Build and Learn

Flavors of DevRel: tummeling, docs, SDKs, meetings, and conferences

In this episode, we reconnect for season 3, after a short hiatus to chat about life in Developer Relations (DevRel) at bigger companies, the avalanche of meetings that come with onboarding, the rollercoaster of prepping for big events like GDC, and the ongoing quest to create top-tier documentation and SDKs. We swap tips for maximizing AI tools, reflect on building the DevRel muscle from scratch, and share some fun side stories about local AI models, the surprising details that delight developers, and the importance of building reusable content for conferences.Topics CoveredDevRel at a Big CompanyBalancing one-on-ones, onboarding tasks, and project management meetings.Strategies for politely pruning your calendar so actual work gets done.Why dev advocates end up as “tummelers,” making sure every voice is heard in a bustling org.GDC & Conference PrepThe crunch leading up to a big event—workshops, talks, documentation updates, and unexpected scope creep.Juggling multiple presentations and deciding what content should be reusable or recorded.First steps planning DevRel activities for major company conferences.Flavor Variations of Dev AdvocacyComparing DevRel at a self-serve startup (like Stripe) vs. an enterprise environment where devs aren’t always the decision-makers.How to navigate new responsibilities, from establishing YouTube channels to championing better docs platforms.SDK Generation & Documentation ChallengesThe pros and cons of self-built vs. third-party, auto-generated SDKs.Maintaining a polished, dev-friendly experience across multiple languages.Cleaning up an OpenAPI spec, ensuring thorough examples and descriptions.Balancing “thin vs. full-featured” SDK approaches (retries, pagination, error handling, oh my!).Insights on Tools & AIHow many AI services are too many AI services? (ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, Descript, ElevenLabs, local LLaMa, etc.)Encouraging new coders (like Logan!) to lean on AI-driven dev tools and embrace prompt engineering.Will auto-generated SDKs eventually make handcrafted clients obsolete? Maybe…but not quite yet.Write the DocsExcitement around giving a talk at the Write the Docs conference on open-source documentation.Lessons learned from letting the community contribute PRs, and how it all ties back to building dev relationships.Fun Developer DelightsAppreciating the “little things” in product design—from underscore-only API keys that copy easily, to IKEA coffee mugs that drain flawlessly in dishwashers.Why it’s worth fighting for extra developer-experience polish (and how that shapes product love).Resources MentionedWrite the Docs https://www.writethedocs.orgOpenAPI Initiative https://www.openapis.orgReadMe (API Documentation Platform) https://readme.comFern (SDK Generation) https://www.fernapi.comSpeakeasy (SDK Generation) https://www.speakeasyapi.devStainless (SDK Generation) https://stainlessapi.comOrbit (Community Tools) https://orbit.loveStripe https://stripe.comDescript https://www.descript.comElevenLabs https://elevenlabs.ioAnthropic https://www.anthropic.comVercel’s v0 (AI App Builder) https://v0.dev

Travel Tech/Gear and Learning Game Dev

This week we talk about travel from a tech/gear lens and learning game development. CJ is back from Italy apple pay, currency conversion, splitwise, train, google maps, translation apps, tour headsetsColin's food tip: Topjaw on youtubeAiralo for esimTrain travel in europe is amazing!One-bag travel, having an extra smaller bagPack HackerColin learning UnityFlappy bird tutorialCJ is winding down from Craftwork, what's next!Interviews and AIAdvent of Code 2024!

Wordpress Drama and Discord Activities

In this episode, we discuss the WordPress vs. WP Engine drama. We also chat about Discord Activities, the new way to embed games and experiences directly in Discord. Resourceshttps://replicate.com/ https://mikecann.co.uk/posts/battletabs-global-launch-on-discord-activitieshttps://a16z.com/discord-activities-social-gaming/Tech Crunch Wordpress Drama Explained https://techcrunch.com/2024/11/07/wordpress-vs-wp-engine-drama-explained/

To AI Assist or not to AI Assist?

CJ and Colin chat about AI tools and coding environments. Pros and cons, daily workflows, and challenges of various AI-driven coding tools like VS Code, Cursor, and Copilot.We also talk about the broader implications of AI in content generation, particularly on platforms like LinkedIn, and emphasize maintaining a human touch in communication to avoid hollow, AI-generated content.- Avante nvim plugin- Cursor- Github Copilot 

Personal Knowledge Management (Second Brain)

In this episode, you'll learn about the PARA Method for organizing your notes and tasks, emphasizing the importance of balancing craftsmanship with delivering real customer value. Discover insights from Pieter Levels' success with straightforward tech stacks and recurring revenue from multiple startups. The discussion covers the power of building in public, optimizing productivity with personal CRMs and AI tools, and managing digital notes using Obsidian and Logseq. Tune in to explore practical challenges and solutions for enhancing your workflow and staying connected.00:00 Introduction and Catching Up00:20 Lex Friedman and Pieter Levels Interview Discussion01:09 Frameworks and Developer Influencers03:08 Peter's Success and Indie Hacking05:23 Building and Shipping Products05:43 Marketing and Influencer Impact13:23 Personal Knowledge Management22:25 Exploring Obsidian and PARA23:02 Organizing Projects and Areas23:43 Daily Logs and Workflows26:42 Handling Digital Scraps and Notes30:31 Plugins and Syncing Issues34:34 AI Tools for Meetings and Transcriptions38:07 AI Code Editors and Future Discussions39:37 Conclusion and Next Week's Teaser