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Ask HN: What audio resources can improve my technical skills during my commute?

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Re: Ask HN: What audio resources can improve my technical skills during my commute?

#11

Post by 3pt14159 »

kozikow wrote: post #6

I listen to python podcasts: https://talkpython.fm/ and https://www.podcastinit.com/ . Outside of purely technical subjects, I also like "talking machines" about ML: http://www.thetalkingmachines.com/ . Maybe they won't improve your "core" skills, but it's good with keeping up to date with cool recent libraries or new language developments. I use an app on android that pre-downloads podcasts on wifi and allow me to l…

I second Talking Machines. The O'Reilly Data Show is really good too. The Threatpost Podcast isn't bad, but the episodes are kinda hit or miss. If a hack was something stupid there is only so much you can say. "Hospitals are running XP and they got hacked" isn't going to be interesting no matter what you throw at it.

Re: Ask HN: What audio resources can improve my technical skills during my commute?

#12

Post by pasbesoin »

(This may be someone OT with respect to the specific OP question/circumstance, but...)

You are probably developing to/for a domain. (Healthcare, hardware, finance, etc...)

Part of being successful is having good domain knowledge and understanding.

If the technical aspects of your work don't translate well to an audio presentation, understanding of the domain(s) you are concentrating on might.

Then, when you're doing something, or in a meeting about it, you have a better understanding of the "why". And of whether the tactics and strategy under consideration make good sense, or of how they might be improved.

This is also a means of going past "pushing buttons" to becoming responsible for design decisions and the like.

Re: Ask HN: What audio resources can improve my technical skills during my commute?

#14

Post by ifoundthetao »

pen2l wrote: post #8
kozikow wrote: post #6

I listen to python podcasts: https://talkpython.fm/ and https://www.podcastinit.com/ . Outside of purely technical subjects, I also like "talking machines" about ML: http://www.thetalkingmachines.com/ . Maybe they won't improve your "core" skills, but it's good with keeping up to date with cool recent libraries or new language developments. I use an app on android that pre-downloads podcasts on wifi and allow me to l…

The idea of technical podcasts intrigues me. But, I just clicked to see the content of 'Talk Python' podcasts, and it seems that a lot of it is meta -talk... smart people talking about the fact that they're going to teach someone, _not_ teaching the postcast-listener stuff (besides perhaps the knowledge that some X and Y module exists?). I think I'm just asking too much here... because creating instructional content…

Do it, and post here.

Re: Ask HN: What audio resources can improve my technical skills during my commute?

#16

Post by ralmeida »

jmgordon wrote: post #2

Here is a technical podcast I listen to on my commute home: https://softwareengineeringdaily.com I don't listen to every episode, however I feel it's technical breadth and depth is fairly decent.

I second the recommendation - not too deep to make your commute mentally tiring, but still useful enough that you learn new things (even as starting points). Covers a wide range of topics, from machine learning to infrastructure, which may also help you open your views.

A similar one would be: http://www.se-radio.net/

There are also some more tech-specific ones, such as Talk Python to Me, Under the Radar (iOS dev), etc.

Re: Ask HN: What audio resources can improve my technical skills during my commute?

#18

Post by etplayer »

sz4kerto wrote: post #13

Just sit. Silently. Give your brain a break -- that might be more helpful than keeping yourself busy.

To add to this, try meditation too. It can be done while sitting and with the noise around you on a train, and you don't have to look odd by closing your eyes (though you could pretend you are sleeping). However I find it is most comfortable in a private place. I usually listen to music or try to read if it does not make me nauseous, but nothing to do with my studies.
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