Mike McQuaid
@mikemcquaid.com
Edinburgh-based product and engineering leader, ex-GitHub Principal Engineer (#232, 2013), with 18 years of experience reducing developer friction and scaling open-source to tens of millions of users.
“The Failure Mode of Clever (is asshole)”
Applies to some OSS commenters I’ve seen…
Great take from John Scalzi (who also writes GREAT sci-fi books).
Applies to some OSS commenters I’ve seen…
Great take from John Scalzi (who also writes GREAT sci-fi books).
The Failure Mode of Clever
So, apropos of nothing in particular, let’s say you wish to communicate privately with someone
whatever.scalzi.com
January 15, 2026 at 8:37 PM
“The Failure Mode of Clever (is asshole)”
Applies to some OSS commenters I’ve seen…
Great take from John Scalzi (who also writes GREAT sci-fi books).
Applies to some OSS commenters I’ve seen…
Great take from John Scalzi (who also writes GREAT sci-fi books).
Raising kids in an addictive internet without losing your mind (or theirs)
My Parenting “Screen Time” Philosophy
Raising kids in an addictive internet without losing your mind (or theirs)
mikemcquaid.com
January 13, 2026 at 11:34 PM
Raising kids in an addictive internet without losing your mind (or theirs)
Anil has a decent framework here for thinking if you’ll actually be happy in a job.
How to know if that job will crush your soul - Anil Dash
A blog about making culture. Since 1999.
anildash.com
January 13, 2026 at 2:05 PM
Anil has a decent framework here for thinking if you’ll actually be happy in a job.
Great and nuanced take from creator of Redis.
If you’re still in the “these tools are useless” camp or “these tools are unethical so I won’t use them”: you’ve not understood how things have already changed.
If you’re still in the “these tools are useless” camp or “these tools are unethical so I won’t use them”: you’ve not understood how things have already changed.
Don't fall into the anti-AI hype
I love writing software, line by line.
antirez.com
January 13, 2026 at 2:04 PM
Great and nuanced take from creator of Redis.
If you’re still in the “these tools are useless” camp or “these tools are unethical so I won’t use them”: you’ve not understood how things have already changed.
If you’re still in the “these tools are useless” camp or “these tools are unethical so I won’t use them”: you’ve not understood how things have already changed.
I like this take on how to get promoted.
My experience has been that promotions come from finding and doing important work.
Being spoon-fed is fine for juniors but a negative signal for those seeking e.g. staff+ promotions.
My experience has been that promotions come from finding and doing important work.
Being spoon-fed is fine for juniors but a negative signal for those seeking e.g. staff+ promotions.
Try to Take My Position: The Best Promotion Advice I Ever Got
My CTO leaned back in our 1:1 and said "You want to get promoted? Try to take my position."
andrew.grahamyooll.com
January 7, 2026 at 3:41 PM
I like this take on how to get promoted.
My experience has been that promotions come from finding and doing important work.
Being spoon-fed is fine for juniors but a negative signal for those seeking e.g. staff+ promotions.
My experience has been that promotions come from finding and doing important work.
Being spoon-fed is fine for juniors but a negative signal for those seeking e.g. staff+ promotions.
I find myself referring too often to the “is it worth the time?” xkcd.
This works best when the person doing the automation is also the person saving the time.
This works best when the person doing the automation is also the person saving the time.
Is It Worth the Time?
How long can you work on making a routine task more efficient before you're spending more time than you save?
xkcd.com
January 7, 2026 at 3:40 PM
I find myself referring too often to the “is it worth the time?” xkcd.
This works best when the person doing the automation is also the person saving the time.
This works best when the person doing the automation is also the person saving the time.
It’s that time of year again to look at your calendar like Marie Kondo and ask:
“Does (this (meeting) spark joy?”
If not: try to cancel or shorten it.
“Does (this (meeting) spark joy?”
If not: try to cancel or shorten it.
January 6, 2026 at 10:55 AM
It’s that time of year again to look at your calendar like Marie Kondo and ask:
“Does (this (meeting) spark joy?”
If not: try to cancel or shorten it.
“Does (this (meeting) spark joy?”
If not: try to cancel or shorten it.
Would love it if people expressing strong opinions about open source declared what project(s) they’ve maintained and for how long.
Would help weed out the uninformed.
Would help weed out the uninformed.
December 31, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Would love it if people expressing strong opinions about open source declared what project(s) they’ve maintained and for how long.
Would help weed out the uninformed.
Would help weed out the uninformed.
Strongly agree with “The Move Faster Manifesto”.
This matches my experiences at GitHub, Homebrew, Workbrew.
You can also be fast and sustainable.
brianguthrie.com/…
This matches my experiences at GitHub, Homebrew, Workbrew.
You can also be fast and sustainable.
brianguthrie.com/…
The Move Faster Manifesto
Lessons for shipping software quickly by skipping the grind
brianguthrie.com
December 30, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Strongly agree with “The Move Faster Manifesto”.
This matches my experiences at GitHub, Homebrew, Workbrew.
You can also be fast and sustainable.
brianguthrie.com/…
This matches my experiences at GitHub, Homebrew, Workbrew.
You can also be fast and sustainable.
brianguthrie.com/…
Workplace politics aren’t optional. Ignoring them just hands power to someone else. In our latest Minimum Viable Management episode, @mikemcquaid.com and Neha are joined by @deniseyu.bsky.social to talk about political capital, allyship and how leaders and senior ICs can use influence responsibly.
December 29, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Workplace politics aren’t optional. Ignoring them just hands power to someone else. In our latest Minimum Viable Management episode, @mikemcquaid.com and Neha are joined by @deniseyu.bsky.social to talk about political capital, allyship and how leaders and senior ICs can use influence responsibly.
I agree with Sean here.
The industry default seems to be “idealistic about engineering, cynical about management”.
Things work better if you’re a little cynical about both.
The industry default seems to be “idealistic about engineering, cynical about management”.
Things work better if you’re a little cynical about both.
Software engineers should be a little bit cynical
--
www.seangoedecke.com
December 29, 2025 at 9:01 AM
I agree with Sean here.
The industry default seems to be “idealistic about engineering, cynical about management”.
Things work better if you’re a little cynical about both.
The industry default seems to be “idealistic about engineering, cynical about management”.
Things work better if you’re a little cynical about both.
This analysis of Valve’s approach to hardware was really interesting.
I have bought all their hardware and will likely buy all the new stuff and this helps explain why.
https://www.garbagecollected.dev/p/valve-the-reverse-apple
I have bought all their hardware and will likely buy all the new stuff and this helps explain why.
https://www.garbagecollected.dev/p/valve-the-reverse-apple
December 27, 2025 at 12:33 PM
This analysis of Valve’s approach to hardware was really interesting.
I have bought all their hardware and will likely buy all the new stuff and this helps explain why.
https://www.garbagecollected.dev/p/valve-the-reverse-apple
I have bought all their hardware and will likely buy all the new stuff and this helps explain why.
https://www.garbagecollected.dev/p/valve-the-reverse-apple
POSSE, Blog and Feed Updates
I’ve been following what Justin Searls has been doing with his blog for some time. He’s been leaning into the “POSSE” (Publish on your Own Site, Syndicate Elsewhere) philosophy more and more. In practice, this looks like building your own version of a single-serving...
I’ve been following what Justin Searls has been doing with his blog for some time. He’s been leaning into the “POSSE” (Publish on your Own Site, Syndicate Elsewhere) philosophy more and more. In practice, this looks like building your own version of a single-serving...
POSSE, Blog and Feed Updates
I’ve been following what Justin Searls has been doing with his blog for some time. He’s been leaning into the “POSSE” (Publish on your Own Site, Syndicate Elsewhere) philosophy more and more. In practice, this looks like building your own version of a single-serving social network on your own site and exposing RSS/Atom feeds to other services to consume. Justin recently released POSSE Party which makes this easier by cross-posting to various social networks. I’ve complained for a while about (anti)social networking so I’m always up for new ways to use social networking less.
mikemcquaid.com
December 18, 2025 at 5:47 PM
POSSE, Blog and Feed Updates
I’ve been following what Justin Searls has been doing with his blog for some time. He’s been leaning into the “POSSE” (Publish on your Own Site, Syndicate Elsewhere) philosophy more and more. In practice, this looks like building your own version of a single-serving...
I’ve been following what Justin Searls has been doing with his blog for some time. He’s been leaning into the “POSSE” (Publish on your Own Site, Syndicate Elsewhere) philosophy more and more. In practice, this looks like building your own version of a single-serving...
Using Docker for local development on macOS is like putting a shipping container in your garden instead of buying a cupboard from IKEA.
December 18, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Using Docker for local development on macOS is like putting a shipping container in your garden instead of buying a cupboard from IKEA.
I’ve added “thoughts” to my website.
If these work correctly, they will be cross-posted to various social networks.
Thanks to Justin Searls’ POSSE Party for enabling this.
If these work correctly, they will be cross-posted to various social networks.
Thanks to Justin Searls’ POSSE Party for enabling this.
December 18, 2025 at 12:31 PM
I’ve added “thoughts” to my website.
If these work correctly, they will be cross-posted to various social networks.
Thanks to Justin Searls’ POSSE Party for enabling this.
If these work correctly, they will be cross-posted to various social networks.
Thanks to Justin Searls’ POSSE Party for enabling this.
The project management triangle is commonly summarised as: "Good, fast, cheap. Choose 2."
My software version is slightly different. Instead I’d say:
"High quality, full scope, delivery date. Choose 2."
The only way to not have 2 is demanding all three (and usually ending up with 1 or 0).
My software version is slightly different. Instead I’d say:
"High quality, full scope, delivery date. Choose 2."
The only way to not have 2 is demanding all three (and usually ending up with 1 or 0).
December 12, 2025 at 4:01 PM
The project management triangle is commonly summarised as: "Good, fast, cheap. Choose 2."
My software version is slightly different. Instead I’d say:
"High quality, full scope, delivery date. Choose 2."
The only way to not have 2 is demanding all three (and usually ending up with 1 or 0).
My software version is slightly different. Instead I’d say:
"High quality, full scope, delivery date. Choose 2."
The only way to not have 2 is demanding all three (and usually ending up with 1 or 0).
Reposted by Mike McQuaid
Welcoming our new Board members, @chira001.bsky.social, Ashley Ward, Clare Schramm, @justincormack.bsky.social, Margherita Di Cerbo, Maria Lema, @mathewlodge.com, and @mikemcquaid.com, to strengthen our existing OpenUK Board. openuk.uk/newboardmemb...
November 27, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Welcoming our new Board members, @chira001.bsky.social, Ashley Ward, Clare Schramm, @justincormack.bsky.social, Margherita Di Cerbo, Maria Lema, @mathewlodge.com, and @mikemcquaid.com, to strengthen our existing OpenUK Board. openuk.uk/newboardmemb...
Stop saying you're hiring "top 1% talent" without paying top 1% compensation. Top 1% performers know what their business and economic value is. They aren't exclusively optimising for compensation but saying things like this when you won't pay appropriately is a red flag for anyone talented.
November 27, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Stop saying you're hiring "top 1% talent" without paying top 1% compensation. Top 1% performers know what their business and economic value is. They aren't exclusively optimising for compensation but saying things like this when you won't pay appropriately is a red flag for anyone talented.
Another chat with Neha Batra on When Things Go Wrong: How Leaders Rebuild Trust. We dig into spotting issues early, admitting mistakes, rebuilding psychological safety and creating adaptable plans. Snippet video below.
November 21, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Another chat with Neha Batra on When Things Go Wrong: How Leaders Rebuild Trust. We dig into spotting issues early, admitting mistakes, rebuilding psychological safety and creating adaptable plans. Snippet video below.
🍺 Today I'm proud to announce Homebrew (@brew.sh) 5.0.0 bringing you download concurrency by default, official support for Linux ARM64/AArch64, timescales for deprecating macOS Intel and removing macOS Gatekeeper bypass behaviours.
Read more at brew.sh/2025/11/12/h...
Read more at brew.sh/2025/11/12/h...
5.0.0
Today, I’d like to announce Homebrew 5.0.0. The most significant changes since 4.6.0 are download concurrency by default, official support for Linux ARM64/AArch64, timescales for deprecating macOS Int...
brew.sh
November 12, 2025 at 9:21 AM
🍺 Today I'm proud to announce Homebrew (@brew.sh) 5.0.0 bringing you download concurrency by default, official support for Linux ARM64/AArch64, timescales for deprecating macOS Intel and removing macOS Gatekeeper bypass behaviours.
Read more at brew.sh/2025/11/12/h...
Read more at brew.sh/2025/11/12/h...
Another discussion with Neha Batra on "Creating and Keeping Momentum" on our podcast "Minimum Viable Management".
Momentum = clarity + ruthless scope + visible wins.
We cover the 3-question test, smallest shippable slices, temporary process, pain snakes and smart nos.
Momentum = clarity + ruthless scope + visible wins.
We cover the 3-question test, smallest shippable slices, temporary process, pain snakes and smart nos.
November 11, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Another discussion with Neha Batra on "Creating and Keeping Momentum" on our podcast "Minimum Viable Management".
Momentum = clarity + ruthless scope + visible wins.
We cover the 3-question test, smallest shippable slices, temporary process, pain snakes and smart nos.
Momentum = clarity + ruthless scope + visible wins.
We cover the 3-question test, smallest shippable slices, temporary process, pain snakes and smart nos.
"Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years."
mikemcquaid.com/good-things-...
mikemcquaid.com/good-things-...
Good Things Take A Long Time
In tech, 3 years is often considered a “long tenure”. We maintain open-source projects for 2 years, then burn out. We start habits, lose momentum and quit.
mikemcquaid.com
October 24, 2025 at 7:21 AM
"Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years."
mikemcquaid.com/good-things-...
mikemcquaid.com/good-things-...
Another "Minimum Viable Management" podcast episode with Neha Batra dropped, this time about "Psychological Safety vs. Telling the Truth": mikemcquaid.com/minimum-viab...
We've also got a GitHub repository now with summaries of topics you can share with others: github.com/Minimum-Viab...
We've also got a GitHub repository now with summaries of topics you can share with others: github.com/Minimum-Viab...
GitHub - Minimum-Viable-Management/Minimum-Viable-Management: 🎙️Notes, playbooks, and resources from Minimum Viable Management podcast
🎙️Notes, playbooks, and resources from Minimum Viable Management podcast - Minimum-Viable-Management/Minimum-Viable-Management
github.com
October 23, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Another "Minimum Viable Management" podcast episode with Neha Batra dropped, this time about "Psychological Safety vs. Telling the Truth": mikemcquaid.com/minimum-viab...
We've also got a GitHub repository now with summaries of topics you can share with others: github.com/Minimum-Viab...
We've also got a GitHub repository now with summaries of topics you can share with others: github.com/Minimum-Viab...
Reposted by Mike McQuaid
Homebrew is a package manager for macOS and it has become an essential developer tool. In this episode, @mikemcquaid.com talks with @kball.llc about how it all started, the project’s architecture, automation, CI/CD, and what keeps Homebrew sustainable today.
bit.ly/4nO04Sh
bit.ly/4nO04Sh
Homebrew and macOS Package Management with Mike McQuaid - Software Engineering Daily
Homebrew is a widely used package manager that simplifies the installation of open-source software on macOS. It was created in response to the growing demand for a lightweight, developer-friendly tool...
softwareengineeringdaily.com
October 21, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Homebrew is a package manager for macOS and it has become an essential developer tool. In this episode, @mikemcquaid.com talks with @kball.llc about how it all started, the project’s architecture, automation, CI/CD, and what keeps Homebrew sustainable today.
bit.ly/4nO04Sh
bit.ly/4nO04Sh
Rather than asking open source maintainers if they would do something, consider just doing as much as you can yourself and only then asking them for help.
Before you say "but I don't know the language/codebase/ecosystem": none of the maintainers were born with this knowledge either.
Before you say "but I don't know the language/codebase/ecosystem": none of the maintainers were born with this knowledge either.
October 20, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Rather than asking open source maintainers if they would do something, consider just doing as much as you can yourself and only then asking them for help.
Before you say "but I don't know the language/codebase/ecosystem": none of the maintainers were born with this knowledge either.
Before you say "but I don't know the language/codebase/ecosystem": none of the maintainers were born with this knowledge either.