175 | Designing Infrastructure for Product Engineers

In this episode, James Quick and Amy Dutton chat with James Cowling, co-founder of Convex, about designing infrastructure for product engineers. James explains the innovative features of Convex, including its JavaScript-based queries and real-time data subscriptions, and compares it to Firebase. They also discuss the challenges of edge computing, the importance of user state, and the role of AI in modern development.

Show Notes

[00:00:00] - Introduction to the Episode

[00:01:00] - James Cowling’s Background and Convex Overview

• Convex

[00:01:52] - Deep Dive into Convex

[00:05:29] - User State and Application Development

[00:07:05] - Challenges of Edge Computing

[00:09:53] - Automatic Caching and Real-Time Updates

[00:13:22] - AI and Backend Integration

[00:17:01] - Leveraging AI in Applications

[00:21:11] - Convex’s Infrastructure and Technology

[00:25:28] - Comparisons with Other Platforms

[00:30:03] - Server Rendering and Data Storage

[00:33:19] - Physical Challenges in Data Centers

[00:37:04] - Cost Efficiency and Cloud Platforms

[00:40:56] - Final Thoughts on Infrastructure

[00:43:30] - Picks and Plugs Introduction

[00:44:11] - James Cowling’s Picks and Plugs

[00:45:41] - Amy Dutton’s Picks and Plugs

[00:48:28] - James Quick’s Picks and Plugs