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I started Developer Tea in 2015 to help engineers find clarity, perspective, and purpose in regular short bursts of high-value content.

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Optionality Sweet Spot

Today, we talk about options. A few thoughts we consider: Are options always good? How often do we think about *all* of our options? Is there a way to trend towards having only good options? And, most importantly, how can we strike the right balance between time invested and optimal choice?

Published: 1/6/2021
Length: ~21m
The Dangers of Measuring Side Effects

You want to measure what matters. But your measurements might change what matters. Understanding that anything that is measured might modify behaviors, it's important to then understand what should be targeted. How can we incentivize the right actions that produce the side effects we want, rather than incentivizing direct manipulation of those side effects?

Published: 1/4/2021
Length: ~21m
If Actions Speak Louder Than Words, What Are Yours Saying?

Your actions speak louder than words. You already know that. But have you asked yourself what your actions are saying about who you are?

Published: 12/31/2020
Length: ~26m
Imagining the End

It's hard to construct with deconstruction in mind. It's difficult to imagine designing for final shutdown. In this episode, we talk about the importance of transformation and change, and the ultimate reality of everything: it all ends, at some point. If we want to build better software and lead better lives, we should build with open eyes about the end. Today, we also celebrate the shutdown of Spec.fm, the podcast network Developer Tea has been a part of for over 5 years!

Published: 12/28/2020
Length: ~15m
Making Things Invisible

Our conscious thinking is optimized to remove as much as possible. The more we can accomplish without hard thinking, the easier it is on our brains. As a side effect, much of the reality of our lives becomes invisible to us.

Published: 12/23/2020
Length: ~21m
The Paradox of Transcendence

Becoming enlightened may not mean rising above everything. Instead, maybe it means zooming in.

Published: 12/21/2020
Length: ~9m
Misusing Exceptions in Code and in Life

Exceptions are, by definition, unusual. An exception is something we wouldn't expect - out of the norm. Yet, we often craft much of our behavior around an abundance of perceived exceptions. In this episode, we talk about how this is a problem in code and in life, and a way to look at things differently.

Published: 12/16/2020
Length: ~21m
Refactor Your Labeling Techniques

As the year comes to a close, many are thinking about their resolutions. In today's episode, we'll discuss one thing that I hope makes it into your resolution-making efforts.

Published: 12/14/2020
Length: ~25m
Learning in Public w/ Shawn Swyx Wang (part 2)

This week we're talking to another person who is dedicated to learning in public. Today's guest is Shawn Swyx Wang and this week we're talking about his new book, "The Coding Career Handbook".

Published: 12/9/2020
Length: ~34m
Learning in Public w/ Shawn Swyx Wang (part 1)

In today's episode we talk to another person who is dedicated to learning in public. Today's guest is Shawn Swyx Wang and this week we're talking about his new book, "The Coding Career Handbook".

Published: 12/7/2020
Length: ~27m
Teaching in Public w/ Kent C. Dodds (part 2)

This week, we sit down with Kent C. Dodds to talk about learning and teaching code in public.

Published: 12/2/2020
Length: ~48m
Teaching in Public w/ Kent C. Dodds (part 1)

This week, we sit down with Kent C. Dodds to talk about learning and teaching code in public.

Published: 11/30/2020
Length: ~35m
Building Products w/ Keith Pitt (part 2)

Keith Pitt, co-founder and CTO of Buildkite joins the show this week to talk about his journey into building Buildkite.

Published: 11/25/2020
Length: ~28m
Building Products w/ Keith Pitt (part 1)

Keith Pitt, co-founder and CTO of Buildkite joins the show this week to talk about his journey into building Buildkite.

Published: 11/23/2020
Length: ~40m
Maintainability w/ Robby Russell (part 2)

Robby is the co-founder and CEO of Planet Argon and the original creator of OH-MY-ZSH.

Published: 11/18/2020
Length: ~58m
Maintainability w/ Robby Russell (part 1)

Robby is the co-founder and CEO of Planet Argon and the original creator of OH-MY-ZSH. In this part 1 of the two part interview with Robby we focus on Robby's background and importance of maintainability on your team.

Published: 11/16/2020
Length: ~57m
Leading A Team During Difficult Times w/ Venkat Venkataramani (part 2)

In today's episode we sit down with Venkat Venkataramani to talk about his role as a co-founder and CEO of Rockset.

Published: 11/11/2020
Length: ~36m
Leading A Team During Difficult Times w/ Venkat Venkataramani (part 1)

In today's episode we sit down with Venkat Venkataramani to talk about his role as a co-founder and CEO of Rockset. In this part 1 of our two part interview, we dig into leading a company during difficult times.

Published: 11/9/2020
Length: ~33m
Exactly How Different Are You From Average?

We've been talking about making decisions and in today's episode, we're going to focus on the status quo.

Published: 11/6/2020
Length: ~11m
Think About Invisible Things More Often

As we come new to the close of 2020, we're thinking about a category of information that's hard to think about come naturally.

Published: 11/4/2020
Length: ~16m

Developer Tea was a part of Spec and is hosted by Jonathan Cutrell, director of technology at PBS.