The Leanpub Podcast

Michael Feathers is the author of the Leanpub book AI Assisted Programming.

In this episode of the FrontMatter podcast, host Len Epp interviews Michael Feathers, founder of R7K Research and Conveyance. Michael delves into his career journey, from his early interest in technology to becoming a prominent voice in software design and the challenges of working with legacy code.

The conversation begins with Michael sharing his background, detailing how his fascination with technology evolved from his childhood into a professional career focused on software engineering. He discusses the significance of legacy code in the industry, explaining how it presents both challenges and opportunities for developers. Michael’s expertise in this area has made him a key figure in helping companies navigate and modernize their existing codebases.

A major focus of the interview is Michael’s insights on the growing influence of AI in programming. He discusses the potential of AI to change the way developers work, highlighting both the opportunities and the concerns associated with AI-assisted development. Michael emphasizes the need for developers to adapt to these changes and to consider how AI can be used to enhance, rather than replace, human creativity and problem-solving in software development.

The discussion also touches on the emotional aspects of coding, where Michael talks about the frustrations and rewards that come with programming. He reflects on how dealing with legacy code can be emotionally taxing but also deeply satisfying when solutions are found. This leads to a broader conversation about the future of software development in an increasingly AI-driven world, where Michael offers his thoughts on how the industry might evolve and the skills that developers will need to thrive.

To learn more about Michael Feathers and his work, you can visit the R7K Research and Conveyance website or follow him on Twitter.

This interview was recorded on August 14, 2024.

The full audio for the interview is here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/leanpub_podcasts/FM300-Michael-Feathers-2024-08-14.mp3. The Frontmatter podcast is available on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/leanpub, in Apple Podcasts here https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/frontmatter/id517117137, and almost everywhere else people listen to podcasts.

This interview has been edited for conciseness and clarity.

In this episode of the FrontMatter podcast, host Len Epp interviews Eric Wise, author of Effectively Learning to Code: A Brain-Based Approach. Based in Cleveland, Eric is a software architect turned learning expert who has founded and led successful companies while honing his passion for creating impactful learning experiences. His book bridges the gap between cognitive science and coding education, offering strategies rooted in brain science to help aspiring developers learn to code more effectively.

The conversation starts with Eric’s origin story. He grew up in Ohio and was inspired to pursue coding after being introduced to the Atari gaming system and the Commodore 64 by his father. Although initially drawn to game development, he shifted to business programming after recognizing the instability and demanding nature of the gaming industry. Eric discusses his successful career in enterprise architecture and consulting, highlighting his transition from working for large companies like Microsoft to joining smaller firms where he had more influence.

Eric delves into his management experience, sharing lessons learned about effective communication and leadership. He emphasizes the importance of understanding how people learn, which became a focus when he started building his own coding bootcamp. Through his experiences, Eric realized that many teaching methods lack essential learning science principles, such as active learning, spaced repetition, and project-based approaches. His book and online content aim to fill this gap by incorporating scientifically backed strategies that facilitate better long-term retention and skill development.

The interview also explores Eric’s insights on mentorship, where he describes the value of having a mentor to guide learners through the often overwhelming amount of information available. He notes that good mentorship involves meeting learners where they are, understanding their challenges, and helping them build foundational skills. This approach aligns with the advice he gives on effective studying—encouraging note-taking, journaling, and breaking down complex problems into manageable steps.

In discussing content creation, Eric shares how he approaches building educational materials by first identifying the needs of his audience. He emphasizes the importance of structuring content based on real learner feedback, which he often gathers from online communities like Reddit. His content strategy involves not just presenting information but ensuring that learners actively engage with it through exercises, project work, and reflective practices like journaling.

Eric also touches on the future of software development in light of AI advancements. While some fear that AI might replace developers, Eric is optimistic that AI will serve as a tool that enhances productivity rather than replacing human expertise. He advises developers to focus on building a broad foundation of knowledge rather than specializing in a single technology, as this adaptability will be key in navigating the evolving tech landscape.

To learn more about Eric and his work, visit SkillFoundry.io or follow him on YouTube and Twitter.

This interview was recorded on August 12, 2024.

The full audio for the interview is here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/leanpub_podcasts/FM299-Eric-Wise-2024-08.mp3. The Frontmatter podcast is available on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/leanpub, in Apple Podcasts here https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/frontmatter/id517117137, and almost everywhere else people listen to podcasts.

This interview has been edited for conciseness and clarity.

Gojko Adzic is the author of the Leanpub book Lizard Optimization: Unlock Product Growth by Engaging Long-Tail Users. In this interview, Leanpub co-founder Len Epp talks with Gojko about what he’s been up to since he was first on the podcast, managing hugely successful products with really small teams, and his new book about how to think about outlier customers.

This interview was recorded on August 8, 2024.

The full audio for the interview is here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/leanpub_podcasts/FM298-Gojko-Adzic-2024-08-08.mp3. The Frontmatter podcast is available on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/leanpub, in Apple Podcasts here https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/frontmatter/id517117137, and almost everywhere else people listen to podcasts.

This interview has been edited for conciseness and clarity.

Thad McIlroy is the author of the Leanpub book The AI Revolution in Book Publishing: A Concise Guide to Navigating Artificial Intelligence for Writers and Publishers. In this interview, Leanpub co-founder Len Epp talks with Thad about about his new book, and many of the important questions for both authors and books publishers in our current era of technological innovation in the area of artificial intellegence.

This interview was recorded on August 6, 2024.

The full audio for the interview is here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/leanpub_podcasts/FM297-Thad-McIlroy-2024-08-06.mp3. The Frontmatter podcast is available on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/leanpub, in Apple Podcasts here https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/frontmatter/id517117137, and almost everywhere else people listen to podcasts.

Peter Stevens is the author of the Leanpub book The Illustrated Guide to Scrum: Scrum Explained Through Infographics. In this interview, Leanpub co-founder Len Epp talks with Peter about his background and career, manufacturing innovations and what it means to be a “Musk” company, Scrum, and about his approach to writing and illustrating for professionals.

This interview was recorded on July 18, 2024.

The full audio for the interview is here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/leanpub_podcasts/FM296-Peter-Stevens-2024-07-18.mp3. The Frontmatter podcast is available on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/leanpub, in Apple Podcasts here https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/frontmatter/id517117137, and almost everywhere else people listen to podcasts.

This interview has been edited for conciseness and clarity.

Leo Tam is the author of Truth Engine: Applying AI to Investing. In this interview, Leanpub co-founder Len Epp talks with Leo about his background and career, his academic research and his time working at NVIDA, the deep applications of AI in investing, and about his writing process.

This interview was recorded on June 17, 2024.

The full audio for the interview is here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/leanpub_podcasts/FM-295-Leonidas-Tam-2024-06-17.mp3. The Frontmatter podcast is available on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/leanpub, in Apple Podcasts here https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/frontmatter/id517117137, and almost everywhere else people listen to podcasts.

This interview has been edited for conciseness and clarity.

Stephan Schmidt is the author of the Leanpub book Amazing CTO: The Missing Manual for Managing. In this interview, Leanpub co-founder Len Epp talks with Stephan about his background and career, his book and the challenges of being a CTO, and how to prepare for and thrive in that role, and also about his writing process.

This interview was recorded on June 12, 2024.

The full audio for the interview is here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/leanpub_podcasts/FM294-Stephan-Schmidt-2024-06-12.mp3. The Frontmatter podcast is available on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/leanpub, in Apple Podcasts here https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/frontmatter/id517117137, and almost everywhere else people listen to podcasts.

This interview has been edited for conciseness and clarity.

Philip Gannon is the author of the Leanpub book Become a Senior Developer: A concise guide to succeeding as a Senior Software Developer. In this interview, Leanpub co-founder Len Epp talks with Philip about his background and career, how he first got interested in technology, his book and the challenges faced by developers when they get promoted to senior roles, and his experience as a writer.

This interview was recorded on June 10, 2024.

The full audio for the interview is here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/leanpub_podcasts/FM293-Philip-Gannon-2024-06-10.mp3. The Frontmatter podcast is available on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/leanpub, in Apple Podcasts here https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/frontmatter/id517117137, and almost everywhere else people listen to podcasts.

Phil Sturgeon is the author of the Leanpub book Surviving Other People’s APIs. In this interview, Leanpub co-founder Len Epp talks with Phil about what he’s been up to since he was last on the podcast, co-founding the environmental charity Protect Earth, and his latest book, Surviving Other People’s APIs.

This interview was recorded on May 23, 2024.

The full audio for the interview is here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/leanpub_podcasts/FM292-Phil-Sturgeon-2024-05-13.mp3. The Frontmatter podcast is available on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/leanpub, in Apple Podcasts here https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/frontmatter/id517117137, and almost everywhere else people listen to podcasts.

Isaak Tsalicoglou is the author of the Leanpub book The Incredible Story of Deft: What Nobody Told You About Business Hype (Lean, Agile, etc.). In this interview, Leanpub co-founder Len Epp talks with Isaak about his background and career, his books, how frameworks like Agile and Scrum can be corrupted, using Plato’s allegory of the cave to explain how startups can compete against incumbents, and about his work as a writer.

This interview was recorded on April 12, 2024.

The full audio for the interview is here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/leanpub_podcasts/FM-291-Isaak-Tsalicoglou-2024-04-12.mp3. The Frontmatter podcast is available on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/leanpub, in Apple Podcasts here https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/frontmatter/id517117137, and almost everywhere else people listen to podcasts.

This interview has been edited for conciseness and clarity.