ConTejas Code Tejas Kumar

Links
- Codecrafters (sponsor): https://tej.as/codecrafters
- Shruti on X: https://x.com/shrutikapoor08
- Slack Kit design system: https://slack.engineering/the-gradual-design-system-how-we-built-slack-kit/
- Tejas on X: https://x.com/tejaskumar_
Summary
Shruti Kapoor, a member of technical staff at Slack, discusses her role, the impact of Slack on users, and recent redesign efforts. She covers the patenting process, technical implementation of features like clips and huddles using Amazon S3 and Chime SDK, and front-end development practices at Slack.
Shruti also shares insights into Slack's interview process and compares it to Tejas' experience at Spotify, discussing the use of 'for' loops in interviews and her approach to code review. She concludes with thoughts on choosing between startups and big tech companies and the importance of diversity and inclusion in the industry.
Takeaways
1. Slack ships code frequently, even on Fridays, and rolls back quickly if issues arise.
2. The redesign aims to reduce cognitive overload and enhance user experience.
3. User feedback is crucial and actively gathered from social media, Zendesk tickets, and user research.
4. Slack's interview process includes breaks and at-home assignments, focusing on both technical skills and empathy.
5. Diversity and inclusion are vital, with efforts to ensure equal representation in technical discussions and panels.
Chapters
09:39 Working at Slack and Impact on Users
18:35 Redesigning Slack and User Feedback
33:00 Patenting and Inventing
42:39 Clips and Huddles
51:40 Design System and Front-end
56:02 Testing and Iteration
57:59 Career Journey and Joining Slack
01:00:38 Slack's Interview Process
01:01:38 At-Home Assignment
01:02:35 Comparison with Spotify's Interview Process
01:03:34 Technical Interview Experience at Spotify
01:05:02 Preference for Functional Programming
01:05:43 Using 'for' Loop Instead of 'reduce'
01:06:39 Approach to Code Review
01:08:35 Code Review as a Learning Experience
01:09:58 Testing Code during Code Review
01:11:10 Choosing Between Startups and Big Tech
01:11:39 Advantages and Trade-offs of Big Tech
01:16:57 Advantages and Trade-offs of Startups
01:18:47 Changing Teams in a Big Company
01:22:51 Navigating Conversations about Changing Teams
01:25:40 Role of Diversity and Inclusion in the Job

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Links
- CodeCrafters (sponsor): https://tej.as/codecrafters
- Frame: https://brilliant.xyz/products/frame
- Bobak on X: https://x.com/btavangar
Summary
In this episode, Bobak Tavangar, founder of Brilliant Labs, discusses the creation of the AR device Frame and the open-source assistant Noah. He shares his journey from working at Microsoft and Apple to founding his own AR company, emphasizing innovation, simplicity, and user transformation in AR. He highlights the limitations of relying on large companies and big budgets, and the unique focus of Frame on AI, user experience, security, and privacy. Frame aims to create open, hackable smart glasses, offering distinctive, lightweight designs and future style variations. The glasses integrate with smartphones, and the assistant Noah extends developer capabilities. Tavangar reflects on the lessons from Google Glass, the challenges of hardware creation, and the importance of design and purpose.
Takeaways
- Innovation in AR comes from taking unique paths.
- Noah, an open-source assistant, enables a broader developer ecosystem.
- Frame smart glasses focus on user experience, security, and privacy.
- Combining openness with quality and curation is key.
- Learn from Google Glass's successes and failures.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction and Background
10:02 - The Genesis of Brilliant Labs and AR
14:52 - The Missing Ingredient in AR
28:18 - Noah: An Open-Source Assistant for Frame
31:20 - Differentiating Frame from Other AR Devices
35:09 - Creating Open and Hackable Smart Glasses
38:51 - The Third Path: Combining Openness with Quality and Curation
41:41 - Networking Human Experience
45:42 - The Dangers of Subsidizing Product Sales at a Loss
57:31 - The Future of Glasses: Smart and Indispensable
01:01:01 - Designing for Thinness, Weight, and Distinctive Style
01:04:49 - Local Models: Balancing Functionality and Hardware Constraints
01:08:03 - Lessons from Google Glass and the Importance of Purpose and Design
01:12:20 - Advice for Aspiring Hardware Founders
01:21:44 - Specifications of Frame: Battery Life and Charging
01:27:08 - The Only Rules That Matter: God and Physics


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Links
- CodeCrafters (Sponsor): https://tej.as/codecrafters
- Daniel on X: https://x.com/danieljcafonso
- Daniel's comic book talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBxipPwGvHY&list=PL6EW34-Kvy8UfigafIhb5l4thKqOvMgIF
Summary
Daniel Afonso shares his journey as a developer advocate, emphasizing his passion for educating developers through conference talks and comic books. He discusses using storytelling and entertainment to explain complex technical topics, including fine-grained reactivity with Marvel's Watchers as an analogy. He addresses overcoming imposter syndrome by learning and presenting topics he initially struggles with and offers tips for creating effective Call for Proposals (CFPs). This episode educates listeners on how tech conferences work and how to secure speaking spots, highlighting the importance of passion, authenticity, and personal experiences in talks, the role of storytelling, and the need for diversity and empathy in developer relations. We also discuss the significance of growth and change in professional environments.
Takeaways
- Embrace opportunities for growth and learning to overcome imposter syndrome.
- Use storytelling and entertainment in presentations to make them engaging and memorable.
- Passion and authenticity are key in delivering engaging talks.
- Diversity in conference talks is important to bring different perspectives and ideas to the audience.
- Empathy is crucial in developer relations and understanding the needs and struggles of others.
Chapters
03:18 Introduction
06:22 Imposter Syndrome and Conference Speaking
12:14 Using Comic Books to Teach Technical Topics
25:17 Explaining Fine-Grained Reactivity with Watchers
33:12 The Process of Eliminating Imposter Syndrome
35:26 Creating Effective CFPs
01:00:43 The Importance of Diversity in Conference Talks
01:07:18 Passion and Authenticity in Speaking
01:26:23 The Importance of Empathy in Developer Relations
01:37:21 The Importance of Recognizing Personal Value

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Links
- Codecrafters (sponsor): https://tej.as/codecrafters
- Guillermo on 𝕏: https://x.com/rauchg
- Vercel: https://vercel.com
- Latency Numbers Every Frontend Developer Should Know: https://vercel.com/blog/latency-numbers-every-web-developer-should-know
- Latency Numbers Every Programmer Should Know: https://brenocon.com/dean_perf.html
Summary
In this discussion with Guillermo Rauch (creator of Socket.io, Next.js, and Vercel CEO), we cover open source, latency, software as physical systems, PPR, distributed systems, edge computing, Vercel’s data centers, AWS/Azure partnerships, reducing cold starts, and balancing quality with rapid shipping.
Takeaways
- Starting from a solid open-source background.
- Understanding latency is crucial for optimizing user experience.
- Viewing software as physical systems aids in performance and scalability.
- Partial pre-rendering (PPR) improves performance by merging static pre-rendering with dynamic server-side rendering.
- Globally distributed systems face challenges like data residency, cost, and compliance.
- Edge computing is key to enhancing website performance and user experience.
- Vercel uses edge computing for fast data transfer and performance.
- Vercel’s infrastructure includes mega data centers and partnerships with AWS and Azure.
- Reducing cold start times is a Vercel priority, with significant advancements.
- Maintaining high quality and attention to detail is crucial, even with rapid shipping.
Chapters
03:42 Introduction and Background
11:55 Importance of Latency
32:24 Challenges of Globally Distributed Systems
43:11 Power of Edge Computing
53:18 Edge as the Blessed Path

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Links

Codecrafters (Sponsor): https://tej.as/codecraftersStately: https://stately.aiClerk: https://clerk.comJeff on 𝕏: https://x.com/jescalan
Summary
In this episode, Jeff Escalante (Director of Engineering at Clerk.com) discusses his shift from web development to management, emphasizing replacing oneself as an IC, expanding vision, and acting at the promotion level. He covers leveling employees, handling interview ambiguity, prioritizing customer needs, using Clerk’s feedback system, and choosing tools like ProductLane. The talk also highlights evaluating tech skills, being authentic at work, and balancing honesty with team safety.
Takeaways
1. Promotions and Management: Manage current duties before moving to management; promotions should reflect demonstrated behavior and vision, with clear guidelines and support from companies.
2. Handling Ambiguity and Feedback: Address ambiguity in interviews with thoughtful analysis and solutions; prioritize customer feedback and tech debt using centralized systems.
3. Choosing Software and Partnerships: Select software based on integration and vendor responsiveness; collaborate with smaller companies for mutual benefits.
4. Tech Skills and Authenticity: Evaluate tech skills and adaptability in interviews; be authentic while adapting to work contexts.
5. Relationships and Communication: Balance honesty and trust in relationships; respect communication preferences to build genuine connections. Jeff's handbook offers valuable insights for engineering teams.
Chapters
04:40 Introduction and Background
07:52 Starting Out in Web Development
13:39 Transitioning to Management at HashiCorp
17:42 Working on Websites and Next.js
29:49 Promotions and Expanding Field of Vision
36:43 Navigating Promotions and Expectations
41:16 Dealing with Frustration and Finding New Opportunities
41:50 The Importance of Properly Leveling Employees
43:21 Strategies for Leveling Employees
47:09 Handling Ambiguity in Interviews
50:48 The Value of Conversation in Defining Projects
53:21 Determining Comfort Levels in Ambiguity
53:54 The Vision-Scope Leveling Question
58:23 Prioritizing Customer Needs and Tech Debt
01:01:02 Navigating the Chaos of Undefined Spaces
01:05:55 Listening to Customer Feedback at Clerk
01:12:07 Importance of Centralized Feedback System
01:12:56 Challenges in Mapping Feedback to Projects
01:15:47 Choosing Product Lane over Other Tools
01:20:17 Value of Partnerships and Investing in Software
01:23:51 The Third Pillar: Evaluating Tech Skills and Handling Ambiguity
01:29:55 Honoring Context and Being Your Full Self
01:31:43 Navigating Personal and Professional Relationships
01:39:02 Balancing Honesty and Building Genuine Relationships
01:40:05 Closing Remarks and Handbook Release

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Let's stay in touch? https://twitter.com/tejaskumar_
Links
- Codecrafters (Sponsor): https://tej.as/codecrafters
- Stately.ai (Sponsor): https://stately.ai
- Matt on X: https://x.com/biilmann
- Netlify: https://netlify.com
Summary
In this podcast episode, Mathias Biilmann, co-founder and CEO of Netlify, discusses the evolution of Netlify and the invention of the term "Jamstack" in the serverless landscape. Throughout this conversation, Biilmann shares essential life lessons for CEOs and aspiring entrepreneurs, delving deep into the engineering challenges and successes of building Netlify.
Takeaways
- Engineering Innovation: Netlify's journey began with a strong focus on engineering excellence, introducing innovative solutions like deploy previews and immutable deploys. This podcast highlights how Netlify revolutionized the web UI layer, now moving towards exciting uses of AI and open source technologies.
- Jamstack and Serverless Architecture: Biilmann discusses the significance of the Jamstack approach and serverless functions in scaling Netlify's architecture. The platform's ability to handle high traffic and resist DDoS attacks is emphasized, showcasing the robustness of its engineering.
- CEO Insights and Life Lessons: As CEO, Biilmann reflects on the strategic decisions made during Netlify's growth, from handling large enterprise clients like Unilever to implementing a Netlify-specific CDN. His insights provide valuable life lessons for listeners interested in technology leadership.
- AI and Artificial Intelligence: The integration of AI into Netlify's platform is a focal point, with AI features enhancing user experience and operational efficiency. The podcast discusses AI-powered features like deploy diagnostics and AI responses in tools like Slack, which align with the latest trends in artificial intelligence and VR.
- Open Source and Community Engagement: Open sourcing parts of Netlify's platform has contributed significantly to its community engagement. This podcast episode explores how open source principles are integral to Netlify's development and how they resonate with broader engineering practices.
- The Role of a Founder CEO: Reflecting on the podcast, Matt shares life lessons on the evolving role of a CEO in the tech industry. From coding to strategic decision-making, the responsibilities vary but always aim to add significant value to the business.
Chapters
05:23 Introduction and Background
08:36 The Vision for Netlify
11:24 Challenges and Resistance
14:15 Self-Belief and Conviction
17:08 The Git-Centric Workflow
33:24 Scaling to Functions and Custom CDN
38:03 Building a Software-Only CDN
39:27 Open Sourcing Netlify
41:28 Separation of Concerns
41:50 The Role of the CEO and Founder
44:58 Handling Traffic Spikes and DDoS Attacks
54:42 The Importance of a Free Tier
56:49 Bottom-Up Approach and Enterprise Selling
01:02:54 The Evolution of Revenue Generation
01:04:42 The Power of Developer Advocacy
01:06:29 Handling Large Enterprise Clients
01:07:50 Netlify's Enterprise Customers
01:08:37 Improvements to Netlify's Local Development Experience
01:09:37 Simplifying Adapters for Frameworks
01:10:36 Improving Caching for Dynamic Content
01:11:33 New Features for Frameworks on Netlify
01:14:27 Simplified Next.js Runtime on Netlify
01:16:55 Long-Running Functions and Jobs
01:21:44 AI Features and UI 2.0
01:25:31 Using AI to Improve Netlify's Product
01:27:23 Shortening the Time from Code to Production
01:32:37 The Role of a Founder CEO

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