Gergely Orosz
@gergely.pragmaticengineer.com
Writing The Pragmatic Engineer (@pragmaticengineer.com), the #1 technology newsletter on Substack. Author of The Software Engineer's Guidebook (engguidebook.com). Formerly at Uber, Skype, Skyscanner. More at pragmaticengineer.com
don't get me wrong, this was not denying there are predatory practices in that industry!
It was amusing to learn how someone tried to make up fake evidence to get this specific fake story into more reputable publications...
It was amusing to learn how someone tried to make up fake evidence to get this specific fake story into more reputable publications...
January 15, 2026 at 11:55 AM
don't get me wrong, this was not denying there are predatory practices in that industry!
It was amusing to learn how someone tried to make up fake evidence to get this specific fake story into more reputable publications...
It was amusing to learn how someone tried to make up fake evidence to get this specific fake story into more reputable publications...
Ah confused 1997 with 2007 lol!!
January 14, 2026 at 8:54 PM
Ah confused 1997 with 2007 lol!!
it will probably be the 2008 equivalent of "can you help me finish this webpage I started in Frontpage for my small business that doesn't work and I'm stuck" yes
it was good money during university this kind of stuff for me
it was good money during university this kind of stuff for me
January 14, 2026 at 7:55 PM
it will probably be the 2008 equivalent of "can you help me finish this webpage I started in Frontpage for my small business that doesn't work and I'm stuck" yes
it was good money during university this kind of stuff for me
it was good money during university this kind of stuff for me
never used Gemini, don't know
January 14, 2026 at 7:55 PM
never used Gemini, don't know
The complexity is not going away from building software - though it is more accessible for anyone to eg create a pull request.
If you are a software engineer, you can probably run laps around any non-dev in the complexity of apps to build without it falling over (and with it working)
If you are a software engineer, you can probably run laps around any non-dev in the complexity of apps to build without it falling over (and with it working)
January 14, 2026 at 7:48 PM
The complexity is not going away from building software - though it is more accessible for anyone to eg create a pull request.
If you are a software engineer, you can probably run laps around any non-dev in the complexity of apps to build without it falling over (and with it working)
If you are a software engineer, you can probably run laps around any non-dev in the complexity of apps to build without it falling over (and with it working)
... well, Frontpage made every dev "redundant" in companies that bought Frontpage, and were happy with producing webpages Frontpage could produce (static ones).
And maintain it.
And extend it.
And... it was a friggin' nightmare!!
So they hired back web devs to do it (with or w/o Frontpage)
And maintain it.
And extend it.
And... it was a friggin' nightmare!!
So they hired back web devs to do it (with or w/o Frontpage)
January 14, 2026 at 7:48 PM
... well, Frontpage made every dev "redundant" in companies that bought Frontpage, and were happy with producing webpages Frontpage could produce (static ones).
And maintain it.
And extend it.
And... it was a friggin' nightmare!!
So they hired back web devs to do it (with or w/o Frontpage)
And maintain it.
And extend it.
And... it was a friggin' nightmare!!
So they hired back web devs to do it (with or w/o Frontpage)
The more I use these agents (that now do write code that is pretty good, but ofc I need to verify and keep them in check), the more I feel we're going to see the "Microsoft Frontpage" moment in tech:
Frontpage DID make every and all web devs redundant from 2007. As we all know.
Frontpage DID make every and all web devs redundant from 2007. As we all know.
January 14, 2026 at 7:48 PM
The more I use these agents (that now do write code that is pretty good, but ofc I need to verify and keep them in check), the more I feel we're going to see the "Microsoft Frontpage" moment in tech:
Frontpage DID make every and all web devs redundant from 2007. As we all know.
Frontpage DID make every and all web devs redundant from 2007. As we all know.
No - it’s all about the in-person aspect. It’s also why tickets cannot be purchased, but we select attendees (to ensure senior+ folks from interesting places.)
There will be videos for newsletter subscribers later. But my goal is to make that in-person day very special.
There will be videos for newsletter subscribers later. But my goal is to make that in-person day very special.
January 14, 2026 at 4:13 PM
No - it’s all about the in-person aspect. It’s also why tickets cannot be purchased, but we select attendees (to ensure senior+ folks from interesting places.)
There will be videos for newsletter subscribers later. But my goal is to make that in-person day very special.
There will be videos for newsletter subscribers later. But my goal is to make that in-person day very special.
See the full agenda and apply here, while seats are left: pragmaticsummit.com
I'm beyond impressed how this event is turning out to be - what a special crowd this will be (not just speakers, but attendees as well!)
I'm beyond impressed how this event is turning out to be - what a special crowd this will be (not just speakers, but attendees as well!)
The Pragmatic Summit
A one-day summit hosted by Gergely Orosz and The Pragmatic Engineer.
pragmaticsummit.com
January 14, 2026 at 3:28 PM
See the full agenda and apply here, while seats are left: pragmaticsummit.com
I'm beyond impressed how this event is turning out to be - what a special crowd this will be (not just speakers, but attendees as well!)
I'm beyond impressed how this event is turning out to be - what a special crowd this will be (not just speakers, but attendees as well!)
The Pragmatic Summit:
A one-of-a-kind event where you'll hear from (and get to meet) standout folks who have been on The Pragmatic Engineer Podcast, teams who were in The Pragmatic Engineer deepdives - all of them building cutting-edge software, or researching how best to do so.
A one-of-a-kind event where you'll hear from (and get to meet) standout folks who have been on The Pragmatic Engineer Podcast, teams who were in The Pragmatic Engineer deepdives - all of them building cutting-edge software, or researching how best to do so.
January 14, 2026 at 3:27 PM
The Pragmatic Summit:
A one-of-a-kind event where you'll hear from (and get to meet) standout folks who have been on The Pragmatic Engineer Podcast, teams who were in The Pragmatic Engineer deepdives - all of them building cutting-edge software, or researching how best to do so.
A one-of-a-kind event where you'll hear from (and get to meet) standout folks who have been on The Pragmatic Engineer Podcast, teams who were in The Pragmatic Engineer deepdives - all of them building cutting-edge software, or researching how best to do so.
you shouldn't have deleted them - sounds like you added your ideas, which is how new and better ideas are created?
My problem is zero anything added...
(I take inspiration from lots of places - whenever I know I do, I just mention that's it)
My problem is zero anything added...
(I take inspiration from lots of places - whenever I know I do, I just mention that's it)
January 13, 2026 at 12:43 AM
you shouldn't have deleted them - sounds like you added your ideas, which is how new and better ideas are created?
My problem is zero anything added...
(I take inspiration from lots of places - whenever I know I do, I just mention that's it)
My problem is zero anything added...
(I take inspiration from lots of places - whenever I know I do, I just mention that's it)
definitely not. my disappointment is on the no original thoughts part - not making even the slightest effort to add something.
I don't know this person - they can remove and then the links go to dead pages, and all sorted.
and hopefully a lesson. At least prompt with an original idea lol
I don't know this person - they can remove and then the links go to dead pages, and all sorted.
and hopefully a lesson. At least prompt with an original idea lol
January 12, 2026 at 10:42 PM
definitely not. my disappointment is on the no original thoughts part - not making even the slightest effort to add something.
I don't know this person - they can remove and then the links go to dead pages, and all sorted.
and hopefully a lesson. At least prompt with an original idea lol
I don't know this person - they can remove and then the links go to dead pages, and all sorted.
and hopefully a lesson. At least prompt with an original idea lol
did not want to name when I thought it was one post. The whole blog is rewrites of mine, yeah
bsky.app/profile/gerg...
bsky.app/profile/gerg...
January 12, 2026 at 10:00 PM
did not want to name when I thought it was one post. The whole blog is rewrites of mine, yeah
bsky.app/profile/gerg...
bsky.app/profile/gerg...
The wild part is especially about this Head of Engineering
Why would anyone publish ZERO original thoughts? Not even a hint of their own addition to the topic
Sadly, the internet is becoming a lot of this by the way. Rehashing the existing with LLMs
Why would anyone publish ZERO original thoughts? Not even a hint of their own addition to the topic
Sadly, the internet is becoming a lot of this by the way. Rehashing the existing with LLMs
January 12, 2026 at 9:20 PM
The wild part is especially about this Head of Engineering
Why would anyone publish ZERO original thoughts? Not even a hint of their own addition to the topic
Sadly, the internet is becoming a lot of this by the way. Rehashing the existing with LLMs
Why would anyone publish ZERO original thoughts? Not even a hint of their own addition to the topic
Sadly, the internet is becoming a lot of this by the way. Rehashing the existing with LLMs
My original post from 2019: blog.pragmaticengineer.com/the-product-...
(Probably LLM) rewrite with the same content madmatvey.github.io/posts/produc...
Another one also "exact rewrite" (that is by a Head of Engineering, and I don't want to link - giving the option to remove my thoughts first)
(Probably LLM) rewrite with the same content madmatvey.github.io/posts/produc...
Another one also "exact rewrite" (that is by a Head of Engineering, and I don't want to link - giving the option to remove my thoughts first)
The Product-Minded Software Engineer
Product-minded engineers are developers with lots of interest in the product
itself. They want to understand why decisions are made, how people use the
product, and love to be involved in making produ...
blog.pragmaticengineer.com
January 12, 2026 at 9:18 PM
My original post from 2019: blog.pragmaticengineer.com/the-product-...
(Probably LLM) rewrite with the same content madmatvey.github.io/posts/produc...
Another one also "exact rewrite" (that is by a Head of Engineering, and I don't want to link - giving the option to remove my thoughts first)
(Probably LLM) rewrite with the same content madmatvey.github.io/posts/produc...
Another one also "exact rewrite" (that is by a Head of Engineering, and I don't want to link - giving the option to remove my thoughts first)
Pretty wild that LLMs seem to have trained on my 2019 article of "The product-minded engineer" and I now find blog posts published in 2025 that are an exact rehash of my post.
Because if you ask an LLM "write a blog about a product-minded engineer" they spit out mine!!
Because if you ask an LLM "write a blog about a product-minded engineer" they spit out mine!!
January 12, 2026 at 9:18 PM
Pretty wild that LLMs seem to have trained on my 2019 article of "The product-minded engineer" and I now find blog posts published in 2025 that are an exact rehash of my post.
Because if you ask an LLM "write a blog about a product-minded engineer" they spit out mine!!
Because if you ask an LLM "write a blog about a product-minded engineer" they spit out mine!!
Enjoy this longer expansion on all of this by me and @kentbeck.com
Except McKinsey at least came up with several (but equally BS) metrics, not just one…
newsletter.pragmaticengineer.com/p/measuring-...
Except McKinsey at least came up with several (but equally BS) metrics, not just one…
newsletter.pragmaticengineer.com/p/measuring-...
newsletter.pragmaticengineer.com
January 12, 2026 at 2:01 PM
Enjoy this longer expansion on all of this by me and @kentbeck.com
Except McKinsey at least came up with several (but equally BS) metrics, not just one…
newsletter.pragmaticengineer.com/p/measuring-...
Except McKinsey at least came up with several (but equally BS) metrics, not just one…
newsletter.pragmaticengineer.com/p/measuring-...
Ppl forget that AI doesn’t change some basics:
1. Evaluate on a single metric and engineers game it (we are smart enough)
2. Code is increasingly promoted by AI
3. The single best eng contribution can be… not shipping code!
4. A 1-character change can have massive impact
Etc etc
1. Evaluate on a single metric and engineers game it (we are smart enough)
2. Code is increasingly promoted by AI
3. The single best eng contribution can be… not shipping code!
4. A 1-character change can have massive impact
Etc etc
January 12, 2026 at 1:59 PM
Ppl forget that AI doesn’t change some basics:
1. Evaluate on a single metric and engineers game it (we are smart enough)
2. Code is increasingly promoted by AI
3. The single best eng contribution can be… not shipping code!
4. A 1-character change can have massive impact
Etc etc
1. Evaluate on a single metric and engineers game it (we are smart enough)
2. Code is increasingly promoted by AI
3. The single best eng contribution can be… not shipping code!
4. A 1-character change can have massive impact
Etc etc
From a founder: “A few months ago, I watched our sales team collect their monthly bonuses while my eng team who built the product, got nothing beyond their base comp. It pissed me off.
So I built an AI-powered platform that evaluates+scores PRs using Claude AI”
Oh no no no
So I built an AI-powered platform that evaluates+scores PRs using Claude AI”
Oh no no no
January 12, 2026 at 1:57 PM
From a founder: “A few months ago, I watched our sales team collect their monthly bonuses while my eng team who built the product, got nothing beyond their base comp. It pissed me off.
So I built an AI-powered platform that evaluates+scores PRs using Claude AI”
Oh no no no
So I built an AI-powered platform that evaluates+scores PRs using Claude AI”
Oh no no no
Not the fault of the Bluesky team - they are clearly following regulation, even if it is a nonsensible one considering nonresident travellers.
What a weird experience. And I don't like the idea of giving out IDs or personal information to third parties, at all...
What a weird experience. And I don't like the idea of giving out IDs or personal information to third parties, at all...
January 11, 2026 at 3:03 PM
Not the fault of the Bluesky team - they are clearly following regulation, even if it is a nonsensible one considering nonresident travellers.
What a weird experience. And I don't like the idea of giving out IDs or personal information to third parties, at all...
What a weird experience. And I don't like the idea of giving out IDs or personal information to third parties, at all...
Wild - I am in the UK for a short while (I don't live here) and lost access to my Bluesky messages thanks to UK regulation
I would need to give information to a third party just to see DMs
... and this is why I always have my trusty VPN subscription. Had to turn it on *just to read my messages*
I would need to give information to a third party just to see DMs
... and this is why I always have my trusty VPN subscription. Had to turn it on *just to read my messages*
January 11, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Wild - I am in the UK for a short while (I don't live here) and lost access to my Bluesky messages thanks to UK regulation
I would need to give information to a third party just to see DMs
... and this is why I always have my trusty VPN subscription. Had to turn it on *just to read my messages*
I would need to give information to a third party just to see DMs
... and this is why I always have my trusty VPN subscription. Had to turn it on *just to read my messages*
The two are independent - but in the case of British Airways, neither has been built with anyone giving a damn clearly
It's an example where it will become less and less defensible when an AI agent can one shot better implementations (for the frontend, most definitely. BE is more nuanced)
It's an example where it will become less and less defensible when an AI agent can one shot better implementations (for the frontend, most definitely. BE is more nuanced)
January 11, 2026 at 2:59 PM
The two are independent - but in the case of British Airways, neither has been built with anyone giving a damn clearly
It's an example where it will become less and less defensible when an AI agent can one shot better implementations (for the frontend, most definitely. BE is more nuanced)
It's an example where it will become less and less defensible when an AI agent can one shot better implementations (for the frontend, most definitely. BE is more nuanced)
If anything, AI will at least make it harder for objectively terrible software (in UX, performance etc) to exist (looking at you, British Airways app).
Because you can no longer say "it will take 6 eng months to fix it."
BS: it takes two prompts and 10 minutes! If you care
Because you can no longer say "it will take 6 eng months to fix it."
BS: it takes two prompts and 10 minutes! If you care
January 11, 2026 at 2:56 PM
If anything, AI will at least make it harder for objectively terrible software (in UX, performance etc) to exist (looking at you, British Airways app).
Because you can no longer say "it will take 6 eng months to fix it."
BS: it takes two prompts and 10 minutes! If you care
Because you can no longer say "it will take 6 eng months to fix it."
BS: it takes two prompts and 10 minutes! If you care
By games engines being commoditized: there are so many more games being built! And so it's harder to stand out unless you have differentiators (loyal fans, massive $$ for marketing, other clever stuff)
AI will result in so much more software that is average (or below) also!
AI will result in so much more software that is average (or below) also!
January 11, 2026 at 2:53 PM
By games engines being commoditized: there are so many more games being built! And so it's harder to stand out unless you have differentiators (loyal fans, massive $$ for marketing, other clever stuff)
AI will result in so much more software that is average (or below) also!
AI will result in so much more software that is average (or below) also!
One thing many miss about the potential impact of AI on the tech industry: better tools raise the *floor*
Look at games. Building a game engine used to be a MASSIVE effort. Today, games engines are commoditized. And yet it's gotten harder, not easier to build a game that stands out!
Look at games. Building a game engine used to be a MASSIVE effort. Today, games engines are commoditized. And yet it's gotten harder, not easier to build a game that stands out!
January 11, 2026 at 2:51 PM
One thing many miss about the potential impact of AI on the tech industry: better tools raise the *floor*
Look at games. Building a game engine used to be a MASSIVE effort. Today, games engines are commoditized. And yet it's gotten harder, not easier to build a game that stands out!
Look at games. Building a game engine used to be a MASSIVE effort. Today, games engines are commoditized. And yet it's gotten harder, not easier to build a game that stands out!