Coding Chats holiday special - John answers your questions about software engineering

In this special holiday episode of Coding Chats, John Crickett answers audience questions about software engineering careers, the impact of AI, programming languages, and the importance of leadership. He discusses how to rebuild an engineering career, the significance of meaningful projects, and the readiness of self-taught developers. The conversation also touches on insights gained from hosting the podcast and the evolving landscape of software development.Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Coding Chats Holiday Special00:22 Rebuilding an Engineering Career in 202501:01 The Future of Software Engineering with AI01:27 Learning Programming: Starting Points and Languages02:27 Breaking the No Experience Loop for Developers04:17 Meaningful Experience: Projects and Contributions05:02 Self-Taught Developers: Readiness and Opportunities06:07 Qualities of a Good Software Engineering Leader06:52 Insights from 18 Months of Coding Chats07:43 Architecture as a Strategic Concern in EngineeringJohn's Links:John's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrickett/John’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johncrickettJohn's Twitter: https://x.com/johncrickettJohn's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/johncrickett.bsky.socialCheck out John's software engineering related newsletters: Coding Challenges: https://codingchallenges.substack.com/ which shares real-world project ideas that you can use to level up your coding skills.Developing Skills: https://read.developingskills.fyi/ covering everything from system design to soft skills, helping them progress their career from junior to staff+ or for those that want onto a management track.TakeawaysLeverage AI to find answers quicker than before.Reading and curiosity are key habits for growth.All parts of software engineering will survive AI advancements.Focus on learning computer science fundamentals first.Choose programming languages based on your interests.Building personal projects can help you get noticed.Self-taught developers can be just as capable as those with degrees.Good leadership adapts to the situation and team needs.The software development field is diverse and evolving.Architecture should be treated as a strategic concern.