What happens when code stops being useful and starts being art? Scott talks with artist and programmer Daniel Temkin about his new book Forty-Four Esolangs, a deep dive into the world of esoteric programming languages...systems designed not to ship software, but to provoke thought. They explore how absurdity, constraint, and humor reveal something profound about how we think in code.

This episode is sponsored by TextControl

Check out https://textcontrol.com for industry-leading document editing and PDF processing SDKs for .NET developers

Daniel Temkin and the Beauty of Esoteric Languages

What happens when code stops being useful and starts being art? Scott talks with artist and programmer Daniel Temkin about his new book Forty-Four Esolangs, a deep dive into the world of esoteric programming languages...systems designed not to ship software, but to provoke thought. They explore how absurdity, constraint, and humor reveal something profound about how we think in code.

 * https://danieltemkin.com

Scott sits down with Camille Tomlin, Head of IT at Philadelphia International Airport, to explore the intersection of aviation, technology, and leadership. They discuss how airports are transforming digitally — with IoT, data analytics, and smart infrastructure — and how Camille leads a team that bridges city government, airlines, and millions of passengers every year.

This episode is sponsored by Tuple

Check out https://tuple.app/hanselminutes for the best remote pair programming app on macOS and Windows

The Digital Runway: IT at the Philadelphia Airport with Camille Tomlin

Scott sits down with Camille Tomlin, Head of IT at Philadelphia International Airport, to explore the intersection of aviation, technology, and leadership. They discuss how airports are transforming digitally — with IoT, data analytics, and smart infrastructure — and how Camille leads a team that bridges city government, airlines, and millions of passengers every year.

In a world of Rust, Go, and Python, why does C++ still matter? Dr. Gabriel Dos Reis joins Scott to explain how C++ continues to shape everything from GPUs and browsers to AI infrastructure. They talk about performance, predictability, and the art of balancing power with safety...and how the language’s constant evolution keeps it relevant four decades in.

This episode is sponsored by Tuple and tldraw

Check out https://tuple.app/hanselminutes for the best remote pair programming app on macOS and Windows

Check out https://tldraw.dev/hanselminutes for the infinite canvas SDK built with TypeScript and React

C++ is Still Here, Still Powerful with Gabriel Dos Reis

In a world of Rust, Go, and Python, why does C++ still matter? Dr. Gabriel Dos Reis joins Scott to explain how C++ continues to shape everything from GPUs and browsers to AI infrastructure. They talk about performance, predictability, and the art of balancing power with safety...and how the language’s constant evolution keeps it relevant four decades in.

Postgres has quietly become the world’s favorite database...running startups, governments, and global clouds alike. Scott talks with Claire Giordano, long-time Postgres advocate and technologist, about the database’s unlikely rise from academic roots to modern dominance. They explore its design philosophy, the open-source community that fuels it, and why Postgres keeps winning even in the age of AI and hyperscale data.

https://www.postgresql.org/

This episode is sponsored by Tuple and Postman

Check out https://tuple.app/hanselminutes for the best remote pair programming app on macOS and Windows

Check out https://postman.com/hanselminutes for powerful API development and testing

Why Postgres? and why now? with Claire Giordano

Postgres has quietly become the world’s favorite database...running startups, governments, and global clouds alike. Scott talks with Claire Giordano, long-time Postgres advocate and technologist, about the database’s unlikely rise from academic roots to modern dominance. They explore its design philosophy, the open-source community that fuels it, and why Postgres keeps winning even in the age of AI and hyperscale data.

 * https://www.postgresql.org/

Scott talks with Stephen Jones of the new Interim Computing Museum, about the craft of bringing old computers back to life. From wire-wrapped boards to tape drives and terminals, this episode dives into why running the old systems — not just displaying them — matters for understanding how modern computing came to be.    

Support, Visit, and Donate to the ICM at http://icm.museum

This episode is sponsored by TextControl and CodeRabbit

Check out https://textcontrol.com for industry-leading document editing and PDF processing SDKs for .NET developers

For effortless AI code reviews, go to https://coderabbit.ai

The Past Still Boots with the Interim Computing Museum's Stephen Jones

Scott talks with Stephen Jones of the new Interim Computing Museum, about the craft of bringing old computers back to life. From wire-wrapped boards to tape drives and terminals, this episode dives into why running the old systems — not just displaying them — matters for understanding how modern computing came to be.

 * Support, Visit, and Donate to the ICM at http://icm.museum 

Hanselminutes is Fresh Air for Developers. A weekly commute-time podcast that promotes fresh technology and fresh voices. Talk and Tech for Developers, Life-long Learners, and Technologists.

Hanselminutes with Scott Hanselman