DP901_S25E26 Revisiting User Stories- Writing Better User Stories for Successful Projects
Posted on Building Better Developers With AI

Revisiting User Stories: Writing Better User Stories for Successful Projects

In this season of Building Better Developers with AI, hosts Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche revisit a past topic: ‘Transform Your Projects: The Ultimate Guide to Effective User Stories.’ This episode offers a fresh perspective on how teams can achieve greater success by writing better user stories. The hosts initially tackled this subject in an earlier season, but they return to it because the challenge remains timeless: poorly written user stories continue to derail software projects. This time, they dive deeper into lessons learned, customer-centric approaches, and frameworks that make user stories truly work. Why Writing Better User Stories Still Matters Rob opens with a familiar frustration: sitting in sprint planning and realizing the user stories don’t make sense. Vague... Read more

DP900_S25E25 Conquering Tough Coding Challenges- Proven Strategies Every Developer Needs
Posted on Building Better Developers With AI

Conquering Tough Coding Challenges: Proven Strategies Every Developer Needs

In this episode of Building Better Developers with AI, Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche revisit one of their most memorable past discussions: “Unpacking ‘Psychopaths’ Scenarios and Tough Coding Challenges.” That earlier conversation explored the “opposite of the happy path”—those frustrating moments where unclear requirements, unrealistic expectations, or hidden bugs make coding feel nearly impossible. Now, with the help of AI prompts and fresh anecdotes, the hosts take a lighthearted but practical look at how developers can survive tough coding challenges and even grow stronger through them. Revisiting Past Tough Coding Challenges The original “psychopath” metaphor described the bizarre, unpredictable situations developers encounter—like half-baked requirements or strange user paths no one expected. In this revisit, Rob and Michael highlight how tough... Read more

DP900_S25E24 Enhancing Developer Productivity- Proven Skills, Tools, and Mindsets for Success
Posted on Building Better Developers With AI

Enhancing Developer Productivity: Proven Skills, Tools, and Mindsets for Success

In this episode of Building Better Developers with AI, Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche revisit an earlier conversation: “Building a Strong Developer Toolkit – Enhancing Skills and Productivity.” This time, they explore how AI and modern practices shape the discussion. The takeaway: enhancing developer productivity isn’t just about tools—it’s about habits, problem-solving, and continuous growth. 🎉 Thank You for 900 Episodes! This episode marks a huge milestone — our 900th episode of Building Better Developers. We couldn’t have done it without our amazing listeners, readers, and community. Your support keeps us inspired to continue sharing lessons, stories, and strategies that help developers grow every day. Here’s to the next 100 episodes — and beyond! Why Enhancing Developer Productivity Starts with... Read more

DP898_S25E23 Developer Career Growth- Breaking Through Stagnation
Posted on Building Better Developers With AI

Developer Career Growth: Breaking Through Stagnation

The Building Better Developers with AI podcast continues its season of revisiting past episodes with fresh insights. In this discussion, Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche revisit the classic topic of breaking through career plateaus and reframe it through the lens of developer career growth. The original episode shared practical strategies for accelerating progress. This version adds AI-driven perspectives, personal stories, and a reminder that developers must be intentional about growth in a rapidly evolving industry. Recognizing Developer Career Growth Roadblocks Career plateaus are rarely obvious. Instead, they surface gradually through symptoms like: As Rob explains, being “comfortable” often means you’re falling behind. In technology, a developer’s career growth demands continuous movement forward. If you haven’t challenged yourself in six months,... Read more

DP897_S25E22 Developer Performance Made Easy- Smart Strategies to Get More Done Daily
Posted on Building Better Developers With AI

Developer Performance Made Easy: Smart Strategies to Get More Done Daily

In this episode of Building Better Developers with AI, hosts Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche revisit another one of their popular topics: developer performance. Originally explored in the episode “Supercharge Your Focus and Productivity – Expert Tips for Success,” the discussion now receives an AI-powered refresh, bringing new insights into how developers can enhance their output, sustain energy, and prevent burnout. Why Developer Performance Is Harder Than Ever Distractions have only increased since the original discussion. Slack messages, meetings, and endless browser tabs compete for attention. As Rob points out, context switching drains productivity, and remote work piles on additional interruptions. The bottom line? Sustained developer performance is more challenging than ever, and it requires intentional strategies to conserve time... Read more

DP896_S25E21 Revisiting “Done” in Agile- Why a Clear Definition Matters More Than You Think
Posted on Building Better Developers With AI

Revisiting “Done” in Agile: Why a Clear Definition Matters More Than You Think

In this episode of Building Better Developers with AI, Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche revisit their earlier discussion on defining ‘done’ in Agile – how to stay on Track and Avoid Scope Creep. They explain why “done” must mean more than “I finished coding,” and they show how a shared Definition of Done (DoD) keeps teams aligned and projects on schedule. What Does “Done” Really Mean? In Agile, “Done” extends beyond writing code. It often includes: Without a clear, documented DoD, each team member may interpret “done” differently. As a result, projects risk rework, delays, and frustration. “If we ask, ‘Is it done?’ we should get a clear yes or no—no ‘sort of’ or ‘almost.’” – Rob Broadhead Why Ambiguity Leads... Read more