The Changelog: Software Development, Open Source

The idealization of farming by tech (News)

Mar 31, 2025

Tech workers' fascination with hands-on trades like farming reveals a longing for authenticity in contrast to office life. Governance issues in open-source projects, specifically involving Next.js, raise concerns about transparency. A new tool, xan, simplifies CSV file processing for large datasets. Additionally, Heroku's upcoming technology stack promises a boost in developer productivity, while the principles of Kanban and the concept of 'vibe coding' reflect the evolving role of AI in software development.

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Quick takeaways

Theodore Morley explores the paradox of tech workers idealizing hands-on trades despite their current comfortable office environments, reflecting on historical perceptions of labor.

Eduardo Bouças highlights governance issues in open source projects like Next.js, advocating for transparency and clear expectations to foster trust within the developer community.

Deep dives

The Tech Workers' Envy of Hands-On Trades

Many tech workers are experiencing a longing for hands-on trades, as discussed by Theodore Morley. He questions why individuals who work in comfortable, air-conditioned offices often idealize manual labor despite once striving to escape it. Morley suggests that this collective desire may stem from the nature of modern work and how labor is portrayed in American history. The idea that 'the grass is greener on the other side' captures this sentiment, as people romanticize physical work while underappreciating the benefits of their current roles.

Intro

2min

Examining Governance in Open Source and Unveiling a Powerful CSV Tool

2min

Innovations in Development: Heroku's Future, Kanban Essentials, and Vibe Coding

4min

Theodore Morley wonders why tech workers so frequently point our wanderlust toward hands-on trades, Eduardo Bouças explains why he’s lost confidence in Vercel’s handling of Next.js, “xan” is a command line tool that can be used to process CSV files directly from the shell, Pawel Brodzinski takes us back to Kanban’s roots & Sergey Tselovalnikov weighs in on vibe coding.

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