Category: podcast

Fix the problem, or mitigate the issue?

This week Isaac and I explore the complex trade-off between providing immediate relief versus investing time and resources into finding and fixing the underlying bug. Sometimes, fixing the bug is the wrong choice!

If you've ever agonized between fixing a bug, or just mitigating and moving on, this is the episode for you!

Watch on YouTube or listen to it at Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app, and let us know if you have ever been involved in a rewrite. We would love to have you on the show to discuss your experience!

"I'm not technical, but I think the developers I've hired are BSing me. How can I tell?"

This is often the first question Dustin and Isaac get when talking to potential clients. In this episode we work through issues with trust, communication, and how iterative development encourages both. Dustin reveals his framework for keeping communication open and identifing red flags in developer behavior.

If you've ever wondered what developers were doing, but were afraid to ask, this is the episode for you!

Watch on YouTube or listen to it at Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app, and let us know if you have ever been involved in a rewrite. We would love to have you on the show to discuss your experience!

Guest Dan Hon joins us to discusses the complexities of rewriting government software. Dan discusses the importance of understanding legacy systems, the role of ideology in software development, and the need for transparency and user-centered design. We also touch on government specific challenges that come with modernization of government services.

Watch on YouTube or listen to it at Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app, and let us know if you have ever been involved in a rewrite. We would love to have you on the show to discuss your experience!

In my head, Never Rewrite, would be a completely apolitical show. How could the esoteric world of software projects ever intersect with politics?

I also never imagined DOGE's proposed rewrite of the Social Security system.

This week Isaac and I will work through the motivations, the challenges, and the role of AI in the rewrite. We will make predictions about the rewrite and how it will impact millions of Americans who rely on Social Security.

The cost of software mistakes is usually measured in dollars, these bugs will be measured with dead Americans.

Watch on YouTube or listen to it at Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app, and let us know if you have ever been involved in a rewrite. We would love to have you on the show to discuss your experience!

Isaac's plan for a full arm sleave gains the attention of a famous tattoo artist. He just needs to act quickly and send money to secure the appointment…

Watch on YouTube or listen to it at Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app, and let us know if you have ever been involved in a rewrite. We would love to have you on the show to discuss your experience!

Infrastructure changes aren't captured by unit tests, so how do you test them before going into production? In this episode Isaac and I welcome back guest Rob Gonnella to discuss testing infrastructure changes. Rob shares his experiences in developing local testing environments, engaging developers, and identifying bugs through end-to-end tests.

If you're thinking about changing things outside of your code and wondering how to test, this is the episode for you!

Watch on YouTube or listen to it at Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app, and let us know if you have ever been involved in a rewrite. We would love to have you on the show to discuss your experience!

Never Rewrite is going analog! Out of 2000 minutes over the last two years we think we've got plenty of content to coalesce it into a book. If you have a rewrite story to share, now's your chance to get forever immortalized in the podcast hosted by two randos.

Watch on YouTube or listen to it at Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app, and let us know if you have ever been involved in a rewrite. We would love to have you on the show to discuss your experience!

Why would anyone ever say yes to a proposal to stop all new work for 6 months so that the developers can recreate something that already exists? In this episode of NeverRewrite Isaac and I explore the motivations and expectations for a rewrite. Developers, IT leaders, product, marketing, finance, support, and customers have different outcomes in mind from the same rewrite. We explore the perceived benefits and harsh reality of rewrites - they often fail to deliver on any of their promises.

Watch on YouTube or listen to it at Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app, and let us know if you have ever been involved in a rewrite. We would love to have you on the show to discuss your experience!

Priority changes rarely align with projects finishing, and changes often result in throwing away work in progress. In this episode, Isaac and I discuss different work philosophies and styles that will protect your work, minimize loss, and keep you productive.

If you've ever stopped work on a project that was 90% complete and realized that it would never ship, this is the episode for you!h customer needs.

Watch on YouTube or listen to it at Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app, and let us know if you have ever been involved in a rewrite. We would love to have you on the show to discuss your experience!

Dustin Rea joined Isaac and I to discuss frameworks for prioritizing tech debt. Dustin walks us through the 5 part 'Jobs To Be Done' framework which emphasizes the importance of aligning engineering and product teams with customer needs.

If you're struggling to tech debt and don't know how to start, this is the episode for you!

Watch on YouTube or listen to it at Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app, and let us know if you have ever been involved in a rewrite. We would love to have you on the show to discuss your experience!