After 250 episodes of Beyond Coding, a pattern shows up again and again: the engineers who thrive aren't the ones chasing the newest tool or the cleanest code. They're the ones who learn fast, keep things simple, and understand the business they're building for. This special pulls the sharpest moments from recent guests into one conversation about what actually makes a great software engineer in 2026. We cover: Why learning is the only skill that outlives every tool, language, and platform How t...
May 20, 2026•33 min•Ep. 251
Reddit Reacts is back. I'm taking the most controversial takes on software engineering from Reddit and giving you my unfiltered perspective on what's happening, from juniors leveraging AI tools, to the culling of engineers who refuse to adapt, to whether you should take a gap year after a layoff. In this episode, we cover: How to become technically "cracked" and what really separates great engineers Why juniors learning with AI have an edge over 20-year veterans The future of writing code by han...
May 06, 2026•39 min•Ep. 250
Most engineers are using AI coding tools without understanding what they actually are and it's costing them. Microsoft Certified Trainer Rob Bos has trained thousands of engineers on AI tooling, and he sees the same gaps in fundamentals show up again and again, regardless of seniority. This is what you need to know: What an LLM actually is (and why understanding this changes how you use it) Why prompt engineering isn't optional How AI magnifies your existing technical debt instead of fixing it T...
Apr 29, 2026•47 min•Ep. 249
Most engineers approach open source the wrong way. They write code, open a PR, and wonder why it never gets merged. Bruno Schaatsbergen, Terraform core contributor and ex-HashiCorp engineer, breaks down the real craft behind contributions that actually land, and why AI is quietly breaking the ecosystem we all depend on. In this episode, we cover: Why pull requests get ignored (and the counterintuitive fix) How AI slop is killing open source from the inside Using AI agents without losing your ide...
Apr 22, 2026•38 min•Ep. 248
What separates software that survives from software nobody wants to touch? Nico Krijnen has spent 30 years building systems, coaching teams, and learning why some projects thrive while others quietly become the legacy code everyone avoids. In this episode, he shares why the real work starts after you ship, what actually turns a system into legacy, and why the knowledge in your team's heads matters more than the code itself. In this episode, we cover: Why production is where the real learning beg...
Apr 15, 2026•54 min•Ep. 247
Suzanne Daniels is a Top Microsoft Advisor who works with CTOs and engineering leaders across EMEA on developer productivity, GitHub, and AI adoption. Her take: the industry is obsessing over coding speed, but that was only ever level one. The real shift is in who defines the solution, not who writes the code. In this episode, we cover: Why the "55x faster coding" marketing misses the point entirely The counterintuitive research showing junior engineers adopt AI faster than seniors "Coding is ch...
Apr 08, 2026•46 min•Ep. 246
The role of the software engineer is shifting from execution to orchestration, and it's happening faster than most of us realize. Dennis Vink, Principal Consultant at Xebia, breaks down how he approaches code modernization with AI, why fundamentals and system design matter more now than ever, and what the engineering role is actually becoming. In this episode, we cover: Why you need to mature your old codebase before you can migrate away from it How to prove feature parity between legacy and mod...
Apr 01, 2026•48 min•Ep. 245
Most senior engineers don't realize they're stuck until it's too late. The longer you stay, the more people around you have already decided who you are and what you're for. Ian Miell, CTO at Container Solutions, breaks down why this happens and how understanding the system around you is the first step to growing beyond it. In this episode, we cover: Why staying too long gets you put in a box (and how to escape it) How your software architecture is shaped by money flows The 30% rule: why you shou...
Mar 25, 2026•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 244
Most architects stop coding... and that's exactly where they lose their edge. Dennis Doomen has been a hands-on coding architect for 30 years, and his take is blunt: if you're not in the code, you can't make good architectural decisions. Period. In this episode, we get into the real causes of codebase rot, why dogmatic pattern-following destroys teams, how Dennis uses AI tools to build open source projects without compromising his standards, and why documentation and decision records might be th...
Mar 18, 2026•52 min•Ep. 243
Sendil Nellaiyapen, Engineering Manager at Uber, has built systems that scale to millions of users. In this episode he shares what most engineers get wrong about both system design and the move into engineering management In this episode, we cover: Ingredients for designing systems that scale to millions of users How to know when to compromise on architecture The trade-offs of going from IC to engineering manager and why the role is harder than it looks How to handle opinionated engineers, set t...
Mar 11, 2026•45 min•Ep. 242
Are you over-engineering for a future that might never come? In this episode, we explore why "future-proofing" often leads to wasted time and sunk costs, and how shifting your mindset from opinions to hypotheses can drastically improve your Developer Experience (DevEx). In this episode, we cover: The trap of complex architecture decisions like Hexagonal Architecture too early How to identify and remove friction points in the software development lifecycle The reality of using AI agents in produc...
Mar 04, 2026•40 min•Ep. 241
The difference between a junior and a senior engineer isn't coding speed, it's knowing when to say "no." "The best code you can write is the code you don't write." In this episode, I sit down with Alessandro Mautone (Senior Software Engineer at Aquablu, ex-WeTransfer) to discuss the reality of engineering at a scale-up: how do you maintain technical excellence when the business demands speed? We break down why delivering features "fast" pays your salary, but how to negotiate deadlines so you don...
Feb 25, 2026•47 min•Ep. 240
We are at a unique point in history where there is finally an alternative to human coding. If AI can write the code effectively, what is left for the software engineer? In this episode, Joris Conijn (AWS CTO at Xebia) argues that the era of "just coding" is over. We discuss why senior developers are safe (for now), why juniors are at risk of never learning the fundamentals, and how "Shadow AI" is forcing companies to change their security strategies. Most importantly, we break down the differenc...
Feb 18, 2026•47 min•Ep. 239
Is your internal developer platform actually improving velocity, or is it a bottleneck? We discuss why platform teams building "cool" abstractions is a red flag, and you should aim to create the best platform for software engineers. In this episode, we cover: Why "Golden Paths" can turn into roadblocks for developers. The danger of Shadow IT and why it’s a symptom of a failed platform. How to measure if your platform is saving time. Connect with Adnan Alshar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adnanmal...
Feb 11, 2026•44 min•Ep. 238
Engineering hasn't become easier, writing code has just become faster. Time to stop fighting symptoms and start thinking in systems. In this Q&A, I break down the career advice I'd give to any engineer, from mastering architecture to knowing when to quit a high-paying job. In this episode, we cover: How "Systems Thinking" can be applied in practice The "Golden Handcuffs": Why high salaries keep engineers in toxic jobs How to transition into leadership without waiting for a title Timestamps 0...
Feb 04, 2026•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 237
The software engineering landscape is shifting rapidly. Coding is becoming "cheap" because of tools like Claude Code, Codex, Gemini, Cursor etc. Interviews are evolving to focus on system design over syntax. In this Q&A, I break down exactly which skills matter now, how to negotiate the salary you deserve, and how to deal with difficult personalities on your team. In this episode: How juniors can leverage AI tools to reach senior-level output Real-world salary negotiation tactics from my exp...
Jan 28, 2026•42 min•Ep. 236
"Architects shouldn't try to be the smartest people in the room, they should make everybody else smarter." In this episode, Gregor Hohpe (ex-Google & AWS, author of "The Software Architect Elevator") breaks down exactly how to transition from software engineer to architect. He shares the mental models used at Big Tech to handle complexity, visualize systems, and navigate office politics without losing your technical edge. We cover: - Why "lowering risk" is the architect's real value proposit...
Jan 21, 2026•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 235
Are you waiting for a promotion that never comes? In this episode, we break down why relying on your manager to define your growth is a career-limiting mistake and how you can take full ownership of your professional path. In this episode, we cover: Why hard skills get you hired but won't get you ahead How to create growth opportunities when your company has no clear path Using RACI to own decisions and increase your visibility Connect with Zanina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zaninakatira Refere...
Jan 14, 2026•44 min•Ep. 234
Software engineers often think adding AI is just a simple API call, but moving from a Proof of Concept to a stable production system requires a completely different mindset. Maria Vechtomova breaks down the harsh reality of MLOps, why rigorous evaluation is non-negotiable, and why autonomous agents are riskier than you think. In this episode, we cover: The essential MLOps principles every software engineer must learn How to bridge the gap between a demo and a production-grade solution Strategies...
Jan 07, 2026•44 min•Ep. 233
Are your technical skills actually holding your career back? In this conversation with Anand Sahay, Global CEO of Xebia, we explore the controversial reality that "mediocre" engineers often climb the corporate ladder faster than technical wizards. And what you need to do to change that trajectory. In this episode, we cover: Why simplicity and business value beat complex code every time The specific mindset shift required to move from Senior Engineer to Executive How to maintain technical intuiti...
Dec 31, 2025•54 min•Ep. 232
Tools change and frameworks die, but your career doesn't have to. Marijn Markus joins the show to explain why "Don't be a fool with a tool" is the single most important piece of advice for modern software engineers and data professionals. In this episode, we cover: The "Meta-Skill" of learning how to learn new technologies Why real innovation often originates in "dark" industries like crime and warfare How to future-proof your career against AI agents and automation Why understanding the busines...
Dec 24, 2025•48 min•Season 231Ep. 231
Are you just executing tickets, or are you driving business impact? In this episode, Praveen Murugesan (VP of Engineering at Samsara) breaks down why the best engineers don't just write code and why "coding skills" alone won't get you there. He explains the critical shift from "software engineer" to "product engineer," why you shouldn't wait for permission to solve problems, and how to de-risk high-stakes projects like a true owner. In this episode, we cover: The difference between a "Ticket Tak...
Dec 17, 2025•57 min•Ep. 230
Traditional software engineering job listings have dropped by 70%, yet Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) roles have exploded by over 800% this year. We sit down with Mo Fagir, Principal Technical Consultant at ServiceNow, to break down exactly why this shift is happening and how you can pivot your career to ride this AI adoption wave. In this episode, we cover: The massive market shift: Why "pure coding" jobs are declining while FDEs are booming. The exact technical stack and soft skills required ...
Dec 10, 2025•46 min•Ep. 229
If you think your value as a software engineer comes just from writing code, you're already at risk. In this episode, Outsystems CEO Woodson Martin reveals why AI isn't the real threat to your career. Irrelevance is. He explains that writing code is now only 20% of the job, and the engineers who thrive are the ones who master the other "80% that matters." We cover: The billions of lines of ungoverned code AI is creating Why the "Forward Deployed Engineer" model is changing team structures The 80...
Dec 03, 2025•37 min•Ep. 228
What if you could build a multi-million dollar software company where only 10% of your employees are developers? AFAS, a company with hundreds of millions in revenue, does exactly that with a lean team of just 70 engineers. In this episode, Engineering Manager Michiel Overeem pulls back the curtain on their unconventional strategies for achieving massive productivity with a surprisingly small team. In this episode, we cover: Why standardization is their secret weapon for efficiency. How they thr...
Nov 26, 2025•29 min•Ep. 227
System design interviews often focus on theoretical complexity, but how do Senior Engineers at GitHub actually approach scaling? In this episode, Bassem Dghaidi breaks down how to think about system design when real business impact is on the line. We discuss why "simple is complicated enough," the dangers of premature scaling, and why vertical scaling often beats complex distributed systems. If you want to bridge the gap between theory and practice, and understand how to design software that act...
Nov 19, 2025•46 min•Ep. 226
What does it take to build a career as a mobile engineer when AI is changing everything? Pasha Mazurin shares how he went from Java backend engineer to Head of Mobile, why he only joins mobile-first companies, and how AI-assisted development brought the joy back to his work. This isn't theory, it's real lessons from 15+ years in the field and now learning Android at a senior level. In this episode, we cover: AI-assisted mobile development workflow (the four-window tmux setup) Why mobile-first co...
Nov 12, 2025•59 min•Ep. 225
Worried about staying relevant as AI and new tools keep changing tech? The answer isn't chasing every new framework, it's treating your career like an engineering problem you can solve. In this episode, we cover: Why staying relevant isn't about the tools (and what it's really about) The 3 essential career management tools: Brag Doc, Competency Framework, and Mentors How to get promoted when you're already doing the work Navigating salary negotiations and knowing when to leave Building a career ...
Nov 05, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 224
You asked, I answered. In this Q&A episode, I tackle the toughest career questions you submitted: from getting promoted when the process feels political, to negotiating salary, to leading projects as an IC. In this episode, we cover: * Holding peers accountable when you're not their manager * Navigating promotions when the process is political or unclear * Increasing your salary with strategic job offers * Building real authority and getting noticed by leadership * Staying relevant in the ag...
Oct 29, 2025•57 min•Ep. 223
What's the real difference between a good software engineer and a truly great one? It’s more than just coding skill. It's a specific mindset, a disciplined approach to technology, and a deep understanding of core principles. This is the roadmap to leveling up your career. In this conversation with Sander Mak, Director of Technology at Picnic, we discuss the methods they use to train world-class engineers. You will learn: The "under the hood" knowledge that truly matters. Why great engineers ofte...
Oct 22, 2025•38 min•Ep. 222
