The only podcast dedicated to backend development, technologies, and careers. Lane Wagner, the founder of Boot.dev, interviews successful backend engineers to g...
How to Win at Learning ft. Quincy Larson | S02 E11
In this episode, we sit down with Quincy Larson, founder of Free Code Camp, to explore his incredible path from high school dropout to influential tech educator. Quincy shares his unconventional journey — from living in his car and working fast food jobs to building one of the most impactful coding education platforms in the world.We discuss the power of self-learning, the evolution of coding education, and the philosophy behind building meaningful skills. Quincy also dives into his productivity habits, structured routines, and why he prioritizes lifelong learning over traditional memories.Lane's interview on Free Code Camp: https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/getting-a-developer-job-lane-wagner-podcast-157/Free Code Camp podcast playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDLDCm3bPfU&list=PLWKjhJtqVAbm04DK8TSUCRheRjW2P9TR7Learn back-end development: boot.devListen on your favorite podcast player: backendbanter.fmFollow Quincy on X/Twitter: @ossiaFree Code Camp: freecodecamp.orgTimestamps:00:00 - Intro and Meeting Quincy01:05 - Running a charity03:58 - Getting deep into podcasts11:58 - Quincy's lifestyle17:47 - The Birth of Free Code Camp25:47 - What has freecodecamp been working on27:40 - Building Skills vs. Chasing Shortcuts30:20 - How to Stand Out in Today's Tech Job Market50:44 - What changed since Quincy wrote his book54:06 - Obligatory AI talk1:12:01 - Where to find QuincyLike & subscribe for the algo if you enjoyed the episode!
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Mitchell Hashimoto: From Terraform to Ghostty | S02 E10
Today we welcome Mitchell Hashimoto, co-founder of HashiCorp and creator of Ghostty, a new terminal emulator built in Zig. In this episode, Mitchell shares the story behind Ghostty, how his curiosity about terminals evolved into a full-fledged project, and why Zig became his language of choice.We also dive into Ghostty’s unique features, the role of libghostty, and why Mitchell believes native-feeling apps are essential for developer experience. Plus, we explore his insights on computer science education, dynamic linking, and what really matters when learning to code.If you’re into terminals, low-level programming, or just love hearing how great software gets built, this one’s for you!Learn back-end development - https://www.boot.devListen on your favorite podcast player - https://www.backendbanter.fmMitchell's X/Twitter: https://x.com/mitchellhGhostty: https://ghostty.org/Timestamps:00:00 - Intro and Meeting Mitchell01:06 - Mitchell’s Journey at HashiCorp03:13 - What is Ghostty and Why Build It?08:35 - Native Performance and Zig’s Advantage15:25 - Why Mitchell Chose Zig Over Rust31:15 - Ghostty’s Road to Package Repositories52:00 - Future Plans for Ghostty1:04:02 - Where to Find Mitchell and GhosttyLike & subscribe for the algo if you enjoyed the video!
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Vercel’s Big AI Bet. ft. Malte Ubl | S02 E09
Today we welcome Malte Ubl, CTO of Vercel, to discuss the evolution of frontend development and the role of AI in shaping modern engineering workflows. Malte dives into V0, Vercel's innovative tool for generating frontend code using AI, and explains how it empowers developers—especially backend engineers—to build full-stack applications. We also explore the concept of verticalization in engineering roles, the challenges of balancing innovation with infrastructure, and how AI is redefining productivity in tech.Learn back-end development - https://www.boot.devListen on your favorite podcast player: https://www.backendbanter.fmMalte's X: https://x.com/cramforceVercel: https://vercel.com/V0: https://v0.dev/Timestamps:00:00 - Intro and Meeting Malte01:23 - What is V0 and Why Did Vercel Build It?04:00 - The Technical Challenges Behind V010:34 - How V0 Leverages Tailwind and TypeScript19:15 - AI's Impact on Frontend Development23:20 - Verticalization of Engineering Roles32:01 - How AI is Changing Development Workflows37:09 - The Future of Full-Stack Engineering44:08 - How Vercel Balances Product Innovation with Core Infrastructure46:06 - Final Thoughts and Where to Find MalteLike & subscribe for the algo if you enjoyed the video!
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Build skills, not degrees. ft. Madison Kanna | S02 E08
Today we welcome Madison Kana—a self-taught dev who defied the traditional path. From dropping out and navigating a world of homeschooling to launching the Code Book Club, Madison transformed her unconventional journey into a thriving community of coders. In this episode, she shares how bypassing the typical education route fueled her passion, the real challenges of learning on your own, and the power of mentorship in building a dynamic tech career. If you’re ready to break the mold and carve your own path in software development.Learn back-end development - https://www.boot.devListen on your favorite podcast player: https://www.backendbanter.fmMadison's X: https://x.com/MadisonkannaWebsite: https://madisonkanna.com/Learn out loud: learn0utloud.comTimestamps:00:00 - Intro00:30 - Where did it all start?01:40 - Dropping out08:42 - How Madison started learning code22:00 - Team leading30:30 - Code Book Club38:50 - Learn out loud46:20 - AI talk54:18 - Book recommendations56:05 - OutroLike & subscribe for the algo if you enjoyed the video!
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Roll your own auth or you’re ngmi. ft. Dreams of Code | S02 E07
This time Elliot from @dreamsofcode joins us to talk about building his own course platform we dive into why he chose to go custom, the tech stack behind his platform, and the philosophy of building vs. buying in software. We also discuss the challenges of teaching programming, the role of AI in development, and what it really takes to create a great online course. If you're into coding, education, or the intersection of both, this one's for you!Learn back-end development - https://www.boot.devListen on your favorite podcast player: https://www.backendbanter.fmElliott's Youtube: @dreamsofcode Elliott's Course: https://dreamsofcode.io/Elliott's X: https://x.com/dreamsofcode_ioTimestamps00:00 - Intro and Meeting Elliot02:36 - Why Build a Custom Course Platform?08:13 - The Challenges of Serving Video Content20:16 - The Build vs. Buy Debate28:20 - What Was Bought vs. Built?33:28 - How AI Is Changing Development45:12 - GDPR, Privacy, and Analytics54:19 - Tech Stack Behind the Platform1:06:33 - AI’s Real Impact on Developer Jobs1:13:16 - Where to Find Elliot and His WorkLike & subscribe for the algo if you enjoyed the video!
The only podcast dedicated to backend development, technologies, and careers. Lane Wagner, the founder of Boot.dev, interviews successful backend engineers to get their takes on various trends, technologies, and career tips for new backend developers. Golang, Python, JavaScript, and Rust are the programming languages most commonly discussed, but speakers dabble in all sorts.
Canada - english