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Reducing Fatigue for On-Call SWEs with AI, Mentorship, & More with Dr. Sally Wabha
In this episode of the Modern Web Podcast, recorded live at All Things Open in Raleigh, NC, hosts Rob Ocel and Danny Thompson sit down with Dr. Sally Wahba, Principal Software Engineer at Splunk. Dr. Wahba shares her experience tackling on-call burnout, offering insights into reducing fatigue through better observability, automation, and thoughtful team practices. The conversation also touches on mentorship and growth in the tech industry, including practical advice for junior engineers navigating the transition from academics to professional roles and tips for companies to better support new talent. Chapters 00:00:13 - Introduction to Marketing This Dot 00:01:00 - Asking for Help Effectively 00:02:21 - Reducing On-Call Fatigue 00:04:42 - Observability Best Practices 00:07:07 - Balancing Alerts and On-Call Efficiency 00:09:30 - The Role of On-Call in Modern Engineering 00:11:29 - Insights from the Grace Hopper Celebration 00:13:56 - Mentorship and Team Dynamics 00:16:14 - Rapid Changes in Technology and Adaptation 00:18:39 - Automation, Observability, and Debugging Challenges 00:21:04 - Addressing the Talent Gap and Junior Engineer Growth 00:24:00 - Closing Thoughts and Where to Learn More Follow Dr. Sally Wahba on Social Media Twitter: https://x.com/sallyky Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/sallywahba/ Sponsored by This Dot: thisdot.co...
Nov 27, 2024
1 min
Svelte 5 is Here!
Svelte 5 was finally released after a long time in development. Fortunately, we've been able to test it for some time, and now it has a stable release....
Nov 27, 2024
4 mins
Generative AI in the Global Payments Industry: Insights from Dondi Black, CPO of TSYS
Dondi Black, Chief Product Officer of Issuer Solutions at TSYS, to explore the transformative journey of innovation, cultural shifts, and emerging technologies in the payments industry. Dondi shares her insights from three decades in the field, discussing how her organization leverages synergies, empowers teams, and implements measurable strategies to drive innovation and transformation. The conversation dives into the practical applications of generative AI, privacy-enhancing technologies, and a North Star approach to cultural transformation. Tracy and Dondi also touch on the importance of self-advocacy, honest feedback, and creating inclusive environments to foster innovation at every level. Chapters 00:00:04 Welcome & Introductions 00:00:34 Reflections on Transformation & Innovation 00:01:28 Synergies & Organizational Transformation 00:02:19 Measuring Success in Cultural Transformation 00:05:07 Empowering Individuals & Leadership Growth 00:08:07 Emerging Innovations: Generative AI in Fraud & Risk 00:10:15 Security Investments & AI's Industry Impact 00:12:28 The Future of Privacy-Enhancing Technologies 00:15:30 Sustaining Momentum in Transformation 00:18:28 The Industry’s Pragmatic Shift 00:20:39 Inclusive Innovation & Cultural Change 00:23:12 Advocating for Yourself & Your Ideas 00:25:27 Leaders as Coaches: The Power of Feedback 00:28:56 Sponsor Spotlight: This Dot 00:29:53 Where to Connect with Dondi 00:30:39 Closing Remarks Follow Dondi Black on Social Media Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dondi-black/ Sponsored by This Dot: thisdot.co...
Nov 25, 2024
1 min
How Nuxt Studio is Redefining Developer & User Experience with Baptiste Leproux & Ferdinand Coumau
In this episode of the Modern Web Podcast, Danny Thompson sits down with Ferdinand Como and Baptiste Leproux from Nuxt Labs to uncover the story behind Nuxt Studio, a tool that's transforming how developers and non-technical users interact with Nuxt applications. Ferdinand and Baptiste share how Nuxt Studio bridges the gap between developer customization and user-friendly content management. Built to empower agencies, freelancers, and their clients, Nuxt Studio combines powerful features like live previews, Vue component integration, and schema-driven forms to make managing content seamless. The conversation also explores the broader mission of Nuxt Labs—building sustainable open-source tools that enhance developer experience and meet real-world needs. With insights into the future of Nuxt Studio and its potential to scale for larger organizations, this episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about innovation in web development. Chapters 1. Introduction and Setting the Stage (00:00:00) 2. The Vision Behind Nuxt Studio (00:03:10) 3. Nuxt Studio’s Core Features (00:08:45) 4. Challenges in Building Nuxt Studio (00:16:20) 5. Target Audience and Use Cases (00:22:35) 6. Sustainability in Open Source (00:29:00) 7. The Future of Nuxt Studio (00:35:10) 8. Nuxt Studio’s Role in the Nuxt Ecosystem (00:42:30) 9. Closing Thoughts and What’s Next (00:48:00) 10. Sponsor Shoutout and Wrap-Up (00:53:20) Follow Baptiste Leproux and Ferdinand Coumau Baptiste Twitter: https://x.com/_larbish Ferdinand Twitter: https://x.com/CoumauFerdinand Baptiste Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/baptiste-leproux-618842b0/ Ferdinand Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ferdinand-coumau-nuxt/ Sponsored by This Dot: thisdot.co...
Nov 20, 2024
2 mins
AI Leadership: Data-Driven Decision Making & Avoiding "Analysis Paralysis" with Jerry Reghunadh
In this episode of Leadership Exchange, host Rob Ocel chats with Jerry Reghunadh, Senior Director of Enterprise Architecture at Data Nimbus, about leadership, AI adoption, and data-driven decision-making. Jerry shares his career journey, insights on leveraging tools like ChatGPT and Copilot, and strategies for building effective data pipelines. They explore how companies can avoid "analysis paralysis," adopt AI strategically, and evaluate new technologies to solve real-world problems. Tune in for practical advice on aligning innovation with business goals and staying competitive in a rapidly evolving tech landscape. Chapters 00:00 – Introduction 00:31 – Jerry’s Leadership Journey 02:01 – Discussing AI in Leadership 03:59 – Experimenting with AI Tools 06:24 – Overcoming Analysis Paralysis 09:18 – Importance of Early AI Adoption 13:12 – AI’s Impact on Efficiency 14:30 – Sponsor Message 16:26 – Setting Realistic Goals for AI 19:41 – Data Management and AI 23:09 – Is AI Just a Fad? 27:22 – Testing New Technologies 29:56 – Final Thoughts on AI 30:25 – Connect with Jerry 30:44 – Closing Remarks 31:20 – Outro Follow Jerry on Social Media Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerrymannel/ Sponsored by This Dot: thisdot.co...
Nov 18, 2024
1 min
Introduction to Zod for Data Validation
As web developers, we're often working with external data that we don’t control and can’t expect to meet our expectations. But with the Zod library, we can define expected data schemas and validate incoming data against them....
Nov 15, 2024
7 mins
Learning Paths for Next.JS Developers with Ankita Kulkarni
In this video, Rob Ocel and co-hosts Tracy Lee, Adam Rackis, and Danny Thompson talk with tech educator Ankita Kulkarni about her journey from engineering leader to full-time educator....
Nov 12, 2024
2 mins
Build Facial Recognition and Chatbot AIs using TypeScript with Jack Herrington
In this JS Drop, Danny Thompson is joined by YouTuber Jack Herrington to explore a unique TypeScript and AI project that lets you recognize TV show characters in real time. Just point your camera at a character, and instantly get their details or even chat with them as if they were real! Jack walks through the tech, explaining how client-side face recognition and server-side AI work together to make this possible using the Versal AI library. They discuss prompt engineering, building efficient APIs, and ensuring smooth, interactive AI responses. Jack also shares potential real-world applications, from entertainment to security. Chapters - 0:32 Project Overview – Jack explains the AI-powered character recognition project - 2:17 Setting Up the Project – Overview of how the application is structured and initial setup - 3:04 Client-Side AI – How face detection and character recognition work on the client side - 5:12 Switching to Server Side – Jack demonstrates server-side AI and setting up API endpoints - 8:20 Explaining AI Tooling – How tools and prompts are used to give context to the AI - 10:01 Detailed Prompt Structure – Breaking down the prompt and character context for AI responses - 12:40 Client-Server Interaction – Using the Versal AI library to manage streaming responses - 15:09 Handling Character Data – Training the AI on specific character images and details - 18:15 Practical Use Cases – Discussing potential real-world applications for the face recognition tool - 21:34 Challenges and Lessons Learned – Jack shares obstacles he faced and how he overcame them - 25:45 Building the API – Tips and considerations for creating reliable API endpoints - 28:40 Handling User Inputs – Testing unexpected questions and how the AI responds - 32:00 Using Advanced AI Models – Jack talks about choosing GPT-4 and issues with smaller models - 35:47 Introducing ProNextJS.dev – Jack discusses his new Next.js course, covering advanced topics - 37:20 Closing Thoughts – Danny and Jack wrap up with final thoughts and a link to the GitHub repo Follow Jack Herrington on Social Media Twitter: https://x.com/jherr Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jherr/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jherr Sponsored by This Dot: thisdot.co...
Nov 11, 2024
2 mins
Fostering a Culture of Optimization and Continuous Improvement with Scott Roehrenbeck
In this episode of The Leadership Exchange, host Rob Ocel, VP of Innovation at This Dot Labs, sits down with Scott Roehrenbeck, CTO of Apptegy, for an in-depth discussion on leadership, process improvement, and the role of people in building effective teams. Scott shares insights from his 20+ years in tech, reflecting on the evolution of his leadership style, the importance of balancing process with flexibility, and how to support team autonomy while maintaining consistency. They also discuss the challenges of navigating turbulent times in tech and strategies for aligning team outputs with business goals. Perfect for anyone interested in tech leadership, process optimization, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Chapters - Introduction to the Leadership Exchange (00:00 - 00:23) - Scott’s Journey to CTO (00:23 - 02:15) - Cyclical Trends in Tech (02:15 - 03:27) - The Challenges of Leadership (03:27 - 06:07) - The Purpose of Process (11:43 - 14:09) - Process vs. Output: What Really Matters (14:09 - 17:20) - Building vs. Buying Process Frameworks (17:28 - 20:57) - The Role of Adaptation in Process Improvement (20:57 - 24:08) - Navigating ‘Religious’ Arguments in Process (24:08 - 27:02) - Defining a Team’s Unique Process (27:02 - 29:41) - Wrapping Up and Final Thoughts (29:41 - 30:40) - Thank You to Sponsors (30:40 - End) Follow Scott Roehrenbeck on Social Media Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-roehrenbeck-5a573431/...
Nov 11, 2024
1 min
Understanding the Difference Between `:focus` and `:focus-visible` in CSS
Understanding the Difference Between :focus and :focus-visible in CSS I have learned my fair share about the importance of keyboard accessibility, so I know that visual indication of the focused element is very important. But the well-known :focus pseudo-class is not always the best fit for this job. That's where :focus-visible comes in. Let's look at the differences between these two pseudo-classes and explore the best practices for using them effectively. What is the :focus Pseudo-Class? The :focus pseudo-class is a CSS selector that applies styles to any element that receives focus, regardless of how that focus was triggered. This includes focus events from keyboard navigation, mouse clicks, and touch interactions. Example Usage of :focus ` In this example, the button will display a blue outline whenever it is focused, whether the user clicks on it with a mouse, taps it on a touchscreen, or navigates to it using the keyboard. What is the :focus-visible Pseudo-Class? The :focus-visible pseudo-class is more specialized. It only applies styles to an element when the browser determines that the focus should be visible. This typically occurs when the user navigates via the keyboard or assistive technologies rather than through mouse or touch input. Example Usage of :focus-visible ` Here, the button will only show a blue outline when focused through keyboard navigation or another input method that usually requires visible focus indicators. Key Differences Between :focus and :focus-visible :focus - Behavior: Applies to any element that receives focus, regardless of the input method. - Use Cases: Ensures that all interactions with the element are visually indicated, whether by mouse, keyboard, or touch. :focus-visible - Behavior: Applies styles only when the focus should be visible, such as using a keyboard or assistive technology. - Use Cases: Ideal for scenarios where you want to provide focus indicators only to keyboard and assistive technology users while avoiding unnecessary outlines for mouse and touch users, typically required by design. Accessibility Implications :focus - Pros: - Guarantees that all users can see when an element is focused, which is critical for accessibility. - Cons: - Can lead to a suboptimal experience for mouse users, as focus styles may appear unnecessarily during mouse interactions. :focus-visible - Pros: - Enhances user experience by showing focus indicators only when necessary, thus keeping the interface clean for mouse and touch users. - Tailors the experience for keyboard and assistive technology users, providing them with clear visual cues. - Cons: - Additional considerations may be required to ensure that focus indicators are not accidentally omitted, especially in older browsers that do not support :focus-visible. - There may be cases where you want to show focus indicators for all users, regardless of input method. Best Practices for Using :focus and :focus-visible To achieve the best accessibility and user experience, combining both :focus and :focus-visible in your CSS is often a good idea. Combining :focus and :focus-visible ` Here is a Stackblitz example of what such styling could look like for you to try out and play with. Additional Tips - Test with Keyboard and Assistive Technology: Ensure that your web application is navigable using a keyboard (Tab, Shift + Tab, etc.) and that focus indicators are visible for those who rely on them. It's never a bad idea to include accessibility testing in your e2e testing suite. - Provide Clear Focus Indicators: Make sure that focus indicators are prominent and easy to see. A subtle or hard-to-spot focus indicator can severely impact accessibility for users who rely on keyboard navigation. Conclusion The :focus-visible pseudo-class offers a more refined way to manage focus indicators, improving accessibility and user experience, particularly for keyboard and assistive technology users. By understanding the differences between :focus and :focus-visible, and applying best practices in your CSS, you can create more accessible and user-friendly web applications. Remember, accessibility should never be an afterthought. By thoughtfully applying focus styles, you ensure that all users, regardless of how they interact with your site, can easily navigate and interact....
Nov 8, 2024
3 mins
Fly.io for Easier Cloud Deployment with Annie Sexton
Annie Sexton, Developer Advocate at Fly.io, to discuss Fly.io’s approach to simplifying cloud deployment. Annie shares Fly.io's unique position as a public cloud that offers the flexibility of infrastructure control with a streamlined developer experience. They explore Fly.io’s private networking and distributed app capabilities, allowing developers to deploy applications close to users worldwide with ease. Annie also addresses common challenges in distributed systems, including latency, data replication, and the balance between global reach and simple, single-region projects. Chapters: - 00:00 - 01:32 Introduction to the Modern Web Podcast and Guests - 01:33 - 04:00 Overview of Fly.io and Annie’s Role as Developer Advocate - 04:01 - 06:35 What Makes Fly.io Stand Out Among Cloud Platforms - 06:36 - 08:57 Distributed Applications: Benefits and Use Cases - 08:58 - 11:28 Understanding Distributed Web Servers and Private Networking - 11:29 - 13:49 Challenges in Distributed Data and Replication Techniques - 13:50 - 16:12 Fly.io’s Unique Solutions for Data Consistency - 16:13 - 18:34 When to Consider a Distributed Setup for Your Application - 18:35 - 20:35 Tools and Tips for Evaluating Geographical Distribution Needs - 20:36 - 22:22 Simplifying Global Deployment with Fly.io’s Command Features - 22:23 - 24:18 Considerations for Latency and Performance Optimization - 24:19 - 26:45 Balancing Simplicity with Advanced Control for Developers - 26:46 - 29:04 Easy Deployment for Hobbyists and Smaller Projects - 29:05 - 31:27 Getting Started on Fly.io with Fly Launch - 31:28 - 33:48 Developer Advocacy and Meeting Diverse Needs in the Cloud - 33:49 - 36:15 Catering to Beginners and Experienced Developers Alike - 36:16 - End Closing Remarks and Where to Find Fly.io and the Hosts Follow Annie Sexton on Social Media Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-sexton-11472a46/ Github: https://github.com/anniebabannie Sponsored by This Dot: thisdot.co...
Nov 6, 2024
2 mins
How to Create a Memorable Conference Experience with Vincent Mayers
In this episode of the Modern Web Podcast, Danny Thompson, Director of Technology at This Dot Labs, sits down with Vincent Mayers, a seasoned tech conference organizer with over 15 years of experience. They discuss the intricacies of running successful conferences, including the challenges of selecting event locations, building community engagement, and creating memorable experiences for attendees. Vincent also shares insights into the evolution of tech conferences, from the importance of shorter talks to the value of the "hallway track" for networking. Tune in for an inside look at how these events shape the tech ecosystem and tips for organizing your own conferences! Chapters - 00:00 - Introduction - 01:45 - Vincent Mayers' Background - 03:50 - Choosing Conference Locations - 06:10 - Building Community and Spreading the Word - 08:40 - Sponsorship and Funding Challenges - 11:00 - Securing Speakers for Tech Conferences - 14:20 - Improving the Conference Experience - 16:30 - Badge Design and the Attendee Experience - 18:50 - Engaging Attendees Beyond Talks - 21:00 - The Role of Tech Conferences in the Java Ecosystem - 23:12 - Attendees Still Using Older Java Versions - 26:00 - Balancing Cutting-Edge Tech with Fundamentals - 28:15 - Evolving Attention Spans in Tech Conferences - 30:00 - The Importance of the Hallway Track - 33:19 - Closing Remarks Follow Vincent Mayers on Social Media Twitter: https://x.com/vincentmayers Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincentmayers/ Github: https://github.com/vincentmayers Sponsored by This Dot....
Nov 6, 2024
1 min
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