These principles don't just create pretty code—they reduce bugs, simplify updates, and prevent real-world problems like the $10,000 mistake I made early in my career. Yeah, that was not a fun one. Check out https://www.dofactory.com/javascript/design-patterns/adapter if you want to learn more patterns. PS - I write unfiltered advice for early career developers here: 👉 Real Talk JS Send us a text Shameless Plugs 🧑💻 Join Parsity - For career changers who want to pivot into software. ✉️ Got a q...
Jun 30, 2025•15 min
In this Office Hours Q&A, I got some pretty interesting questions: Should you lie on your resume to trick the ATS and get more interviews? If you’re building websites with tools like Squarespace, does it count as real experience—or are you cheating yourself? Is a master’s degree in computer science worth it if you already have some tech skills? I also share thoughts on how to get experience that actually helps you land a dev job and why every learner should have a side project that they cont...
Jun 27, 2025•15 min
The software development market didn't die, it's just unrecognizable. Let's go over 8 harsh pieces of advice that will help you as a career changer to make a successful switch into a career as a software developer. PS. If you're a front-end developer looking to expand your skills, grab the Node Express Starter Kit here . Have a question for the Friday Q&A show? Submit it through the form in the show notes, and I'll shout you out or keep you anonymous. Send us a text Shameless Plugs 🧑💻 Joi...
Jun 26, 2025•24 min
Whatever you do, don’t learn to code. The market is over-saturated. AI took your job. There is no hope. But then you meet someone like Jacob, a young dad who was delivering food a year ago and just landed his first dev job without submitting a single application. Is his story typical? No. But then few stories are. At Parsity.io , we've seen CS grads take up to a year to get hired. We've seen people go from zero to hired in 6 months or less. There is no formula. What works for one person might wo...
Jun 23, 2025•41 min
Got a question you want answered on the show? Drop it here: Ask Your Question On today's show: " I’m currently a mid-level product manager thinking of switching to software engineering. Is that too ambitious?" “Where do I get good at interview practice? Leetcode seems unrealistic. Is there something more practical?” “Should I go all in on C# or .NET instead? Or maybe get a CS degree from WGU?” “As an early career dev, should I be building side projects with AI tools like Cursor—or is that risky ...
Jun 20, 2025•21 min
Learning data structures and algorithms (DSA) isn't JUST a smart interview skill, it will boost your confidence as a software engineer, give you a deeper understanding of computer science fundamentals and they can even be fun once you know how to use them. If you're self teaching or just starting out with code, they can be intimidating. They don't have to be. I break down a pretty comprehensive guide here for learning DSA as well as a video on Binary Search Trees (BST) DSA Study Guide My popular...
Jun 19, 2025•26 min
Check out this beginner project to use AI with HTML and JS 👇 Grab the project here I'm no AI hater but I am getting so tired of the dialogue online I read from people who claim that AI is making developers 2, 3 or 10x more productive. Google's CEO recently came out with a sobering statistic: AI has made their engineers 10% more productive. ( source ) 10%. This is still massive but no where near the gains we were promised or what our managers are expecting. Let's explore this myth of productivit...
Jun 16, 2025•24 min
Have you ever felt like the weakest link on your development team? You're not alone. The moment you land your first developer job, you're likely to face the crushing weight of comparison. Your teammates seem to know everything while your mind fills with doubts about your abilities. Seven years ago, this pressure nearly drove me out of the industry despite earning more money than ever before. The stress was paralyzing - I faced panic attacks each morning and received direct feedback about my inad...
Jun 12, 2025•11 min
What do engineering leaders really think about bootcamp grads? Why are so many developers so stressed? Is it even worth learning to code in 2025? Michael Greenspan pulls back the curtain on the realities of engineering leadership, interviewing and the state of the industry, drawing from his extensive experience as both a software engineer and engineering manager before becoming a coach for burnt-out tech professionals. "Moving into management is a job change," Michael emphasizes, describing how ...
Jun 09, 2025•27 min
I spent a few years as an engineering manager, and my buddy Zubin, a former Google engineer, is currently hiring developers at his company. Between the two of us, we’ve seen the good, the bad, and the totally avoidable when it comes to technical interviews. In this episode, we pull back the curtain on what really happens during interviews. What are hiring managers actually looking for? What are the most common mistakes that cost people the job? And how can you stand out even if you’re early in y...
Jun 05, 2025•36 min
Ever feel like you missed your chance to break into tech? That 30 marks some invisible deadline for career reinvention? I've been there—and I'm here to tell you it's absolutely false. My journey from addiction to software engineering began in my thirties , while juggling two kids and a full-time job. The truth about learning to code after 30 isn't sugar-coated: you're playing a different game than the 22-year-olds who've been coding since middle school. You'll have responsibilities they don't—fa...
Jun 02, 2025•19 min
What happens when software engineers rely too heavily on AI-assisted coding tools? Brian and Zubin (an ex-Google engineer) dive deep into what they call "The 70% Problem" – the phenomenon where AI coding tools excel at initial scaffolding but falter when tackling the crucial final 30% of engineering work. Drawing from Addy Osmani's insightful article, these experienced developers share their firsthand experiences with tools like Cursor, ChatGPT, and GitHub Copilot. They explore how AI-assisted c...
May 29, 2025•34 min
What happens when a music educator with performance anxiety decides to become a software developer? Anne discovered coding through The Odin Project and immediately recognized a familiar pattern-based thinking from her music background. "I fell in love with the process of coding, the community of developers," she explains. Despite being an introvert with social anxiety, she forced herself to attend meetups and hackathons—each experience confirming she was on the right path. Her job search defied ...
May 26, 2025•33 min
AI didn’t kill bootcamps — shallow learning did. So what skills actually matter now that building a CRUD app is a commodity? And can you learn them without working at a company or getting a CS degree? In this episode, I’ll break down why the bootcamp model no longer works, what’s replacing it, and how to develop the old school engineering mindset that will set you apart in the AI era — even if you’re self-taught. If you’re serious about becoming a software engineer and want mentorship that’s not...
May 22, 2025•18 min
Yasemin, a senior front-end developer with a decade of experience, shares insights on career progression in front-end development and how the transition from junior to senior is more about mindset than technical skills. She discusses her journey from being task-focused to product-minded while offering practical advice for developers at all stages. • The junior-to-senior transition • Front-end interviews • Deep JavaScript fundamentals and whether they're worth learning Check out Yasemin's podcast...
May 19, 2025•24 min
Chris, a mentee at Parsity was feeling a bit down and asked me straight up what I think about the future of coding careers. I had to really think about it. With headlines screaming about AI taking our jobs and markets being oversaturated, it's enough to make anyone question their path. But what if the doom and gloom narrative isn't matching reality? In this candid episode, I tackle the question head-on: is learning to code still worth it? Send us a text Shameless Plugs 🧑💻 Join Parsity - For c...
May 15, 2025•14 min
A rant on the myth of developer productivity with AI and my experience in vibe coding hell with a team of senior engineers. - Why Vibe Coding is great for prototyping and terrible for real software - Why we still need junior developers - Why you should be wary of loud expert beginners online - What skills you ACTUALLY need as a software engineer in the AI era Send us a text Shameless Plugs 🧑💻 Join Parsity - For career changers who want to pivot into software. ✉️ Got a question you want answer...
May 12, 2025•21 min
You want to learn to code because you want more money. Let's just be honest about it. First off - there are many other ways to make a desirable income without learning a difficult skill like coding. You can do sales. You could be a product manager. Maybe start an illegal gambling den? Have you considered selling large quantities of drugs perhaps? If you do decide to create software for money, just realize you may never crack six figures, you're likely to be laid off at least once and you have to...
May 08, 2025•23 min
What’s it really like to go from coding alone to working on a real dev team? Dean Fox shares his raw experience navigating TypeScript, Git, team dynamics, and scrapped code during his first internship through Parsity's Inner Circle program. 👤 Connect with Dean: Dean Fox on LinkedIn Send us a text Shameless Plugs 🧑💻 Join Parsity - For career changers who want to pivot into software. ✉️ Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Zubin's LinkedIn (ex-lawyer, former Googler, Brian...
May 05, 2025•26 min
The developer landscape is shifting. Fast. AI isn’t replacing developers—it’s replacing the kind of developer that only knows how to write boilerplate and follow tutorials. There are some practical skills you're going to want to pick up in the AI era and a few I'm kinda sad to say are becoming less relevant by the day. I mentioned my unit testing project in this episode - it's still worth checking out IMO. Grab it here: https://github.com/CodeCoachJS/js_pro_unit_testing Send us a text Shameless ...
May 01, 2025•18 min
What separates successful tech career changers from those who struggle? After switching careers into tech at 31 following years of addiction, and mentoring hundreds of aspiring developers, I've noticed some odd patterns and traits of those who make it vs those who don't. This episode is not meant to discourage you. I hope it gives you a practical idea of some skills you can develop and ultimately, whether you should consider this career path. I'd love to know your take as well - leave a comment ...
Apr 28, 2025•16 min
We cover: Why even smart, driven people need help when learning to code What ADHD looks like as a software engineer—and how she manages it How burnout hit hard after landing the job Why public speaking became a surprising superpower Getting hired without ever doing a technical interview Her honest take on AI tools, TypeScript, LinkedIn vs. Twitter, and more If you’re an adult switching careers, neurodivergent, or just wondering if bootcamps still work—this conversation is for you. 👉 Connect wit...
Apr 24, 2025•39 min
Think you need a CS degree to get hired? That bootcamps are scams? That AI is making developers obsolete? In this episode, I share some very hot takes on what it really takes to break into tech — and why most of what you’ve been told is dead wrong. I talk about the rise and fall of bootcamps, the myth of guaranteed outcomes, why advice from FAANG engineers probably doesn’t apply to you, and why can hate JavaScript but you still must learn it. Send us a text Shameless Plugs 🧑💻 Join Parsity - F...
Apr 21, 2025•16 min
A listener, Andrew, was kind enough to send me his resume, LinkedIn and GitHub profile for me to roast. Overall - he did a good job BUT there are some issues I would fix that I've seen in many of the hundreds of resumes I've seen over the years as an engineering manager or while helping to hire other developers at companies where I worked. You can watch here: https://youtu.be/k0_6grxbhXc Send us a text Shameless Plugs 🧑💻 Join Parsity - For career changers who want to pivot into software. ✉️ G...
Apr 17, 2025•14 min
Laly Bar-Ilan has been working in AI and natural language processing for over two decades—long before it was trendy. She’s now the Chief Scientist at Bit , where she’s helping build composable, AI-first developer tools that might just replace most of the coding we do today. In this episode, we talk about what staying ahead actually looks like for developers in an AI-driven world. Laly shares what skills are becoming obsolete, what new ones are emerging (RAG, agents, prompt engineering), and why ...
Apr 14, 2025•30 min
The job market in 2025 feels broken—and you’re not imagining it. AI-generated spam is clogging recruiter inboxes, resumes are becoming less relevant, and LinkedIn is more influencer platform than job board. In this episode, I break down why things feel so hard right now (for everyone —not just developers), and give you a practical, modern strategy to stand out and actually get hired: ✅ What to do instead of blasting resumes ✅ How to play the LinkedIn game without becoming a cringe poster ✅ Old-s...
Apr 10, 2025•18 min
No one said it would be easy. If you're having trouble learning JS, you're not alone. I nearly quit coding when I had to learn JS. I even considered trying to become an email developer (yes, this was a thing). Fast forward 10 years later and I've made a career with JS and even teach it to others. I want you to have a much better experience. We will explore the 3 stages of learning JS to take you from 0 to ready to learn ReactJS with practical, actionable steps and the projects and resources you ...
Apr 07, 2025•15 min
Ever feel like learning to code is impossible with your packed schedule? You're not alone. Ten years ago, I was juggling parenting two kids, working full-time with a brutal Bay Area commute, and driving Lyft on the side just to make ends meet. Finding time seemed impossible—until I discovered three game-changing strategies that transformed my journey. No fluff - just practical stuff you can start doing now. PS. Here's a really solid web dev roadmap I found on Reddit that you might find useful. L...
Apr 03, 2025•16 min
Have you ever sent a message into the void? That's exactly what's been happening to listeners who've tried to contact me through Buzzsprout's messaging system. From a father in Dayton balancing family responsibilities while trying to break into tech, to aspiring developers wondering if JavaScript is still worth learning in 2025, these messages touch on real struggles and practical concerns. I share personal insights about my own journey learning to code while supporting a family and offer action...
Apr 01, 2025•15 min
The rise of AI coding tools has fundamentally changed how people learn programming, creating a concerning trend: developers who can produce impressive-looking applications without understanding how they work. What makes a developer truly valuable? Contrary to popular belief, it's not the ability to rapidly generate new code. A revealing LinkedIn survey showed 73% of experienced developers spend most of their time reading existing code rather than writing it. The real value comes from engineering...
Mar 31, 2025•28 min
