Inside the Maker Mindset with Roboticist Aaed Musa

In this episode of Hanselminutes, Scott sits down with Noel Berry, co-creator of Celeste, to explore his philosophy and process for making games in 2025, without relying on big commercial engines. Noel shares why he prefers building lightweight, custom tools over heavyweight platforms like Unity or Unreal, how modern C#, SDL3, and open‑source libraries empower small teams, and the creative freedom that comes from owning every layer of the stack. From crafting bespoke level editors to ensuring long‑term portability, Noel offers a candid look at the technical choices and personal values shaping his latest projects, including City of None.https://noelberry.ca/posts/making_games_in_2025/

This week Scott welcomes Tyler Bushnell, founder of Polycade, to talk about reimagining the arcade experience for modern homes. Drawing on his family's Atari legacy, Tyler shares how Polycade blends retro charm with sleek design and modern game libraries—all while encouraging face-to-face connection. From Kickstarter roots to Techstars growth, we explore how Polycade became a favorite among creators and why the future of gaming might look more social than ever!https://www.polycade.com

Today we chat with Dr. Morgan Depenbusch and dive into the mindset shift that can transform your career and relationships at work. Instead of pushing harder to be heard or constantly proving yourself, what if the key is simply leading with value? Dr. Depenbusch and Scott unpack what “value” really looks like in practice—whether it’s helping teammates cut through noise, reframing presentations for executives, or positioning yourself in interviews. You’ll hear why this approach earns trust, reduces stress, and creates more opportunities than self-promotion ever couldhttps://www.morgandepenbusch.com/

In this episode, Scott sits down with Bria Sullivan, developer and founder of Honey B Games, to unpack the viral success of Focus Friend—the cozy productivity app that dethroned ChatGPT at the top of the App Store. Co-created with Hank Green, Focus Friend gamifies focus with a sock-knitting bean companion, offering users a whimsical yet effective way to reclaim their attention. Bria shares the app’s origin story, the design philosophy behind its ADHD-friendly features, and how iteration and storytelling shaped its meteoric rise. It’s a conversation about building with empathy, designing for delight, and what it means to make tech that gives people their time back.https://www.yourfocusfriend.com/

From wrist‑mounted CD launchers to rope‑driven quadrupeds, Purdue engineering student and YouTuber Aaed Musa turns wild ideas into precision‑crafted reality. On Hanselminutes, he joins Scott Hanselman to share the art, grit, and storytelling behind his most ambitious projects — and why iteration is his superpower.https://www.aaedmusa.com/

Steve Klabnik wasn't a fan of AI. He knows how to code at high and low levels...but then he tried again. Now he's making more, shipping more, coding more, and having more fun. Is this a moral choice or a techincal one or both? 

In this episode, Scott Hanselman sits down with benny Vasquez, Chair of the AlmaLinux OS Foundation, to explore the project's journey since the shift away from CentOS. benny shares insights into how AlmaLinux stays community-driven, transparent, and enterprise-ready—all while navigating the evolving world of open-source licensing. It's a candid and thoughtful conversation about trust, sustainability, and what it takes to build an OS that listens to its users.https://www.almalinux.orgKey TopicsIntroduction to benny Vasquez and AlmaLinux (00:07.87)The Evolution of CentOS and Birth of AlmaLinux (01:00.03)The Role of CentOS Stream and Enterprise Linux Ecosystem (03:27.08)Why AlmaLinux Stepped In and the Red Hat Source Code Shift (05:19.77)Differences Between AlmaLinux and Red Hat (08:33.74)Open Source Governance and Neutrality in AlmaLinux (14:05.99)Sustainability and Longevity of the AlmaLinux Project (24:07.31)Adopting AlmaLinux for VFX and Desktop Use (26:37.99)The Importance of Hardware Support and Adaptability (28:14.02)Upcoming Events: AlmaLinux Day Vancouver (33:48.05) Main TakeawaysCommunity-Driven Replacement for CentOS: AlmaLinux emerged as a community-driven distro to fill the gap left by CentOS after Red Hat's change in focus, ensuring enterprise-grade Linux remains accessible.Open and Neutral Governance: AlmaLinux prioritizes a meritocratic and community-focused governance structure to maintain independence and serve diverse user needs.Adaptability and Innovation: By addressing omitted features and bugs faster than traditional vendors, AlmaLinux thrives as a flexible solution for enterprises and personal use, offering extended hardware support.Commitment to Longevity and Sustainability: The AlmaLinux OS Foundation is focused on creating a project that outlasts its current contributors by setting up governance for long-term stability.Embracing Enterprise and Desktop Markets: Though AlmaLinux is enterprise-focused, it demonstrates significant adoption in both server and desktop environments, especially in industries like VFX. Notable Quotes"AlmaLinux emerged to fill a void, ensuring enterprise-grade Linux users didn’t lose their stability and compatibility." – benny Vasquez"The key for us is not just building compatibility with Red Hat but allowing for innovation and hardware support that suits the community’s needs." – benny Vasquez"We have to maintain neutrality in our governance so that no one organization can unduly influence AlmaLinux." – benny Vasquez"Making it independent in a way that it will outlast me and all of the current contributors is the ultimate success for me." – benny Vasquez"Linux is known for not leaving folks behind, and that’s an ethos we adhere to with AlmaLinux." – benny VasquezResources MentionedAlmaLinux.org: https://almalinux.org (Download and contribute to the project)AlmaLinux Day Vancouver (August 9th): https://almalinux.org/blog/SIGGRAPH Conference: https://s2023.siggraph.org/Additional MentionsFedora ProjectWSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux)Azure and AWS sponsorshipsThinkPads and Linux Distros for older hardwareThese show notes were automatically generated from the podcast transcript.

In this episode of Hanselminutes, Scott Hanselman chats with Brenda Darden Wilkerson, the President and CEO of AnitaB.org, about her journey in technology and advocacy for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the tech industry. Brenda shares her inspiring story of entering computer science by accident, overcoming societal perceptions, and her impactful work advancing tech education in Chicago Public Schools. Together, Scott and Brenda explore pivotal topics such as access to technology, unconscious bias, the transformative power of exposure, and the role of AI in the modern era. They also discuss the significance of the Grace Hopper Celebration and its global influence on women technologists.Key Topics with TimestampsBrenda’s Journey into Tech (00:49)How Brenda accidentally discovered computer science and the systemic barriers she overcame.Access, Exposure, and Opportunity (02:55)The impact of access and exposure in shaping careers and creating pathways for innovation.Breaking Gender Norms in STEM (06:40)The historical assumptions around computers being "for boys" and dispelling these myths.The Role of Luck and Preparedness (08:19)How preparedness and access create opportunities for success in technology.AI’s Impact on Creativity and Knowledge (10:35)Brenda’s perspective on AI as a tool, not a replacement for human ingenuity.Diversity in Tech and Creating Curricula (14:11)Encouraging creativity, diverse backgrounds, and inclusive thinking in tech education.The Ripple Effect of Representation (19:29)Representation’s impact on individuals and their broader communities.Grace Hopper Celebration: Breaking Myths and Building Networks (21:33)How the conference fosters inclusivity and dispels misconceptions in tech spaces.Community and Collaboration Beyond Events (28:03)The power of year-round networks and online platforms for fostering innovation and connection.Main TakeawaysAccess and exposure are key catalysts for innovation. Brenda’s journey highlights how transformative opportunities spark enduring passion and remarkable careers.Representation dispels myths. The Grace Hopper Celebration is a powerful example of visibility's impact on inspiring and sustaining individuals in tech.Diverse perspectives lead to impactful solutions. We need cross-disciplinary individuals who bring unique expertise and creativity to solve complex problems.AI should complement human creativity, not replace it. Maintaining foundational knowledge and critical thinking is essential in the age of AI.Building inclusive systems helps everyone succeed. Systemic change, such as inclusive curricula and diverse pipelines, is essential for sustainable equity in tech.Notable Quotes“The assumption was that computers were for boys. That creates the myths we have to dispel.” – Brenda Darden Wilkerson“Luck is being prepared plus opportunity. How can we create luck for others?” – Scott Hanselman“If you don’t take time to research reality, you perpetuate the images presented to you.” – Brenda Darden Wilkerson“The highest and best use of tech is at service of people.” – Brenda Darden Wilkerson“More than one thing can be true at the same time.” – Brenda Darden WilkersonResources MentionedAnitaB.org (Organization advancing women in tech): AnitaB.orgGrace Hopper Celebration (Women in tech conference): GHC.AnitaB.orgTED Talk: Sir Ken Robinson – Do Schools Kill Creativity?Grace Hopper Celebration Dates:November 4-7: Chicago, U.S.December 2-4: Bangalore, IndiaCall to ActionInterested in advancing diversity in tech or making connections with like-minded individuals?Join the AnitaB.org membership community for discussions, resources, and collaboration opportunities.Check out the upcoming Grace Hopper Celebration in person or engage with their network online.These show notes were automatically generated based on the podcast transcript.

In this episode of Hanselminutes, Scott Hanselman talks with Randall Hyde, renowned for his expertise in programming and assembly language. Known as the creator of the Lisa Assembler and the author of The Art of Assembly Language and Write Great Code series, Randall shares his journey from developing in assembler for early computing systems to working on modern nuclear reactor control systems. He discusses the evolution of software development, the value of assembly language in today's programming landscape, teaching methodologies, and the balance between low-level understanding and high-level productivity.Key TopicsRandall Hyde's Academic and Professional Background (00:02.72)Assembly Language Beginnings with the Lisa Assembler (00:33.45)The Evolution of Randall's Work from Games to Nuclear Engineering (04:54.99)The Importance of Understanding Low-Level Machine Behavior (06:46.75)How Assembly Language Has Evolved and Its Modern Relevance (16:11.62)HLA (High-Level Assembler) as a Teaching Tool (20:20.46)The Rise of ARM Architectures and Changing Processor Technology (29:24.59)The Need for Efficient Code in the Multi-Core Era (33:31.42)Main TakeawaysLow-Level Understanding is Foundational: Randall emphasizes that understanding machine organization and low-level behavior is essential to writing better high-level code.Practical vs. Academic Learning: College enforces learning through structure, but much of coding excellence comes from individual, rigorous practice in understanding how systems work under the hood.Evolving Utility of Assembly Language: While assembly language isn’t a daily tool for most programmers, knowing it provides critical insights into low-level optimizations essential for performance-critical applications.Shift in Performance Gains: Modern compilers and multi-core systems have reduced the performance advantages of assembly, yet efficient code writing remains vital as architecture advances slow down.Accessible Education: Randall’s approach – from pioneering HLA as a bridge to assembly to his comprehensive Write Great Code series – has focused on making low-level concepts easier for new learners to grasp.Resources MentionedThe Art of Assembly Language by Randall HydeWrite Great Code Series (Volumes 1-4) by Randall HydeVolume 2: Thinking Low-Level, Writing High-LevelRANDALLHYDE.COM: Hyde's website for books, support materials, and resourcesNo Starch Press (Publisher): NoStarch.comFollow along for more insights, tips, and conversations with industry leaders. These show notes summarize key moments in the podcast for easy reference and understanding - these show notes were generated by a custom gpt-4o-nano model trained in previous episodes of Hanselminutes

In this episode of Hanselminutes, Scott Hanselman chats with Roderick Rabah, Head of Product at Postman Flows, about the evolution of software development, the intersection of APIs and AI, and finding the "right layer of abstraction" for problem-solving. Drawing on his deep expertise in compiler optimization, distributed systems, and serverless computing, Rabah shares his perspectives on building tools that empower developers to create efficiently and explores the paradigm shift toward visual programming and AI-driven automation.The conversation dives into how Postman is innovating in the software space, how approaches to software engineering are transforming with generative AI, and why embracing new ways of working is critical for staying ahead in this rapidly evolving technological landscape.  Key Topics[01:08] Introduction of Roderick Rabah: From research scientist to API innovator[02:14] Evolution of software development: From FPGAs to serverless computing[03:23] APIs and AI: The transformative intersection powering workflows[05:33] The rise of tool-calling and agents: Simplifying backend tasks[07:33] Managing complexity: Why structured APIs make integration seamless[12:08] Visual programming languages: The paradigm shift for developers[16:42] Postman Flows: Building applications through visual workflows[20:24] Embracing generative AI: How senior and junior engineers benefit[29:02] Deploying with WebAssembly: Making cloud integration accessible[30:33] Reflections on the future of technology and its impact on software careersMain TakeawaysAPI + AI Integration: APIs combined with large language models are unlocking new capabilities for software development by abstracting complex operations and enabling automation.Visual Programming Paradigm Shift: Applications are increasingly built using visual workflows where developers focus on intent rather than low-level code implementation, driving efficiency and accessibility.Generative AI Empowerment: Generative AI tools are accelerating the pace of innovation, empowering engineers to fix bugs, streamline workflows, and manage edge cases efficiently.Structured APIs Critical for AI: Thoughtfully designed APIs with proper documentation and safeguards are essential to ensure that autonomous AI agents interact correctly and securely.Accessible Deployment: New runtime frameworks, like serverless with WebAssembly, make it easier for developers to deploy applications across the cloud, enabling broader adoption of AI-driven solutions.Notable Quotes"Serverless is where you think about servers less." – Scott Hanselman"At what point does communicating your intent to AI become programming again?" – Roderick Rabah"Visual programming resonates with builders because it matches the mental model of decomposing problems." – Roderick Rabah"Technology transforms rapidly. You have to figure out how to wield this immense power." – Roderick Rabah"Don’t throw away your critical thinking just because AI makes building faster." – Roderick RabahResources MentionedPostman Flows – Tools for visual programming and API integrations: postman.comReplit – Generative coding platform for automating development tasks: replit.comWebAssembly – Runtime framework for deploying serverless applications: webassembly.orgBooks on Compiler Theory: Suggested resource for expanding understanding of abstractionsFollow along for more insights, tips, and conversations with industry leaders. These show notes summarize key moments in the podcast for easy reference and understanding - these show notes were generated by a custom gpt-4o-nano model trained in previous episodes of Hanselminutes