The Confident Commit

In this episode, Rob is joined by Luis Ceze, CEO of OctoAI and a distinguished professor of computer science at the University of Washington. Together, they unpack the surge of interest in AI, attributing it to the convergence of factors like the unprecedented availability of data thanks to the internet boom and the accessibility of powerful computing resources. Their conversation delves into the pragmatic challenges developers face, such as striking the right balance between cost-effectiveness, inference speed, and ensuring scalability and availability. Luis explains how OctoAI is pioneering solutions to streamline this process, empowering developers to navigate these complexities automatically. Luis shares invaluable insights into the strategic benefits of diversifying AI models, likening the approach to the artistry of a skilled mixologist crafting a perfectly balanced cocktail. Have a guest recommendation for the podcast? Reach out to us on X at @CircleCI and let us know!

In this episode, Rob is joined by Carolyn Mooney, the CEO of Nextmv, a decision ops platform. As a seasoned expert in Decision Science, Carolyn delves into the nuanced differences in decision optimization and logistics across various industries, drawing from her experiences at Zoomer and Grubhub. The conversation unfolds around the decision maturity life cycle, exploring how companies progress from manual spreadsheet decisions to fully automated systems. They reflect on the impact of the pandemic on supply chain issues, emphasizing the heightened awareness of logistics' significance. Carolyn shares insightful perspectives on the fundamental role of optimization for efficiency in sustainability initiatives. With the transformative impact of increased AI awareness in logistics, Rob and Carolyn share the importance for all companies to contemplate the options and potential for enhancing their organizational efficiency. Have someone you'd like to hear on the podcast? Reach out to us on X at @CircleCI!

In this episode, Rob is joined by Patrick Debois, a seasoned industry expert and DevOps pioneer. Patrick shares his personal odyssey within the realm of DevOps, reflecting on the current state of the industry compared to his initial expectations. The conversation delves into the convergence of business analytics and technical analytics, exploring innovative approaches developers are adopting to integrate generative AI into their products. The two explore predictions for the year 2024, pondering whether the landscape will witness a pronounced shift towards applications or if other technical transformations will take precedence. If you have suggestions for future podcast guests, connect with us on X at @CircleCI! Get in touch with Patrick - Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickdebois/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@jedi4ever

In this episode Rob is joined by Dave Farley, software legend and author of books "Continuous Delivery" and "Modern Software Engineering”. The two tackle the essence of software development culture and the current state of software delivery. They unpack why it’s important to prioritize problem-solving abilities over technical skills when it comes to hiring, emphasizing a healthy culture and the need for continuous learning on the job. Reflecting on the past 25 years in the industry, the conversation centers on acknowledging mistakes, aiming to shorten development cycles for rapid feedback and progress. Exploring the intersection of aviation history and modern software development, Dave draws parallels with the Wright Brothers' approach to engineering and iteration. Listen in as Dave shares insights on AI automated testing and its current inability to rival the human brain, and discover the must-read books he recommends for every software developer. Connect with us on Twitter/X at @CircleCI to share your thoughts or suggest future guests for the show!

In today’s episode, Rob is joined by CircleCI’s own Aisling Conroy. Aisling, a key player in CircleCI’s product marketing and competitive intelligence, provides a window into the thoughts of analysts in the ever-evolving CI/CD space. Their discussion explores how the power of diverse perspectives in problem-solving can yield many different types of product offerings. They discuss the intricate nature of software developers as unique and discerning customers, recognizing developers' inherent problem-solving abilities. The episode unfolds with insights into emerging trends in the tooling space and the promising potential for increased collaboration between developers and customer-facing teams. Have someone you’d like to hear on the podcast, reach out to us on Twitter/X at @CircleCI!

In this episode, Rob sits down with Lewis Menelaws from Coding with Lewis, a prominent social media influencer and content creator specializing in entertaining and empowering software developers. Together, they explore the evolving landscape of learning the craft, drawing comparisons between the present day and the learning experiences of 25 years ago. The conversation delves into the transformative impact of AI on the learning process and Lewis shares valuable insights on how senior leaders and developers can effectively guide and empower the upcoming generation of developers. Tune in for a thoughtful discussion on the past, present, and future of software development education. Have someone you’d like to hear on the podcast, reach out to us on X/Twitter at @CircleCI!

In this episode, Rob explores the fascinating crossroads of machine learning and software engineering with Gideon Mendels, the co-founder and CEO of Comet ML. Gideon navigates the often ambiguous world of training ML models, focusing on building a common language between software engineers and data science teams. Gain valuable insights into fostering mutual understanding between these two disciplines and aligning the possibilities of ML with organizational needs in this thought-provoking episode. Have someone you’d like to hear on the podcast? Reach out to us on Twitter/X at @CircleCI!

In this episode, dive deep into the world of AI-enabled products and the push to explore and integrate them at CircleCI. Rob is joined by Aakar Shroff, CircleCI’s VP of product. Aakar shares valuable insights into AI product development and how AI tools can be leveraged to streamline software delivery processes. Rob and Aakar explore the fast-evolving AI landscape, including the convergence of different media formats and the future possibilities it holds for applications. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of the potential of AI in software delivery and discover the exciting challenges and opportunities this ever-evolving field offers.

Michael Webster, principal engineer at CircleCI, talks to Rob about testing AI-enabled applications. In this episode, learn how to face the unique challenges posed by the probabilistic and non-deterministic nature of AI output, as well as the importance of subjective evaluation criteria. Webster covers how model graded evals can be used to test AI applications, and the importance of caution in using this approach. CircleCI gives AI/ML teams the tools they need to iterate quickly, deploy safely, and deliver value continuously. To learn more, visit: circleci.com/ai-ml/ Have someone you’d like to hear on the podcast? Reach out to us on Twitter/X at @CircleCI!

In this episode, you’ll learn how to empower your team to do the most challenging thing when it comes to AI - getting started! Rob is joined by Kira Muehlbauer and Ryan Hamilton, two engineers who worked on building a groundbreaking feature at CircleCI called the AI error summarizer. Discover their insights into the process of building AI products, the challenges they faced, and the valuable lessons they learned along the way. CircleCI gives AI/ML teams the tools they need to iterate quickly, deploy safely, and deliver value continuously. To learn more, visit: circleci.com/ai-ml/ Have someone you’d like to hear on the podcast? Reach out to us on Twitter/X at @CircleCI!

In this finale episode, Rob Zuber explores what he has learned from the season on what makes teams great. Rob recaps how to achieve people-centered scaling and debates whether revolutions in software delivery exist. Plus, get to know Rob better as he recalls his favorite team of all time, not including his current team at CircleCI. Listen through the end to look ahead to what’s in store for season 4. Have someone you’d like to hear on the podcast? Reach out to us on Twitter at @CircleCI!

What can successful ad hoc jazz groups teach us about trust, personal preparedness, and leadership dynamics? In this special episode Rob is joined by jazz guitarist, Jeff Massanari, to explore the similarities between high-functioning jazz groups and software teams. Through Jeff’s stories and insights, you’ll learn valuable lessons from the world of jazz that can help you quickly adapt to new teams. Have someone you’d like to hear on the podcast? Reach out to us on Twitter at @CircleCI!

How do we keep up with this rapidly changing AI revolution? Steve Yegge, Head of Engineering at Sourcegraph joins Rob to discuss all things generative AI. Rob and Steve discuss the “innovator’s dilemma” and the concerns around jobs and productivity. Have a guest you’d like to hear on the podcast, let us know on Twitter @circleci_sandbox!

In this episode, Rob sits down with the DevOps “party starter” himself, Jesse Robbins, to discuss the current state of software delivery. Is DevOps really dead, or are we simply witnessing a maturing model as organizations grow and evolve? Tune it to hear Jesse’s valuable take on where he sees the industry moving and the potential complexities on the horizon. Download the 2023 State of Software Delivery Report here: circleci.com/resources/2023-state-of-software-delivery/ For more information on platform engineering, visit: circleci.com/blog/platform-engineering-devops-at-scale/ Have someone you’d like to hear on the podcast, let us know on Twitter @CircleCI!

Joe Duffy, co-founder and CEO of Pulumi, joins Rob in this episode to discuss how we can become architects of culture in our environment. What is psychological safety and how can your team achieve it? How can psychological safety, blameless culture, and accountability create a self-reinforcing “triad” within an organization? Tune in to hear Joe take accountability on his own teams to bring clarity and structure to achieve team goals. Have someone you’d like to hear on the podcast, let us know on Twitter at @CircleCI!

In this episode, Matt DeBergalis gives us an inside look into what it took to scale Apollo GraphQL with teams in mind. From hiring new members to equipping and empowering current ones, tune in to hear Matt share valuable perspectives on how to build great teams, both culturally and structurally through the different stages of an organization. Have a guest you’d like to hear on the podcast? Reach out to us on Twitter at @CircleCI!

Raji Subramanian sits down with Rob to talk about her experience being on several world-class teams. At Amazon, Pro.com, and OpenDoor, Raji has a developed a deep understanding of what it takes to build a culture that is customer-centric, operates with a startup mentality, and acts from ownership. In this episode, Raji shares what she’s learned and how she thinks about hiring for culture and building it from within. Have a guest you’d like to see on the podcast? Reach out to us on Twitter at @CircleCI!

To kick off season 3, Rob is joined by DevOps enthusiast and Wall Street Journal best-selling author, Gene Kim. Gene has spent years researching and documenting the evolution of DevOps. In this episode, hear Gene conceptualize high-performing teams using a group of painters and movers. What can this model show us about the intricacies and challenges all teams face? Tune in today! Have a topic you’d like us to discuss? Reach out to us on Twitter at @CircleCI!

In the finale episode of season 2, our podcast producer Julia McClellan turns the tables on Rob to see what he's really learned from interviewing 18 top tech leaders in 2022. Rob reflects on how to grow, communicate, and change our ways from experiencing failure. Tune in today to hear Rob share his most catastrophic failure and catch a special preview to season 3. Have a topic you want us to discuss? Reach out to us on Twitter at @CircleCI!

How do you not take failure personally, but instead use it as a tool for growth? Shailesh Kumar, SVP of Engineering at ClickUp, sits down with Rob to share his experiences being a part of numerous organizations on the brink of major growth. As head of engineering, Shailesh has had to manage his teams through difficult circumstances like platform stability challenges with a healthy dose of trial and error. He's become adept at working through complex problems and keeping the teams motivated even when it feels like they're falling more than they're succeeding. Have a topic you want us to discuss? Reach out to us on Twitter at @CircleCI!