Keep Your Head Down
This week, we're discussing focus, social media, and why we all need to try harder to keep our heads down.
Mar 18, 2019•13 min•Ep. 92
The Laracasts Snippet
The Laracasts snippet, each episode, offers a single thought on some aspect of web development.
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Episodes
Show Me An Example
Lately, I've been thinking about the importance of providing examples. Whether you're writing new code, or preparing documentation, or even discussing code, I'm always left with the same thought: "Give me an example."
Feb 26, 2019•5 min•Ep. 91
Back Off
Developers seem to have a peculiar need to protect their peers from themselves. While I've no doubt that this desire stems from a good place, you need to let people make their own mistakes.
Feb 05, 2019•8 min•Ep. 90
Protect Your Baseline
In the last year - after breaking a few of my personal rules - I've become incredibly sensitive to lifestyle creep. In this episode, we discuss why, eight months ago, I asked my pregnant wife to help me slash our lifestyle in half. We'll also talk about important considerations for your own life.
Dec 31, 2018•12 min•Ep. 89
Remote Contractor Workflow Q&A
In this episode, line by line, I'll answer a recent question related to remote contractors. We'll discuss choosing an applicant, tips for getting the job, tooling, workflow, and more.
Nov 19, 2018•17 min•Ep. 88
Discipline Versus Laziness
I've focused a great deal on discipline this year. I'm not sure why, but it might be related to the fact that I now have two increasingly time-consuming children that I'm responsible for. While, in the past, I'd often find myself edging toward the "I'll do it tomorrow" path, this year, I've worked hard to sprint in the opposite direction. Or, in other words, even when you're desperate to avoid it, deal with your shit.
Nov 13, 2018•12 min•Ep. 87
The 2019 Laracasts Refresh
It's been over two years since Laracasts last received a fresh coat of paint. For those who know me (Jeffrey), that's two years too long. In this episode, I discuss every facet of the redesign process.
Nov 07, 2018•12 min•Ep. 86
Developer Fitness
Today I completed a year long project that I'd like to talk to you about.
Jul 17, 2018•28 min•Ep. 85
Basic Financial Literacy
In the United States (and surely many other countries), financial literacy is not taught in schools. You might think that basic investing and a review of compound interest would be profoundly important learning material. But according to the school board, you'd be wrong. Perhaps it's only natural then that those living in the US are deeper in debt than ever in our history.
May 24, 2018•15 min•Ep. 84
Stream of Consciousness
While most episodes generally focus on one central idea, today is more a stream of consciousness. We'll discuss everything from the struggles of running a business, to Metroid, to social media addiction, to Cobra Kai. Grab a drink and let's hang out.
May 07, 2018•22 min•Ep. 83
Choose the Boring Path
I've begun to find that, in so many cases, the basic, boring path - for learning a skill or achieving some result - ends up being the correct one. It's not the fancy twelve-point program that costs $899 to unlock. Nope, not even close.
Mar 29, 2018•13 min•Ep. 82
Q&A - Controversial Ideas, Politics, and Code
It's time for another Q&A. This week, we'll discuss everything from how I'd build Laracasts differently today, which controversial ideas I subscribe to, reflections on having a two year old child, and, of course, code editors...
Mar 23, 2018•24 min•Ep. 81
Overdoing It
Every developer goes too far at some point in their career. It's unavoidable.
Mar 12, 2018•8 min•Ep. 80
Programming Truths
Too many ideas and practices in programming are accepted as basic truths. "Don't do it like that! It's dirty." What I'm concerned with is who gets to determine what is and isn't acceptable code to write. Today, I'd like to share four common practices and ideas that I tend to disagree with.
Feb 13, 2018•20 min•Ep. 79
What You Should Think
Do you ever feel like you opinions are being spoon-fed to you? Even worse, what if you didn't even realize it was taking place?
Jan 30, 2018•17 min•Ep. 78
Top of the Pack
You've seen the same headline all over the web: "This one technique can triple your income overnight." Really? And I only have to click through your article, split into fifteen pages full of ads? Where do I sign up!? But what if there was a simple technique to drastically improve your chances in the job market?
Jan 16, 2018•11 min•Ep. 77
Immersion is Key
It doesn't matter which new thing I want to learn, step one is always the same: immerse yourself.
Jan 12, 2018•7 min•Ep. 76
Kevin McCallister is a Jerk (and 2017 Realizations)
In this episode, we'll begin with a five minute discussion of Home Alone, because I know my audience - and that's what you're truly craving from me. Then, we'll move on to a variety of realizations I've come to 2017 - and they're not all related to code.
Dec 13, 2017•31 min•Ep. 75
Marketing Slime
Every year around this time, I feel it. "Oh, yet another email from that business, asking me to buy their thing...again." The abuse of power is what makes marketing efforts like these feel so slimy.
Nov 29, 2017•17 min•Ep. 74
Kicking and Screaming
It's okay to internally kick and scream your way through, just as long as you do the work. Such practical and obvious advice, yet few of us are able to follow it.
Nov 22, 2017•12 min•Ep. 73
Step One is Excitement
From time to time, I'll come across discussions related to the best approach for teaching aspiring developers. And it never fails: there will always be those who recommend the driest possible introduction. Forget excitement and curiosity, as they see it. They don't factor into the equation. Wait, what??
Nov 14, 2017•9 min•Ep. 72
Rules
When exactly did developers get it in their heads that to colors outside of the lines is an offense worthy of banishment? And who invented these lines in the first place? They don't exist. They never did.
Nov 02, 2017•8 min•Ep. 71
The Key Ingredient
I've come to learn that discipline is the key ingredient to every successful person I've ever met. It's obvious; we all know this. So why is it so hard to apply to ourselves?
Oct 17, 2017•12 min•Ep. 70
Touchy Touchy
We all have the tendency to reach for our pitchforks upon hearing information that doesn't line up with what we've decided to be true. How does this affect the coding tools and practices that we defend so vigorously?
Oct 05, 2017•12 min•Ep. 69
Building Energy
In the previous Laracasts Snippet, we discussed social media and how it tends to have a draining effect on me. Let's continue that conversation today, but more from the point of view of solving the problem. What specifically am I doing to increase my mental/physical energy levels?
Aug 23, 2017•12 min•Ep. 68
The Irony Is That I Will Tweet About This Episode
I've been noticing lately that I feel mentally drained at the end of most days. But strangely enough, it's not the code I write that causes this. No, instead it's the day-to-day social media interaction that drains me. Why again are we participating in platforms that actively encourage addiction and negativity? And why are we okay with checking our phones a hundred times a day?
Jul 31, 2017•13 min•Ep. 67
The Interview Question I Would Ask
Developers have come to dread interviews. What sort of silly, gotcha question that has nothing to do with building web apps whatsoever will I have to stress about this time? If I were hiring a new coder, I'd asking them an almost laughably simple question: "Is it okay to send an email from a controller? Explain why." It's such a basic question, yet I guarantee the answer you are given will speak volumes about the type of developer you're interviewing.
Jul 12, 2017•6 min•Ep. 66
You Are Your Code
In the development world, you'll frequently hear the phrase "you are not your code." At its core, this is very good advice, however, too often it is used as an excuse to publicly belittle your peers.
Jun 28, 2017•13 min•Ep. 65
Your Twitter Bio Says More Than You Think
I noticed something this morning: the developers I most frequently disagree with on Twitter place code acronyms in their bio. SOLID, DDD, etc. On the flip side, the coders I most respect nearly 100% of the time never do. How come? Let's talk about what this might indicate about the type of developer you are.
Jun 23, 2017•7 min•Ep. 64
Let's Talk About Visual Debt and Typehints
I recently published a short video on what I refer to as "visual debt." Shortly after, the critical tweets began to roll in. "How dare you propose that all of these keywords and types and interfaces add noise," they declared. Well, let's talk about it...
May 22, 2017•16 min•Ep. 63
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