Building Better Software: Why Workflows Beat Code Every Time • Ben Smith & James Beswick episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 6, 2026 · 46 MIN

Building Better Software: Why Workflows Beat Code Every Time • Ben Smith & James Beswick

from GOTO - The Brightest Minds in Tech · host Ben Smith, James Beswick & GOTO

This interview was recorded for GOTO Unscripted.https://gotopia.techCheck out more here:https://gotopia.tech/articles/407Ben Smith - Staff Developer Advocate at StripeJames Beswick - Head of Developer Relations at StripeRESOURCESBenhttps://twitter.com/benjamin_l_shttps://github.com/bls20AWShttps://linkedin.com/in/bensmithportfoliohttp://developeradvocate.co.ukhttps://thewebsmithsite.wordpress.comJameshttps://bsky.app/profile/jbesw.bsky.socialhttps://twitter.com/jbeswhttps://linkedin.com/in/jamesbeswickLinkshttps://stripe.devhttps://serverlessland.comDESCRIPTIONJames Beswick and Ben Smith explore the evolution of modern software architecture. They discuss why workflow services are essential for managing distributed systems, the challenges of microservices versus monoliths, and the power of plugin architectures.The conversation covers practical topics like idempotency, circuit breaker patterns, and the importance of observability, while also diving into what makes a great developer advocate and how to build demos that truly resonate with developers.RECOMMENDED BOOKSSimon Brown • Software Architecture for Developers Vol. 2 • https://leanpub.com/visualising-software-architectureDavid Farley • Modern Software Engineering • https://amzn.to/3GI468MKim, Humble, Debois, Willis & Forsgren • The DevOps Handbook • https://amzn.to/47oAf3lSimon Wardley • Wardley Maps • https://amzn.to/45U8UprSimon Wardley • Wardley Mapping, The Knowledge • https://amzn.to/3XQEeDuDavid Anderson, Marck McCann & Michael O'Reilly • The Value Flywheel Effect • https://amzn.to/3VcHxCMike Amundsen • Restful Web API Patterns & Practices Cookbook • https://amzn.to/3C74fpHBlueskyInstagramLinkedInFacebookCHANNEL MEMBERSHIP BONUSJoin this channel to get early access to videos & other perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs_tLP3AiwYKwdUHpltJPuA/joinLooking for a unique learning experience?Attend the next GOTO conference near you! Get your ticket: gotopia.techSUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL - new videos posted daily!

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jan 6, 2026

Embed this episode

This interview was recorded for GOTO Unscripted. https://gotopia.tech Check out more here: https://gotopia.tech/articles/407 Ben Smith - Staff Developer Advocate at Stripe James Beswick - Head of Developer Relations at Stripe RESOURCES Ben https://twitter.com/benjamin_l_s https://github.com/bls20AWS https://linkedin.com/in/bensmithportfolio http://developeradvocate.co.uk https://thewebsmithsite.wordpress.com James https://bsky.app/profile/jbesw.bsky.social https://twitter.com/jbesw https:...

Distinct summary based on available episode metadata or transcript content.

NOW PLAYING

Building Better Software: Why Workflows Beat Code Every Time • Ben Smith & James Beswick

0:00 46:31

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of GOTO - The Brightest Minds in Tech?

This episode is 46 minutes long.

When was this GOTO - The Brightest Minds in Tech episode published?

This episode was published on January 6, 2026.

Can I download this GOTO - The Brightest Minds in Tech episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!