Flocode: Engineering Insights �‪�‬ Exploring Python's Power in Engineering with James O'Reilly

Hello out there everyone, I’m back with another episode.
This time, there’s video. I’ve tried this before and had various technical issues so I’m still finding my feet with the optimum workflow for thing. Bear with me.
As always, no commercial deals are in place, these are my own opinions on Viktor.
I had a great discussion with Anande Bergman of Viktor AI in this episode. Anande is the chief officer for growth at Viktor AI, a platform that’s simplifying the app creation process for engineers across the globe.
Viktor AI integrates with Python, Excel and a broad variety of other commercial engineering software, and is changing the landscape of how engineers can build applications for themselves, their teams, and their clients.
Anande will explain Viktor, how it works, their vision and their tools. He also shares how Viktor’s extensive documentation and examples empower engineers to tackle a broad spectrum of tasks in new ways. If you’re interested in automating tasks, making your work interactive, or creating tools, then this episode is for you.
I encourage you to check out the documentation and examples for yourself. The team at Viktor have done a fantastic job in terms of making their systems accessible, practical and usable.
Recently they released a slick visual app builder with a drag and drop interface, to make things even more accessible.
Viktor has a generous free tier that provides users with full functionality as long as you are OK with your app being public, you can check out their various plans here, just be aware of any data you are uploading (from a commercial sensitivity perspective).
The Viktor team is active and productive with new features, content and updates rolling out on a consistent basis.
I see big things on the horizon for Viktor and exciting times for Anande and his team.
If you’re curious about building internal or personal engineering apps, Viktor is a great platform, with rich documentation and resources.
I really appreciate the extent of free services that they have provided for engineers. Much respect.
A great chat with a very nice guy, now on with the episode.
See you in the next one.
James 🌊


Get full access to Flocode: Engineering Insights 🌊 at flocode.substack.com/subscribe

Today I'm excited to be joined by Bruce Hamersley, Principal Engineer and owner of Basis Engineering Ltd based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Bruce is a structural engineer with over 37 years of global bridge design experience with a strong background in soil-structure interaction, and innovative construction engineering solutions.
* Connect with Bruce on LinkedIn
Bruce has contributed numerous technical papers to the bridge engineering field and was recognized in 2019 with a prestigious Fellowship from Engineers Canada for his outstanding professional contributions.
He has also had a profound impact on my own career. Bruce gave me my first engineering job, back in 2011. I was fresh out of university, brimming with enthusiasm but hilariously deficient in terms of practical engineering experience. His mentorship opened doors to global engineering adventures that expanded my horizons and shaped my career trajectory.
The importance of keeping an open mind in all aspects of engineering was a key lesson I learned from Bruce. You can never know it all.
Over his career, Bruce has worked on major global projects including highway and railway bridges, seismic retrofitting of bridges, and creative construction methods like the innovative launching system used on the Vedder Road Bridge project, the world’s first kingpost launching system for a Tied Arch.
His portfolio includes landmark projects like the Queensferry Crossing cable-stayed bridge - at opening it was the longest triple tower cable-stayed bridge in the world, the Oakland Bay Bridge (San Francisco, USA), The Lions Gate Bridge (Vancouver, BC) and a broad variety of projects in the industrial, marine and energy sectors.
In this episode, Bruce shares his perspectives gained over decades of experience on topics including:
* Engineering philosophy
* Problem-solving strategies
* Mentoring young talent
* Iconic project stories
* AI in bridge design
Bruce is a fantastic mentor and a true innovator in the field. I'm grateful he took a chance on me those many years ago, and I'm delighted to have him on the podcast to discuss his invaluable insights.
See you in the next one!
James 🌊


Get full access to Flocode: Engineering Insights 🌊 at flocode.substack.com/subscribe

Hey everyone, and welcome to another episode of Flocode: Engineering Insights 🌊.
In today’s podcast, I speak with Tim Rawling, co-founder of the fascinating calculation management platform CalcTree.
You can connect with Tim on LinkedIn.
Before we dive in, I want to clarify that this is not sponsored content. There's no commercial deal in place here.
I stumbled upon the CalcTree platform myself and was genuinely impressed, so I thought it would be a great tool to discuss.
CalcTree provides an interesting platform to create and collaborate on your engineering calculations using Excel and Python. It’s still in the Beta stage, but they’ve already got many impressive features and interesting engineering content. I recommend taking a look for yourself; there is a lot to discover.
Now, back to the episode. Tim and I had a great conversation diving deep into the world of engineering calculations. Here's what you can expect:
* The CalcTree Story: We'll get the inside scoop on what CalcTree is, how it came to life, and how Tim made the bold leap from Arup to pursue this innovative idea full-time.
* Tech Talk: We'll explore CalcTree's capabilities – Tim will give us an overview of its architecture and highlight the coolest features, like the bounty program and calculation library.
* Behind the Build: What goes into creating something this complex? Tim will share some of the challenges he faced and his approach to overcoming them.
* Adoption and Growth: We'll talk about the industry adoption of CalcTree, its user base, and what exciting things are on the roadmap.
* Python for Engineers: If you're an engineer interested in Python and computational design, Tim has some fantastic advice!
Tim's passion for engineering and innovation is infectious – he's a great guy and I really enjoyed talking with him, and I know you'll enjoy this episode.
If you have guest recommendations for me, let me know, and I’ll reach out to them!
See you in the next one!
James 🌊


Get full access to Flocode: Engineering Insights 🌊 at flocode.substack.com/subscribe

This Podcast is available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Welcome back to another edition of Flocode Engineering Insights.
This week, I’m excited to bring you a podcast episode featuring Scott Reese, a civil engineer from Williams Lake, BC, Canada.
Scott isn't just a close friend of mine; he's an extraordinarily fascinating individual, and it’s a privilege to be able to share some of his genuinely unique insights.
Despite battling retinitis pigmentosa, a condition resulting in the complete loss of his vision, Scott has achieved remarkable feats in both his professional career as an engineer and as an athlete. Our conversation dives into the breadth of these achievements, shedding light on how he navigates the complexities of engineering projects around the globe and how he conquered a 30 km open water swim in the frigid waters of the Pacific Ocean last summer.
We cover a lot of ground, including his engineering philosophies, approaches to problem solving, how he uses Python, and some of the fascinating insights and adaptations he’s made to progress his career as an engineer.
I think this episode will surprise many listeners in terms of how he approaches his work. I am constantly amazed at the different ways he has adapted his workflow.
Guest Profile - Scott Reese, P.Eng - Civil Engineer
* Engineering: Scott is a seasoned civil engineer with 17 years behind him. His expertise spans mining, energy, and water resources engineering. With a global footprint, Scott has contributed to major projects in North and South America, Europe, and Africa. His involvement covers the entire spectrum of project development, from the initial identification and concept stages through site investigation and detailed design to construction and project management. He is an incredible technical writer with a deep knowledge of Project control systems and finances. His design experience is broad and predominantly related to water conveyance, management and hydraulics.
* Adaptability and Innovation: Despite the challenges posed by visual impairment, Scott's achievements as an engineer are nothing short of extraordinary. An avid Python enthusiast, Scott has skillfully leveraged programming to navigate and solve complex engineering design problems. His work particularly shines in energy and financial modelling alongside various data processing and engineering tasks. What makes Scott's use of Python stand out is his ability to adapt its functionalities to overcome the limitations he faces with more conventional software and design tools. He does everything through narration software and screen reader tools; it’s incredible. His approach to problem-solving and engineering in general underscores his technical acumen, resilience and creativity in the face of what most of us would perceive as serious limitations.
* Raising the Bar: Beyond his professional achievements, Scott's personal journey is equally inspiring. Scott is a dedicated athlete and a father to two young kids. He commutes to work on the bus daily with his guide dog, Caleb. He memorizes where everything is and counts his steps in every direction as part of some sort of personally developed geolocation system; I don’t know how he does it. His memory and ability to recall information is remarkable. I’ve even convinced him to join me on the BJJ mats, where we rolled around, and I showed him some basic armlocks from full guard. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is such a great sport for him since it's so heavily based on feeling your opponent’s pressure, grips and momentum. In addition to actively running, skiing, waterskiing and kayaking, Scott attends our company golf events to drive golf balls in whatever direction people advise. He is a liability in most circumstances and a better golfer than me.
* The Swim: In a feat of incredible personal endurance and stubbornness, Scott successfully swam more than 30 kilometers across the Strait of Georgia, an open channel in the Pacific Northwest separating

Apple Podcasts, Spotify
Today, I’m privileged to present my first guest on the Flocode podcast, the inimitable Jeremy Haile, a distinguished figure in the engineering community. Jeremy is the definition of an Industry Leader; in late 2022, he was recognized with the Canadian Consulting Engineer Lifetime Achievement Award.
Firstly, I’d like to thank Jeremy for being my canary in the coal mine. And he’s about as handsome and gracious a canary you could hope for.
Jeremy is a Civil Engineer with a broad and diverse background in global Mining, Water Resources and Hydropower Projects.
His journey began in Rhodesia, what is now Zambia and Zimbabwe, which we discuss.
He attained a degree in Engineering Sciences and Economics in 1972 at Oxford University, followed by a Masters in Soil Mechanics at Imperial College London.
He’s had a prosperous career spanning over five decades. Jeremy has been a pivotal force behind Knight Piésold Canada, where I also work as a Senior Structural Engineer in our Power and Water Group.
Now semi-retired, Jeremy continues to assist on our major projects, proving that a true engineer's spirit never fades.
Today, we talk about his career and his perspectives on engineering. He shares some of the lessons, tools and philosophies that have guided him.
Jeremy's insights have shaped the industry and many engineers’ careers. And above all of that, he is a pleasure to talk to.
I’m grateful for his time, and I hope that wherever you are in the world, you can take something away from today’s rich discussion.
For all things flocode, check out the website for deeper dives into Python and subscribe to the newsletter for engineering insights and podcast episodes like this one.
To all of the listeners out there, thank you kindly for your words of encouragement and support. We’re just getting started.
If you have comments, suggestions or questions, let me know; we’re all in this together.
Happy holidays to everyone around the planet! 🎅🎄🦌
I’ll see you in the next one!
James 🌊


Get full access to Flocode: Engineering Insights 🌊 at flocode.substack.com/subscribe

Today’s newsletter features the flocode podcast. I’m still figuring it all out so please bear with me.
If you would prefer to read rather than listen, the article below contains mostly the same content as the audio version, with the exception of a few additional tangents exclusive to the podcast.
This discussion (with myself) highlights the similarities between problem-solving in engineering and coding, focusing on efficient, iterative, and pragmatic approaches. It advocates for simplicity and continuous learning, underscoring the value of interdisciplinary insights in engineering problem-solving.
These are my opinions based on my own experiences so take it easy.
Some of the books I mentioned:
* The Pragmatic Programmer by Andrew Hunt and David Thomas Goodreads Link
* Clean Code: A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship by Robert C. Martin Goodreads Link
* The Lean Startup by Eric Ries Goodreads Link
* Structures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down by J.E. Gordon Goodreads Link
* The Feynman Lectures on Physics by Richard P. Feynman Goodreads Link
Thoughts on the podcast?
I have a rough plan for many topics I plan to cover in these episodes but the main goal is to enjoy the process.
Please let me know if you have suggestions/feedback or requests for topics. I want the Flocode Project to become a collaborative community of engineers growing together and sharing ideas and perspectives. Pull no punches, assassinate me.
See you in the next one 👊
James 🌊
Problem-Solving: A Practical Methodology for Engineers
This guide is crafted for anyone out there navigating the complexities of modern engineering problems and seeking insights that transcend the usual boilerplate stuff. It's a weird amalgamation of lessons learned thus far on my engineering journey.
The aim is not to prescribe an infallible method or to diminish the tried-and-true practices honed over years of collective experience. Rather, it's to share a collection of principles that have proven their worth in my own personal and professional growth.
This is a delicate topic. Engineers by definition solve problems so far be it from me to tell other engineers how they should go about their business. I would likely have the same success rate as if were to ask my wife to ‘calm down’.
Readers should consider this post as a peer's perspective, offered with humility, acknowledging the vast ocean of wisdom that the engineering community has accumulated and continues to build upon. Every project has its unique context and constraints, and this post is not a one-size-fits-all solution but a starting point for reflection and, perhaps, discussion.
Programming Principles in Engineering
At the intersection of engineering and programming best practices lies a shared commitment to precision, and efficiency. Both disciplines involve constructing systems—be they of concrete, steel or code—that must perform reliably under various conditions. This guide explores how the methodical approach inherent in software development, with its emphasis on clean, maintainable code, parallels the planning and execution required in structural engineering.
The value of pragmatic and efficient problem-solving cannot be overstated. It is the engine driving projects to completion on time and within budget, ensuring that structures not only stand but endure with minimal need for intervention. Efficiency in engineering translates directly into cost savings, safety, and longevity of structures, reflecting the same principles that guide the creation of robust and scalable software.
While pragmatism is a widely acknowledged virtue in engineering, its practical application is more challenging than it appears. It requires a disciplined adherence to simplicity and functionality, resisting the allure of over-complication, and focusing on what truly works within the constraints of the project.
Framing the Problem
Every project begins by confronting a problem that demands a solution. To clearly define