ConTejas Code

Tejas Kumar
ConTejas Code Podcast

ConTejas Code is a podcast in the web engineering space that has deep dives on various topics between frontend engineering with React, TypeScript, Next.js, and backend engineering with Kafka, Postgres, and more. The series is a mix of long-form content and guest episodes with industry leaders in the web engineering space. From the podcast, listeners will take away actionable best practices that you can integrate into your workflows as well as valuable insights from prominent people in the industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Alex Moldovan, founder JS Heroes: How to Organize a Community-first JavaScript Conference

    3 DAYS AGO

    Alex Moldovan, founder JS Heroes: How to Organize a Community-first JavaScript Conference

    Links - Codecrafters (sponsor): https://tej.as/codecrafters - Wix (sponsor): https://tej.as/wix - SquiggleConf (partner): https://squiggleconf.com/ - JS Heroes: https://jsheroes.io/ - Alex on X: https://x.com/alexnmoldovan - Tejas on X: https://x.com/tejaskumar_ Summary: In this discussion, we talk to Alex Moldovan, a software engineer at CodeSandbox and event planner who co-founded JS Heroes—a non-profit, community-driven JavaScript (Programming Language) conference in Romania. Together, we cover the intricacies of project management, event planning, and the challenges of organizing a conference that prioritizes open source values and community engagement. Key topics include the benefits of a single-track format for presentations and talks, strategies for diversity and inclusion in the call for papers (CFP) process, and balancing a full-time role in technology with being a conference speaker and organizer. The discussion provides valuable insights for developers interested in community building, functional programming, and the evolving landscape of the tech industry. Chapters 00:00:00 Alex Moldovan 00:03:54 Introduction 00:09:42 Origin of JS Heroes 00:18:17 Non-Profit Conference Model 00:25:15 Single-Track Conference Benefits 00:36:16 Transparency in Event Planning 00:43:13 Challenges with Sponsorship 00:53:27 Scaling and Quality Focus 01:04:54 Diversity in CFP Process 01:13:08 Cultural Challenges in Tech 01:23:26 Balancing Roles 01:32:26 Future Goals for JS Heroes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 38m
  2. Michelle Bakels: How to Optimize Developer Health

    SEP 12

    Michelle Bakels: How to Optimize Developer Health

    Links - Codecrafters (sponsor): https://tej.as/codecrafters - Wix (sponsor): https://tej.as/wix - G2i: https://g2i.co - Developer Health OS: https://www.g2i.co/developer-health - Michelle on X: https://x.com/michellebakels - Tejas on X: https://x.com/tejaskumar_ Summary In this episode, Michelle Bakels from G2i discusses the importance of developer health and wellbeing. She explains G2i's Developer Health Operating System, which focuses on burnout recovery, prevention, and optimizing performance. Michelle shares insights on work-life balance, the impact of remote work, and practical strategies for maintaining physical and mental health in the tech industry. Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:06:13 Challenges developers face in the tech industry 00:12:08 External and internal pressures on developers 00:19:31 The importance of questioning and reevaluating work habits 00:24:08 G2I's focus on developer health 00:29:33 Overview of the Developer Health Operating System 00:34:26 Burnout recovery strategies 00:39:53 Workaholic tendencies and stress addiction 00:46:38 Burnout prevention techniques 00:51:58 Optimizing performance through sleep and brain health 00:59:43 Remote work's impact on productivity and work-life balance 01:09:12 Michelle's personal routine for maintaining health and productivity 01:15:11 Measuring the effectiveness of health strategies 01:20:18 G2I's four-day work week experiment 01:24:50 The importance of transparency and vulnerability in leadership 01:28:10 Conclusion and final thoughts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 30m
  3. Gabe Greenberg, CEO G2i: How to Bootstrap a Healthy Tech Business

    SEP 9

    Gabe Greenberg, CEO G2i: How to Bootstrap a Healthy Tech Business

    Links - Codecrafters (sponsor): https://tej.as/codecrafters - Wix (sponsor): https://tej.as/wix - SquiggleConf (partner): https://2024.squiggleconf.com/ - G2i: https://www.g2i.co/ - Gabe on X: https://x.com/gabe_g2i - Tejas on X: https://x.com/tejaskumar_ - Book: "Traction" by Gino Wickman https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Gino-Wickman/dp/1936661837 - "Move Fast and Fix Things" book: https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Frances-Frei/dp/1647822874 - Developer Health Operating System: https://www.devhealthos.com - fourdayworkweek.io: https://www.fourdayworkweek.io - Suno: https://suno.ai - Ro.am: https://ro.am - Loom: https://www.loom.com - Linear: https://linear.app - "Deep Work" book by Dr. Cal Newport: https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Cal-Newport/dp/1455586692 - Dopamine Nation by Dr. Anna Lembke: https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Dr-Anna-Lembke/dp/152474672X Summary G2i is a unique hiring community that originated from the open-source community. The company focuses on working with React, React Native, and GraphQL engineers and matching them with companies. G2i stands out for its autonomous and engineering-focused approach to solving problems. The company emphasizes clarity, prioritization, and moving fast while maintaining trust. The Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) framework has been implemented at G2I to provide structure and clarity in running the business. The key quality that sets great engineers apart is their ability to work autonomously, take ownership, and make effective decisions. In this conversation, Gabe and Tejas discuss the importance of developer health and its impact on revenue generation. They explore the concept of setting priorities and positioning oneself close to revenue as a founder. They also touch on the idea of creating a cohesive story around optimizing revenue and developer health. Gabe shares insights on implementing the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) framework and the value of having a clear vision and core values. They also discuss the tools and technologies that have been crucial for successful remote work at G2I. Chapters 00:00:00 Gabe Greenberg 00:03:45 Introduction and G2I's unique approach 00:07:16 Building a company without VC backing 00:10:42 The importance of mentors and advisory boards 00:16:08 Implementing the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) 00:22:04 Key qualities of great engineers 00:27:44 The value of being early to new technologies 00:34:02 G2I's initiatives in AI and machine learning 00:41:30 Developer health and productivity 00:48:06 Recognizing patterns in emerging tech ecosystems 00:54:51 Identifying valuable skills in the AI era 01:02:53 G2I's work with reinforcement learning 01:08:38 Balancing revenue goals and developer wellbeing 01:16:45 Advice for technical founders and CEOs 01:23:03 Implementing goal-setting frameworks like EOS 01:28:27 Tools and strategies for successful remote work Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 35m
  4. Josh Goldberg: How to Maximize Success with TypeScript and ESLint

    SEP 5

    Josh Goldberg: How to Maximize Success with TypeScript and ESLint

    Links - Codecrafters (sponsor): https://tej.as/codecrafters - Wix (sponsor): https://tej.as/wix - Josh Goldberg: https://x.com/joshuakgoldberg - Learning TypeScript: https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/-/9781098110321/ - SquiggleConf: https://2024.squiggleconf.com/ Summary Joshua K Goldberg is a full-time independent open source maintainer in the TypeScript ecosystem. He shares his journey into open source and the importance of filling in the gaps in the ecosystem. He also discusses the best incremental migration path to TypeScript and highlights advanced features like shenanigans with type parameters and the 'satisfies' keyword. The conversation covers topics such as literals in TypeScript, writing a book, the process of writing and shipping a book, the reception of the book, the development of TypeScript ESLint, abstract syntax trees (ASTs), parsing, and static analysis. We also discuss the future of TypeScript, the performance of ESLint, and configuration tips to improve ESLint's performance. Takeaways 1. Being a full-time independent open source maintainer is rewarding and allows for direct contributions to tools that benefit everyone. 2. When migrating to TypeScript, it's best to start with one file at a time and gradually increase strictness. 3. Type parameters in TypeScript can be complex, but they are useful for advanced scenarios. 4. The 'satisfies' keyword in TypeScript allows for declaring data that adheres to a type while still inferring a more specific type. 5. Parsing is the process of converting a string of code into an AST. 6. ESLint provides a report function that allows lint rules to report issues to the user. 7. TypeScript ESLint supports typed linting, which allows for more powerful linting rules. 8. ESLint's performance can be affected by misconfiguration, the number of plugins, and the use of ESLint plugin prettier. 9. Separating ESLint and Prettier as separate tools can improve performance. 10. Being an open-source maintainer can be challenging, but having a fallback plan and a supportive community can make it sustainable. Chapters 00:00 Josh Goldberg 03:37 Introduction and Background 06:22 The Journey into Open Source and Filling in the Gaps 15:15 The Best Incremental Migration Path to TypeScript 28:41 Introducing the 'Satisfies' Keyword in TypeScript 30:31 The Process of Writing and Shipping a Book 35:10 The Development of TypeScript ESLint 37:26 Parsing and Static Analysis with Abstract Syntax Trees 56:54 Improving ESLint Performance: Configuration Tips 01:01:00 Understanding the Role of ASTs and Compilers in TypeScript and ESLint 01:03:42 Configuring Type Linting in TypeScript 01:06:22 The Intersection of AI with TypeScript and ESLint 01:11:53 Creating a Standardized Open-Source Sponsorship Rating System Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 35m
  5. Kyle Corbitt, CEO OpenPipe: How to Fine-Tune Your Own Language Model (LLM)

    SEP 2

    Kyle Corbitt, CEO OpenPipe: How to Fine-Tune Your Own Language Model (LLM)

    Links - Codecrafters (Sponsor): https://tej.as/codecrafters - Wix (Sponsor): https://tej.as/wix - OpenPipe: https://openpipe.ai - Kyle on X: https://x.com/corbtt - Tejas on X: https://x.com/tejaskumar_ Summary Kyle Corbitt, founder and CEO of OpenPipe, shares the origin story of the company and his background in computer science and entrepreneurship. He discusses the evolution of machine learning and the breakthroughs that made OpenPipe possible. The conversation then dives into the process of fine-tuning models using OpenPipe, including the logging feature, data curation, and the selection of base models and hyperparameters. The episode also explores the developer experience and the decision to create an SDK that is a drop-in replacement for the OpenAI SDK. The conversation explores the concept of overfitting in machine learning models and how it differs for language models. The validation process for fine-tuned models is discussed, including inner loop tests and outer loop evaluations. Takeaways 1. OpenPipe was founded to help people transition easily and smoothly into fine-tuning models using machine learning. 2. The process of fine-tuning models involves logging user requests, curating data, selecting base models, and optimizing hyperparameters. 3. OpenPipe provides an SDK that is a drop-in replacement for the OpenAI SDK, making it easy for developers to integrate OpenPipe into their existing workflows. 4. The platform automates the heavy lifting of fine-tuning models, including the optimization of hyperparameters based on thousands of fine-tuned models and user-defined evaluations. 5. OpenPipe offers a seamless developer experience, allowing users to quickly and efficiently fine-tune models and deploy them for production use. Chapters 00:00 Kyle Corbitt 03:28 The Origin Story of OpenPipe 14:34 Fine-Tuning Models with OpenPipe 33:46 Understanding Overfitting and Fine-Tuning 39:47 The Role of Hyperparameters 46:32 Validating Fine-Tuned Models 56:46 Enabling Tool Calls in Language Models 01:00:33 Unleashing the Full Potential of Language Models 01:05:09 Introduction to OpenPipe 01:10:14 Changing the Configuration Parameter 01:20:17 The Future of OpenPipe 01:25:31 The Need for a Founder's Handbook 01:32:17 Advice for Technical Founders and CEOs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 37m
  6. Shruti Balasa: How to Maximize Success with Tailwind CSS

    AUG 29

    Shruti Balasa: How to Maximize Success with Tailwind CSS

    Links - Wix Studio (sponsor): https://tej.as/wix - Codecrafters (sponsor): https://tej.as/codecrafters - Shruti Balasa's Website: https://shrutibalasa.com/ - Tailwind Weekly: https://tailwindweekly.com/ - Shruti on X: https://x.com/shrutibalasa - Tejas on X: https://x.com/tejaskumar_ Summary Shruti Balasa, a Tailwind CSS expert, shares her journey of discovering and specializing in Tailwind CSS. She explains how Tailwind CSS enhanced her CSS skills and made her more efficient in web development. She also discusses the pain points that Tailwind CSS solves, such as context switching, naming conventions, and cross-browser compatibility. Shruti emphasizes the importance of understanding CSS fundamentals before diving into Tailwind CSS. She also addresses common criticisms of Tailwind CSS, such as the length of class names and the use of the apply directive. The conversation also covers topics like layers, dynamic and static components, and the use of Tailwind CSS for email design. Shruti recommends using plugins like Prettier Tailwind CSS Sorting for code organization and subscribing to Tailwind Weekly for updates on new plugins and resources. She also discusses upcoming features in Tailwind CSS, such as CSS-first configuration and container queries. Takeaways 1. Understanding CSS fundamentals is important before diving into Tailwind CSS 2. Tailwind CSS solves pain points such as context switching and naming conventions 3. The apply directive should be used sparingly and for specific cases 4. The Tailwind config file allows customization and the creation of plugins 5. Tailwind CSS version 4 introduces auto-discovery and shifts towards using CSS for configuration 6. Tailwind CSS generates only the styles that are used in the source code with the Just-In-Time (JIT) compiler 7. Tailwind CSS is a choice and not a requirement for improving accessibility or performance. 8. Subscribing to Tailwind Weekly can provide updates on new plugins and resources. 9. Upcoming features in Tailwind CSS include CSS-first configuration and container queries. Chapters 06:19 Discovering and Specializing in Tailwind CSS 09:33 Enhancing CSS Skills with Tailwind CSS 13:19 Solving Pain Points with Tailwind CSS 17:36 The Use of the Apply Directive in Tailwind CSS 26:16 Upcoming Changes in Tailwind CSS Version 4 34:21 The Latest State of Tailwind CSS v4 Discussions 37:33 Generating Only the Used Styles with the JIT Compiler 40:56 Maintaining Consistency in Large-Scale Projects with Custom Classes 53:47 Responsive Features in Tailwind CSS: Dark Mode and Reduced Motion 01:01:31 Tailwind CSS: A Choice for Convenience 01:04:28 Exploring Layers and Components in Tailwind CSS 01:09:00 Tailwind CSS for Email Design and Development 01:18:00 Useful Plugins for Tailwind CSS Productivity 01:22:34 Exciting Upcoming Features in Tailwind CSS Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 31m
  7. Jeff Cross, CEO Nx: How to Build and Scale Developer Tools

    AUG 26

    Jeff Cross, CEO Nx: How to Build and Scale Developer Tools

    Links - Codecrafters (sponsor): https://tej.as/codecrafters - Nx: https://nx.dev/ - Jeff on X: https://twitter.com/jeffbcross - Tejas on X: https://x.com/tejaskumar_ Summary Jeff B. Cross, co-founder of NX, discusses the origins of NX and its evolution as a tool for monorepos. He explains the benefits of using NX, such as code mod running, large-scale migrations, and CI optimizations. Jeff also clarifies the definition of a monorepo and how NX supports both package-based and graph-based monorepos. He highlights the features of NX that help with development, integration, and deployment, including the interactive graph, tagging system, and caching. We also cover the ability of NX to deflake tests and shares his perspective on running a business, including the challenges of positioning and marketing, and his experience of starting NX. Takeaways 1. NX is a powerful tool for monorepos that offers features such as code mod running, large-scale migrations, and CI optimizations. 2. A monorepo can be defined as a single repository containing multiple distinct projects with well-defined relationships. 3. NX supports both package-based and graph-based monorepos, with the latter being more suitable for application developers. 4. NX also offers features for integration and deployment, such as building affected targets, replaying builds and tests, and distributing work across multiple machines. 5. NX has the ability to deflake tests, which are tests that indeterministically fail or pass. NX detects and handles flaky tests by analyzing test results and determining if a test fails often or fails without changes in inputs or dependencies. 6. Measuring the developer experience is challenging, but NX uses user feedback, internal testing, and collaboration with enterprise customers to improve the product. 7. Positioning and marketing a product can be a difficult task, especially for a tool like NX that doesn't fit into a specific category. 8. Finding a niche and being the best in the world at it is crucial for success as a consultant or business owner. 9. Continuous adaptation and evolution are essential qualities for a CEO, as they need to be able to change and pivot as the company grows. 10. Polygraph, an upcoming feature of Nx, will provide visibility and dependency management across multiple workspaces in an organization. Chapters 00:00:00 Jeff Cross 00:03:18 Introduction and Origins of NX 00:06:25 Understanding Monorepos and NX 00:11:04 Tools for Development and Code Consistency 00:14:56 Integration and Deployment with NX 00:36:09 Detecting and Handling Flaky Tests 00:38:20 The Developer Experience with NX 00:48:36 Understanding Lexers, Parsers, Compilers, and Rich Text Editors 01:00:54 Challenges of Positioning and Marketing 01:03:36 Starting and Running a Business 01:10:47 The impact of Nx Cloud on CI performance 01:18:49 Introducing Polygraph: Visibility and dependency management 01:27:46 What's next for Nx 01:31:47 Conclusion Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 33m
  8. Jatin Ramanathan: How Google.com is Rendered with Wiz (Fastest UI Framework)

    AUG 22

    Jatin Ramanathan: How Google.com is Rendered with Wiz (Fastest UI Framework)

    Links - Codecrafters (sponsor): https://tej.as/codecrafters - Jatin on X: https://x.com/JatinRamanathan - Tejas on X: https://x.com/tejaskumar_ Summary Jatin Ramanathan, a software engineer at Google, discusses the Wiz framework and its use in Google products like search, photos, and payments. Wiz is a resumable web framework that focuses on loading minimal JavaScript and uses the concept of signals for reactive programming. Signals are reactive properties that reflect the state of an observable or reactive property at any given time. The Wiz framework also incorporates JS Action, a library that listens to events and delivers them to event handlers only when necessary, reducing the amount of JavaScript that needs to be loaded. The conversation also touches on the merger of Wiz and Angular and the potential for unified APIs in the future. The conversation explores the concept of responsible JavaScript and web performance. We dive into the use of signals and JS action in Wiz and Angular, and how they enable declarative behavior and interactivity on the client side. The discussion also touches on the challenges of using TSX in Angular and the potential for future improvements. The importance of measuring performance and understanding the user experience on different devices is emphasized, along with the use of feature flags and instrumentation to optimize the user funnel. Takeaways 1. Wiz is a resumable web framework used in Google products like search, photos, and payments. 2. The framework focuses on loading minimal JavaScript and uses signals for reactive programming. 3. JSAction is a library that listens to events and delivers them to event handlers only when necessary, reducing the amount of JavaScript that needs to be loaded. 4. Wiz and Angular are merging to exchange ideas and potentially unify APIs in the future. 5. Signals and JSAction in Wiz and Angular enable declarative behavior and interactivity on the client side. Chapters 00:00 Jatin Ramanathan 03:05 Welcome Jatin 06:15 Overview of Wiz and its Use in Google Products 13:00 Resumability and the Concept of Signals 36:03 Merger of Wiz and Angular: Unifying APIs 48:08 Signals and Interactivity 50:26 Declarative Behavior with Signals and JS Action 52:10 Performance of HTML and htmx 59:10 Responsible JavaScript as a Diet 01:09:26 Open Sourcing Wiz through Angular 01:13:34 Challenges of TSX in Angular 01:16:40 Declarative Behavior Composition in TSX 01:22:15 Contributing to Wiz through Angular 01:25:11 Checklist for Responsible JavaScript and Web Performance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 31m
5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

ConTejas Code is a podcast in the web engineering space that has deep dives on various topics between frontend engineering with React, TypeScript, Next.js, and backend engineering with Kafka, Postgres, and more. The series is a mix of long-form content and guest episodes with industry leaders in the web engineering space. From the podcast, listeners will take away actionable best practices that you can integrate into your workflows as well as valuable insights from prominent people in the industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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