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Chris Oliver: Building a Life (and Businesses) on Rails
Manage episode 364769317 series 3379394
Content provided by CJ Avilla, Colin Loretz, CJ Avilla, and Colin Loretz. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by CJ Avilla, Colin Loretz, CJ Avilla, and Colin Loretz or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.
In this episode, we talk with Chris Oliver about his deliberate approach to building GoRails and his other businesses on Rails. In a tech world that only seems to be moving faster and faster, we discuss the slow and steady path he has followed to create a fulfilling life for himself and his team while shipping awesome Rails things for his customers.
Some links to things we discussed:
- Build Your Saas Episode: Nobody in SaaS wants to talk about this
- Build Your SaaS Episode: Super Fun SaaS Sales Tax (Part Deux)
- Die With Zero book
Some of the things Chris and his team work on:
- GoRails
- Jumpstart Rails
- Hatchbox Hosting
- The Remote Ruby Podcast
- and many other things you can find at https://excid3.com/
58 episodes
Share
Manage episode 364769317 series 3379394
Content provided by CJ Avilla, Colin Loretz, CJ Avilla, and Colin Loretz. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by CJ Avilla, Colin Loretz, CJ Avilla, and Colin Loretz or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.
In this episode, we talk with Chris Oliver about his deliberate approach to building GoRails and his other businesses on Rails. In a tech world that only seems to be moving faster and faster, we discuss the slow and steady path he has followed to create a fulfilling life for himself and his team while shipping awesome Rails things for his customers.
Some links to things we discussed:
- Build Your Saas Episode: Nobody in SaaS wants to talk about this
- Build Your SaaS Episode: Super Fun SaaS Sales Tax (Part Deux)
- Die With Zero book
Some of the things Chris and his team work on:
- GoRails
- Jumpstart Rails
- Hatchbox Hosting
- The Remote Ruby Podcast
- and many other things you can find at https://excid3.com/
58 episodes
All episodes
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Build and Learn
1 Flavors of DevRel: tummeling, docs, SDKs, meetings, and conferences 44:45
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedIn 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 Covered DevRel at a Big Company Balancing 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 Prep The 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 Advocacy Comparing 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 Challenges The 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 & AI How 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 Docs Excitement 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 Delights Appreciating 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 Mentioned Write the Docs https://www.writethedocs.org OpenAPI Initiative https://www.openapis.org ReadMe (API Documentation Platform) https://readme.com Fern (SDK Generation) https://www.fernapi.com Speakeasy (SDK Generation) https://www.speakeasyapi.dev Stainless (SDK Generation) https://stainlessapi.com Orbit (Community Tools) https://orbit.love Stripe https://stripe.com Descript https://www.descript.com ElevenLabs https://elevenlabs.io Anthropic https://www.anthropic.com Vercel’s v0 (AI App Builder) https://v0.de v…
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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 headsets Colin's food tip: Topjaw on youtube Airalo for esim Train travel in europe is amazing! One-bag travel, having an extra smaller bag Pack Hacker Colin learning Unity Flappy bird tutorial CJ is winding down from Craftwork, what's next! Interviews and AI Advent of Code 2024!…
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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. Resources https://replicate.com/ https://mikecann.co.uk/posts/battletabs-global-launch-on-discord-activities https://a16z.com/discord-activities-social-gaming/ Tech Crunch Wordpress Drama Explained https://techcrunch.com/2024/11/07/wordpress-vs-wp-engine-drama-explained/…
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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…
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1 Personal Knowledge Management (Second Brain) 40:02
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedIn 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 Up 00:20 Lex Friedman and Pieter Levels Interview Discussion 01:09 Frameworks and Developer Influencers 03:08 Peter's Success and Indie Hacking 05:23 Building and Shipping Products 05:43 Marketing and Influencer Impact 13:23 Personal Knowledge Management 22:25 Exploring Obsidian and PARA 23:02 Organizing Projects and Areas 23:43 Daily Logs and Workflows 26:42 Handling Digital Scraps and Notes 30:31 Plugins and Syncing Issues 34:34 AI Tools for Meetings and Transcriptions 38:07 AI Code Editors and Future Discussions 39:37 Conclusion and Next Week's Teaser…
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1 Our Daily Drivers: Hardware and Software Edition 36:42
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedIn this episode, Colin and CJ discuss their audio and video setups, ideal microphones, cameras, and software for content creation. They dive into the specifics of the equipment they use and recommend budget-friendly options for those just getting started. Additionally, they touch upon some useful applications and tools that streamline their workflows, and discuss their experience with various developer-related projects. Our Daily Drivers 1. Shure SM7B 2. Shure SM58 3. Cloudlifter 4. Triton Fethead 5. Scarlett Solo 6. Eleven Labs 7. YouTube Studio 8. Google Experimental Music Effects 9. Descript 10. Apple Studio Display 11. Sony A6100 12. Elgato Camlink 13. Elgato Key Lights 14. Elgato Streamdeck 15. OBS 16. Audio-Technica ATR2500 17. Shure MV7 18. Handmirror app 19. Cleanshot 20. Skitch 21. Warp 22. Neovim 23. iTerm2 24. OhMyZsh 25. Alacritty 26. VS Code 27. ngrok 28. zoxide 29. eza 30. fzf 31. Raycast 32. Fantastical 33. Textmate 34. CJ's /uses page Find more audio gear at Podcast Method…
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In this episode, we celebrate the 20th anniversary of Ruby on Rails, reflecting on its impact and vibrant community. We share Rails origin stories from the late 2000s and early 2010s. You'll hear about different companies' reading and writing cultures, including practices like decision documents, meeting notes, and internal newsletters. You'll hear updates on current projects, with Colin discussing a major documentation initiative and the challenges of balancing meta-work with actual work. CJ provides an update on a large-scale refactoring project, detailing the process of converting enums to models across various parts of the codebase. You'll also get book recommendations, including "The PARA Method" about note-taking and personal knowledge management, and "Unreasonable Hospitality" which explores creating exceptional customer experiences. Finally, we discuss the concept of "unreasonable hospitality" and how to delight customers through thoughtful, personalized interactions. Resources Unreasonable Hospitality - https://www.amazon.com/Unreasonable-Hospitality-Remarkable-Giving-People/dp/0593418573 PARA method - https://fortelabs.com/blog/para/ Amazon's working backwards - https://www.productplan.com/glossary/working-backward-amazon-method/…
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We discuss visiting NYC, DevRelCon, red-eye flights, and why enums are terrible. Some of the bits and bobs mentioned in this episode: - DevRelCon - Chef's Table ( S2E1 Grant Achatz ) / Alinea - Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon - CJ enumerating lessons about enums
We're celebrating our 50th episode and two years of podcasting. In this milestone episode, we reflect on what has kept us consistent, our laid-back approach to podcasting, and give a shoutout to you! We also explore how social media affects consumer behavior and share tips for managing digital consumption and mental health. You'll also hear about our latest projects, including optimizing Redis for better performance in our Rails app and our current work at Discord and Craftwork. Plus, we dive into the world of AI tools for content creation, using them to create engaging short-form videos. Thanks for joining us on this journey! Resources * Money with Katie - https://moneywithkatie.com/ * Mostly Technical - https://mostlytechnical.com/ * Bootstrapped Web - https://bootstrappedweb.com/ * Syntax - https://syntax.fm/ * APIs You Wont Hate - https://apisyouwonthate.com/ * The Bike Shed - https://bikeshed.thoughtbot.com/…
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1 Enum Types, Coworking Software, and more Atomic Habits 41:34
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedProducer's note: This episode should have gone out as episode 48 ahead of Webhooks! This is our missing episode. Join us next episode for episode 50! Colin has a fitness update: working on the lungs, breathing and stress in general. CJ is digging into enums and converting them to models at Craftwork. More to come on that topic soon. Colin continues to avoid building Coworking Software (to everyone's applause) and CJ is digging back into James Clear's Atomic Habits. Colin: Fitness update / massage / breathing CJ: Big refactor from an enum to a model - evolving pricing models CJ's sleek lidar mop vacuum Colin: Coworking Software Update: not building anything, trying out Joan Colin: Internal discussion on Webhooks CJ: rereading Atomic Habits Colin mentions some Obsidian (more on that to come in future episodes)…
In this episode, you'll learn about webhooks and how they enable event-driven integrations. We cover webhooks, how they work, and best practices for providers and consumers. Topics : - The evolution of webhooks and how they compare to traditional API polling methods - Implementing webhooks securely, including verification techniques - Strategies for handling and processing webhook data - Challenges you might face with versioning and payload changes - Useful tools and resources for working with webhooks We share our experiences implementing webhooks across various platforms, mentioning Stripe, Twilio, and Slack as examples of good webhook implementations. We also discuss how tools like Zapier can help with webhook integrations and automation. You'll hear about CJ's recent experiences with React Native and Expo Go, as well as updates on our side project "Buckets", a Mint-like finance app. Resources : https://webhooks.fyi/ Webhooks google group Railsconf webhooks workshop…
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Build and Learn
1 Summer Fit Check, Cron Schedulers, and Sample Apps 44:52
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedCJ and Colin with the summer updates and fitness check-in. We dive into cron jobs, scheduling those jobs with various tools and services and best practices for when/how to cron. - Summer updates - CJ's live peloton class in the studio - Peloton hotel finder - Colin gives a RTO recap - Craftwork update, one year of the Rails codebase - Realtime project view tracking with action cable (who’s looking at the same doc as me) - Command Palette using Ninja Keys - CJ on Enums in Rails and other best practices - CJ using sidekiq-cron, alternative to whenever. - team already asking for event-based things - BullMQ mentioned! - Colin working on some sample Discord bots and apps…
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Build and Learn
1 Monoliths, GraphQL, Next.js, and DevRel Insights 38:47
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedColin and CJ explore the ongoing debate between monolithic architectures versus API-driven frontends, touching on the pros and cons of GraphQL and REST. The conversation also covers the intricacies of integrating Next.js with Rails applications. On the personal front, CJ shares his solar pool heater project and Colin prepares for his upcoming relay race, Reno Tahoe Open (RTO). Both hosts reflect on their work anniversaries and discuss the challenges and strategies for effective Developer Relations (DevRel). Monoliths vs. API-driven Frontends: The pros and cons of each approach, including the challenges of maintaining large JSON payloads and ensuring API stability. GraphQL: A critical look at the limitations and complexities of GraphQL, including rate limiting and authorization issues. Next.js and Rails Integration: Strategies for connecting a modern frontend framework with a traditional Rails backend. Personal Projects: CJ's DIY solar pool heater project and the considerations involved in making it efficient and safe. Relay Race Preparation: Colin's training for the Reno Tahoe Odyssey and strategies for managing challenging race conditions. DevRel Strategies: The multifaceted role of Developer Relations and how to balance content creation, community engagement, and internal advocacy. Resources Why I’m Over GraphQL Stack Recommendations for Connecting a Next.js App Taylor Otwell’s Tweet on Next.js and Laravel Rails Developer Survey 2024 Unity Learn Pathways Chris Trag’s LinkedIn Post Remotion: Create Videos Programmatically Thanks for listening!…
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1 Last RailsConf, Gameboy Nostalgia, and Platform Risk 47:19
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Play Later Play Later Lists Like LikedThis week, CJ and Colin talk about content clickbait, Gameboy nostalgia, and the in-vogue topic of AI/LLMs. CJ dives into some cautionary tales around more API integrations and his steps to avoid platform risk while trying to build software at a growing company. Finally, we bid farewell to RailsConf and discuss the market for Ruby/Rails conferences in 2024 and beyond. Colin's Gameboy nostalgia a dose of retro gaming wifi gameboy cartridge right to repair Retro Future YouTube Acquired FM: The Complete History & Strategy of Nintendo Analogue Pocket Gen Alpha == Generation AI Wizards of the Coast/D&D and AI Platform Risk when building on APIs More integrations API stability Degrated integrations and delivery The RailsConf 2024 FOMO 2024 will be the penultimate conference 2025 will be the last RailsConf Focus on rubyconf and rubygems Focus on regional conferences Announcement: A New Era for Ruby Central Events…
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Build and Learn
In this episode, you'll hear about the Write the Docs conference in Portland, a must-attend for anyone in the tech writing community. CJ and Colin chatted about the unique, community-focused vibe of the event, which was akin to RailsConf or RubyConf, and shared some standout talks. One highlight is Calvin Fung's "Beyond Words: Strategies for Leveling Up Your Tech Writing Career," where he details practical tips for documenting your work and aligning it with your job description to advance your career. They also discuss creative ways to enhance documentation using interactive elements, and offers tips on how to get involved and meet people at conferences. You'll also hear about "Slow Productivity," Cal Newport's book that has us rethinking how they manage their workloads. We'll discuss the book’s core principles: (1) doing fewer things, (2) working at a natural pace, and (3) obsessing over quality. This leads to a deep dive into managing distractions, the anxiety around being constantly responsive, and the value of deep, focused work. Plus, they share updates on fun projects at Craftwork, like organizing painting crews with a drag-and-drop interface and rebuilding a pricing engine. Finally, they touch on their DIY approach to calendar management and Colin’s adventures in learning Unity for game development. This episode is packed with insights and practical advice for balancing productivity and creativity in the tech world. Resources Afford Anything podcast https://affordanything.com/495-cal-newport-the-shocking-secret-of-productivity/ Write The Docs https://www.writethedocs.org/conf/portland/2024/speakers/ Slow Productivity https://amzn.to/3UNP0qT…
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