Inside the Stack

Oluwole Majiyagbe

Inside the Stack is a podcast for developers, founders, and tech leaders who want to understand how real systems are built, scaled, and maintained — without the hype. Each episode breaks down what actually happens inside modern software systems: from request–response flows and APIs, to architecture decisions, scaling trade-offs, developer tooling, security, and the human decisions behind technical choices. We talk about: Backend systems, APIs, and architectureScaling beyond traffic — systems, teams, and complexityDeveloper experience and engineering culturePractical lessons from side projects, startups, and production systemsTechnology trends, trade-offs, and real-world engineering decisions Whether you’re an early-career developer, a senior engineer, or a founder building product infrastructure, Inside the Stack helps you think clearly about how software really works — and how to build it well. New episodes drop regularly. 🎧 Listen. Learn. Build better systems.

Episodes

  1. 1d ago

    UI/UX vs Frontend: The Developer Strikes Back | Pixel Vs Code Ep 3

    Send us Fan Mail The UI/UX vs Frontend debate continues! In this episode, host Oluwole Majiyagbe flips the perspective and sits down with frontend expert Mr Gbadamosi Moshood to uncover what really happens when the design handoff is complete and the coding begins. We strip away the aesthetics and dive into the reality of building functional, performant interfaces. We discuss the most impossible designs developers are asked to build, why component libraries are sometimes necessary, and what frontend engineers genuinely wish UI/UX designers understood about the DOM. Whether you are a developer looking for validation or a designer wanting to make your team's life easier, this episode is packed with truth bombs! 👇 What we cover in this episode: 00:00 - Introduction 03:00 - When people hear "frontend," they think buttons and colors. What is it really? 03:53 - Why should a person go into Frontend?  05:20 - Is Frontend easy?  08:05 - Your app has to work on every phone, every browser, every screen size. What's the strangest bug you've had to fix because of that? 10:48 - is CSS hard or are we learning it the wrong way and what's the difference between CSS libraries? 14:40 - When you get a design to build, what do designers usually not realize about the work involved?  16:55 - Sometimes a design looks great but is really hard to build. When does that happen, and what do you do? 19:35 - Do you have to build the design exactly as given? When do you speak up and ask to change something? 22:42 - When there's a conflict in packages and design, do you communicate it back to the UI/UX?  24:47 - Design systems are meant to make life easier. Do they actually help you, or get in the way? 26:48 - When the design and what's easy to build don't match, who gets the final say? 29:28 - There's a new frontend tool every few months — React, Vue, Svelte, and on and on. Is that tiring, or a good thing? 33:06 - How do you know when a screen is actually finished/completed? 34:57 - Do you think UI/UX don't understand the amount of work you're to do to implement their designs?  35:48 - How do you tell if a frontend and/or design is complicated? 41:27 - AI can write frontend code now. What does that mean for frontend developers? 45:40 - Outro 🎙️ Guest: Moshood Gbadamosi Follow them on X/Twitter: [@morshudlhgmo] Github: https://github.com/morshud LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/morshudlhgmo 🎙️ Host: Oluwole Majiyagbe Follow Inside the Stack on Instagram/Tiktok/Youtube: @insidethestack 💡 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more deep dives into the tech industry! Let us know in the comments: Frontend Devs, what is the most frustrating design element you constantly have to code? #Frontend #UIUX #WebDevelopment #SoftwareEngineering #TechPodcast #InsideTheStack #UIUXvsFrontend #ReactJS #TechCareer Support the show

    UI/UX vs Frontend: The Developer Strikes Back | Pixel Vs Code Ep 3

  2. Aug 14

    Inside the Mind of a UI/UX Designer: Pixels vs Code Ep. 2

    Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Episode 2 of the UI/UX vs Frontend series! This time, host Oluwole Majiyagbe sits down with UI/UX expert Kehinde Faaruq Azeez to flip the script and dive deep into the creative process from the designer's perspective. What does it really take to craft a user experience that developers can actually build? We discuss the realities of the design handoff, the dreaded "pixel-perfect" myth, and how designers really feel when developers push back on their creative vision. Whether you are a designer trying to get your team on board, or a frontend dev trying to understand what your designer is thinking, this episode bridges the gap! 👇 What we cover in this episode: Intro: Welcome back to UI/UX vs Frontend!Meet Kehinde Faaruq Azeez & his journey in UI/UXThe biggest mistakes developers make when looking at a Figma fileIs "Pixel-Perfect" actually a myth?The most frustrating parts of the design handoffHow designers and devs can finally speak the same languageThe ultimate UI/UX pet peeves (Note: Be sure to update these timestamps to match your final video edit!)🎙️ Guest: Kehinde Faaruq Azeez Follow him on LinkedIn 🎙️ Host: Oluwole Majiyagbe Follow Inside the Stack on Tiktok/Instagram/Thread: @insidethestackpodcast 💡 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more tech deep dives! Let us know in the comments: Designers, what is the one thing you wish frontend developers understood about your job? #UIUX #Frontend #WebDevelopment #UXDesign #TechPodcast #InsideTheStack #UIUXvsFrontend #SoftwareEngineering #TechCareer Support the show

    Inside the Mind of a UI/UX Designer: Pixels vs Code Ep. 2

  3. Jul 20

    UI/UX vs. Frontend: Do We Actually Need Each Other? | Pixels vs Code

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Pixels vs Code series, host Oluwole Majiyagbe sits down with UI/UX expert Afuwape Abiodun to answer the provocative question: Do Designers and Frontend Developers actually need each other? We dive deep into the classic clash between "Designing Intent" and "Building Reality." We discuss the friction points, why handoffs can be so frustrating, and how having different skills but the same goal can either make or break a project. If you are a frontend dev tired of impossible designs, or a UI/UX designer tired of devs ruining your pixels, this episode is for you! 🎙️ Guest: Afuwape Abiodun Follow him on Instagram: @jega_jnr and on Behance/LinkedIn: Afuwape Abiodun 🎙️ Host: Oluwole Majiyagbe Follow Inside the Stack on Instagram/Thread: @insidethestackpodcast 💡 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more deep dives into the tech industry! Let us know in the comments: Are you Team Pixel or Team Code? #UIUX #Frontend #WebDevelopment #DesignVsCode #TechPodcast #InsideTheStack #SoftwareEngineering #TechCareer Support the show

    UI/UX vs. Frontend: Do We Actually Need Each Other? | Pixels vs Code

  4. May 11

    AI Is Making Developers Lazy… Here’s How to Stay Dangerous

    Send us Fan Mail AI is everywhere. From writing code… to debugging… to building full applications in minutes. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: A lot of developers are getting worse — not better. In this episode of Inside the Stack, we break down how to use AI as a superpower without losing your engineering foundations. Because the real danger isn’t AI replacing developers…It’s developers replacing their thinking with AI. 🚀 In this episode, you’ll learn: Why relying too much on AI can quietly destroy your growthThe difference between AI-assisted developers and AI-dependent developersHow to actually understand the code AI generatesPractical ways to use AI without losing depthThe mindset shift that separates real engineers from prompt merchants💡 If you’re learning to code, building projects, or trying to become job-ready… This episode might change how you use AI forever. Support the show

    AI Is Making Developers Lazy… Here’s How to Stay Dangerous

  5. Apr 16

    The Developer Roadmap Nobody Explains Clearly (Avoid Wasting Years)

    Send us Fan Mail Everyone says “learn to code”… but no one shows you the roadmap clearly. In this episode of Inside the Stack, we break down the real path from beginner to job-ready developer — without the confusion, without the fluff, and without wasting years jumping between random tutorials. If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure what to learn next… this episode is for you. 🚀 What You’ll Learn:  The 4-stage developer roadmap: Learn → Build → Share → Apply  Why tutorials alone won’t get you hired  How to build a portfolio that actually stands out  The biggest mistake beginners make (and how to avoid it)  How to use AI tools without losing your engineering foundationWhether you're just starting out or trying to level up, this episode gives you a clear, practical direction to grow as a developer. 🔔 Subscribe for more: Deep dives into systems, software engineering, and real-world tech journeys. 💬 Let’s connect: What stage are you currently in? Drop a comment 👇 Support the show

    The Developer Roadmap Nobody Explains Clearly (Avoid Wasting Years)

  6. Apr 1

    From Code to Customers: Building Quizboot

    Send us Fan Mail What does it really take to turn an idea into a working product? In this episode of Inside the Stack, we sit down to unpack the journey behind Quizboot — from the very first spark of an idea to a live product used by real people. This isn’t just a success story… it’s an engineering story. We dive into:  How the idea for Quizboot came about  The early decisions that shaped the product  Challenges faced during development and deployment  What it takes to move from “it works on my laptop” to production  Lessons learned from building and scaling a real-world application Whether you’re building your first side project or trying to ship your next big idea, this episode gives you a behind-the-scenes look at what the journey actually looks like — beyond tutorials and theory. 🎧 If you’ve ever wondered “Can I really build something people will use?” This episode is for you. Support the show

    From Code to Customers: Building Quizboot

  7. Feb 25

    What Scaling Really Is: The Architecture Truth No One Talks About

    Send us Fan Mail Scaling is one of the most misunderstood ideas in software engineering. It’s not about traffic. It’s not about going viral. And it’s definitely not about adding more servers. In this episode of Inside the Stack, Oluwole Majiyagbe breaks down what scaling really means — and why architecture, predictability, and system design matter more than traffic spikes. You don’t scale into good architecture. You scale from it. We talk about: Why traffic exposes problems instead of creating them The difference between scaling users and scaling complexity What breaks first in growing systems Why premature optimization is often a distraction If you're building software that needs to grow without collapsing under its own complexity, this episode is for you. Subscribe to Inside the Stack for system-level conversations without hype or buzzwords. #Scaling #SoftwareArchitecture #SystemDesign #BackendEngineering #InsideTheStack Support the show

    What Scaling Really Is: The Architecture Truth No One Talks About

  8. Feb 11

    What happens between Request and Response?

    Send us Fan Mail You click a button… and something happens. Or at least, you hope something happens. That single click travels across networks, hits servers, wakes up databases, checks permissions, runs logic — and then makes a long journey back to your screen. But when nothing happens…you start wondering. Was it the internet? The backend? Or did the server just decide to rest? In this episode of Inside the Stack, we slow everything down and answer one simple question: What actually happens between a request and a response? We start from the very beginning — not with frameworks or buzzwords — but with the core idea that powers the entire web: computers talking to other computers. You’ll learn: What a request really is, and why nothing happens without oneHow clients and servers actually interactWhat’s inside a request: methods, paths, headers, and bodyWhy GET and POST exist, and how to choose the right oneWhat HTTP really is (without memorizing definitions)Why HTTP is stateless, and why headers matter so muchWhat error codes like 404, 403, 400, and 500 are actually trying to tell youWhere things usually break — and how to debug without guessing We use simple mental models, real-life analogies, and real system behavior to make sense of concepts that often feel confusing or “magical.” By the end of this episode: Requests and responses will stop feeling mysterious. Error codes will start pointing you in the right direction The web will feel predictable instead of fragile And you’ll have a solid foundation for building apps, APIs, and systems with confidence This is the first episode in the Web Fundamentals mini-series, and whether you’re a beginner, a designer, or a developer, this episode will help you finally understand what’s going on behind the scenes — from click to code. Subscribe to Inside the Stack for more episodes where we break systems down, layer by layer, until they actually make sense. Support the show

    What happens between Request and Response?

  9. Feb 5

    Introducing Inside the Stack

    Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Inside the Stack — a podcast about how real software systems are built, scaled, and sustained. In this short introductory episode, your host Oluwole Majiyagbe shares the why behind the podcast, what “the stack” really means, and what you can expect from future episodes. This show isn’t about trends, buzzwords, or chasing the next shiny tool. It’s about: Understanding what actually happens inside software systemsBreaking down architecture, APIs, and backend decisionsExploring scaling beyond traffic — people, processes, and complexityLearning from real-world engineering experiences, not theory aloneIf you’re a developer, engineer, or founder who wants to build better systems — and understand the trade-offs behind technical decisions — Inside the Stack is for you. New episodes drop regularly.  🎧 Subscribe and step inside the stack. Support the show

    Introducing Inside the Stack
  • 9 Episodes

About

Inside the Stack is a podcast for developers, founders, and tech leaders who want to understand how real systems are built, scaled, and maintained — without the hype. Each episode breaks down what actually happens inside modern software systems: from request–response flows and APIs, to architecture decisions, scaling trade-offs, developer tooling, security, and the human decisions behind technical choices. We talk about: Backend systems, APIs, and architectureScaling beyond traffic — systems, teams, and complexityDeveloper experience and engineering culturePractical lessons from side projects, startups, and production systemsTechnology trends, trade-offs, and real-world engineering decisions Whether you’re an early-career developer, a senior engineer, or a founder building product infrastructure, Inside the Stack helps you think clearly about how software really works — and how to build it well. New episodes drop regularly. 🎧 Listen. Learn. Build better systems.

Information

  • Creator
    Oluwole Majiyagbe
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Inside the Stack
  • Show Website
    Inside the Stack