Europe 2026
Taste & Craft: A Conversation with Tuomas Artman, CTO Linear & Gergely Orosz, @The Pragmatic Engineer
Overview
This talk explores the potential pitfalls of rapid software development fueled by AI, emphasizing the importance of deliberate decision-making and high-quality craft over sheer speed. It argues that while AI tools can accelerate development, they may lead to a proliferation of mediocre or confusing products if not guided by a strong sense of taste and user focus. The conversation highlights the need for engineers to maintain a critical perspective, prioritizing user needs and product quality even as development cycles shorten.
Who should watch
- Engineers and product managers grappling with the pace of AI-driven development.
- Builders seeking to create high-quality, user-centric software.
- Teams looking to balance rapid iteration with product excellence.
- Those interested in fostering a culture of quality within engineering teams.
Key takeaways
- The ease of AI-assisted development risks a pendulum swing towards shipping features without sufficient thought, potentially resulting in convoluted user experiences.
- Historically, engineering effort served as a natural gate for feature development; AI removes this barrier, necessitating a conscious effort to maintain quality.
- Building "tasteful" and high-quality software is crucial for maintaining a competitive advantage, especially as AI lowers the barrier to entry for feature parity.
- Linear employs "Quality Wednesdays" where engineers proactively identify and fix small quality issues, fostering a culture of attention to detail and reducing regressions.
- A "zero bug policy" means bugs are immediately prioritized and fixed, preventing backlog accumulation and ensuring a consistently better user experience.
- AI currently lacks "taste" and a deep understanding of user experience nuances like animation timing or perceived performance, areas where human judgment remains critical.
- Engineers are increasingly expected to adopt a product-oriented mindset, engaging directly with customer needs and driving features from conception to delivery.
- Developing product sense involves getting hands-on experience, building and shipping projects, and deeply understanding customer feedback and needs.
Notable quotes
*Great products come out of saying no to you know 999 things and yes to one thing.*
*Over time people will will pick the one that is of higher quality.*
*AI doesn't have a concept of time and currently how it sort of interacts with your browser is effectively timeless.*
Unofficial community note. Prefer the recording for nuance.