Beyond Coding

Patrick Akil

For software engineers ready to level up. Learn from CTOs, principal engineers, and tech leaders about the skills beyond coding: from technical mastery to product thinking and career growth

  1. Lead Software Engineer: Stop "Future-Proofing" Your System Design

    2D AGO

    Lead Software Engineer: Stop "Future-Proofing" Your System Design

    Are you over-engineering for a future that might never come? In this episode, we explore why "future-proofing" often leads to wasted time and sunk costs, and how shifting your mindset from opinions to hypotheses can drastically improve your Developer Experience (DevEx). In this episode, we cover: The trap of complex architecture decisions like Hexagonal Architecture too earlyHow to identify and remove friction points in the software development lifecycleThe reality of using AI agents in production and who is actually responsible for the code If you are a software engineer or tech lead tired of the "Sacred Cloud Committee" and slow processes, this deep dive into DevEx is for you. Connect with Bas de Groot: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bas-de-groot-635013100 Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:00 - The Danger of "Future-Proofing" Your Architecture 00:03:18 - Why You Should Use Hypotheses Over Opinions 00:05:32 - "Shift Left Until There's Only Sh*t Left" 00:08:19 - At What Size Do You Need a DevEx Team? 00:11:02 - How to Measure Developer Friction Effectively 00:15:43 - Using Data to Fix Slow CI/CD Pipelines 00:17:26 - Why Surveys Beat DORA Metrics for Context 00:19:52 - The "Sacred Cloud Committee" Blocking Deployments 00:24:51 - How to Get Buy-In for DevEx Initiatives 00:28:56 - The Role of Hands-On Coding in DevEx 00:31:47 - Will AI Agents Fix Bad Processes? 00:34:44 - You Are Still Responsible for AI-Generated Code #developerexperience #softwarearchitecture #techlead

    40 min
  2. How Senior Software Engineers Balance Speed and Quality (Scale-Up Lessons)

    FEB 25

    How Senior Software Engineers Balance Speed and Quality (Scale-Up Lessons)

    The difference between a junior and a senior engineer isn't coding speed, it's knowing when to say "no." "The best code you can write is the code you don't write." In this episode, I sit down with Alessandro Mautone (Senior Software Engineer at Aquablu, ex-WeTransfer) to discuss the reality of engineering at a scale-up: how do you maintain technical excellence when the business demands speed? We break down why delivering features "fast" pays your salary, but how to negotiate deadlines so you don't drown in technical debt later. If you want to move from writing code to owning product decisions, this conversation is for you. In this episode, we cover: - How to push back on features and negotiate deadlines without upsetting stakeholders - Why chasing "perfect code" can hurt a company in growth mode - The Generalist vs. Specialist career path: Which one is right for you? - The potential pitfalls of using AI for unit tests without proper oversight Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:06 - Balancing Technical Excellence With Delivery Speed 00:04:11 - Why Delivering Features Pays Your Salary 00:06:51 - The Importance of Ownership and "Skin in the Game" 00:08:59 - Leaving WeTransfer: When Company Direction Shifts 00:11:49 - The Generalist vs. Specialist Career Path Debate 00:16:46 - How to Attract Top Engineering Talent to Your Team 00:18:50 - Is LeetCode the Right Way to Hire for Scale-Ups? 00:23:16 - Learning to "Say No" is a Sign of Seniority 00:25:17 - Negotiating Scope Without Burning Bridges 00:26:02 - When AI Generates Bad Unit Tests 00:28:14 - Never Compromise on Tests, Even in "Code Red" 00:33:59 - Communicating Technical Concepts to Non-Tech Stakeholders 00:35:35 - The Never-Ending Battle Against Complexity 00:37:26 - When to Build for the Future vs. Ship Now 00:42:30 - A Real-World Example of Refactoring for Simplicity 00:46:48 - The Skill That Will Be Make or Break for Engineers #SoftwareEngineering #ScaleUp #TechnicalDebt

    47 min
  3. How to Think About Software Engineering (CTO's Perspective)

    FEB 18

    How to Think About Software Engineering (CTO's Perspective)

    We are at a unique point in history where there is finally an alternative to human coding. If AI can write the code effectively, what is left for the software engineer? In this episode, Joris Conijn (AWS CTO at Xebia) argues that the era of "just coding" is over. We discuss why senior developers are safe (for now), why juniors are at risk of never learning the fundamentals, and how "Shadow AI" is forcing companies to change their security strategies. Most importantly, we break down the difference between a "Programmer" and a "Software Engineer" with the introduction of agentic tools. If you want to future-proof your career and move from writing lines of code to designing systems, this conversation is for you. In this episode, we cover: Why banning AI at work actually increases your security riskHow to use AI to automate the boring parts of the SDLC (requirements & user stories)The critical difference between "Coding" and "System Architecture"Why you should check your AI Agents into your Git repositoryThe 20-year problem: what happens when engineers never learn the fundamentals? Connect with Joris Conijn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jorisconijn TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:11 - What Keeps a CTO Excited About Tech? 00:02:58 - Stop Being the "Department of No" in Security 00:05:28 - The Real Risk of Banning AI at Work 00:06:32 - When Developers Hold the Organization Hostage 00:08:14 - The Hidden Dangers of Instant AI Code Fixes 00:09:50 - Will Future Devs Understand Object Oriented Programming? 00:11:36 - Using AI to Accelerate Learning vs Copy-Pasting 00:13:17 - Why Testing Matters More When AI Writes Code 00:16:42 - Automating the Boring Parts of the SDLC 00:19:06 - How to Turn Meeting Transcripts into User Stories 00:21:36 - The Critical Skill of Making Implicit Knowledge Explicit 00:23:10 - Why You Should Stop Obsessing Over Story Points 00:27:46 - The "A-Team" Approach to High-Trust Development 00:29:54 - Running Parallel Workflows with AI Agents 00:33:34 - Pro Tip: Check Your AI Agents into Git 00:35:52 - Balancing Autonomy and Governance in Large Teams 00:39:19 - There Is Finally an Alternative to Human Coders 00:41:07 - Programmer vs Software Engineer: What is the Difference? 00:44:45 - How to Teach Software Engineering in the AI Era #SoftwareEngineering #SystemDesign #AIAgents

    47 min
  4. How to Build the Best Platforms for Software Engineers

    FEB 11

    How to Build the Best Platforms for Software Engineers

    Is your internal developer platform actually improving velocity, or is it a bottleneck? We discuss why platform teams building "cool" abstractions is a red flag, and you should aim to create the best platform for software engineers. In this episode, we cover: Why "Golden Paths" can turn into roadblocks for developers.The danger of Shadow IT and why it’s a symptom of a failed platform.How to measure if your platform is saving time. Connect with Adnan Alshar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adnanmalshar92 Connect with Jelmer de Jong: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jelmerdejong-xebia 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:54 - Is DevOps Dead? The Truth About Platform Engineering 00:03:07 - Why Developers Are Drowning in Complexity Today 00:04:37 - Why Having No Platform Is Better Than a Bad Platform 00:07:20 - Treating Software Engineers as Customers of the Platform 00:11:26 - The Exact Moment You Should Start Building a Platform 00:14:18 - Who Should Be on Your First Platform Team? 00:17:33 - Turning Your Angriest Developers Into Platform Evangelists 00:18:57 - Key Metrics: How to Measure Platform Engineering Success 00:21:01 - Why 60% of Companies Don't Measure Platform Success 00:23:35 - Why No Metrics Is the Biggest Red Flag 00:25:23 - The Disconnect Between Executives and AI Readiness 00:31:34 - Integrating AI Tools and Large Language Models Securely 00:34:22 - Shadow IT: The Symptom of a Broken Platform 00:38:03 - How to Scale Without Becoming a Bottleneck 00:41:45 - Don’t Forget the Business Side of Platform Engineering #PlatformEngineering #DevOps #DeveloperProductivity

    44 min
  5. Career Advice I'd Give Every Software Engineer Right Now

    FEB 4

    Career Advice I'd Give Every Software Engineer Right Now

    Engineering hasn't become easier, writing code has just become faster. Time to stop fighting symptoms and start thinking in systems. In this Q&A, I break down the career advice I'd give to any engineer, from mastering architecture to knowing when to quit a high-paying job. In this episode, we cover: How "Systems Thinking" can be applied in practiceThe "Golden Handcuffs": Why high salaries keep engineers in toxic jobsHow to transition into leadership without waiting for a title Timestamps 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:58 - How to innovate in stubborn legacy companies 00:04:49 - The "Golden Handcuffs": Money vs. Mental Health 00:07:27 - Stop solving symptoms: Systems Thinking explained 00:13:10 - Transitioning from Senior Engineer to Solutions Architect 00:15:08 - Communicating technical risks to non-technical bosses 00:17:48 - Proving leadership before you have the title 00:22:25 - My strategy for dealing with Imposter Syndrome 00:26:12 - Creating a "Zettelkasten" to retain technical knowledge 00:29:12 - The mindset that makes me stress-proof at work 00:33:10 - Learning to code with a product/design background 00:38:40 - Working with international remote teams 00:40:35 - Career Pivot: Software Engineering to Cyber Security 00:43:20 - Solopreneur opportunities in the "Education Gold Rush" 00:51:50 - Future Predictions: Vibe Coding vs. Vibe Engineering #SoftwareEngineering #CareerAdvice #SystemsThinking

    1h 1m
  6. The Skills That Matter When AI Writes Your Code

    JAN 28

    The Skills That Matter When AI Writes Your Code

    The software engineering landscape is shifting rapidly. Coding is becoming "cheap" because of tools like Claude Code, Codex, Gemini, Cursor etc. Interviews are evolving to focus on system design over syntax. In this Q&A, I break down exactly which skills matter now, how to negotiate the salary you deserve, and how to deal with difficult personalities on your team. In this episode: How juniors can leverage AI tools to reach senior-level outputReal-world salary negotiation tactics from my experienceWhy coding skills matter less in modern interviews (and what matters more)Handling "brilliant jerks" and toxic team culture Whether you are looking for your first job with no experience or you are a mid-level dev trying to break into a Staff Engineer role, this session is packed with actionable career advice. Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:06 - Handling Brilliant Jerks: Toxic Culture vs. High Performance 00:04:13 - How Juniors Can Use AI to Outperform Seniors 00:07:10 - The Future of Coding Interviews: System Design and AI 00:11:20 - The Real Difference Between Good and Great Developers 00:13:00 - One Mistake Mid-Level Developers Make That Stalls Growth 00:15:58 - Salary Negotiation Tactics: How I Got Two Raises in One Year 00:23:44 - Questions You Should Ask to Crush Your Tech Interview 00:27:42 - What Actually Moves the Needle: Side Projects vs. Experience 00:31:05 - Don't Wait for a Perfect Portfolio to Start Applying 00:32:25 - Finding Jobs: Why LinkedIn and Meetups Beat Job Boards 00:35:16 - Should Frontend Developers Worry About Learning Backend Skills? 00:37:39 - Do Tech Certifications Actually Help You Get Hired? 00:39:07 - Mastering Soft Skills: Training Budgets vs. Real Experience #softwareengineering #careeradvice #techinterviews

    42 min
  7. Google & AWS Veteran: How To Become a Great Architect

    JAN 21

    Google & AWS Veteran: How To Become a Great Architect

    "Architects shouldn't try to be the smartest people in the room, they should make everybody else smarter." In this episode, Gregor Hohpe (ex-Google & AWS, author of "The Software Architect Elevator") breaks down exactly how to transition from software engineer to architect. He shares the mental models used at Big Tech to handle complexity, visualize systems, and navigate office politics without losing your technical edge. We cover: - Why "lowering risk" is the architect's real value proposition - The "Phantom Sketch Artist" technique to visualize unclear requirements - How to gain "political capital" to push back on bad decisions - Why simple architectures are often the hardest to build If you want to move beyond just writing code and start designing systems that scale, this conversation is for you. Connect with Gregor: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ghohpe 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:15 - How to Spot Bad Architects vs. Great Amplifiers 00:03:44 - Why Architects Are Actually Risk Managers in Disguise 00:06:13 - The Truth About Complexity and Simplicity at Scale 00:09:55 - How to Resolve Technical Disagreements Without Arguments 00:13:57 - Why You Should Use Pen and Paper for Architecture 00:17:24 - Mastering the Left-Right Brain Ping Pong Technique 00:20:42 - The "Architect Elevator": Connecting Code to Strategy 00:23:06 - The Rubber Duck Test: Are You a Good Architect? 00:25:41 - The "Phantom Sketch Artist" Method for System Design 00:30:37 - Stop Being a Cartographer, Start Being a Scout 00:34:47 - How to Keep Your Technical Skills Sharp as an Architect 00:44:37 - Navigating Office Politics using the "Court Jester" Strategy 00:48:08 - How to Earn and Spend Political Capital Wisely 00:53:17 - Why the "Big Ball of Mud" Might Be a Good Architecture 00:57:08 - How Executives Spot Gaps in Your Technical Logic 01:00:00 - Why Using AI for Architecture is a Dangerous Trap #SoftwareArchitecture #SystemDesign #SeniorDeveloper

    1h 5m
  8. Own Your Engineering Career (No One Else Will)

    JAN 14

    Own Your Engineering Career (No One Else Will)

    Are you waiting for a promotion that never comes? In this episode, we break down why relying on your manager to define your growth is a career-limiting mistake and how you can take full ownership of your professional path. In this episode, we cover: Why hard skills get you hired but won't get you aheadHow to create growth opportunities when your company has no clear pathUsing RACI to own decisions and increase your visibility Connect with Zanina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zaninakatira References: RACI - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responsibility_assignment_matrix Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:51 - Why hard skills get you hired but soft skills make you thrive 00:04:17 - How to connect your code to actual business results 00:06:44 - The art of storytelling for technical professionals 00:09:16 - Balancing execution speed with team collaboration 00:11:57 - The problem with forcing engineers into management roles 00:15:13 - Surviving when technology outgrows your current skillset 00:17:59 - Using the RACI method to clarify ownership and decisions 00:21:23 - What to do when your manager has no answers for your growth 00:24:40 - Why you should value scope of work over job titles 00:28:39 - How to pitch and negotiate impactful projects to leadership 00:33:00 - Expanding your perspective by networking outside your team 00:35:35 - Visualizing your ambition and defining what success looks like 00:39:16 - Overcoming the fear of asking for constructive feedback #careergrowth #softwareengineering #softskills

    44 min
See All (241)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

For software engineers ready to level up. Learn from CTOs, principal engineers, and tech leaders about the skills beyond coding: from technical mastery to product thinking and career growth

Information

  • Creator
    Patrick Akil
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    241
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Patrick Akil
  • Show Website
    Beyond Coding

You Might Also Like