productivity

Dan Shipper (Every) describes compounding engineering as an AI-native way of building software where each shipped feature makes the next feature easier (not harder). The loop: Plan → Delegate → Assess → Codify (Also phrased as Plan → Work → Review → Compound in Every’s write-up. “Codify” is the “Compound” step.) Core Idea Treat process knowledge as a first-class artifact. The code is not the only output—your prompts, templates, checks, and conventions should improve with every iteration. ...

Principles, approaches, and measurement strategies for evaluating the impact of AI assistance across the full software development life cycle.

This note summarizes the “Three Developer Loops” framework from the book Vibe Coding by Gene Kim and Steve Yegge. The core idea: AI-assisted development happens across three different feedback-loop timescales. Practices (and patterns) must match the loop you’re currently in to maintain speed without sacrificing quality. The three loops (timescales) Inner Loop (seconds to minutes): Rapid, conversational collaboration with an AI assistant for constant, fast iterations. Middle Loop (hours to days): Continuity across multiple sessions, coordination between agents, and context management. Outer Loop (weeks to months): Long-term architecture, system-level sustainability, and organizational governance. Across all three loops, apply the same control logic: ...

Gene Kim and Steve Yegge coined the term FAAFO to describe the five dimensions of value that vibe coding (AI-assisted programming) creates: Fast: Rapid code generation and iteration Ambitious: Projects once too difficult become feasible Autonomous: Technical self-sufficiency across domains—developers can tackle tasks that previously required specialists or experts in areas outside their expertise Fun: Programming becomes addictive again through rapid feedback loops Optionality: Low-cost parallel experimentation enables keeping options open While speed is the most visible benefit, the authors argue it’s actually the least interesting. The deeper value lies in the other four dimensions—particularly how vibe coding reshapes what’s feasible for individual developers and small teams. ...