With John Pavan: Coming to Programming from Nuclear Physics

With John Pavan: Coming to Programming from Nuclear Physics

Author: Noah Gibbs March 1, 2021 Duration: 59:28

I met John Pavan early in his career, after he'd just made the transition from nuclear physics to full-time computer programming. We caught up on how C++ is doing and how he's doing in it. We also talked about what he looks for in a software hire, and handling legacy code.

For show notes and links, see: http://justtheusefulbits.com/jtub/john-pavan-coming-to-programming-from-nuclear-physics-and-some-vagaries-of-c++/


Noah Gibbs hosts Computer Science: Just the Useful Bits, a podcast that cuts through the academic clutter to focus on practical theory. This isn't about abstract proofs or textbook memorization; it's about which concepts actually matter when you're building software. Each episode takes a specific idea-whether it's a classic algorithm, a method of analysis, or a foundational data structure-and puts it under a pragmatic lens. The central question is always about application: where is this genuinely useful in a modern development context, and where is it perhaps an intellectual exercise that rarely pays off? You'll hear informed opinions grounded in professional experience, dissecting the real-world value of computer science principles. The discussion goes beyond simple utility to explore the "why" and "where," helping you build a more effective and relevant mental toolkit. For developers who want their knowledge to translate directly into better code and clearer problem-solving, this podcast provides a focused, no-nonsense resource. It’s for anyone who has ever wondered if the theory they learned is still applicable or if they're missing something crucial that others find indispensable. Tune in for a straightforward conversation that separates the essential bits from the merely interesting, all aimed at making you a more capable and confident programmer.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 26

Computer Science: Just the Useful Bits
Podcast Episodes
With Jake Yesbeck: On Getting Lucky, Mastery and the Fundamentals [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:57
Jake and I talk about basically just getting lucky... And also about mastery and understanding the fundamentals of computer science. We talk about university and how it works well for some things (theory, longer-term und…
With Mike Perham: Sidekiq and Whitepapers, and What Success is For [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:06
Mike, of course, is most famous in the Ruby community for Sidekiq. Outside Ruby, you're more likely to know him for Faktory. Mike and I talk a lot about his education in and out of university and how it's served him. We…
BigCo New Employee Training - Inside Voice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:24
This isn't actually an episode. More of a test upload, and a vocal rendition of an old blog post. From https://codefol.io/posts/BigCo-New-Employee-Training-Inside-Voice/