We're Emma Bostian, Sidney Buckner, Kelly Vaughn, and Ali Spittel - four seasoned software developers working in different sectors. Since there's a major lack of technical podcasts out there, we've decided to start one. Just kidding -- there's already a ton! But, we wanted to add our voices to the space and share our experiences and advice. We'll have great discussions around how to start coding, the hot technologies right now, how to get your first developer job, and more! Check out our website!
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A Day in the Life of a Software Engineer
What is a typical day in the life like for a software engineer? To close out Season 6, we thought it’d be a great idea to give you some insight into our workdays, as we all have very different roles and are in different stages of our careers. Show Notes [02:54] Morning routines [16:09] Beginning of the workday [28:15] The rest of the workday [49:03] Evenings and weekends [53:57] Top 3 tools for productivity Resources Any.do Fantastical Canva Things Superhuman Trello Apple Watch Markdown Notes Asana Resilient Management Animedoro Can Do writing The Little Memory Ali’s Trello Setup Transcript Here is this week's transcript
What is an API and How do You Use One?
APIs are part of our daily roles as software developers, but what are they? What different types are there? And how can you design a good one? Show Notes [01:53] What is an API? [03:37] Types of APIS [15:02] GraphQL [19:49] REST [28:25] API Design [44:35] Shoutouts Resources The Happiness Project Shopify developer community BrainF**k OneGraph Scott Moss's YouTube Transcript Here is this week's transcript.
All About Agile
The definition of Agile is the ability to create and respond to change. Ultimately dealing with and succeeding in an uncertain or turbulent environment. I think we can all say with confidence that in the world of software development, being agile and agreeable to change helps you learn faster, connect with others better, and makes coding more fun. Today we are talking about the agile framework of software developers, its significance in the workplace and the familiar steps an agile process takes to go from a project’s concept, to the physical minimum viable product. Show Notes [03:00] What is Agile? [04:43] Agile Software Development [15:44] Agile Manifesto For Agile Software Development [16:00] 4 values [19:33] 12 Principles [34:07] Benefits [35:45] Drawbacks [38:34] What is Scrum? [44:05] Careers in scrum [53:56] Shout-Outs Resources The agile Manifesto The Agile Subway Map Sprints Scrum Alliance Certifications SAFe Certifications Transcript Here is this episode's transcript.
Getting Started with Java
Java is a high-level, class-based, object-oriented programming language. It’s a general-purpose programming language designed to let app developers: write once, run anywhere. Today we’re diving into the world of Java. Show Notes [01:30] Our experiences working with Java [04:34] History of Java [07:45] Five goals of Java [13:06] Object oriented [14:00] Threaded language [15:35] Interpreted language [17:39] Terminology [22:04] Basic Syntax [23:33] Inheritance [26:51] Interfaces [28:00] Classes [29:56] Modifiers [31:30] Constructors [33:11] Enums [34:39] Basic Data Types [35:56] Overriding [42:51] Shoutouts Resources Learning Java Interpreter vs. Compiler Access Variables Oracle Angie Jones course on Test Automation U Angie Jones Jocelyn Harper Git Cute Podcast Transcript Here is this episode's transcript.
How to Start a Company
Whether you’re looking to start your own side business or create a lifelong career, the process of starting a new business can be overwhelming. This week on the podcast we’re discussing how to start your own business. We’ll dig deep into setting you up for success from the beginning and then answer the most common questions I receive about building and scaling your business. Show Notes [02:00] What is our experience with running a business? [05:47] Business plan [13:58] Who are your customers? [18:03] Market opportunities [35:50] Boostrapping vs. raising capital [39:41] Do you need to incorporate? [40:54] Banking and Taxes [51:52] Health insurance (USA) [53:30] Understanding the bookkeeping process [55:32] Shownotes Resources Quantic CORe Clerky Stripe Atlas Inc. Article Polywork Freelancing episode Indie Hackers episode Mercury Transcript Here is this episode's transcript
Diving Deep on Databases
If you have data for your application, you’ve probably used a database to store it. There are so many types of databases, NoSQL, SQL, graph, etc. Let's learn about their benefits and how to use them! Shownotes [02:08] What types of databases have we used? [03:43] SQL vs. NoSQL [15:52] How to model data [19:20] ORM, SDK, Queries [24:02] Horizontal vs. Vertical Scaling [27:21] How to choose [30:22] indexes [37:16] Sharding [46:44] Shoutouts Resources The DynamoDB Book Little Bobby Tables Ladybug Algorithms episode Ladybug System Design episode Hidden Valley Road Peloton app Your friend’s guide to entrepreneurship Transcript Here is this week's transcript
How to Create Great Documentation
It’s easy to overlook documentation when building an application, but documentation can make or break a consumer’s experience. Today we’re diving into the world of documentation to discuss what it takes to write good documentation, the ethics of documentation, and some popular tools you can use to get started. Show Notes [01:58] Why does a company or app need good documentation? [04:09] Who do we write documentation for? [06:01] What makes good documentation? [11:05] Ethics of documentation [32:47] The structure of your documentation [34:35] What types of documentation should I write? [40:22] Documentation tools [44:51] Shoutouts Resources Alex.js Carolyn’s talk Self Defined Hemingway Bookstack Storybook Writing Technical Documentation video Notion Nuclino Docusaurus Next.js Nuxt.js Gatsby Jekyll Transcript Here is this week's transcript.
Getting Started with TypeScript
TypeScript is an open-source programming language built on JavaScript that provides static type definitions. It has taken the front-end development community by storm over the past few years and today we’re going to give you a beginner-level rundown on the language. Show Notes [02:07] What is TypeScript? [06:46] What is our experience working with TypeScript? [08:35] Is TypeScript a replacement for JavaScript? [11:11] Advantages of TypeScript [13:09] Core Types [15:19] TypeScript Types [28:34] Union Types [30:29] Literal types [32:30] Aliases [35:40] Function Return Types [38:41] Unknown Type [39:23] Resources for learning TS [40:21] Shoutouts Resources Ladybug JS episode TypeScript in 50 lessons Crying in H Mart People we meet on vacation Transcript This week's Transcript
How to Create a Study Plan
What is it about sitting down building a good study plan that... kinda sucks? Is it the planning? The execution? The Time commitment? Are we committing to learn too much? Regardless of this answer, today we’re sitting down to talk about how to better prepare to learn, how to execute a study plan to meet your goals, build better habits to help you learn and some of our own experiences learning how to learn. Show Notes [05:22] What is a study plan? [14:25] How Do You execute it? [29:05] Learning how to learn [42:48] Make a todo list [47:32] Start with something small [53:06] At least touch it once a day [1:02:03] Analyzing Your habits [1:03:40] Showing or sharing your progress & results [1:05:39] What If You get Stuck? [1:09:16] Shoutouts Resources How to create a study plan video Atomic Habits We Should All Be Millionaires by Rachel Rodgers Mindset by Carol Dweck Start With Why by Simon Sinek Learning How To Learn Ladybug Episode Coursera's Learning How To Learn Make It Stick Moonwalking With Einstein The Power of Habit Why We Sleep Tiny Habits Trello Todoist Asana Ali’s trello set up Badass Habits by Jen Cincero You are a Badass by Jen Cincero DynamoDB book by Alex DeBrie Getting Started In Tech Wellington Johnson The Beginning Software Engineer’s Playbook Amy Cruz Organizing Solutions for People with ADHD, 2nd Edition Transcript Here is this episode's transcript
How to Choose a Tech Stack
Welcome back to the 6th season of the Ladybug Podcast!! In this episode, we’ll be chatting about choosing a tech stack for your project is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as an engineer. It will determine many aspects of your app, from development speed, to scalability, to the cost to run it. We’ll talk about how to choose technologies from two angles: one from an individual developer’s perspective: how do you decide what to learn? And the second from an architectural perspective: how do you decide what technologies to use for your project? Show Notes [02:53] What is a tech stack? [06:01] What are some main points to think about when choosing what to learn? [13:11] Look at job posts in your area [19:49] How to deal with overwhelm [25:28] Think Through your app [31:01] Your engineering resources [39:51] Is the technology production ready? [52:18] Technical concerns [1:00:09] Other important thoughts [1:08:52] Shoutouts Resources Ladybug interview episode Ladybug resume episode Ladybug learning path episode Core-js Article Colby Fayock Ladybug Systems Design Episode Lodash vs. underscore StackShare Transcript This episode's Transcript
So You've got a Job Offer, Now What?
You studied a bunch, landed the interview, passed the whiteboarding exercises, nailed the behavioral interview, and finally got the job. Congratulations on your new position! So now what? Today we’re sharing some of our experiences to help your job transition happen smoothly. Let’s get into it. Show Notes [01:54] Salary Negotiation [11:43] What to do in the first two weeks [50:42] Shoutouts Resources Grammarly - https://www.grammarly.com/ 5 Reasons Why Spotify’s onboarding is better than yours - https://compiled.blog/blog/five-reasons-why-spotifys-onboarding-is-better-than-yours Cross-cultural Communication - https://www.ladybug.dev/episodes/cross-cultural-communication?rq=culture Crucial Conversations - https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-Conversations-Talking-Stakes-Second/dp/1469266822 Gusto - https://gusto.com/ Transcript https://github.com/ladybug-podcast/ladybug-website/blob/master/transcripts/70-so-you-got-a-job.md
Getting Hooked on React Part 2
React is a JavaScript library for building user interfaces and is one of the most widely used libraries to date. Last season we discussed the basics of React and today we’re going to dive into the more advanced aspects of the library. Let’s get started. Episode Notes [04:16] React Hooks [22:28] State Management [26:43] Design Patterns [40:39] Performance [49:33] Testing [51:15] Prop types and TypeScript [55:21] Shoutouts Resources Getting Hooked On React - https://www.ladybug.dev/episodes/getting-hooked-on-react?rq=react React patterns - https://reactpatterns.com/ React Chrome Developer Tools - https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/react-developer-tools/fmkadmapgofadopljbjfkapdkoienihi react-window - https://react-window.now.sh/#/examples/list/fixed-size react-virtualized - https://bvaughn.github.io/react-virtualized/#/components/List Methods of Improving & Optimizing Performance In React Apps - https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2020/07/methods-performance-react-apps/ React Testing Library - https://testing-library.com/docs/react-testing-library/intro/ Enzyme - https://enzymejs.github.io/enzyme/ Jest - https://jestjs.io/docs/en/getting-started A Complete Guide to useEffect - https://overreacted.io/a-complete-guide-to-useeffect/ Use Refs Sparingly - https://blog.logrocket.com/why-you-should-use-refs-sparingly-in-production/ Presentational and Stateful components thoughts - https://medium.com/@dan_abramov/smart-and-dumb-components-7ca2f9a7c7d0 Episode with Angie - https://www.ladybug.dev/episodes/teaching-code Kent C. Dodd’s Testing React - https://testingjavascript.com/ TypeScript book Stefan Baumgartner - https://typescript-book.com/ Playground Inspector Tik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@lukedonkin/video/6898240190133980418?lang=en Transcript https://github.com/ladybug-podcast/ladybug-website/blob/master/transcripts/69-intermediate-react.md
An Introduction to E-Commerce
2020 was one of the biggest years in the history of e-commerce. In fact, the pandemic spurred such a growth in e-commerce that the industry as a whole moved forward about 10 years in 3 months’ time. Whether you’re interested in starting your own store or learning how to develop for e-commerce, this week on the podcast we’re breaking it all down for you. Episode Notes [02:40] Platforms [07:22] Why e-commerce over brick & mortar [11:08] Starting your own store [41:16] Developing for e-commerce [49:03] Shoutouts Resources The Originals - https://www.amazon.com/Originals-How-Non-Conformists-Move-World/dp/014312885X The Power of Habit - https://www.amazon.com/Power-Habit-What-Life-Business/dp/081298160X Printful - https://www.printful.com/ Printify - https://printify.com/ TeeLaunch - https://teelaunch.com/ Creative Market - https://creativemarket.com/ Steve Schoger's Episode - https://www.ladybug.dev/episodes/design-for-devs?rq=design Placeit.net - https://placeit.net/ Jenna Kutcher Writing a Bio - https://jennakutcherblog.com/5-ways-write-better-bio-page/ Accessibility Episode - https://www.ladybug.dev/episodes/web-accessibilitiy?rq=accessibility Growth Hacker Marketing - https://www.amazon.com/Growth-Hacker-Marketing-Primer-Advertising/dp/1591847389 Such a Fun Age - https://www.amazon.com/Such-Fun-Age-Kiley-Reid/dp/052554190X Think Again - https://www.amazon.com/Think-Again-Power-Knowing-What/dp/1984878107 Jamstack Ecommerce - https://github.com/jamstack-cms/jamstack-ecommerce Next.js Ecommerce Starter - https://nextjs.org/commerce Shopify.dev - https://shopify.dev/concepts/shopify-introduction Shopify Devs Twitch - https://www.twitch.tv/shopifydevs Shopify Partners - https://www.shopify.com/partners Transcript https://github.com/ladybug-podcast/ladybug-website/blob/master/transcripts/68-ecommerce.md
Cryptography
Cryptography is a method of protecting information and communication through the use of code so only those for whom the information is intended can read and process it. Cryptography is used for many things from online banking to GitHub commits. Today we’ll dive into the basics of cryptography. Let’s get started! Show Notes [0:25] Our experience with cryptography [03:08] What is cryptography? [04:21] Four objectives of cryptography [09:44] Types of cryptography [23:34] Historical Cryptography [30:54] How to learn cryptography [32:34] Shoutouts We got this note about RSA private/public keys from a listener: "The point of having public and private keys is that the public key can only encrypt a message, and only the private key can decrypt the message. So the public key is safe for anyone to have, since you can’t use it to read anyone else’s message. The private key needs to stay private so only you can read messages encrypted by the public key" Thanks for the clarification, Brad! Resources Coursera course - https://www.coursera.org/learn/crypto#syllabus Crash course - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhXCTbFnK8o Khan academy - https://www.khanacademy.org/computing/computer-science/cryptography Passport JS - http://www.passportjs.org/ OAuth - https://oauth.net/2/ Episode with Tailor Tolliver on security - https://www.ladybug.dev/episodes/web-security?rq=security The Code Book by Simon Singh - https://www.amazon.com/Code-Book-Science-Secrecy-Cryptography/dp/0385495323 Carcassonne - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/822/carcassonne Auth0 - https://auth0.com/ Amazon Cognito - https://aws.amazon.com/cognito/ Transcript https://github.com/ladybug-podcast/ladybug-website/blob/master/transcripts/67-cryptography.md
Financial Planning
It’s no secret that a major perk to working in development is the salary. Developers are often paid higher than the average salary, and as you move up in a company, you can see significant growth in your income. We all know financial literacy is often skipped in early education, which is why this week we’re talking all things financial planning with our special guest, Shannon Lee Simmons, to teach you what you need to know about managing your finances as a high earner. Show Notes [0:41] Tell us about yourself and what you do [02:00] Where to find a financial advisor? [03:48] What does it mean to be a high earner? [06:47] One of the biggest questions I see asked is whether you should save your money or pay off your debt first. How do you decide what to do with your money? [10:57] What benchmarks exist for net worth? Should we care? Where should you keep your money? How much should be kept in cash vs. investments? [19:14] How should you balance your lifestyle with wealth building? How do you recommend avoiding lifestyle creep but on the flip side, how do you make sure you’re allowing yourself to enjoy your money while also saving for the future? [23:09] We have an international audience so without getting too specific about different types of retirement accounts, what general advice can you give to those looking to save for retirement? When is the right time to see a financial advisor [28:27] What are your thoughts of the FIRE movement? [32:28] What are options and restricted stock units/RSUs? When should I consider taking equity for a lower salary? [36:04] Do you have any thoughts/ advice to any of these Wall Street Bets people investing in GME stocks? What tools do you recommend to people to help manage their finances? [41:42] Shoutouts [44:29] Where can our listeners find you on the internet? Resources New School of Finance - https://newschooloffinance.com Worry-Free Money - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07169VZRM Financial Starter Kit - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08B2LQ98X Transcript https://github.com/ladybug-podcast/ladybug-website/blob/master/transcripts/66-personal-finance.md