The Myth of Perfect Code w/ Marc Backes

The Myth of Perfect Code w/ Marc Backes

Author: Skill Issue Studios May 29, 2025 Duration: 53:41

This week, Robbie and Chuck talk with Marc Backes about Vue vs. React, work-life balance, and the realities of messy codebases. They also sip an Evan Williams Single Barrel, debate inbox zero, and discuss Marc’s adventures in coffee roasting and pilot training.

In this episode:

  • (00:00) - Intro
  • (01:45) - Whiskey review and rating: Evan Williams Single Barrel
  • (09:03) - Hot Take: Inferred types vs explicit types
  • (10:04) - Hot Take: Tailwind vs vanilla CSS
  • (10:59) - Hot Take: Git Rebase vs Git Merge
  • (11:27) - Nested ternaries?
  • (15:58) - Real code vs ideal code
  • (21:43) - Why work/life balance matters
  • (30:28) - Why Marc chose Vue over React
  • (31:19) - Ryan Reynolds speaking at Post/Con
  • (32:40) - Render Atlanta and upcoming conferences
  • (33:48) - Marc's connection to Mexico
  • (34:54) - Discussing different foods
  • (37:09) - Marc's inbox zero strategy
  • (40:26) - Learning to fly
  • (44:06) - Roasting coffee as a hobby
  • (46:13) - Personal branding and standing out
  • (51:19) - Plugs

Links

Connect with Marc

Connect with Chuck and Robbie

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There's a certain alchemy that happens when you combine deep technical expertise with the warmth of a good conversation, and that's exactly what you'll find in Whiskey Web and Whatnot. Hosts Robbie Wagner, Charles William Carpenter III, and Adam Argyle bring decades of collective experience to the table, but they leave the lecture format at the door. Instead, each episode feels like pulling up a chair with colleagues who are just as passionate about the craft of building for the web as they are about the nuanced flavors in a glass of whiskey. The discussion naturally flows between the concrete details of modern development-like navigating JavaScript frameworks, CSS architecture, or the practical realities of agentic AI and new coding tools-and the broader, human aspects of a software engineering career. This podcast from Skill Issue Studios is built on the idea that the tools and the people who use them are equally important. You'll come for insightful, grounded advice on developer productivity and emerging technologies, but you'll stay for the genuine camaraderie and the occasional spirited debate about which whiskey bottle truly earns a spot on the shelf. It’s a refreshing blend of substance and personality, making complex topics accessible and reminding everyone that there's always a story behind the code.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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