Build a successful dev career with curiosity, community, and consistent practice

Brandon Mathis shares career advice, AI tools, and the future of JavaScript.

Brandon Mathis, Engineering Lead at This Dot Labs, sat down with the All Things Open team to share grounded and practical advice for developers at any stage. His top career tip? Focus on the problems you want to solve—whether it’s web development or data—then pick the languages that fit. Personal projects and curiosity were key to how he learned to code.

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Brandon emphasizes the value of local tech communities. Meetups, like Triangle Devs and All Things Open in the Research Triangle region of NC, helped him build real connections—often leading to job opportunities. He also recommends checking out community college courses for more structured learning and tapping into YouTube for ongoing skill development.

For daily practice, Brandon uses exercism.io, a platform offering coding exercises with peer feedback. He pairs this with YouTube tutorials to stay current, showing that continuous learning doesn’t have to be rigid or time-consuming.

On the AI front, Brandon uses GitHub Copilot to streamline tasks like writing React code and overcoming blank-slate syndrome. He also leans on ChatGPT to troubleshoot problems before pulling in a teammate. For developers exploring AI, he recommends starting with OpenAI’s platform, which makes it easier to experiment without diving deep into complex APIs.

Read more: How I use AI agents to automate my workflow and save hours

Key takeaways

• Start with the problem, not the language – Choose tools based on the problems you want to solve, and build real projects to sharpen your skills.
• Meetups matter – Networking through local tech events can lead to job opportunities and career growth you can’t get from online applications alone.
• Use the tools at your fingertips – Resources like GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, exercism.io, and OpenAI’s platform can accelerate your workflow and learning.

Conclusion

Brandon’s story is a reminder that successful developer careers are built on curiosity, community, and consistent practice. From local meetups to AI-driven tools, he shares a clear roadmap for leveling up—whether you’re just getting started or deep into your journey. His practical insights and approachable style make this a valuable conversation for anyone serious about building with code today.

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