Why does so much software still feel broken, even after years of new tools and processes?

On this episode of Distributed, host Jack Hannah sits down with Scott Hanselman, Vice President of Developer Community at Microsoft, to explore how fear-driven development, speed-first incentives, and short-term thinking continue to shape modern software.

Scott reflects on why craftsmanship has become rare, how some teams still manage to do quality work, and how today’s engineering systems influence the outcomes we see. The conversation also examines how AI is changing the day-to-day experience of engineers, why junior developers need much more support, and what stronger apprenticeship models could look like in practice. Scott shares ideas for investing in people over the long term and building meaningful communities across distributed teams. This episode offers a clear lens on what it takes to build better software by investing in people and systems together.