GOTO - The Brightest Minds in Tech

This interview was recorded for the GOTO Book Club.
http://gotopia.tech/bookclub

Check out more here:
https://gotopia.tech/episodes/426

Frances Buontempo - Consultant, Developer & Author of "Learn C++ by Example"
Matt Godbolt - Low-level Latency Geek & Creator of Compiler Explorer

RESOURCES
Frances
https://bsky.app/profile/fbuontempo.bsky.social
https://mastodon.social/@fbuontempo
https://x.com/fbuontempo
https://github.com/doctorlove
https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesbuontempo
https://about.me/frances_buontempo
https://buontempoconsulting.blogspot.com

Matt
https://bsky.app/profile/matt.godbolt.org
https://xania.org
https://github.com/mattgodbolt
https://www.linkedin.com/in/godbolt
https://twitter.com/mattgodbolt
https://godbolt.org

Links
https://cppinsights.io

DESCRIPTION
Matt Godbolt interviews Frances Buontempo about her book "Learn C++ by Example", a practical guide aimed at helping programmers relearn modern C++ features introduced since C++11. Frances shares her unique teaching philosophy, which emphasizes self-contained, playable examples like simple games that make complex concepts accessible and memorable.

Drawing on her background in mathematics and her father's work in teacher education, she explains how her approach—exemplified by her famous "X Out of a Y Paper Bag" series of talks—uses humor and practical scenarios to help learners understand challenging topics like coroutines, the spaceship operator, and the "almost always auto" style. The discussion touches on the evolution of C++, the upcoming reflection features in C++26, and Fran's current project: writing an introductory C++ book for complete beginners, despite finding concepts like "constant variable" challenging to explain even as an experienced author.

RECOMMENDED BOOKS
Frances Buontempo • Learn C++ by Example • https://amzn.to/4rgxSZX
Frances Buontempo • Introducing C++ • https://amzn.to/40aHQQC
Frances Buontempo • Genetic Algorithms and Machine Learning for Programmers • https://amzn.to/3OLjXMV
Daniel Kusswurm • Modern Parallel Programming with C++ and Assembly Language • https://amzn.to/4o5J3SF
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This interview was recorded for GOTO State of the Art in January 2026.
https://gotopia.tech

Read the full transcription of this interview here:
https://gotopia.tech/articles/423

Dr. Ewelina Kurtys - Strategic Advisor on Frontier Technologies at FinalSpark
Charles Humble - Freelance Techie, Podcaster, Editor, Author & Consultant

RESOURCES
Ewelina
https://x.com/ewelina_kurtys
https://github.com/ewelinaewela
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ewelinakurtys
https://www.ewelinakurtys.com

Charles
https://bsky.app/profile/charleshumble.bsky.social
https://linkedin.com/in/charleshumble
https://mastodon.social/@charleshumble
https://conissaunce.com

Links
https://finalspark.com
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/biologically-inspired-computing-dr-ewelina-kurtys-udnhe
https://finalspark.com/finalspark-6-month-research-technology-update
https://finalspark.com/first-publication-from-a-neuroplatform-user

DESCRIPTION
Dr. Ewelina Kurtys, Strategy Advisor at FinalSpark, discusses the revolutionary potential of biological computing with host Charles Humble.

The conversation explores FinalSpark's ambitious goal to build computers using living neurons that are 1 million times more energy efficient than current digital systems. Ewelina explains the technical challenges of working with brain organoids, the ethical considerations of using human stem cells, and why biological neurons could dramatically reduce AI costs while offering unique advantages for complex tasks like generative AI.
The interview covers everything from neural encoding and plasticity to consciousness and the deterministic nature of the brain.

RECOMMENDED BOOKS
Robert M. Sapolsk • Determined • https://amzn.to/4akv2gi
Jin Xu • Biological Computing • https://amzn.to/4a4Wwp9
Bluesky
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This interview was recorded for the GOTO Book Club.
http://gotopia.tech/bookclub

Check out more here:
https://gotopia.tech/episodes/424

Susanne Kaiser - Independent Tech Consultant & Author of "Architecture for Flow"
James Lewis - Software Architect & Director at Thoughtworks

RESOURCES
Susanne
https://bsky.app/profile/suksr.bsky.social
https://mastodon.social/@suksr
https://twitter.com/suksr
https://www.linkedin.com/in/susannekaiser1
https://susannekaiser.net

James
https://bsky.app/profile/boicy.bovon.org
https://twitter.com/boicy
https://linkedin.com/in/james-lewis-microservices
https://github.com/boicy
https://www.bovon.org

Links
https://susannekaiser.net/the-architecture-for-flow-canvas
https://susannekaiser.net/articles
https://www.christenseninstitute.org/theory/jobs-to-be-done

DESCRIPTION
James Lewis interviews Susanne Kaiser about her comprehensive new book "Architecture for Flow: Adaptive Systems with Domain-Driven Design, Wardley Mapping and Team Topologies".

Susanne shares how she brought together 3 powerful frameworks over several years of her consulting work, creating a holistic approach to designing socio-technical systems. The discussion covers her journey from startup CTO to independent consultant, the evolution of her thinking around value streams and team organization, and her practical "Architecture for Flow Canvas" that teams can use to assess their current state and envision their future.

With 126 hand-drawn illustrations and 599 sticky notes in the book, Kaiser emphasizes the importance of visual communication and starting with the problem space before jumping to solutions.

RECOMMENDED BOOKS
Susanne Kaiser • Adaptive Systems With Domain-Driven Design, Wardley Mapping & Team Topologies • https://amzn.to/3XTmNCc
Matthew Skelton & Manuel Pais • Team Topologies • https://amzn.to/4a2gh0i
Woods, Erder & Pureur • Continuous Architecture in Practice • https://amzn.to/2QWAmkl
Steve Pereira & Andrew Davis • Flow Engineering • https://amzn.to/3GY3u44
Stefan Hofer & Henning Schwentner • Domain Storytelling • https://amzn.to/3EroBH7
Bluesky
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This interview was recorded at GOTO Copenhagen 2025.
https://gotocph.com

Abby Bangser - Platform Engineering Insights from Syntasso delivering Kratix
Adrian Mouat - Developer Relations at Chainguard & Author of 'Using Docker'
Holly Cummins - JavaOne Rock Star. Building Quarkus to Make the Cloud Cloudier

RESOURCES
Abby
https://bsky.app/profile/abangser.bsky.social
https://twitter.com/a_bangser
https://github.com/abangser
https://www.linkedin.com/in/abbybangser
https://www.syntasso.io/members-area/abby/profile

Adrian
https://bsky.app/profile/adrianmouat.com
https://twitter.com/adrianmouat
https://github.com/amouat
https://linkedin.com/in/adrianmouat
http://www.adrianmouat.com

Holly
https://hollycummins.com
https://hollycummins.com/type/blog
https://bsky.app/profile/hollycummins.com
https://hachyderm.io/@holly_cummins
https://twitter.com/holly_cummins
https://github.com/holly-cummins
https://linkedin.com/in/holly-k-cummins

RECOMMENDED BOOKS
Adrian Mouat • Using Docker • https://amzn.to/3PEYIJL
Liz Rice • Container Security • https://amzn.to/3oU4iJe
Liz Rice • Kubernetes Security • https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/kubernetes-security/9781492039075
Anne Currie, Sarah Hsu, & Sara Bergman • Building Green Software • https://amzn.to/3UjSClv
Kief Morris • Infrastructure as Code • https://amzn.to/4e6EBQc
Bluesky
Instagram
LinkedIn
Facebook

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Looking for a unique learning experience?
Attend the next GOTO conference near you! Get your ticket: gotopia.tech

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL - new videos posted daily!

This interview was recorded for the GOTO Book Club.
http://gotopia.tech/bookclub

Check out more here:
https://gotopia.tech/episodes/422

Fabrice Bernhard - Co-Author of “The Lean Tech Manifesto” & Co-Founder & CTO at Theodo
Steve Pereira - C o-Author of “Flow Engineering” & Principal Consultant at Visible Flow Consulting

RESOURCES
Fabrice
https://bsky.app/profile/fab-ber.bsky.social
https://x.com/fabriceb
https://github.com/fabriceb
https://www.linkedin.com/in/fabricebernhard

Steve
https://x.com/steveelsewhere
https://github.com/stevepereira
https://www.linkedin.com/in/devopsto
https://stevepereira.ca

Links
https://hbr.org/1986/01/the-new-new-product-development-game

DESCRIPTION
Fabrice Bernhard, co-founder of Theodo and co-author of "The Lean Tech Manifesto", shares his journey from agile practitioner to lean thinking advocate. The discussion explores how lean principles can scale agile practices beyond small teams, the misconceptions around both methodologies, and the emergence of tech-enabled networks of teams as a new organizational model.

Fabrice emphasizes that both lean and agile are fundamentally about people, not processes, and shares practical lessons from scaling his consultancy to 700 people while maintaining agility through lean principles.

RECOMMENDED BOOKS
Fabrice Bernhard & Benoît Charles-Lavauzelle • The Lean Tech Manifesto • https://amzn.to/3Z4EbU6
Steve Pereira & Andrew Davis • Flow Engineering • https://amzn.to/3GY3u44
General Stanley McChrystal, Collins, Silverman & Fussell • Team of Teams • https://amzn.to/4bUzhQY
Matthew Skelton & Manuel Pais • Team Topologies • https://amzn.to/4a2gh0i
Bill Frasure, Bruce Eckel, James Ward • Effect Oriented Programming • https://amzn.to/4sO6wLV
Susanne Kaiser • Adaptive Systems With Domain-Driven Design, Wardley Mapping & Team Topologies • https://amzn.to/3XTmNCc
Bluesky
Instagram
LinkedIn
Facebook

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Join this channel to get early access to videos & other perks:
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