Fallthrough Media

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Technology

Technology

Updated 5 days ago
Technology

Technology

Updated weekly

17/03/2025

Choosing, Expanding, & Evolving Communities

Communities play a vital role in our technical and non-technical lives, but how much thought have we put into what makes these spaces valuable? In this episode, Kris is joined by the panel and Kelsey Hightower to discuss communities and their intersection with the digital and non-digital world. Supporters get access to an extended conversation with Kelsey, where we discuss his views of AI and what he's been up to in retirement! You can get access by signing up at https://fallthrough.fm/subscribe. Thanks for tuning in and happy listening! Notes: What If CSS Grid Changes?The Infinite Game by Simon SinekKitchen NightmaresTable of Contents: Prologue (00:00)Kelsey Introduction (01:18)Panel Introduction (01:39)GopherCon CFP (01:54)Chapter 1: Choice (02:46)Why did Kelsey leave the Go community? (02:46)Dylan's first experiences with Go (09:05)A shared vocabulary (10:39)The software relay race (12:30)Go: The Potential Parts (13:37)The challenge of having a Go team (15:00)Yes is forever (25:59)Modules Therapy (27:11)Remember the past & give space to be honest (28:17)Dropping the community baton (31:53)Go by choice (32:19)Wall Street measure of success (35:48)The first date isn't the same as the hundredth (39:36)The leader in you (42:19)Chapter 2: Infinite (47:35)Software is an Infinite Game (47:35)Constraints are required (51:30)You cannot build the everything tool (54:21)We need to touch grass (55:39)Augmenting life (59:27)Chapter 3: Evolution (01:00:55)Keeping sane in DevRel (01:07:17)Conferences in the current era (01:13:30)Superiority of the Single Track Conference (01:18:04)Kelsey's KubeCon Story (01:21:00)Virtual Conferences need a new term (01:23:38)Conferences need some innovating (01:25:35)Does tech even have communities? (01:27:52)Kelsey's dream talk development path (01:30:06)Chapter 4: Kelsey's Retirement (01:42:05)This chapter is supporter only content.Epilogue (01:43:34) Hosts Kelsey Hightower - Guest Kris Brandow - Host Dylan Bourque - Host Matthew Sanabria - Host Socials:WebsiteBlueskyThreadsX/TwitterLinkedInInstagram (00:00) - Prologue (02:46) - Chapter 1: Choice (47:35) - Chapter 2: Infinite (01:00:55) - Chapter 3: Evolution (01:42:05) - Chapter 4: Retirement (01:43:34) - Epilogue

17/03/2025

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1h 49m
20/11/2025

The AI Marketing Problem

The tech industry is terrible at marketing things. From AI to Blockchain to Git, we constantly miss the actual innovation by looking too closely at the surface level. In this episode, Kris is joined by the full panel of Ian, Matthew, and Dylan to discuss the marketing problem AI seems to have and its wider implications. If you prefer to watch this episode, you can view it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/4nGG8Mv4L88 This week's episode of break continues the conversation, with a deeper discussion around the marketing point and a whole bunch more. Watch it on YouTube or listen with your favorite podcasting app! Learn more by going to https://break.show/16. And we've got bonus content for our supporters, where you'll hear how the panel is currently using AI and the importance of embracing being human. Not a supporter yet? Fix that today by heading over to https://fallthrough.fm/subscribe where you'll get not only extra content but also higher quality audio. Sign up today! Thanks for tuning in and happy listening! Table of Contents: Prologue (00:00:00)Chapter 1: The AI Marketing Problem (00:06:14)Chapter 2: What Does It Mean To Adopt AI? [Extended] (00:09:53)Chapter 3: SciFi Computer or Reference System? (00:10:16)Chapter 4: Embrace Being Human [Extended] (00:36:17)Chapter 3: SciFi Computer or Reference System? (00:00:-17)Chapter 5: Context Is Important (00:36:54)Appendix UNPOP: Unpopular Opinions and Panic & Recover (00:49:41) Hosts Kris Brandow - Host Ian Wester-Lopshire - Host Dylan Bourque - Host Matthew Sanabria - Host Socials:WebsiteBlueskyThreadsX/TwitterLinkedInInstagram (00:00) - Prologue (06:14) - Chapter 1: The AI Marketing Problem (09:53) - Chapter 2: What Does It Mean To Adopt AI? [Extended] (10:16) - Chapter 3: SciFi Computer or Reference System? (36:17) - Chapter 4: Embrace Being Human [Extended] (36:54) - Chapter 5: Context Is Important (49:41) - Appendix UNPOP: Unpopular Opinions and Panic & Recover

20/11/2025

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1h 5m
12/11/2025

Artisanal Software Engineering

Software engineering has an identity problem. Some software engineers want to be craftspeople and artisans, while others want to be more like the traditional engineers, while others just want to write some code. In this episode, Kris and Matt talk about the state of software engineering today and the areas that they think could use improvement. For this week's episode of break, we're pulling one out of the archives! Sometimes we record an episode and don't ship it for quite a while, and this one was recorded all the way back on July 30th! Kris and Matt talk about their (at the time) yet to be recorded episode with Mitchell, Oxide's Series B announcement, and have another conversation about software artisans. Watch it on YouTube or listen with your favorite podcasting app! Learn more by going to https://break.show/15. And we've got bonus content for our supporters, where you'll hear the duo's feelings about project management, the industry's lack of planning, and Kris' recent change in view around artificial intelligence. Not a supporter yet? Fix that today by heading over to https://fallthrough.fm/subscribe where you'll get not only extra content but also higher quality audio. Sign up today! Thanks for tuning in and happy listening! Table of Contents: Prologue (00:00:00)Chapter 1: The Current State of Software Engineering (00:02:28)Chapter 2: MVPs and the Challenge of Shipping Software (00:17:05)Chapter 3: Project Management and Workflows [Extended] (00:26:01)Chapter 4: The Invisible Things (00:26:24)Chapter 5: Path Dependency and Asking Why (00:31:26)Chapter 6: Engineering Is About Design (00:46:11)Chapter 7: We Need Better Planning [Extended] (00:58:42)Chapter 8: Matt wants to write less code (00:59:02)Chapter 9: Kris' view of AI has shifted [Extended] (01:02:38)Epilogue (01:03:06) Hosts Kris Brandow - Host Matthew Sanabria - Host Socials:WebsiteBlueskyThreadsX/TwitterLinkedInInstagram (00:00) - Prologue (02:28) - Chapter 1: The Current State of Software Engineering (17:05) - Chapter 2: MVPs and the Challenge of Shipping Software (26:01) - Chapter 3: Project Management and Workflows [Extended] (26:24) - Chapter 4: The Invisible Things (31:26) - Chapter 5: Path Depenency and Asking Why (46:11) - Chapter 6: Engineering Is About Design (58:42) - Chapter 7: We Need Better Planning [Extended] (59:02) - Chapter 8: Matt wants to write less code (01:02:38) - Chapter 9: Kris' view of AI has shifted [Extended] (01:03:06) - Epilogue

12/11/2025

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1h 9m
26/05/2025

Event Driven Architectures

When it comes to building distributed systems, RPC and REST style interfaces aren't the only options. Events provide an alternative way to build a distributed system that can result in more robust systems that are easier to extend and deploy, while reducing the chances of a single bottlenecked service taking down the entire system. In this episode, your host Angelica is joined by Indu Alagarsamy, Ignacio Castillejos, and Chris Richardson to discuss what event-driven architecture is, what technologies can be used with it, and how to model and evolve events. This episode's extended content includes two chapters: one about domain drive design and another about AI/ML. Get access by signing up at https://fallthrough.fm/subscribe. Thanks for tuning in and happy listening! Notes: Async API 3.0.0EventuateNServiceBusMassTransitDomain-Driven Design: Tackling Complexity in the Heart of SoftwareLanguage in Context - Eric Evans - DDD Europe 2019DDD and LLMs - Eric Evans - Explore DDD 2024Vibe coding: the good, the almost, and the @#$%**She Is in Love With ChatGPTThis Therapist Helped Clients Feel Better. It Was A.I. Table of Contents: Prologue (01:11)Chapter 1: What Is Event Driven Architecture? (05:26)Chapter 2: Event Driven Architecture Technologies (12:49)Chapter 3: Evolving Event Models (29:36)Chapter 4: Domain Driven Design [Supporter Only] (49:52)Chapter 5: AI/ML [Supporter Only] (49:52)Epilogue (52:53) Hosts Angelica Hill - Producer Kris Brandow - Producer Indu Alagarsamy - Guest Ignacio Castillejos - Guest Chris Richardson - Guest Socials:WebsiteBlueskyThreadsX/TwitterLinkedInInstagram (01:11) - Prologue (05:26) - Chapter 1: What Is Event Driven Architecture? (12:49) - Chapter 2: Event Driven Architecture Technologies (29:36) - Chapter 3: Evolving Event Models (49:52) - Chapter 4: Domain Driven Design [Supporter Only] (49:52) - Chapter 5: AI/ML [Supporter Only] (52:53) - Epilogue

26/05/2025

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59 min
03/03/2025

Tools We Love

We all have tools that make our lives better. Software tools, hardware tools, and everything in between. In this episode, Matt is joined by Kris, Ian, and Dylan to discuss some of their favorite tools, what they use them for, and why they chose them. Want to hear about the tools we don't like? Become a supporter and enjoy bonus content and higher quality audio today, and additional perks and benefits when we add them in the future. Thanks for tuning in and happy listening! Tools: (01:36) Tool #1: Jujitsu(05:40) Tool #2: MyRepos(08:56) Tool #3: GitHub Actions(14:54) Tool #4: ZFS(17:02) Tool #5: GNU Stow(19:15) .ignore in your .gitconfig(19:49) Subshell for mktmp -d(27:29) Tool #6: ZSA Moonlander(32:47) Tool #7: A good office chair(37:25) Tool #8: KitchenAid Professional 600(39:17) https://flameka.com(40:47) Tool #9: Sourcegraph(42:53) Tool #10: Comby(43:25) Tool #11: Kagi(47:14) Tool #12: Datagrip(48:57) Tool #13: govers(51:15) Tool #14: Mage(53:22) Tool #15: NeoVim(55:57) Tree-sitter(58:44) Tool #16: Ghostty(01:00:57) Tool #17: 1Password(01:06:02) Tool #18: B5 Paper(01:12:22) Tool #19: Leuchtturm1917(01:13:26) Tool #20: Uni Kuru Toga(01:13:52) Tool #21: Koh-i-noor Rapidomatic(01:16:36) Tool #22: Hardened steel ruler(01:17:37) Tool #23: LAMY Safari(01:19:01) Tool #24: Baron Fig Strategist(01:20:42) Tool #25: Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro(01:21:12) Tool #26: Schiit Vali(01:21:51) Tool #27: Sony MDR-7506(01:22:24) Tool #28: Shokz OpenRun(01:28:56) Tool #29: BlackMagic Design Ultra Studio Recorded 3G(01:31:16) Tool #30: OBS(01:33:05) Tool #31: SM7B(01:33:47) Tool #32: Ziess lens wipes(01:34:58) Tool #33: Apple M2 Macbook Air(01:41:36) Tool #34: iFixIt Mako driver kit(01:42:46) Tool #35: American Giant hoodie(01:44:17) Tool #36: Epson ES-300W portable scanner(01:45:37) Tool #37: HP LasterJet P1102W(01:47:30) Tool #38: IKEA SKADISChapters: (00:00) - Intro (01:36) - Tech Tools (23:49) - Shift Lock & Escaping Vim (tangent) (27:29) - Keyboards (30:29) - Typing Classes (tangent) (32:47) - Office Gear (37:25) - Kitchen Gear (40:47) - More Tech Tools (46:17) - Ad Auctions (tangent) (47:14) - Even More Software (01:06:02) - Stationery (01:20:42) - Audio & Video Gear (01:42:46) - Other Tools (01:50:53) - Tools We Don't Love (01:52:01) - Outro Hosts Kris Brandow - Host Ian Wester-Lopshire - Host Dylan Bourque - Host Matthew Sanabria - Host Socials:WebsiteBlueskyThreadsX/TwitterLinkedInInstagram

03/03/2025

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1h 54m
05/05/2025

The Language of Data Visualization

Little languages are powerful. From text processing with AWK to calculations with APL, domain specific languages help us do things more concisely and with more precision than with other languages. Anthony Starks knows this well, as he's designed several little languages, including decksh, the focus of this episode, which allows users to create powerful presentations without the hassle of pushing around pixels in Powerpoint. He joins Angelica and Matt to discuss the background of why he created these languages, how they work, and so much more. And we have some fantastic unpopular opinions to round out the episode. This episode's supporter content is truly fantastic. It includes an extended conversation where the group discusses data visualization in depth, including how Anthony was able to recreate graphics from W. E. B. Du Bois that are challenging or impossible to recreate with regular data visualization tools. Get access by signing up at https://fallthrough.fm/subscribe. Thanks for tuning in and happy listening! Notes: entrhttps://speakerdeck.com/ajstarks/interactive-image-manipulation-with-popihttps://speakerdeck.com/ajstarks/giftsh-a-dsl-and-shell-for-image-editingdecksh object referencedeckshgiftshgiftsh code2025 Du Bois ChallengeDu Bois challenge overviews and recaps:https://speakerdeck.com/ajstarks/du-bois-challenge-2024-recaphttps://speakerdeck.com/ajstarks/challenge2023https://speakerdeck.com/ajstarks/curating-the-number-duboischallenge2022little languagesDu Bois Data PortraitsBlack Lives 1900Fyne Canvas:https://speakerdeck.com/ajstarks/fc-a-high-level-canvas-api-for-the-fyne-toolkithttps://github.com/ajstarks/fcGiocanvas:https://speakerdeck.com/ajstarks/giocanvas-a-high-level-canvas-api-for-giohttps://github.com/ajstarks/giocanvasebiten canvas:https://github.com/ajstarks/ebcanvas"Like" Table of Contents: Prologue (01:29)Chapter 1: Why Make DSLs? (04:49)Chapter 2: decksh (09:57)Chapter 3: Visualizing Data [Supporter Only] (23:34)Chapter 4: Documentation (24:22)Chapter 5: Metaprogramming (37:33)Chpater 6: Good Tools (45:13)Appendix UNPOP: Unpopular Opinions (54:23)Epilogue (01:08:21) Hosts Anthony Starks - Guest Angelica Hill - Producer Matthew Sanabria - Host Kris Brandow - Producer Socials:WebsiteBlueskyThreadsX/TwitterLinkedInInstagram (01:29) - Prologue (04:49) - Chapter 1: Why Make DSLs? (09:57) - Chapter 2: decksh (23:34) - Chapter 3: Visualizing Data [Supporter Only] (24:22) - Chapter 4: Documentation (37:33) - Chapter 5: Metaprogramming (45:13) - Chpater 6: Good Tools (54:23) - Appendix UNPOP: Unpopular Opinions (01:08:21) - Epilogue

05/05/2025

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1h 11m
31/03/2025

What Even Is A Senior Software Engineer?

What does it mean to be a senior (or staff) software engineer? How are we preparing the next generation of software engineers to maintain the software we've created? In this episode, Matt and Kris are joined by Bill Kennedy to discuss tech communities, training software engineers, the landscape of learning, how artificial intelligence is affecting it all, and so much more. Supporters get access to an extended conversation with Bill, where we get into more depth on artificial intelligence, the Go team, and more! You can get access by signing up at https://fallthrough.fm/subscribe. Thanks for tuning in and happy listening! Notes: The Market for LemonsTable of Contents: Prologue (01:10)Intros & The Rain (01:10)Mr. Gopher Man (02:35)Introducing Bill Kennedy (03:08)Chapter 1: Tech Communities & Software Engineer Training (04:57)From Ultimate Go to Ultimate Software Design Live (04:57)Software Engineers & Criticism (10:01)Saying The Wrong Things (15:12)The Times Have Changed (16:08)You Learn More From Your Mistakes (24:44)Chapter 2: The Learning Landscape (28:25)The trouble with senior engineering (30:10)The difference between programming and coding (35:04)What is legacy? (39:19)It's All About Packages (44:06)Expanding Into Rust (51:23)Chapter 3: Giving Back (59:43)Sustaining open source projects (59:43)Chapter 4: Passing The Baton (01:13:28)The need for written documentation (01:27:50)What AI can do for you (01:33:50)When do you do something? (01:40:57)Epilogue (01:50:05)Helicopter taxi (01:50:34) Hosts Kris Brandow - Host Matthew Sanabria - Host Bill Kennedy - Guest Socials:WebsiteBlueskyThreadsX/TwitterLinkedInInstagram (01:10) - Prologue (04:57) - Chapter 1: Tech Communities & Software Engineer Training (28:25) - Chapter 2: The Learning Landscape (59:43) - Chapter 3: Giving Back (01:13:28) - Chapter 4: Passing The Baton (01:50:05) - Epilogue

31/03/2025

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1h 53m
03/02/2025

Navigating A Career In Tech

How much do you know about a career in coding? Perhaps you're already a well versed professional software person. Or maybe you're someone who's just starting out. Either way, you're going to need some help along your entire technology career. In this episode, which is part 2 of a 2 part series, the panel is chatting with Chris Allaire to talk about all things tech recruiting! They discuss what makes one a good candidate, why a recruiter is useful, whether recruiting can be replaced with AI, and so much more. As always, we've got some great unpopular opinions at the end. Thanks for tuning in and happy listening! Notes & Links: AverityChapters: (00:00) - Intro (00:57) - How're we doing? (01:47) - Introducing Chris Allaire (03:30) - Retro Tech Recruiting (08:44) - Recruiting Throughout The Decades (13:17) - Increasing Specialization. Or Not. (17:02) - Modern Tech Recruiting (27:47) - Fearing Automation (35:45) - What makes a good candidate? (42:33) - Senior vs Staff: Knowing The Job You want (47:23) - Starting A Career In Coding (55:51) - For Those Who Love Tech, But Not Coding (01:00:57) - How To Choose The Right Company (01:13:03) - Unpopular Opinions (01:13:48) - Chris' Unpop (01:16:10) - Dylan's Unpop (01:17:43) - Kris' Unpop (01:20:18) - Ian's Unpop (01:22:50) - Final Advice: Get A Recruiter (who cares about you)! (01:25:23) - Outro Hosts Kris Brandow - Host Ian Wester-Lopshire - Host Dylan Bourque - Host Chris Allaire - Guest Socials:WebsiteBlueskyThreadsX/TwitterLinkedInInstagram

03/02/2025

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1h 26m
20/01/2025

Do We Think You Should Learn To Code?

For years we've been told that everyone needs to learn to code. As career software people, what are our thoughts on this? Should you learn to code? Is coding the right career for you? In this first episode of a two part series, the panel discusses how they learned to code, whether they think everyone should learn to code, and of course they offer up some unpopular opinions. And if you're thinking, "I already know how to code", don't worry, this episode contains valuable advice for you as well. As always thanks for tuning in and happy listening! Notes & Links: Ben Eater's YouTube Channel (from 53:00)John Carmack's Fast Inverse Square Root (from 1:01:47)This is actually from Quake, not Doom.Change Interviews #581 It's Not Always DNS (from 1:04:15)Chapters: (00:00) - Intro (01:33) - How're we doing? (04:41) - Why did we learn to code? (06:10) - Why Kris learned to code (07:44) - Why Ian learned to code (08:54) - Why Dylan learned to code (10:36) - Why Matthew learned to code (14:22) - Computer Assembly Not Required (16:51) - Tangent: Why Are USB-C Cables? (17:36) - Should you focus on a specific language? (22:45) - Do you want to solve problems? (24:53) - Coding & Woodworking (27:09) - Curiosity & Itches that need scratching (31:07) - What do we mean when we say "code"? (32:34) - You should learn Excel (39:35) - Coding Is Configuring Computers (43:32) - Discrete Math, Not Binary (47:03) - Learn the low level stuff... eventually (53:42) - The desire to learn (57:41) - Sidequest: Networking (01:05:52) - Learning Design & Being Load Bearing (01:12:10) - Continual Learning (01:14:33) - What of AI and Automation? (01:21:49) - Share What You Learn (01:24:24) - Should You Learn To Code? (01:24:57) - Teaser: Episode 5 - Is Coding The Career For You? (01:26:02) - Unpopular Opinions (01:26:08) - Matthew's Unpop (01:28:51) - Ian's Unpop (01:29:29) - Dylan's Unpop (01:33:52) - Kris' Unpop (01:36:50) - Tangent: Chopper? (01:37:27) - Outro Hosts Kris Brandow - Host Ian Wester-Lopshire - Host Dylan Bourque - Host Matthew Sanabria - Host Socials:WebsiteBlueskyThreadsX/TwitterLinkedInInstagram

20/01/2025

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1h 39m
07/04/2025

APIs: Design Imperfectly, Improve Relentlessly

APIs are built, not born, so how do we go about actually building them? Well, it starts with design. In this episode, Kris and Ian are joined by Jamie Tanna to talk about API design. From creating a theory of your API, through building its foundation, to actively prototyping as you design, the panel discusses what they've learned over the years to design high quality APIs. At the end we have unpopular opinions, but we also have a bonus behind the scenes look at howe we create episodes of this podcast. Make sure to stick around until the end of the episode for that content! Supporters get access to an extended conversation about API design, where we continue some conversation that were cut short, dig more into how the podcast is made, and you'll get to hear Kris argue against using REST! You can get access by signing up at https://fallthrough.fm/subscribe. Thanks for tuning in and happy listening! Notes: Spotlight PrismCan I Use?Manual of MeTable of Contents: Prologue (01:11)Chapter 1: Designing APIs (02:54)You will make mistakes (03:26)Inventing things from whole cloth (06:29)There is no correct (12:34)Chapter 2: A Theory of Your API (17:48)Creating a foundation (31:26)Starting from your database schema (Supporter Only)Chapter 3: Prior Art (34:13)Chapter 4: Design Requires Code (41:37)Chapter 5: The Happy Path (48:19)Chapter 6: Application Transactions (53:08)Chapter 7: What Is Forever? (57:06)Chapter 8: Separate Application & Transfer (01:08:30)Chapter 9: Stop Doing RESTful Nonsense (Supporter Only)Chapter 10: Concrete Challenges with Correctness (01:11:59)Appendix UNPOP: Unpopular Opinions (01:18:44)Jamie's Surprise Unpop (01:18:47)Jamie's Second Unpop (01:23:55)Epilogue (01:26:55) Hosts Kris Brandow - Host Ian Wester-Lopshire - Host Jamie Tanna - Host Socials:WebsiteBlueskyThreadsX/TwitterLinkedInInstagram (01:11) - Prologue (02:54) - Chapter 1: Designing APIs (17:48) - Chapter 2: A Theory of Your API (34:13) - Chapter 3: Prior Art (41:37) - Chapter 4: Design Requires Code (48:19) - Chapter 5: The Happy Path (53:08) - Chapter 6: Application Transactions (57:06) - Chapter 7: What Is Forever? (01:08:30) - Chapter 8: Separate Application & Transfer (01:11:59) - Chapter 9: Stop Doing RESTful Nonsense (Supporter Only) (01:11:59) - Chapter 10: Concrete Challenges with Correctness (01:18:44) - Appendix UNPOP: Unpopular Opinions (01:26:55) - Epilogue

07/04/2025

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1h 29m

Hi! We're Fallthrough Media, a podcast production company. We make podcasts like Fallthrough and it's aftershow, Break.

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