In this Leanpub Podcast episode, Len Epp interviews Jonathan B. Crossland, author of The Software Developer’s Handbook: Volume 1. Jonathan shares his unconventional path from performing arts into software development, and the inspiration behind his values-based engineering framework, Ammerse. They dive into how personal values, like creativity and autonomy, influence great software development, and how developers can grow by embracing uncertainty and learning from mistakes. Jonathan also discusses the importance of writing, and how Leanpub empowers authors without gatekeepers. This episode blends practical advice, philosophical insight, and reflections on both career decisions and becoming a professional programmer, making it essential listening for anyone passionate about software craftsmanship and lifelong learning. This interview was recorded on May 28, 2025. The full audio for the interview is here: https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/leanpub_podcasts/FM315-Jonathan-Crossland-2025-05-28.mp3. The podcast is available on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/leanpub, in Apple Podcasts here https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/frontmatter/id517117137, and almost everywhere else people listen to podcasts.