Issue 284: 98 problems on the wall...

This week, we're focused on problems. Secretly, this is also a solution week, because if we just piled on with new problems, geez, what a bummer email that would be. We all know data is becoming a bigger engineering problem, so the podcast talked to folks at Tobiko Data about how they are improving the data engineering toolbox. For those of you in hardware, you know the troubles that tariffs have caused—our other podcast this week talks to MiniProto, a company doing hardware prototyping in the US. XX

AI (thought you'd escape it this week, eh?) claims to be a solution, but it often comes with its own problems. We chatted with Vish Abrams, chief architect at Heroku, about the problems with software that vibe coders aren't thinking about. For those of you adopting AI at work, we review our Leaders of Code conversation with the CTO of Cloudflare to figure out how to overcome AI adoption and implementation problems. XX

Okay, enough with the problems already. Time for answers! Why were players singing in a NASA MMO? Whose fault are radio buttons? How can I apply to more jobs, theoretically getting me one job? How can we distinguish these smart robots from people on the internet? FYI, these are questions—answers are in the links.

From the blog

You’ve got 99 problems but data shouldn’t be one

Ryan is joined by Tobiko Data co-founders Toby Mao and Iaroslav Zeigerman to talk about the crucial role of rigorous data practices and tooling, the innovations of Tobiko Data’s SQLMesh and SQLGlot, and their insights into the future of data engineering with the rise of AI.

Not an option, but a necessity: How organizations are adopting and implementing AI internally

AI is no longer just a luxury for the most tech savvy companies — it's now a necessity for organizational transformation. How are real teams successfully leveraging and innovating with these new tools?

You've vibe coded an app. Now what?

On this episode, Ryan chats with Vish Abrams, chief architect at Heroku, about all the work that needs to be done after you’ve vibe coded your dream app.

How to build your prototypes without a 35% tariff

Ryan and Ben welcome Alex Malcoci, CEO and founder of MiniProto, to talk innovations in hardware prototyping, the evolving complexities of the global supply chain, the impact of the US-China trade war on manufacturing, and how automation in production could lead to new training programs for future engineers.

Build on blockchain in TypeScript or Python with live AlgoKit workshops

If you know TypeScript or Python, you can start building on the blockchain without learning a new language. AlgoKit workshops provide a hands-on introduction to smart contracts and app development, making it easy to begin with blockchain and Algorand. Join an AlgoKit Workshop today.

Interesting questions

Why is this code five times slower in C# compared to Java?

It's not that C# is slower than expected, it's that Java is particularly optimized in this case to be faster than expected.

Trying to increase job application rate. How much time should I spend reading posting?

Depends. Do you want to apply to more jobs or get a job?

Information storage that would work for a space age culture over centuries

Maybe the new age hippies got it right.

What UI first distinguished radio buttons from checkboxes with circles and squares?

Outside of a car radio, of course.