The Changelog: Software Development, Open Source The GitHub problem (and other predictions) (Friends)
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Jan 14, 2026 Mat Ryer, an experienced software engineer known for his contributions to Go and open source, joins for a lively discussion. He dives into the challenges posed by GitHub's dominance over the open-source ecosystem and the recent backlash over pricing changes. The conversation shifts towards Tom Tunguz's intriguing predictions for 2026, including an agent-first web and the potential for businesses to pay more for AI than for human workers. Plus, Mat shares insights on the innovative Grafana Assistant and lighthearted moments filled with impromptu songs!
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Rob Pike's AI Email Backlash
- Rob Pike received an unsolicited heartfelt AI-generated email on Christmas morning and reacted angrily online.
- The hosts discussed how AI 'acts of kindness' can feel hollow and provoke strong reactions from pioneers like Rob Pike.
GitHub's Monoculture Risk
- GitHub's dominance created a monoculture that now risks open source resilience.
- Pricing and product changes (like charging for self-hosted runners) triggered strong community backlash and fears of monopoly abuse.
Run Community Review Before Big Changes
- When large platforms consider changes, run community discussions before big announcements.
- Avoid surprise releases during low-attention periods like mid-December to reduce backlash.