Gajus Kuizinas

Gajus Kuizinas, co-founder and CTO of Contra, shares insights on creating high-ownership engineering cultures and developing strict runtime-validated SQL through his Slonik library. He discusses the frustrations of traditional ORMs, the breakthrough of JavaScript template tags for safe SQL, and the innovative SafeQL for real-time schema checks. Gajus also introduces Loom-driven development, a tactic for speeding up reviews and improving context. Tune in to explore the evolution of developer experience and schema integrity!

Gajus Kuizinas, the founder and CTO of Contra, discusses his unique journey from a non-traditional upbringing in Lithuania to developing a commission-free talent marketplace. He highlights the creative process behind Contra’s redesign, emphasizing user feedback and competitive analysis. Gajus also shares insights into hiring strategies, such as using Stack Overflow for recruitment, and reflects on critical decisions like prioritizing feature parity. He reveals ambitious plans for integrating AI and personalized identity while advising entrepreneurs to trust their vision.