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Developing Up

49 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 4 years ago - ★★★★★ - 8 ratings

A podcast focused on the non-technical side of being a developer, because your career is about more than the code you write.

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Episodes

More Career Advice

February 11, 2020 17:00 - 17 minutes - 11.9 MB

In the season two finale we take a listen back to all of the advice shared by our guests. While each piece of advice focuses on a different non-technical aspect of a career in development, they all share a commonality. Each one is a result of mistakes made, lessons learned and the experiences of each guest. Offering valuable insights that you can use to reflect and grow in your own development career. Also, bloopers! Guests from this Season Kelly Walton James Hickey Douglas Brya...

Process, Abstraction & Mentorship

January 14, 2020 17:00 - 17 minutes - 12.1 MB

There are any number of ways development teams can work together to make sure they are improving as a group and as individuals. In this episode we talk with Tracy Lee (@ladyleet), JavaScript developer and CEO of ThisDotLabs, about the benefits of process, abstraction and mentorship. Tracy talks about how her team uses the "P.A.M stack" to support growth and improvements for all developers. We discuss how a team can setup a process that works for them, how to abstract out and share d...

Pair Programming

December 10, 2019 17:00 - 17 minutes - 12.2 MB

Development is not a individual activity, it is a team activity. To grow your development skills and knowledge you need to be able to work collaboratively with other developers. In this episode we talk with Ben Orenstein (@r00k), co-host of The Art of Product Podcast and co-founder and CEO of Tuple about pair programming. Ben talks about how pairing with other developers early in his career helped him grow. We discuss methods developers can use for implementing pairing and the benef...

Pragmatism

November 12, 2019 17:00 - 24 minutes - 17 MB

Progressing in every aspect in a development career requires being pragmatic. It means to be engaged in what you do and approach things in a sensible and realistic way. In this episode we talk with David Thomas (@pragdave) and Andrew Hunt (@PragmaticAndy), two people who have literally written the book on being a pragmatic programmer. Dave and Andy share why they went back and revised their pivotal book The Pragmatic Programmer and what has changed in the world of development in the...

Code Reviews

October 08, 2019 15:55 - 23 minutes - 16.1 MB

The core of having a career in development is focused on writing code. To grow and improve in your career, means improving on the code that you write. To do so, requires insights and feedback from those you work with. In this episode we talk with Angie Jones (@techgirl1908), a developer advocate, about the benefits of code reviews. Angie provides her insights into what developers and teams can do to have meaningful code reviews that look beyond just syntax issues. Our conversation f...

Career Transitions

September 10, 2019 16:00 - 17 minutes - 12.1 MB

For a majority of developers your career is not going to take place at a single location. In how markets and technologies change it is likely that at some point in your career you will need to be prepared to make a change. In this episode we talk with Gus Childs (@guschilds), a Front-End developer, about navigating career transitions. Gus provides insights from his own experiences on how developers can prepare for making a job change. During our conversation we talk about important ...

Building Trust

August 13, 2019 16:00 - 17 minutes - 12 MB

To be able to take risks, learn and grow in your development career you need to have trust. Trust in your co-workers, teams but most importantly trust in yourself and your capabilities. In this episode we talk with Ali Spittel (@aspittel), Software Engineer and co-host of the Ladybug Podcast about building trust. Ali shares her thoughts and experiences from being a developer and teacher about how to establish and grow trust in yourself and others. During our conversation we talk abo...

Public Speaking

July 09, 2019 16:00 - 29 minutes - 20.1 MB

An important aspect to growing a career in development is the ability to communicate technical details to less technical audiences. Improving your ability to communicate clearly is hard to do if you only practice in high-pressure situations. In this episode we talk with Karl Hughes (@karllhughes) CTO at The Graide Network and founder of CFPLand about the value becoming a public speaker has on a developers career. Karl shares insights he has learned from interviewing dozens of techni...

Security

June 11, 2019 16:00 - 15 minutes - 10.5 MB

As a developer you are responsible for all of the code you and your team write and implement. If that code is not secure it can cause problems for your projects, your company and your career. In this episode we talk with Doug Bryant Jr (@cybergent_101) an IT security Analyst and host of the Intrusion Diversity System Podcast about the role security plays in a developers career. Doug shares his experience workin in cyber security and with developers. In our conversation we discuss wh...

Career Ownership

May 14, 2019 16:00 - 19 minutes - 13.4 MB

You are the only person who can take control of your career in development and make it what you want. In this episode we talk with James Hickey (@jamesmh_dev), a .NET developer about the concept of career ownership. James shares his journey into a career in development and what he needed to do to shape his career direction and opportunities. During our conversation we talk about why taking control of your career is imperative to grow as a developer, methods you can use to find a di...

Working Remotely

April 09, 2019 16:00 - 18 minutes - 12.9 MB

When a majority of your day is spent on a computer where you work does not matter as much as how you work and how you communicate. In this episode we talk with Kellie Walton(@roundoctagon), Director of Client Services & Strategy at Isovera about working Remotely. Kellie outlines the benefits and challenges she's experienced working with remotes team. During our conversation we talk about tools and methods that are helpful for maintaining communication, support and camaraderie amongs...

Career Advice

December 11, 2018 17:00 - 22 minutes - 15.7 MB

In the season two finale we take a listen back to all of the advice shared by our guests. While each piece of advice focuses on a different non-technical aspect of a career in development, they all share a commonality. Each one is a result of mistakes made, lessons learned and the experiences of each guest. Offering valuable insights that you can use to reflect and grow in your own development career. Also, bloopers! Links from this Episode Listener Survey Guests from this Seaso...

Communication Tactics

November 13, 2018 17:00 - 21 minutes - 14.8 MB

Central to being a successful developer is establishing tactics for communicating ideas, needs and tasks with other people. In this episode we talk with Heather Staudt, UX Product Manager at BioRAFT about communication. Heather outlines the importance communication plays on her team to correctly understand and explain development tasks and needs. We discuss why communication is an imperative part of any team, methods for to how to best communicate with others and things to remember ...

Staying Motivated

October 09, 2018 16:00 - 17 minutes - 12 MB

To progress in a development career requires motivation. An underlying personal need and goal to push your self to improve and grow. In this episode we talk with Nathan Dentzau (@nathandentzau), senior developer at Oomph Inc about being motivated. Nathan shares how he's motivated himself to grow in his career as a developer. We discuss where to find personal motivation and how to look to others for support. You have one career in development and its up to you to make it what you wan...

Learning How to Adapt

September 11, 2018 16:00 - 21 minutes - 14.7 MB

Being able to adapt and alter approach due to changing requirements, technologies and methods is an important part of growing and thriving as a developer. With out doing so, there is risk of getting stuck or bottlenecked in your career. In this episode we talk with Brian Perry (@bricomedy), Senior Front End developer at HS2Solutions about learning how to adapt as a developer. Brian shares the methods he's learned from being an improv comic and former projet manager and how they have...

Values of Networking

August 14, 2018 16:00 - 20 minutes - 14.2 MB

Networking plays an important part in a career in development. Connecting with other people can provide opportunities for personal and career growth. In this episode we talk with Chris Free (@chrisfree), Partner and Creative Director of Chromatic, about the value of being able to network with other people. Chris shares how his career is partly the result of the people he has surronded himself with and how it has benefited his own growth. We discuss why networking with others is vita...

Developing The Why

July 10, 2018 16:00 - 19 minutes - 13.6 MB

As a developer it is common to focused on only the What and How of what you are developing. Those helps you plan a solution, but they do not allow you to understand if you are delivering the correct value. In this episode we talk with Dwayne McDaniel (@McDwayne), developer advocate for Pantheon about the importance of understanding the Why of your development. We discuss why it is important to know the goals of your project. How doing so allows you to deliver the correct product and...

Challenging Yourself

June 12, 2018 16:00 - 24 minutes - 17.1 MB

A career in development is full of challenges. However it can be easy to slip into a cycle of development stagnation, approaching every problem the same way, with the same tools. In this episode we talk with Mark Robert Henderson (@hackforthesea), a lead developer at CUASHI and organizer of the Hack for the Sea hackathon about the values of finding ways to challenge yourself as a developer. We discuss how challenging yourself allows you to grow as a developer, as well as, some examp...

Balance

May 08, 2018 16:00 - 27 minutes - 18.9 MB

Your development career is not an isolated part of your life. It affects and is effected by the other parts of your life. In this episode we talk with Chris Albrecht (@chrisalbrecht), Senior Developer at Lullabot (@lullabot) about why it is important to maintain balance in your life as a developer. In our discussion, Chris outlines three aspects of your life to balance beyond "work/life". We talk about how doing so allows you to maintain a "Happy place" that allows you to be the bes...

Leadership Mindsets

April 10, 2018 16:00 - 21 minutes - 15 MB

Technical leadership is not a specific role, it is a mindset. In this episode we talk with Adam Bergstein (@n3rdstein), V.P. of Engineering at Hook42 (@hook42inc) about what it takes to be a technical leader. In our discussion we tak about behaviours and traits that technical leaders embody and exhibit. Adam shares his personal journey of becoming a technical leader. Explaining how developers of any level, from junior to senior, can become leaders themselves. You have the opportunit...

Imposter Syndrome

March 13, 2018 16:00 - 20 minutes - 14.4 MB

Development is full of complexities and challenges. Because of this, it can be difficult to maintain confidence in your development abilities. In this episode we talk with Aubrey Sambor (@starshaped), a front-end developer about Imposter Syndrome. Something that effects almost all developers at some point in their careers. Aubrey shares her personal experiences dealing with Imposter Syndrome and how she works through it. We discuss the five different types of Imposter Syndrome deve...

Different Perspectives

February 13, 2018 17:00 - 28 minutes - 19.8 MB

Many different types of people interact with the projects that we develop. To be successful then we need to be able to approach our work from their different perspectives. In todays episode we talk with Carie Fisher(@cariefisher) from Hook42 who is a front-end web developer and advocate for accessibility. We discuss why applying different perspectives make our development work and careers better. Carie shares her thoughts and experiences with accessibility, Inclusive Design and Deve...

Knowing What Not to Build

January 09, 2018 17:00 - 28 minutes - 19.5 MB

Development is about building solutions to solve problems. But when developing solutions, do you need to build everything yourself? In this episode we talk with Jonathan Solórzano-Hamilton (@jhsolor, @peachpie), Assistant Director of IT Operations and Architecture for ORIS at UCLA. We discuss why as a developer it is part of your job to know when not to build something yourself. During our conversation we outline when to use existing software and the benefits of doing so. We also o...

Continuous Learning

December 12, 2017 17:00 - 25 minutes - 17.5 MB

The only way to grow and progress in your development career is to be constantly learning. In this episode we talk with Thomas Feeley (@thomasdfeeley), who has spent his development career learning new skills to keep up with the ever changing development landscape. During our conversation we discuss why it's important for developers to be constantly learning and how it supports career growth. We discuss methods for determining what to learn and how to grow and tools to use to suppor...

Developer Mindsets

November 14, 2017 17:00 - 19 minutes - 13.7 MB

Development is not just an activity, it is a state of mind. In this episode we sit down with Colby Cook of Genuine (@wearegenuine) and talk about what it means to have a developer mindset. In our conversation we discuss what development has in common with construction, why approaching development as a series of steps is important and what you need to know about yourself as a developer. Key Takeaways Remember to approach development as a series of steps that build ontop of each ot...

Taking Risks

October 10, 2017 16:00 - 24 minutes - 17.3 MB

An important part of your development career is understanding when and how to take risks. In the first episode of season two we sit down with Jim Fisk (@jimafisk) and Stephanie Luz (@SayStephanieNow) of Jantcu (@jantcutech) and talk about taking risks as a developer. In our conversation we discuss why taking risks is important, the two types of risks you'll face and how to balance risk with reward in development. Key Takeaways Risk can be a catalyst for career growth. Without tak...

Dealing with Change

August 08, 2017 16:00 - 46 minutes - 43.2 MB

In the final episode of season one we discuss the one constant in your development career, change. We focus the conversation on three main areas of change; in your projects, in your role & responsibilities and in your life. Highlighting ideas from previous episodes we talk about how to approach changes in these areas with a constructive, positive mindset. We end the episode with a few announcements about changes coming to the podcast, as well as, a few bloopers. Special Note A big...

Keeping your Day Fresh

July 25, 2017 16:00 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MB

At some point every developers will hit a slump and find their days feeling stale. To keep your development career progressing and exciting it is important that you find ways to keep every day "fresh". In this episode we discuss why it is important to find new development challenges everyday and avoid slipping into a stale daily routine. We offer a few ideas on how to find new daily challenges to inspire you to keep your day "fresh". Why keep your day “fresh” Helps keep you inspir...

Dealing with Setbacks

July 11, 2017 16:00 - 27 minutes - 25.9 MB

The path of development is full of wrong turns, pitfalls and mistakes. You cannot control when a setback will occur on your project, on your team or in your career. What you can control is how you react to the situation. In this episode we discuss what to do when development setbacks occur and how to approach them with a positive mindset. We outline a four step approach towards tackling setbacks and turning them into grown opportunities. Four Steps for Dealing with Setbacks Ackno...

Preventing Developer Stress

June 27, 2017 16:00 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MB

In development some stress helps to provide a sense of urgency. However too much stress can degrade your ability to produce your best work. In this episode we discuss some common causes of stress in development and why they can become problems. We then talk about a few methods you can use to reduce stress in your development career. Causes of development stress Internal: Imposter Syndrome, Real Developer Syndrome, unwillingness to collaborate. External: Pressure from others, Time...

Procrastination vs. Precrastination

June 13, 2017 16:00 - 28 minutes - 27 MB

When it comes to getting tasks completed there are two types of developers. Those who get things done as soon as possible and those who wait until the last minute. Being one is not better than being the other as long as you are able to deliver your best work. In this episode we are discussing the differences between procrastinators and precrastinators. We talk about the pro’s and con’s of each approach and how they affect your development work. Sharing tips to improve your abilities...

The Art of the Code Review

May 30, 2017 16:00 - 34 minutes - 32.2 MB

Great developers continually seek to improve the code they work on and write. In this episode we discuss how you can use code reviews to help yourself and your team become better developers. We discuss a few different scenarios, outside the formal “Code Review” that can provide you a chance to improve your code. From there we outline benefits reviewing code offers to not only reviewees and reviewers, but also teams and projects. Finally we provide five general guidelines you can fol...

Task Estimation Techniques

May 16, 2017 16:00 - 41 minutes - 38.6 MB

Estimating is hard. In fact, estimating is sometimes considered one of the hardest aspects of development. While for reasons beyond your control you can never guarantee the accuracy of our estimates, you can control how well you deliver and defend the estimates you provide. In this episode we are not talking about how you can provide better estimate numbers, but the processes you can develop in yourself so that you can be confident about the estimates you deliver. Why estimating is...

Developing a Plan

May 02, 2017 16:00 - 27 minutes - 25.5 MB

To make consistent progress in your development you need to develop a plan. Without a plan you risk wasting time, duplicating work or working towards the wrong goals. In this episode we discuss the importance and methodologies behind developing a plan. We talk about why having the skills to develop a plan can help you in every aspect of your development career. Breaking down plan into four phases. Teaching you how to D.R.O.P. a development plan. Finally we address what to do when i...

Establishing Office Connections

April 18, 2017 16:00 - 29 minutes - 27.6 MB

Connections with coworkers is as beneficial to your career as your external network connections. How do you establish meaningful office connections? How do you bridge the gap between technical and non technical discussions? Once you have established a connection how do you maintain it? In this episode we answer these questions and others by looking at the value office connections provide. We discuss ways for you to seek opportunities for establishing internal connections. As well as...

Building Your Developer Network

April 04, 2017 16:00 - 31 minutes - 43.5 MB

Building a network of professionals is imperative to the growth of your development career. Where do you find the right professionals to connect with? When you do find them how do you start creating meaningful relationships? In this episode we focus on helping you answer those questions. Using past experiences we provide examples of how to find network building opportunities. We then outline tips you can use for starting meaningful conversations that help to build connections. The...

Development Interview Situations

March 21, 2017 16:00 - 35 minutes - 33.5 MB

The skillsets you used to land your development job are useful well after the interview is over. In this episode we breakdown the lifecycle of an interview and highlight the many different interview type situations you experience as a developer. We explain each phase of the interview lifecycle and how to best prepare for it. Outlining actions to take and mindsets to apply to make sure it is a productive experience. In doing so, you will be able to represent the best of yourself in ...

Leading by Example

March 07, 2017 17:00 - 32 minutes - 30.1 MB

To be a great developer, you need to promote greatness in others as well as yourself. In this episode we answer a question from listener Tom on how to lead by example. We talk about how setting a good example can benefit both your team and your own career. Using lessons we have learned ourselves, we highlight how any developer can be a good role model in the workplace. Benefits of leading by example for yourself Helps establish your authority in your development skills and capabil...

Asking for Help, Not for Answers

February 21, 2017 17:00 - 39 minutes - 36.9 MB

No developer starts out as an expert. The ability to ask for guidance rather than answers allows you to take ownership of advancing your career. It can be scary to ask for help, but we will provide suggestions for overcoming this fear. Using examples from our own careers, we outline what to do before you ask for help, how to phrase your questions and what to do after you receive help. Benefits of asking for help Prevents time-waste and avoids “re-inventing the wheel” Provides opp...

Handling Mistakes Gracefully as a Developer

February 07, 2017 17:00 - 38 minutes - 35.5 MB

You are going to make mistakes during your development career and that is normal! In this episode we discuss how making a mistake helps you improve as long as you approach the blunder with a learning mindset. We talk about why development mistakes happen, what to do when you make one and tips for how to avoid repeating the same mistakes. You're always going to make mistakes, so you might as well make new ones! Benefits of making mistakes Provide a learning experience Eliminates m...

Getting comfortable with being uncomfortable

January 24, 2017 17:00 - 31 minutes - 29.8 MB

Facing new career challenges as a developer is often uncomfortable. In today's episode we discuss the importance of getting comfortable with being uncomfortable. We examine the risks of staying comfortable and the trap of “good enough”. We then talk about uncomfortable situations you may face and how you can use them to grow and improve yourself. Risks of being comfortable Stagnation Lack of growth and the mindset of “good enough” Underchallenged burnout Benefits of being uncom...

How to give and receive feedback

January 10, 2017 17:00 - 29 minutes - 27.5 MB

Feedback is crucial to career growth as a developer. In today’s episode we tackle feedback from both the perspective of the manager and that of the developer. Managers will learn to give constructive and useful feedback. Developers will learn how to productively use feedback to improve themselves. The benefits of feedback: Improved communication and collaboration Create learning opportunities for ways to improve Increase comfort with taking risks, resolving mistakes Improve con...

The Importance of one-on-ones

December 27, 2016 17:00 - 28 minutes - 26.6 MB

Great developers need great support, feedback and communication. In today's episode we talk about the importance of regular one-on-one meetings for both developers and managers. We discuss how managers can establish and maintain successful one-on-one meetings. We then discuss how as a developer you can take ownership of and benefit from these meetings. Three reasons for holding one-on-one meetings: To promote open communication To give and get feedback To establish a support sys...

The Four Attributes of a Great Development Team

December 13, 2016 17:00 - 34 minutes - 32.2 MB

To become a great developer you need the support of a great team. But what makes a development team great? In today's episode we discuss the four attributes of successful development teams. We talk about why each attribute matters and how they build trust and excellence. We also explain how you can foster these qualities within your own development team. The four attributes of a great development team: Communication Responsibility Positive attitudes Collaboration Notes from t...

The three key phrases you need to know to be a great developer

November 29, 2016 17:00 - 20 minutes - 19 MB

In episode six of the Developing Up podcast we talk about the three phrases you need to learn to say with confidence as a developer: "Yes", "No", and "I don't know". First we discuss why knowing these phrases is key to your development career. Then we dive into each one and outline how to say them with confidence. Finally we help you recognize when to say "yes", "no" or "I don’t know" by using scenarios from our own experiences. Three phrases great developers can say with confidenc...

Six ways you can be a more productive developer

November 15, 2016 17:00 - 26 minutes - 25.3 MB

In episode five of the Developing Up podcast we focus on six ways to be a productive developer. We first establish the benefits of productivity and how it impacts your career growth. We then touch on the important distinction between being productive and just being busy. Finally we share six productivity tips to use throughout your career. Six tips for being a productive developer: Be smart about your time and remove time waste Prioritize what you need to get done and focus on t...

Why it is important that you maintain a healthy work/life balance.

November 01, 2016 16:00 - 26 minutes - 24.7 MB

In episode four of the Developing Up podcast we discuss the importance of balancing work, home and everything in between. We talk about what work/life balance means and what aspects of your life it covers. We dive into ways that we maintain a healthy balance between work and home/everything else. Finally, we outline ways to identify imbalances in your time and priorities and how to fix them. Notes from this episode: Work/life balance 5 Benefits of exercise Previous episodes ment...

How you identify, treat and prevent the three types of developer burn out

October 18, 2016 16:00 - 35 minutes - 32.9 MB

In episode three of the Developing Up podcast we explore the dangers of developer burnout. We discuss what burnout is and the various types that developers may experience. We then break down the signs to help you recognize burnout in yourself and others. Finally, we talk about how to deal with burnout and what you can prevent it. Notes from this episode: The three types of burn out Rubber Duck Debugging Mindtools burnout quiz Previous episodes mentioned: Using D.U.M.B goals an...

To get more done as a developer you need a personal task management system

October 04, 2016 16:00 - 36 minutes - 33.9 MB

In episode two of the Developing Up podcast we cover task management. We discuss the importance of establishing a personal task management system. We then outline the key concepts and methodologies of many systems that we have found helpful ourselves. Finally we discuss the systems we use and how you can build one that works for you. Notes from this Episode: Omnifocus Wunderlist Getting Things Done Pomodoro Technique Personal Kanban Previous episodes mentioned: Using D.U.M....

Using D.U.M.B goals and S.M.A.R.T goals to grow your development career.

September 20, 2016 22:00 - 35 minutes - 32.8 MB

In the first episode of the Developing Up podcast we talk about goals and goal writing systems. We discuss why goals matter for personal and career growth. We then take a deep look at how you can create and write goals using specific goal writing systems. Finally we discuss ways to succeed in your goals. Notes from this episode: S.M.A.R.T Goals D.U.M.B Goals Why SMART goals are Lame by Brendon Buchard Your Best Year 2016: Productivity Workbook and Creative Business Planner by ...

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@devuppodcast 21 Episodes