Join hosts Kenn Williamson and Matt Lemke as they chat with Erich Keil, a former live events expert turned software developer at Clever. Erich shares insights on transitioning careers, the importance of communication and collaboration in software projects, and his favorite tech stacks like Laravel and Rust. Dive into discussions about the evolving tech landscape, the trade-offs of different programming languages, and the future of Rust.

Erich Keil, a former lighting and production expert in live events, discusses his transition to software development and his work at Clever, a custom software shop. He emphasizes the importance of communication and collaborative processes in software projects, as well as spending time in the problem space before jumping to solutions. Erich also talks about his favorite technology stack, which includes Laravel for web development and Rust for personal projects. He addresses the perception that PHP is on the way out and discusses the benefits of other technologies like Node and Express. The conversation covers various topics including the evolution of technology ecosystems, the trade-offs between different programming languages and frameworks, the use of dependencies in software development, and the adoption and future of the Rust programming language. The guests discuss their preferences for lightweight and customizable solutions, the benefits and challenges of interpreted and compiled languages, and the importance of memory management and type safety. They also touch on the use of TypeScript, the virtual DOM vs. direct DOM updates, and the learning curve and potential of Rust in enterprise applications.


Takeaways

• Effective communication and collaboration are crucial in software development projects.
• Spending time in the problem space before jumping to solutions is important for successful project outcomes.
• Laravel is a preferred technology stack for web development at Clever, while Rust is Erich's choice for personal projects.
• PHP is still a viable option for web development, despite the perception that it is on the way out.
• Other technologies like Node and Express offer similar capabilities and a wide range of plugins for web development. Technology ecosystems have ebbs and flows, and while some languages and frameworks may become less popular over time, they still have their own trade-offs and advantages.
• The choice between interpreted and compiled languages depends on the specific use case and requirements of the project.
• The use of dependencies in software development should be carefully considered, weighing the benefits and costs, and prioritizing lightweight and well-maintained solutions.
• Rust is a powerful language that prioritizes language solidity and memory safety, making it suitable for performance-critical and memory-intensive applications.
• The learning curve of Rust can be steep, but it offers strong type safety and concurrency features that contribute to the development of robust and reliable software.

Sound Bites

• "Transitioning from live events to software successfully"
• "Emphasizing communication and spending time in the problem space"
• "Favorite technology stack: Laravel and Rust"
• "There's always ebbs and flows of technology."
• "Rust is the nicest [compiled language] I've ever used."
• "JavaScript is supposed to be light, but you end up adding like 40-plus packages and dependencies."

Chapters
00:00Introduction and Background
08:33Transitioning from Live Events to Software Development
13:06The Importance of Communication and Collaboration in Software Projects
20:57Dispelling the Perception of PHP's Decline
29:26Interpreted vs. Compiled Languages: Trade-offs and Use Cases
36:29The Power and Potential of Rust
41:00The Learning Curve and Benefits of Rust