The Dangers of Magic in Software Abstractions

In this episode of the Agile Embedded Podcast, hosts Jeff Gable and Luca Ingianni discuss the pitfalls of relying on 'magic' in software development, particularly in tooling, build systems, and frameworks. They illuminate how seemingly helpful abstractions can become burdensome when they obscure necessary complexities or become hard to debug. Through various examples, including comparisons of Arduino and CMake, they explore what makes a good abstraction versus a bad one. The conversation also delves into the importance of composability, testability, and the real-world impact of overly simplistic or 'magical' solutions in long-term projects. The episode wraps up with practical advice for selecting and designing more effective coding abstractions to mitigate risks.

00:00 Introduction and Episode Theme
00:19 The Problem with Magic in Programming
02:54 Examples of Good and Bad Abstractions
04:45 Frameworks and Tools: Arduino vs. CMake
08:10 Vendor-Supplied Tools and Their Pitfalls
13:05 Characteristics of Good Abstractions
29:04 Testing and Abstractions
37:10 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

You can find Jeff at https://jeffgable.com.
You can find Luca at https://luca.engineer.

Want to join the agile Embedded Slack? Click here

Building Trust with Git: Teaching Best Practices to Non-Software Engineers

In this episode of the Agile Embedded Podcast, hosts Jeff Gable and Luca Ingianni are joined by Bailey Steinfadt, owner of Stonepath Engineering. Bailey discusses her experiences in teaching Git and other software tools to non-software engineers, particularly in small manufacturing companies. Topics include the importance of visibility and trust in code projects, the typical profiles of her clients, and strategies for effective communication and trust-building between technical and non-technical stakeholders. The episode also touches on useful tools like GitHub, Miro, and Draw.io for managing projects and fostering collaboration.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:24 Bailey's Background and Stonepath Engineering
01:41 Challenges with Non-Software Engineers Using Git
05:46 Teaching Git to Non-Software Engineers
14:35 Building Trust Through Git and Communication
20:45 Tools and Techniques for Effective Communication
37:32 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

You can find Jeff at https://jeffgable.com.
You can find Luca at https://luca.engineer.

Want to join the agile Embedded Slack? Click here

Applying 'Accelerate' Principles to Embedded Systems | Agile Embedded Podcast

Welcome to the latest episode of the Agile Embedded Podcast with Jeff Gable and Luca Ingianni! In this episode, we address a listener's question about the book 'Accelerate' by Nicole Forsgren, Jez Humble, and Gene Kim. Jeff and Luca delve into how the principles from this book, which focuses on Lean Software and DevOps, can be applied to embedded systems development. They discuss the nuances of embedded systems, the relevance of DORA metrics, and share insights on how capabilities and processes from the book translate to the unique challenges of embedded systems. Tune in to understand how you can adapt and implement these best practices in your projects.

00:00 Introduction to the Agile Embedded Podcast
00:06 Overview of the Book 'Accelerate'
00:50 Research Methodology and Key Findings
02:56 DORA Metrics Explained
05:30 Key Capabilities for Effective Organizations
18:41 Applying 'Accelerate' Principles to Embedded Systems
20:19 Challenges and Considerations in Embedded Systems
34:10 The Importance of Logging and Feedback Loops
37:43 Empowering Teams and Encouraging Experimentation
41:58 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

You can find Jeff at https://jeffgable.com.
You can find Luca at https://luca.engineer.

Want to join the agile Embedded Slack? Click here