In this episode of Whiskey Web and Whatnot, hosts RobbieTheWagner and Charles William Carpenter III are joined by Ben Rometsch, CEO and co-founder of Flagsmith.

The discussion kicks off with a lighthearted conversation about the absence of landscapers at Chuck's house, leading into Ben's unexpected affinity for the New Orleans Saints due to a memorable game at Wembley in London.

Ben shares his journey from running a web agency for 23 years to starting Flagsmith as a side project, which has now become a growing business with 97 percent of its codebase being open-source.

The conversation shifts to a whiskey tasting of Redwood Empire's Lost Monarch, featuring a blend of aged bourbons and whiskey, followed by a discussion on various tech topics including AI in jobs, the value of front-end frameworks, and Git practices.

Later, Ben provides a detailed overview of Flagsmith, emphasizing its open-source nature, the importance of feature flags in development, and how the platform has evolved with contributions from the community, including paying customers. The episode wraps up with personal insights from Ben, including his dream of being an author and his fondness for the video game Parappa the Rapper.

Key Takeaways

• [00:00] - Opening Banter and Landscaper Tales
• [00:55] - Introducing Ben and Flagsmith
• [03:02] - A Deep Dive into Whiskey Tasting
• [10:31] - Hot Takes on AI, Frameworks, and Git Practices
• [25:38] - Exploring Flagsmith: An Open Source Journey
• [32:32] - The Challenges of Staging and Production Environments
• [33:42] - The High Cost of Configuration Differences
• [36:11] - The Evolution of Engineering Practices and Frameworks
• [42:15] - The Business Value of Open Source and Commercial Software
• [53:38] - Personal Passions: From Tech to Writing and Retro Gaming

Links

• Ben Rometsch Twitter
• Ben Rometsch LinkedIn
• Flagsmith
• Flagsmith GitHub

Connect with our hosts

• Robbie Wagner
• Chuck Carpenter

Subscribe and stay in touch

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Whiskey Web and Whatnot

Whiskey Web and Whatnot Merch

Enjoying the podcast and want us to make more? Help support us by picking up some of our fresh merch at https://whiskey.fund/⁠.

In this episode of Whiskey Web and Whatnot, hosts RobbieTheWagner and Charles William Carpenter III are joined by Dante, the founder of Onboardbase and hi.new. Dante shares insights on building security infrastructure for distributed teams and discusses the common mistakes businesses make by trusting developers with sensitive API keys and database credentials.

The episode also features a whiskey tasting segment where Robbie, Charles, and Dante taste and review Woodford Reserve double oaked whiskey. Additionally, the conversation touches on various topics, including TypeScript preferences, Tailwind CSS, git practices, and potential careers outside of tech. Dante also talks about the challenges of being a solo founder and the current state of raising funds from VCs and angel investors.

The episode wraps up with a casual chat about Manchester United's current performance and Dante's potential career choices if he weren't in tech.

Key Takeaways

• [00:32] - Meet Dante: Security Infrastructure for Distributed Teams
• [02:10] - Diving into Whiskey Tasting: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked
• [10:06] - Tech Talk: TypeScript, Tailwind, Git, and VS Code Preferences
• [20:10] - Deep Dive into Onboardbase and Proxy Vault
• [28:08] - Exploring Untapped Niches: Security and Energy
• [29:11] - The Unforeseen Impact of AI on Security
• [30:22] - The Realities of Cybersecurity and Compliance
• [33:07] - Open Source Security Tools: A Game Changer
• [34:56] - The Journey of Starting a Software Company
• [36:56] - The Challenges and Strategies of Fundraising
• [42:13] - Navigating the Complexities of Soccer Fandom
• [49:30] - Career Alternatives: Content Creation and Beyond
• [52:31] - Wrapping Up: Beta Invites and Open Source Contributions

Links

• Dante Lex Twitter
• Dante Lex LinkedIn
• Onboardbase
• hi.new

Connect with our hosts

• Robbie Wagner
• Chuck Carpenter

Subscribe and stay in touch

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Whiskey Web and Whatnot

Whiskey Web and Whatnot Merch Enjoying the podcast and want us to make more? Help support us by picking up some of our fresh merch at https://whiskey.fund/⁠.

In this episode of Whiskey Web and Whatnot, hosts RobbieTheWagner and Charles William Carpenter III delve into a mix of topics starting with their thoughts on the Jack Daniels Sinatra Select whiskey, including its unique packaging and taste profile.

The conversation then shifts to the challenges developers face with hosting services and unexpected bills, touching on the responsibilities of CTOs within companies and how the role impacts team dynamics and code quality.

Wrapping up, they touch on the reality TV show 'Love is Blind,' sharing personal takes and humorous insights into the dynamics and drama of the show. Throughout, the duo maintains their light-hearted and engaging banter, making for an entertaining and varied discussion.

Key Takeaways

• [00:00] - Welcome to Whiskey, Web, and Whatnot!
• [01:49] - Diving Into Today's Whiskey: Jack Daniels Sinatra Select
• [04:36] - Tasting Notes and Opinions on Sinatra Select
• [09:04] - The Tentacle Scale: Rating Sinatra Select
• [15:38] - Navigating the Costs of Cloud Services
• [25:42] - The Business of Investing in Web Technologies
• [32:17] - Exploring the Role of a CTO in Various Company Sizes
• [34:28] - The Evolving Responsibilities of a CTO
• [35:55] - Navigating Technical Leadership and Team Morale
• [39:08] - The Fine Line of CTO Involvement in Projects
• [45:09] - Promotion and Performance in the Tech Industry
• [47:14] - Shifts in Mentorship and Team Dynamics
• [52:19] - Reality TV Deep Dive: Love is Blind Analysis
• [58:18] - Gaming, Work-Life Balance, and Podcasting Insights

Connect with our hosts

• Robbie Wagner
• Chuck Carpenter

Subscribe and stay in touch

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Whiskey Web and Whatnot

Whiskey Web and Whatnot Merch

Enjoying the podcast and want us to make more? Help support us by picking up some of our fresh merch at https://whiskey.fund/⁠.