The Programming Podcast

By The Programming PodcastTechnology

The Programming Podcast episodes

January 16, 2025 Front-End vs. Full Stack: The TRUTH About Your First Coding Job
In this episode, Danny Thompson (Director of Technology at This Dot Labs) and Leon Noel (Managing Director of Engineering at Resilient Coders) tackle a big question: Is front-end development alone enough to land your very first job in tech? They discuss the pros and cons of front-end–only roles, why understanding the full stack can open more doors, and how crucial it is to balance skill-building with networking.
They also share common mistakes junior developers make—from not reading error messages to failing to ask questions on the job—and offer strategies for building a strong portfolio and passing the “smell test” in interviews. Plus, they answer a listener’s question about average recruiter response times and how to handle being left in the dark after an initial screen.
Whether you’re just starting your coding journey or already in a junior role, this conversation will help you navigate the job hunt and thrive in your first developer position.
Stay in Touch:
📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?
Email us at [email protected]!
Danny Thompson
https://x.com/DThompsonDev
https://www.linkedin.com/in/DThompsonDev
www.DThompsonDev.com
Leon Noel
https://x.com/leonnoel
https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonnoel/
https://100devs.org/
📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?
Email us at [email protected]!
If you enjoyed this video, please Like, Share, and Subscribe for more tech career insights and tutorials.
CHAPTERS
0:00 – Why Your Summary Statement Matters
1:07 – Meet the Hosts (Danny & Leon) + Episode Introduction
1:45 – Is Front-End Development Enough for a First Tech Job?
9:50 – Skills vs. Networking: Which Unlocks More Opportunities?
14:30 – Building Fundamentals & Avoiding ‘Tutorial Hell’
17:00 – Common Junior Mistake: Not Reading Error Messages
20:00 – Why ‘Calculator Apps’ & ‘Weather Apps’ Aren’t Enough
21:00 – Perception & Passing the ‘Smell Test’
27:00 – Reading Documentation & Understanding the Full System
33:00 – Ask Questions or Lose Your Job: Communication Is Key
36:00 – Finding Your Niche & Taking Ownership
38:00 – Q&A: Average Wait Time for Recruiter Responses
45:10 – Wrap-Up & Final Thoughts
49 min
January 09, 2025 How YOU Can Learn To Code in 2025 Part 2
In this Part 2 discussion, Danny Thompson (Director of Technology at This.Dot Labs) and Leon Noel (Managing Director of Engineering at Resilient Coders & founder of 100Devs) share their insights on how to start learning to code, the best free resources, and the power of community. They tackle whether coding bootcamps are worth it, why free platforms like FreeCodeCamp and 100Devs can be game-changers, and how to overcome the common pitfalls (like tutorial hell). They also talk about building real projects, finding your support network, and carving out time to invest in your future self.
Topics Covered in This Video:
Why you don’t have to break the bank to learn to code
The pros and cons of bootcamps
Essential resources like FreeCodeCamp, 100Devs, CS50, and more
Learning how to learn: active recall, spaced repetition, and building projects
Setting aside “4% of your day” to code
The importance of community and cohort-based learning
Overcoming fear, anxiety, and impostor syndrome to reach your goals
Mentioned Resources & Links:
FreeCodeCamp
100Devs (Discord: discord.gg/100Devs)
CS50 (Harvard’s Intro to Computer Science)
Learning How to Learn (Coursera)
Anki (Spaced Repetition Software)
The Odin Project
MOOC.fi (University of Helsinki)
About the Speakers:
Danny Thompson: Director of Technology at This.Dot Labs, previously worked in gas stations, self-taught coding journey, and now a community leader helping others break into tech.
Leon Noel: Managing Director of Engineering at Resilient Coders, founder of 100Devs, and former Distinguished Faculty at General Assembly. Dedicated to making coding education accessible to everyone.
Stay in Touch:
📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?Email us at [email protected]!Danny Thompsonhttps://x.com/DThompsonDevhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/DThompsonDevwww.DThompsonDev.comLeon Noelhttps://x.com/leonnoelhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/leonnoel/https://100devs.org/📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?Email us at [email protected]!
If you enjoyed this video, please Like, Share, and Subscribe for more tech career insights and tutorials.
Chapter Timestamps
0:00 Introduction & Part 2 Overview
1:07 Why Bootcamp Owners Get Mad About Free Options
2:20 The Value of Free Resources (FreeCodeCamp, 100Devs, CS50)
8:05 Beware of Predatory Bootcamps & ISAs
12:35 Cohort-Based Learning & Community Support
19:10 Tools for Learning: Git, Terminal, & UI Tools
26:00 The “4% Rule” – Making Yourself a Priority
31:40 Building Real Projects (Avoiding Tutorial Hell)
35:10 Additional Free Resources (MOOC.fi, etc.)
36:20 Importance of Community & Finding Your Tribe
43:00 Work Ethic, Motivation, & Overcoming Obstacles
49:00 Q&A: Doing It Afraid vs. Honoring Your Feelings
56:45 Closing Thoughts & Goodbyes
57 min
December 30, 2024 How YOU Can Learn To Code in 2025
In this episode, Danny Thompson and Leon Noel tackle the hot topic of AI “replacing” developers and why that’s not happening any time soon. They discuss the right mindset for learning to code, tips for staying motivated (even if friends and family don’t get it), and what to focus on in your very first tech job. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the hype or needed clarity on how to progress in your coding journey, this episode is for you.
Key Topics:
Why just “prompting AI” isn’t enough—and how real coding skills still matter
How to stay motivated when your family or friends don’t understand your new path
The difference between hype and actual skills needed for a successful tech career
Strategies for learning to code efficiently (and what to avoid)
What to focus on in your first six months as a developer (the four key pillars)
Enjoy the conversation, and let us know if you want a deeper dive in a Part 2!
📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?
Email us at [email protected]!
Danny Thompson
https://x.com/DThompsonDev
https://www.linkedin.com/in/DThompsonDev
www.DThompsonDev.com
Leon Noel
https://x.com/leonnoel
https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonnoel/
https://100devs.org/
📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?
Email us at [email protected]!
Chapters
00:00 – Intro & The 4 Things in Your First 6 Months
Danny outlines the four key items you must focus on when starting your first dev role.
04:15 – How AI Hype Misleads New Developers
They share why simply prompting AI tools isn’t a valid substitute for real coding logic.
11:05 – Overcoming Excuses & Bad Advice
Learn why AI is the latest excuse stopping people from ever finishing their coding goals.
20:05 – Will AI Replace Devs in 5 Years?
A realistic look at timelines, corporate adoption, and why coding skills remain essential.
25:00 – Setting the Stage for Learning
Leon shares the mindset shifts you need for effective studying, plus dealing with life pressures.
35:00 – Build Projects to Truly Learn
They stress how applying newly learned concepts in your own projects cements long-term knowledge.
49:00 – Part 2?
They discuss whether to record a deeper follow-up; share your feedback in the comments.
50:30 – Ask Danny And Leon
Danny breaks down code, process, team, and value—crucial focuses for your first six months.
57:40 – Relationship Building & Documentation
Leon’s tips on never eating lunch alone, documenting questions, and setting review goals.
1:00:05 – Final Thoughts & Wrap-Up
Closing remarks on staying motivated, focusing on evidence-based growth, and letting them know if you want more.
1 hr 2 min
December 23, 2024 The BEST Places to Invest Your Time in Tech Right Now in 2025!
Where should you invest YOUR time in tech? Are you trying to break into tech, learn to code, or just stay ahead in a rapidly evolving AI landscape?
Key Topics Covered:
Why consistent, daily coding practice beats “cramming”
How to effectively network and stand out at meetups and hackathons
The importance of learning fundamentals like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, Linux, SQL, and Git
Whether (and when) to dive into AI, LLMs, and machine learning
Why “free” doesn’t mean “low quality” and how freeCodeCamp remains a top resource for millions
How to pace your job search timeline—and why 6 months might be too short
The future of AI, job prospects, and how to keep your skills relevant
Enjoy the discussion, and don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more insights into coding, careers, and the tech industry!
In this episode of The Programming Podcast, Danny Thompson and Leon Noel sit down with Quincy Larson, founder of freeCodeCamp.org. This is the first guest episode we have ever had!
We discuss the realities of learning to code, the importance of fundamentals, how to navigate AI hype, the true value of “free” educational resources, and much more.
📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?
Email us at [email protected]!
Danny Thompson
https://x.com/DThompsonDev
https://www.linkedin.com/in/DThompsonDev
www.DThompsonDev.com
Leon Noel
https://x.com/leonnoel
https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonnoel/
https://100devs.org/
00:00 – Introduction
02:06 – The Power of Consistent Daily Practice
05:21 – Auditing Your Local Job Market
08:03 – Fundamental Skills vs. Frameworks
11:05 – The Evolving Complexity of React & Next.js
13:29 – How Quincy Got His First Dev Job
17:02 – Networking & Meetups: A Game Changer
19:07 – Today’s Job Market & ‘Impossible’ Myths
24:27 – College, Costs & Alternative Pathways
27:24 – “I Need a Dev Job in 6 Months!”
31:06 – Reframing Disappointment & Burnout
35:50 – Why ‘Free’ Doesn’t Mean ‘Low Quality’
40:08 – Ask Quincy: AI & Building Your Own LLM
44:20 – The Future of AI & Open-Weight Models
48:30 – AI in Search, Ads & Monetization
51:30 – The Bottom Line on AI & Dev Careers
53:00 – Conclusion & Final Shout-Outs
📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?
Email us at [email protected]!
55 min
December 19, 2024 This is how I made the Commit Your Code Conference happen!
Ever wondered what it takes to plan a tech conference in just THREE MONTHS? 🤯 Join Danny Thompson and Leon Noel as they break down their experience organizing the Commit Your Code conference – from shoestring budgets and last-minute speakers to the surprising strategies that led to its success!
Join Leon Noel (Managing Director of Engineering at Resilient Coders) and Danny Thompson (Director of Technology at This Dot Labs) as they take you behind the scenes of organizing a tech conference from scratch! 🚀
Last week we just hosted the Commit Your Code Conference with over 60 speakers! We trended Globally even though we were doing our conference the same week as AWS Re:invent! Here's how Danny Thompson did it.
In this episode, Danny shares the journey of planning the Commit Your Code Conference, highlighting the challenges, lessons, and surprises along the way. From securing sponsors to managing a $11K budget, and ensuring accessibility for all attendees, this episode is packed with insights for aspiring community organizers and tech enthusiasts. 🖥️✨
🔍 What we cover:
How a one-time idea turned into a game-changing conference 💡
The secrets to creating an inclusive, affordable event!
Unique strategies that kept the vibes fun and the networking meaningful 🤝
Hilarious behind-the-scenes moments and lessons learned along the way 🎉
Whether you're a conference attendee curious about what happens behind the curtain, or someone considering starting your own tech event, this episode has something for everyone. Plus, stay tuned for exciting updates about Commit Your Code 2025! 🎉
📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?
Email us at [email protected]!
Danny Thompson
https://x.com/DThompsonDev
https://www.linkedin.com/in/DThompsonDev
www.DThompsonDev.com
Leon Noel
https://x.com/leonnoel
https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonnoel/
https://100devs.org/
0:00 Intro
1:18 The Spark: How It All Began
2:51 One and done conference, The Logistics
5:01 One speaker at the conference went through our cohort
6:25 Conference Sponsorships are not for the faint of heart
8:20 The Food and logistics for it
10:10 How can We create MORE organic conversations?
13:50 Shorter speaking times
17:01 Three Track Conference, Java, JavaScript and Cloud
18:30 We Trended Globally!
21:00 Community Building: Networking and Engagement
19:30 Two Conversations: Chris DeMars aka Saltnburn & Ghana Speaker Nii!
21:00 I want to address all pain points I have had at a conference
27:00 My strategy in planning
31:00 professional photographer giving headshots to attendee
35:35 Leon and Danny Laughing with an attendee
38:15 The Sponsors felt like they were PART of the event and not salesy
38:55 Educational Resources should be available for everyone
41:13 Ideas that were cut because of budget that we hope to do at CYC 2543:00 What if someone wants to start their own conference?51:06 Won't be shocked if this episode does bad lol
📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?
Email us at [email protected]!
53 min
December 12, 2024 Is Hiring Broken in tech?!
Are you struggling to stand out in today’s competitive tech job market? In this episode, Danny Thompson and Leon Noel discuss why companies claim there isn’t a “talent shortage” but rather a shortage of qualified talent. They dig into the importance of business use cases, how to continue growing your skills (both on and off the job), and why knowing the local tech stack matters. Plus, they introduce a new segment—Ask Danny & Leon—answering questions on how to leave a new job for a better opportunity and how to land your first freelance client. If you want to fast-track your career in tech, this is the episode for you!
Topics Covered:
Why there’s no shortage of junior developers—but there is a shortage of “qualified” devs
How to demonstrate your qualifications and meet business needs
The importance of continuous growth and staying current with market demands
Navigating the 3-month, 6-month, and 1-year benchmarks in a new tech role
Choosing the right tech stack based on your local market
How to (tactfully) leave a brand-new job for a better offer
Proven strategies to land your first freelance client
🔍 What you'll learn:
- Why businesses often struggle with hiring "qualified" talent
- How to align your skills with the needs of the market
- Insights into creating a network of tech leaders and decision-makers
- The importance of solving business problems as a developer
- Real stories about freelancing, landing clients, and building value
📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?
Email us at [email protected]!
Danny Thompson
https://x.com/DThompsonDev
https://www.linkedin.com/in/DThompsonDev
www.DThompsonDev.com
Leon Noel
https://x.com/leonnoel
https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonnoel/
https://100devs.org/
📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?
Email us at [email protected]!
Chapters & Timestamps
0:00 Intro & Welcome
1:02 Forming a Meetup for CTOs & CEOs
3:15 Talent Shortage vs. Qualified Talent Shortage
6:04 The Cost of a Bad Hire
8:07 Landing a Job vs. Building a Career
11:59 Understanding 3, 6, and 9-Month Benchmarks
14:21 Aligning Skills with Local Tech Demands
20:03 New Segment: Ask Danny & Leon
20:58 Q1: Leaving a Job After Only 1 Month
29:20 Q2: Finding Your First Freelance Client
37:00 Wrap-Up & Next Steps
Join hosts Danny Thompson (Director of Technology at This Dot Labs) and Leon Noel (Managing Director of Resilient Coders) as they dive into the challenges and strategies of breaking into the tech industry and building a lasting career. 🚀
In this episode, Danny and Leon tackle one of the most pressing issues in tech today: the gap between available talent and qualified talent. They explore what it means to be a "qualified" candidate at all levels—junior, senior, and beyond—and share actionable tips for improving your marketability and career growth. 💡
Whether you're a new developer looking to get hired, a seasoned dev seeking to level up, or someone interested in the intersection of community building and career growth, this episode is packed with valuable advice and engaging stories. 💼✨
39 min
December 05, 2024 HUGE Software Developer Mistakes That COST You Job Opportunities!
In this episode, Danny Thompson (Director of Technology at This Dot Labs) and Leon Noel (Managing Director of Engineering at Resilient Coders and Founder of 100Devs) dive deep into how to stand out in today’s competitive tech job market. They discuss common mistakes, the importance of qualifying yourself before you even get to the technical interview, the power of referrals, and what hiring managers are really looking for.
They also share practical tips on:
Customizing your résumé for every job application
Leveraging LinkedIn and networking strategically
Building real, impactful projects instead of generic tutorials
Using volunteering and freelancing to strengthen your credibility
Navigating Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
If you’re frustrated by endless applications and zero callbacks, this conversation is a must-watch. It’s time to learn how to play the game—rather than be mad at it—and land that role you’ve been dreaming about!
Highlights:
Why being “mad at the game” isn’t going to help (and what to do instead)
How to ensure your résumé, GitHub, and portfolio align with your desired role
Why networking and asking for genuine referrals can change your career
The importance of real-world projects and problem-solving in your job hunt
A preview of the Commit Your Code Conference, benefitting charitable causes
📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?
Email us at [email protected]!
Danny Thompson
https://x.com/DThompsonDev
https://www.linkedin.com/in/DThompsonDev
DThompsonDev.com
Leon Noel
https://x.com/leonnoel
https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonnoel/
https://100devs.org/
📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?
Email us at [email protected]!
Chapter Timestamps
0:00 – Intro & “Learn to Play the Game”
0:36 – Meet Danny & Leon
1:07 – Why Job Seekers Are Frustrated
2:03 – Common Mistakes with Résumés & Portfolios
3:19 – How to Stand Out Quickly
5:00 – Why Generic Projects Hurt You
9:02 – Referrals & Building Proof
11:45 – De-Risking Yourself for Recruiters
14:01 – Freelancing vs. Volunteering vs. Open Source
18:02 – Networking & Meetups: The Game-Changer
24:00 – ATS: Applicant Tracking Systems Explained
26:57 – Customizing Your Résumé (Stop Spray & Pray!)
32:01 – Insights from CEOs & CTOs on Hiring
36:02 – Qualifying Yourself Beyond Skills
38:04 – Commit Your Code Conference & Final Thoughts
39:55 – Wrap-Up & Next Episode Preview
41 min
November 25, 2024 Feature Flags, Start ups vs Enterprise Level Organizations
In this episode of The Programming Podcast, Danny Thompson and Leon Noel dive deep into the world of feature flags—what they are, why they matter, and how to use them to ship faster and smarter. They cover real-world examples of rolling out new features in production, the debate around staging environments vs. testing in production, and the pros and cons of unit testing. They also tackle freelance pitfalls—especially those 50/50 payment splits—and share practical tips on ensuring you always get paid. Whether you’re a startup engineer or working at a Fortune 500, you’ll find valuable insights on scaling, testing, and collaborating in modern software development.

Listen to The Programming Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, or anywhere else you listen to podcasts!

Spotify link
https://open.spotify.com/show/6d59PZ138KeoKfq5hoVvyQ

Danny's GitHub demo
https://github.com/TheDThompsonDev/featureFlagDemo

📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?
Email us at [email protected]!

Learn about the huge software developer mistakes that could cost you job opportunities in the hiring process. Don't make these critical errors!

Join Leon Noel and Danny Thompson as they discuss how to get a job in today's market as a software developer!

Danny Thompson
https://x.com/DThompsonDev
https://www.linkedin.com/in/DThompsonDev
CommitYourCode.Com

Leon Noel
https://x.com/leonnoel
https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonnoel/
https://100devs.org/

📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?
Email us at [email protected]!

Chapters & Timestamps
0:00 Intro & Catching Up
1:22 Leon’s Updates: 100 Devs & Job Hunt
2:40 Danny’s Updates: Building a Conference
4:05 Chasing Yeses (4,000 Emails!)
6:00 Introducing Feature Flags
9:00 Enterprise Use Cases for Feature Flags
13:00 Testing in Production vs. Staging
18:00 The Debate: Staging Environments
20:00 Edge Cases, QA, & Best Practices
23:00 Unit Testing Pros & Cons
28:00 Best Tools for Feature Flag Management
31:00 Freelance Question: 50/50 Payouts
34:50 Ensuring You Get Paid as a Subcontractor
37:10 Outro & Next Steps
38 min
November 21, 2024 How long does it ACTUALLY take to get a job in tech, Tech interviews and AI!
In this episode of The Programming Podcast, Danny Thompson and Leon Noel discuss the future of tech interviews in an AI-driven world. They share their thoughts on whether data-structure-and-algorithm (DSA) interviews are effective, how pair-programming or take-home tests can reveal a candidate’s real skills, and why many employers worry about AI “cheating.” They also explain why cold applying might be a huge waste of time and how networking is more crucial than ever in today’s tech job market. Finally, they dive into real-world AI coding assistants like Cursor IDE and Cody AI—highlighting what’s hype versus what actually delivers productivity gains.
Listen to The Programming Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, or anywhere else you listen to podcasts!
Spotify link
https://open.spotify.com/show/6d59PZ138KeoKfq5hoVvyQ
📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?
Email us at [email protected]!
Danny Thompson
https://x.com/DThompsonDev
https://www.linkedin.com/in/DThompsonDev
https://www.DThompsonDev.Com
Leon Noel
https://x.com/leonnoel
https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonnoel/
https://100devs.org/
📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?
Email us at [email protected]!
Chapters & Timestamps
0:00 Cold Applying & Why Networking Is Better
1:02 Welcome & Podcast Intros
1:28 AI Take-Home Tests & Cheating Concerns
6:00 DSA Interviews vs. Real-World Skills
8:56 Best Tech Interview Experience (AutoZone)
11:00 Behavioral Rounds & Project-Based Hiring
15:18 AI in Interviews & Prompt Engineering
21:04 Networking vs. Cold Applying
23:00 AI Arms Race: Resumes & Branding
25:00 Commit Your Code Conference for Charity
31:01 Cursor IDE & Building Apps with AI
40:55 Cody AI & Training on Your Codebase
42:35 Outro
43 min
November 09, 2024 How To Get Your First Job In Tech As A Software Developer - The Programming Podcast
In this episode of The Programming Podcast, Danny Thompson (Director of Technology at This Dot Labs) and Leon Noel (Managing Director of Engineering for Resilient Coders & Founder of 100 Devs) explain why the old days of “just apply online and hope” are gone. They break down how local networking opens doors, what your portfolio should really showcase (hint: not just YouTube tutorials), and why you should highlight impact over tasks on your resume. If you’re feeling stuck or unsure about how to stand out among millions of devs, this conversation is for you.

Listen to The Programming Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, or anywhere else you listen to podcasts!

Spotify link
https://open.spotify.com/show/6d59PZ138KeoKfq5hoVvyQ

📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?
Email us at [email protected]!

Danny Thompson
https://x.com/DThompsonDev
https://www.linkedin.com/in/DThompsonDev
CommitYourCode.Com

Leon Noel
https://x.com/leonnoel
https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonnoel/
https://100devs.org/

📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?
Email us at [email protected]!

Chapters & Timestamps
0:00 Why Local Matters & Getting Started
1:02 Meet Danny & Leon
2:31 Training to Get Hired vs. Becoming a Problem Solver
3:53 Local Networking vs. Competing Globally
7:21 Playing the Hiring “Game”
8:55 Market Shifts & The End of Instant Hires
11:00 Building Projects That Show Real Value
14:17 Networking & Overcoming Self-Doubt
19:08 Leveraging Meetups & Standing Out
22:00 Transforming YouTube Tutorials into Original Work
26:41 Freelancing & Authentic Client Projects
28:39 Resume Tips: Highlighting Impact, Not Duties
33:40 Future Topics & Wrap-Up
35 min