The blog · since 2015

Insights for founders,
CTOs & investors.

Essays, playbooks and field notes from our CTOs, architects and leads. Written for people shipping real product.

Latest posts

Engineering

Branded types in TypeScript: when string just isn’t enough

Discover how branded types can improve your TypeScript code quality, make your intent clearer, and catch bugs before they even compile.

Engineering

🌶️ Why Native PHP shouldn’t exist

Building desktop apps with NativePHP misuses Laravel’s core strengths, creating potential security risks and practical limitations.

Leadership

Why involving engineers in product meetings saves time and money

Involving engineers in product specification meetings reduces costly iterations and accelerates feature launches for SaaS startups.

Engineering

🌶️ SaaS startups should never use microservices. Like, never-ever.

Many SaaS startups over-engineer their architecture with microservices. Here's why that's usually a costly mistake—and what to do instead.

Due diligence

Should we really ship fast and break things?

Should startups test everything before shipping? We break down how to balance testing with product velocity—and why 100% coverage is often the wrong goal.

AI

Vibe coding and the junior developer dilemma

AI tools are transforming how we code, but they're not replacing the experience needed to build real software. Let’s talk about what vibe coding gets right—and what it gets very wrong.

madewithlove

So you messed up

Everyone breaks production eventually. This guide walks through how to take responsibility, communicate with your team, and make real improvements after something goes wrong. A must-watch for engineering managers and developers.

CTO

When don't you need a fractional CTO

Does every startup need an interim CTO? Fractional CTOs can accelerate growth and solve complex challenges—when brought in at the right time. Learn when it’s too early, too risky, or simply not the right fit for your business.

AI

AI overdose: When developers stop thinking and start prompting

AI tools are reshaping how junior engineers approach problems, often replacing simple solutions with overly complex ones. Here’s why foundational thinking still matters. A real-life case of AI over-engineering gone wrong highlights why understanding problem domains still beats prompting.

madewithlove

Eliminating SPOFs: the importance of documentation

Single points of failure (SPOF) in startups lead to lost revenue, delays, and investor concerns. Building a documentation culture early reduces risk and ensures scalability.

Leadership

These small dopamine hits

Some tasks are a slow grind, like simmering a big meal that takes hours to come together. Others are quick and satisfying—tiny fixes that deliver an instant hit of progress, like a little dopamine boost to keep you going.

Engineering

Why engineers need a voice in the roadmap

A great product roadmap balances business goals with technical sustainability. Ignoring engineering input leads to technical debt and bottlenecks that slow growth. In this video, we discuss how SaaS teams can integrate engineering priorities into the roadmap for long-term success.

Leadership

Why you shouldn't let customers pay for features

Selling bespoke features to customers might seem profitable, but it changes your SaaS business model. Instead of a scalable product, you become a service provider, stuck maintaining one-off features. Learn why this approach is risky and how to build for long-term success.

AI

Tech stack decisions for AI startups: what you need to know

Selecting the right tech stack is critical for AI startups. Python is essential for data science, but the backend, frontend, and infrastructure choices determine scalability and efficiency. Explore the best tech stack combinations, hosting tools, and ETL solutions to future-proof your AI startup.

madewithlove

The hidden cost of API migrations

Forced API migrations without a rollback plan? That’s how businesses lose trust—and money.

AI & agentic tooling

AI-first engineering

We use AI and agentic workflows daily. From coding agents to AI strategy, we help teams adopt what actually works.

Read our AI insights

Engineering leadership

CTO Insights

We <3 sharing content for CTOs, senior engineers and founders with real-world insights.

40+ expert authors

For investors & VCs

Due diligence done right

Technical audits, codebase assessments, and risk analysis for portfolio managers making investment decisions.

Explore our investor content
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