John Rudolph Drexler
@johnrudolphdrexler.com
Laravel and Product Management: Thunk.dev
I also make games: Catacombian.com
NYC (by way of St. Louis, Chattanooga, Jakarta, & Oakland)
I also make games: Catacombian.com
NYC (by way of St. Louis, Chattanooga, Jakarta, & Oakland)
Reposted by John Rudolph Drexler
Prague's Kafka International Named Most Alienating Airport
YouTube video by The Onion
www.youtube.com
January 14, 2026 at 6:12 AM
Producing code is easier than ever. But being responsible for a real software product is still very hard.
January 13, 2026 at 12:16 PM
Producing code is easier than ever. But being responsible for a real software product is still very hard.
Why my basketball board game didn't work. Full episode here: notesonplay.transistor.fm/episodes/17-...
January 12, 2026 at 6:49 PM
Why my basketball board game didn't work. Full episode here: notesonplay.transistor.fm/episodes/17-...
My theme for 2026 is "do a good job." podcast.thunk.dev/episodes/83-...
Talking Businessly | 83: Do a good job ™
Our goal for 2026 is to do a good job. John wants to start doing some serious, long term business development.
podcast.thunk.dev
January 6, 2026 at 7:35 PM
My theme for 2026 is "do a good job." podcast.thunk.dev/episodes/83-...
recession indicator: all the spam I receive is for fake job postings
December 23, 2025 at 5:33 PM
recession indicator: all the spam I receive is for fake job postings
Desire paths are fascinating. When players try to play my game over and over in a way I didn't intend, I can either fight them, or accommodate them. I recently pivoted to the latter and the results were awesome. www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxvB...
15: Paying attention to "desire paths"
YouTube video by Catacombian Games
www.youtube.com
December 12, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Desire paths are fascinating. When players try to play my game over and over in a way I didn't intend, I can either fight them, or accommodate them. I recently pivoted to the latter and the results were awesome. www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxvB...
We established pay bands at Thunk. Also, we discuss what makes a for a terrible AI-driven pull request. podcast.thunk.dev/episodes/81-...
Talking Businessly | 81: We set up pay bands
We hired someone. We set up standardized pay bands. We discuss how we use AI, and what makes a bad AI-driven pull request. We like Three Body Problem. John sang in choir.
podcast.thunk.dev
December 9, 2025 at 3:15 PM
We established pay bands at Thunk. Also, we discuss what makes a for a terrible AI-driven pull request. podcast.thunk.dev/episodes/81-...
My card game Colossi is also on sale! catacombian.com/colossi
November 20, 2025 at 2:19 PM
My card game Colossi is also on sale! catacombian.com/colossi
Our new social game Hot Takes has you create tier lists, and asks your friends to guess how you rated things. It is fast, funny, and guaranteed to start fights. Use the offer code BLACKFRIDAY2025 for half off. thesocialgame.gg/marketing-page
The Social Game
Play The Social Game.
thesocialgame.gg
November 20, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Our new social game Hot Takes has you create tier lists, and asks your friends to guess how you rated things. It is fast, funny, and guaranteed to start fights. Use the offer code BLACKFRIDAY2025 for half off. thesocialgame.gg/marketing-page
All my games are 50% off until Dec 1! Argue about something fun over Thanksgiving with our new social game Hot Takes, or play card game Colossi. Links below
November 20, 2025 at 2:19 PM
All my games are 50% off until Dec 1! Argue about something fun over Thanksgiving with our new social game Hot Takes, or play card game Colossi. Links below
Most games simulate some real life scenario. So how do you decide which parts of the real world to represent in game mechanisms? This is where the real artistry of game design comes into play. notesonplay.transistor.fm/episodes/13-...
Notes on Play | 13: Less is more in simulation games
Most games simulate some real world scenario. So how do you decide which parts of the real world to represent in game mechanisms? This is where the real artistry of game design comes to light.
notesonplay.transistor.fm
November 14, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Most games simulate some real life scenario. So how do you decide which parts of the real world to represent in game mechanisms? This is where the real artistry of game design comes into play. notesonplay.transistor.fm/episodes/13-...
Our pal @calebporzio.bsky.social stopped by to do a retrospective on what went well, and what we'll do differently next time at Wire:live. Lots of lulz podcast.thunk.dev/episodes/79-...
Talking Businessly | 79: The wire:live retro (empaneling Caleb Porzio)
Our dear friend Caleb Porzio drops by for some laughs, and a retrospective on Wire:live. We discuss what went well, what could improve, and what we'll do differently next time.
podcast.thunk.dev
November 12, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Our pal @calebporzio.bsky.social stopped by to do a retrospective on what went well, and what we'll do differently next time at Wire:live. Lots of lulz podcast.thunk.dev/episodes/79-...
After each play test of my games, I have dozens of half baked notes on what to fix next. But which changes do I actually make before the next test? As always, the answer is to break it down into problem statements. notesonplay.transistor.fm/episodes/12-...
Notes on Play | 12: Problem-centered design
Between each iteration of my game, I'll have dozens of ideas. But which do I actually implement? I find it extremely helpful to break my ideas down into problem statements, and then focus on just s...
notesonplay.transistor.fm
November 7, 2025 at 1:19 PM
After each play test of my games, I have dozens of half baked notes on what to fix next. But which changes do I actually make before the next test? As always, the answer is to break it down into problem statements. notesonplay.transistor.fm/episodes/12-...
They paid more than they needed to. I do not like to kick off high trust relationships with bets where one of us loses. And all of my incentives are to structure a bet where they pay more than they needed to, and that feels bad to me.
November 6, 2025 at 12:58 PM
They paid more than they needed to. I do not like to kick off high trust relationships with bets where one of us loses. And all of my incentives are to structure a bet where they pay more than they needed to, and that feels bad to me.
I didn't say they get screwed, I said they overpay.
November 6, 2025 at 12:50 PM
I didn't say they get screwed, I said they overpay.
I still just fundamentally dislike the bet. I don't even like winning the bet. It makes me feel like a swindler
November 6, 2025 at 12:48 PM
I still just fundamentally dislike the bet. I don't even like winning the bet. It makes me feel like a swindler
But if you work too slowly for a couple weeks, you just get fired. The client risks far less money. Hourly / Daily rates keep people honest
November 6, 2025 at 12:42 PM
But if you work too slowly for a couple weeks, you just get fired. The client risks far less money. Hourly / Daily rates keep people honest
Software is way less predictable than building a house -- particularly when walking into an existing code base that is riddled with assumptions that might not be correct.
I would also challenge your assertion that customers consistently walk away from house contractors happy 🫣
I would also challenge your assertion that customers consistently walk away from house contractors happy 🫣
November 6, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Software is way less predictable than building a house -- particularly when walking into an existing code base that is riddled with assumptions that might not be correct.
I would also challenge your assertion that customers consistently walk away from house contractors happy 🫣
I would also challenge your assertion that customers consistently walk away from house contractors happy 🫣
Honored to have @mattstauffer.com on the podcast! @tighten.com has been a model for us in so many ways, so we grilled Matt with questions about how to build a great team, hiring senior devs, and strategy / differentiation. podcast.thunk.dev/episodes/78-...
Talking Businessly | 78: Empaneling Matt Stauffer
Matt runs Tighten, and is a kind of big brother to us. We ask him about running agencies, building teams, hiring senior developers, and a lot more. Watch his new Laracast series
podcast.thunk.dev
November 6, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Honored to have @mattstauffer.com on the podcast! @tighten.com has been a model for us in so many ways, so we grilled Matt with questions about how to build a great team, hiring senior devs, and strategy / differentiation. podcast.thunk.dev/episodes/78-...
Project-based estimates/pricing are a bet that someone necessarily loses. Either we overestimate and the client overpays, or we underestimate and get hosed. Total misalignment of incentives. Trust is difficult to build.
That's why we have always and will always bill hourly.
That's why we have always and will always bill hourly.
November 6, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Project-based estimates/pricing are a bet that someone necessarily loses. Either we overestimate and the client overpays, or we underestimate and get hosed. Total misalignment of incentives. Trust is difficult to build.
That's why we have always and will always bill hourly.
That's why we have always and will always bill hourly.
I ate at this sushi restaurant weekly. Incredible service. Outstanding reviews. Packed every night. They decided to retire, and shut the business down at its peak. So contrary to the conventional American wisdom of selling / milking profits with declining quality. Kind of beautiful.
November 5, 2025 at 11:07 PM
I ate at this sushi restaurant weekly. Incredible service. Outstanding reviews. Packed every night. They decided to retire, and shut the business down at its peak. So contrary to the conventional American wisdom of selling / milking profits with declining quality. Kind of beautiful.
The wildest part is that even if Sliwa or Cuomo had dropped out, he still would have won. The people have spoken loud and clear.
November 5, 2025 at 3:27 PM
The wildest part is that even if Sliwa or Cuomo had dropped out, he still would have won. The people have spoken loud and clear.
So funny to watch non-NYers crashing out on twitter about the mayor of a city they never visit, whose policies will in no way affect them, who got over 1M votes from the people he actually represents.
November 5, 2025 at 3:19 PM
So funny to watch non-NYers crashing out on twitter about the mayor of a city they never visit, whose policies will in no way affect them, who got over 1M votes from the people he actually represents.
I live just a few blocks from where he grew up. It's so cool to walk past all these streets that he references. Vernon blvd, queens bridge, jackson ave
November 3, 2025 at 2:33 PM
I live just a few blocks from where he grew up. It's so cool to walk past all these streets that he references. Vernon blvd, queens bridge, jackson ave