Rails with Jason

In this episode, Colleen Schnettler discusses her startup HelloQuery, which allows non-technical people to query databases using natural language. She explains her marketing approach for growing the business, including her LinkedIn outreach system and focus on finding the right niche in the crowded AI space. Colleen also shares insights about her new venture, SaaS Marketing Gym, which helps technical founders develop and implement marketing plans.

In this episode I talk with Dave Farley about how good software engineering prioritizes making code easy to change, since we inevitably need to revise our systems as requirements evolve. Dave also shares stories from building ultra-fast financial trading systems, where his team had to repeatedly rethink their architecture to meet performance demands. We also discuss how key concepts like abstraction and modularity connect to scientific thinking, with both requiring a healthy skepticism toward our own assumptions.Modern Software EngineeringThe Software Developers' GuidebookNonsense Monthly

In this episode I talk with Yegor Denisov-Blanch and Simon Obstbaum about their Stanford research on developer productivity. They share findings about "ghost engineers" (9.5% of developers who do minimal work), discuss challenges in measuring engineering output versus productivity, and explain their data-driven approach to software engineering assessment. The conversation explores how different developers contribute varying value, how life circumstances impact work motivation, and their methodology examining source code and Git metadata. The researchers highlight the importance of quantifying engineering contributions and have collected data from over 50,000 engineers in their ongoing study.

In this episode, Amanda Perino, Executive Director of The Rails Foundation, discusses the foundation's mission to promote Rails through events like Rails World, focusing on finding unique venues that create special conference experiences. She shares insights about venue selection, sponsor negotiations, and the foundation's efforts to showcase Rails amid challenging job market conditions.

In this podcast episode I talk with Dave Thomas, co-author of The Pragmatic Programmer and Sin City Ruby 2025 keynote speaker, who discusses his upcoming book Simplicity and how software development has become unnecessarily complex. Dave and I explore how developers can regain control by questioning established practices, trusting their intuition when code feels overly complicated, and experimenting with simpler approaches rather than blindly following industry trends.SimplicitySin City RubyThe Pragmatic Programmer

In this episode, I talk with Jared Gallinger about what makes good code. We agree that code must first work correctly, but real quality comes from being understandable and maintainable. We discuss how different code requires different quality standards - throwaway scripts can be messy while core systems need careful design. We explore how UI design limits code quality and why creating good software, like art, requires both discipline and comfort with necessary waste. A practical look at a concept developers discuss but rarely define clearly.jeradgallinger.ca

In this episode of Code with Jason, host Jason Swett interviews Prarthana Shiva, a senior software engineer at NexHealth, who shares how her team is handling massive database scaling challenges. Prarthana explains their PostgreSQL database's growth to 24 terabytes (with projections to triple within a year) and details their innovative solutions including read replicas, Elasticsearch implementation, Redis caching, external write-ahead logs, and optimized vacuuming processes. The conversation also touches on Jason's own database challenges with his CI platform and concludes with Prarthana's upcoming presentation at Sin City Ruby 2025, where she'll discuss their transition from schema-based to row-based multi-tenancy for better scalability.Prarthana Shiva on LinkedInSin City Ruby

This podcast episode features a lively conversation between Jason Swett and Nick Schwaderer, covering a range of topics from Thanksgiving traditions to Ruby conferences, personal philosophies, and even the idea of starting a long-format, freeform podcast. They discuss their approaches to cooking turkey, the quirks of different Thanksgiving side dishes across the U.S., and the experience of celebrating American holidays abroad. The conversation then shifts to Sin City Ruby and Rails World, with Nick reflecting on how conferences create strong community bonds. They also delve into personal growth, handling adversity, and the importance of resilience in career and life.

The episode explores the challenges of remote work and the opportunities for connection that arise from engaging in community events like the Sin City Ruby conference. Neeraj Singh shares his experiences running a remote consulting agency, highlights unconventional hiring practices, and delves into the benefits of creating clone products, all while emphasizing the value of quality software and a thriving company culture.• Discussing the emotional toll of remote work • Importance of community events for connection • Neeraj's Big Binary: A unique, remote-first agency • Innovatively maintaining talent on the bench for flexibility • The value of creating clones in a saturated market • Hiring challenges and unique strategies • Retaining talent through strong company culture • Quality assurance as a fundamental aspect of software development • A holistic view on building competitive and maintainable productsBigBinaryNeetoSin City Ruby

In this episode I talk with Ryan Kulp, creator of TRMNL, an e-ink dashboard.TRMNLryanckulp.comRyan Kulp on X

In this podcast episode, Steven R. Baker dives into test doubles like mocks and stubs, discussing their essential role in robust code development and challenging traditional testing practices. The conversation covers the nuances of Test-Driven Development (TDD), including writing failing tests first for better code clarity and test coverage, and explores RSpec's influence on TDD. Additionally, Steven examines Ruby's adaptability and the integration of AI in programming, providing listeners with actionable strategies for more maintainable codebases and a balanced view on AI's evolving role in software development.

Join us for a conversation with John Gallagher, founder of Joyful Programming, as he shares insights on making programming enjoyable through Ruby, design, and object-oriented practices. We'll explore the Unison programming language, designed to simplify distributed computing, and discuss the role of AI tools like ChatGPT in adopting new technologies. The episode includes stories about human forgetfulness and the growth opportunities podcasting offers, along with resources from Joyful ProgrammingJoyful ProgrammingSoftware Design Simplified

Jason Swett and Irina Nazarova discuss the revitalization of the Ruby community, focusing on the announcement of Sin City Ruby 2025 in Las Vegas. They highlight the importance of small, intimate gatherings for networking, insights from past events, the resurgence of Ruby meetups in San Francisco, and the role of mentorship in fostering growth.- Evil Martians- Martian Events- Sin City Ruby

This episode explores how Prefab enhances deployment workflows by integrating feature flags with Java microservices and Ruby on Rails, drawing on Jeff's experiences at HubSpot and EasyCater. We discuss strategies for minimizing deployment risks, improving PR reviews, and mentoring junior developers through clear objectives and constructive feedback. Real-world examples and practical advice offer insights into building efficient development systems and fostering growth in engineering teams.Links:- Prefab- Jeff Dwyer on LinkedIn

Johanna Rothman shares how to overcome the isolation of remote work by rebuilding community and fostering connections. She talks about the balance between creativity and knowledge, how understanding client needs is more important than just following requests, and why value-based work often beats hourly pay. Johanna also explains how experimenting, using feedback loops, and refining ideas can lead to better results in both business and writing.

In this episode, we reflect on the shift from remote work to in-person connections and explore Detroit's transformation into a vibrant place to live and work. With guest John DeSilva, CTO of Revela, we discuss his company's growth from a basement startup to success with Ruby on Rails and the challenges of upgrading apps with Turbo. We also dive into database design, managing outdated data, and the surprising value of old-school technology in today's world.

Freedom Dumlao discusses Flexcar's switch from Java to Ruby on Rails, covering the challenges, successes, and lessons learned from the transition. He shares insights on balancing coupling and decoupling in microservices, the strategic parallels between programming and problem-solving, and his experiences at Ruby conferences. The episode wraps up with community highlights, dining tips for Boston's Chinatown, and ways to connect with Freedom.

On this episode, I talk with JP Camara, Principal Software Engineer at Wealthbox about nicknames, how having quality A/V equipment impacts how people perceive you, concurrency in programming, quantum computing, Galileo and the multiverse, blank slate-ism and whether people deserve credit or blame for their inborn traits and decisions, free will or determinism, whether or not we live in a simulation, and Jeremy Bearimy.The Fabric of Reality by David DeutschThe Beginning of Infinity by David DeutschThe Blank Slate by Stephen PinkerThe Language Instinct by Stephen PinkerJP Camara on LinkedInJP Camara on TwitterJP Camara.com

In this episode, I sit down with Artur Trzop, co-founder and COO at Knapsack Pro for a conversation that touches on the Polish language and learning foreign languages, Artur's journey to founding his own company, what the Knapsack Pro gem does, American programming work taking place in Poland, growing a company to the point of financial sustainability, facing competition from larger entities, and recent improvements to Knapsack Pro. Rails WorldKnapsack ProDocs.KnapsackPro.comArtur Trzop on LinkedInArtur Trzop on TwitterSin City Ruby

On this episode, I'm joined by Derrick Fonseca for a conversation that touches on Derrick's path to software development and the commonalities in problem solving between programming and mechanical engineering, finding the problem, my experience at Rails World 2024, the state of the Ruby community and the benefits of attending meetups, writing understandable tests and test driven design, and my upcoming conference Sin City Ruby 2025.The Beginning of Infinity by David DeutschThe Fabric of Reality by David DeutschRails WorldRailsConfBoston Ruby MeetupSan Francisco Ruby MeetupProfessional Rails Testing by Jason SwettDerrick Fonseca on LinkedInSin City Ruby

On this week's episode, Will Carey, CTO of Brand New Box and I get together for a chat that touches on RailsConf Detroit, Will's work at Brand New Box, the challenges of remote work, starting new development projects, the benefits and risks of deploying early, pets vs cattle when it comes to server maintenance, Kubernetes, state-full code vs stateless code, starting at the end and working backwards, the value of curiosity, the benefits of building long-term relationships, and my consulting work.RailsConfBrand New BoxWill Carey on LinkedInSin City Ruby

On this episode, I'm joined by Adarsh Pandit, Executive Director of Ruby Central.  We discuss men's fashion, Adarsh's path to becoming a developer, the distinction between contracting and consulting, defining what you do as a consultant, keeping yourself top of mind to potential consulting clients, how Ruby Central is building community among Rubyists, the current state of Ruby meetups & conferences, and my conference, Sin City Ruby.Derek Guy on TwitterRubyConfRailsConfrubycentral.orgAdarsh Pandit on LinkedInadarsh@rubycentral.orgSin City Ruby

On this episode, Landon Gray and I get together for a conversation that touches on AI consulting, backfilling tests in a system that wasn't developed with TDD, generative AI assisting with testing in data science settings, using AI to develop your product vs using AI in your product, getting clients as an AI consultant, the benefits of remaining a solo contractor over starting an agency, work/life balance as a freelancer, whether charging an hourly rate is the best way to represent the value you provide as a consultant, having a north star to guide your decision making in your work life, what actually comprises risk, how marketing yourself is important regardless of whether you're an employee or a freelancer, how the modern hiring process is broken, value created vs compensation received, and Landon's trip to the AI Engineer World's Fair in San Francisco.The AI Engineer World's FairMadison RubyLandon Gray on LinkedInLandon Gray on Twitter

On today's episode, I sit down with Eric Normand to discuss how to select good customers, the importance of sales and marketing to a freelancer, the importance of imagination, industry, and optimism, the purpose of consulting, how I structure my consulting services, other ideas for consulting structures, domain modeling, tech debt vs dull knives as a metaphor, how product design influences domain modeling, how having a theory of your product impacts domain modeling, the abundance of bad advice for new consultants, and the pros and cons of masterminds.Eric Normand.meEric Normand's NewsletterEric Normand's Clojure GuidesEric Normand's Clojure Video CoursesThe Eric Normand PodcastMillion Dollar Consulting by Alan Weiss99 Bottles of OOP by Sandi MetzEric Normand on LinkedInEric Normand on Twitter

On this episode, I'm joined by Joel Hawksley, Staff Engineer at GitHub for a discussion of code ownership with regards to a 3-year WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) project at GitHub, benevolent dictatorship, collective ownability, terrible code vs acceptable code vs the viability of a project, writing good code vs solving problems, defining quality code, quality code resulting from clear conceptualization, the desirability (or not!) of perfect adherence to standards, reducing defect rate, and meaningful testing goals. Code Complete by Steve McConnellJoel Hawksley at GitHubJoel Hawksley at TwitterHawksley.orgEpisode 88 - ViewComponent with Joel HawksleyLive From Ruby Conf 2021, Joel Hawksley Tells Me About His DrinkEpisode 130 - ViewComponent with Joel Hawksley

On this week's episode, I talk with Allison McMillan to discuss working environments, the importance of getting a remote team together on a regular basis, the benefits of a well thought out offsite, not-so-great offsite types, elements of a worthwhile offsite, and more.Allison McMillan.comAllison McMillan on LinkedInAllison McMillan on Twitter

On this episode, I talk to Matt Kirkland, Founder and Designer at Brand New Box.  We talk about how to get good clients, the utility of reminding people that you exist, reading science fiction, ChatGPT as highly advanced autocomplete, reading history, The limits of ChatGPT-style AI as compared to AGI, and Matt's Dracula read-through newsletter Dracula Daily. Philip K. Dick on GoodreadsFrançois Chollet on Sean Carroll's Mindscape PodcastDracula DailyMatt Kirkland.comBrand New BoxMatt Kirkland on TwitterMatt Kirkland on LinkedIn

On today's episode I talk with Nate Clark, founder and principal software engineer of Brand New Box.  We discuss Brand New Box's early days and what it's like to found an agency, the different ways Nate and I think about acquiring new business,  marketing yourself, how big picture thinking can sharpen your day to day plans, deciding to build a product, the difficulty of finding a problem to solve where it makes financial sense to do so, and how personal relationships beget opportunities.Million Dollar Consulting by Alan WeissTraction by Gino WickmanBrand New BoxNate Clark on LinkedInNate Clark on Twitter

On today's episode, I talk with Alex Bunardzic about TDD (Test Driven Design), separating IO from business logic, configurable dependencies, TCR (Test and Commit or Revert), making many small commits rather than trying to write the whole program right the first time, distributed cognition, order dependency and imperative vs declarative programming, coding speculatively, and coding without shipping.The Agile ManifestoAlex Bunardzic on SubstackSoftware Breakthroughs for the 21st CenturyCoding Interviews with AlexDiary of a Perplexed Software DeveloperAlex Bunardzic on Open SourceAlex Bunardzic on MediumAlex Bunardzic on TwitterAlex Bunardzic on LinkedInNonsense Monthly, my snail mail newsletter

On today's episode, I'm joined by Alan Ridlehoover and Fito von Zastrow for a deep dive on flaky tests.  Code with Jason - Testing Anti Pattern: Merged Setup DataCode with Jason - DuplicationCode with Jason - Why Duplication is More Acceptable in TestsA Brewer's Guide to Filtering out Complexity and ChurnFito von Zastrow on LinkedInFito von Zastrow on TwitterAlan Ridlehoover on LinkedInAlan Ridlehoover on TwitterThe Code GardenerCisco MerakiJobs at Cisco Meraki

Today Rich Steinmetz returns for a discussion that touches on switching between languages, both spoken and programming, structuring tests, getting the most out of reading a book, buying an existing business, struggles with CircleCI and GitHub Actions,  my project SaturnCI, and the need for better APIs.The Beginning of Infinity by David DeutschThe SaaS Playbook by Rob WallingStart Small, Stay Small by Rob WallingAcquire.comFlippa.comRich Steinmetz on TwitterRich Stone.io

On this episode, I talk with Paul Campbell, co-founder and CEO of Tito.  We discuss the origins and early days of Tito, trends in current web design, Parkinson's Law, my project SaturnCI, using LLMs in the coding process, the need to understand universal programming principles rather than superficialities, and the quest for dejankification.We Are Developers World CongressXOXO FestivalThe Beginning of Infinity by David DeutschThe Fabric of Reality by David DeutschTitoIoPaul Campbell on MastodonPaul Campbell on LinkedInPaul@tito.io

In today's episode, I'm joined by Ciaran Lee, founder and Chief Engineer of Intercom for a discussion that touches on the genesis of Intercom and factors that enabled their success, scaling challenges when you're dealing with double-digit growth month to month, load balancers, canary deployment, the benefits of making many small deployments, how a robust testing environment benefits the hiring process, and the benefits of in-person vs remote work.The DevOps Handbook by Gene Kim et al.The Phoenix Project by Gene Kim et al.IntercomCiaran Lee on LinkedInCiaran Lee on Twitter

On today's episode, Matthew Kaliara joins me for a conversation on his work with his startup Rescale Supply.  We also discuss React, ViewComponent, system testing, looks vs usability in design, flat design, the value of convention in design, usability testing, the inseparability of good UI design and good code, the importance of appropriate names in core components, and how good code can help with hiring.Rescale.SupplyMatthew Kaliara on LinkedInMatthew Kaliara on TwitterKaliara.com

It must be both hot dogs and buns, not just the hot dogs themselves. Preparation (e.g. skipping meals beforehand) is allowed.Guests: Peter Cai, Brandon Casci.

On today's episode, Brad Pauly and I dig into the five causes (raised conditions, fixed time dependency, randomness, leaky state, and network or third party dependency) of flaky tests.  We also discuss diagnosing flaky tests, common pitfalls of fixing flaky tests, and things that do work for fixing flaky tests.Brad Pauly on TwitterBrad Pauly on GitHub

On this episode, I talk with Verda Korzeniewski about going into programming straight out of high school.  We also discuss Verda's experience in 3D printing, problems in modern manufacturing, and problem solving skills that transcend programming. Verda Korzeniewski on LinkedInVerda Korzeniewski on Instagram

On today's episode, Trae Robrock joins me for a discussion of his new Rails project Translated and his hotel management software Comfort.ly.  We also talk about managing a hotel, investing in real estate, internationalizing a Rails app, investing in assets that give you income,  investing in your personal brand, marketing Comfort.ly, connecting with potential clients in person, the importance of having a comfortable working environment, reading to enrich yourself, and taking care of your health.Trae Robrock on Twittertrobrock.comTranslatedRB.comGitHub.com/GetComfortlyComfort.ly$100M Leads by Alex Hormozi$100M Offers by Alex HormoziNever Split the Difference by Chris VossA Sense of Style by Steven PinkerCopy That.comModern Software Engineering by David FarleyRefactoring by Martin FowlerFunction HealthGreenbits.comRezStream

On today's episode, Andrew Atkinson joins me once again for a recap of events at Sin City Ruby 2024.  We also talk about Andrew's new Postgres consulting venture, his upcoming book High Performance PostgreSQL for Rails and what he learned in the process of writing the book,  deciding how to communicate what you do as a consultant, naming things appropriately, how poor decision making in the early stages in the creation of an app can make it prohibitively expensive to fix later,  how consulting jobs can naturally grow into new opportunities for work, being a generalist vs being a specialist, and Andrew's upcoming speaking engagements.High Performance PostgreSQL for Rails by Andrew AtkinsonRailsConfPosetteMadison RubyRubyConfRails WorldBlue Ridge RubyRubyKaigiRed Dot Ruby ConferencePGConf.devPGConf NYCAndy Atkinson.comAndrew Atkinson on TwitterAndrew Atkinson on MastodonAndrew Atkinson on LinkedInAndrew Atkinson on GitHubSin City Ruby

In this episode, Tom Henrik Aadland joins me for a conversation about learning languages, life as an ex-pat in small town Argentina, starting a company focused on quality control in Norwegian fish farming, microservices, object oriented design, learning from Fred George, and instilling a healthy testing culture. Tom Henrik Aadland on LinkedInTom Henrik Aadland on TwitterEGFred George on Twitter

On this episode, Rich Steinmetz returns once again for a conversation on working with and testing APIs.   Rich Steinmetz on Twitter Rich Stone.io

In this episode I talk with Andy Croll about Brighton Ruby Conference, RailsConf, and why attending a conference is an investment in your career.RailsConfBrighton Ruby ConferenceAndy Croll on TwitterAndy Croll on MastodonAndyCroll.comFirst Ruby FriendCoverageBook

In this episode, Ran Craycraft, Managing Director at Thoughtbot and I discuss consulting at Thoughtbot, the process of finding new clients, setting rates as a consultant, consulting vs becoming a full-time employee, earning a positive reputation as a consultant through thought leadership and referrals, the enduring popularity of Ruby on Rails, and work-life balance.Thoughtbot.comThoughtbot on LinkedInRan Craycraft on LinkedInSin City Ruby

On today's episode, I talk with Erik Cameron of The Gnar Company.  We discuss containerization, WASI, the possibilities of AI-generated binaries, the iterative process of AI-assisted programming, potential professional and social changes from AI-assisted programming, the mismatch between the stock of currently available programmers and the needs of the current programming industry, and the granularity of the work that is output by AI.The Gnar CompanyErik's profile on The Gnar Company siteThe Gnar Company BlogErik Cameron on LinkedInSin City Ruby

Avo founder Adrian Marin returns for a discussion about our experience at Friendly.rb and how to get the most out of your time at a conference.  We also talk about Adrian's work with Avo, my upcoming Sin City Ruby conference and the possibilities for extracurricular activities, the Code with Jason World Tour, and my consulting work. Friendly.rbHow to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale CarnegieEuRuKo 2024The Rails 7 Way by Obie Fernandez et al.Nonsense Monthly, my newsletterAdrian Marin on TwitterAdrian Marin on GitHubAvo AdminAdrianthedev.comSin City Ruby

On today's episode, Andrew Maier joins me for a discussion of usability testing and models.  We define usability testing and by using examples, we explore how it can make you a more efficient and effective developer.The Design of Everyday Things by Don NormanStuck?  Diagrams Help by Abby CovertHow to Make Sense of Any Mess by Abby CovertGamestorming by Dave Gray, Sunni Brown, and James MacanufoAbout Face by Alan Cooper, Et al.3 Lessons From Teaching A Course On UX Design by Andrew MaierFlagrantAndrew Maier on TwitterAndrew Maier on Mastodon

On today's episode Jim Remsik, CEO of Flagrant joins me for a discussion that touches on finding clients as a freelancer or consultant, building word-of-mouth, networking at conferences, design in the development life cycle, gathering data to assist with the design process, and welcoming new members into the development community.FlagrantJim Remsik on Ruby.socialJim Remsik on TwitterMadison Ruby - August 1 & 2, 2024Sin City Ruby

On today's episode, I'm joined by Friendly.rb speaker Lorin Thwaits to talk conferences past and future, gauging the intelligence of ChatGPT and its ability to create novel solutions, the evolution of intelligence, evolution's effects on reproduction, AI's potential capacity (or lack thereof) for power-seeking, the economic and societal impacts of AI, the amount of interest purely AI-generated content will be able to command, the power and limits of simulation, machines as synthetic animals and animals as biological machines, developing AI via evolutionary processes, the speed limit of evolution, and Lorin's project the Brick Gem.Friendly.rbRuby Conferences.orgBrighton RubyThe Blank Slate by Steven PinkerDo Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. DickThe Brick GemLorin Thwaits on GitHubLorin Thwaits on LinkedInSin City Ruby

On today's episode, Katie Langerman and Cameron Dutro of GitHub join me for a discussion of design systems, style guides and GitHub's design system Primer, view components, view-related logic, view testing, and how design changes can pass a system test and yet fail a common sense test. Primer.styleCameron Dutro.comComplementary podcastKatie Langerman on GitHubKatie Langerman on Twitter Katie Langerman on LinkedInCameron Dutro on GitHubCameron Dutro on MastodonCameron Dutro on LinkedIn

In this episode, Matt Swanson returns to discuss YAGNI (you ain't gonna need it),  Kent Beck's quote "make the change easy (warning: this may be hard) then make the easy change," why educational materials for beginners abound, but that's not the case for intermediate and advanced developers, what drives people to create educational materials, the purpose of testing, and being judicious in what you spend your time thinking about.Matt Swanson on TwitterMatt Swanson on GitHubMatt Swanson on DevTo

On this special episode of Code with Jason, Andy Atkinson returns but this time he's interviewing me.  We cover my new consulting venture, the sorts of things my consulting clients are looking for, consulting as a generalist rather than specializing, CTO coaching, using tests to help you plan your project, some of the thinking around my upcoming Sin City Ruby conference, and my Code with Jason World Tour.High Performance PostgreSQL for Rails by Andrew AtkinsonMillion Dollar Consulting by Alan WeissRailsConf DetroitRubyConfRails World TorontoAndy Atkinson.comAndrew Atkinson on TwitterAndrew Atkinson on GitHubSin City Ruby