KakaComputer : Weekly Guide for IT Insights

On this episode, we have Maki Villano, Ragde Falcis, Rafi, and Andresito joining us to discuss the CTO Time Machine and how leadership evolves in a growing tech company.The role of a CTO doesn’t stay the same for long. In a growing company, leadership evolves alongside the technology. This episode takes a time-machine-style look at how CTOs transition from scrappy early builders to strategic leaders managing scale, people, and long-term vision. Our guests share key lessons from both phases—and the moments that forced them to rethink everything they thought they knew about leading in tech.What were your main responsibilities in your first year as CTO, and how have they changed? (Generalization)In the first year as CTO, responsibilities were often hands-on and tactical. The primary focus was on building the initial product, making key architectural decisions, and writing a significant amount of code. The job was about being the lead builder and problem-solver. Today, the role has shifted to being more strategic and managerial. The focus is now on scaling the engineering organization, mentoring team leads, fostering a strong technical culture, and aligning technology investments with the long-term business vision.How do you balance hands-on coding with long-term strategy? (Generalization)Balancing hands-on work with long-term strategy is a constant challenge. The key is to delegate effectively and trust the team to handle the day-to-day technical challenges. While it's important to stay technically sharp, a CTO's primary value is in setting the strategic direction. This often means reserving a small portion of time for code reviews or small technical spikes, but dedicating the majority of time to roadmap planning, architectural governance, and identifying future technological opportunities and risks. It's about being a guide, not just a doer.What’s something you wish you invested in earlier—tools, people, or processes? (Generalization)Most CTOs wish they invested in people and processes earlier, as these are the true foundations for scaling. While a focus on building a product is natural at the start, underinvesting in hiring the right talent and establishing clear development processes can create significant bottlenecks later. This includes investing in strong talent acquisition, onboarding procedures, and implementing disciplined project management and documentation practices. Tools are important, but the right people and processes make the tools truly effective.What does “success” look like now compared to when you started? (Generalization)When starting out, "success" was often defined by shipping a product, fixing a critical bug, or hitting a technical milestone. It was a very binary, tangible form of success. Today, success is much more nuanced. It’s measured by the growth and autonomy of the team, the robustness of the system, and the ability of the technology to enable new business opportunities. Success now means building an organization that can innovate and scale independently, rather than just a product that works.

On this episode, we have Alex, Maki Villano, Edd Alc, and Charles Mejica Madronero joining us to discuss if the Software Development Life Cycle is still relevant in the age of Agile, DevOps, and AI.The Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) has long been a foundation of software engineering—but is it still relevant in today’s fast-moving tech world? This episode revisits the classic SDLC model in light of Agile, DevOps, and AI-assisted coding. We’ll examine how modern practices have evolved or replaced traditional phases, and whether the core principles of SDLC still hold value in current development workflows.Do you think the traditional SDLC is outdated—or just misunderstood? (Generalization)The traditional SDLC is often considered misunderstood rather than completely outdated. While the rigid, sequential "waterfall" model is no longer practical for most modern projects, the underlying core principles of the SDLC—like planning, design, implementation, and testing—are still fundamental. Modern methodologies like Agile and DevOps haven't replaced the SDLC; instead, they represent a more iterative, continuous, and collaborative way of executing these same essential phases. The concept is still valid, but its application has evolved significantly.Which part of the SDLC do you think developers ignore the most today? (Generalization)Developers today often tend to ignore the documentation and maintenance phases of the SDLC the most. In the fast-paced world of Agile and continuous delivery, the focus is heavily on rapid development and new feature releases. Comprehensive documentation is sometimes seen as a secondary task and can be neglected, leading to knowledge gaps. Similarly, proactive maintenance and long-term planning for system health can be overlooked in favor of building new features, which can create significant technical debt down the line.How do Agile and DevOps integrate or conflict with classic SDLC stages? (Generalization)Agile and DevOps don't necessarily conflict with classic SDLC stages; rather, they integrate them into a continuous, cyclical process. Instead of a single, long-form SDLC, they break the cycle into smaller, iterative loops. Agile focuses on delivering working software frequently and getting continuous feedback, so all SDLC stages are repeated for each sprint. DevOps emphasizes automating and integrating the development and operations stages, particularly testing and deployment, to ensure a smooth flow throughout the entire lifecycle.Has AI development changed how we plan or test software? (Generalization)Yes, AI development has fundamentally changed how we plan and test software. In the planning phase, we now have to consider data collection, quality, and ethical implications in a way that traditional software didn't require. Testing has also been transformed. We're moving beyond simple unit tests to focus on more complex, data-driven challenges like evaluating model accuracy, detecting bias, and ensuring the reliability of predictive outcomes. AI-assisted coding tools are also starting to change the implementation phase, helping developers write code more efficiently and with fewer errors.

This episode explores the long-standing belief that career growth and quality tech jobs are centralized in Metro Manila, and how this perception affects Bisaya professionals when making life-changing career decisions.Through lived experiences, the discussion examines whether migrating to Manila is still a necessity—or if remote work, regional hubs, and local ecosystems have shifted the playing field. The goal is to challenge assumptions, surface hard truths, and give listeners a more grounded framework for deciding where to build their tech careers.

To help listeners decide where to put limited energy: building projects, joining communities, or creating content.

Stop chasing hype and start choosing wisely. In this New Year–themed episode, the panel looks ahead to 2026 to unpack which tech skills are truly worth investing in—and which ones may no longer deliver the same value. Trixie Organiza, Nhyl Ibañez, Ike Gabriel Yuson, and Neil Ivan Palacios reflect on skills that peaked in 2025, those that quietly became essential, and how trends in cloud, AI, and platform engineering are reshaping career paths.

To close the January run with actionable advice for listeners at any stage—students, shifters, juniors, or burned-out seniors.

Why do most tech goals fade by February? This episode challenges the idea that motivation alone drives lasting change and reframes New Year’s resolutions around systems, habits, and intentional constraints. Will Jose, Trixie Organiza, Nhyl Ibañez, and Isaeus Guiang share practical insights on building workflows, routines, and environments that support consistency beyond Q1. The discussion focuses on sustainable goal-setting, realistic productivity practices, and how engineers and tech professionals can design systems that make progress inevitable—even when motivation runs low.

Shift thinking from academic lessons to real-world problem-solving, business awareness, and leadership thinking.

Demystify how young professionals step into leadership roles—not through titles, but through influence, ownership, and initiative. Join Marc Ian, Jon David Frilles, Maki Villano, and Kayne Rodrigo as they share real-world experiences on leading projects, earning trust within teams, and driving impact early in their careers. The discussion focuses on practical lessons, mindset shifts, and everyday actions that help engineers grow into leaders while continuing to build strong technical foundations.

Demystify AI careers — what’s real, what’s hype, and how beginners can actually get started.

Join Piolo Justin Cabigao, Samantha Servo, Luis Maverick Gabriel, and Jayz Carillo as they explore the core skills that define today’s engineering baseline, from cloud fundamentals and Kubernetes orchestration to practical AI integration. The conversation cuts through the hype to clarify what new engineers actually need to learn early in their careers, how these technologies fit together in real-world environments, and where to focus for long-term impact. The episode highlights hands-on experience, architectural thinking, and building adaptable skills that scale with rapidly evolving teams and platforms.

Dive into the strategies and practices that make IT systems resilient, scalable, and reliable. Guests will share insights on cloud architecture, operational workflows, AI monitoring, and IT audit processes that ensure systems perform consistently under pressure or during unexpected incidents. The discussion focuses on practical lessons, cross-functional collaboration, and how to design systems that grow with your business, without framing it around cybersecurity.

Explore what defines good software engineering in 2025. This episode unpacks modern engineering philosophies, from choosing the right architectures and frameworks to writing clean, maintainable code that stands the test of time. In this episode, Jhon Morales, Maverick Gabriel, Jed Tan, and Marc Ian discuss how developers balance speed with quality, design for scalability from day one, and adapt systems to evolving technologies and business needs.

Understand how passion projects become real opportunities: jobs, startups, or major differentiators in competitive industries.

Explore the truth behind breaking into tech today — do degrees still matter? Are bootcamps enough? What actually gets someone hired in 2025?

Uncover the truth about freelancing and remote work — the freedom, the burnout, the money, and the emotional rollercoaster behind it.

This episode explores how platforms like TikTok are reshaping the way tech professionals learn, teach, build credibility, and find opportunities. We’ll discuss whether short-form content can drive real career growth, help launch projects, attract clients, and even influence how companies hire or evaluate talent.

This episode shines a spotlight on Bisaya tech professionals who grew up, studied, or started their careers in Visayas and Mindanao, then took bold steps into larger tech ecosystems—whether Manila, overseas, or remote global roles.We explore what makes Bisaya talent resilient, resourceful, and highly competitive in tech, and the unique challenges faced when leaving home—culture shifts, language barriers, confidence gaps, financial risks, imposter syndrome, and navigating bigger corporate environments.At the same time, we celebrate their wins: breaking into top companies, earning certifications, mentoring others, and proving that world-class tech talent doesn’t only come from big-city schools.

We look at the power of open-source philosophy as the competitive edge for modern companies. This episode explores how transparent development, shared knowledge, and active community mentorship accelerate innovation far more effectively than closed, proprietary systems. Our guests discuss the economic benefits, ethical responsibilities, and cultural shifts required to truly embrace an open future.

Is your job just a job, or is it a calling? This episode explores the concept of purpose-driven careers in technology, where professionals seek meaning beyond standard metrics like salary or job title. Our guests share their personal journeys on aligning their values with their work, transitioning to roles with higher social impact, and sustaining motivation through meaningful contributions.