Building Better Developers with AI: Season Premiere
Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur
Release Date: 06/05/2025
Price With Confidence: Estimation Made Simple
Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur
In this episode of Building Better Developers with AI, Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche revisit their earlier discussion on “” and explore how AI helps sharpen project pricing. The theme is clear: estimation is less about numbers and more about setting expectations. Developers who learn to price with confidence gain credibility, avoid stress, and build long-term client relationships. Why You Must Price With Confidence Estimation impacts far more than budgets. A clear, honest number builds trust and predictability. Vague requirements like “integrate with multiple systems”...
info_outline
Code Consistency for Better Software
Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur
As the Building Better Developers with AI season nears its close, Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche revisit a topic every team faces but few get right: code consistency. In this episode, they explore how shared conventions, smart tooling, and simple documentation transform messy projects into scalable, high-quality systems. The Hidden Cost of Inconsistency Picture opening a project where every file tells a different story: mixed naming styles, conflicting error handling, and folders arranged on a whim. Before you can fix a bug or add a feature, you’re lost in formatting chaos. ...
info_outline
Demo-Driven Development: Build Better Software with Faster Feedback
Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur
In this episode of Building Better Developers with AI, hosts Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche revisit a classic topic: . This time, they reframe it through the lens of demo-driven development, exploring how lightweight prototypes align teams, validate ideas, and reduce costly missteps. What is Demo-Driven Development? Demo-driven development utilizes interactive prototypes early in the lifecycle to demonstrate how an application might function before coding begins. These demos link wireframes or screens together into a simple, clickable flow. Low fidelity: Basic wireframes to...
info_outline
Revisiting User Stories: Writing Better User Stories for Successful Projects
Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur
In this season of Building Better Developers with AI, hosts Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche revisit a past topic: '.' 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...
info_outline
Conquering Tough Coding Challenges: Proven Strategies Every Developer Needs
Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur
In this episode of Building Better Developers with AI, Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche revisit one of their most memorable past discussions: “” 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...
info_outline
Enhancing Developer Productivity: Proven Skills, Tools, and Mindsets for Success
Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur
In this episode of Building Better Developers with AI, Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche revisit an earlier conversation: “” 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...
info_outline
Developer Career Growth: Breaking Through Stagnation
Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur
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 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...
info_outline
Developer Performance Made Easy: Smart Strategies to Get More Done Daily
Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur
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 “” 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...
info_outline
Revisiting “Done” in Agile: Why a Clear Definition Matters More Than You Think
Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur
In this episode of Building Better Developers with AI, Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche revisit their earlier discussion on . 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: Passing unit and integration tests Receiving QA approval Deploying to staging or production Updating documentation Securing acceptance sign-off Without a clear,...
info_outline
Scope Creep Explained: Causes, Consequences, and How to Prevent It
Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur
In this episode of Building Better Developers with AI, Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche revisit one of the most persistent challenges in software projects: scope creep. Using AI prompts, we revisit a past episode on “” In that discussion, we explored what scope creep is, why it happens, and how to prevent it from stalling projects, draining teams, and eroding trust. Today, we’re building on that conversation with fresh insights and practical strategies. Listen to the full episode for more real-world stories and practical strategies to keep your projects on track. What Is...
info_outlineWelcome to a new season of the Building Better Developers podcast! Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche return with a fresh twist—this time, they’re putting artificial intelligence in the co-pilot seat. In Season 25, titled “Building Better Developers with AI,” the team explores how AI can shape, support, and sometimes challenge the development journey. Whether you’re AI-curious or just trying to keep up, this season promises something for every mid-level developer looking to grow.
Why Start a Season on Building Better Developers with AI?
As Rob explains in the episode opener, the idea for the season was sparked by a playful experiment: using ChatGPT to generate potential season topics. What started as a brainstorming tool quickly turned into something bigger.
“Let’s actually use AI to shape the season—ask it what topics we should cover and see where it leads.”
AI suggested several solid themes, many of which the podcast had tackled before—security, dev tools, career development—but what stood out was the AI’s suggestion itself: a season dedicated to AI for developers.
“AI for the Rest of Us”: A New Way to Build Better Developers
The team quickly aligned on a theme: AI for the Rest of Us. It’s not about diving into PhD-level machine learning models. Instead, this season will focus on making AI practical, accessible, and even a little fun.
Callout:
🧠 “No math hats, no buzzword fatigue. Just real talk about how developers like you can start using AI today.”
The tone is set: casual, educational, and aimed squarely at mid-level developers who are AI novices. You’ll get hands-on insights, helpful examples, and real-world scenarios—without drowning in jargon.
Episode 1 Recap: What is AI Really?
The season’s kickoff episode breaks down the basics of AI in plain English. Rob and Michael highlight the difference between AI, machine learning, and deep learning, using helpful analogies like:
- Traditional code = a recipe
- AI = a chef who figures out the recipe by tasting the dish
They also explore how AI already shows up in daily dev life—autocomplete, spam filters, Netflix recommendations—and how it’s not a sci-fi robot sent to take your job.
Using AI to Help You Become a Better Developer
One of the most relatable parts of the discussion? Prompting AI.
Michael describes it perfectly: “It’s like training Dragon NaturallySpeaking—you have to teach it how you think.” And Rob adds that AI is training you right back, forcing you to clarify your logic and expectations.
Of course, they also call out the traps: circular responses, hallucinated facts, or confusing code suggestions. That’s where the human developer still shines—you have to know enough to spot when something’s off.
“This season’s focus on Building Better Developers with AI is designed to bridge the gap between curiosity and confidence for mid-level developers.”
Avoiding Pitfalls While Building Better Developers with AI
Michael reminds listeners that AI-generated code is not gospel. If you’re grabbing command-line scripts or security-related suggestions:
🔥 “Don’t blindly copy and paste. Test, research, and verify—AI is smart, but it’s not foolproof.”
Even reputable sources have typos. Think of AI as a helpful assistant—not a replacement for your own judgment.
Rob reinforces this: “You still need to understand what you’re solving. AI can help, but it can’t think for you.”
AI Tools That Help Developers Build Smarter, Not Harder
As the episode wraps, Rob and Michael commit to a unique experiment: use AI to revisit past topics from earlier seasons and see how it responds. Think of it as “season replays—with AI commentary.” The plan? Re-explore core themes and challenges, but now with AI in the conversation.
It’s a brilliant blend of retrospection and innovation—and a perfect way to highlight how Building Better Developers with AI can evolve the development journey.
Final Thoughts
Season 25 is shaping up to be equal parts enlightening and entertaining. Whether you’re testing your first prompt, integrating ChatGPT into your dev flow, or just curious about what all the buzz is about, “Building Better Developers with AI” is your safe, informative, and occasionally hilarious entry point into the world of artificial intelligence for developers.
Stay tuned, and remember: AI might be smart, but developers still rule the keyboard.
Final Thoughts
Season 25 is shaping up to be equal parts enlightening and entertaining. Whether you’re testing your first prompt, integrating ChatGPT into your dev flow, or just curious about what all the buzz is about, “Building Better Developers with AI” is your safe, informative, and occasionally hilarious entry point into the world of artificial intelligence for developers.
Stay tuned, and remember: AI might be smart, but developers still rule the keyboard.
Stay Connected: Join the Develpreneur Community
We invite you to join our community and share your coding journey with us. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting, there’s always room to learn and grow together. Contact us at [email protected] with your questions, feedback, or suggestions for future episodes. Together, let’s continue exploring the exciting world of software development.