In this episode, Leah Thompson shares her journey from being a math teacher to becoming a developer, her experiences with Laravel, and her transition into the tech community through Twitch streaming. She discusses the challenges she faced while learning Laravel, her experiences at Laracon, and her current project of building a multiplayer math quiz app. Leah emphasizes the supportive nature of the Laravel community and the resources she finds valuable for her learning. In this engaging conversation, Leah Thompson shares her journey from teaching to tech, discussing the challenges and triumphs she faced along the way. The discussion covers various topics including the importance of community in tech, the role of certifications, and the struggles of email development. The hosts and Leah also explore unique keyboard features, the course business in tech education, and the significance of key mapping for productivity. Leah emphasizes the value of building in public and connecting with others in the tech community as essential for growth and success.

Leah's Socials:

• https://x.com/LeahTCodes
• https://www.twitch.tv/leahtcodes
• https://www.youtube.com/@leahtcodes
• https://github.com/leahthompson01

Takeaways

• Leah transitioned from teaching math to becoming a developer.
• She started learning web development through a free bootcamp called 100 Devs.
• Streaming on Twitch helped Leah solidify her learning and connect with others.
• Laravel simplifies many aspects of development compared to the MERN stack.
• Leah enjoys the Laravel community for its support and friendliness.
• She is currently working on a multiplayer math quiz app.
• Leah faced challenges with nested JSON structures in Laravel.
• She values resources like Laracasts and the official documentation for learning.
• Attending Laracon inspired Leah to engage more with the Laravel community.
• Leah's journey highlights the importance of community and continuous learning in tech. Solving tech problems can be a puzzle that challenges the mind.
• Unique keyboards can enhance the coding experience but may require adjustment.
• Key mapping is crucial for productivity in coding tasks.
• Gatekeeping in tech education can hinder access to knowledge.
• The course business can be lucrative, but often lacks substantial content.
• Certifications may not be necessary for all tech roles, especially in programming.
• Building a community in tech can provide support and encouragement during challenges.
• Email development presents unique challenges that can be frustrating for developers.
• Sharing your journey in tech can attract support and opportunities from others.
• It's important to find joy in coding and not get bogged down by difficult tasks.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Leah Thompson
02:18 From Math Teacher to Developer
05:08 The Journey of Streaming on Twitch
07:47 Transitioning from JavaScript to Laravel
09:35 Working at Rugged Software
10:37 Tools of the Trade: Text Editors
12:06 Learning Resources for Laravel
13:30 Experiences at Laracon
20:14 FOMO from Laracon AU
23:33 Exploring Travel Experiences
25:04 Diving into Personal Projects and YouTube
27:44 Building a Multiplayer Math Quiz App
33:50 Keyboard Preferences and Challenges
38:27 The Course Creation Conversation
41:02 Certifications and Career Paths in Tech
44:57 Navigating Certifications and Programming Paths
45:29 Experiences with WordPress and Beaver Builder
47:03 Coding Snacks and Productivity Tips
48:33 Transitioning into Tech: Building in Public
49:31 Engaging with Tech Communities
51:16 Learning Through Public Struggles
53:20 The Challenges of Email Development
55:22 Reflections on Career Choices and Future Aspirations

In this episode of Voices of the Code, hosts Karl Murray and Steven Fox welcome Bogdan Kharchenko, who shares his journey into coding, his experiences with Laravel, and insights into the development community. They discuss the importance of not over-engineering applications, the benefits of using Laravel's ORM, and the value of community engagement through meetups. Bogdan also shares his personal interests, including motorcycle racing and mountain biking, highlighting the balance between work and life. The conversation emphasizes the significance of developer experience and practical advice for new Laravel developers.

UpstatePHP: https://upstatephp.com/
Over Engineered Podcast: https://overengineered.fm/

Takeaways

• Bogdan's journey into coding began with a computer gifted by his parents.
• Laravel's documentation was a key factor in Bogdan's choice to use it.
• The importance of community engagement through meetups is highlighted.
• Over-engineering applications can hinder progress; focus on delivering value.
• Mastering Laravel's ORM can significantly enhance development efficiency.
• Pair programming fosters collaboration and knowledge sharing among developers.
• Legacy code migration requires careful planning to avoid disruptions.
• Developer experience is crucial for productivity and satisfaction.
• Balancing work with personal interests leads to a fulfilling life.
• The Laravel community remains strong and supportive.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Context
02:44 Bogdan's Coding Journey
05:30 Transition to Laravel
08:40 Working with Laravel and Developer Experience
11:20 Current Work at InterNACHI
17:21 Migrating Legacy Code to Laravel
20:12 Handling Web Traffic and Legacy Systems
24:02 Tools and Developer Environment
26:11 Remote Collaboration Tools and Pair Programming
28:23 The Importance of Meetups in a Remote World
32:43 Key Takeaways from Laracon
36:29 Valuable Tips for New Laravel Developers
42:44 Balancing Coding with Extreme Sports
46:23 The World of Custom Keyboards
49:50 The Impact of Thumb Clusters
50:56 Custom Key Commands and Efficiency
52:05 Programming Keyboards for Personal Use
52:26 The Gateway to Advanced Keyboards
53:16 Meetup Insights and Community Engagement
54:18 Sign Off and Future Guests

In this episode of Voices of the Code, Steven Fox and Karl Murray welcome Alex Six, a senior software engineer at Zillow Group, to the show. The conversation covers Alex's journey into programming, his experiences with the Laravel framework, and the dynamics of working within a small team inside a large organization. They discuss the collaborative nature of the Filament project and Alex's favorite development tools. The episode also touches on the differences between using Linux and Mac for development, highlighting the advantages and challenges of each environment. In this engaging conversation, Alex Six and the hosts discuss various topics ranging from the challenges of onboarding in NixOS, the choice of Linux distributions, the future of Laravel in light of WordPress community dynamics, and the importance of documentation in development tools like Filament. They also touch on personal hobbies such as Formula One and fountain pens, and conclude with valuable advice for new developers about practical learning experiences.

Takeaways

• Alex Six works as a senior software engineer at Zillow Group.
• Alex transitioned from engineering to web development through an internship.
• Laravel was chosen for its productivity and enterprise-level results.
• The Filament project is developed asynchronously with a strong team dynamic.
• Alex's early career involved significant learning experiences in a small startup.
• Kirschbaum's relationship with Filament was influenced by Alex's advocacy.
• Vim is a preferred tool for efficient coding.
• Linux offers a reliable development environment despite some challenges.
• Choosing the right Linux distribution can impact development.
• Laravel's future may see an influx of WordPress developers.
• Community dynamics can affect the perception of technologies.
• Documentation is crucial for user experience in development tools.
• Side projects can be a great way to explore new ideas.
• F1 is awesome.
• Fountain pens is, somehow, a common interest between Steven, Karl, and Alex.
• Hands-on experience is more valuable than passive learning.
• Building something meaningful can enhance learning.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Voices of the Code
02:55 Hurricane Helene and Community Resilience
05:44 Journey into Programming and Laravel
12:00 Working at Zillow: A Unique Perspective
17:53 The Filament Team and Open Source Collaboration
23:58 Career Progression and Filament's Impact
29:53 Tools of the Trade: Development Preferences
30:08 Mac vs. Linux: Personal Preferences
32:50 The Reliability of Linux for Development
36:30 NixOS: A New Frontier for Developers
40:26 The Future of Laravel on Linux
44:32 Community Dynamics in the PHP World
50:59 Skill Issues and Tool Discussions
52:02 Side Projects and Hobbies
53:04 Formula One Fandom
56:47 MotoGP Insights
59:54 Fountain Pens and Personal Interests
01:03:55 Advice for New Developers

In this inaugural episode of Voices of the Code, hosts Karl Murray and Steven introduce themselves and share their journeys into the world of Laravel and programming. They discuss their experiences at Laracon, the importance of community, and their shared passion for keyboards. The conversation also touches on their collaborative project, LaraBets, and their personal hobbies, including rock climbing and coffee roasting. The episode wraps up with insights on networking at tech conferences and plans for future episodes.

Takeaways

Voices of the Code aims to highlight lesser-known figures in the Laravel community.
Both hosts have unique journeys into programming, with Steven starting from a business need and Karl transitioning from retail.
Networking at events like Laracon is crucial for building community and collaboration.
The hosts share a passion for custom keyboards and their impact on productivity.
LaraBets is a fun project that combines predictions and betting in a light-hearted way.
Personal hobbies, such as rock climbing and coffee roasting, enrich the hosts' lives outside of coding.
The importance of community and shared experiences in the tech world is emphasized.
The hosts plan to bring on guests to share their stories and insights in future episodes.
Justin Jackson's involvement highlights the supportive nature of the tech community.
The hosts are committed to producing weekly episodes to engage with their audience.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Voices of the Code
03:05 Getting to Know the Hosts
06:05 The Journey into Laravel
12:00 The Keyboard Enthusiasts
18:03 Projects and Collaborations
23:59 LaraBets: A Fun Betting Project
30:01 Hobbies and Personal Interests
36:03 Networking at Laracon
40:58 Wrap-Up and Future Plans