The Better Software Conference (BSC) 2025 was a treasure trove of ideas, tools, and techniques for developers of all stripes—whether you’re into game dev, systems programming, debugging tools, or just building better software.
In this week’s Talk::Overflow #14, I’ve rounded up the standout sessions from Day 1 & Day 2 so you can catch the best insights without wading through the full conference schedule.
Day 1 Highlights
🛑 The Big OOPs: Anatomy of a Thirty-five-year Mistake – Casey Muratori
A 35-year retrospective on object-oriented programming—its origins, why inheritance hierarchies hurt, and how modern approaches like entity-component systems can produce more maintainable, efficient architectures.
Why watch: If you’ve ever questioned OOP’s design trade-offs, this will arm you with historical context and practical alternatives.
⚡ Parallelizing the Physics Engine – Dennis Gustafsson
A deep dive into multi-threading game physics engines for performance without sacrificing realism. Covers torque, aerodynamics, memory optimization, and speed vs. precision trade-offs.
Why watch: Perfect for anyone working with simulations or performance-critical code.
📐 Tools of the Trade – Bill Hall (gingerBill)
Math as a core developer skill—calculus for animation, linear algebra for AI, frame-rate-independent simulations, and why understanding hardware constraints matters.
Why watch: Expands your problem-solving toolkit beyond just programming languages.
📂 File Pilot: Inside the Engine – Vjekoslav Krajačić
How to build a lightning-fast, 2MB file explorer that indexes millions of files in seconds—covering layered architecture, arena memory management, and async ops.
Why watch: A masterclass in lean, responsive tool design.
Day 2 Highlights
🖥 Cracking the Code: Realtime Debugger Visualization Architecture – Ryan Fleury
Building debugger visualizations that handle massive datasets in real time. Includes caching, multi-context evaluation, and even rendering 3D geometry in debugging tools.
Why watch: Essential for anyone building or extending development tools.
✅ You Should Finish Your Software – Eskil Steenberg
A motivational talk on shipping software instead of endlessly iterating. Learn to break projects into reusable components and maintain stable APIs for long-term success.
Why watch: If you struggle with unfinished projects, this is your wake-up call.
🚗 Programming Vehicles in Games – Wassim Alhajomar (Wassimulator)
The science and art of simulating vehicles—from realistic racing to arcade fun. Covers torque, slip models, chassis dynamics, and procedural audio.
Why watch: Ideal for devs building vehicle mechanics in games.
🎯 Most of Your Projects Are Stupid. Please Make Some Actual Games. – Ted Bendixson
Stop making endless tech demos—start building games people will play. Includes tips for prototyping, polishing, and marketing on Steam.
Why watch: A reality check for game devs stuck in planning mode.
🎵 Dynamic Phase Alignment in Audio – Sander J. Skjegstad
A breakthrough in syncing multiple audio sources using dynamic time warping and FFT phase overwriting—perfect for games and film.
Why watch: Level up your audio engineering for immersive media.
💡 Why These Talks Matter
From rethinking OOP to perfecting real-time debugging, these sessions are packed with practical insights you can apply to your projects right now. Even if you’re not a game developer, you’ll find transferable lessons in performance optimization, architectural design, and product delivery.
📖 links: https://talkoverflow.substack.com/p/talkoverflow-14-highlights-from-better
What talk from BSC 2025 stood out the most to you? Drop your thoughts in the comments!
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