The Changelog: Software Development, Open Source We see dead projects (Friends)
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Oct 31, 2025 The hosts dive into the eerie world of dead tech projects, exploring the reasons behind their demise. They share tales of GitHub Actions frustrations and the ghosts of once-popular tools like Sass and Meteor. The discussion takes a nostalgic turn with reflections on old chat apps and the rise and fall of Quicksilver. Plus, they examine the haunting impacts of major player shutdowns like those from Google. With insights on AI coding agents and deployment trade-offs, this episode is a thrilling ride through the graves of tech history.
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Recording Mishaps And Lost Conversations
- Adam Stacoviak once recorded a 20-minute interview and realized he never hit record, but the guest had a local backup.
- He repeated the mistake later and lost 45 minutes with no backup, highlighting recording fragility.
Always Verify Recording State
- Use recording platforms that surface clear recording-state notifications so you don't lose interviews.
- Check backups and local recordings immediately after starting to prevent silent failure.
Corporate Priorities Kill Projects
- Many beloved projects were discontinued because companies reprioritized or couldn't monetize them.
- Google killing products like Reader or Wave shifted broader adoption and cultural momentum.