Remote Ruby - podcast cover

Remote Ruby

Chris Oliver, Andrew Masonwww.remoteruby.com

Two Rubyists having conversations and interviewing others about Ruby and web development.

Episodes

RubyConf with Kinsey Durham Grace and Jim Remsik

In this episode of Remote Ruby, Jason, Chris, and Andrew reunite after six months to dive into the details of the upcoming RubyConf 2024 with program chairs Kinsey Durham Grace and Jim Remsik. The discussion covers various aspects of the conference, such as the emphasis on more technical talks, the introduction of several keynotes including Matz and Kent Beck, and the revival of the Madison Ruby conference. Additionally, the episode highlights the Scholar and Guide Program, which aims to help ne...

Jul 02, 202426 minEp. 271

Desks, Deployments, and Databases

In this episode of Remote Ruby, Jason and Chris catch up with a discussion on setting up a home office with new furniture, organizing hardware with a 3D printer, and dealing with nostalgia for old video games. Then they delve into technical issues faced with the Postgres database on DigitalOcean, migrating to Crunchy Data, and adjusting web concurrency settings in Rails. They also share their experiences experimenting with Kamal for server deployment, the complexities of AWS configuration, and u...

Jun 28, 202435 min

Auditing in Rails & Andrew's Cursed Idea

In this episode, Chris and Andrew dive into the intricacies of tracking changes in Rails models using gems like Paper Trail and Audited. They discuss challenges faced in bulk actions like 'update all' and 'destroy all' that don't trigger Active Record callbacks. The conversation explores potential solutions, including overriding methods and using wrappers to ensure changes are logged efficiently without significant performance hits. They also touch upon mentorship and th...

Jun 21, 202446 minEp. 269

Rails 7.2 beta 1 with the GoRails Gang

In this episode, host Chris and his GoRails team, Collin Jilbert and Kent Crutchfield, discuss the latest release of Rails 7.2, highlighting major new features like development containers, browser version guard, and the new minimum Ruby version. They also delve into community reactions, including some criticisms about Rails' speed and the larger discourse around development priorities. The conversations emphasize the importance of contributing to Rails, staying informed on updates, and p...

Jun 14, 202448 minEp. 268

Railsconf and Tech Debt

In this episode, Jason and Chris chat about their experiences at various RailsConf and RubyConf’s. Then, they have deeper discussions on topics like transitioning from Single Table Inheritance (STI) to delegated types in coding, addressing technical debts in product development, and the challenges and strategies of implementing subscription and one-time payment models. Additionally, there's a mention of the 2024 Ruby on Rails Community Survey at Planet Argon that you can check out now. H...

Jun 07, 202450 minEp. 267

RailsConf 2024 Recap with the GoRails crew

In this episode of Remote Ruby, host Chris is joined by guests Kent Crutchfield and Collin Jilbert, sharing their experiences and reflections from the recent RailsConf in Detroit, MI. They discuss various aspects of the conference, including the engaging talks, the announcement of RailsConf's impending conclusion in favor of focusing on RubyConf and regional events, and their personal interactions with other attendees. The episode highlights how RailsConf facilitated meaningful community...

May 31, 202446 minEp. 266

Continuous Delivery and Continuous Self-Improvement

In this episode, Jason, Chris, and Andrew reflect of their experiences of developing software, focusing on aspects such as the Fast and Furious franchise, writing in Ruby, React development, and grappling with OAuth 2.0 issues. They dive into testing, specifically the challenges of maintaining a meaningful test suite and the revelations from addressing test suite problems. A discussion on containerization touches on Docker and CI setup frustrations, while also exploring web accessibility standar...

May 10, 202449 minEp. 265

Irina Nazarova from Evil Martians

In today’s episode, Jason, Chris, and Andrew, along with their guest, Irina Nazarova, CEO of Evil Martians, engage in a candid discussion that covers the intricacies of using Rails and integrating it with technologies like React, and the challenges of marketing developer-facing products. The discussion also touches on open-core business models, the relevance of Docker in current tech companies, and the future of software deployment. Also, Irina touches on a new tool from Thoughtbot called Superg...

Apr 12, 202450 minEp. 264

Code, Confessions, and Casinos - Sin City Ruby

In today’s episode, Jason, Chris, and Andrew kick things off sharing things from their personal and professional lives, touching upon various themes such as the peculiarities of working on Good Friday, the journey from late-night adventures to morning rituals, and the complexities of parenting. The discussion also dives into programming topics, such as issues with using Rails, Turbo, and Stimulus for web development, and experiences with React components. They share personal stories about the Si...

Apr 05, 202440 minEp. 263

RailsConf 2024 with Ufuk Kayserilioglu

Today’s episode features a detailed discussion about the upcoming RailsConf 2024, its programming, and significant updates in the Ruby community, particularly regarding Ruby Central's contributions. Jason, Chris, and Andrew dive into a conversation with guest, Ufuk Kayserilioglu, Engineering Manager at Shopify's Ruby Infrastructure Team, who recently joined the board of Ruby Central and co-chairs RailsConf 2024. Ufuk shares insights on the planned enhancements for the conference ...

Mar 21, 202447 minEp. 262

Struggles and Strategies-Dev Dilemmas

Join Chris and Andrew in this episode as they discuss their recent experiences and challenges with software development projects. They cover a range of topics including the impact of ADHD on productivity, troubleshooting coding issues, the intricacies of working with React, caching problems, and the dilemmas faced when debugging and deploying. They also dive into the variations of using Docker, optimizing CI/CD pipelines, the potential of Rust for CLI applications, and reflect on their journey w...

Mar 15, 202435 minEp. 261

Andy Croll - Railsconf - Free Chicken

In this episode, we jump straight into a candid conversation with Jason, who humorously contemplates how to kick things off, earning him the title of “recovering podcaster” from Chris after a whirlwind month of Ruby discussions without him. We also have the charming Andy Croll back, ready to dive into opinions, insights, and personal stories. With RailsConf on the horizon, the conversation brings us to discussing Andy’s role with Ruby Central and his efforts to revitalize the conference experien...

Feb 23, 202448 minEp. 260

Exploring Dependabot-Unraveling Rails LSP-Vim Customization

In this episode, join Chris and Andrew as they kick things off with Chris’s rant about computer hardware woes. Andrew contrasts this with tales of automation mishaps and a firm stance on avoiding Windows, while Chris plans to leverage Proxmox for versatile virtual machine testing. They touch on past experiences with Hackintosh, the merits of various software management tools like Homebrew and asdf, and the intricacies of Rust programming. They explore into the world of SQL learning and the hype ...

Feb 16, 20241 hr 5 minEp. 258

Ridges on the Scroll Wheel

In today’s episode, Chris and Andrew tackle the eternal quandary of good versus evil right out of the gate. Then they dive into the heart of tech talk with Andrew sharing his candid challenges with React, to the struggle of getting code from the mind onto the screen. They touch on the evolution of programming, reminiscing about the days of DOS and games stored on floppy disks and reflecting on how ‘everything’ has been critically designed by someone. They also share interesting insights about up...

Feb 09, 202456 minEp. 257

You Know What, Lets Just Get Into It & ONCE Campfire

In this episode, Chris and Andrew dive into the technical details of software deployment and development tools. They begin by discussing “Campfire”, covering its deployment process and the technicalities involved like SSH, Digital Ocean, and SSL. The conversation then pivots to “Thruster”, a proxy accelerator for Rails Puma, weighing its benefits and cost implications. They discuss productivity in software development, Chris’s efforts to streamline payment processes, and share a bug-fixing learn...

Feb 02, 202448 minEp. 256

Embracing Simplicity in Code: Smart Home Automation, Ruby Upgrades, and the Future of Rails

Ever wondered how the 'less is more' philosophy could revolutionize your coding practice? We're back with a treasure trove of insights on paring down to amp up performance and maintainability in your projects. Kicking things off, we share our experiences in decluttering codebases, inspired by the simplicity that Elon Musk champions. From the transition in Jumpstart to Hurrocons from Font Awesome to embracing Rails defaults for the sake of newbies, it's all about enhancing lea...

Jan 26, 202448 minEp. 255

Cracking the Code: Marketing, Security, and Startups in Rails with Wafers' Ryan and Mike

Imagine if you could master the art of marketing in the Rails development world, or understand the nuances of web application firewalls (WAFs)? Well, look no further. We had an insightful chat with Ryan and Mike from Wafers, who shared their journey in Rails development, security, and their unique marketing strategies. They spoke about their presence at Rails Sassalay and RailsWorld conferences, where they stood out with their code-themed Cards Against Humanity game and a custom Lego set of DHH&...

Dec 29, 202349 min

Decoding Postgres: A Journey Through User-Friendly Database Experiences with Craig Kerstiens

Get ready to embark on a captivating journey into the world of databases with our esteemed guest, Craig Kerstiens, a 12-year veteran of working with Postgres. From an unplanned stint as product manager for Heroku Postgres to the unique challenges he faced in marketing the platform to developers, Craig's story is as intriguing as it is enlightening. Fasten your seat belts as we navigate through the terrain of user-friendly database experiences, the evolution of language in the tech industry,...

Dec 22, 202351 min

Unleashing the Power of Postgres with Andrew Atkinson

Ever wondered why a seasoned software engineer would transition into becoming an author? Meet our guest for today, Andrew Atkinson, a software veteran who is about to launch his book focusing on database operations for Rails developers. Andrew's rich 15-year career as a software engineer has culminated in this exciting new venture, as he peels back the layers of database operations, specifically in the Ruby on Rails landscape. In our lively discussion, we delve into the heart of relational ...

Dec 15, 202350 min

Scaling Buzzsprout: A Deep Dive into Podcast Hosting, CDN, Rails, and Business Happiness with Tom Rossi

What does it take to scale a successful podcast hosting platform and maintain happiness in a SaaS business? Join us as we unravel this mystery with our special guest, Tom Rossi, co-founder of the popular podcast hosting service, Buzzsprout. Tom gives us the lowdown on the inception and growth trajectory of Buzzsprout since its launch in 2008, shifting gears from client services to product creation, and their commitment to simplicity and a user-friendly experience. Brace yourselves as we zoom int...

Dec 08, 202343 min

Unlocking the Power of State Machines in Code Development with Elise Schaefer

Welcome to a lively conversation where we turn the spotlight on the oft-overlooked powerhouse of web development - state machines. We'll share our insights, experiences, and the reasons why we think state machines are the secret sauce to simplifying complex logic. If you've ever felt bogged down by the complexity of transitioning systems between states, you're in for a treat as we illustrate how state machines can be your knight in shining armor in the realm of code development an...

Dec 01, 202350 min

Rails World 2023 Recap & Rails Foundation Plans with Amanda Perino

In this episode, Jason, Chris, and Andrew welcome guest, Amanda Perino, Executive Director from the Rails Foundation. Today, they discuss their experiences at Rails World, touching on the importance of community enthusiasm and the benefits of in- person events. Amanda shares how the Rails Foundation coordinated Rails World and managed feedback, with a special mention of the EventStack team. They highlight the custom design elements of the conference and the speaker experience. Amanda emphasizes ...

Nov 17, 202342 minEp. 248

Turbo Morph & ActiveRecord Encryption with Jorge Manrubia

In this episode , Jason and Chris welcome guest, Jorge Manrubia, a Lead Programmer at 37signals in Spain known for his contributions to Ruby on Rails. Today, Jorge shares insights into his background, role at 37signals, and contributions to open source projects. He discusses his experiences, including the importance of learning from rejection and the value of experience in job interviews. The conversation dives into Jorge’s work on Active Record Encryption and Console1984, and Jorge touches on t...

Nov 10, 202347 minEp. 247

Live at Rails World 2023

In this live afterparty episode from Rails World 2023, Jason, Chris, and Andrew are joined by Andy Croll, Robby Russell, William Kennedy, and Jason Cheal. Today, they discuss various aspects of the Rails World conference, sharing experiences and loads of humor. With each guest, they have conversations about their conference experiences, Ruby confessions, and the vibrant Ruby community. Also, they explore the behind-the-scenes work of core contributors to Ruby on Rails and discuss the significanc...

Nov 03, 202333 minEp. 247

DHH on Rails World 2023 & Rails 7.1

In this episode, Jason and Chris welcome DHH, who joins them after the recent Rails World event. They cover a wide range of topics from the Rails Foundation’s mission to attract new talent to open source misconceptions, the value of open source contributions as gifts, and the importance of boundaries between contributions and vendor relationships. DHH shares insights into his current projects, including “Prop Shaft” and “Skiff,” addressing deployment challenges and building static sites. [00:00:...

Oct 27, 202353 minEp. 246

Live with Adam Wathan at Rails World 2023

In this episode, Jason, Chris, and Andrew are live at Rails World 2023 in Amsterdam, where they are joined by Adam Wathan, creator of Tailwind CSS. Today, they discuss the well-organized event, their excitement about being part of the Rails community, and Adam’s talk on making the most of Tailwind CSS for Rails developers. The conversation dives into topics like using Inertia with Rails, the challenges of creating accessible components, and the management of open source projects, all while shedd...

Oct 20, 202352 minEp. 245

Layered Rails Design with Vladimir Dementyev

In this episode, Jason and Andrew are joined by guest, Vladimir Dementyev of Ruby on Rails and Evil Martians fame. Today, they touch on Vladmir’s new book on designing Rails applications, and dive into the importance of sticking to Rails principles, even in the era of microservices. Vladimir shares insights on working as a consultant on legacy Rails projects and the challenges that can arise when codebases deviate from Rails conventions. We’ll also explore the evolution of Rails applications, th...

Sep 29, 202348 minEp. 244

Rails 7.1 Is Gonna Be HUGE

In today’s episode, Jason, Chris, and Andrew embark on some lively and humorous discussions about Bitcoin-inspired trucks, to practical insights on Rails 7.1 features, they explore security concepts, gas fees, Amsterdam travel plans, and much more. They dive into interesting developments like common table expressions, token generation in Rails 7.1, and the intriguing Bun package manager’s potential impact on Node. Chris also shares valuable insights into Stripe’s address element, Paddle as a Str...

Sep 23, 202348 minEp. 243

There's A TypeScript In My Boot!

On today’s episode, Jason, Chris, and Andrew start off with a captivating discussion that starts with bleeping offensive content, reminiscing about the era of Walkman’s, and hearing about Andrew’s absence from social media. The conversation then shifts to the announcement of the removal of TypeScript and exploring the challenges and community dynamics surrounding it. The guys share their experiences with TypeScript, communication challenges in open source projects, and the importance of maintain...

Sep 15, 202343 minEp. 242

Sorry For Slandering Yet Another Gem

In this episode of Remote Ruby, Jason and Andrew cover a wide range of topics that start out with nothing to do with tech. First, they discuss energy drink flavors and then transition into a humorous exploration of disagreements with Chris, who happens to not be here today. They cover various topics including CMS options, front-end development, and Tailwind CSS customization. They also introduce a gem called “Counter” created by their colleague Jamie, aka “Dad” at Podia, which efficiently handle...

Sep 08, 202329 minEp. 241