Things I Believe

Build things people need

• Start with the problem
• Keep the first version simple
• Talk to users
• Don't build just because you can
• Good products solve real problems
• Make it useful before making it beautiful

Ship, then improve

• Don't wait for perfect
• Small steps are easier to fix
• Real users teach you more
• Feedback is part of the process
• Ship early, learn fast
• Keep making it better

Code is a tool

• Good code should make life easier
• Keep things simple
• Don't over-engineer
• Read the code you write
• Fix problems before they grow
• Take ownership of what you ship

Design matters

• Details matter
• Good design feels simple
• Less is often more
• Every screen should have a reason
• Don't make users think too much
• Make technology feel natural

Take ownership

• Don't wait to be told what to do
• If you see a problem, solve it
• Take responsibility for the result
• Do the hard part yourself
• Help the team move forward
• Titles don't make you a leader

Keep learning

• Technology changes fast
• Stay curious
• Learn by building
• Read things outside your field
• Ask questions
• Change your mind when you're wrong

Keep it simple

• Complexity is easy to add
• Removing things is harder
• Simple products are usually harder to build
• Fewer good features beat many average ones
• Make the complicated parts invisible

Build from scratch

• Start before you're ready
• You don't need permission to build
• Small ideas can become big products
• Learn by doing
• Make something you would use yourself