Develop Yourself

John Crickett is the code challenge king. He is author of the popular Code Challenge Newsletter and one of the few tech influencers on LinkedIn and X who really knows his stuff. We sit down and talk about the best way to learn to code (building stuff ), why AI isn't so scary, his meteoric rise on social media and tactics you can steal to do the same. ​John Crickett's Coding Challenges Se...

Yeah I know, money isn't everything. But it's something right? I've been broke and not-so-broke. I prefer not being broke any day of the week. I applied 3 tactics I copied from a much smarter developer who understood the game of money in tech . I share them in this short episode so you don't make the same mistakes I did. Shameless Plugs 👇 ​ Parsity 🤓 Learn to Code, Save the W...

I  spoke with Nathan Drake, a ​Parsity​ graduate and software engineer at Paylocity. He came into our program with some basic programming knowledge and was hired literally the day he graduated! This is not normal, but it's also not not normal 🤔. Nathan went through tutorial hell, learning to code, giving up and re-learning a few times before he went to Parsity. What we offered (and what any...

About a year ago an event happened that gave me a very unique perspective on the web dev world: Kyle Simpson, world famous JS developer reposted me. My notifications blew tf up, and I got over 500 15-minute calls scheduled. I spent the next year talking to all of these people! I got to help people improve their resumes, fix their LinkedIn profiles and interview approach or just offered an ear to v...

This week, I interviewed David Rogers, a teacher turned software engineer. He now mentors others and breaks down difficult JS concepts unlike many can.  Maybe you're thinking, "Wait, isn't he like, your competition?" You'd be right. We both have businesses with the goal of teaching others to code and change careers. I like when people keep it real and David did not disappo...

The caterpillar learning method to the rescue. I've switched tech stacks 3 times so far in my career. More like 5 if you count the contract jobs I've worked on. That means I had to learn completely new languages and frameworks in a fairly short amount of time. I didn't have the luxury of sitting down for a 100 hour tutorial. The strategy I use to learn is the caterpillar method. Whe...

Zubin Pratap didn't hold back in this episode. He breaks down how he went from lawyer to Software Engineer at Google to BlockChain developer to mentoring others making the transition into tech . We speak about: - mentorship - learning to code - the infamous Google interview and how he beat it - the skills you need outside of coding to be hire-able - money and mindset ;)Zubin shows career chan...

Listen, becoming a software engineer is not a decision to make lightly . Along with the ability to work remotely and the potential to make multiple 6 figures comes with a lot of expectations and stress. There's nothing quite like solving a bug at midnight or deploying code to the web for customers to enjoy. It can be really exciting and fulfilling - but it's certainly NOT for everyone. O...

In this episode I break down the only 3 things I think you should be adding to your toolbelt as a developer in 2024 and because I like you, here's an advanced project that uses AI, NodeJS and Express. Your AI AStarter Project : This is an advanced project and assumes some knowledge of JS. If you're looking for something a little more beginner friendly, check out this project to learn how...

Let's dive into a practical LinkedIn strategy to attract the right people through your posts: Step 1: Be anti-cringe. Posting platitudes is an easy way to get ignored or not taken seriously. That's not only NOT helpful, but as humans, we have an uncanny ability to smell when people are not being genuine. Instead, post about what you're learning.  Step 2: Don't be boring... at f...

Debugging may be one of the most underrated technical skills as a developer. It is one of the major differences between a junior and senior developer. I'm going to share the story of a super stressful bug I had to fix years ago while working at a start up and the method I still use to track and fix critical issues in JS code. It's dramatic. It's emotional. It's software! If vid...

Erik Andersen, the World's Happiest Engineer did not hold back when I asked him what he felt about coding bootcamps. 😅 Erik is an amazing and knowledgeable engineer. He’s not just an influencer online but he’s also a full time tech lead who runs a YouTube podcast dedicated to helping junior developers land their first job . You should check it out . Listen to one of my favorite people on Lin...

So last week I wrote to Kyle Simpson, world famous JavaScript developer and author of the incredibly popular You Don't Know JS series . I asked if he'd appear on the Develop Yourself Podcast and I was bracing for a rejection email. Within about an hour, I saw a new email in my inbox. Here we go. "Well, maybe next time", I thought... He said "sure". 😮 I freaked out. I...

In this week's podcast you're going to learn the 3 types of interviews you WILL encounter as a developer on the job market and how to beat them 💪. Interviewing may be the most high paying skill you can develop as a developer. It takes a different approach than creating software which is why most people kinda suck at it.  I should know, I sucked for years! Like pitifully so. Then I studi...

This week's podcast is a bit different...  I only know 2 things fairly well: 1. Coding and 2. Getting in shape I've only shared my advice on #1 thus far and I feel guilty because I know that my "secret" to success as a developer and in life has been my exercise routine and diet. Shame on me.  Don't worry, this won't become a fitness influencer podcast and next week we...

In this week's podcast, Brian explores how you should approach becoming a web developer in 2024. What you should learn. How you should learn it. When to start applying for roles.   Plot twist: it's mostly the same as what you should have done in 2023 but there are a few trends I think you should be aware of that will make 2024 different. Brian lays out the path in this episode, which sho...

Check out this week's podcast where I expose the not-so-secret TC39 committee and how much JavaScript you need to know before moving on to a framework like React or Angular or whatever. It's an opinionated break down of what you should study and how to test your knowledge to build a solid foundation. As a challenge that you will either find easy or incredibly difficult, check this out ....

Some big changes are happening at Parsity and the podcast! Aaron and Peter will be pursuing other endeavors and Brian Jenney, who you've heard host a few guest episodes already, will be taking over. Brian is an engineering manager and JS developer. If you'll miss Aaron, don't be too sad --  Aaron will be a recurring "guest" on the podcast, so you will still get to hear fro...

Join this week's returning guest host Brian Jenney as he tells you all about his experience being the worst software developer on a team. He goes into those uncomfortable feelings and inadequacies but also discusses why he is thankful for that opportunity. Not only did it end up being one of the best moments in his career, but it helped to shape it in the long run.  Shameless Plugs Parsity de...

In this episode, Peter discusses the value of vanilla JavaScript. In particular, we talk about the importance of learning the foundations of JavaScript when you're first starting out, the boost given to developers by updates to the JavaScript standard, and the appeal of vanilla JavaScript in a world of breaking dependencies.  Shameless Plugs Parsity dev30 Peter's YouTube channel Get full...

Join Aaron and Peter for their catchup episode as they share success stories, failure stories, and stories in-between from their 10+ years of bootcamp experience. Their big takeaway was from those "in-between" stories they share, where students are taking a turn for the worst, then turn it around and persevere to be successful. They've said it before and will say it again: If you do...

This week we are excited to have Brian Jenney back on the podcast, this time in the interview chair. Aaron wanted to dive more into Brian's story of being a self-taught coding student, to a LinkedIn influencer with 20k followers, and running his own programs, all while working as a senior engineering manager. Pay special attention to Brian's advice and LinkedIn content, as it is the most...

This week we have a special guest episode, hosted by Brian Jenney, Engineering Manager at Clorox. Brian is an incredible teacher, passionate about software development, and has an incredible story to tell. From having no idea what to do with his life and selling drugs to becoming an engineering manager and LinkedIn influencer with 19k followers, he has built his own courses and is currently helpin...

Grant Hushek of Hampton joins the pod this week to talk about how he got his job, what it looks like to be the automations expert at a company, how to keep learning, and strategies for B2B sales. Grant's story offers a ton of takeaways for those looking to get into technology! Thanks to Grant for coming on. Links   https://grantbot.co/ Shameless Plugs Parsity dev30 Peter's YouTube channe...

Join Aaron this week as he dives into the introduction of Git and Github, which is perfect for anyone new to coding and programming. Learn the context of Git and Github, as well as Aaron's recommended workflow for using them. This episode is an auditory way to learn the fundamentals and background of Git, Github, and Version Control.  Shameless Plugs slaptask Parsity dev30 Peter's YouTub...