189: Practical DevOps with Rob Cowell

Join us as we welcome Rob Cowell, a renowned DevOps advocate, on a journey through his personal and professional life in the world of programming and Salesforce. Starting with his early experiences tinkering with a Sord M5 computer, Rob shares how he transformed his passion for programming into a fulfilling career. We trace his evolution from working with Microsoft Access to .NET, C Sharp, and ultimately Salesforce and Apex, highlighting the importance of continuous learning and adaptation in the fast-paced tech industry. Transitioning into his current role, Rob pulls back the curtain on what it truly means to be a DevOps advocate. Emphasizing the significance of communication, collaboration, small incremental changes, and automation, he discusses how a commitment to quality is integral to delivering excellent results. The episode also explores the role of a Salesforce DevOps engineer and how to adopt the required skill set. Tune in to glean invaluable insights from Rob's vast experience and deep knowledge of the Salesforce ecosystem. Show Highlights: The role and importance of Salesforce DevOps in delivering quality results efficiently. The key components of Salesforce DevOps include communication, collaboration, small incremental changes, and automation. The transition from traditional development stacks into Salesforce and the unique elements of the platform. The role of a Salesforce DevOps engineer and how to adopt the necessary skill set. The introduction of Rob Cowell's project, 'Shirt Force,’ which combines humor and philanthropy by creating Salesforce-themed t-shirts and donating the profits to charity. Insights into continuous improvement and the importance of adapting DevOps to your way of working. Links: Julián on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/juliandavidduque Rob on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-cowell/ Rob's Twitter/X: @RobSalesforce Other resources: Gearset: https://gearset.com/ DevOps Launchpad free training and certs: https://devopslaunchpad.com/ Shirtforce: https://shirtforce.org/ His work on the demoscene: https://demozoo.org/sceners/32053/