The science of developer experience with Kristen Foster-Marks from Depot
Jan 3, 2025
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Kristen Foster-Marks, Head of Developer Experience at Depot, shares her wealth of knowledge from her previous work at Pluralsight. She dives into the hot topic of 'ghost engineers,' stressing the importance of ethical research in the tech world. Kristen discusses how improving developer experience can impact productivity and retention, especially during tough economic times. The conversation also highlights the need for empirical studies and the challenges of replicating qualitative research, as well as the importance of research literacy for practical application.
Kristen Foster-Marks emphasizes the necessity of rigorous, ethical research in developer experience to ensure valid and valuable findings.
Enhancing developer experience is crucial for retention and productivity, fostering job satisfaction and efficiency even in challenging economic conditions.
Deep dives
Overview of Developer Experience at Depot
Kristen Foster-Marx discusses her new role at Depot, focusing on enhancing developer experience (DevX) in a build acceleration platform. She emphasizes the importance of ensuring that developers can easily navigate documentation, install command-line interfaces, and use application UIs effectively. This role is seen as a significant shift for her, allowing her to influence product development while maintaining a connection with the broader developer community. By integrating empirical research into her work, she aims to elevate the experience of developers, ensuring that their tools are optimized for efficiency.
Understanding Developer Experience Science
The conversation delves into the concept of science in developer experience, distinguishing empirical research from marketing-driven studies. Kristen outlines the importance of adhering to ethical research principles, particularly when dealing with human subject data. She highlights the need for rigorous methodologies, such as those overseen by institutional review boards, to ensure that research findings do not harm individuals or misrepresent their contributions. This commitment to conducting ethical research serves as a foundation for understanding and improving the developer experience across various settings.
Evaluating Credibility in Research
Kristen emphasizes the importance of critically evaluating research claims, particularly in the context of widely circulated studies on software engineer productivity. She explores the viral claims about 'ghost engineers'—a term used to describe engineers contributing minimally to projects—and stresses the need for consumers of research to verify the credentials and methodologies of those behind such claims. By investigating the source of these claims, she highlights the risks of accepting unverified data, particularly when it could lead to serious consequences in hiring or firing decisions. This analysis underscores the importance of transparency and diligence in consuming research for professional practice.
The Broader Impact of Developer Experience
The discussion shifts to how developer experience influences retention and productivity in tech companies, particularly in the current economic landscape. Kristen advocates for the view that enhancing developer experience is critical not just for retention but also to promote job satisfaction and efficiency, which ultimately benefits businesses. She points out that investing in developer experience creates an environment where developers can succeed and deliver value to their organizations. Despite fluctuating priorities in economic conditions, creating a positive work environment remains essential for attracting and maintaining talented personnel in the tech industry.
In today’s episode, Rebecca chats with Kristen Foster-Marks, Head of Developer Experience at Depot. They discuss questionable “ghost engineer” research, why ethical, rigorous studies matter, and how developer experience makes a difference—even in a tough economy.
Find the transcript at: https://www.unblocked.fm/episodes/kristen-foster-marks-depot/
Timestamps
(0:00) Introductions (0:56) Kristen’s role at Depot (3:44) Defining science in developer experience (8:56) The “ghost engineers” controversy (16:02) Balancing peer review with research (19:17) What Kristen wants from quality research (22:09) Why developer experience matters (25:46) Developer experience in the modern world (29:58) The need for empirical studies (34:23) How sample sizes affect research validity (37:18) Replicating qualitative research (39:18) Applying research in practice
Follow Kristen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenfostermarks/
Follow Rebecca on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rmurphey/
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