Healthy Software Developer
164 episodes - English - Latest episode: 28 days ago - ★★★★★ - 19 ratingsIf working on software teams feels complicated, frustrating, and filled with politics - that's just because your eyes are open. Unfortunately, you do need to make a living! So how do you keep up with the demands of your tech job and still have a life outside of work? Hi I'm Jayme Edwards, and I've had a 26 year career in the software industry filled with thrilling victories - and maddening drama. With so many problems in our industry, the more money I made the more ridiculous people's expectations were. I’m sharing the biggest mistakes I made in my career, and the insights I learned along the way. This podcast is the audio version of the Healthy Software Developer YouTube channel, where you can find new episodes every Monday. Podcast versions appear on Wednesday of the same week. Subscribe and join us! Let’s help each other grow a community of healthy software developers.
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Episodes
Why Nobody's Buying Your Ideas in Tech
March 27, 2024 16:00 - 28 minutes - 28.4 MBEver try to sell someone on why you're the right person for them to hire in tech? Or maybe you have a software product or offer freelance IT consulting services you need to sell? I'll bet you've run into the situation where the other person you're talking to doesn't seem to "get" why you're the best solution to their tech problems. In this episode, I share what I've learned through digital marketing about how to really connect with the person you're convincing in tech, so they can understa...
Do Coders Fight Dirty to Climb The Tech Ladder?
March 20, 2024 15:59 - 21 minutes - 22.6 MBOn the first software project of my career, I thought doing a good job was all that mattered to move ahead. And while I was successful, I was manipulated by many other programmers through political games. After that experience, I was tempted many times in my career to fight dirty. And sometimes, I made the wrong decision. In this episode, I share the reasons why we're tempted as coders on software projects to throw ethics to the wind when the temptation for money, power, or prestige are st...
Should You Fight Dirty to Climb The Tech Ladder?
March 20, 2024 15:59 - 21 minutes - 22.6 MBOn the first software project of my career, I thought doing a good job was all that mattered to move ahead. And while I was successful, I was manipulated by many other programmers through political games. After that experience, I was tempted many times in my career to fight dirty. And sometimes, I made the wrong decision. In this episode, I share the reasons why we're tempted as coders on software projects to throw ethics to the wind when the temptation for money, power, or prestige are st...
Do Programmers Think Intelligence Makes Them Wise?
March 13, 2024 15:46 - 28 minutes - 29.8 MBAfter my first decade of coding, I learned so much I thought: "I must be at least somewhat intelligent, right?". But there was something more valuable I lacked - wisdom. Without wisdom, you'll make decisions in your career that look right in the short term - but turn out disastrous over time. Wisdom is the ability to make decisions when the rules don't apply. There's no book you can read, no guide to follow, and no clear cut answer. It's derived from experience, sound judgment, a broad per...
Why Most Programmers DON'T Last
March 07, 2024 15:22 - 19 minutes - 20.5 MBIf you want a lasting career in software development, you've got to be wiser than your average coder. There's a lot of advice that promotes short-term thinking around programming, and if you aren't careful you can burn your bridges before you reach the finish line. In this episode, I share what I've learned about why most programmers don't last in their career. There are 8 laws to a lasting career as a programmer. If you follow these laws, you'll not only move ahead much faster than most p...
7 Signs Your Tech Job is Toxic: Should You Quit?
February 28, 2024 23:39 - 28 minutes - 30.1 MBThe familiar question "should I stay or should I go?" is common to programmers, or really anyone in a tech job. But it's tempting to just bail the moment you don't like some aspect of the job, hoping for greener pastures. The flipside of this is when you probably should have left a long time ago but you stick around! Hey, I've been there. It's easy to have fear and blind spots make it hard to know what to do. In this episode I share 7 signs it may be time to quit your toxic tech job and ...
Is Your Tech Job Really Bad Enough To Quit?
February 28, 2024 23:39 - 28 minutes - 30.1 MBThe familiar question "should I stay or should I go?" is common to programmers, or really anyone in a tech job. But it's tempting to just bail the moment you don't like some aspect of the job, hoping for greener pastures. The flipside of this is when you probably should have left a long time ago but you stick around! Hey, I've been there. It's easy to have fear and blind spots make it hard to know what to do. In this episode I share 7 signs it may be time to quit your toxic tech job and ...
Is Working in Tech Hurting Your Romantic Partner?
February 21, 2024 15:51 - 26 minutes - 27.4 MBYou already know working in tech while staying in a romantic relationship is hard if you spend a lot of time on the computer. But there are other even more dangerous aspects of a tech job that can risk losing your romantic partner if you aren't careful. In this episode, I share lessons I've learned while married for 25 years to the same woman - and working in tech at the same time. It wasn't easy and I almost lost her a few times. But eventually I learned how to both be a successful progra...
Why Do So Many Programmers Use Drugs?
February 14, 2024 17:45 - 35 minutes - 36.4 MBIf you've never been an addict, you may be surprised to know many programmers (and other people in tech job roles) struggle with drug use. Nobody working in tech is a stranger to stress and pressure! But sometimes the ways we cope are unhealthy. If you're currently using, I've been honest and transparent with you - I've been there. I was a marijuana addict for 25 years, and often used it with the rationale that it helped me manage the stress of my job. However, I learned the hard way that ...
Can Toxic Tech Projects Make You a Stronger Person?
February 07, 2024 20:13 - 30 minutes - 31.6 MBThe popular thing to do when faced with a toxic software project - is to complain until you get out. But a healthier alternative, is to use it as an opportunity to get stronger in your tech career. In this episode I share some things I learned by reflecting back on my career through the lens of the book of Proverbs from the Christian Bible. It showed me that I actually have more opportunities to grow than I thought when I deal with difficult software projects. I hope that even if you don...
How Hard Tech Projects Make You a Stronger Person
February 07, 2024 20:13 - 30 minutes - 31.6 MBThe popular thing to do when faced with a toxic software project - is to complain until you get out. But a healthier alternative, is to use it as an opportunity to get stronger in your tech career. In this episode I share some things I learned by reflecting back on my career through the lens of the book of Proverbs from the Christian Bible. It showed me that I actually have more opportunities to grow than I thought when I deal with difficult software projects. I hope that even if you don...
Why Do Most Programmers Who Start Companies Fail?
February 01, 2024 17:57 - 28 minutes - 28.6 MBIf you're a programmer tired of the corporate grind, and thinking about starting a software company - watch out. I tried this twice and failed, but the third time went much better. Here are some practical tips to avoid pitfalls as a software engineer if you want to start a software company - and be successful! Download my free Career Guide here: https://jaymeedwards.com/developer-career-guide/ Get free access to TechRolepedia here: https://jaymeedwards.com/access-techrolepedia/ Nee...
Can Programmers Be Blind To Their Own Misery?
January 24, 2024 16:54 - 32 minutes - 32.1 MBThe software industry may be messed up, but I need to be straight with you. You're resisting help! If you really want your job and life to get better, and to achieve better things in your software career - the complaining needs to stop. You need to stop resisting the things you already know you should do - and DO them. You can't solve all these problems alone! In this episode, I'm going to share some harsh truths with you about your responsibility for why your career may suck. I don't shar...
Do Programmers Actually ENJOY Being Miserable?
January 24, 2024 16:54 - 32 minutes - 32.1 MBThe software industry may be messed up, but I need to be straight with you. You're resisting help! If you really want your job and life to get better, and to achieve better things in your software career - the complaining needs to stop. You need to stop resisting the things you already know you should do - and DO them. You can't solve all these problems alone! In this episode, I'm going to share some harsh truths with you about your responsibility for why your career may suck. I don't shar...
Can You See The Red Flags Of A Toxic Tech Company?
January 18, 2024 21:17 - 29 minutes - 30.8 MBIf you're about to get a new tech job, sometimes the red flags are obvious. But what happens when you want the gig anyway? The temptation to take a job when the pay is high, there's prestige, or it's a promotion are strong. In this episode I share some things I've learned about spotting these red flags, and resisting the temptations that come with the allure of tech company offers. I hope they help you take a more healthy job, and not get sucked into working for a company that drains your ...
Programmers Really CAN Escape The Corporate Grind!
January 10, 2024 17:03 - 39 minutes - 40.4 MBIf you're tired to the deadlines, pressure, and unrealistic expectations - it may be time to take programming for money into your own hands. In this episode, I share 3 ways you can escape the corporate grind and make money in tech yourself. Being a solopreneur isn't easy, but it's very rewarding if you're willing to learn things like digital marketing. I weigh 5 aspects of considering being a solo IT consultant, starting a solo software product company, or selling what you know about techn...
3 Ways Programmers Escape The Corporate Grind
January 10, 2024 17:03 - 39 minutes - 40.4 MBIf you're tired to the deadlines, pressure, and unrealistic expectations - it may be time to take programming for money into your own hands. In this episode, I share 3 ways you can escape the corporate grind and make money in tech yourself. Being a solopreneur isn't easy, but it's very rewarding if you're willing to learn things like digital marketing. I weigh 5 aspects of considering being a solo IT consultant, starting a solo software product company, or selling what you know about techn...
Is Programming Stealing Your Life Away?
January 03, 2024 20:59 - 30 minutes - 35.8 MBProgramming starts out like any other career - then one day you wake up addicted. In this episode, I share big problems with programming's impact on your work/life balance, and offer solutions. As a software developer, it's easy to get caught up in the endless cycle of coding and problem-solving, often at the expense of personal time and well-being. I discuss how this imbalance can affect your life and provide insights on how to manage it effectively. I also share some personal experiences...
How To Stop Getting Overwhelmed By Your Tech Job
December 21, 2023 15:37 - 24 minutes - 26 MBFeeling swamped in your tech job? You're not alone! In this episode, I dive into the heart of what makes our programming world so overwhelming and, more importantly, how you can navigate it with ease. In this episode, I'm not just talking at you; I'm talking with you. We'll explore the common pitfalls that lead to feeling overwhelmed in tech jobs and share practical, actionable strategies to help you manage your workload and stress levels. Whether you're a seasoned programmer or just start...
Don't Believe The AI Hype! Do This Instead...
December 13, 2023 22:09 - 23 minutes - 25.4 MBLet's get real about AI and how it impacts programming. There's a lot of propaganda and fear being thrown around related to artificial intelligence (especially in software development and engineering) - so let's cut through the noise together. I made this video for all you software developers, engineers, and programmers out there who want to get a real perspective on AI's role in our field. Whether you're deep into your software career or just starting out, I've got some insights that you'...
The Truth About Why Programming Isn't Fun Anymore
December 06, 2023 14:40 - 11 minutes - 13.8 MBIf you've been programming for a while and it doesn't seem as fun as it used to be, maybe it's time to take a step back and look at why. In this episode I'd like to help you figure out what the the root cause of your frustration with coding might be. It's only natural that if you started off writing code and eventually got good at it, you'd come to the conclusion that programming is the best tech job for you. But there could be a better fit, or you may need to double down on persuasion and...
What Software Architects Do That Programmers DON'T
November 22, 2023 16:44 - 12 minutes - 14.5 MBHow does being a software architect differ from a typical programmer? In this episode, I share the 10 aspects I've approached software architecture from that I learned over 20 years of doing it. I was promoted to be a software architect at just 20 years old, and while I was qualified with some aspects of software engineering - I didn't really know what I was getting myself into. Being a great software architect takes a variety of skills that a typical software developer will also benefit f...
Is Your Tech Stack Holding You Back?
November 15, 2023 15:15 - 12 minutes - 14.8 MBOne of the biggest challenges for all software developers in 2023 (and leading into 2024) - is simplifying their tech stack so work can get done. The continued explosion of boutique frameworks and libraries is making it harder than ever to manage complexity as the stack of tools and technologies we use on our projects grows. Whether you're a software architect, senior engineer or developer, or any other role that encounters tools and technologies on a software project - the decisions we ma...
Programming Burnout Is Real - But You CAN Heal
November 08, 2023 18:51 - 44 minutes - 46.2 MBBurnout is one of the most common dangers to programmers over their career, and I was no exception. Software development and programming can make it difficult to find a healthy balance between work and life. My burnout was a combination of self-inflicted bad decisions, things done to me, and circumstances in my personal life. In this episode, I share the story of my own burnout and how I lost nearly everything. Through it all, I found what really matters in life - and work became a smalle...
Healing From Burnout After 20 Years of Programming
November 08, 2023 18:51 - 44 minutes - 46.2 MBBurnout is one of the most common dangers to programmers over their career, and I was no exception. Software development and programming can make it difficult to find a healthy balance between work and life. My burnout was a combination of self-inflicted bad decisions, things done to me, and circumstances in my personal life. In this episode, I share the story of my own burnout and how I lost nearly everything. Through it all, I found what really matters in life - and work became a smalle...
Can Programmers Ever REALLY Trust Their Manager?
October 25, 2023 15:00 - 29 minutes - 33.4 MBTrusting people is getting tougher than ever these days, and nobody seems to have a harder time than programmers and managers. In this episode, I'll teach you how to get some hard evidence to determine whether your manager is trustworthy or not. The goal is for you to find out YES and just have a healthy relationship with your manager. But if there are trust issues, you'll have some tough decisions to make about your software development career. This episode can help anyone who has a boss ...
How To Know If Your Manager Is Trustworthy
October 25, 2023 15:00 - 29 minutes - 33.4 MBTrusting people is getting tougher than ever these days, and nobody seems to have a harder time than programmers and managers. In this episode, I'll teach you how to get some hard evidence to determine whether your manager is trustworthy or not. The goal is for you to find out YES and just have a healthy relationship with your manager. But if there are trust issues, you'll have some tough decisions to make about your software development career. This episode can help anyone who has a boss ...
Is Tech Lead the WORST Job For Most Programmers?
October 18, 2023 15:00 - 24 minutes - 27.1 MBJust the name Tech Lead has this kind of prestigious ring to it, and if you're like most programmers you might think it's the job to shoot for. But 20 years of my career have been spent leading software teams, and you might be surprised to know that tech lead is actually the worst job for most programmers! Some of the information in this episode applies to IT professionals in any technical leadership role: whether that be leading programmers, UX, DevOps, QA - or any other discipline relate...
If Code is Self-Documenting, Why Do Comments Exist?
August 04, 2022 14:42 - 14 minutes - 17.7 MBAs programmers, we often follow practices because of hidden desires - and "self-documenting code" is chief among them. In this episode I'd like to share some of the tradeoffs and implications of choosing to add comments to your code or not, to help you make the best decision for your software development career. When I first started developing software 25 years ago, the company I worked at mostly used C++ with a little Visual Basic and Java. At that time, all the other software engineers I w...
Most Programmers FAIL at Persuasion! Here's Why...
July 27, 2022 13:08 - 14 minutes - 17.5 MBEver wanted to do something new, or make a change on your software project - but other people on your team won't support you? Maybe you want to move from scrum to kanban, use a newer JavaScript framework like remix, or if you're a UX designer introduce something like customer journey maps. It would be nice to always have support from other people, but if you've never had pushback for one of your ideas, it's a matter of WHEN - not IF. So at some point, unless you want to quit your job ever...
Persuading Your Software Team and IT Management
July 27, 2022 13:08 - 14 minutes - 15.5 MBEver wanted to do something new, or make a change on your software project - but other people on your team won't support you? Maybe you want to move from scrum to kanban, use a newer JavaScript framework like remix, or if you're a UX designer introduce something like customer journey maps. It would be nice to always have support from other people, but if you've never had pushback for one of your ideas, it's a matter of WHEN - not IF. So at some point, unless you want to quit your job ever...
Is Your "Agile" Backlog REALLY a Waterfall Project?
July 19, 2022 14:30 - 16 minutes - 18 MBMany software development teams use an agile backlog but have NO business agility - and are actually using scrum with a waterfall mindset! When the product backlog is used on a scrum project and the business doesn't really understand agile, it wastes money and makes most programmers feel miserable! In this episode, I share what I've learned about using agile methods with software teams that actually produces business agility. Business agility is the ability for a company building a softwa...
Are Programmers Really To Blame For BAD Estimates?
July 11, 2022 14:11 - 16 minutes - 18.5 MBWhen programmers are forced to estimate code on software projects and they turn out wrong, who's to blame? Are there other reasons why estimating software development projects are so hard, that are outside the control of each programmer? In this episode, I share some of the unique properties of estimating code, and why programming estimates are different than many other types of work. Most of it boils down to treating software development like manufacturing, which is a repeatable process ...
Why Does Scrum Make Programmers HATE Coding?
July 05, 2022 17:06 - 16 minutes - 18.1 MBEvery programmer seems to want to vomit the second they hear the word scrum. What is it about scrum that's made programmers hate coding so much, and how can you prevent this on your software development team In this episode, I share 7 reasons why programmers hate scrum, and how it makes our jobs nearly impossible on software projects where the scrum master, product owner (or product manager), and the rest of the software company use it to abuse programmers. These mostly get down to not und...
How Senior Programmers ACTUALLY Write Code
June 25, 2022 21:31 - 13 minutes - 13.6 MBProfessional habits are what makes the difference between someone who actually writes code like a senior programmer - and wishful thinking. The syntax and patterns you use on software projects don't matter nearly as much as the standards you hold yourself to for professionalism. In this episode, I share the essential habits I've developed while working on nearly software projects over my career. If you want to write code like senior programmers do, I hope these practices help you stand out...
200 Software Developers Told Me What They REALLY Want
June 17, 2022 18:26 - 15 minutes - 16.6 MBI thought I knew what developers needed, but then I met over 200 people online to learn what unlocks their career. The results were surprising in some ways, and not in others. The first thing I learned was that having a plan for your career in software development is something programmers aren't getting enough help with. When I would need a new job, I often took the first reasonable offer instead of having more purpose. It seems other developers are treating their career the same way. Th...
200 Developers Told Me What Unlocks Their Career
June 17, 2022 18:26 - 15 minutes - 16.6 MBI thought I knew what developers needed, but then I met over 200 people online to learn what unlocks their career. The results were surprising in some ways, and not in others. The first thing I learned was that having a plan for your career in software development is something programmers aren't getting enough help with. When I would need a new job, I often took the first reasonable offer instead of having more purpose. It seems other developers are treating their career the same way. Th...
200 Software Developers Told Me This Unlocks Their Career
June 17, 2022 18:26 - 15 minutes - 16.6 MBI thought I knew what developers needed, but then I met over 200 people online to learn what unlocks their career. The results were surprising in some ways, and not in others. The first thing I learned was that having a plan for your career in software development is something programmers aren't getting enough help with. When I would need a new job, I often took the first reasonable offer instead of having more purpose. It seems other developers are treating their career the same way. Th...
Is There Really Such Thing as a GOOD Programmer?
June 04, 2022 18:33 - 14 minutes - 16.2 MBIt's tempting to compare yourself to other developers or take skill assessments to see how you measure up, but honestly it's impossible to truly know if you're a good programmer! In this video I share what I've learned over my 25 year career as a programmer, software architect, and consultant that I hope reduces any anxiety you may have around your self worth. To start this off: why do we even care if we're good programmer? Well first of all, the people who depend on us to do a good jo...
It's Impossible to Know If You're a Good Programmer
June 04, 2022 18:33 - 14 minutes - 16.2 MBIt's tempting to compare yourself to other developers or take skill assessments to see how you measure up, but honestly it's impossible to truly know if you're a good programmer! In this video I share what I've learned over my 25 year career as a programmer, software architect, and consultant that I hope reduces any anxiety you may have around your self worth. To start this off: why do we even care if we're good programmer? Well first of all, the people who depend on us to do a good jo...
I Led The Software Project From Hell (My Dad Died)
May 24, 2022 15:33 - 29 minutes - 25.9 MBThe first software project of my career was a masterclass in surviving corporate politics that I'll never forget. Programming was the least of my problems! The perfect storm of addiction, deceit, and surviving a death in the family sent me into a downward spiral on this true story of a software project. In this story, I share the personal details of how my struggles with marijuana addiction and the lies of IT leadership collided. Looking back at this software project in the context of my car...
I Faced Politics and Death on My First Software Project
May 24, 2022 15:33 - 29 minutes - 25.9 MBThe first software project of my career was a masterclass in surviving corporate politics that I'll never forget. Programming was the least of my problems! The perfect storm of addiction, deceit, and surviving a death in the family sent me into a downward spiral on this true story of a software project. In this story, I share the personal details of how my struggles with marijuana addiction and the lies of IT leadership collided. Looking back at this software project in the context of my care...
The Inconceivable Politics of My First Software Project
May 24, 2022 15:33 - 29 minutes - 25.9 MBThe first software project of my career was a masterclass in surviving corporate politics that I'll never forget. Programming was the least of my problems! The perfect storm of addiction, deceit, and surviving a death in the family sent me into a downward spiral on this true story of a software project. In this story, I share the personal details of how my struggles with marijuana addiction and the lies of IT leadership collided. Looking back at this software project in the context of my care...
Programming for Liars: My Clash With Corporate Politics
May 24, 2022 15:33 - 29 minutes - 25.9 MBThe first software project of my career was a masterclass in surviving corporate politics that I'll never forget. Programming was the least of my problems! The perfect storm of addiction, deceit, and surviving a death in the family sent me into a downward spiral on this true story of a software project. In this story, I share the personal details of how my struggles with marijuana addiction and the lies of IT leadership collided. Looking back at this software project in the context of my c...
4 Things Every Developer Needs From A Programming Job
May 11, 2022 12:43 - 15 minutes - 15.5 MBThere are tons of people online telling you how to get a better career in software development. Unfortunately, they usually tell you a fluffy story that glosses over the truth. In this episode, I share the 4 career desires of every software developer. This is a concept I discovered through career coaching other people in tech positions (developers, product managers, DevOps, data science, etc.) over the past 3 years. An important thing to know about these desires is that they change over our l...
Know What's Really Missing From Your IT Career?
May 11, 2022 12:43 - 15 minutes - 15.5 MBThere are tons of people online telling you how to get a better career in software development. Unfortunately, they usually tell you a fluffy story that glosses over the truth. In this episode, I share the 4 career desires of every software developer. This is a concept I discovered through career coaching other people in tech positions (developers, product managers, DevOps, data science, etc.) over the past 3 years. An important thing to know about these desires is that they change over our l...
Why Are Programmers Never HAPPY With Their Job?
May 11, 2022 12:43 - 15 minutes - 15.5 MBThere are tons of people online telling you how to get a better career in software development. Unfortunately, they usually tell you a fluffy story that glosses over the truth. In this episode, I share the 4 career desires of every software developer. This is a concept I discovered through career coaching other people in tech positions (developers, product managers, DevOps, data science, etc.) over the past 3 years. An important thing to know about these desires is that they change over our l...
A Simple Framework for Developer Career Decisions
May 11, 2022 12:43 - 15 minutes - 15.5 MBThere are tons of people online telling you how to get a better career in software development. Unfortunately, they usually tell you a fluffy story that glosses over the truth. In this episode, I share the 4 career desires of every software developer. This is a concept I discovered through career coaching other people in tech positions (developers, product managers, DevOps, data science, etc.) over the past 3 years. An important thing to know about these desires is that they change over our l...
Want a Better Dev Career? First, Let's Get Real.
May 11, 2022 12:43 - 15 minutes - 15.5 MBThere are tons of people online telling you how to get a better career in software development. Unfortunately, they usually tell you a fluffy story that glosses over the truth. In this episode, I share the 4 career desires of every software developer. This is a concept I discovered through career coaching other people in tech positions (developers, product managers, DevOps, data science, etc.) over the past 3 years. An important thing to know about these desires is that they change over ...
The Danger of Criticizing Other Programmers
May 04, 2022 12:47 - 20 minutes - 19.9 MBAre you looking around on your software project and just waiting to see someone fail? Are you quick to condemn a manager or developer and cast them useless after a single mistake? Today we’re going to talk about how canceling developers and other IT professionals for mistakes can hold you back from the career you want in software. When I first began developing software, I wasn't particularly ambitious. I needed to make a living to support my wife and son, but I came from a background of party...