DP880_S25E05 Improving Team Collaboration in Software Development- Proven Strategies for Success

Improving Team Collaboration in Software Development: Proven Strategies for Success

In this episode of Building Better Developers, hosts Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche explore how to improve team collaboration in software development through the lens of AI-driven insights. Whether you’re a solo developer, part of a tight-knit team, or scaling across departments, collaboration remains the backbone of efficiency and success. What Does Collaboration Mean in Development? AI kicked off the discussion with a powerful insight: define “efficiency” in context. But more importantly, it highlighted that collaboration fuels efficiency, not just working faster, but working better. Effective collaboration avoids: Rob emphasized that a productive team isn’t rushing through tasks but solving the correct problems—together—on the first try. Collaboration Strategies for Solo Developers Even solo developers need structured collaboration between their tools,... Read more

DP879_S25E04 Software Methodologies- Thrive in Agile, Waterfall & DevOps

Software Methodologies: Thrive in Agile, Waterfall & DevOps

In this episode of Building Better Developers with AI, Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche tackle a challenge that many modern developers face: navigating multiple software methodologies. With insights shaped by both real-world experience and AI-generated suggestions, the discussion reveals how developers can stay effective when juggling Agile, Waterfall, DevOps, and hybrid workflows. Understanding Common Software Methodologies The episode begins with an overview of today’s most widely used software methodologies: Agile, Scrum, Waterfall, Kanban, DevOps, and SAFe. Rob and Michael highlight that developers often switch between these within the same organization or even across concurrent projects, depending on client requirements, legacy constraints, or team structure. The result? A dynamic but complex work environment that demands both technical and mental agility. The... Read more

Solving Problems in Software Projects | Building Better Developers with AI

Solving Problems in Software Projects | Building Better Developers with AI

In software development, the real challenge often isn’t coding—it’s solving the right problems. In this episode of Building Better Developers with AI, hosts Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche tackle one of the most overlooked but costly traps in tech: solving problems in software projects that don’t need solving, while missing the ones that do. With the help of AI, they explore why teams often get stuck fixing symptoms instead of addressing root causes, launching features that don’t matter, or optimizing performance before users even exist. Through candid examples and sharp insights, they demonstrate how developers can shift their mindset to deliver meaningful and lasting solutions. Solving Problems in Software Projects with AI This episode begins with a lighthearted intro: No,... Read more

Coding vs. Developing: What AI Reveals About Developer Growth

Coding vs. Developing: What AI Reveals About Developer Growth

Welcome to a fresh season of the Building Better Developers podcast—Building Better Developers with AI. In this AI-assisted episode, Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche revisit a fan-favorite discussion, now viewed through a modern lens. The focus? The transformation in mindset and skills involved in the journey of coding vs. developing. “We’re feeding past seasons into AI—and seeing where it takes us.” – Rob Broadhead Coding vs. Developing: Shifting the Mindset At the heart of becoming a developer, not just a coder, is a shift in mindset—coders complete tasks. Developers solve problems. AI reinforces this by highlighting the importance of outcome ownership rather than task completion. This is one of the most essential transitions from a coder to a developer. “A developer doesn’t just solve... Read more

Building Better Developers with AI

Building Better Developers with AI: Season Premiere

Welcome to a new season of the Building Better Developers podcast! Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche return with a fresh twist—this time, they’re putting artificial intelligence in the co-pilot seat. In Season 25, titled “Building Better Developers with AI,” the team explores how AI can shape, support, and sometimes challenge the development journey. Whether you’re AI-curious or just trying to keep up, this season promises something for every mid-level developer looking to grow. Why Start a Season on Building Better Developers with AI? As Rob explains in the episode opener, the idea for the season was sparked by a playful experiment: using ChatGPT to generate potential season topics. What started as a brainstorming tool quickly turned into something bigger. “Let’s... Read more

Building Better Businesses: Key Lessons from the Podcast

Building Better Businesses: Key Lessons from the Podcast

Building better businesses is the focus of this season of the Building Better Developers podcast. As the show wraps up, hosts Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche reflect on what it truly takes to grow and sustain a successful business. With episodes packed full of real-world advice, the season offered an honest look at the balance between managing operations and planning for long-term growth. Whether you’re running a startup or scaling a consulting firm, the challenges discussed this season are highly relatable, and the insights are actionable. Smart Strategies for Building Better Businesses This season delivered a broad spectrum of ideas—from improving customer support systems to deciding when to hire or outsource. Rob and Michael emphasized both short-term wins and longer-term... Read more