Code and the Coding Coders who Code it

Drew Bragg
Code and the Coding Coders who Code it

We talk about Ruby, Rails, JavaScript, and everything in between. From tiny tips to bigger challenges we take on 3 questions a show; What are you working on? What's blocking you? What's something cool you want to share?

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    Episode 53 - Joel Hawksley

    When does a framework reach maturity? For Joel Hawksley, lead maintainer of GitHub's ViewComponent framework, the answer comes with the upcoming fourth major release – a milestone that marks not just new features, but a transition to long-term support mode. Joel takes us behind the scenes of his seven-year journey at GitHub, where an idea sketched on an airplane has evolved into a critical part of how the platform renders its interfaces. With candid insights, he explains why ViewComponent is now considered feature-complete, and the philosophical challenges that remain unresolved around CSS and JavaScript integration within component-based Rails applications. The conversation delves into fascinating territory around GitHub's technical architecture decisions. Joel articulates the clear dividing line between interfaces better suited for React versus Rails, based on his experience building complex UIs like GitHub's merge box. "The ability for a new engineer to come in and modify that code in React is an order of magnitude better," he explains, revealing how pragmatism rather than dogma drives technology choices at scale. Perhaps most compelling are Joel's reflections on accessibility – work he led for years at GitHub. He reveals how accessibility requirements fundamentally reshape engineering approaches, forcing consistency and systematic thinking that might otherwise be overlooked. With 80% of top e-commerce sites facing accessibility lawsuits in recent years, these considerations are becoming unavoidable for developers at companies of all sizes. As a new member of GitHub's Ruby architecture team, Joel also shares fascinating perspectives on Ruby's evolution. He articulates the tension between adding safety guardrails to the language while preserving the flexibility and joy that attracted developers in the first place. "Is it better to take something that is elegant and beautiful and flexible and put it in handcuffs, or is it better to go use a tool that was built with that in mind?" he asks, in a moment of philosophical clarity that will resonate with Ruby developers everywhere. Whether you're using ViewComponent, building accessible interfaces, or thinking about Ruby's future, this episode offers rare insights from someone who has spent years navigating these waters at one of the world's most prominent software platforms. Check out ViewComponent 4.0 RC1 today and share your feedback before the final release! Send us some love. HoneybadgerHoneybadger is an application health monitoring tool built by developers for developers.JudoscaleAutoscaling that actually works. Take control of your cloud hosting.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

    54 min

  2. 17 JUN

    Episode 52 - Vladimir Dementyev

    What happens when you put Rails in a browser? Vladimir Dementyev (Vova) is pushing WebAssembly to its limits by creating an interactive Rails playground that runs entirely client-side. This groundbreaking project aims to eliminate the frustrating installation barriers that often discourage newcomers from trying Ruby on Rails. "I asked myself the question - can I run Rails on WASM? And that's when you feel yourself like a pilgrim software engineer, experiencing something for the first time that no one ever experienced," Vova shares. The project isn't just a technical curiosity but serves a vital educational purpose - allowing anyone to learn Rails through the official tutorial without wrestling with Ruby version managers or environment setup. As principal engineer at Evil Martians, Vova balances multiple innovative projects simultaneously. Beyond Rails on WASM, he's organizing the first San Francisco Ruby Conference (coming November 2024), building a custom open-source CFP application, expanding AnyCable to support Laravel, and updating his technical book "Ruby on Rails Applications." His creative problem-solving approach extends to production environments too, where techniques developed for experimental projects help solve real client challenges like making libvips fork-safe for high-performance web servers. Vova's philosophy on productivity is refreshingly practical: work when inspiration strikes rather than forcing creativity during arbitrary hours. "If I have no desire to sit at my desk and stare at the laptop, I'm not going to do that. I wait for the moment to come, and then I sit and work, and it's really efficient." Ready to see what Ruby and Rails can do in previously impossible environments? Follow Vova's work, attend his RailsConf talk, or join the growing San Francisco Ruby community to witness how Ruby's flexibility continues to break new ground in unexpected ways. Send us some love. HoneybadgerHoneybadger is an application health monitoring tool built by developers for developers.JudoscaleAutoscaling that actually works. Take control of your cloud hosting.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

    1h 6m

  3. 3 JUN

    Episode 51 - Chris Oliver

    The last RailsConf ever is coming to Philadelphia this summer, and co-chair Chris Oliver joins us to pull back the curtain on what's sure to be a historic gathering for the Rails community. Chris reveals how the programming committee curated an exceptional lineup from hundreds of submissions, balancing nostalgic looks at Rails' 18-year journey with cutting-edge technical content. You'll hear why Philadelphia's walkable layout, incredible food scene (Reading Terminal Market gets particular praise), and Fourth of July celebrations make it the perfect host city for this final RailsConf hurrah. Beyond the sessions themselves, Chris and I explore what truly makes tech conferences special—those irreplaceable in-person connections. Whether you're a seasoned Rails veteran or relatively new to the framework, the hallway conversations, shared meals, and spontaneous problem-solving sessions offer exponentially more value than what appears on the official schedule. We both share how these gatherings have accelerated our careers and sparked lasting professional relationships. The conversation takes an enlightening turn as Chris opens up about his current technical challenges, including the complexities of testing Hotwire applications and designing flexible API wrappers for payment processing systems. His insights on balancing specificity with adaptability when building reusable libraries offer valuable perspective for anyone writing code meant to be shared. This episode serves both as an enthusiastic invitation to join the Ruby community in Philadelphia and a thoughtful exploration of why in-person events remain vital in our increasingly remote world. Supporting RailsConf isn't just about personal growth—it's about strengthening the Ruby ecosystem that has supported so many developers throughout their careers. Ready to book your ticket for this historic event? Don't miss our podcast panel at RailsConf—come experience our conversations live and in person! Links: RailsConfGoRailsLearn Hotwireexcid3 on BlueSkySend us some love. HoneybadgerHoneybadger is an application health monitoring tool built by developers for developers.JudoscaleAutoscaling that actually works. Take control of your cloud hosting.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

    1h 22m

  4. 20 MAY

    Episode 50 - Adam Fortuna

    Swimming against the current sometimes leads to unexpected treasures. In this fascinating conversation, Adam Fortuna reveals how migrating Hardcover—a social network for readers with 30,000 users—from Next.js back to Ruby on Rails delivered surprising performance improvements and development simplicity. The journey begins with Adam explaining how Hardcover originated as a response to Goodreads shutting down their API. As a longtime Rails developer who initially chose Next.js for its server-side rendering capabilities, Adam found himself drawn back to Rails once modern tools made it viable to combine Rails' backend strengths with React's frontend interactivity. The migration wasn't a complete rewrite—they preserved their React components while replacing GraphQL with ActiveRecord—and unexpectedly saw significant improvements in page load speeds and SEO rankings. At the heart of this technical evolution is Inertia.js, which Adam describes as "the missing piece for Rails for a long time." This elegant solution allows direct connections between Rails controllers and React components without duplicating routes, creating a seamless developer experience. We dive into the challenges they faced, particularly with generating Open Graph images and handling API abuse, and how they solved these problems with pragmatic hybrid approaches. The conversation takes an exciting turn as Adam discusses their work on book recommendation engines, combining collaborative filtering with content analysis to help readers discover their next favorite book. As someone currently enjoying the Dungeon Crawler Carl series (described as "RPG mixed with Hitchhiker's Guide"), Adam's passion for both books and elegant technical solutions shines throughout. Listen in as we explore how going against conventional wisdom sometimes leads to better outcomes, and discover why Hardcover is now being open-sourced to invite community collaboration. Whether you're interested in Rails, JavaScript frameworks, or book recommendations, this episode offers valuable insights into making technical decisions based on real-world results rather than following trends. Links https://hardcover.app/blog/part-1-how-we-fell-out-of-love-with-next-js-and-back-in-love-with-ruby-on-rails-inertia-jshttps://adamfortuna.com/https://bsky.app/profile/adamfortuna.comSend us some love. HoneybadgerHoneybadger is an application health monitoring tool built by developers for developers.JudoscaleAutoscaling that actually works. Take control of your cloud hosting.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

    35 min

  5. 1 APR

    Episode 49 - Radan Skoric

    What happens when a seasoned Rails developer with 17 years of experience decides to document their journey learning Hotwire? Radan Skorić joins us to discuss his ebook "Master Hotwire" and the fascinating parallels between writing and coding. Unlike most tutorials that start from ground zero, Radan's approach assumes you already know Rails—because that was his experience when learning Hotwire. "When I was picking up Hotwire, I had tons of Rails experience. I've just not done Hotwire," he explains. This focus allows his readers to skip the basics and dive deeper into what makes Hotwire powerful. We explore the meticulous process behind creating technical content, from researching pain points on forums to managing a beta reader program. Radan shares a powerful insight about feedback: "With positive feedback I feel good. With negative feedback I can actually go and improve it." This mindset led him to completely restructure portions of his book based on reader experiences. The conversation takes unexpected turns as Radan reveals how he overcame writer's block by applying software development principles to his writing process. Just as he might write tests to overcome coder's block, he found success by allowing himself to write "crap words" initially, knowing he would refactor later—a technique that mirrors how many of us approach code. Perhaps most compelling is Radan's observation about Hotwire's place in the ecosystem: it allows backend-focused developers to "stop lying" about being full-stack by providing a framework they can realistically master without diving deep into JavaScript frameworks like React. It's a refreshing perspective that reframes how we think about the full-stack developer identity. Check out masterhotwire.com and use coupon code "CodingCoders" for 20% off the book, and join the growing community of Rails developers embracing Hotwire! Send us some love. HoneybadgerHoneybadger is an application health monitoring tool built by developers for developers.JudoscaleAutoscaling that actually works. Take control of your cloud hosting.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

    34 min

  6. 18 MAR

    Episode 48 - Adam Wathan

    Join us as we unravel the inspiring journey of Tailwind CSS with its creator, Adam Wathan. From its inception in 2017 as an open-source CSS framework to becoming a major player in web design, Tailwind has recently undergone a significant rebranding with the launch of Tailwind Plus. This episode provides listeners with insights into Adam's strategic choices, including the reasoning behind merging Tailwind UI into the broader Tailwind ecosystem.  Discover the challenges and outcomes of balancing community-driven development with commercial viability, as Adam shares how feedback shapes product improvements. Learn about the launch of "Build UIs That Don’t Suck," an initiative designed to foster user engagement and demonstrate Tailwind's quality. Adam also reflects on the importance of sustaining a business model while nurturing open-source passion, offering invaluable advice for anyone in the tech space.  Whether you're a developer, designer, or just interested in entrepreneurship, this episode is packed with insights, revealing the artistry behind code and the business. Don't miss it! Subscribe, share, and let us know what you've learned! Send us some love. HoneybadgerHoneybadger is an application health monitoring tool built by developers for developers.JudoscaleAutoscaling that actually works. Take control of your cloud hosting.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

    33 min

  7. 4 MAR

    Episode 47 - Jason Swett

    Join us for a fascinating episode where we explore the development of SaturnCI—a new and user-friendly Continuous Integration tool that arose from frustrations with existing solutions like CircleCI and GitHub Actions. Our guest, Jason Sweat, shares his passion for creating a platform that not only simplifies the user experience but actively incorporates feedback from early adopters. Through candid conversations, Jason recounts his journey as a content creator in the Ruby community, and how it inspired him to address the shortcomings he observed in CI tools. We delve into the technical challenges faced as SaturnCI grows, particularly those relating to user scalability as it onboarded new customers. Jason offers valuable insights into his tech stack choices while drawing attention to the importance of creating streamlined interfaces that cater to developers' needs. The conversation shifts to the foundation of community through his upcoming Sin City Ruby conference, showcasing the efforts made to facilitate connection among participants and ensure each attendee leaves with new friendships and knowledge. Toward the end of our episode, we touch upon Jason’s unique approach to outreach through his snail mail newsletter, where he shares insights and stories beyond technology. This creative endeavor highlights how stepping away from screens can cultivate a deeper connection with the audience. With an inviting conversational tone and enriching discussions, this episode is packed with valuable insights for anyone interested in CI tools, community-building, and finding the courage to innovate within your space. Be sure to subscribe and share your thoughts with us! Send us some love. HoneybadgerHoneybadger is an application health monitoring tool built by developers for developers.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

    49 min

  8. 25 FEB

    Episode 46 - David Hill

    David Hill, the innovative mind behind "Ode to RailsConf" and a senior engineer at Simplify, invites us to explore his fascinating journey into the world of podcasting. Inspired by the final announcement of RailsConf, David crafted a platform to celebrate the cherished memories of the event while also providing himself with a bridge to manage social interactions more comfortably. With his love for board games providing a structured approach, David shares how the podcasting framework has transformed him from a hesitant introvert to a comfortable conversationalist. Our conversation takes an intriguing turn as we delve into the art of podcast guest planning and the intricate process of editing conference videos. From featuring guests from the Scholar Guide program at RailsConf and RubyConf to orchestrating a unique episode with nine guests from a single company, we leave no stone unturned. Engaging discussions with prominent figures like Freedom Dumlao and Sarah May offer listeners a treasure trove of insights, while upcoming episodes with Ruby Central's Rhiannon and Ali Vogel promise to further explore the dynamic world of PR, marketing, and operations. As we navigate the evolution of podcasting strategies, the conversation shifts to the often-overlooked balance between coding and communication. The journey from a simple chat between friends to a thriving podcasting community has not been without its challenges and surprises. We reflect on the impact of Jason Charnes' departure due to family commitments and celebrate the resilience and growth that comes with embracing new roles. Amidst it all, the spirit of supporting creators, learning new skills, and fostering personal growth shines through, with an optimistic outlook for the show's future. Send us some love. HoneybadgerHoneybadger is an application health monitoring tool built by developers for developers.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

    42 min
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We talk about Ruby, Rails, JavaScript, and everything in between. From tiny tips to bigger challenges we take on 3 questions a show; What are you working on? What's blocking you? What's something cool you want to share?

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