Welcome to The Steady Beat, a weekly-ish round-up of hand-picked articles and resources for people who make software products: designers, engineers, product managers, and organizational leaders.
By the Numbers - Summer Break
- 42% — The percentage of Americans who don’t take a summer vacation, according to a survey by the US Travel Association. In contrast, many European countries mandate a minimum number of paid vacation days, with some requiring as many as 30 days off per year.
- 10 — The average number of paid vacation days taken by Americans, compared to 20-30 days in many European countries, including Germany, France, and Italy.
- $1,200 — The average amount spent by Americans on summer vacations, with 62% of travelers saying they plan to take a road trip, according to a survey by the American Automobile Association.
- 4 weeks — The length of the mandatory summer vacation in France, known as “les vacances d’ete”, where many businesses and schools close for the entire month of August.
- 76% — The percentage of Europeans who take a summer vacation, with 44% saying they prefer to stay within their own country, according to a survey by the European Travel Commission.
“AI” at Work: The Skeptic’s Productivity Boost
In a world where AI gets both hype and hate, one programmer/research scientist shares a grounded perspective: AI’s practical, not futuristic, utility. Over the past year, he’s spent countless hours with LLMs, finding them invaluable for learning new tech, automating mundane tasks, and simplifying complex code. Far from replacing programmers, these models act as tutors and assistants, cutting his coding time by 50%. His takeaway? Evaluate what LLMs can do for you today, rather than dismissing them for what they can’t.
Nicholas Carlini, 19m, #development #engineering #ai
Warhol’s Digital Resurrection
Andy Warhol’s lost digital art, created on a Commodore Amiga 1000 in 1985, has resurfaced after 39 years. Discovered by Jeff Bruette, a former Commodore engineer who taught Warhol to use the computer, the art includes a self-portrait and a portrait of Debbie Harry. Despite Warhol’s struggles with the technology, his innovative use of color and digital tools still shines through. This rediscovered work offers a unique glimpse into the early days of digital art and Warhol’s creative process, blending the avant-garde with the nascent digital age.
The Silicon Underground, 5m #design #development
Fixing Machines, Fixing Customers
In the 1980s, Xerox technicians battled complex machines and misaligned corporate expectations, much like today’s product managers navigating user needs and organizational goals. Julian Orr’s ethnographic study unveiled how technicians relied on peer discussions and “war stories” to solve problems, akin to user research sessions and product team retrospectives. These interactions, undervalued by management, were crucial for effective maintenance. Orr’s findings inspired the Eureka project, a knowledge-sharing system that thrived despite resistance, demonstrating the power of frontline insights. There’s a timeless lesson for product managers here: prioritize qualitative user research and team collaboration to solve customer problems.
Books in Progress, 12m, #productmanagement #research #design
Progress, Not Perfection
Perfectionism might sound noble, but it’s a productivity killer in the engineering world. Gregor Ojstersek and Jordan Cutler spill the beans on their own perfectionist pitfalls. Jordan, once a PR machine at Pinterest, realized he was polishing code that didn’t need it, wasting precious time. Now, he focuses on impactful work, shipping just three PRs a week. Gregor, who once obsessed over pixel-perfect designs and flawless code, learned that progress trumps perfection. Both share tips to curb perfectionism: prioritize, ship early, and seek feedback.
Engineering Leadership, 7m, #engineering #leadership #development #management
Have you tried Steady? It’s an AI-powered coordination layer that eliminates 83% of meetings for software teams.
Steady runs in the background, distilling plans and progress from tools, teams, & people into tailored summaries, giving everyone the clarity they need to build outstanding products together. With Steady, everyone has continuous context at their fingertips, eliminating the need for burdensome shoulder taps, interruptions, and endless meetings.
Learn more at steady.space.
