The [REFACTORED] Podcast

A casual, ongoing conversation between two technology leaders with Chris Tonkinson and Frank Koehl.

Technology

React.js, SCSS, Big-O, Kubernetes, TLS.
The guys have cut and run CAT5 through
plenum, built and racked servers, found
SQL Server performance bottlenecks, and
written a hell of a lot of good software.

Leadership

From Enterprise to small business, the
guys have managed and built teams for
years; serial entrepreneurs with strong
cross-functional acumen and a knack for
translating between "geek" and "human."

Shenanigans

Frank brings the energetic snark. Chris
brings the cranky optimism. Together,
they can barely get through a single show
without devolving into petty ad-hominem
attacks and, often, childish sound effects.

Recent Episodes


Refactored 096: "Subjectively Returning to the Office"

Wherein people don't need a bachelor's degrees to be hypocrites.

published Feb 14, 2023
Show Notes

  • Return to the Office: FIGHT!!
    • What is the motivation, philosophy, economics, ergonomics, and effects?
    • What should it look like? What is the spectrum of “reasonableness?”
    • Is it all bulls***? (spoiler: probably yes, yes it is)
  • Ask The Internet: “Do formal engineering practices have any application in the companies you’ve worked at?” from r/AskProgrammers.
  • Chris argues that no one actually needs a Bachelor’s degree. Most of the time.
  • … and much more!


Refactored 095: "Just Call It Security"

Wherein Chris gets lubed up and Frank lies about the budget

published Jan 31, 2023
Show Notes

  • Chris lubed up his Cherry MX Browns and likes the result. What are the primary benefits? In order:
    1. Bragging rights
    2. Feel
    3. Sound
  • Frank asks, why can’t developers seem to say “no?”
    • Are programmers and biz/dev prone to forming an abusive codependency?
    • Technical communication — and this is a novel revelation you’ll only find on Refactored — is hard.
  • Frank thinks “cars are great.” We’re vying hard for ad money from GM.
  • Business is finally starting to understand at least invest in, infosec. Is there something to learn apropos to other “hidden complexities?”
  • Ask the Internet: “What books should every programmer read?” from r/AskProgramming.
  • Rob Fitzpatrick, Kent Beck, Leo Babauta, and Jim Collins all enter the chat at the same time, kinda awkwardly crowding the doorway as the guys recommend The Mom Test, Extreme Programming Explained, The Power of Less (which Chris erranly called “Less is More”), and Good to Great, respectively.
  • The picks of the week are the G-Lube and Brush by Glorious, to give your mechanical keeb switches that smooth and silky thock.
  • … and much more!


Refactored 094: "Don't Touch My Kindle"

Wherein Chris lies about bumper stickers and Frank breaks the Internet mid-show.

published Jan 10, 2023
Show Notes

  • Chris really doesn’t like when people touch displays. Jeff Atwood agrees.
  • Chris — a mere decade and a half late to the trend — is a fan of the Amazon Kindle.
  • Libraries… are actually pretty cool. Go check one out.
  • Frank gives a LastPass update. Turns out… probably time to leave, as expected.
  • Ask The Internet: “Need opinions from people with experience in the industry” from r/AskProgramming.
  • … and much more!

Poky McSmudgePants



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