Develop Yourself

Brian Jenney

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SELF-IMPROVEMENT
UPDATED WEEKLY

Practical and actionable things you can do to get hired, stay hired and learn to code. brianjenney.substack.com

16/10/2025

#280 - The Missing Guide to AI for Web Developers

I just quit my job as a senior AI developer, and while helping hire my replacement, I realized how few people actually know how AI apps work. In this episode, I walk through Retrieval-Augmented Generation step by step—the same system I built at work—and show you the real skills developers need right now. 👉 Grab a hands-on project with a video you can follow along with here 👈 Hold your spot in the January cohort and become the go-to person in your organization for integrating AI into your web applications. Hold spot here Send us a text Shameless Plugs 👉 Build Your First Website in 30 minutes 👈 ✉️ Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here 🧑‍💻 Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Become a full stack AI developer in 6-9 months. Get full access to Develop Yourself at brianjenney.substack.com/subscribe

28 min
13/10/2025

#279 - Recruiter Exposes the Truth About Junior Developer Jobs

Just give up? Everyone says no one’s hiring junior developers anymore — but is that actually true? In this episode, I sit down with recruiter David Roberts to uncover what’s really happening in the job market, why most applicants are getting filtered out, and what you can do differently to land your first role. We break down the biggest myths about entry-level tech jobs, how recruiters actually think, and the skills that make you stand out in 2025. Don't learn to code, learn to build complex software and get hired: https://parsity.io Already know how to code? Get help landing your first role: https://crushing.digital/ Send us a text Shameless Plugs 👉 Build Your First Website in 30 minutes 👈 ✉️ Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here 🧑‍💻 Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Become a full stack AI developer in 6-9 months. Get full access to Develop Yourself at brianjenney.substack.com/subscribe

44 min
09/10/2025

#278 - AI Does NOT Replace Junior Developers, Here's Why

Every headline says AI is eating developer jobs. But spend a week in production and you’ll see the opposite: brittle code, flaky tests, and tools that look fast until you actually ship something. In this episode, I break down why the “AI replaces engineers” story sells so well—to investors, to execs, and to lazy headlines—but falls apart in the real world. We’ll talk through a Cornell + METR study showing seasoned devs got 19% slower using AI (even though they thought they were faster), and why that tracks with what I’ve seen on real teams. Send us a text Shameless Plugs 👉 Build Your First Website in 30 minutes 👈 ✉️ Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here 🧑‍💻 Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Become a full stack AI developer in 6-9 months. Get full access to Develop Yourself at brianjenney.substack.com/subscribe

13 min
06/10/2025

#277 - RAG: The Only AI Skill Web Devs Need to Learn in 2026

I thought Ben was a troll when he slid into my DMs after a LinkedIn argument. Turns out, he’s building some of the most practical AI systems I’ve seen. In this episode, we talk about how that disagreement turned into a friendship—and why Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) might be the skill every developer needs in 2026. Connect with Ben here Check out Lobi Software here Finally - if you want to go deeper with RAG, I have a tutorial I made just for you: https://parsity.io/ai-with-rag Send us a text Shameless Plugs 👉 Build Your First Website in 30 minutes 👈 ✉️ Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here 🧑‍💻 Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Become a full stack AI developer in 6-9 months. Get full access to Develop Yourself at brianjenney.substack.com/subscribe

36 min
02/10/2025

#276 - Claude Code Failed: What Anthropic’s Postmortem Means for Developers

Ever had your AI pair programmer stop helping and start breaking everything? I did—and this time, the data proves it wasn’t just me. Claude fell off. TypeScript that wouldn’t compile, migrations stuck in loops, refactors that went completely sideways. Turns out Anthropic’s own postmortem revealed three separate bugs causing degraded output—context routing issues, output corruption, and TLA-X blah blah blah error. Let's dive in. Send us a text Shameless Plugs 👉 Build Your First Website in 30 minutes 👈 ✉️ Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here 🧑‍💻 Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Become a full stack AI developer in 6-9 months. Get full access to Develop Yourself at brianjenney.substack.com/subscribe

16 min
29/09/2025

#275 - Terrible Advice for Software Developers (that you're hearing in 2025)

After 11 years helping hundreds of career changers switch into software development, I've found the hardest part isn't teaching technical skills but rewiring brains from misleading online advice that hurts new developers. Much of this advice is well-intentioned, but some is designed purely for clicks and engagement. • "Don't chase titles!" • "Don't build CRUD apps!" • "Coding bootcamps are a scam!" Take all advice (including mine) with a grain of salt. Your path is unique, and a personalized approach to career development is more effective than generic advice. Question everything, take what makes sense, and leave what doesn't. Send us a text Shameless Plugs 👉 Build Your First Website in 30 minutes 👈 ✉️ Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here 🧑‍💻 Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Become a full stack AI developer in 6-9 months. Get full access to Develop Yourself at brianjenney.substack.com/subscribe

18 min
25/09/2025

Developer Career Change Hotline: Networking, Breaking In, and Not Giving Up

Let's tackle three of the most common struggles career changers face: 1. Breaking into tech from another field 2. Networking without feeling fake 3. Staying motivated when the job search drags on. If you’re wondering how to make the leap, keep connections warm, or simply not burn out—this one’s for you. Got a question of your own? 👉 Drop it here 👈 Send us a text Shameless Plugs 👉 Build Your First Website in 30 minutes 👈 ✉️ Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here 🧑‍💻 Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Become a full stack AI developer in 6-9 months. Get full access to Develop Yourself at brianjenney.substack.com/subscribe

19 min
22/09/2025

#274 - The Cost of Being Nice: Why Good Developers Don't Get Promoted

Have you ever wondered why some developers keep getting promoted while others stay stuck at the same level despite their technical skills? The answer might surprise you. Through practical, actionable steps, I break down exactly how developers at any level can strategically increase their influence and advance their careers. You'll learn how to gain credibility before speaking up, frame concerns as questions rather than criticisms, and pair problem identification with solution proposals. For junior developers and career changers, I offer specific guidance on leveraging your unique perspective and starting with low-risk moments of leadership. The truth is that being universally liked feels safe, but being honest and solution-oriented makes you invaluable. Your career won't skyrocket by becoming infinitely better at your tech stack—it will accelerate when you thoughtfully challenge the status quo and offer solutions to problems others see but are afraid to address. Send us a text Shameless Plugs 👉 Build Your First Website in 30 minutes 👈 ✉️ Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here 🧑‍💻 Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Become a full stack AI developer in 6-9 months. Get full access to Develop Yourself at brianjenney.substack.com/subscribe

20 min

See All (289)

Practical and actionable things you can do to get hired, stay hired and learn to code. brianjenney.substack.com

Creator

Brian Jenney
Years Active

2024 - 2025
Episodes

289
Rating

Clean
Show Website

Develop Yourself

Develop Yourself

Episodes

#280 - The Missing Guide to AI for Web Developers

#279 - Recruiter Exposes the Truth About Junior Developer Jobs

#278 - AI Does NOT Replace Junior Developers, Here's Why

#277 - RAG: The Only AI Skill Web Devs Need to Learn in 2026

#276 - Claude Code Failed: What Anthropic’s Postmortem Means for Developers

#275 - Terrible Advice for Software Developers (that you're hearing in 2025)

Developer Career Change Hotline: Networking, Breaking In, and Not Giving Up

#274 - The Cost of Being Nice: Why Good Developers Don't Get Promoted

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