Acima Development

In this episode of the Acima Development Podcast, Mike kicks things off with a humorous comparison between the DMV and employee onboarding, using the DMV’s predictability as a metaphor for what onboarding should feel like: smooth and well-organized. The team, including interns Chloe and Jordan, along with veteran team members like Will, Matt, and Tim, dives into the realities of onboarding experie...

In this episode of the Acima Development Podcast, host Mike is joined by Kyle, Matt, and Ryan to discuss how technical interviews are evolving in the age of AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot. The conversation begins with a story about a candidate who plagiarized code during an interview—years before modern AI assistance—which sets the stage for a deeper discussion on integrity and how easy it now...

In this episode of the Acima Development Podcast, host Mike welcomes returning contributors Kyle, Will, and Dave for a lively and insightful discussion on communication and its failure modes—especially in engineering and development teams. Mike kicks things off with a humorous but illustrative story involving his children, hoverboards, cactus spines, and a major context mismatch with his wife. Thi...

The episode opens with Mike sharing two formative stories that highlight the importance of speaking up against inappropriate behavior. The first story recounts a moment in the late 1990s when a manager made a blatantly racist comment during a hiring discussion, leaving Mike stunned and regretful for not speaking out. The second story contrasts that moment with a more positive example—Jonathan Schw...

In this episode of the Acima Development Podcast, Mike, Will, and Kyle explore the intersection of language learning and programming. Mike kicks off the discussion with a personal anecdote about studying German in school, noting how little he’s used it since, and how learning Spanish as an adult through Duolingo was more rewarding. This transitions into a broader discussion about how the process o...

In this episode of the Acima Development Podcast, host Mike kicks things off with a personal story about his wife’s jewelry-making hobby to introduce the episode’s main theme: the classic “build vs. buy vs. open source” dilemma in software development. Using analogies like 3D printing and sourcing beads, Mike illustrates how creators often rely on third-party resources rather than building from sc...

In this episode of the Acima Development Podcast, host Mike and the team—Will, Matt, Kyle, and first-time guest Vignesh—explore the topic of testing in production, using robotics and AI as a compelling entry point. Mike explains how reinforcement learning, while powerful, is limited in robotics due to the high cost and risk of physical failure. However, recent advancements in simulation environmen...

In this episode of the Acima Development Podcast, host Mike kicks off the discussion with a personal anecdote about pulling weeds as a teenager—an activity he once dreaded, but later learned to appreciate when reframed through a lens of choice and agency. He uses this story to introduce the episode’s central theme: burnout. The panel—composed of Eddy, Ramses, Justin, Dave, Kyle, and Will—dives dee...

In this episode of the Acima Development Podcast, host Mike and a panel of returning guests—Eddy, Dave, Kyle, and Ramses—engage in a reflective conversation about the importance of engineers and technical professionals understanding the broader business context of their work. Mike opens with metaphorical stories about differing perspectives on the same task and how having a broader view—like knowi...

The latest episode of the Acima Development Podcast takes a deep dive into the evolution of DevOps, platform engineering, and the concept of ZeroOps. Host Mike, along with panelists Justin Caldwell, Kyle, Justin Ellis, Will Archer, and Eddy, discuss how infrastructure should function like a well-designed vending machine—providing a seamless interface where developers don’t need to worry about the...

Cross-team communication is one of the biggest challenges in software development, and the latest episode of the Acima Development Podcast dives deep into why it’s so difficult—and how teams can improve. Host Mike kicks things off with a humorous but insightful story about botching his son’s haircut, using it as a metaphor for what happens when people act alone instead of seeking input from others...

This episode highlights how unforeseen career opportunities, such as web development, emerged due to exponential technological growth, which is often difficult for humans to predict. The panel notes that AI is the latest technological frontier, poised to impact software engineering in ways that were previously unimaginable, much like the rapid changes brought by smartphones and the internet. They...

This episode of the Acima Development Podcast delves into the challenges and strategies of working with legacy systems in software development. Mike begins by drawing a parallel between his past experience in construction and software engineering, emphasizing how businesses often opt to demolish and rebuild rather than work with existing structures. However, unlike construction, software developer...

In this episode of the Acima Development Podcast, Mike and Ramses dive into the importance of recognizing and respecting mental and physical limits to maintain productivity and avoid burnout. Drawing a parallel to endurance sports like marathon running, Mike explains how the depletion of glycogen reserves mirrors the mental fatigue that can occur during intense problem-solving in software engineer...

In this episode of the Acima Development Podcast, Mike, Kyle, and Will dive into the evolution of DevOps and its emerging subfields like Platform Engineering and CloudOps. They discuss how system administration has transitioned from hands-on server configuration to abstracted, automated infrastructure management. Kyle highlights the ongoing debate about whether these new titles represent genuine s...

The episode of the Acima Development Podcast centers around the challenges of scaling teams effectively, inspired by the principles from Fred Brooks' book The Mythical Man-Month. Host Mike begins by sharing a parable about his toddler's well-meaning but inexperienced attempts to help, drawing parallels to the complexities of onboarding and team communication. The core theme emphasizes that while e...

This episode of the Acima Development Podcast dives deep into the art of effective meetings, exploring both what makes them successful and what causes them to fail. Mike opens with humorous anecdotes of ineffective meetings, such as “death by PowerPoint” and marathon discussions that inadvertently turned into workout sessions. These examples highlight the common pitfalls of meetings that lack focu...

In this episode of the Acima Development Podcast, Mike kicks off the discussion with a story about his father’s woodworking journey, which leads him into a reflection on the craftsmanship seen in Michelangelo’s David. Drawing a parallel to software development, Mike explains how Uncle Bob’s philosophy about structuring code emphasizes that frameworks shouldn't dictate structure; rather, it should...

In this episode of the Acima Development Podcast, the panel dives into the complexities and consequences of choosing the right tools for software development and engineering. Justin opens with a story from his first job, where his team implemented an Oracle Customer Management System that ultimately led to disaster. The system, despite promises of extensive customizability and robust functionality...

In this episode of the Acima Development Podcast, Mike humorously shares his experiences with his three-year-old son’s unconventional love for books, recounting how his son physically devours them, forcing Mike to create an elaborate security system to protect the family’s book collection. This story transitions into a discussion about problem-solving and determination, linking it to testing and v...

In this episode of the Acima Developer Podcast, Dave Brady, along with panelists Eddy, Kyle, Ramses, and Will, discuss the various ways people learn, sharing personal anecdotes and insights. Dave kicks off with a humorous story about learning to swim by being thrown into a lake, which sparks a broader conversation about how some people thrive when thrown into challenging situations, while others p...

In this episode of the Acima Development Podcast, the panel, led by Mike, explores the concept of team sizes and how scaling impacts management and functionality. Using an analogy from the film Honey, I Shrunk the Kids , Mike highlights how physics, like management strategies, change with scale. The group discusses how larger teams can't be managed in the same way as smaller teams and why losing a...

In this episode of the Acima Developer Podcast, host Dave Brady and the panel, including Mike Challis, Kyle Archer, Eddy Lopez, and Will Archer, delve into a satirical discussion on how to ensure time estimates for software projects go wrong. They explore various humorous yet insightful approaches, such as using aggressive negotiation with engineers, ignoring edge cases, and focusing on points as...

In this episode of the Acima Development Podcast, Mike kicks off the discussion with a few personal stories before diving into a technical debate. He recounts his recent epic hike in the Rockies with his son, which turned into a grueling trek due to altitude sickness. He also shares a nostalgic memory of visiting the massive Edmonton Mall in Canada as a teenager, noting the stark contrast between...

In this episode of the Acima Development Podcast, Mike shares a personal story about his father, a custom staircase builder, to illustrate the importance of balancing speed and thoroughness in work. Mike’s father, known for his meticulous craftsmanship, often took extra time to perfect even the smallest details of his projects. Mike contrasts this with a quick-fix job he once helped with, where sp...