to new tools while staying true to their voice, and offers valuable perspectives on developer marketing in an increasingly AI-assisted world.

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In this episode of Databased, James speaks with Andrew Pavlo, Associate Professor of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University, about the dramatic shifts reshaping the database industry in 2024. The conversation explores how Redis's controversial licensing changes sparked unprecedented community backlash and the fierce battle between Snowflake and Databricks that culminated in a $2 billion acquisition.

Andy also goes into modern testing approaches, particularly deterministic simulation, and why database wars now extend beyond performance metrics. The conversation also touches on the evolution of database education, the rising dominance of Postgres, and how modern testing approaches are reshaping reliability expectations in database development and deployment.

Through engaging stories and technical insights, Andrew illuminates the strategic moves and technological innovations driving the database industry forward, while offering practical wisdom for navigating these changes in real-world applications and system design.

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In this episode of Databased, Jamie rounds up the team who gave us Google Photos, Dave Lieb, General Partner at Y Combinator; Indy Khare, Head of Product at Convex; and Christian “Dowski” Wyglendowski, an independent software developer, to explore their journey from Bump to the creation of Google Photos. 

Dave, Indy, and Christian discuss the importance of a compelling vision in product development, sharing how they navigated corporate culture and skepticism to gain support for their innovative ideas. The trio also dives into the significance of dogfooding and how leveraging modern tools and technologies allowed them to build a now-ubiquitous app in record time.

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In this episode of Databased, Tom Redman, welcomes two guests to the show: Johannes Schickling, Founder of Overtone and Co-founder of Prisma, and Sujay Jayakar, Co-founder & Chief Scientist at Convex. Together, Johannes and Sujay discuss how empowering client-side applications can enhance user experience by eliminating frustrating delays and fostering trust through data agency. 

The conversation also touches on the limitations of traditional web applications and highlights the need for developers to leverage the full capabilities of modern devices. Additionally, they emphasize the importance of user control over data, addressing growing concerns about privacy and reliability.

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In this episode of Databased, Tom Redman speaks with Jamie Turner and James Cowling about the complexities of database isolation levels and their implications for application development. They discuss the differences between isolation levels such as read uncommitted, read committed, repeatable read, and serializable, emphasizing how these choices can impact data integrity and performance. 

The conversation also highlights common anomalies that can arise from improper isolation level selection and the importance of understanding these pitfalls. Additionally, James and Jamie advocate for starting with strong guarantees to simplify development and ensure scalability as applications grow. 

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In this episode of Databased, Jamie Turner and James Cowling explore critical principles of systems design, emphasizing the importance of preparing for worst-case scenarios rather than best-case outcomes. They dive into the concept of congestion collapse, illustrating how systems can fail under pressure and the need for robust designs that maintain performance during peak loads. 

Additionally, they discuss the significance of achieving zero errors in data systems, highlighting strategies for implementing verification processes to ensure data integrity. Tune in to gain valuable insights on building resilient systems that can withstand challenges and support long-term growth! 

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• How designing systems for worst-case scenarios prevents congestion collapse and ensures reliability under peak load conditions.  

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• Design for worst-case scenarios to ensure your system remains reliable and resilient under peak load conditions.  

In this episode of Databased, James Cowling and Tom Redman, are joined by Sujay Jayakar, Co-founder and Chief Scientist at Convex, to walk through the intricacies of asynchronous technologies and the "local-first" approach in application design. Together, they discuss the evolution of synchronization in distributed systems, highlighting the challenges of maintaining data consistency and the importance of user experience. 

Sujay also touches on the significance of understanding user intent when designing applications, ensuring that operations are seamless and efficient. The trio also share insights into how prioritizing local data access can enhance performance and redefine interactions with technology. 

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• Prioritizing local data access to enhance user experience and ensure seamless functionality, even offline.  

In this episode of Databased, Tom Redman engages Jamie Turner and James Cowling in exploring the transformative impact of AI on software development, particularly through tools like Cursor AI. They discuss the balance between efficiency and the essential understanding of coding principles, emphasizing the risks junior developers face when relying too heavily on AI. 

Their conversation also dives into the distinction between prototype and production-ready applications, highlighting the importance of human creativity and problem-solving in engineering. They also discuss how AI can enhance productivity while ensuring that foundational skills remain vital in the ever-evolving tech landscape.

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• The role of AI tools like Cursor in enhancing developer productivity and efficiency during the software development process.

In this episode of Databased, Jamie Turner and James Cowling grapple with some bad news… they think each other’s product sucks…? Jamie and James candidly discuss the challenges and misconceptions surrounding Convex. For example, they explore the learning curve for new users, emphasizing the balance between conceptual understanding and practical application. The conversation also touches on the potential for developer lock-in and the importance of building trust with users. 

Jamie and James also explore the intricacies of software development and user experience, including the challenges of transparent pricing models, emphasizing the need for relatable cost estimations based on user requirements. Additionally, they highlight strategies for enhancing customer support and education, ensuring users can fully leverage the platform's capabilities. By acknowledging their product's shortcomings, they aim to foster a more transparent dialogue within the software development community.

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• The initial learning experience with Convex, such as the time it takes for developers to grasp new concepts and methods.

In our first episode of the Fullstack Founder: Special Series, Tom chats with Edgar Haond, Founder of AI Reality TV. Together, they explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and storytelling, discussing how AI agents can create dynamic, unscripted interactions in virtual environments. 

Edgar shares his journey from data science to entrepreneurship, highlighting his innovative approach to building immersive experiences that enhance human connection. He also offers his insights into the potential of AI to transform entertainment, including gaming and social platforms, and the exciting future possibilities for AI-driven narratives.

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• The innovative concept of AI Reality TV, where users create and interact with dynamic AI characters.