Changelog Interviews DO repeat yourself!
19 snips
Nov 12, 2025 
Sean Goedecke, a prolific software blogger and staff software engineer at GitHub, dives into the intersection of engineering and politics. He argues that senior engineers should engage in organizational decisions to influence direction. Worry-driven development is challenged as a barrier to productivity. Sean also breaks down what constitutes 'good taste' in engineering and how AI agents are shaping new values. Plus, he shares strategies for writing engaging blog posts that cut through the noise and gain traction on platforms like Hacker News.
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Breakout Post Kickstarted His Blogging
- Sean went from not writing for eight years to publishing a breakout post that hit Hacker News and kicked off regular blogging.
- That launch came from responding to frustration about shipping being treated as an afterthought.
Use Drafts As Idea Incubators
- Keep many rough drafts and spin small ideas into new posts when they appear.
- Capture annoying moments or reactions and write to test whether your take holds up.
Technical Work Is Political
- Senior engineers should engage heavily in organizational politics because technical decisions are political.
- If you're best positioned to decide, represent a direction confidently rather than opting out.