

Episode 233: How Linear Builds Tools Developers Actually Want with Nan Yu
43 snips Jul 23, 2025
Nan Yu, Head of Product at Linear, is on a mission to redefine project management tools for software development. In a lively chat, she discusses how Linear minimizes friction in workflows, allowing developers to enjoy their craft again. Nan also dives into the evolving role of AI, emphasizing its power to automate tedious tasks and enhance product strategies aligned with company goals. Discover her thoughts on the importance of understanding user needs deeply and the shift towards milestone-based development in Agile environments.
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Speed and Directness at Linear
- Speed and directness are core design values at Linear to minimize friction for developers.
- The focus is on immediate responses and task clarity so users reach their goals faster.
Ask Why Behind Requests
- Always dig into the specific instance behind feature requests to understand real user problems.
- This reveals the true issue and can lead to more effective and tailored solutions.
Rethink Fixed Scopes and Estimates
- Fixed scopes and estimates are often unrealistic for software projects.
- Linear encourages milestone-based development with flexible investment and capacity planning.