# 78: Happy Cows (Repeat)

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2017-07-13
- Length: 1h 07m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-07-13-78-happy-cows-repeat
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/78-happy-cows-repeat

## Summary

Chris Svec, a senior principal software engineer at iRobot, discusses his concept of 'empathy-driven development,' arguing that software engineers should write code with empathy for future maintainers, new hires, and their own future selves. He connects this mindset to combating imposter syndrome and overcoming the 'lone hacker' culture prevalent in engineering education and industry. Svec also shares insights from his work on the Next Generation Roomba and recommends books like 'Thinking, Fast and Slow' and 'Make It Stick' to understand cognitive psychology in learning and communication.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-07-13-78-happy-cows-repeat#t=6) Introduction and Guest Background
- [3:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-07-13-78-happy-cows-repeat#t=204) Defining Empathy-Driven Development
- [8:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-07-13-78-happy-cows-repeat#t=502) The Lone Hacker Myth and Engineering Education
- [15:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-07-13-78-happy-cows-repeat#t=951) Imposter Syndrome and Team Dynamics
- [21:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-07-13-78-happy-cows-repeat#t=1267) Tactical Application and Business Trade-offs
- [36:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-07-13-78-happy-cows-repeat#t=2206) The 6 R's and Code as Fiction
- [52:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-07-13-78-happy-cows-repeat#t=3173) Cognitive Psychology and Learning Resources
- [59:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-07-13-78-happy-cows-repeat#t=3557) Podcast Audience and iRobot Hiring

## Topics

- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- iRobot (company)
- Roomba (product)
- Intel (company)
- AMD (company)
- Thinking, Fast and Slow (other)
- Make It Stick (other)
- Head First (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Christmas Special](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2021-12-22-christmas-special) (The Pragmatic Embedded Podcast)
- [Pedantic or Andrantic](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-01-03-pedantic-or-andrantic) (The Amp Hour)
- [S2E50 Soft Skills, Stinky Feet, and Being An Ambivert | Dave Smith](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-11-26-s2e50-soft-skills-stinky-feet-and-being-an-ambivert-dave-smith) (Being an Engineer)
- [S2E03 Engineering Empathy, Identifying Needs, & Developing Strong Work Ethic | Blayne Roeder](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-01-22-s2e03-engineering-empathy-identifying-needs-developing-strong-work-ethic-blayne) (Being an Engineer)
- [Erin Thorp | How to Lead Your Engineering Team with Empathy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-01-06-erin-thorp-how-to-lead-your-engineering-team-with-empathy) (Being an Engineer)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-07-13-78-happy-cows-repeat. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Embedded.fm.