Episodes of Build and Learn with Colin Loretz and episodes of Avilla Theory with Nicole Avilla.
CJ and Colin chat about AI tools and coding environments. Pros and cons, daily workflows, and challenges of various AI-driven coding tools like VS Code, Cursor, and Copilot.We also talk about the broader implications of AI in content generation, particularly on platforms like LinkedIn, and emphasize maintaining a human touch in communication to avoid hollow, AI-generated content.- Avante nvim plugin- Cursor- Github Copilot
In this episode, you'll learn about the PARA Method for organizing your notes and tasks, emphasizing the importance of balancing craftsmanship with delivering real customer value. Discover insights from Pieter Levels' success with straightforward tech stacks and recurring revenue from multiple startups. The discussion covers the power of building in public, optimizing productivity with personal CRMs and AI tools, and managing digital notes using Obsidian and Logseq. Tune in to explore practical challenges and solutions for enhancing your workflow and staying connected.00:00 Introduction and Catching Up00:20 Lex Friedman and Pieter Levels Interview Discussion01:09 Frameworks and Developer Influencers03:08 Peter's Success and Indie Hacking05:23 Building and Shipping Products05:43 Marketing and Influencer Impact13:23 Personal Knowledge Management22:25 Exploring Obsidian and PARA23:02 Organizing Projects and Areas23:43 Daily Logs and Workflows26:42 Handling Digital Scraps and Notes30:31 Plugins and Syncing Issues34:34 AI Tools for Meetings and Transcriptions38:07 AI Code Editors and Future Discussions39:37 Conclusion and Next Week's Teaser
In this episode, Colin and CJ discuss their audio and video setups, ideal microphones, cameras, and software for content creation. They dive into the specifics of the equipment they use and recommend budget-friendly options for those just getting started. Additionally, they touch upon some useful applications and tools that streamline their workflows, and discuss their experience with various developer-related projects.Our Daily Drivers1. Shure SM7B2. Shure SM583. Cloudlifter4. Triton Fethead5. Scarlett Solo6. Eleven Labs7. YouTube Studio8. Google Experimental Music Effects 9. Descript 10. Apple Studio Display 11. Sony A6100 12. Elgato Camlink 13. Elgato Key Lights 14. Elgato Streamdeck 15. OBS 16. Audio-Technica ATR2500 17. Shure MV7 18. Handmirror app19. Cleanshot 20. Skitch 21. Warp22. Neovim23. iTerm224. OhMyZsh25. Alacritty26. VS Code 27. ngrok 28. zoxide29. eza 30. fzf 31. Raycast 32. Fantastical 33. Textmate 34. CJ's /uses page Find more audio gear at Podcast Method
In this episode, we celebrate the 20th anniversary of Ruby on Rails, reflecting on its impact and vibrant community. We share Rails origin stories from the late 2000s and early 2010s. You'll hear about different companies' reading and writing cultures, including practices like decision documents, meeting notes, and internal newsletters.You'll hear updates on current projects, with Colin discussing a major documentation initiative and the challenges of balancing meta-work with actual work. CJ provides an update on a large-scale refactoring project, detailing the process of converting enums to models across various parts of the codebase. You'll also get book recommendations, including "The PARA Method" about note-taking and personal knowledge management, and "Unreasonable Hospitality" which explores creating exceptional customer experiences.Finally, we discuss the concept of "unreasonable hospitality" and how to delight customers through thoughtful, personalized interactions.ResourcesUnreasonable Hospitality - https://www.amazon.com/Unreasonable-Hospitality-Remarkable-Giving-People/dp/0593418573PARA method - https://fortelabs.com/blog/para/ Amazon's working backwards - https://www.productplan.com/glossary/working-backward-amazon-method/
We discuss visiting NYC, DevRelCon, red-eye flights, and why enums are terrible.Some of the bits and bobs mentioned in this episode:- DevRelCon - Chef's Table (S2E1 Grant Achatz) / Alinea- Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon- CJ enumerating lessons about enums
We're celebrating our 50th episode and two years of podcasting. In this milestone episode, we reflect on what has kept us consistent, our laid-back approach to podcasting, and give a shoutout to you! We also explore how social media affects consumer behavior and share tips for managing digital consumption and mental health.You'll also hear about our latest projects, including optimizing Redis for better performance in our Rails app and our current work at Discord and Craftwork. Plus, we dive into the world of AI tools for content creation, using them to create engaging short-form videos. Thanks for joining us on this journey!Resources* Money with Katie - https://moneywithkatie.com/ * Mostly Technical - https://mostlytechnical.com/* Bootstrapped Web - https://bootstrappedweb.com/ * Syntax - https://syntax.fm/* APIs You Wont Hate - https://apisyouwonthate.com/* The Bike Shed - https://bikeshed.thoughtbot.com/
Producer's note: This episode should have gone out as episode 48 ahead of Webhooks! This is our missing episode. Join us next episode for episode 50!Colin has a fitness update: working on the lungs, breathing and stress in general. CJ is digging into enums and converting them to models at Craftwork. More to come on that topic soon. Colin continues to avoid building Coworking Software (to everyone's applause) and CJ is digging back into James Clear's Atomic Habits.Colin: Fitness update / massage / breathing CJ: Big refactor from an enum to a model - evolving pricing modelsCJ's sleek lidar mop vacuum Colin: Coworking Software Update: not building anything, trying out JoanColin: Internal discussion on WebhooksCJ: rereading Atomic HabitsColin mentions some Obsidian (more on that to come in future episodes)
In this episode, you'll learn about webhooks and how they enable event-driven integrations. We cover webhooks, how they work, and best practices for providers and consumers.Topics:- The evolution of webhooks and how they compare to traditional API polling methods- Implementing webhooks securely, including verification techniques- Strategies for handling and processing webhook data- Challenges you might face with versioning and payload changes- Useful tools and resources for working with webhooksWe share our experiences implementing webhooks across various platforms, mentioning Stripe, Twilio, and Slack as examples of good webhook implementations. We also discuss how tools like Zapier can help with webhook integrations and automation.You'll hear about CJ's recent experiences with React Native and Expo Go, as well as updates on our side project "Buckets", a Mint-like finance app.Resources:https://webhooks.fyi/ Webhooks google groupRailsconf webhooks workshop
CJ and Colin with the summer updates and fitness check-in. We dive into cron jobs, scheduling those jobs with various tools and services and best practices for when/how to cron.- Summer updates- CJ's live peloton class in the studio- Peloton hotel finder- Colin gives a RTO recap- Craftwork update, one year of the Rails codebase- Realtime project view tracking with action cable (who’s looking at the same doc as me)- Command Palette using Ninja Keys - CJ on Enums in Rails and other best practices - CJ using sidekiq-cron, alternative to whenever. - team already asking for event-based things- BullMQ mentioned! - Colin working on some sample Discord bots and apps
Colin and CJ explore the ongoing debate between monolithic architectures versus API-driven frontends, touching on the pros and cons of GraphQL and REST. The conversation also covers the intricacies of integrating Next.js with Rails applications. On the personal front, CJ shares his solar pool heater project and Colin prepares for his upcoming relay race, Reno Tahoe Open (RTO). Both hosts reflect on their work anniversaries and discuss the challenges and strategies for effective Developer Relations (DevRel).Monoliths vs. API-driven Frontends: The pros and cons of each approach, including the challenges of maintaining large JSON payloads and ensuring API stability.GraphQL: A critical look at the limitations and complexities of GraphQL, including rate limiting and authorization issues.Next.js and Rails Integration: Strategies for connecting a modern frontend framework with a traditional Rails backend.Personal Projects: CJ's DIY solar pool heater project and the considerations involved in making it efficient and safe.Relay Race Preparation: Colin's training for the Reno Tahoe Odyssey and strategies for managing challenging race conditions.DevRel Strategies: The multifaceted role of Developer Relations and how to balance content creation, community engagement, and internal advocacy.ResourcesWhy I’m Over GraphQLStack Recommendations for Connecting a Next.js AppTaylor Otwell’s Tweet on Next.js and LaravelRails Developer Survey 2024Unity Learn PathwaysChris Trag’s LinkedIn PostRemotion: Create Videos ProgrammaticallyThanks for listening!
This week, CJ and Colin talk about content clickbait, Gameboy nostalgia, and the in-vogue topic of AI/LLMs. CJ dives into some cautionary tales around more API integrations and his steps to avoid platform risk while trying to build software at a growing company. Finally, we bid farewell to RailsConf and discuss the market for Ruby/Rails conferences in 2024 and beyond.Colin's Gameboy nostalgia a dose of retro gaming wifi gameboy cartridge right to repair Retro Future YouTube Acquired FM: The Complete History & Strategy of Nintendo Analogue Pocket Gen Alpha == Generation AIWizards of the Coast/D&D and AIPlatform Risk when building on APIs More integrations API stability Degrated integrations and deliveryThe RailsConf 2024 FOMO 2024 will be the penultimate conference2025 will be the last RailsConf Focus on rubyconf and rubygems Focus on regional conferences Announcement: A New Era for Ruby Central Events
In this episode, you'll hear about the Write the Docs conference in Portland, a must-attend for anyone in the tech writing community. CJ and Colin chatted about the unique, community-focused vibe of the event, which was akin to RailsConf or RubyConf, and shared some standout talks. One highlight is Calvin Fung's "Beyond Words: Strategies for Leveling Up Your Tech Writing Career," where he details practical tips for documenting your work and aligning it with your job description to advance your career. They also discuss creative ways to enhance documentation using interactive elements, and offers tips on how to get involved and meet people at conferences.You'll also hear about "Slow Productivity," Cal Newport's book that has us rethinking how they manage their workloads. We'll discuss the book’s core principles: (1) doing fewer things, (2) working at a natural pace, and (3) obsessing over quality. This leads to a deep dive into managing distractions, the anxiety around being constantly responsive, and the value of deep, focused work. Plus, they share updates on fun projects at Craftwork, like organizing painting crews with a drag-and-drop interface and rebuilding a pricing engine. Finally, they touch on their DIY approach to calendar management and Colin’s adventures in learning Unity for game development. This episode is packed with insights and practical advice for balancing productivity and creativity in the tech world.ResourcesAfford Anything podcasthttps://affordanything.com/495-cal-newport-the-shocking-secret-of-productivity/Write The Docs https://www.writethedocs.org/conf/portland/2024/speakers/ Slow Productivityhttps://amzn.to/3UNP0qT
This week, we discuss building companies on top of API integrations and recent acquisitions that we've been following closely and dig into some tech we're both using in our daily work. If you feel like you have a lot going on in your world right now, we also tease our upcoming episode on Cal Newport's newest book, Slow Productivity.- Postman acquires Orbit! Congrats to the team!- Discussing building companies that are heavy on integrations- Autocode shut down- Cloudflare acquires Partykit- Using Turbo at Craft- Calendaring and staffing in Craft- Neverending conference room app- Slow Productivity by Cal Newport- Podcast Interview with Cal Newport- Cal Newport's website- Events and Event Emitting- Building and learning on Game Engines
In this episode, Colin shares insights from the Game Developers Conference (GDC) on cutting-edge technologies like motion capture and AI-powered game creation. We'll chat candidly about the challenges of achieving work-life balance, recognizing burnout signs, and staying productive amid demanding software projects. Additionally, we'll explore personal finance topics, such as budgeting, emergency funds, and leveraging AI and APIs to optimize spending and financial planning.Resourcesfrvr.ai https://www.frvr.ai/ Robin desk booking software https://robinpowered.com/Tailwind UI Calendars https://tailwindui.com/components/application-ui/data-display/calendars Tailwind Catalyst https://tailwindcss.com/blog/introducing-catalyst Fullcalendar https://fullcalendar.io/ GDScream https://twitter.com/search?q=%23GDC2024&src=typeahead_click
In this episode, we talk about that subscription fatigue that is coming for us all. CJ has been working on some homesteading projects, including maple syrup harvesting and an AI birdspotting camera. Colin finally reveals what he's been working on at work: a new SDK! What we're building- CJ is homesteading: maple syrup - Raspberry PI + camera + AI to detect birds in the yard- Colin finally shares what he's been working on at work: documenting a new Discord SDK!What we're learning- Our lessons learned when buying (or not buying) a house
In this episode, we'll dive into the codebase of Campfire, a product released by the 37signals (now Basecamp) team. Sharing our initial impressions of the codebase hitting some of these topics:- The use of helpers and views in this Rails app- The gems and dependencies- The decision to use SQLite- The integration of Hotwire, Stimulus, and front-end tech- The inclusion of Go code for the Thruster proxy accelerator- The CSS files and design choicesResourceshttps://twitter.com/dhh/status/1748378865725329495https://world.hey.com/dhh/finished-software-8ee43637
This week, Colin and CJ discuss how differently we can feel when we get caught in the mindless doomscrolling traps of consuming content rather than creating things, interacting with other IRL humans, and more! - Accountability/fitness update- Quick update on Buckets!- Consumption vs Creation- Learning styles- Badass Course Creators podcast: Raising the bar for online learning with Greg RogNext episode, we're digging into the Campfire codebase from 37Signals/Once.glhf!
In this episode of Build and Learn you'll hear CJ and Colin discuss the following:CJ's weekend project of installing new kitchen cabinets. They share the DIY process of customizing and installing inexpensive cabinets from Lowe's.Running and training tips, including focusing on "zone two" aerobic base training. Colin shares his goals to rebuild his running foundation and get faster this year.How performance reviews work at their companies, the process of self-reviews and peer feedback, and how 5:15s "five fifteens" help document accomplishments.CJ is building API documentation using OpenAPI spec and integrating Twilio APIs into his product. He realized he needed both Twilio's legacy and modern APIs.Colin is working on a Google Calendar integration for Discord, allowing users to schedule meetings in Discord voice channels. He discusses the challenges with Discord's permanent voice channel URLs.Interviewing and pair programming with candidates using Tuple. They wish for ephemeral URLs to avoid overlaps.Strategies for ramping up on and understanding a new codebase, like tracing the flow of a request. An LLM tool for summarizing codebases could be useful.Encouragement to get outdoors, avoid burnout, and "touch grass"!
2024! This week, we're sharing the various tools we use day-to-day in our work and side projects. Let us know if you have any favorites on Twitter @buildandlearn_BuildingCJ: working on a side project, https://buckets.cjav.devColin: working on some fun docs projects at workLearning: Sharing Our Tools in 2024Tools by CategoryTerminalEditorAPI tools/clientsContent Creation/EditingMac Helper AppsNotesCalendarEmailCJ's ToolkitWarp terminal ohmyzsh with my own theme which is based on Sarah Drasner’s night owlRaycastneovimfzf and telescopetpope: vim-rails, vim-commentary, vim-fugitivevim-testale - lintingAI: copilot + butterfishSkitch for screenshot annotationsPostman (Used to use Insomnia a lot, but many companies have Postman collections so that’s easy to drop in)Descript for screen recordingsTuple for pairingColin's ToolkitiTerm2 as my main terminalohmyzsh with Dracula ThemeVSCode as a daily driver for code and markdown (also Dracula themed)RapidAPI client (formerly Paw)Descript for audio-editingScreenflow for screencast video editingMac Workflow AppsCleanshot for screenshotting, annotations, and recording screen gifsRaycast for moving around apps quicklyMagnet for window managementHandMirror for monitoring videoHiddenMe for hiding icons on desktopNote Apps (too many lol)Notion for work and podcast notesObsidian for 2nd brain, brainstormingTextmate for scratchpads while working on a projectApple Notes for personal on-the-go and collaborative notes for homeFantastical for desktop calendars Apple Mail on phone for personal inboxes, Gmail app for work emailsBuild and Learn around the webTwitter: @buildandlearn_Colin: @colinloretzCJ: @cjav_dev
In this episode, we'll touch on office setup and soundproofing, with a focus on effective techniques and materials. We talk about the challenges and strategies in finding non-technical co-founders for startups, emphasizing the importance of shared values and complementary skills. The episode also delves into the impact of AI on the tech industry, particularly concerning recent layoffs. Additionally, we discuss technical topics like API documentation, memory management in Ruby and Rails, and the art of content creation and screencasting.Resources:Google Music FX - Text to Music https://aitestkitchen.withgoogle.com/tools/music-fxHammerstone Dev Podcast - https://hammerstone.dev/podcastTweets mentioned: https://twitter.com/cjav_dev/status/1742909106795528581Job Boards We like: https://railsdevs.com/https://remoteok.com/https://weworkremotely.com/Stripe OpenAPI https://github.com/stripe/openapiScoutAPM - https://scoutapm.com/Screen casting course - https://screencasting.com/KeyCastr - https://github.com/keycastr/keycastrKeyboarding Videos https://youtube.com/shorts/-Ibq3zbvvSYhttps://youtube.com/shorts/xMWugPr2u-Uhttps://youtube.com/shorts/f0rFJn1gI24https://youtube.com/shorts/8FWJqqTzUak
Chris and Colin wrap up 2023 chatting about personal finance, website annotations, vim and a growing need to "finish" something over starting yet another thing.Replacing Mint Colin is using Copilot moneyCJ was using YNAB earlier this yearTagging + podcast expenses: notion, zencastr, transistor, descriptUse our referral code 7X6AQD to get 2 months free https://copilot.money/link/9p7G8LwLqNWGkfrL6BuildingColin: Website AnnotationsAnnotate the webRap GeniusCJ: Lots of little API integrations: PostHog, Segment, Deputy, TwilioLearningColin: Actually finishing projects before starting new onesStartup weekend vs Finish weekendResolutions and goalsCJ: Couple new vim things -The missing semester of CS from MIT`:g` global command which lets you run ex aka command line commands on multiple lines at once it has two arguments, a pattern to match to find which lines to run on and the command to run. I’m excited to use this instead of macros for some common editing cases.Tried out using Descript’s built in video recorder / editor for a video this week and it worked out pretty well except I couldn’t figure out the camera preview thingNow Colin wants to learn vimHappy 2024!
In this episode, Colin and CJ discuss their experience with Advent of Code challenges. They use it as a virtual meetup for their local developer group and the value of solving problems in new languages.They also talk about live streaming using Twitch's built-in Stream Together feature and alternatives like Meld Studio for multi-person streaming setups.Other topics include potentially writing code with voice in the future, resources for learning Ruby like Avdi Grimm's Graceful Dev, and managing home maintenance through preventative care rather than reactively.Advent of Code- The coding challenges we discussedJonathan Paulson's YouTube - Videos solving Advent of Code challenges Bash Bunny on Twitch - Learning Zig with Advent of CodeStream Together on Twitch - Built-in multi-person streamingMeld Studio - Alternative to OBS for Mac streamingScreencasting Course - The course about recording screencastsWhale Quench Talk - Emily's talk about coding with voiceGraceful Dev - Avdi Grimm's site with Ruby resources City Authentic: How the Attention Economy Builds Urban America by David Banks How to Outsmart Your Brain Replit mobile
This week we're digging into when to hold on and when to call it quits when it comes to a business. The team at Craftwork is paying down tech debt with Polish week. We also chat about USB hubs, llamas, and how to get started on YouTube.BUILDINGCJ: Polish week at Craftwork - cleaning up code formatting, todos, tests, UI polish and clean up, DX clean up, etc.Colin: Coworking space deep diveRunning numbers on business modelsUsing chatGPT to run forecastsSustainabilityBook: Quit by Annie DukeGrit vs QuitSunk Cost & IdentityLEARNINGCJ: Started doing these mob pairing sessions this week. Mike showed some React Native, Drew showed some UX/UI stuff, Nik showed how to fine tune. Got access to the llama2 models and trying to use ankane’s informers gem to run onnx models locally with Ruby.Colin: Curious if you have any tips on getting started with youtube How to eggheadAaron Francis - Screencasting.com TubeBuddySean Cannell - ThinkMedia Ali Abdul Skillshare Course
In this episode, we catch up on recent tech events, discussing in detail the AI launches at both OpenAI and GitHub. We chat about the Hu.ma.ne AI pin, and touch on GitHub Universe. We also talk about Docs implementations and the challenges of managing and maintaining code snippets in documentation. Show notes:Docs Astro Starlight - https://starlight.astro.build/Tailwind UI protocol - https://tailwindui.com/templates/protocolAngular - angular.devMarkdoc - https://markdoc.dev/Calendars cal.com infrastructure https://cal.com/infrastructureCalendly - https://calendly.com/Nylas - https://info.nylas.com/Full Calendar - https://fullcalendar.io/StoryFuel.appHumane AI pin https://hu.ma.ne/Github monaspace https://monaspace.githubnext.com/Crochet talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FtbmlZOk44Jupyter notebook episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTmcdixuqcY
Episode 31Intuit is apparently shutting down Mint, pushing folks to Credit Karma Colin's school bus updateBuildingCJ is continuing to build out a comms center for managing customer comms in a scalable way for Craftwork. SAML`Colin is working on the conference room booking app,Likely use jumpstart for all stuff you need when you build something newCJ talks more about his new side project, Story Fuel LearningColin is also learning a lot about sending/receiving audio over socket connectionsThe ‘Enshittification’ of TikTok Or how, exactly, platforms die." from Cory DoctorowThe Imminent Enshittification of the Internet from Gary Marcus
In this episode, we'll share updates and talk about what we're learning and working on. First up, is the exciting prospect of buying a short school bus and converting it into a fun project. We'll touch on UI frameworks like PhlexUI, as well as share updates about our experiences with different diet and fitness regimens. We'll chat about some more AI tools. Lastly, we'll share updates on the conference room booking app and the Reno Colective co-working space's accountability group.ResourcesPhlexUI - https://www.phlexui.com/RailsUI - https://railsui.com/ShadCN - https://ui.shadcn.com/v0.dev - https://v0.dev/Macrofactor - https://macrofactorapp.com/Chronometer - https://cronometer.com/LangChain.rb - https://github.com/andreibondarev/langchainrb/Detangle - https://detangle.ai/
No cut off date + multi-modal ChatGPTGenerating AI voices with ElevenLabsLooking cool with New Ray Ban + Meta Smart Glasses?Making an epic screencast set up with Screencasting.com from Aaron FrancisWho’s upgrading to the new iPhone 15 with USB CTraveling with international / regional esim cards from AiraloBetting against SaaS? Once from 37SignalsCalculating customer lifetime valueNot having to deal with churnHashicorp and the Business Software License OpenTofu - open terraform initiativeCJ is working on calendaring with FullCalendar and tinkering with Rails generators.Colin is exploring prose linter options for docs and keeping docs quality high without relying purely on human. Working on some open-source project maintenance.Btw, Craftwerk is hiring!
This time around Colin and CJ talk about learning styles and how to learn to learn. We highlight a documentation framework called "Diataxis," which provides a structured approach to content categorization, differentiating between tutorials, how-to guides, explanations, and references. The significance of recognizing and adapting to varied learning styles, such as visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. We share our personal experiences and emphasize the importance of diverse teaching methods and creating content even when the subject might have been covered elsewhere. Mentioned were unique projects like an offline Wikipedia on a tablet and a hacked Casio watch that serves as a two-factor authentication generator. The session ends with considerations on video creation and the challenges of live streaming.Resources:Hackers Inc Fitness Episode - https://hackersincorporated.com/episodes/losing-70-lbs-getting-in-shape-and-15-minute-workouts By Mody Tutor - https://www.mybodytutor.com/My Fitness Pal - https://www.myfitnesspal.com/Sendgrid - https://sendgrid.com/Resend - https://resend.com/Rails Conf Webhook Workshop - https://github.com/colinloretz/railsconf-webhooksdiataxis - https://diataxis.fr/Cloudflare Docs - https://developers.cloudflare.com/Crunchy Data Postgres Sandbox - https://www.crunchydata.com/blog/learn-postgres-at-the-playgroundPragmatic Thinking and Learning - https://www.amazon.com/Pragmatic-Thinking-Learning-Refactor-Programmers/dp/1934356050The Dreyfus Model - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreyfus_model_of_skill_acquisition
It's the One Year Anniversary of Build & Learn! In this episode we chat about refreshing OAuth tokens and building CRM features with SMS/voice APIs. CJ and Colin also talk about the tradeoffs of building "calm", bootstrapped companies versus venture-backed startups. It seems like everything that is old is new again! What startups from the 2009-2012 vintages do you think could do with some disruption today?Some resources mentioned:GoRailsTwilio FlexFollow along off-pod!@colinloretz on Twitter@cjav_dev on Twitter
In this episode you'll hear about Colin's adventure of building a Google Calendar Discord bot using CloudFlare, mastering Google Calendar APIs, and navigating serverless Postgres with neon.tech. We'll also share our insights on the benefits of being part of Y Combinator, and the unexpected hiccups we faced with Rails' Turbo Streams. Dive in and learn from our experiences!Resources:* https://neon.tech/* Jason's tweet: https://twitter.com/jmcharnes/status/1687286039356829698 * Cloudflare Worker docs: https://developers.cloudflare.com/workers/* Jumpstart Pro starter kit for Ruby on Rails: https://jumpstartrails.com/* Turbo Streams documentation: https://turbo.hotwired.dev/handbook/streams* YCombinator: https://www.ycombinator.com/* Google Calendar API docs: https://developers.google.com/calendar/api/guides/overview * Microsoft Startup program for credits: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/startups
Welcome back after the summer break! CJ and Colin get caught up after a summer of adventure and... new job announcements!CJ update Tahoe Time / Family TimeE-Bike with DadBoat / Plane flight simulatorColin update Spending time on the coworking spaceSummer campingRole reversals and announcement We have new jobs!Context switching Colin: product & engineering → developer relationsCJ: developer relations → product & engineeringFewer guard rails, much less narrow focus, wearing more hats, more autonomy, freedom and responsibilityCJ is now at CraftwerkNextJST3 stackMySQL with PlanetscaleDrizzle ORMZod schema validationBack office/Admin CRUD app in RailsColin is now at DiscordCurrently onboarding and learningBuilding a Google Calendar app to get fully up to speed on all the areas of the developer experienceOther happenings: RailsWorld is happening later this year in AmsterdamTickets sold out in 45 minutesSpeakers announced this weekMust download calendar app for MacOS folks: Fantastical
In this episode, we chat with Dave Paola, the founder of the Agency of Learning, an organization aimed at getting early-career developers job-ready, especially developer boot camp graduates. We delve into the history of boot camps, identify key gaps in current education methods, and explore how the Agency of Learning addresses these gaps by simulating a real-team environment and emphasizing technical and non-technical skills.Resources and LinksVisit the Agency of Learning to learn more about Dave's innovative approach to junior engineer hiring and management.For a more in-depth understanding of teaching for mastery, check out Sal Khan's illuminating TED Talk.Get involved with open-source contributions and support social good with Ruby for Good.Discover Casa, a case management open-source app that supports volunteer work for children in foster care.Dive deeper into the tech industry's professional growth and career progression with Engineering Ladders.Check out "Engineering Management for the Rest of Us" by Sarah Drasner for relatable and pragmatic advice on engineering management.Read David Marquet's transformative leadership book, "Turn the Ship Around" for a novel perspective on leadership and management.Connect with our guest on Twitter @dpaola2 for more enriching content and discussions.
In this episode, we talk with Chris Oliver about his deliberate approach to building GoRails and his other businesses on Rails. In a tech world that only seems to be moving faster and faster, we discuss the slow and steady path he has followed to create a fulfilling life for himself and his team while shipping awesome Rails things for his customers.Some links to things we discussed:Build Your Saas Episode: Nobody in SaaS wants to talk about thisBuild Your SaaS Episode: Super Fun SaaS Sales Tax (Part Deux)Die With Zero bookSome of the things Chris and his team work on:GoRails Jumpstart RailsHatchbox HostingThe Remote Ruby Podcast and many other things you can find at https://excid3.com/
In this episode, we're joined by Alan Shreve, the founder and CEO of ngrok, to discuss the future of software development and the emergence of innovative tools that simplify complex tasks -- like ingress. We talk about ngrok's solid approach to error handling, which enhances troubleshooting and user experience by assigning unique codes to each error. The conversation also delves into the evolution of ngrok, an "ingress as a service" platform designed to streamline the setup of web application infrastructure by abstracting complexities of networking, thereby reducing your workload.We address the challenges in distributed systems and the importance of automating processes, focusing on the role of tools like Heroku, Vercel, and CloudFlare in managing infrastructure and security. We explore the concept of edge computing and globally distributed applications, envisioning two potential futures - one with advanced storage layers handling global distribution and another where applications can split between the origin and the global edge.The discussion also highlights the shift in the industry away from tasks like memory management and assembly language and the rise of cloud-based tools, which lowers the barrier to entry for new developers. Despite the potential pitfalls of abstraction, like the reduced need for developers to tinker and learn, we see this as a positive development. We wrap by emphasizing the end goal of software development - delivering a product that serves the customer's needs, facilitated by tools that simplify and standardize the development process.Resources:ngrok: ingress as a service - https://ngrok.comIntroducing ngrok-go - https://ngrok.com/blog-post/ngrok-gongrok-go library - https://github.com/ngrok/ngrok-goIntroducing ngrok-rs - https://ngrok.com/blog-post/ngrok-rsVim plugin for GitHub CoPilot - https://github.com/github/copilot.vimStripe's Embeddable Payment Components - https://stripe.com/docs/payments/payment-element
CJ and Colin are back to chat about getting outside, recap the recent RailsConf and discuss building and participating in developer communities in 2023.Getting OutsideThe Nature Fix bookOutside 365RailsCamp in HawaiiRailsConf 2023 and Webhooks WorkshopWebhooks Workshop Github Repo Marp Markdown Presentation ToolRuby Central YouTube Channel RubyConf San DiegoSome other cool events/conferences that we've attendedBlue Ridge Ruby ConfRails SaaSRailsConfRubyConfRailsWorldLaraConWordCampGDCApple’s WWDCGoogle I/OStartup WeekendsNASA Space AppsFollow us on Twitter@buildandlearn_@cjav_dev@colinloretz
In this episode, Colin and CJ discuss using the new GPT tools for work and play.Open AILarge language modelsGenerative AIHow do we use it, and is it going to be doom & gloom?How We Use ItBrainstorming & riffing on ideas I was building something in React and hadn’t touched React in a few years. I had all this iteration going on in my components to generate dynamic content. Still, I wanted the topmost component to be able to have references to all these components to download them all as images in a zip file.Assistance with math-based things like animation or rendering graphics Example: I had to display a bunch of circles in a 2nd plane in a random patternComputers are pretty good at thatLearning how to do something new faster Explain this to me like I’m 5SummarizingWe use Descript for editing this podcastShifting the tone of writing, building a writing styleWriting video scriptsFinding obscure informationStory arcsBrushes to write tailwind classesJokesDnD character sheetsBing to find esoteric star wars character that’s buried on WookiepediaDoom and gloom or boon?What does this mean for the future?Privacy & security concerns Voice clones and scams (create a safe word!)Productivity + time Are we just going to be expected to be more productive with more output because cApItaLIsMConstitutional AI (Anthropic) give it principles to train on vs having human inputhttps://www.anthropic.com/index/core-views-on-ai-safetyChatGPT coauthored a PR to a major open-source projectvia Ruby Weekly: How long is it until ChatGPT makes a pull request to Rails? Oh, it (sort of) just happened. Ultimately it's still under the name of Rails core team member Guillermo Iguaran, however.Everything in this pull request, including the code, tests, changelog, commit message, pull request title and description has been created by ChatGPT with some guidance. If you believe ChatGPT is infringing your copyright please let me know.People to follow(Written by Notion AI)Here are 5 social media influencers to follow to stay up to date about AI:Rachel Woods (@the.rachel.woods on TikTok, @rachel_l_woods on Twitter)Logan.GPT (dev advocate for OpenAI)Swyx (shares a lot of thoughts on AI)Lex Fridman (MIT researcher and AI podcaster)Siraj Raval (AI educator and YouTuber)ToolsGithub CopilotCopilot X for VS Code & VS ExtensionCopilot DocsCopilot CLICopilot VoiceCopilot for PRsResourcesWolfram Alpha - How ChatGPT worksSiraj Raval - Automated AI YouTube channelthe.rachel.woods on safe wordsInvisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for MenAnthropic - AI SafetyRubyWeekly - ChatGPT Co-authored PR
In this episode we dig into the HackerRank annual survey that was released a few months ago for 2023 including the top in demand skills from employers in this uncertain tech and economic environment. Note from Colin & CJ: This episode was recorded in November 2022. It is amazing how much changes in a few months.Languages By Volume of HackerRanksJavaPythonSQLC++JavascriptBashC#GoTypescriptRPHPCSwiftRubyMethodology for languages To estimate employer demand for specific programming languages, we looked at HackerRank Work tests where a specific programming language was required, or where specific library questions were asked. Skill demand was estimated by the number of HackerRank Work tests using specific library questions.On the preference – or supply–side, we tracked submitted languages by candidates when they have multiple options available, as well as their proficiency in those languages. We also included HankerRank Community practice data to get a full spectrum of skill preferences.Notable these results are not survey results like the Stack Overflow surveyDemand for most languages growing, but not equallyIs there potential bias in the types of companies that use HackerRank? Companies that are more likely to use Java for exampleTop 5 Skills in demand Problem SolvingMachine LearningREST APIsReactHTML/CSS/JSREST API shows sustained drama-free demand growth 😂Keep an eye on Go and TypeScriptOutlookTech hiring (and everything else) hit headwinds in 2022Overall, the tech industry continues to growingOther Links MentionedArt of Product Episode Episode 218Build Your SaaSFounder's Quest PodcastBuild and Learn around the webTwitter: @buildandlearn_Colin: @colinloretzCJ: @cjav_dev
In this episode about webhooks.fyi, we're joined by Keith Casey from ngrok. You'll hear about webhooks.fyi an information-rich resource for learning how to build and consume webhooks. webhooks.fyi is an open source knowledge base and directory listing and analyzing different webhook providers. We discuss webhook security, signature verification, forward compatibility, and more. Other Links from the Showhttps://webhooks.fyingrok.comWebhooks to Revolution the Web from @progriumWhat are Webhooks The Self Provisioning Runtime CaseySoftwareBuild and Learn around the web- Twitter: @buildandlearn_- Colin: @colinloretz- CJ: @cjav_dev
This week we are joined by Chelsea Otakan, infamously also known as @chexee on most of the internet. Chelsea is a product designer and front-end developer, currently working at Lattice. In this episode, we learn more about Chelsea's design origin story, her philosophies on product design, and why you should "build a skateboard, not a wheel".Chelsea's design philosophies- Ship quickly, ship for the user- Design is continuous- Design and build systems, not just features- Don't be afraid to dig deep- Critique early, often, and with everyoneOther Links from the Show- Shopify article on creating a "quality elevator" from Kyle Peatt: The system always kicks back - Chelsea's portfolio and work at Chexee.meBuild and Learn around the web- Twitter: @buildandlearn_- Colin: @colinloretz- CJ: @cjav_dev
In this episode of Build and Learn, we discuss code generation (codegen) and how Stripe uses it to generate SDKs for its APIs automatically. We talk about how a declarative shape of an API (such as Open API spec or GraphQL schema) can be fed into a tool to generate an SDK in a specific programming language. This process helps ensure that the SDKs are always in sync with the API and that any changes to the API are automatically reflected in the SDKs. Most SDKs today are still hand-written, but automatic generation is becoming more popular. We'll touch on the tradeoff between readable code and automatically generated code, which can be quite long and complex. You'll also hear how the Ruby clients for Orbit were likely written by hand and may not be up-to-date.Resources:Richard Marmorstein's Strangeloop talk about codegen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgRreyw-NlgCJ's RubyConf 2022 talk about codegen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sm0fgIqfsO8Stainless API company: https://stainlessapi.com/Open API Spec: https://swagger.io/specification/ Stripe API Spec: https://github.com/stripe/openapiSwagger codegen: https://swagger.io/tools/swagger-codegen/ Orbit Ruby Activities gem: https://github.com/orbit-love/ruby-orbit-activities
In this podcast episode, we are diving into the world of developer advocacy and developer relations with Chris Traganos, aka "Trag."
In this episode, we're joined by Charlie Gerard to discuss various topics related to learning technology and building cool projects.
In this episode, you'll hear Lindsay's path from graphic designer to support engineer and how she now manages a team of support engineers. We discuss what this transition has looked like for her as well as the training and learnings she undertook along the way.In the second half of the episode, we dig into more specific tactics that her and her team have encountered like supporting customers through API version migrations, authentication issues and squashing bugs with their product engineering team. ResourcesLindsay Barrett on LinkedInLeadDevSupport Driven Slack, Podcast, Blog, Job Board, EventsGrowth SpaceEngineering Management for the Rest of Us by Sarah DrasnerWilliam Vincent's Django BooksQuestions or feedback for the show? You can DM us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/buildandlearn_
Welcome to the episode on AWS Amplify and Front-end frameworks! In this episode, we delve into Erik's experience as a developer and discuss some of the front-end trends he is seeing. We also highlight the importance of building small projects to learn new programming languages and frameworks. We touch briefly on server-side generation and rendering trends, Shopify's acquisition of Remix, and the dilemma of choice that can arise when faced with so many options. We also discuss the advent of code-style challenges to build more small projects and continue learning. In the second half of the episode, Erik provides an in-depth look at AWS Amplify and its various components that can be used to build full-stack applications. If you're interested in learning more about AWS Amplify or want to hear about Erik's developer journey, this episode is for you!
Chatting with Mike Bifulco about his philosophies behind building a personal brand as a developer.
The podcast discusses various ways to go about finding a job, with a focus on the tech industry. We'll talk about making a list of the tools and companies you're interested in, doing outbound and inbound outreach, networking, and preparing for interviews. We'll also get into some resources for practicing algorithms and communities to join.
This week we talk about Call for Proposals and how to submit a talk to a developer conference.
This episode of Build & Learn is all about content creation for developers. We'll discuss various types of content, including tweets, blog posts, newsletters, live streaming, and YouTube videos. We'll also share some resources that developers can use to get started with content creation..
This episode is all about giving and receiving feedback via code reviews. Use some of these tips and tricks in your next code review.
This episode is all about the build versus buy decision that every software company has to make at some point. We discuss whether it makes more sense to build something from scratch or buy an existing solution. We also talk about the tradeoffs of time and money that come with each option. In the end, we conclude that it's usually best to buy an existing solution unless you have a very specific need that can only be met by building something from scratch.
This week we dig into "unlimited" PTO and taking take off from work.
Debating traditional computer science vs bootcamp vs self taught paths into tech.
In this episode, CJ and Colin dig into the results of the 2022 StackOverflow Survey including the most loved and dreaded technologies and how developers are learning in 2022.
In this episode, CJ and Colin share their origin stories and what led them to become software developers. They also set the stage for what to expect on the show - building and learning from software development but also life. Audio note: this episode was recorded via Zoom. Look forward to better audio in Episode 2!
Welcome to Build & Learn, a podcast about software development and developing ourselves as software engineers. Hosted by CJ Avilla and Colin Loretz.
Fasting, Greyson crashes his bike.
We sold a car! Air Doctor update :)
Home Air Quality!
We review the Peloton stationary bike and chat about the school opening plans. Use Peloton referral code PV6BBX for $100 towards accessories at purchase!
A look back at how we've spent the first 4 months of COVID-19
Reflecting on 2019 and looking forward to 2020!
How to provide a 5-star experience and reach Superhost status on Airbnb
We recently started playing piano and Nicole and the boys are taking piano lessons. Here's what we've learned so far :)
We're in the middle of a mini remodel project, closing a wall that we tore down a couple of years ago. We joke about how we're not craftspeople, but doing our best!
In this week's episode, Nicole and CJ share their experiences as owners and managers for long term rentals.
Homebirth or Hospital birth? In this episode, we share our experience with both and also talk about why we recommend doulas.
Thinking about investing your money into real estate? In this episode, we talk about the difference between investing your money into a second home vs. an investment property. We also discuss the benefits of having a short term rental property.
In this episode, we share how we've turned "budgeting" into a game and how we have been able to reduce spending on groceries and personal items.
Trying to avoid all of the Halloween candy? In this episode, we discuss how to quickly get rid of ALL of the candy and discuss having non-candy options for kids.
Our experience and opinions on buying a home
Our Disneyland secrets. Where we stay, what we eat with dietary restrictions, our rest spots, and how we get in all of our favorite rides in one day.
It's important to create a supportive community. In this episode, we discuss how we keep up with our local friends and give you ideas on how to create your own community.
Raising kids takes a village. Let us help you with a few things we have learned over the years.
It can be easy to fall into a crazy cycle with your partner. In this episode we talk about how to nurture your marriage and how to get yourself out of these crazy cycles.
Need to plan your next wedding speech? In this episode, we give you our wedding toast secrets!
In this episode, we give you tips and tricks on how to prepare for a long term relationship, specifically marriage.