The hottest Engineering Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Business Topics

Embrace your ignorance

Russell’s Index • 8 implied HN points • 08 Jul 25
💼 Business Engineering
  1. Talking to customers is key for product engineers. It helps you understand their problems and create better products.
  2. Admitting what you don't know can actually improve your customer interviews. It encourages them to explain things more clearly.
  3. Asking for specific examples and repeating back what customers say helps clarify understanding and reveals valuable insights.

Can Your AI Strategy Be Future-Proof? | Galileo’s Vikram Chatterji

Dev Interrupted • 18 implied HN points • 18 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. AI models sometimes miss important details, like humans do. For example, they may overlook obvious outliers in data visualizations.
  2. Banks are changing their hiring tactics to attract tech talent by offering more flexibility and modern tools. This helps them stay competitive against tech firms.
  3. In a world where AI is growing, the ability to focus deeply is becoming more valuable than just knowing how to use AI tools. Staying focused can help engineers excel.

Space Industry Stories and Fibs

Ill-Defined Space • 19 implied HN points • 07 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. Some claims in the space industry are exaggerated or misleading, often to attract investment or support without solid proof. It's important to be critical of what you hear.
  2. Cheap launches are often a myth; while SpaceX may offer lower prices, many other companies do not match that, and the real cost can be hidden.
  3. Many small satellite launchers struggle in the market because they face tough competition and higher costs. The trend is shifting back towards larger rockets that can handle multiple satellites at once.

Season 4 Finale: A Fond Farewell, What’s Next, & Would You Rather?

Dev Interrupted • 23 implied HN points • 17 Dec 24
🎙 Podcasts Engineering
  1. The show is ending its fourth season but is excited to change things up next year. They will introduce new ideas, formats, and even have live events.
  2. Programmers need focus time to be productive, and it's important to set aside non-negotiable blocks in the calendar to minimize distractions.
  3. In 2025, leaders want to see real results from AI investments instead of just hype. It's all about proving that AI can make a positive impact on their work.
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Writeup System Design — Backend for Google Photos[Systems Design Sundays]

Technology Made Simple • 39 implied HN points • 24 Jul 22
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. To ace System Design Interviews, read/watch more system design mock interviews on YouTube, engineering blogs, and learn about important technologies/concepts.
  2. When designing a system like the backend for Google Photos, start with domain analysis, note requirements (functional and non-functional), expected load/performance, and user profiles for valuable solutions.
  3. Engage with the content you find helpful by liking, sharing, and offering feedback to creators. It helps them reach more people and improve their work.

Can AGI destroy us without trial & error?

First principles trivia • 39 implied HN points • 13 Jun 22
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. AGI development faces challenges in translating from a computer-based system to independently-operating physical entities, requiring decades of complex R&D
  2. Historical examples show that novel engineering, especially without a basis of previous work, takes significant time, even for AGI with higher intellect
  3. Human scientific progress evidences challenges and limitations in advancing technology efficiently, potentially slowing AGI's ability to advance rapidly

Self vs Self

davidj.substack • 95 implied HN points • 07 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. Individual Contributor roles in technology allow technically skilled individuals to advance without moving into management.
  2. Specialized IC roles, like Staff or Principal, are crucial for making better technical decisions and preventing engineering issues.
  3. Having fewer hard-to-hire line managers and more experienced ICs can lead to better support and scaling in technical teams.

May Progress Prizes and Updates to Tooling

Vesuvius Challenge • 9 implied HN points • 13 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. The Vesuvius Challenge team is improving their tools for handling scroll data. They're making it easier for people to process large datasets without needing advanced tech skills.
  2. Philip Allgaier made significant updates to the VC3D tool, including fixing memory issues and making it easier to install and use. This will help users have a smoother experience.
  3. New features like freehand drawing and better options for data analysis have been added, which will boost productivity for those working with the VC3D tool.

Which derivative are you?

Sunday Letters • 59 implied HN points • 10 Jul 22
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. Derivatives help us understand how things change over time. The first derivative tells us how fast something is changing, while the second shows how that rate of change is changing.
  2. In conversations about technical issues, we often focus on the current situation. Instead, we should look at how we can improve that situation over time.
  3. Thinking about changes as derivatives can help us tackle complex problems. By considering not just the current state but how to change it over time, we can better manage projects.

Developer Productivity Will Decline in 2025 | Predictions from LinearB’s Ori Keren

Dev Interrupted • 23 implied HN points • 10 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. Developer productivity may decrease in 2025 due to an influx of AI tools. Short-term challenges might arise before these tools bring long-term benefits.
  2. In 2025, engineering leaders need to embrace data-driven decision-making. It's important to measure performance to optimize team productivity effectively.
  3. Cybersecurity will be a big focus in 2025, with AI-driven threats and new vulnerabilities. Teams will need to improve their security measures and collaborate better to stay safe.

Don't lie to the computer

Sunday Letters • 79 implied HN points • 21 Feb 22
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. Lying to computers can lead to big problems. Computers take everything at face value and won't understand when you're not being honest.
  2. This can happen in many areas, like bug reporting or software design. For example, making up a fake bug level instead of addressing real issues is misleading.
  3. It's easy to want to cut corners to save time, but being dishonest can cause issues down the line. Just like in personal relationships, honesty is usually the best policy.

Hunting for a Flywheel | Refactoring’s Luca Rossi

Dev Interrupted • 18 implied HN points • 04 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. Developer success depends on feeling happy and respected. When developers are motivated, they can work faster and better.
  2. AI is becoming important for all industries, not just tech. Companies like Goldman Sachs are hiring AI experts to improve efficiency.
  3. Automating tasks like code reviews can help teams focus on important work. Tools that make this easy can boost a team's productivity.

Google Developer shares How to become a 10x Engineer[Storytime Saturdays]

Technology Made Simple • 39 implied HN points • 26 Jun 22
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. 10x engineers focus on mastering tools they know, but balancing that with exploring new technologies can lead to career growth.
  2. Being a good coder isn't just about coding more; thoughtful consideration, communication, and engaging with stakeholders are vital.
  3. Avoiding constant context switching, deep work blocks, and using the F.R.E.E framework (Focus, Results-Oriented, Efficiency, Empathy) can boost productivity.

November 2024 Update

Maker News • 22 implied HN points • 30 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. There are many fun DIY projects you can try, like making a cheap ultrasonic humidifier or upgrading old tools with USB-C. It's a great way to learn and create something useful.
  2. A variety of innovative gadgets are available to buy, like a ZX Spectrum recreation that brings back nostalgic 8-bit computing. It can be a fun treat for anyone who loves tech.
  3. Exploring new technologies, like vocoders, can be exciting. Understanding how they work may inspire new projects and creative ideas in sound and music.

How much does AI impact development speed?

Engineering Enablement • 8 implied HN points • 25 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. AI coding tools can help developers work about 21% faster. This means with AI, tasks that took longer can be done in less time.
  2. Developers who code more each day see bigger benefits from using AI. This might be because they are better at fixing mistakes the AI makes.
  3. Factors like how senior a developer is or how much they’ve used AI before don’t really change how much faster they work with AI tools.

AI Scaling Laws 4 & 5: More Engineers and Designers

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 17 implied HN points • 07 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. AI will get smarter and better with more talented engineers and designers working on it. The more skilled people we have, the more breakthroughs we'll see in AI technology.
  2. Improving how people interact with AI is crucial. Making AI easier to use will greatly increase its value, so more effort should go into user experience and design.
  3. As AI technology advances, we will likely see more AI systems improving themselves, leading to rapid growth in AI capabilities and applications over the coming decades.

No smooth discontinuities

Sunday Letters • 59 implied HN points • 22 May 22
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. It's tough to make a big change in software if you're only trying to improve things a little at a time. Sometimes you need to take a big leap to really disrupt the norm.
  2. Incremental progress can help lead to new inventions, but after a big jump, you still have to do a lot of smaller work to make it successful.
  3. Embrace some chaos and messiness in your work. Sometimes these messy moments can lead to amazing results and breakthroughs.

Maker News - June 2025 Update

Maker News • 7 implied HN points • 01 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. People are doing amazing DIY projects, like printing kayaks on treadmills. It's exciting to see creativity in unexpected ways!
  2. There are new tech hacks, like using a simple device to control washing machines or turning basic circuits into complex gadgets. This shows how accessible technology has become.
  3. Invention is all about trying new things and learning from failures. Making things doesn’t need to be perfect; it just needs to be fun and inventive.

🔐 How TPMs Can AI - Launch Readiness Checklist

Building Rome(s) • 5 implied HN points • 15 Aug 25
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. AI tools can help Technical Program Managers (TPMs) work more efficiently by providing practical solutions to common challenges. This means TPMs can save time and get better results.
  2. Creating a launch readiness checklist can be daunting, especially for those new to a role. Using AI can simplify this process by generating initial drafts that can be refined with team input.
  3. Writing effective prompts for AI tools is crucial for achieving desired outcomes. A well-structured prompt can lead to a useful template and promote better discussions with engineering teams.

The Realities of Engineering Leadership in 2025

HackerPulse Dispatch • 5 implied HN points • 12 Aug 25
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. To succeed in engineering leadership, you need to balance technical skills and management abilities. It's not just about writing code; it's about leading and empowering your team.
  2. Breaking through to senior engineering roles requires a mix of experience, expertise, and wisdom. You need to lead others effectively and make strategic decisions.
  3. The future of engineering roles is changing, with more overlap between job responsibilities. It's important to be adaptable and think across different areas to succeed in evolving tech environments.

Truth in Inconvenience

Breaking Smart • 90 implied HN points • 25 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. Real-world friction connects big zeitgeist things and teaches about truth in inconvenience.
  2. Meccano vs Lego: Meccano models offer higher realism, messiness and inconveniences, while Legos offer convenience and smoothness.
  3. AI entering the world may encounter a real, high-interest world like a Meccano world, where knowledge shock requires adjusting ambitions to balance design knowledge and friction knowledge.

The PacBio Vega - More Tech Details

ASeq Newsletter • 21 implied HN points • 07 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. The PacBio Vega is designed for small labs and minimizes downtime between runs. Users can load new samples while a run is ongoing, making it efficient.
  2. The technology in the Vega seems to be similar to the Revio but aims to reduce costs, likely making high-quality sequencing more accessible to small research centers.
  3. There's curiosity about how PacBio has managed to incorporate advanced computing power into a compact design, which is crucial for producing quality data without needing expensive equipment.

Runway Project

De Novo • 66 implied HN points • 27 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. Runway Project is a combat tournament and art show based in Kerbal Space Program
  2. Craft design in Runway Project requires balancing firepower, thrust, maneuverability, resilience, and artistic potential
  3. Important design tips for Runway Project include considering round rules, incorporating art into craft design, testing designs, ensuring craft resilience, and tuning AI

Should managers still code?

The Engineering Manager • 13 implied HN points • 28 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. Managers should definitely be involved in the code, meaning they need to understand how their team's code works and participate in reviews. This helps them stay connected to the team's work.
  2. It's not always necessary for managers to write code themselves. They can focus on strategic tasks that only they can do while still being engaged with the technical side.
  3. When managers do want to write code, it should be in a structured way, like setting aside specific time for it or pairing with team members. This keeps the balance between management duties and coding.

SpaceX's 5-Step Design Process

SatPost by Trung Phan • 79 implied HN points • 22 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. SpaceX is working on a 5-step design process for their Starship rocket, focusing on rapid failure and iteration.
  2. SpaceX has achieved significant cost reductions in space travel through reusable rockets and plans to further reduce launch costs with their new Starship rocket.
  3. SpaceX's approach to rapid iteration and innovation differs from NASA's more conservative approach, allowing for quicker progress in space exploration.

ChatGPT, North Koreans, and America's Infrastructure

Of All Trades • 8 implied HN points • 17 May 25
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. North Korean remote IT workers are being used by the regime to earn foreign money, often through scams and cybercrime. They can make a lot of money for the government by working remotely.
  2. These workers are also stealing the identities of professional engineers to create fake design documents. This could lead to serious safety issues because the real engineers might be held responsible for bad work they didn't do.
  3. There's a concern that this situation could harm the future of remote design and national security. It's important to have strict systems to verify who is doing work and how to ensure public safety.

Ep#4 : Soft Skills

The ZenMode • 42 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. Soft skills are equally important to technical skills in software engineering. They are often the secret weapon that distinguishes those who struggle from those who thrive.
  2. The path to coding proficiency requires a growth mindset, independence, logical thinking, and patience. Embrace challenges, learn from mistakes, and persevere for long-term success.
  3. Essential soft skills for programmers include communication, collaboration, adaptability, and empathy. These skills are crucial for success in a dynamic field where teamwork, continuous learning, and user-centered solutions are key.

How Netflix handles it operations[System Design Sundays]

Technology Made Simple • 39 implied HN points • 04 Apr 22
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. Good systems are created using a top-down approach, focusing on important decisions with the highest ROI, especially in limited time/resource scenarios like interviews.
  2. Understanding recent tools and technologies is crucial for systems design, different from Leetcode-style problems.
  3. Thinking from multiple perspectives such as developer, investor, and user is key to mastering systems design, helping to tackle complex questions effectively.

Bonus post - Noisy Monitors

Sunday Letters • 59 implied HN points • 07 Feb 22
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. Noisy monitors can create problems for engineering teams. They get too many alerts that can drown out the important signals, making it hard to focus on real issues.
  2. Accumulating unresolved bugs and warnings can lead to confusion. Teams might ignore older and less critical issues, which can mask newer problems that need attention.
  3. It's important to maintain discipline and organization in monitoring systems. Just like a chef cleans his kitchen daily, teams should regularly tidy up their alerts and processes to stay effective.

The Need for Speed | 2025 Engineering Benchmarks

Dev Interrupted • 14 implied HN points • 21 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. Smaller pull requests can increase both speed and quality of software development. This helps teams work faster without compromising standards.
  2. Longer cycle times often lead to more errors and project failures. It's essential to keep cycle times short to maintain software quality.
  3. Investing in developer experience (DevEx) is important for a team's productivity. If you don't invest enough, unexpected work and issues can slow down progress.

The Wells of Venice

Of All Trades • 12 implied HN points • 10 Feb 25
💾 History Engineering
  1. Venice faced a big problem getting fresh water because it is surrounded by saltwater. To solve this, the people invented clever rainwater cisterns and wells.
  2. The Venetian wells used a special system that filtered rainwater to keep it clean. This made clean drinking water available despite the challenges of their environment.
  3. These historical wells show human creativity in solving problems. They remind us that, even without modern technology, people in the past found smart ways to adapt to their surroundings.

20250817

Curious futures (KGhosh) • 4 implied HN points • 17 Aug 25
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. Many teenagers today are making AI friends, which can affect their real-life social skills.
  2. New technology is shaping the future of science and energy, like AI-driven labs and big hydroelectric projects.
  3. While efficiency in tech is important, it's also crucial to maintain human connection and creativity in our discoveries.

The Startup CTO's Handbook | Zach Goldberg

Dev Interrupted • 37 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. The core sections of The Startup CTO's Handbook include Management Fundamentals, Technical Leadership Concepts, and Hard Technology Decisions.
  2. Conducting career history interviews when hiring can reveal a candidate's mindset and how they handle challenges.
  3. Engineering leaders can stay technically relevant by reviewing pull requests and taking courses, even when not coding regularly.

The CBot

ASeq Newsletter • 14 implied HN points • 01 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. The CBot is an important part of DNA sequencing, especially for older instruments like the HiSeq. It takes in samples and helps generate clusters, which are crucial for accurate DNA analysis.
  2. Even though the HiSeq was discontinued, the technology in the CBot goes back many years, showing that some designs can last a long time in the field.
  3. The CBot uses a unique fluidic system with a disposable manifold instead of a vacuum chuck, which makes it easier to handle but raises questions about why such a feature was needed.

Another Brick In The Wall

Gradient Ascendant • 16 implied HN points • 19 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. AI models are hitting a point where progress is slowing down. This means that just getting more data or tweaking algorithms might not lead to big breakthroughs anymore.
  2. Even if AI isn't changing dramatically right now, it's still a useful tool for many people. Startups in this space might find it easier to succeed without the threat of a huge game-changing model wiping them out.
  3. With the slowdown in AI development, concerns about AI risks might lessen. Policymakers will have to address how people continue using current chatbots, even with their flaws.

The NextSeq 2000 Optical System

ASeq Newsletter • 14 implied HN points • 13 Dec 24
🔬 Science Engineering
  1. The NextSeq 2000 utilizes structured illumination to improve imaging quality. This technology allows for clearer images of very small features that were hard to see before.
  2. This updated information aims to reach a broader audience, moving from a previous platform to this one.
  3. The content is exclusive for paid subscribers, highlighting the value in subscribing for more detailed insights.

Worse is better

Sunday Letters • 59 implied HN points • 31 Oct 21
🕹 Technology Engineering
  1. Simplicity in software design is really important. When software is simple, it’s often easier for users to understand and use.
  2. Many engineers feel pressure to add more features, which can make software more complex. This push for complexity can lead to better options for users who prefer easier solutions.
  3. Sometimes, simpler software can outperform more complex systems. Users appreciate clear and easy-to-use options, leading to the idea that 'worse is better'.