Hanselminutes - Fresh Talk And Tech For Developers

On this episode of Hanselminutes, Scott talks with Bobby Lockhart, game designer and coauthor of The Game Designer’s Workbook. They explore the craft of game design, from turning ideas into playable experiences to balancing creativity with structure, and discuss how the principles in the workbook can help both aspiring and seasoned designers build better, more engaging games.https://www.gamedesignersworkbook.com

On this special episode of Hanselminutes, Scott reunites with .NET Principal Engineer Safia Abdalla, nearly 500 episodes and a decade after her first appearance on the show. They reflect on the arc of her career and the evolution of the developer landscape, discussing how building competence fuels confidence, how anxieties can compound in high-pressure environments, and what strategies help engineers sustain both technical excellence and personal growth over time.

On this episode of Hanselminutes, Scott Hanselman sits down with Netlify CEO Mathias Biilmann, who coined the term Jamstack, to talk about the future of web development in the age of AI. Recorded shortly before the announcement at Netlify Deploy, the conversation explores Netlify’s new AI Workflow, how it connects to the Jamstack philosophy, what it means for developers building modern applications, and how AI-powered automation can streamline shipping dynamic, performant sites at scale.https://www.netlify.com/deploy

In this episode of Hanselminutes, Scott Hanselman talks with Tuple engineer Johnny Marler about the craft and culture of pair programming. They explore how intentional collaboration can sharpen problem-solving, reduce context switching, and build trust between teammates—especially in remote environments. Johnny shares lessons from developing Tuple, developing with native code on Windows, insights from the Zig community, and why pairing remains one of the most underrated tools in a developer’s toolkit.https://tuple.app/hanselminutes

In this episode of Hanselminutes, Scott Hanselman sits down with Adam Jacob, co-founder of SystemInit and creator of Chef, to explore the provocative question: Can AI save DevOps? Together, they unpack the growing complexity of modern infrastructure, the limits of human-scale operations, and how AI-driven systems might reshape the way we build, deploy, and maintain software. From declarative intent to autonomous remediation, Adam shares his vision for a future where DevOps isn't just automated—it’s intelligent.https://systeminit.com

In this episode of Hanselminutes, Scott sits down with Noel Berry, co-creator of Celeste, to explore his philosophy and process for making games in 2025, without relying on big commercial engines. Noel shares why he prefers building lightweight, custom tools over heavyweight platforms like Unity or Unreal, how modern C#, SDL3, and open‑source libraries empower small teams, and the creative freedom that comes from owning every layer of the stack. From crafting bespoke level editors to ensuring long‑term portability, Noel offers a candid look at the technical choices and personal values shaping his latest projects, including City of None.https://noelberry.ca/posts/making_games_in_2025/

This week Scott welcomes Tyler Bushnell, founder of Polycade, to talk about reimagining the arcade experience for modern homes. Drawing on his family's Atari legacy, Tyler shares how Polycade blends retro charm with sleek design and modern game libraries—all while encouraging face-to-face connection. From Kickstarter roots to Techstars growth, we explore how Polycade became a favorite among creators and why the future of gaming might look more social than ever!https://www.polycade.com

Today we chat with Dr. Morgan Depenbusch and dive into the mindset shift that can transform your career and relationships at work. Instead of pushing harder to be heard or constantly proving yourself, what if the key is simply leading with value? Dr. Depenbusch and Scott unpack what “value” really looks like in practice—whether it’s helping teammates cut through noise, reframing presentations for executives, or positioning yourself in interviews. You’ll hear why this approach earns trust, reduces stress, and creates more opportunities than self-promotion ever couldhttps://www.morgandepenbusch.com/

In this episode, Scott sits down with Bria Sullivan, developer and founder of Honey B Games, to unpack the viral success of Focus Friend—the cozy productivity app that dethroned ChatGPT at the top of the App Store. Co-created with Hank Green, Focus Friend gamifies focus with a sock-knitting bean companion, offering users a whimsical yet effective way to reclaim their attention. Bria shares the app’s origin story, the design philosophy behind its ADHD-friendly features, and how iteration and storytelling shaped its meteoric rise. It’s a conversation about building with empathy, designing for delight, and what it means to make tech that gives people their time back.https://www.yourfocusfriend.com/

From wrist‑mounted CD launchers to rope‑driven quadrupeds, Purdue engineering student and YouTuber Aaed Musa turns wild ideas into precision‑crafted reality. On Hanselminutes, he joins Scott Hanselman to share the art, grit, and storytelling behind his most ambitious projects — and why iteration is his superpower.https://www.aaedmusa.com/

Steve Klabnik wasn't a fan of AI. He knows how to code at high and low levels...but then he tried again. Now he's making more, shipping more, coding more, and having more fun. Is this a moral choice or a techincal one or both? 

In this episode, Scott Hanselman sits down with benny Vasquez, Chair of the AlmaLinux OS Foundation, to explore the project's journey since the shift away from CentOS. benny shares insights into how AlmaLinux stays community-driven, transparent, and enterprise-ready—all while navigating the evolving world of open-source licensing. It's a candid and thoughtful conversation about trust, sustainability, and what it takes to build an OS that listens to its users.https://www.almalinux.orgKey TopicsIntroduction to benny Vasquez and AlmaLinux (00:07.87)The Evolution of CentOS and Birth of AlmaLinux (01:00.03)The Role of CentOS Stream and Enterprise Linux Ecosystem (03:27.08)Why AlmaLinux Stepped In and the Red Hat Source Code Shift (05:19.77)Differences Between AlmaLinux and Red Hat (08:33.74)Open Source Governance and Neutrality in AlmaLinux (14:05.99)Sustainability and Longevity of the AlmaLinux Project (24:07.31)Adopting AlmaLinux for VFX and Desktop Use (26:37.99)The Importance of Hardware Support and Adaptabili

In this episode of Hanselminutes, Scott Hanselman chats with Brenda Darden Wilkerson, the President and CEO of AnitaB.org, about her journey in technology and advocacy for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the tech industry. Brenda shares her inspiring story of entering computer science by accident, overcoming societal perceptions, and her impactful work advancing tech education in Chicago Public Schools. Together, Scott and Brenda explore pivotal topics such as access to technology, unconscious bias, the transformative power of exposure, and the role of AI in the modern era. They also discuss the significance of the Grace Hopper Celebration and its global influence on women technologists.Key Topics with TimestampsBrenda’s Journey into Tech (00:49)How Brenda accidentally discovered computer science and the systemic barriers she overcame.Access, Exposure, and Opportunity (02:55)The impact of access and exposure in shaping careers and creating pathways for innovation.Breaking Gender Norms in STEM (06:40)The h

In this episode of Hanselminutes, Scott Hanselman talks with Randall Hyde, renowned for his expertise in programming and assembly language. Known as the creator of the Lisa Assembler and the author of The Art of Assembly Language and Write Great Code series, Randall shares his journey from developing in assembler for early computing systems to working on modern nuclear reactor control systems. He discusses the evolution of software development, the value of assembly language in today's programming landscape, teaching methodologies, and the balance between low-level understanding and high-level productivity.Key TopicsRandall Hyde's Academic and Professional Background (00:02.72)Assembly Language Beginnings with the Lisa Assembler (00:33.45)The Evolution of Randall's Work from Games to Nuclear Engineering (04:54.99)The Importance of Understanding Low-Level Machine Behavior (06:46.75)How Assembly Language Has Evolved and Its Modern Relevance (16:11.62)HLA (High-Level Assembler) as a Teaching Tool (20:20.46)The R

In this episode of Hanselminutes, Scott Hanselman chats with Roderick Rabah, Head of Product at Postman Flows, about the evolution of software development, the intersection of APIs and AI, and finding the "right layer of abstraction" for problem-solving. Drawing on his deep expertise in compiler optimization, distributed systems, and serverless computing, Rabah shares his perspectives on building tools that empower developers to create efficiently and explores the paradigm shift toward visual programming and AI-driven automation.The conversation dives into how Postman is innovating in the software space, how approaches to software engineering are transforming with generative AI, and why embracing new ways of working is critical for staying ahead in this rapidly evolving technological landscape.  Key Topics[01:08] Introduction of Roderick Rabah: From research scientist to API innovator[02:14] Evolution of software development: From FPGAs to serverless computing[03:23] APIs and AI: The transformative intersecti

In this episode, Scott chats with Preeti Somal, Senior Vice President of Engineering at Temporal, to explore how teams at OpenAI, Stripe, Netflix, and beyond are building long-running, crash-proof applications using Temporal's open‑source durable execution engine. Drawing on her leadership roles at HashiCorp, Yahoo!, and VMware, Preeti breaks down the orchestration challenges in today’s AI‑powered agentic architectures, shares how platform engineering, culture, and developer experience interact, and explains the feedback loops that drive platform improvement. She also offers a dive into resilience patterns like retries, state management, and sagas, and shares lessons on scaling engineering organizations through rapid growth. 

In this episode Scott talks with Dr. Malc Souter, a computer graphics algorithms PhD and former Hollywood special effects artist, now bringing his rendering expertise to AI at SKY ENGINE AI. They dive deep into the surprising power of synthetic data, exploring when fake can outperform real in areas like medical imaging, defense, and self-driving cars. Malc shares lessons from the visual effects trenches, discusses how custom rendering engines are reshaping machine learning pipelines, and unpacks the nuanced tension between privacy and progress in the age of computer vision.https://www.skyengine.ai

When authors want to talk about their book they go on a book tour and often they go to large companies like Microsoft and speak to us in person. I had the opportunity to interview Dave Berry in person and I jumped at it. I grew up reading his humor column syndicated in The Oregonian, and his brand of sarcasm and dry humor matches mine. This episode is that raw recording in association with and with the permission of Microsoft's Outside in Lecture Series program.  He was a lovely gentleman and we enjoyed spending time together, so if it seems like we're picking on each other, we are.Dave Barry's Class Clown: The Memoirs of a Professional Wiseass

What does it really take to succeed in today’s fast-paced, innovation-driven world? In this episode of Hanselminutes, Scott Hanselman chats with Earl Valencia—acclaimed tech leader, venture-backed founder, and author of Startup Mindsets: A Blueprint to Thrive in an Innovation-Driven and Globally Connected World. Earl brings real-world insights from Silicon Valley, Southeast Asia, and startup scenes around the globe. He talks about the habits, mindsets, and leadership styles that help founders stand out—not just another success story, but a practical guide for anyone trying to build something meaningful. Whether you’re launching a startup, working in tech, or just curious about how big ideas come to life, this conversation will leave you inspired to think bigger and bolder.https://www.startupmindsets.com/book

Curious how AI actually “sees” high‑dimensional data? In this milestone 1,000th episode of Hanselminutes, Scott Hanselman sits down with AI expert Pamela Fox to unpack the challenge—and magic—of visualizing multidimensional vectors. Pamela breaks down how complex, abstract data points can be projected in ways that humans intuitively understand, turning inscrutable AI models into visual stories. Along the way, they tackle the real-world difficulties of translating cutting-edge AI concepts into everyday language and explore why understanding these hidden dimensions matters—for developers, data scientists, and anyone curious about what’s going on under the hood. If you’ve ever wondered how AI thinks—and how we can actually see it thinking—this conversation is a front‑row seat to a beautifully visual take on machine learning.