The Confident Commit

CircleCI

Covering topics ranging from pipeline security to engineering team efficiency, The Confident Commit is for anyone looking to join the conversation on how to deliver software better and faster. Listen in today!

  1. 6일 전

    The skill gap AI can't close, with Hywel Carver of Skiller Whale

    If 90% of code is now AI-generated, what happens to the engineers who never had to write it themselves? The ability to review code well, to catch what the LLM missed, depends on mental models that only come from practice. That tension sits at the center of this conversation. Rob and Hywel dig into how software engineers actually develop expertise, why knowledge transfer and real learning are not the same thing, and what it means to grow junior engineers in an era when the reps that used to build skill are disappearing. They also get into what separates engineers who get serious leverage from AI tools from those who don't, and why the answer has less to do with prompting tricks than with understanding how LLMs actually work. Hywel Carver is the founder and CEO of Skiller Whale, a human-led technical learning platform focused on building engineering skills through coached, hands-on practice. His teams have worked with organizations including Pleo, where one cohort saw a 235% productivity improvement through structured skills development. Topics covered: Why knowledge transfer is not the same as learningBloom's taxonomy and what it takes to evaluate code effectivelyHow AI adoption is changing the skill development path for junior engineersWhat separates high-leverage AI users from low-leverage onesMental models as the durable foundation for navigating constant changeWhether agile principles still hold in an AI-accelerated worldSubscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

    44분

  2. 5월 21일

    Same team, but building more ft. Chris Kelly of Augment Code

    Most teams obsessing over token costs are measuring the wrong thing. The real savings from AI aren't in lines of code written faster. They're in the coordination overhead that disappears when fewer humans need to align before anything gets built. Chris Kelly, Head of Product at Augment Code, joins Rob to cover why prototypes have replaced specs, how agents enable dynamic team capacity the way cloud replaced over-provisioned servers, and what "good code" even means when your primary reader is an LLM. In this episode: Why coordination costs are the hidden savings of AI-assisted developmentHow agents make dynamic team capacity finally achievableWhat junior engineers actually need to know as abstraction layers keep risingHow self-improving agents could change incident response and code qualityHave someone you’d like to hear on the show? Reach out to us on X at @CircleCI!

    37분

  3. 3월 6일

    AI at Superhuman (before it was cool) feat. Loïc Houssier

    What does it actually look like to build an AI-native product and lead an engineering team through the AI era when you've been doing it longer than most? Rob Zuber sits down with Loïc Houssier, CTO at Superhuman, to talk about what it meant to be an AI company before AI was everywhere, and how that early foundation shapes the way they build, ship, and think today. The conversation covers how Loïc drove AI tool adoption across his engineering org without mandates (and which senior engineer's change of heart became a cultural turning point), why great UX is still the real moat in an age where anyone can ship an average product fast, and how email, despite everything, remains the connective tissue of professional life. Plus: what it's like to rethink your entire SDLC when the economics of building software change overnight. Have someone you’d like to hear on the show, reach out to us on X at @CircleCI!

    39분

  4. 2025. 11. 21.

    Shipping at AI speed: velocity, code review, and engineering culture ft. Greg Foster, Co-Founder & CTO of Graphite

    In this episode of The Confident Commit, Rob Zuber sits down with Greg Foster, Co-Founder and CTO of Graphite, for a timely conversation about what it really means to ship software fast in the age of AI. Greg challenges the "996" grind culture with a provocative billboard campaign, arguing that speed comes from smart tooling and agency rather than endless hours, and shares how AI code generation is fundamentally reshaping the code review bottleneck while creating new trust and context challenges for engineering teams. The conversation explores the paradox of our current moment—where developers can generate more code than ever, yet senior engineers wake up to 20 AI-generated PRs that still require careful human review. Greg discusses why companies like Google’s techniques for handling high volumes of code changes are suddenly relevant again, the emerging role of AI code review as a "super linter," and why he believes the best engineering cultures prioritize being "urgent, expert, and kind." Whether you're an engineering leader navigating the AI transformation or a developer trying to understand how code review needs to evolve, this episode delivers practical insights on maintaining quality and velocity as AI reshapes software delivery. Have someone you'd like to hear on the show? Reach out and let us know on X at @CircleCI!

    33분

  5. 2025. 11. 07.

    Product-minded engineering and leadership authenticity ft. Johnny Austin, VP of Engineering at Upwell

    In this episode of The Confident Commit, Rob Zuber sits down with Johnny Austin, VP of Engineering at Upwell, for an honest conversation about what it really takes to grow as an engineering leader. The conversation explores the critical distinction between making your team happy versus setting them up for long-term success, why the most impactful engineers are those who ask questions about the business and product rather than just technical implementation details, and how to effectively communicate context across multiple levels of an organization. Whether you're an early-career engineer learning to think beyond the code or a leader working to build teams that drive real business value, this episode delivers practical wisdom grounded in real-world challenges. Have someone you'd like to hear on the show? Reach out and let us know on X at @CircleCI!

    35분

  6. 2025. 10. 10.

    Navigating AI transformation ft. Meg Adams, Senior Director of Engineering at The New York Times

    In this episode of The Confident Commit, Rob Zuber sits down with Meg Adams, Senior Director of Engineering at The New York Times, for a deep dive into leading engineering teams through the AI revolution while staying true to organizational mission. Meg shares how the Times approaches AI adoption with a "measured but focused" strategy, emphasizing experimentation and opinion-formation over mandates, and why she believes AI serves as a force multiplier for what already exists in your organization and workflows. The conversation explores the unique challenges of product engineering in media, from building cooking products for users across the entire spectrum of culinary expertise to navigating digital transformations that honor legacy while embracing an uncertain future. Meg discusses the importance of mission-driven leadership through technological transitions, why she prioritizes helping her engineers stay valuable in the marketplace, and her unconventional path from elementary education to retail management to engineering leadership. Whether you're an engineering leader managing AI adoption or someone thinking about the intersection of technology and human-centered products, this episode delivers insights on building resilient teams that can adapt while maintaining their core purpose. Have someone you'd like to hear on the show? Reach out and let us know on X at @CircleCI!

    41분

  7. 2025. 09. 26.

    Building community-first brands ft. Edreece Arghandiwal, CMO & Co-Founder of Oakland Roots SC

    In this episode of The Confident Commit, Rob Zuber sits down with Edreece Arghandiwal, CMO and Co-Founder of Oakland Roots Soccer Club, for an inspiring conversation about building purpose-driven organizations from the ground up. Edreece shares how the Roots challenged traditional sports business models by putting community first, turning a simple question—"Why isn't there professional soccer in Oakland?"—into a movement that raised $3.5 million from 6,000+ community investors with zero paid advertising. The conversation explores the parallels between building tech products and sports organizations, from using merchandise as a "landing page" to prove market demand, to the critical importance of obsessing over customer-facing touchpoints while maintaining operational flexibility behind the scenes. Edreece discusses the challenges of scaling while preserving authentic brand identity, why purpose should lead to profit (not the other way around), and how hiring good humans with strong moral compasses becomes the foundation for sustainable growth. Whether you're a startup founder looking to build authentic community engagement or a leader working to maintain organizational purpose at scale, this episode delivers actionable insights on creating brands that people proudly represent in their daily lives. Have someone you'd like to hear on the show? Reach out and let us know on X at @CircleCI!

    29분

  8. 2025. 09. 12.

    Strategic career decisions ft. Cate Huston, Engineering Director at DuckDuckGo

    In this episode of The Confident Commit, Rob Zuber sits down with Cate Huston, Engineering Director at DuckDuckGo and author of "The Engineering Leader," for a deep dive into career ownership and sustainable engineering leadership. Cate challenges the common misconception that career growth equals promotion, introducing the concept of being the "directly responsible individual" for your own career and the crucial difference between "buying" versus "renting" your skills in the marketplace. The conversation explores how to shift engineering teams from a "ticket factory" mindset to outcome-focused delivery, the tension between servant leadership and strategic leadership, and why the best engineering cultures encourage productive disagreement. Whether you're an individual contributor looking to take ownership of your trajectory or a leader working to create environments where people thrive, this episode delivers actionable wisdom for engineering professionals at every level. Have someone you’d like to hear on the show? Reach out and let us know on X at @CircleCI!

    44분
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소개

Covering topics ranging from pipeline security to engineering team efficiency, The Confident Commit is for anyone looking to join the conversation on how to deliver software better and faster. Listen in today!

정보

  • 제작진
    CircleCI
  • 방송 연도
    2021년 - 2026년
  • 에피소드
    73
  • 등급
    전체 연령 사용가
  • 저작권
    © 2026 The Confident Commit
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    The Confident Commit

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