215: Staying Technical as a Manager
Test & Code
Deep Dive
What is Matt Makai's current role and background?
Matt Makai is the VP of Developer Relations and Developer Experience at Assembly AI. He previously spent over nine years at Twilio in developer relations and has a background as a software developer, starting with Java and later transitioning to Python.
Why did Matt Makai transition from Java to Python?
Matt transitioned from Java to Python because he found Python more productive and explicit compared to Java, which he felt was slow-moving at the time. He also tried Ruby but found Python's explicitness more aligned with his thinking.
What challenges do technical managers face in staying technical?
Technical managers face the challenge of balancing leadership responsibilities with maintaining and updating their technical skills. There is a fear of being outpaced technically by newer developers, which could make them less valuable during layoffs or when seeking new roles.
How does Matt Makai stay technical as a manager?
Matt stays technical by working on side projects that solve generic versions of problems he faces at work. He uses these projects to keep up with new technologies and tools, ensuring he remains fluent in coding and technical trends.
What is Plush Cap, and how does it help Matt stay technical?
Plush Cap is Matt's side project that tracks how developer-focused companies invest in their documentation, blog posts, and YouTube channels. It allows him to analyze trends and experiment with new tactics, keeping him engaged with both coding and industry developments.
What advice does Matt give for staying relevant in the tech industry?
Matt advises combining multiple skill sets, such as coding, writing, public speaking, and teaching, to become more valuable to a business. He emphasizes that being irreplaceable comes from having a unique combination of skills that are hard to replace.
What is the importance of having a quick deployment pipeline for side projects?
A quick deployment pipeline allows for immediate feedback and iteration on side projects. Matt uses this approach with Plush Cap, enabling him to deploy changes daily and stay engaged with coding and problem-solving.
How does Matt use large language models (LLMs) in his work?
Matt uses LLMs, such as the Dolphin version of a 7 billion parameter model, to summarize blog posts for Plush Cap. This allows him to process large amounts of content efficiently and stay informed about industry trends.
What is Matt's opinion on using LLMs for creating technical content?
Matt believes LLMs are good for brainstorming and summarization but are not yet capable of producing highly accurate or creative technical content. He emphasizes the importance of human-driven quality in developer-focused content.
What is the key to building a strong developer relations strategy?
Matt suggests focusing on one standout area, such as exceptional documentation, YouTube content, or developer events, to differentiate a company. He highlights examples like Twilio's developer events and Assembly AI's YouTube channel as successful strategies.
- Maintaining technical skills as a manager is crucial for job security.
- Side projects focused on generic problem-solving are beneficial.
- Combining multiple skill sets increases value to the business.
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