Hello and welcome. Today we’re diving into Emily Bache’s talk on “The Last Remaining Good Idea in Software Craftsmanship.” She points out that practices like TDD, pair programming and code katas have all been absorbed into mainstream engineering. Yet one core idea still shines: the commitment to continuous improvement and mentorship. As Emily reminds us, “Software craftsmanship is about writing code you’re proud of—and helping others do the same.” It’s not just a set of techniques; it’s a mindset of lifelong learning, taking personal responsibility for code quality, and nurturing a community where experienced developers guide apprentices. If we lose this spirit of shared growth and care, we lose the heart of craftsmanship. So next time you write code, ask yourself: How can I make this a little better—and help someone else learn? Thanks for listening!
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Welcome back to Pragmatic Engineer. Today we’re diving into what it really takes to move from software engineering into the world of AI, as shared by Janvi Kalra, now an AI engineer at OpenAI. Janvi reminds us that “curiosity is the most important skill” – it drives you to learn everything from linear algebra and probability to the latest transformer architectures. She recommends building hands-on projects, saying “I started with small prototypes on Hugging Face,” which not only sharpened her coding skills but also demonstrated her commitment to AI. Networking played a big role too: she reached out to mentors, joined community meetups, and kept refining her understanding of model fine-tuning and deployment. When it comes to interviews, Janvi advises focusing on clear explanations of your process. “It’s not just about getting the right answer,” she says, “it’s about showing how you think.” If you’re aiming to land your first AI engineer role, take ownership of your learning, keep experimenting, and never stop asking questions. Good luck!
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Welcome to The Daily Brief. Japan’s government debt has swelled to nearly nine trillion dollars—more than twice the size of its economy—and now even low interest rates can’t hide the strain. For years, Tokyo fueled public works, pandemic relief and social security for an aging population by borrowing at rock-bottom rates. But as the Bank of Japan moves away from negative interest rates, bond yields have spiked to multi-year highs. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba warned of the “terror” of higher rates and likened Japan’s finances to Greece before its crisis. Former vice finance minister Koji Yano adds, “Yellow lights are flashing, and at any moment any of them could turn red.” Ahead of summer elections, pressure mounts to cut taxes or boost spending for farmers, small businesses and consumers squeezed by inflation. Yet every new program risks stoking borrowing costs even further. Japan now faces a stark choice: trim its deficits or accept a heavier debt burden for generations to come.
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