Engineering Culture by InfoQ

GitHub Next: how their research and prototyping team operates

9 snips
Jul 11, 2025
Guest
Idan Gazit
Idan Gazit, leader of GitHub Next and previous core contributor to Django, joins the discussion alongside Eddie Aftandilian. They share how their playful approach to prototyping fuels innovation in AI-powered development tools. The conversation dives into interdisciplinary collaboration within their team, navigating project development challenges, and the importance of user feedback. They highlight the power of demos in creative processes and the role of AI models in simplifying programming learning, inspiring listeners to engage with new software tools.
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INSIGHT

GitHub Next's Unique Operating Model

  • GitHub Next operates as a prototyping and research team focusing on AI-powered developer tools and rapid experimentation.
  • It combines machine learning rigor with front-end developer experience to innovate effectively.
ADVICE

Strategic Focus and Project Cycles

  • Pursue projects with a clear business future and be ready to shelve those that don't show promise.
  • Set strategic directions to rally the team during uncertain exploration phases.
ADVICE

Embrace Failure in Innovation

  • Expect high failure rates as part of innovation; about 80% of experiments may not work.
  • Stick with projects through hard phases and trust the exploratory process to succeed.
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