On Coding Chats, John Crickett interviews software engineers of all levels from junior to CTO. He encourages the guests to share the stories of the challenges they have faced in their role and the strategies and tactics they have used to overcome those challenges providing actionable insights other software engineers can use to accelerate their careers.
Coding Chats episode 35 - John Crickett and Brian Feister explore the journey of becoming a software engineer, discussing the value of self-taught skills versus formal education, the impact of boot camps, and the importance of community in tech. They delve into their experiences with the Go programming language, sharing insights on learning, challenges faced, and the advantages of Go in modern software development. Chapters 00:00 The Value of Computer Science Degrees 05:46 Self-Taught vs. Formal...
Coding Chats episode 34 - John Crickett and Brian Feister explore the journey from working in big tech to building startups, the evolution of mentorship in tech, the challenges of balancing multiple roles, and the intricacies of test-driven development. They discuss cognitive differences in software development, the importance of clear requirements, and the role of AI in the future of software engineering. The conversation emphasizes the value of learning from each other and the diverse paths in...
Coding Chats episode 33 - John Crickett and Robert Roskam explore the significance of open source involvement, the critical nature of effective onboarding, the myth of 10x engineers, and the challenges of transitioning into management. They discuss how soft skills and community engagement are essential for software engineers, the importance of creating a supportive onboarding experience, and the misconceptions surrounding high-performing engineers. Additionally, they reflect on the realities of ...
Coding Chats episode 32 - John Crickett and Loris Cro discuss the Zig programming language, its community, and various ways to learn and apply Zig. Loris emphasizes the importance of project-based learning, the unique features of Zig, and how it is being used in production by various companies. Loris also shares insights on how to get involved with the Zig community and contribute to its growth. Chapters 00:00 Learning Zig Through Projects 04:58 Community and Learning Resources 06:49 Zig in Prod...
Coding Chats episode 31 - John Crickett interviews Loris Cro about the Zig programming language and the Zig Foundation. They discuss the innovative features of Zig, including its unique approach to metaprogramming with Comp time, its role as a C and C++ compiler, and the benefits of using Zig for cross-compilation. Loris explains the structure and mission of the Zig Foundation, emphasizing its independence from big tech and its commitment to fostering a vibrant community. The conversation also d...
Coding Chats episode 30 - Tom Hill and John Crickett discuss Tom's transition into technical advisory roles, exploring the concept of a portfolio career, the differences between fractional executives and board advisors, and the essential skills required for success in these positions. He emphasizes the importance of communication, understanding business dynamics, and navigating the complexities of the job market, particularly in the context of AI's impact on software engineering. Tom also shares...
Coding Chats episode 29 - John Crickett and Sarah Gruneisen delve into the complexities of leadership, particularly in the engineering field. They discuss the challenges faced by individuals transitioning from technical roles to leadership positions, emphasizing the need for proper training and emotional intelligence. Sarah shares her insights on the importance of self-reflection, vulnerability, and understanding different personality types, including introverts as effective leaders. The discuss...
Coding Chats episode 28 - Jonathan Marler discusses his journey as a programmer, focusing on his experiences with the Zig and D programming languages. He shares insights into the philosophies behind these languages, their applications in software development, and the challenges of cross-compilation. The discussion also covers his transition from a large corporation (HP) to a small startup (Tuple), the importance of pair programming, and the handmade philosophy in software development. Jonathan e...
Coding Chats episode 27 - John Crickett and Lane Wagner discuss the inception and evolution of Boot.dev, a platform designed to teach backend development, particularly focusing on the Go programming language. He shares insights into the challenges of learning backend development compared to frontend, the appeal of Go for its simplicity and performance, and his experiences transitioning to TypeScript. Lane also addresses the role of Python in learning programming fundamentals and shares his thoug...
Coding Chats episode 26 - John Crickett talks to Dennis Kennetz about: the world of High Performance Computing (HPC), exploring its definition, differences from traditional development, and the significance of batch scheduling. They discuss the role of CUDA and GPUs in enhancing computational efficiency, the challenges of data movement, and the importance of correctness in software development. The conversation also highlights the balance between developer time and compute time, emphasizing the ...
Coding Chats episode 25 - Eric Mariasis and John Crickett discuss the challenges faced by individuals entering the software engineering field, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and continuous learning. He highlights the significance of networking, building genuine relationships, and leveraging past interview experiences for future opportunities. Eric also shares insights on the value of sharing knowledge on platforms like LinkedIn, the benefits of freelancing, and the role of mentorship...
Coding Chats episode 24 - how do you create your own luck so you get more job opportunities and promotion opportunities as a software engineer? In this episode John discusses how software engineers can create their own luck in their careers. He introduces the concept of 'luck surface area,' which suggests that the more passionate and active you are in your field, the more opportunities will arise. He emphasizes the importance of building a personal brand, sharing expertise, and networking to enh...
Coding Chats Episode 23 - Anemari Fiser and John Crickett explore the software engineering mindset, the importance of asking questions, the differences between consultancy and product companies, the significance of soft skills in tech, and the challenges of making work visible. The Engineering Mindset: An Overview The Importance of Asking Questions Consultancy vs. Product Companies: A Comparative Insight The Transition from Technical to Non-Technical Roles Building High-Performing Teams: The Rol...
Coding Chats Episode 22 - John talks to Anna Miller about: finding a job as a software engineer and how you can use LinkedIn to network with hiring managers treating your job hunt and career like a business using data to identify and overcome the bottlenecks to finding your next role overcoming the fear of rejection- creating an effective LinkedIn profile Anna's Links: https://tinyurl.com/ccm-training John's Links: John's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrickett/ John’s YouTube: https:...
John and Arnab discuss career growth, the despair that can come with senior roles, and the importance of mentors. Arnab shares his journey from Amazon to starting Metacast, a podcast app focused on searchable content. They also explore the value of learning multiple programming languages and adapting to industry changes.
Coding Chats episode 20 - John talks to James Willett about the impact of AI on Software Engineering, his experience working in big tech and the lessons he's learned creating courses about software engineering and testing. Links:James's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@james-willettJames's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willettjames/John's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrickett/John’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johncrickettJohn's Twitter: https://x.com/johncrickettJohn...
John Crickett and Gregor Ojstersek discuss how software engineers can transition into effective engineering leaders. They cover building credibility, communicating goals to managers, maintaining a brag list, becoming a go-to expert, managing up, fostering collaboration, and developing a business-oriented mindset. The discussion includes practical examples and actionable tips for career advancement.
Austen McDonald joins John Crickett to discuss behavioral interviews for software engineers. They cover how to prepare, what interviewers look for, and common mistakes. The episode highlights the importance of telling impactful stories, demonstrating key skills, and aligning personal experiences with company values for interview success.
John Crickett interviews Pedro Gil Carvalho about his career journey, emphasizing the importance of soft skills, personal branding, and adapting to different cultural communication styles. They discuss platform engineering, cloud vs. self-hosting, AI's impact, and the nuances of European startup culture, highlighting the need for engineers to develop a broader skillset and focus on problem-solving beyond just coding.
Coding Chats Episode 16 - John talks to Fabio D'Amico about Extreme Programming, Social Programming and Test Driven Development for software engineers.Links:Fabio's Linkshttps://calendly.com/fabiodamico/coffe-and-chathttps://fabiodamico.xyzThe article on tech debt that Fabio mentions: https://medium.com/@ziobrando/from-technical-debt-to-design-integrity-48e7056b6776John's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrickett/John’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johncrickettJohn's Twitter: https...
Coding Chats Episode 15 - John talks to Dagna Bieda about refactoring your brain as a software engineer to improve your soft skills (such as communication and collaboration) and market yourself and your achievements to get promoted. Links: Dagna's LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dagnabieda/ Dagna's Substack: https://themindfuldev.substack.com/ Brain Refactor: https://amazon.com/dp/B0DB6C82ZN John's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrickett/ John’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johnc...
Coding Chats Episode 14 - John talks to Alex Lau about his book Keep Calm and Code On. Links: Alex's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mralexlau/ Alex's book: https://keepcalmandcodeon.com/ John's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrickett/ John’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johncrickett John's Twitter: https://x.com/johncrickett John's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/johncrickett.bsky.social Check out John's software engineering related newsletters: Coding Challenges: https:...
Coding Chats Episode 13 - John talks to Alex Lau about toastmasters, public speaking, soft skills and his book 'Keep Calm and Code on.' Links: Alex's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mralexlau/ Alex's book: https://keepcalmandcodeon.com/ John's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrickett/ John’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johncrickett John's Twitter: https://x.com/johncrickett John's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/johncrickett.bsky.social Check out John's software engineeri...
Coding Chats Episode 12 - John talks to Jade Wilson about soft skills in tech, diversity in tech, roles in software engineering and charging for your time. Jade's Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jade-codes https://youtube.com/@Jade-Codes https://jadecodes.substack.com/ https://linktr.ee/jade.codes John's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrickett/ John’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johncrickett John's Twitter: https://x.com/johncrickett John's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/j...
Coding Chats Episode 10 - John talks to Taha Hussain about coaching, coding, mentoring, career change and lessons from Arnold Schwarzenegger. Links: Taha's Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tahahussain/ John's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrickett/ John’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johncrickett John's Twitter: https://x.com/johncrickett John's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/johncrickett.bsky.social Check out John's software engineering related newsletters: Coding Challeng...
Coding Chats Episode 9 - John talks to Callie Stoscup about teaching, tables and tech and her journey as a software engineer. Links: Callie's website: https://www.coding-with-callie.com John's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrickett/ John’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johncrickett John's Twitter: https://x.com/johncrickett John's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/johncrickett.bsky.social Check out John's software engineering related newsletters: Coding Challenges: https://coding...
Coding Chats Episode 7 - John talks to Brooke about how she came to technology, her experience doing a bootcamp and looking for her first role as a software engineer and the power of networking on LinkedIn. Links: Brooke's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooke-sweedar John's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrickett/ John's Twitter: https://x.com/johncrickett Check out John's software engineering related newsletters: Coding Challenges: https://codingchallenges.substack.com/ which...
Coding Chats Episode 6 - John talks to Eric Roby about being a software consultant, what makes a product, teaching, following your passion and creating content as a software engineer. Links: Eric's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/codingwithroby/ Eric's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@codingwithroby/videos John's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrickett/ John's Twitter: https://twitter.com/johncrickett Check out John's software engineering related newsletters: Coding Challenges:...
