Semaphore Uncut

How companies move during changes can determine their success, but also nurture eventual failure.  In this episode, we will explore how Software Consultant Susanne Kaiser uses Wardley mapping and Domain-Driven Design to identify the core domain of businesses and apply the appropriate method per evolution stage, how to improve team organization, and how evolution changes teams. Listen to the full e...

Github has pushed the limits of collaboration in coding as a platform for discussing, sharing, and participating in code and projects. Yet, new tools are looking to push the limit even forward. Zed is a collaborative code editor that offers real-time interaction among teammates inside a code development environment. Its creator, Nathan Sobo, envisions a revolutionary tool that will impact social c...

The evolution of distributed systems has normalized the benefits of cloud systems. From an end-user perspective, collaborating in real time has to feel smooth and organic. Still, developing one of these applications isn’t as clear-cut. In this episode, we hear from Adam Wulf, one of the developers behind the whiteboard application Muse, on the many steps and nuances of building a real-time collabo...

In the tech industry, diversity and inclusivity have been long-standing challenges. Head of Engineering Florence Chabanois understands the importance of creating a work environment that celebrates differences and the role of management in addressing inclusion issues.  With over a decade of experience in tech, Florence shares her insights on team management, onboarding new members, accommodating mi...

Building resilient systems is crucial in ensuring that applications can keep functioning even while facing unexpected failures and disruptions. In fact, designing systems that can bounce back quickly and effectively is essential for long-term success.  In this episode, we speak with Software Developer Bart de Water, who will share his expertise on the principles and strategies for creating reliabl...

Software testing has undergone a significant transformation in recent years. It has evolved from being an isolated, time-consuming activity performed at the end of the development cycle, to an integrated and ongoing process tied to customer success. Various factors have driven this shift, including the rise of agile development methodologies and the need for faster and more efficient testing proce...

Continuous Integration (CI) pipelines enable software development teams to build and test code quickly and efficiently. However, the need for robust security measures becomes increasingly important. On this episode, we interview Solutions Engineer Adib Saikali about his experience with CI pipeline security. From protecting sensitive data to detecting and preventing malicious code, Adib provides va...

The availability and quality of documentation are perhaps the most valuable assets for helping developers do their job. Likewise, good documentation will make the difference for users in choosing one product instead of another. However, finding the right tooling for managing and hosting documentation it’s a whole task on its own. It is even harder for open-source projects, whose developers might n...

The complexity of business and business processes can pull us away from the big picture. Internal documents, graphs, and other visual representations are there to aid us, but they might not be detailed enough, intuitive, or easy to read. In this regard, Wardley maps are business management tools that help organizations visualize their processes by plotting all their components topologically.  In t...

The prominence of venture capital in the software industry continues to shape how companies grow, set their budget and goals, and model their teams. It even affects how developers perceive their abilities. Nevertheless, Ruby on Rails creator and CTO of 37signals (Basecamp & HEY) David Heinemeier Hansson invites those looking to start a company in the industry to become skeptical of the need fo...

As the code base of a company grows, it becomes more complex. This complexity can lead to different sorts of communication problems capable of affecting both monolith and microservice architectures. In this regard, domain driven design is a tool for enhancing and clearing communication and putting together cohesive software development teams.  In this episode, Software Architect and author Vaughn...

Over the years, the software development community has created several tools for making their work easier and more efficient. As a result, building applications has become simpler than ever. But with so many options to choose from, which one would be the best for your project?  In terms of flexibility and cost-effectiveness, hybrid apps are the future. We interviewed Tauri co-creator Daniel Thomps...

With so much sensitive data going on through software applications, software products need to be robust enough to protect its users from malicious actors.  VP of Engineering Ken Kantzer believes successful code audits combine the efforts of management, software engineers, and cybersecurity to create a safer web environment.  In this episode, Ken shares with us how code audits are a way of judging...

Communities have nourished the tech industry —and academia— for ages. Aside from acting as a knowledge base, communities also allow their members to build a network and find and offer job opportunities. Besides, tech communities, says TechLadies Vice President Caro Griffin, can help us close the gender gap in tech. According to Caro, not only women and underrepresented minorities will benefit from...

Nowadays, Agile methodologies are applied and well-known all over the software development industry. But are they actually implemented as they should? According to Software Architect and author Allen Holub, while Agile is the way to go, it does not mix well with other practices just as widespread in the industry—chiefly, estimates and project-based development. Allen Holub discusses with us his id...

In Agile methodologies, testing is one of the pillars of the product-building process. Still,  tests can be detrimental if not properly set. Even more so when they pile up and get in the way of developers. In this episode, Software Developer Daniel North teaches us how to simplify tests. In like manner, he advises us how companies should conform their policies to streamline their policies and allo...

Microservice architecture offers no end of advantages over monolithic applications, including continuous delivery,  more room for experimenting with new features, and flexibility for working with different technologies. Still, it also has its constraints. Especially, for teams who are transitioning from monolithic applications. In this episode, we will ask Software Developer Sarah Wells about her...

Describing information systems is vital for software design. As a result, multiple tools have appeared over the years to optimize the process. In this way, event modeling is an evolution from traditional approaches. We asked Software Developer, CEO and founder of AdapTech Adam Dymitruk about event modeling and its relation with event sourcing, domain-driven design, and the Open/Closed Principle. L...

What happens when companies go from a single small team of developers to tenfold their size as a result of becoming market fit? Could it be that the same patterns that once helped them grow will now halt their progress? Developer and Agile Consultant Arlo Belshee will teach us about the patterns behind inefficient teams, illegible code, and —of course— bugs, and how to spot these patterns and fix...

Testing plays a big role in software development; especially, in quality assurance. However, when these tasks are rigorously divided, testers can find problems getting along with engineers. Still, to Agile Consultant Janet Gregory, testers and engineer teams only thrive when working together. In this episode, Janet will help us understand the nuances of these teams' cultures and the benefits...

Microservices architecture is one of the most popular options for companies going through application modernization or migrating to the cloud. However, companies may end up abandoning them altogether as the hype comes to an end.  In fact, for Senior Principal Software Engineer Holly Cummins , microservices can be a bitter drink for migrating companies that didn't question whether or not they...

Mob programming challenges the idea of developer teams as a group of individuals with a common goal yet who do most of the work separately. Hence, mob programming emphasizes the importance of collaboration, having faith that software development can benefit from it just as human enterprises have done throughout history. To teach us about the benefits of mob programming, we invited Agile coach Wood...

Mob and pair programming are meant to ease collaboration and improve communication between team members. Still, other aspects of software development can also gain something from it.   This is the case for testing optimization, as well as for preserving an organization’s culture and growing teams. To shed light on these topics, we interviewed Llewellyn Falco , agile coach and the creator of Approv...

In software development, testing is a vital part of ensuring quality products. However, how to test and why isn’t always clear or in the mind of developers, who may see it as beyond the scope of their job. To Gaspar Nagy , the person behind SpecFlow , testing is a matter of collaboration, constant feedback, and handling overconfidence. To discuss the subject, we asked him to answer our question on...

Imagine those old days of building for the web, when everything was simple. Now imagine that you could have the user experience we have today mixed with the developer experience of yesteryear, of what felt like years ago. That’s what Remix is, a web framework with laser focus on user experience. In this episode, Darko welcomes Kent C. Dodds , Director of Developer Experience at Remix. Kent explain...