#287: In the world of software development, updating dependencies remains a crucial yet often neglected task. Many developers dread the manual labor involved, especially considering potential compatibility issues and the risk of breaking existing functionality. In this episode, we talk with Rhys Arkins, the creator of Renovate, about the origins of…

#286: Consumers are often enticed by the allure of free services. From email services like Gmail to networking tools like Twingate, the appeal of getting something for nothing is irresistible. But is it truly 'free'? When taking advantage of free services, one must consider the underlying trade-offs. Using free tools often means contributing person…

#285: In the fast-paced world of technology, organizations often find themselves in a complex dance between embracing the latest advancements and grappling with decades-old infrastructure. This delicate balance is highlighted in today's enterprises as they attempt to integrate legacy systems with modern solutions like microservices. The challenges,…

#284: Every step forward is built upon the achievements of the past. When you're developing software, leveraging existing knowledge and improvements can propel your success. Stepping blindly into the vast sea of technological options without understanding the motivations behind their existence can lead to costly missteps. In this episode, Darin and…

#283: Moving beyond the usual suspects in observability, today's focus shifts towards mobile—a relatively unexplored domain for OpenTelemetry. The integration of OpenTelemetry with mobile applications opens new avenues for mobile app observability. In this episode, Darin and Viktor talk with Austin Emmons from Embrace about the need for educating d…

#282: In the ever-evolving world of technology, the intricacies of software development and system design continually challenge engineers and developers alike. Insights from past thinkers, such as John Gall, combined with modern-day practices, provide a fascinating lens through which we can understand and navigate these complexities. In this episod…

#281: In today's rapidly evolving tech industry, many startups believe they can challenge the well-established giants by offering similar products with minor tweaks. However, this approach is fundamentally flawed. Companies like Amazon and Microsoft will absorb a few of these new competitors, while many others will simply disappear. The driving for…

#280: Policy as Code is not just a trend but a critical practice for cloud-native success. It ensures automation, consistency, version control, auditability, security, and flexibility. By adopting policies as code, organizations can effectively manage and enforce policies, leading to improved compliance and faster incident response. In this episode…

#279: One topic continues to emerge in conversations about technology and observability — OpenTelemetry. It's clear that OpenTelemetry has become fundamental in the tech industry. In this episode, we talk with Paschalis Tsilias, a software engineer with Grafana, about Alloy, a vendor-neutral distribution of the OpenTelemetry (OTel) Collector. Pasch…

#278: In today's tech landscape, developers often find themselves caught in the middle of a debate that never seems to age: GUI or CLI? While the tools and interfaces we use may evolve, the core question remains. How do we balance the efficiency and familiarity of graphical user interfaces (GUIs) with the raw power and flexibility of command-line i…

#277: Developers are often caught in a challenging position. They are keen to write code, innovate, hack, and build new things. However, when security measures are perceived as long, difficult, and cumbersome tasks, these essential protocols tend to be avoided or improperly implemented. The key is to balance the pursuit of creativity with the need …

#276: In today's fast-paced tech world, one sentiment seems to echo louder than ever: "Don't give me help, give me an API." Whether it's AWS configurations, Kubernetes manifests, or even something as fundamental as setting up a basic S3 bucket, an intuitive, well-designed API can mean the difference between smooth sailing and being lost at sea. Whe…

#275: In the constantly evolving landscape of technology, embracing new methodologies can significantly enhance our system management capabilities. One such methodology that has risen to prominence is GitOps. This practice enhances the declarative nature of infrastructure management, aiming to increase efficiency and reliability. In this episode, w…

#274: When we talk about problems in the tech space, one recurring issue is what we call the "XY problem", where understanding the root cause of a problem is crucial for crafting an effective solution. In this episode, Darin and Viktor explore what the XY problem is, why it happens, and how we can mitigate it to create better outcomes for everyone …

#273: Platform engineering plays a crucial role in modern software delivery. The platform engineering team is responsible for creating a development environment that is both productive and scalable. However, many platform engineers might not be familiar with foundational software design principles, and this can lead to inefficiencies and technical …

#272: Public speaking, especially at conferences, can be a daunting task. The fear of failing, the pressure of performing in front of peers, and the challenges of preparation can make even the most confident individuals second-guess themselves. In this episode, Darin and Viktor offer practical advice for aspiring conference speakers. Today's sponso…

#271: Platform engineering has traditionally centered around technological excellence. From building robust Kubernetes clusters to implementing intricate CI/CD pipelines, the emphasis has been on mastering the technical aspects. However, as the industry matures, there's a growing realization that technological prowess alone isn't enough. In this ep…

#270: In the ever-evolving world of software development, getting a new machine up and running can be an time consuming process. The journey from unboxing to being fully operational has undergone significant transformations over the years, with each phase offering its own solutions and challenges. In this episode, Darin and Viktor talk about their …

#269: As developers, when we begin writing applications, the focus is often on the code itself. But what if we prioritized the user from the very beginning? This is where human-centered computing comes in. It's about placing the user at the heart of the development process, not merely making assumptions but actually going out and talking to them to…

#268: Kubernetes has become the de facto standard for container orchestration, but its true strength lies in its API. Today, containers are prevalent, but tomorrow we might be dealing with a completely different runtime. The Kubernetes API, with its robust and flexible design, is poised to support these transitions seamlessly. In this episode, Dari…

#267: In the fast-paced world of Kubernetes development, ensuring the reliability and effectiveness of applications is crucial. End-to-end testing plays a vital role in detecting bugs, ensuring proper functionality, and maintaining the overall quality of Kubernetes resources. But what happens when existing testing tools fall short of meeting the ev…

#266: The tech industry has witnessed an explosion of new configuration languages that are reshaping the way we manage data structures and generate configuration files. From traditional formats like JSON and YAML to newer languages like Pkl, CUE, and KCL, the landscape of configuration languages is constantly evolving to meet the demands of modern …

#265: The worlds of Kubernetes and GitOps are constantly evolving, each iteration bringing us closer to a more streamlined, efficient, and powerful way of managing and deploying our software architectures. Kubernetes has become the cornerstone of container orchestration, offering an unmatched level of flexibility and scalability. Meanwhile, GitOps …

#264: In recent years, the very definition of open source has been subject to scrutiny and reinterpretation. Where once open source projects were largely managed and maintained by individuals or small groups for passion or as a hobby, today, they are at the forefront of business, technology, and innovation. The world's dependence on open-source sof…

#263: In an era where technology is evolving at an unprecedented rate, the role of a DevOps architect has become increasingly significant. This career path is not just about overseeing development and operations. It involves a deeper understanding of the entire system, requiring a unique blend of experience across development, operations, and beyon…

#262: In the ever-evolving world of software development and IT infrastructure, striking the right balance between ambition and realistic expectations is a common challenge. This balance becomes even more precarious when dealing with the development and implementation of projects, be it in a Greenfield scenario or maintaining and upgrading existing…

#261: The future of developer portals is one of seamless integration and intuitive operation. By bridging the gap between complex platforms and the developers who use them, portals can significantly enhance productivity and innovation. This vision aligns with the ethos of companies like Port, which emphasizes an open and adaptable approach to devel…

#260: In the fast-paced world of technology, advancements are constantly reshaping the way we work. As we strive to stay ahead of the curve, the debate between embracing innovation and resisting change becomes more relevant than ever. In this episode, Darin and Viktor talk about where they see how AI is being used now, as well as how it will be use…

#259: Terminals have been around for decades, serving as the backbone of many workflows and operations in the tech world. From managing servers to local file manipulation, terminals offer a direct line to the heart of computing. However, with the advent of graphical user interfaces (GUIs), the terminal's prominence has waned among the general user …

#258: As startups journey through their growth phases, the choices made regarding technology infrastructure can significantly impact their agility, scalability, and ultimately, their success. In this episode, Darin and Viktor discuss a blog post from someone that leads infrastructure at a startup where he writes about the decisions that they made a…

#257: As the digital world continues to evolve, businesses and technology leaders find themselves at a critical inflection point, particularly when it comes to the deployment and management of infrastructure. The journey from traditional IT to cloud-native platforms has been significant, pushing the boundaries of innovation and efficiency. Yet, the…

#256: KubeCon season has started again and in this episode, we give you our thoughts on KubeCon EU 2024, along with our friend Whitney Lee. Whitney's contact information: Twitter: https://twitter.com/wiggitywhitney LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitneylee/ YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/devopsparadox Review the podcast on Apple Podcas…

#255: In an era where software development and operations are increasingly converging, the need for effective and efficient observability tools has never been more critical. As systems grow in complexity and the lines between development and operations blur, the role of observability in understanding and managing these systems becomes more prominen…

#254: When you first started out working with infrastructure, you probably used point and click to get your work done. Over time, you created scripts to replace some of that point and click work. But then, many infrastructure as code tools exploded on the market. You may have started working with one or two or you may have chosen to just keep doing…

#253: As we move forward in 2024, one thing stands firm - platform engineering remains a significant focus for companies and has become a key component in the digital transformation journey. This realization drove the creation of the Platform Engineering Maturity Model, a comprehensive guide that serves organizations in various stages of their plat…

#252: In today's rapidly evolving technology landscape, it's crucial for organizations to keep their software stacks up-to-date. This is especially true for complex systems like Kubernetes, which require regular upgrades to ensure stability, security, and performance. In this episode, Darin and Viktor delve into the challenges of upgrading Kubernet…

#251: We're becoming more and more dependent on sophisticated systems that transport data from one part of our application to another. This infrastructure, often referred to as message brokers, is a vital backbone supporting many products we use daily. But are we fully leveraging their power and simplicity? In this episode, we speak with Valera Bro…

#250: Sure, we can use Generative AI to write code for us and generate cool pictures...sometimes. But who has the responsibility for making sure all that infrastructure stays up and running? Look no further than your favorite sysadmin or cloud engineer. There is nothing new under the sun... In this 250th episode, we have our friend Patrick Debois b…

#249: One of the prominent discussions in the software industry is the concept of 'build versus buy.' Often the argument focuses on creating a whole system from scratch or opting for pre-built solutions. But think about it. You never start from absolute zero. When you begin developing an application, it isn't devoid of pre-existing libraries or sys…

#248: When thinking about starting to learn a new technology, where do you start? Are you so busy at work that you're not able to spend any time learning something new? Are you concerned that when your company finally jumps on the AI bandwagon, will you be left behind? In this episode, Darin and Viktor talk about when and how you might want to star…

#247: What do you think of when I say “Developer Relations”? Is it a person that flys from conference to conference giving talks? Is it someone that is chasing you down to scan your badge in a booth? What if the answer to both of those questions is both yes and no? In this episode, we speak with Lian Li about the realities of developer relations an…

#246: You may have been in the tech space for a number of years, but now you are ready to up-level and head down the path of being a DevOps Architect. However, you're not really sure where to begin. In this episode, Darin and Viktor give their opinions on where you should start and the two tools that you'll need to know how to use if you really wan…

#245: Imagine this. You think you've been hired into a team of all A players. Think Wayne Gretsky, Michael Jordan, Lionel Messi, etc. Instead, what's really happened is you've been assigned to the team that is nothing more than the people that played behind the people that played behind the A players. Yeah, you've been demoted to the third string t…

#244: 2023 is in the rearview mirror. Welcome to 2024, the year of our AI overlords. In this episode, Darin and Viktor make their predictions about all the technologies that will potentially impact our day to day work for both the good and the bad. Not surprisingly, AI is at the top of that list, but maybe not for the reasons that you might think. …

#243: Here we are at the end of 2023. Darin and Viktor look back at the predictions they made back in episode 192. Let's see how they did. YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/devopsparadox Books and Courses: Catalog, Patterns, And Blueprints https://www.devopstoolkitseries.com/posts/catalog/ Review the podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://www.devops…

#242: Darin and Viktor look back over the past year. What do you have to be thankful for this year? Also, listen all the way to the end of the episode for a handful of holiday themed tunes. YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/devopsparadox Books and Courses: Catalog, Patterns, And Blueprints https://www.devopstoolkitseries.com/posts/catalog/ Revie…

#241: On today's episode, we go in depth with one of our friends, Whitney Lee. You may know her from her Enlightening series on Tanzu.TV or maybe from the You Choose videos she does with Viktor. But did you know just over 4 years ago, she was a server in a vegetarian restaurant and since that time she's spoken five times at KubeCon conferences - 2 …

#240: Imagine being handed a nicely-wrapped box containing Platform Engineering, much like when we were sold DevOps in a Box. An enigmatic gift, with potential benefits yet accompanied by potential complexities. It calls to question - how is this different from the countless developer platforms we've seen companies launch over the years? In this ep…

#239: In this episode, Ville Aikas and Matt Moore from Chainguard join us for a discussion about open-source projects, distroless containers, and software security. They share their stories about the creation and progress of ChainGuard, offering insights into the way the company operates and contributes to the open-source community. They also delve…

#238: You might just now be reaching the point of containerizing your workloads and running them in Kubernetes. However, how do you go about accessing those workloads? You might have started with an ingress, because other options seemed like they were too complex. However, you've now crossed the point where you need that complexity. That's where se…