Develop Yourself

When you went to school, you were rewarded for completing assignments on time and memorizing facts. This same approach will NOT work for becoming an employable software engineer. In fact, it will have the opposite effect. On your learning-to-code journey, there are many mistakes you will make. You're going to mess up, produce sh*tty code and fail a ton of interviews. These are unavoidable and...

"Maybe Javascript just isn't for me..." Let's talk mental models and Javascript. A good mental model is a way to "latch" onto a foreign concept by relating it to something you understand. I speak with Kylo Robinson, an accomplished Javascript developer who nearly quit learning to code when he came across JS. Since then, he's created a truly unique way to visualiz...

Data structures and algorithms aren't just for interviews. Whether you know it or not, you are standing on the shoulders of giants when you write code. DSA doesn't have to be intimidating. Let's explore some real world examples of common structures and algos and some ways to learn them. Send us a text Shameless Plugs 👉 Build Your First Website in 30 minutes 👈 ✉️ Got a question you...

There is no magical technology stack which will make getting that first job easy. There are certainly technology choices I would avoid and others I would make sure to learn. If becoming a software developer was as easy as learning the "right" technology then most people wouldn't pay tens of thousands learning computer science or for mentorship .  I outline the exact tech stack I wou...

Learning in public isn't about likes. It's not about becoming an influencer. Learning in public is a practical way to validate yourself as a developer, learn the art of writing and become discoverable in a sea of cookie-cutter bootcamp grads. We will go over why you want to learn in public, how to do it and a way to meet other developers without being weird. Grab my learning in public te...

In this episode, I chat with Harley Ferguson , the seven-foot-tall South African CEO of Origen Software.  We dig into strategies for going viral, crafting engaging posts, and how Harley’s unique perspective has helped him build an audience of over 60,000 followers. Whether you're looking to become LinkedIn famous or just stand out in the developer market - you'll walk away with actionabl...

Let's go over some super practical tips to improve your JavaScript code and look a little less junior. Got suggestions for an upcoming show or a guest I should reach out to? Email me at brian@parsity.io ! Send us a text Shameless Plugs 👉 Build Your First Website in 30 minutes 👈 ✉️ Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here 🧑‍💻 Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Become a f...

In this episode, I’m joined by Rahul Pandey, a former tech lead at Meta and co-founder of JoinTaro , a platform for ambitious software developers. Rahul shares his transparent insights on working in big tech, including the reality of big salaries in FAANG companies and what it’s really like behind the scenes. You can connect with Rahul on LinkedIn . BONUS ALERT 👇 Don't miss out on this cours...

"AI is coming for your tech job!" "There's no hope for coders in 2024!" "Learn to code?! Ha, that was so 2015." Do these click bait titles sound familiar? I've gone down the YouTube rabbit hole of doom and gloom videos about the tech job market and AI. The reality is much less interesting which is why you won't see much of it on platforms where extreme...

There is a valuable skill that will set you apart from most developers.  It will go from a nice to have to a requirement if you want to move into leadership:  Public speaking.  If you’re like me, maybe you think you can just hide in your code hole and never speak.  I tried this method for a few years and it sorta worked.  I didn’t get fired.  I also couldn’t get promoted or make much of an impact....

One started a multi-million dollar business. 💰 Another wrote a popular library for unit testing that you've probably heard of. 🧠 The last one called me out on my b.s. 😅 I stole a little piece of each of these developers to accelerate my own career. I've been very lucky. I live in the epicenter of the tech universe in the San Francisco Bay Area. Every nerdy developer with a dollar and...

Dr. Junaid Akhtar is content architect at Educative and an expert in the science of education and specifically, learning to code.  In this episode we discuss: - what most people get wrong about learning to code and learning in general - the best way to stay motivated - why 10,000 hours to master a subject is BS - project-based learning and why developers do best with this strategy Dr. Junaid is th...

Professional software developers overwhelmingly use SQL but few coding bootcamps teach it. Learning some basic SQL doesn't need to be overwhelming or complicated. Listen to the episode and follow along with this post to get some hands-on practice with SQL. Click here to grab your guide. Sign up for early access to our upcoming Python and Data Engineering program. Send us a text Shameless Plug...

Without a clear path from junior developer to senior, most developers fall into the coding trap: You double down on your current programming language to become an "expert" You add more tools to your tool belt like a new, more impressive programming language (Rust anyone?) You obsess over code quality and writing error free code You wonder why you haven't been promoted yet Plot twist...

Before you watch another 100 hour YouTube tutorial, try these 4 side projects which are small enough to do over a weekend and will teach you a hell of a lot about writing JavaScript. In this episode we will explore the concepts you will learn with these projects, how to get started and where to find information to fill in the gaps in your knowledge. Here's the API I mentioned in the show: JSO...

Dicky Kitchen is a self-taught developer who made the leap into tech in his 40s—without a degree, bootcamp, or formal schooling. Dicky is in his first 90 days as a professional developer after a career as a phyiscal therapy assistant.  We dive into Dicky’s journey from physical therapy to coding, how he found success learning online, and the sacrifices it took to build a new career from scratch. ...

Don't hate mail me just yet.  “Free” work as a developer can feel like a controversial topic, but it could be the key to jump-starting your career.  I’ll walk you through strategies for gaining credibility, building a portfolio, and turning your free work into a launchpad for your development career.  You will learn how to:  -Discover valuable projects, not junk work  - Position yourself as a...

I know the smartest and best looking developers are listening to this podcast. As a thank you, here's a mini-tutorial to learn some backend software development as a Javascript developer. Video: https://youtu.be/9mU6Mnq9ZXY Code: https://github.com/CodeCoachJS/js_pros_backend_starter.git​ Please share this and tag me if you do! One last thing 👇 Join me and Aaron Cordova, a recent guest on th...

In the last decade, I got sober, learned to code, and lost 50 pounds.  At the end of the day, the key to all of these transformations came down to habits.  In this episode, I break down how small, consistent changes can lead to big life transformations—whether you want to improve your coding skills, land a job, or just build better habits in life.  Let's learn the science behind habit formati...

The field of software development tends to attract neuro-divergent people, and because of the emphasis on problem-solving, long stretches of focus, and task management, developers with ADHD often face unique challenges.  Henry Lam, an ADHD coach for professionals who shares practical strategies for  managing time boosting motivation minimizing distractions  This advice can be applied for anyone le...

Wondering where to take your first step in the tech world? Should you aim for a fast-paced startup, a steady mid-sized company, or a giant like Google? In this episode I share my personal journey through all three—from a stressful startup experience to working at Fortune 100 companies. Learn the pros and cons of each environment , and get actionable advice on how to navigate your career, make smar...

In this interview, Dagna Bieda, an accomplished software engineer and author of "Brain Refactor" , shares how she struggled with communication as a developer and how she had to "refactor" her own mindset to reach the next level in her career as well as: Common pitfalls that most software engineers make in their career Why "mindset" is more than a fluffy buzzword Marke...

Let me be clear: junior developers are necessary. They are also risky to hire. Let's explore the economics of hiring juniors, how to de-risk yourself and what the hell "junior" really means. Also - here's my email if you want any targeted advice: brian@parsity.io Include your Github and LinkedIn and I'll give you my 3 cents! PS. We have 2 spots left for the last cohort of...

Aaron went from rapper to New York City Transit worker to working at some of the largest names in tech including Coinbase, Docker and Meta (Facebook). This story isn't really about tech or money, but that's a piece of it. The real story is about refusing to settle, rising above your circumstances and creating options in life when you feel like you don't have any. Aaron has nothing t...

The problem with the tech advice you get on LinkedIn, X and TikTok is that it doesn't reflect reality. The loudest voices dominate the space and create an echo chamber. Luckily, Stack Overflow surveys tens of thousands of developers every year to find out:   - what professional developers REALLY think about AI taking their jobs - the technology everyone is using  - the tools we use daily to w...