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!
Getting Started With The Cloud
Episode Notes You may have heard about the Cloud and thought, what do the fluffy things in the sky have to do with computers? Today’s episode is all about what the cloud is, how you can use it, and common cloud services. Show Notes 2:29 - What is the cloud? 14:09 - Benefits of cloud vs. physical servers 23:06 - Four types of cloud computing 28:42 - Cloud providers 32:39 - Gettings started with AWS 36:33 - Big services Resources AWS Six Advantages of Cloud Computing - https://docs.aws.amazon.com/whitepapers/latest/aws-overview/six-advantages-of-cloud-computing.html (some phrasing from the benefits section is from this article) Pummelling the Platform–Performance Testing Shopify: https://shopify.engineering/performance-testing-shopify Explain the Cloud Like I'm 10: https://www.amazon.com/Explain-Cloud-Like-Im-10-ebook/dp/B0765C4SNR 97 Things Every Cloud Engineer Should Know - https://www.amazon.com/Things-Every-Cloud-Engineer-Should/dp/1492076732 A Cloud Guru - https://acloudguru.com/ AWS Heroes - https://aws.amazon.com/developer/community/heroes/ Transcript https://github.com/ladybug-podcast/ladybug-website/blob/master/transcripts/65-cloud-101.md
Writing Ebooks
Last season we discussed the broader topic of creating digital content. This week on the podcast we’re doing a deeper dive into e-books: our experience with writing and releasing them, the tools you need to write your own ebook, and best practices for marketing and selling your book. Episode Notes [1:33] Our experience with E-books [6:05] Self-published vs. Publisher [11:20] Software for creating an E-book [15:49] Where can I sell my E-book? [25:01] Pricing [34:51] Top tips [43:00] Shoutouts Resources Canva - https://www.canva.com/ Bookwright - https://www.blurb.com/bookwright Leanpub - https://leanpub.com/ Shopify - https://www.shopify.com/ Payhip - https://payhip.com/ Podia - https://www.podia.com/ How I Made $40,000 Off An E-Book Before I Published It - https://compiled.blog/blog/how-i-made-40000-dollars-on-a-book 10 Things I Wish I knew before learning to code - ebook.welearncode.com The Beginner’s Guide To Blogging - https://payhip.com/b/FX8C Start Freelancing Today - https://startfreelancing.today/ De-Coding The Technical Interview Process - https://technicalinterviews.dev/ Adobe Indesign - https://www.adobe.com/products/indesign.html Otter.ai - https://otter.ai/ Send Owl - https://www.sendowl.com/ Nikema's Book - https://nikemaprophet.com/ Mailchimp - https://mailchimp.com/ ConvertKit - https://convertkit.com/ Stripe - https://stripe.com/ Sendy - https://sendy.co/ Transcript https://github.com/ladybug-podcast/ladybug-website/blob/master/transcripts/64-ebooks.md
Get to Know Your Co-workers: Non-Developer Tech Roles
There are a bunch of people you’ll work with as a software engineer -- many will be other developers, but many have other jobs as well. In this episode we’ll talk about the other people you may work with: the designers, project managers, marketers, and more and how to best work with them. Let’s dive in. Show Notes [3:29] Product Management [7:37] Design [11:34] UX Research [13:53] Management [18:57] Marketing [20:50] Sales [22:06] Business Development [22:53] Technical Writing [25:28] Account Management [29:16] QA Engineer [32:22] Scrum Master [34:35] DevRel Resources Growth Hacker Marketing - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18454317-growth-hacker-marketing Project managers vs. product managers - https://www.paymoapp.com/blog/product-manager-vs-project-manager/ Google Optimize - https://optimize.google.com LB Episode With Amal - https://www.ladybug.dev/episodes/engineering-management?rq=engineering%20management The Manager’s Path - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33369254-the-manager-s-path Crucial Conversations - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15014.Crucial_Conversations Resilient Management - https://resilient-management.com/ Testing episode with Angie - https://www.ladybug.dev/episodes/testing-101?rq=testing Kim Maida’s episode about dev advocacy - https://www.ladybug.dev/episodes/developer-communities?rq=developer%20advocacy Transcript https://github.com/ladybug-podcast/ladybug-website/blob/master/transcripts/63-non-dev-jobs.md
Web Security
It’s more important than ever to build secure web applications, but many developers forget to account for web security. In this episode, we’re joined by Tailor Herrarte, an Infosec Engineer, Cybersecurity Career consultant, beauty ambassador & content creator who goes by the moniker The Digital Empress. Today we're discussing types of web security, the dangers of lacking said security and a few things you can do to keep your site secure. Let’s get started. Show Notes [2:20] All About Tailor [12:33] Content Security [27:36] Connection Security [30:35] Data Security [35:02] Integrity [39:40] Clickjacking [43:28] Questions from Twitter [52:09] Shoutouts Resources Tailor’s Website - https://thedigitalempress.com/ Tailor’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/digitalempress Tailor’s YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs_zhS3gcMQrruGcv6WVm_w The Ultimate Guide For Getting Into Cybersecurity For Beginners - https://thedigitalempress.com/store/p/the-ultimate-guide-for-getting-into-cybersecurity-for-beginners-ebook Proton Mail - https://protonmail.com/ Dashlane - https://www.dashlane.com/ LastPass - https://www.lastpass.com/ OnePass - https://1password.com/ Security Plus - https://www.comptia.org/certifications/security MDN Security - https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Security Transcript https://github.com/ladybug-podcast/ladybug-website/blob/master/transcripts/62-security.md
Coding Bootcamps: What You Should Consider Before Signing Up
Episode Notes Coding bootcamps aim to help students gain the skills they need to land their first job in web development in months instead of years. Today we’ll be diving into some of the benefits and drawbacks of coding bootcamps, and we’ll explore our personal experiences learning from them and teaching at them. Shownotes [3:01] Our Bootcamp experiences [9:58] What are bootcamps [21:05] Benefits and drawbacks of bootcamps [42:29] What comes after the bootcamp [46:31] Shoutouts Resources Sidney's video on bootcamps - https://youtu.be/TTu8KQ1BdGs General Assembly - https://generalassemb.ly/ Emma’s DeCoding The Technical Interview Process - https://technicalinterviews.dev/ Launch Code - https://www.launchcode.org/ Savvy Coders - https://savvycoders.com/ Ladybug Learning how to Learn Episode - https://www.ladybug.dev/episodes/learning-to-learn Georgia Tech Masters Degree - https://www.cc.gatech.edu/ Coursera Degree Programs - https://www.coursera.org/degrees/bachelors Emma’s Technical Resume Course - https://www.linkedin.com/learning/writing-a-tech-resume Ladybug Portfolio Episode - https://www.ladybug.dev/episodes/technical-portfolios?rq=portfolio 200 Black women in tech to follow - https://hackernoon.com/200-black-women-in-tech-to-follow-on-twitter-2020-list-1uck31a9 Ladybug Technical Resume Episode - https://www.ladybug.dev/episodes/resumes?rq=resume Ladybug Podcast YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCakPieAEGG42zBuaf-qZCBA Transcript https://github.com/ladybug-podcast/ladybug-website/blob/master/transcripts/61-bootcamps.md
Getting Started with Next.js
One of the hottest new technologies in the frontend ecosystem is Next.js. Why is it so awesome? And what can you use it for? In this episode we’ll be talking all about it. Show Notes 01:45 - What is Next.js 7:05 - What are some of its benefits 23:09 - SSG vs. SSR 27:38 - Routing 38:17 - Shoutouts Resources Ladybug YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCakPieAEGG42zBuaf-qZCBA Chris Enns https://www.lemonproductions.ca/ Teenage Bounty Hunters https://www.netflix.com/title/80244296 DEV Toast Post https://dev.to/ekafyi/a-bite-of-toast-the-new-jamstack-meta-framework-4nel Toast GitHub Repo https://github.com/toastdotdev/toast Next.js Documentation https://nextjs.org/ Next.js E-commerce Starter https://nextjs.org/commerce Gatsby https://www.gatsbyjs.com/ Nuxt.js https://nuxtjs.org/ Nest https://nestjs.com/ Transcript https://github.com/ladybug-podcast/ladybug-website/blob/master/transcripts/60-nextjs.md
21 Web Development Trends We're Watching in 2021
Season 5 is finally here and we are so excited to kick it off with a new host, Sidney! We have finally said goodbye to 2020, so what can we expect to be the new trends, the hip tech. We can't predict the future but we can tell you our predictions for trends in 2021. [3:47] 1) Working Remotely [6:50] 2) Cloud Security [11:36] 3) Decentralization of tech workers [14:54] 4) Framer motion [16:50] 5) Metaframeworks [21:42] 6) Headless CMS [23:39] 7) Online IDEs [26:37] 8) Low code [29:15] 9) TypeScript [33:16] 10) Progressive Web Apps [36:20] 11) Styled components [38:47] 12) AI/ML [41:56] 13) Alternative interface development [45:37] 14) Minimalist web frameworks [47:04] 15) New CSS Libraries [50:24] 16) Static site deployment tools [52:25] 17) Responsive design [54:58] 18) Deno [57:13] 19) Ecommerce [59:46] 20) Server-side rendering [1:01:50] 21) System design [1:04:23] Shoutouts Resources A Software Engineer's Guide to Seniority - https://www.gitcuteguide.dev Jarvis Johnson’s Twitter Hack Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMG_KN7GMXI 2PM's book list for 2021 - https://2pml.com/2020/11/02/essential-reading Ladybug Animation Episode - https://www.ladybug.dev/episodes/micro-interactions-and-animation-libraries?rq=animation Ladybug Working Remote Episode - https://www.ladybug.dev/episodes/working-remotely Ladybug Microinteractions Episode - https://www.ladybug.dev/episodes/micro-interactions-and-animation-libraries Scott Tolinski’s Framer Motion Course - https://www.leveluptutorials.com/tutorials/animating-react-with-framer-motion Ladybug Podcast Content Creation Episode - https://www.ladybug.dev/episodes/creating-digital-content Code Sandbox - https://codesandbox.io/s Ives' Twitter - https://twitter.com/CompuIves Cloud9 - https://www.cloud9.gg/ Codespaces - https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/remote/codespaces Nacelle - https://getnacelle.com Scott Tolinski's Styled Components Course - https://www.leveluptutorials.com/tutorials/styled-components Styled Components - https://styled-components.com/ Ladybug CSS Part 2 Episode - https://www.ladybug.dev/episodes/css-part-2?rq=flexbox Ladybug Systems Design Episode - https://www.ladybug.dev/episodes/systems-design Tiny Habits - https://www.tinyhabits.com/ Transcript https://github.com/ladybug-podcast/ladybug-website/blob/e598a02a814f551cf8091729fe3b7b8944262979/transcripts/59-21-trends-2021.md
Python
Normally, we talk about frontend development -- but there’s so many other niches within programming out there. Today we’re going to talk about Python what it’s used for, why it’s great, and how it’s different than JavaScript. Shownotes 01:16 - Our experiences with Python 03:37 - What is Python? 15:50 - What is it used for? 23:37 - How is it different from JavaScript? 32:35 - Resources for learning more 34:15 - Shoutouts Resources The Zen of Python Level up with JavaScript I'm a Snake Video Coursera Automate the Boring Stuff with Python Hitchiker's Guide to Python Practical Business Python Transcript Here is the transcript for this week's episode.
Creating Digital Content
Blogs, YouTube videos, podcasts, e-books, and online courses are all types of digital content. If you’ve ever wondered how you can get started creating digital content of your own, then look no further. Today we’re joined by Sidney Buckner, a Software Engineer and YouTuber, to discuss how we got started creating digital content, how much you can make from publishing content, and more! Let’s get started. Shownotes 03:00 - What kinds of content do we create? 06:08 - Pros of creating digital content 14:19 - Cons of creating digital content 19:01 - Online courses 24:27 - YouTube 37:38 - E-books 41:17 - Blogs + podcasts 44:17 - How to monetize your digital content 47:13 - Shoutouts Resources Sidney’s Twitter Sidney’s YouTube Sidney’s Periscope Q&A Sidney’s email list Sidney’s Instagram Ladybug Blogging Episode Emma's blog Emma's blogging book Ali's blog Ali's blogging advice Fiverr Canva Payhip Leanpub Podia Blurb ConvertKit MailChimp How I Made $40,000 Off A Book Before I Published It Tube Buddy Kelly Stamps Black Tech Pipeline Black Tech Twitter Pariss Athena Ladybug Side Project Episode You are a badass book Transcript [](https://github.com/ladybug-podcast/ladybug-website/blob/master/transcripts/57-digital-content.md)Here is the transcript for this week's episode.
Productivity Tips and Tricks
If you often find your days spiraling out of control, you’re not alone! Ensuring you have a productive workday isn’t always easy. There are many ways you can structure your day, and everyone has a different method that works best for them. This week on the podcast we’re giving you a rundown of our favorite productivity hacks you can use to improve your everyday life, both at work and at home. Let’s dig in! Show Notes 2:30 - Take care of your physical and mental health 11:33 - Scheduling your day and week 15:46 - Prioritizing your work 21:40 - Motivation 28:04 - Communication 37:13 - Taking notes & to-do lists 39:48 - Forming habits 41:59 - Batching 43:11 - Balancing work and life 45:20 - Shoutouts Resources The Power Of Habit Atomic Habits Me & White Supremacy Brain Science Mireille Reece Get Things Done Ashley McNamara: The Thing About Burnout Becoming Super Woman Why We Sleep Notion Todoist Asana Radical Candor A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor Transcript Here is the transcript for this week's episode.
Git & GitHub
Git is both simple and complex. You can usually get through your workday by memorizing a few commands, but under the hood there’s so much more to it. Today we will dive deep into Git with a special guest, Monica Powell. Let’s dive in! Shownotes 2:08 - Monica's introduction 2:44 - GitHub & other remotes 7:50 - Common Git commands 22:23 - Branches 31:26 - Debugging 36:01 - Workflows 41:43 - GitHub features 47:12 - Contributing to open source 50:33 - Shoutouts 52:40 - Where can you find Monica on the internet? Resources Monica's Egghead profile Understanding Git Git Lens Bisect conference talks Ladybug Testing 101 Ladybug Hacktoberfest episode 1 Ladybug Hacktoberfest episode 2 Monica's portfolio Monica's Twitter Egghead.io Working In Public Transcript Here is the transcript for this week's episode.
A Beginner's Guide to Freelancing
Did you know that over one-third of the world’s workforce freelances at least part-time? As freelancing becomes more popular, you may be considering giving the freelance lifestyle a shot. This week on the podcast we’re giving you an introduction to freelancing, from establishing your rates and building a portfolio to finding your first freelance client and managing the project. We close with some final tips, including how to avoid scope creep and how to take time off as a freelancer. Shownotes 01:40 What is freelancing? 06:28 Benefits of freelancing 10:06 How to establish your rates 13:59 Building a portfolio 20:34 Finding your first client 38:53 The project management process 51:24 Parting tips 53:56 Shoutouts Resources Start Freelancing Today Portfolio Episode Fiverr FreshBooks QuickBooks Basecamp Trello Asana Monday The Foundling Rare Birds Book Club Transcript Here is the transcript for this week's episode.
Web Accessibility
Accessibility is the process of creating applications that are usable by everyone, especially focusing on those with disabilities. As web developers, it’s important that we design and build our applications to be usable by everyone, so in today’s episode, we’re joined by Wendy Fox, the design systems lead at LogMeIn, to discuss nine common pitfalls of application accessibility and what you can do to fix them. Show Notes 4:46 - Why should we care about accessibility? 8:43 - Types of accessibility 12:24 - Semantic HTML 16:37 - Virtually hiding content 17:57 - Aria label vs. labelledby 21:14 - The accessibility tree 23:50 - Focus states 27:29 - Color contrast 32:04 - Keyboard traps 35:02 - Animations 37:38 - Time based content 41:21 - Placeholders vs. labels 47:02 - Accessibility tools Tools Wendy Fox Twitter Google Lighthouse Axe accessibility checker Transcript Here is the transcript for this week's episode.
Cross-Cultural Communication
Have you ever worked on a team comprised of people from all over the world and wondered why you were having difficulty communicating and getting work done? That’s because every culture has their own way of communicating. Today we’ll chat about how different cultures communicate, give negative feedback, make decisions, and perceive time in the hopes that you can improve your team collaboration. Show Notes 01:20 Does talking about culture cause us to stereotype? 10:00 Communicating 16:54 Evaluating 26:41 Deciding 27:38 Trusting 39:56 Scheduling 44:57 Shoutouts Resources The Culture Map Emma's Talk Full Focus Planner Transcript Here is the transcript for this week's episode.
Getting Hooked on React
React is a frontend library that is in super high demand in the industry. But, it can be difficult to get up and running with. Today we’ll talk about with React: why it’s so great, how data flows, and the gotchas we encountered when learning it. Let’s get started! Shownotes 02:15 What is React? 06:35 Framework vs. Library 10:43 Why is it helpful? 12:32 What is a component? 22:52 React's lifecycle 25:47 Data in React 36:34 JSX 37:24 Setting up a React app 43:34 Shoutouts Resources JavaScript frameworks episode React lifecycle Design systems episode Tyler McGinnis React Kent Dodds Epic React Dave Ceddia React CodeSandbox.io A Complete Beginner's Guide to React Transcript Here is the transcript for this week's episode.