In this episode, we tackle the nuances of communicating project requirements within development teams. From managing user stories and acceptance criteria to balancing control and flexibility, we explore best practices for ensuring clarity and efficiency. We share real-world experiences, including the effectiveness of detailed videos and spikes in guiding team members. 01:24 Communicating with Different Levels of Expertise 06:06 The Role of Videos in Communication 14:45 Challenges in Est...
In this episode, we welcome Stephen Anderson, founder and owner of Bendyworks, a Madison, Wisconsin based Ruby on Rails consultancy. Stephen shares his journey from corporate Java consulting to building a values-driven software shop, discussing his philosophy of constantly seeking 10x productivity improvements and the pivotal moments that led him to entrepreneurship. LINKS - Bendyworks - Ryan's Website - Brendan's X/Twitter - Brendan's Bluesky Questions or comments, email us at ra...
In this episode, we welcome Scott Werner, CEO of Sublayer, to discuss the future of software development and how AI is transforming the industry. Scott shares his experiences and insights on how AI is changing the way startups build and maintain software products, including Sublayer’s AI-driven tools like APM, Augmentations, and Artificial Ruby. They explore practical applications of AI in software engineering, the concept of MCP, and the fast-evolving landscape of AI technology, offering val...
This week, Chris Gaffney, owner of Dead Man's Snitch, a niche monitoring service for CRON jobs and service heartbeats joined us. Discover the origins of the company, its growth journey, and the challenges faced in achieving uptime and scalability. Chris also shares insights on the tech stack used, the role of Rails in their development, and the impact of market strategies like Heroku integration. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:21 Overview of Dead Man's Snitch 03:03 Challenges and Ac...
In this episode, we explore how AI can be leveraged to build engaging features in our applications. We discuss the development of a 'guided blogging' feature using AI, its benefits for users, and the challenges faced in implementing conversational interfaces. We also discuss a bit about the future of AI in SaaS, the role of AI in content curation, and how to balance automation with human oversight. 00:00 Introduction and Catching Up 00:41 Discussing AI feature Ryan is building 02:35 Technica...
In this episode, we dive into the complexities of performance monitoring in Rails applications. Our discussion revolves around popular tools like Honey Badger, New Relic, Skylight, and App Signal, and the challenges of effectively using them. We explore specific pain points such as queue times, slow endpoints, and memory usage, and contemplate whether rolling your own solution is viable. Listen in for insights, tips, and relatable struggles in maintaining and optimizing Rails apps, especially...
In this episode, the hosts welcome Chris Oliver, a prominent figure in the Rails community, known for his work on numerous projects including GoRails, Hatchbox, and Jumpstart Pro to name a few. Chris shares his programming origin story, his academic journey and numerous early projects, explaining how he transitioned from Python to Rails. He recounts his experiences starting GoRails, managing multiple projects, and the challenges faced with Hatchbox. Chris elaborates on the impact of AI on the...
In this episode, Irina Nazarova, CEO of Evil Martians, shares her unconventional journey from earning a degree in computer science and working in finance to eventually becoming a leader in the Rails community. She discusses her entry into web development via WordPress and WooCommerce, her unfavorable experiences with PHP, and eventual discovery of Ruby on Rails. Irina provides insights into the company's culture, the advantages of using Rails for startups, and the importance of open-source co...
In this episode, Ryan and Brendan discuss the importance of documentation within a business and development context. They cover various types of documentation, including internal, user-facing, and code comments, and highlight the necessity of clear communication from story writing to feature documentation. They also share insights on tools and methods for keeping documentation organized and accessible within their teams. 00:00 Introduction and Greetings 00:26 Diving into Documentation 0...
In this episode, the hosts are joined by Ernesto Tagwerker, founder of Ombuabs and FastRuby.io, a company specializing in Ruby on Rails upgrades as well as AI solutions. Topics covered include: - Rails Upgrades - Technical Debt - Developer Onboarding and more! Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Ernesto Tagwerker 00:21 Ernesto's Developer Origin Story 01:10 Discovering and Embracing Rails 02:19 Building a Business Around Rails 02:51 Challenges and Solutions in Rails Upgrades 03:40 Client Nee...
In this episode, Jess Brown, shares his journey from freelance consulting to becoming a Rails developer and business owner. Topics covered include Jess's origins with development and Rails, his roles in his businesses, Bootstrap upgrades, mobile apps and more! 00:00 Introduction to Jess Brown 00:12 Jess's Journey into Development 01:05 Transition to Rails 03:29 Business Ventures and Roles 07:30 Building and Managing Apps 12:46 Challenges and Solutions in Development 16:46 Upgrading and Moder...
In this episode, the hosts interview Adrian Marin, the creator of Avo, to discuss his journey from PHP and Node.js to Ruby on Rails. Adrian shares insights into the development of Avo, an internal tools and operations framework for Ruby on Rails apps, and the challenges he faced transitioning from a developer to a business owner. He also touches on the importance of positioning, marketing, and sales in building a successful product. Furthermore, Adrian talks about organizing the Friendly RB c...
The hosts welcome back Jason Swett to the podcast. He discusses the recent Sin City Ruby conference, including notable highlights such as having Dave Thomas as the keynote speaker. Jason provides insights into the conference's history, the challenges of organizing events in Las Vegas and the financial factors leading to the decision to discontinue Sin City Ruby. Other topics covered include Jason's personal perspective on balancing multiple professional commitments, and some Docke...
In this episode, Colleen Schnettler, co-founder of the SaaS Marketing Gym, shares the challenges and successes of building SaaS businesses, and her current work coaching technical founders on effective marketing strategies. The conversation also covers various other topics like AI role in marketing content, Rails Upgrades and more. 00:00 Introduction to Colleen Schneller 00:14 Colleen's Journey into Programming 02:49 The Birth of SaaS Marketing Gym 05:32 Challenges and Insights in Marke...
In this episode, the hosts explore the challenges of technical debt (tech debt) and delve deeply into effective project management strategies. They highlight the importance of categorizing tasks using a backlog system and explain how they utilize tools like Trello for tracking. Additionally, they explore the PARA method for organizing digital life and managing projects effectively. 00:00 Introduction to Tech Debt 00:11 Defining Tech Debt 00:20 Performance Issues as Tech Debt 02:36 Bugs vs. D...
In this episode, Brendan and Ryan welcome John Nunemaker. John is a prominent figure in the Ruby community and, shares his journey into Ruby on Rails, his career evolution, and his unique approach to managing multiple projects simultaneously. There's also discussion around how John and the hosts use AI for their development work. Enjoy! 00:00 Introduction to John Nunemaker 00:19 John's Journey into Ruby and Rails 02:31 Current Projects and Ruby Usage 04:17 The Role of AI in ...
In this episode, Brendan is joined by Ryan Castillo, co-founder of Knowatoa, a platform dedicated to optimizing business visibility and accuracy across AI-driven search engines. Ryan shares insights on his background in software development, and how his journey led to the creation of Knowatoa. They discuss the origins of Knowatoa, and Ryan also shares experiences with AI tools like ChatGPT and Cursor that have been integral in their development processes. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome ...
In this episode, Adam McCrea, owner of Judoscale, shares his journey from corporate IT to starting his own Platform as a Service (PaaS) business. Adam discusses his preference for Rails due to its productivity and developer happiness. The discussion also touches on the company's small team dynamics, marketing approaches, and the role of AI tools for development and business operations. 00:00 Introduction to Adam McCrea and Judoscale 00:22 Adam's Journey with Rails 04:59 Transition to Judosca...
In this episode, the hosts discuss the complexities of app development, particularly focusing on integrating third-party data feeds and maintaining data synchronization within a Rails application. They explore issues like managing incomplete or variable data, updating data based on third-party changes, and the broader challenges of integration. The conversation also delves into the prioritization of feature requests, handling customer feedback, and the balance between building in-house soluti...
In this discussion, Ryan and Brendan delve into the challenges and strategies around managing Stripe invoice rate limits and the broader topic of breaking down work into manageable chunks. They highlight the importance of breaking down large tasks into smaller, more manageable pieces for better estimation, easier reviews, and improved project flow. They also share their thoughts on estimation and the Shape Up methodology, emphasizing the benefits of delivering constant incremental impro...