Coding Blocks

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Pragmatic talk about software design best practices: design patterns, software architecture, coding for performance, object oriented programming, database design and implementation, tips, tricks and a whole lot more. You'll be exposed to broad areas of information as well as deep dives into the guts of a programming language. Most topics discussed are relevant in any number of Object Oriented programming languages such as C#, Java, Ruby, PHP, etc.. All three of us are full stack web and database / software engineers so we discuss Javascript, HTML, SQL and a full spectrum of technologies and are open to any suggestions anyone might have for a topic. So please join us, subscribe, and invite your computer programming friends to come along for the ride.

Allen Underwood, Michael Outlaw, Joe Zack

Atlanta, GA


    • Oct 7, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 44m AVG DURATION
    • 242 EPISODES

    4.9 from 904 ratings Listeners of Coding Blocks that love the show mention: blocks, new to programming, programmers, hanselminutes, design patterns, software development, michael and joe, programming throwdown, software engineering, ddd, slack channel, singleton, software developers, computer science, software engineers, programming topics, developer podcast, slack community, data structures, database.


    Ivy Insights

    The Coding Blocks podcast is an absolute gem for developers and programmers of all levels. With a light and fun approach to discussing various topics in the industry, this podcast manages to strike the perfect balance between being educational and entertaining. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out in your coding journey, there's always something valuable to take away from each episode.

    One of the best aspects of The Coding Blocks podcast is its accessibility. Unlike some technical podcasts that can feel dense and overwhelming, this show manages to keep the conversation engaging and relatable without sacrificing on depth or expertise. The hosts have a natural charisma that makes it feel like you're having a conversation with friends, and their banter adds an enjoyable dynamic to the discussions.

    In addition to being entertaining, this podcast also offers a wealth of knowledge and insights into various aspects of software development. From discussing best practices to exploring new technologies and patterns, the hosts cover a wide range of topics that resonate with developers across different disciplines. Their deep dive episodes on books provide informative breakdowns and analysis, making it easier for listeners to gain new perspectives on important topics.

    While The Coding Blocks podcast excels in many areas, there are some minor downsides worth mentioning. First, episodes can run quite long, which may be daunting for listeners who prefer shorter content. However, the length allows for comprehensive exploration of topics and provides ample time for in-depth conversations. Additionally, while the hosts do an excellent job at explaining complex concepts, beginners may occasionally find themselves needing further clarification or additional resources.

    In conclusion, The Coding Blocks podcast is an incredible resource for developers seeking both educational content and entertainment. With its accessible approach, informative discussions, and friendly atmosphere created by the hosts' camaraderie, this podcast stands out as one of the best in its genre. Whether you're looking to learn something new or simply enjoy some lighthearted tech talk, this show is definitely worth adding to your podcast lineup.



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    Latest episodes from Coding Blocks

    When to Log Out

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2024


    Well, this is awkward. Coding Blocks is signing out for now, in this episode we'll talk about what's happening and why. We have had an amazing run, far better than we ever expected. Also, Joe recommends 50 games, Allen goes for the gold, and Outlaw is totally normal. (And we're not crying you're crying!) Thank […]

    outlaws coding blocks
    Things to Know when Considering Multi-Tenant or Multi-Threaded Applications

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2024


    It's time to talk about the types of things you should consider when diving into multi-tenant applications and things to be especially aware of if you attempt to make things faster by going multi-threaded at the same time. Join us as Allen continues is non-winning / non-losing streak, JZ is taken out by a storm, […]

    Two Water Coolers Walk Into a Bar…

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2024


    Grab your headphones because it's water cooler time! This episode we're catching up on feedback, putting our skills to the test, and wondering what we're missing. Plus, Allen's telling it how it is, Outlaw is putting it all together and Joe is minding the gaps! View the full show notes here:https://www.codingblocks.net/episode240 Reviews Thank you again […]

    How did We Even Arrive Here?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2024


    We were asked in one of our recent reviews in Apple Podcasts if we would share our career paths and how we got started and how we arrived where we are today. We took some of that info, threw it at Microsoft's CoPilot / DALL E 3 and that's the artwork for this episode – […]

    AI, Blank Pages, and Client Libraries…oh my!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2024


    It's Water Cooler Time! We've got a variety of topics today, and also Outlaw's lawyering up, Allen can read QR codes now, and Joe is looking at second careers. View the full show notes here:https://www.codingblocks.net/episode238 News As always, thank you for leaving us a review – we really appreciate them! Almazkun, vassilbakalov, DzikijSver Atlanta Dev […]

    Alternatives to Administering and Running Apache Kafka

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2024


    In the past couple of episodes, we'd gone over what Apache Kafka is and along the way we mentioned some of the pains of managing and running Kafka clusters on your own. In this episode, we discuss some of the ways you can offload those responsibilities and focus on writing streaming applications. Along the way, […]

    Nuts and Bolts of Apache Kafka

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2024


    Topics, Partitions, and APIs oh my! This episode we're getting further into how Apache Kafka works and its use cases. Also, Allen is staying dry, Joe goes for broke, and Michael (eventually) gets on the right page. The full show notes are available on the website at https://www.codingblocks.net/episode236 News Kafka Topics Kafka APIS Use Cases Tip […]

    Intro to Apache Kafka

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2024


    We finally start talking about Apache Kafka! Also, Allen is getting acquainted with Aesop, Outlaw is killing clusters, and Joe was paying attention in drama class. The full show notes are available on the website at https://www.codingblocks.net/episode235 News Intro to Apache Kafka What is it? Apache Kafka is an open-source distributed event streaming platform used […]

    StackOverflow AI Disagreements, Kotlin Coroutines and More

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2024


    Joe Zack was on a brief holiday so Allen and Michael took over the helm for an episode. What would a new episode be without a little something regarding AI, some more love for Kotlin, and a number of excellent tips throughout (as well as at the end of) the episode. Reviews News Atlanta Dev […]

    Llama 3 is Here, Spending Time on Environmental Setup and More

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2024


    In this episode Joe introduces us to more security items you should be aware of in the world of CWE's, Michael bends to the will of Joe and Allen in his favorite portion of the show, and Allen pontificates on the time spent setting up IDE's and environments. Reviews – Thank You! Upcoming Events Topics […]

    Ktor, Logging Ideas, and Plugin Safety

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2024


    Picture, if you will, a nondescript office space, where time seems to stand still as programmers gather around a water cooler. Here, in the twilight of the workday, they exchange eerie tales of programming glitches, security breaches, and asynchronous calls. Welcome to the Programming Zone, where reality blurs and (silent) keystrokes echo in the depths […]

    Importance of Data Structures, Bad Documentation and Comments and More

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2024


    In this episode, Allen, Joe and Michael finally make it back to record together! Allen revisits the basics, Michael kicks off boomer hour nicely, and JZ let's us know that the dream of an 8-bit looking keyboard is not dead. News Topics Tips

    Decorating your Home Office

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2024


    This time we are missing the “ocks”, but we hope you enjoy this off…ice topic chat about personalizing our workspaces. Also, Joe had to put a quarter in the jar, and Outlaw needs a cookie. The full show notes are available on the website at https://www.codingblocks.net/episode230 News Thank you for the review Szymon! Want to leave […]

    Multi-Value, Spatial, and Event Store Databases

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2024


    We are mixing it up on you again, no Outlaw this week, but we can offer you some talk of exotic databases. Also, Joe pronounces everything correctly and Allen leaves you with a riddle. The full show notes are available on the website at https://www.codingblocks.net/episode229 News Multivalue DBMS Spatial DBMS Event Stores Resources we like […]

    Overview of Object Oriented, Wide Column, and Vector Databases

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2024


    We have a different combination of the hosts for this episode where we continue the series on the types of database systems available and why you might choose one over another. Michael continues impressing by recalling everything we've ever said on our 500+ hours of podcasts, Allen enjoys learning about a database system he'd never […]

    Picking the Right Database Type – Tougher than You Think

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2024


    You asked, we listened! A request from one of our Slack channels was to go over the various types of databases and why you might choose one over another. Join us in another information filled episode where Joe won't be attending the event he's been promoting and Allen tries to keep his voice together for […]

    There is still cool stuff on the internet

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2024


    This episode we are talking about keeping the internet interesting and making cool things by looking at PagedOut and Itch.io. Also, Allen won't ever mark you down, Outlaw won't ever give you up, and Joe took a note to say something about Barbie here but he can't remember what it was. The full show notes […]

    Reflecting on 2023 and Looking Forward to 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2024


    It's that time of year…the time we (reluctantly) look back at what we said we were going to do this past year and see if we actually did it. Then, we repeat history and set some goals we'll likely look back and wish we'd accomplished this time next year. In addition, we continue with the […]

    Gartner Top Strategic Technology Trends 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2023


    This episode we are talking about the future of tech with the Gartner Top Strategic Technology Trends 2024. Also, Allen is looking into the crystal ball, Joe is getting lo, and Outlaw is getting into curling. The full show notes for this episode are available at https://www.codingblocks.net/episode224. News Gartner Top Strategic Technology Trends 2024 No surprise, […]

    outlaws gartner strategic technology trends
    2023 Holiday Season Developer Shopping List

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2023


    It's that time of year again when the three of us reflect on the things we've bought and loved, or the things we want to get…and want to love…So, come join us in this episode for our usual amount of fun while seeing if there's anything that might make your shopping list! A small note […]

    Gartner and your Life Partners

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2023


    Ever looked at a Gartner report? We talk about the Technology Adoption Roadmap for Midsize Enterprises 2022, and the cloud services you're married to in this episode. Also, Joe's drumming up business ideas, Allen's laying down the law and Outlaw never forgets. See the full show notes a https://www.codingblocks.net/episode222 News Technology Adoption Roadmap for Midsize […]

    Open Telemetry – Instrumentation and Metrics

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2023


    Reviews Huge thanks to Metrics and Instrumentation in Open Telemetry How Metrics Work in Open Telemetry Automatic Instrumentation Manual Instrumentation Resources Tip of the Week

    Keyboards, Cloud Costs, Static Analysis, and Philosophy

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2023


    We've got a smorgasbord of delights for you this week, ranging from mechanical switches to the cloud and beyond. Also, Michael's cosplaying as Megaman, Joe learns the difference between Clicks and Clacks, and Allen takes no prisoners. See the full show notes a https://www.codingblocks.net/episode220 News The Show Resources We Like Tip of the Week

    Code Confidence using NASA’s Ten Simple Rules

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2023


    We've mentioned in the past that the code we write isn't maintaining heartbeats or being used in life-critical settings, but what if your code is? NASA happens to be a company who has code that is life and mission critical and it's very possible it won't even be accessible once it leaves earth. In this […]

    confidence nasa code ten simple rules
    GitHub Actions

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2023


    In this episode, we are talking all about GitHub Actions. What are they, and why should you consider learning more about them? Also, Allen terminates the terminators, Outlaw remembers the good ol' days, and Joe tries his hand at sales. See the full show notes at https://www.codingblocks.net/episode218 News What are GitHub Actions? Workflows Jobs Steps Actions […]

    Tracing Specifics – Know your System with OpenTelmetry

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2023


    Get a behind the scenes intro to some of the interesting conversations we have before we even get into the content. We'll be jumping into the meat of this episode and looking at the specifics of tracing using OpenTelemetry. Before we do that though, we should probably find out what special 2-liter containers Outlaw uses […]

    What is OpenTelemetry?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2023


    In this episode, we're talking all about OpenTelemetry. Also, Allen lays down some knowledge, Joe plays director and Outlaw stumps the chumps. See the full show notes at https://www.codingblocks.net/episode216 News What is OpenTelemetry? It's all about Observability Reliability and Metrics Distributed Tracing To truly understand what distributed tracing is, there's a few parts we have to […]

    Software in Audio and How to Lead

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2023


    In this episode, Allen, Michael and Joe discuss the latest update with the Reddit saga, software for designing audio and reproducing analog sounds, an open-ended interview question and tips on how to be a great leader. Reviews Huge thank you for that! News Episode If you were going to create a web service / api […]

    Team Leadership, TUIs, and AI Lawsuits

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2023


    In this episode, we're talking about the history of “man” pages, console apps, team leadership, and Artificial Intelligence liability. Also, Allen's downloading the internet, Outlaw has fallen in love with the sound of a morrvair, and Joe says TUI like two hundred times as if it were a real word. See all the show notes […]

    Better Application Management with Custom Apps

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2023


    Last episode, it might have been said that you can become a senior engineer in just one short year. Our amazing slack community spoke up and had some thoughts on that as well…we revisit that, and what does senior even mean?! Join us for that and much more as Allen plays more with ChatGPT, Michael […]

    Errors vs Exceptions, Reddit Rebels, and the 2023 StackOverflow Survey

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2023


    In this episode, we're talking about lessons learned and the lessons we still need to learn. Also, Michael shares some anti-monetization strategies, Allen wins by default, and Joe keeps it real 59/60 days a year! The full show notes for this episode are available at https://www.codingblocks.net/episode212. News Exceptions vs Errors in Java Question from Twitter: (thanks […]

    Easy and Cheap AI for Developers, Reddit API Changes and Sherlocking

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2023 115:36


    We're back after a brief break for a busy month of May, and we're here to talk about some pretty cool stuff happening in the developer world. Outlaw took vacation and can remember nothing, Joe introduces us to Sherlocking, and Allen discovered what all the fuss was about with Chat GPT as a software developer. […]

    Gitlab vs Github, AI vs Microservices

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2023


    In this sequence of sound, we compute Joe's unexpected pleasure in commercial-viewing algorithms, Michael's intricate process of slicing up the pizza, and Allen's persistent request for more cheese data augmentation. […]

    Supporting Your Code, README vs Wiki and Test Coverage

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2023 76:35


    In this episode we talk about several things that have been on our mind. We find that Joe has been taken over by AI's, Michael now understands our love of […]

    Water Cooler GPT

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2023


    We're doing a water cooler talk today. Also, Allen can tell you how not to leak secrets, Michael knows how to work a spreadsheet, and Joe has been replaced by […]

    Understanding Serial Transactions for Databases like Redis

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2023


    We've got a new / old opening…Allen goes off / on script? Michael denies Joe the “swing” vote, and Joe is all in on AI assistance Testing for concurrency issues […]

    Designing Data-Intensive Applications – Lost Updates and Write Skew

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2023


    What are lost updates, and what can we do about them? Maybe we don't do anything and accept the write skew? Also, Allen has sharp ears, Outlaw's gort blah spotterfiles, […]

    ChatGPT and the Future of Everything

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2023


    There's this thing called ChatGPT you may have heard of. Is it the end for all software developers? Have we reached the epitome of mankind? Also, should you write your […]

    Designing Data-Intensive Applications – Weak Isolation and Snapshotting

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2023


    Ever wonder how database backups work if new data is coming in while the backup is running? Hang with us while we talk about that, while Allen doesn't stand a […]

    Designing Data-Intensive Applications – Multi-Object Transactions

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2023


    It's time we learn about multi-object transactions as we continue our journey into Designing Data-Intensive Applications, while Allen didn't specifically have that thought, Joe took a marketing class, and Michael promised he wouldn't cry.

    Designing Data-Intensive Applications – Transactions

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2023


    We decided to knock the dust off our copies of Designing Data-Intensive Applications to learn about transactions while Michael is full of solutions, Allen isn't deterred by Cheater McCheaterton, and Joe realizes wurds iz hard.

    2023 Resolutions

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2023


    Michael spends the holidays changing his passwords, Joe forgot to cancel his subscriptions, and Allen's busy playing Call of Duty: Modern Healthcare as we discuss the our 2023 resolutions.

    200th Episode Extravaganza!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2022


    We step back and look at how things have changed since we first started the show while Outlaw is dancing on tables, Allen really knows his movie monsters, and Joe's […]

    Job Hopping and Favorite Dev Books

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2022


    We talk about career management and interview tips, pushing data contracts “left”, and our favorite dev books while Outlaw is [redacted], Joe's trying to figure out how to hire junior […]

    Technical Challenges of Scale at Twitter

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2022


    We take a peak into some of the challenges Twitter has faced while solving data problems at large scale, while Michael challenges the audience, Joe speaks from experience, and Allen blindsides them both.

    The 2022 Shopping Spree

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2022


    It's that time of year where we've got money burning a hole in our pockets. That's right, it's time for the annual shopping spree. Meanwhile, Fiona Allen is being gross, Joe throws shade at Burger King, and Michael has a new character encoding method.

    As the Watercooler Turns

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2022


    We gather around the watercooler to discuss the latest gossip and shenanigans have been called while Coach Allen is not wrong, Michael gets called out, and Joe gets it right the first time.

    Git from the Bottom Up – Reset, Stash, and Reflog

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2022


    We wrap up Git from the Bottom Up by John Wiegley while Joe has a convenient excuse, Allen gets thrown under the bus, and Michael somehow made it worse.

    Git from the Bottom Up – The Index

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2022


    This episode, we learn more about Git's Index and compare it to other version control systems while Joe is throwing shade, Michael learns a new command, and Allen makes it gross.

    Git from the Bottom Up – Rebasing

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2022


    It's time to understand the full power of Git's rebase capabilities while Allen takes a call from Doc Brown, Michael is breaking stuff all day long, and Joe must be punished.

    Git from the Bottom Up – Commits

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2022


    We are committed to continuing our deep dive into Git from the Bottom Up by John Wiegley, while Allen puts too much thought into onions, Michael still doesn't understand proper nouns, and Joe is out hat shopping.

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