Geoffrey Litt

Geoffrey Litt, a designer and researcher at Ink & Switch, advocates for malleable software that empowers users to customize their digital tools. He discusses the frustrations of rigid software and contrasts it with flexible models like spreadsheets and Lego, emphasizing user creativity and agency. Geoffrey argues for a deeper understanding of software mechanics and the importance of intuitive design. The conversation also explores the balance between user control and software complexity, calling for tools that foster exploration and adaptability in our increasingly digital lives.

Geoffrey Litt, a design engineer at Notion and former researcher at MIT, shares insights on malleable software and AI's role in design. He discusses effective system design and the importance of version control for building user-centric tools. Geoffrey highlights his work on 'Embark,' a document-centric travel planner, and contrasts malleable software with disposable options. He advocates for teaching users to create tailored dashboards and emphasizes the need for intuitive design that promotes mastery without complexity. A fascinating glimpse into the future of user-driven technology!

Guest Geoffrey Litt discusses malleable software and how relational databases can improve web apps and data ownership. They explore unifying UI states and app data, the concept of Riffle, trade-offs of using SQLite in TypeScript, schema management challenges, and introduce LiveStore as a solution.

Geoffrey Litt is a design engineer at Notion and a former MIT researcher focused on malleable software that lets users shape their own computing environments. He discusses barriers to malleability in mainstream software and the need for user-editable tools. Geoffrey explores AI's role in the creative process, emphasizing how it can enhance or hinder user agency. He also advocates for universal versioning and gradual tailorability, envisioning a future where users become active creators of their digital tools.

Geoffrey Litt on the underrated potential of browser extensions, Adolfo Ochagavía on the tension between generalists and specialists in the tech industry. Terence Eden tries to rebuild FourSquare for ActivityPub using OpenStreetMap. Sebastien Dubois teaches us how to connect ideas together using knowledge graphs and tools like obsidian.