Cam Saul, Chief Architect at Metabase, discusses the rapid development benefits of transitioning from Python to Clojure. He highlights how Clojure's stability allows for building upon existing work more efficiently. The conversation delves into the importance of a collaborative open-source culture that attracts contributors, as well as the challenges of hiring developers familiar with Clojure's syntax. Cam shares insights on navigating over-engineering in startups and the balance between code quality and accessibility in a JavaScript-heavy environment.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Rapid Porting Wins Team Over
Cam Saul quickly ported Metabase from Python to Clojure within about a week, demonstrating the language's speed for development.
This rapid transition convinced the team to fully adopt Clojure and never look back.
insights INSIGHT
Hiring Concerns Eased by Interest
Initial concerns about hiring Clojure developers often focus on its syntax and smaller talent pool.
However, smart people can pick it up quickly, and many are eager to work with Clojure once introduced.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Open-Source Contributions Lead Hiring
Metabase successfully hired multiple engineers through their open-source project contributors.
Impressive pull requests from external contributors sometimes led to immediate hiring offers.
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In "Beating Averages," Paul Graham shares insights on startups, programming, and unconventional thinking, drawn from his experiences as a programmer and co-founder of Viaweb. The book emphasizes the importance of simplicity, speed, and user-centric design in building successful technology ventures. Graham encourages readers to challenge conventional wisdom and embrace innovative approaches to problem-solving. He covers a range of topics from selecting the right programming language to fostering a creative and productive work environment. The essays blend technical expertise with business acumen, offering valuable lessons for entrepreneurs and anyone seeking to excel in the tech industry. Graham’s writing is characterized by its clear, concise style and practical advice, making "Beating Averages" a valuable resource for those looking to gain a competitive edge.
Welcome to the 10th episode of our podcast, "Clojure in product. Would you do it again?", where Artem Barmin and Vadym Kostiuk speak with Cam Saul, Chief Architect at Metabase, an open-source business intelligence platform. In his role, Cam wears multiple hats, including reviewing architectural documents, managing developer tasks, and writing custom linters to ensure code quality.
We discuss the integral role of Clojure in Metabase's development and how transitioning from Python allowed the team to ship features much faster. Cam also shares insights into the blend of Clojure and JavaScript developers, highlighting the advantages of Clojure's stability, which enables the team to build upon existing work without the frequent changes seen in other programming environments.
The open-source foundation of Metabase has fostered a collaborative culture that attracts external contributors, some of whom joined the team after submitting valuable requests. Cam reflects on the journey of hiring Clojure developers, emphasizing the learning opportunities it provides. We conclude with Cam's thoughts on the Clojure community and his response to a question from our previous guest, Alexander Johannes from JustOn.
Clojure in Product. Would you do it again? 