Ep. 29 | Building Search Infrastructure Developers Actually Want to Use with Don MacKinnon
SummaryIn this episode of the Overcommitted Podcast, host Erika and co-hosts Bethany and Brittany Ellich engage in a conversation with Don McKinnon, founder of Searchcraft. They discuss Don's journey in software engineering, the challenges faced while building Searchcraft, and the unique features that make it accessible for developers of all levels. The conversation also touches on the integration of AI, market competition, and the path to founding a startup, concluding with a fun segment about walkout songs.TakeawaysSearchcraft aims to reduce complexity in search infrastructure.Rust was chosen for its efficiency and performance benefits.Building Searchcraft took two years of development before launching as a product.Searchcraft allows non-technical users to manage search relevancy through a GUIAI integration is crucial for modern applications, especially in search.The market for search tools is evolving with the emergence of AI.Founding a startup involves learning and adapting to new challenges.Identifying pain points is key to developing a successful product.It's important to focus on solving real problems rather than perfection.The journey of building a product can lead to unexpected opportunities.LinksDon MacKinnon: https://donmackinnon.dev/Searchcraft: https://www.searchcraft.io/Article: Improving trust in AI systems: / improving-trust-in-ai-systems HostsOvercommitted: https://overcommitted.devBethany Janos: https://github.com/bethanyj28Brittany Ellich: https://brittanyellich.comEggyhead: https://github.com/eggyhead
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Ep. 28 | From Engineer to Entrepreneur with Brad Heller
SummaryIn this episode of the Overcommitted Podcast, hosts Brittany Ellich and Erika engage with Brad Heller, co-founder and CTO of Tower, discussing his journey from software engineer to startup founder. They explore the evolution of software engineering careers, the challenges of entrepreneurship, and the skills necessary for success in the tech industry. Brad shares insights on the importance of aligning passions with work, the realities of startup life, and advice for aspiring engineers. The conversation also touches on the impact of AI on coding and the importance of understanding the fundamentals of software development.TakeawaysBrad's journey from corporate life to startups was driven by a desire for impactful work.Working at startups can provide invaluable learning experiences compared to big tech.Entrepreneurship requires aligning your passions with your work for true success.Delegating tasks is a crucial skill for founders, but often difficult to master.Understanding the entire business process is essential for engineers in startups.The tech landscape has changed, with many entering the field for financial reasons rather than passion.AI is transforming the coding landscape, but understanding the fundamentals remains critical.Networking skills developed in big tech can be beneficial in startup environments.It's important to recognize when to hire and delegate responsibilities as a founder.The romanticized view of entrepreneurship often overlooks the hard work involved.LinksBrad Heller on LinkedInTower.DevPaul GrahamWill Larson - A forty-year careerPIE PDXRick TuroczyHostsOvercommitted.devBrittany EllichEggyhead
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Ep. 27 | Q3 Goals Recap with Bethany and Brittany
SummaryIn this episode of the Overcommitted Podcast, hosts Bethany and Brittany discuss their experiences at recent tech conferences, including Cascadia JS and GopherCon. They reflect on their goals from the past quarter, sharing successes and challenges, and set new objectives for the upcoming quarter. The conversation also touches on the importance of community engagement and personal development in the tech industry, culminating in a fun segment where they share ideas for potential TED talks.TakeawaysThe importance of community in tech events.Reflecting on past goals helps in personal growth.Engagement in newsletters can shift focus from self-promotion to sharing others' work.Attending conferences can provide fresh insights and networking opportunities.Setting realistic goals is crucial, especially during busy times.Public speaking can be a rewarding experience despite initial anxiety.Finding enjoyment in activities is essential for long-term commitment.Quarterly retrospectives can help realign personal and professional goals.Exploring new interests can lead to unexpected opportunities.Community engagement is vital for mental well-being in remote work environments.LinksCascadiaJSGopherConMagnoliaConfTech book club RepoOvercommitted DiscordHostsOvercommitted.devBethany JanosBrittany Ellich
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Ep. 26 | Lessons from an Interim Engineering Manager with Indrajith Premanath
SummaryIn this episode of the Overcommited podcast, the hosts engage in a deep conversation with Indrajith Premanath, an engineer at GitHub, who shares his journey of transitioning from an individual contributor to an engineering manager during an interim manager role while his manager was on leave. Indrajith discusses the challenges and lessons learned during his six-month stint as an interim manager, emphasizing the importance of team dynamics, transparency, and personal growth. The conversation also touches on career aspirations, technical interests, and the significance of building strong relationships within a team. Indrajith offers valuable advice for future managers and reflects on his childhood aspirations, providing a well-rounded perspective on his career journey.TakeawaysThe shift from coding to management requires a change in mindset and priorities.Building relationships with team members is crucial for effective management.Transparency in decision-making fosters trust within the team.Indrajith found that he became a better individual contributor after his management experience.Understanding team members' career goals enhances team dynamics.Indrajith emphasizes the importance of long-term planning in management.He advocates for rotation programs for aspiring managers to gain experience.The role of AI in coding is changing the landscape of software development.Indrajith's childhood aspiration was to be a theater kid, not a software engineer.LinksIndrajith Premanath LinkedInCharity Majors Engineer/Manager Pendulum ArticleTech book club RepoOvercommitted DiscordHostsOvercommitted.devBrittany EllichEggyheadJonathan Tamsut
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Ep. 25 | Developer Advocacy with Annie Sexton
SummaryIn this episode of the Overcommitted podcast, host Brittany Ellich and co-hosts Erika, Bethany, and Jonathan Tamsut engage in a conversation with Annie Sexton, a developer advocate at fly.io. They explore Annie's unique journey into developer advocacy, her approach to education and community building, and the importance of teaching techniques in the tech industry. The discussion also delves into the role of AI in learning and development, as well as personal interests outside of software engineering, highlighting the multifaceted lives of software professionals.TakeawaysAnnie Sexton transitioned from software engineering to developer advocacy through her passion for education.Developer advocacy involves community building, education, and marketing to developers.Education is a powerful tool for building trust with an audience.Asking basic questions is crucial for effective teaching and learning.AI can be a valuable resource for research and learning, but fact-checking is essential.Understanding the audience's knowledge level is key to effective communication.Annie emphasizes the importance of storytelling in education and advocacy.The journey to becoming a developer advocate can be unconventional and varied.Engaging content can attract a wider audience beyond just product promotion.Personal interests and hobbies contribute to a well-rounded life as a software engineer.Linksfly.iofly.io YouTube channelAnnie’s YouTube channelBook: Deep Learning A Visual ApproachBook: A City on MarsShow/Book: The ExpanseBluesky: @anniesexton.comBluesky: for Annie’s comicsTech book club RepoOvercommitted DiscordHostsOvercommitted.devBethany JanosBrittany EllichEggyheadJonathan Tamsut
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