Swizec Teller
@swizec.com
Best selling author of Scaling Fast: Software Engineering Through The Hockeystick
book ⏵ https://scalingfastbook.com
prev book ⏵ https://swizec.com/senior-mindset
blog ⏵ https://swizec.com
book ⏵ https://scalingfastbook.com
prev book ⏵ https://swizec.com/senior-mindset
blog ⏵ https://swizec.com
Pinned
Swizec Teller
@swizec.com
· Dec 8
hockeystick moments are the biggest opportunity of your career. It's exciting and kinda scary. Everything changes!
I wrote Scaling Fast: Software Engineering Through the Hockeystick as your guide. 16 years of startup experience condensed into 240 pages
scalingfastbook.com
I wrote Scaling Fast: Software Engineering Through the Hockeystick as your guide. 16 years of startup experience condensed into 240 pages
scalingfastbook.com
The future of software engineering is SRE
Because when code gets cheap, operational excellence wins. Anyone can build a greenfield demo, but you need engineering to run a service.
swizec.com/blog/the-fut...
Because when code gets cheap, operational excellence wins. Anyone can build a greenfield demo, but you need engineering to run a service.
swizec.com/blog/the-fut...
The future of software engineering is SRE | Swizec Teller
When code gets cheap operational excellence wins. Anyone can build a greenfield demo, but it takes engineering to run a service.
swizec.com
January 24, 2026 at 11:31 PM
The future of software engineering is SRE
Because when code gets cheap, operational excellence wins. Anyone can build a greenfield demo, but you need engineering to run a service.
swizec.com/blog/the-fut...
Because when code gets cheap, operational excellence wins. Anyone can build a greenfield demo, but you need engineering to run a service.
swizec.com/blog/the-fut...
The future of software engineering is SRE
Get your code in production *with* enough instrumentation, context, cardinality, and precision tooling that you (or your agentic swarm) can validate precisely what it's doing.
That's the burden. That's the bottleneck.
Happy Friday.
That's the burden. That's the bottleneck.
Happy Friday.
January 24, 2026 at 3:35 AM
The future of software engineering is SRE
started using graphite for stacked PRs
I wish this was more integrated into git and github.
Keep having source-of-truth issues :/
Anyone got used to graphite? Am I just holding it wrong?
I wish this was more integrated into git and github.
Keep having source-of-truth issues :/
Anyone got used to graphite? Am I just holding it wrong?
January 22, 2026 at 8:17 PM
started using graphite for stacked PRs
I wish this was more integrated into git and github.
Keep having source-of-truth issues :/
Anyone got used to graphite? Am I just holding it wrong?
I wish this was more integrated into git and github.
Keep having source-of-truth issues :/
Anyone got used to graphite? Am I just holding it wrong?
In SFBA you're 1 or 2 intros away from some really impressive people. That's the power of moving here.
I'm talking 2 handshakes from talking to people who've built multiple billion dollar companies, tools you use every day, etc
I'm talking 2 handshakes from talking to people who've built multiple billion dollar companies, tools you use every day, etc
January 21, 2026 at 9:31 PM
In SFBA you're 1 or 2 intros away from some really impressive people. That's the power of moving here.
I'm talking 2 handshakes from talking to people who've built multiple billion dollar companies, tools you use every day, etc
I'm talking 2 handshakes from talking to people who've built multiple billion dollar companies, tools you use every day, etc
I love refactoring
a man in white underwear is standing on one leg in a living room .
ALT: a man in white underwear is standing on one leg in a living room .
media.tenor.com
January 20, 2026 at 6:37 AM
I love refactoring
Computer science:
The halting problem is unsolvable
Software engineering:
If it doesn’t resolve in 30 seconds, I don’t need it
The halting problem is unsolvable
Software engineering:
If it doesn’t resolve in 30 seconds, I don’t need it
January 19, 2026 at 7:33 PM
Computer science:
The halting problem is unsolvable
Software engineering:
If it doesn’t resolve in 30 seconds, I don’t need it
The halting problem is unsolvable
Software engineering:
If it doesn’t resolve in 30 seconds, I don’t need it
Computer science:
The halting problem is unsolvable
Software engineering:
If the program takes more than 30 seconds, I don’t need the result
The halting problem is unsolvable
Software engineering:
If the program takes more than 30 seconds, I don’t need the result
January 19, 2026 at 7:25 PM
Computer science:
The halting problem is unsolvable
Software engineering:
If the program takes more than 30 seconds, I don’t need the result
The halting problem is unsolvable
Software engineering:
If the program takes more than 30 seconds, I don’t need the result
So I was gonna try an epic Waymo journey to Sunnyvale today, then I noticed the time. Almost 3 hours 😂
Guess we’re not quite there yet thanks for the warning
Guess we’re not quite there yet thanks for the warning
January 18, 2026 at 9:12 PM
So I was gonna try an epic Waymo journey to Sunnyvale today, then I noticed the time. Almost 3 hours 😂
Guess we’re not quite there yet thanks for the warning
Guess we’re not quite there yet thanks for the warning
Short run today. The mind is willing but the flesh is flabby and bruised
January 18, 2026 at 7:31 PM
Short run today. The mind is willing but the flesh is flabby and bruised
Oh hell yeah, a Slovenian won the Dakar!
amazing
amazing
January 17, 2026 at 10:04 PM
Oh hell yeah, a Slovenian won the Dakar!
amazing
amazing
Here's how to navigate a tough job market from someone dumb enough to have done it before. Me.
swizec.com/blog/a-tough...
swizec.com/blog/a-tough...
A tough job market is the best time to start something | Swizec Teller
Here's how to navigate a tough job market from someone dumb enough to have done it before. Me.
swizec.com
January 17, 2026 at 8:14 PM
Here's how to navigate a tough job market from someone dumb enough to have done it before. Me.
swizec.com/blog/a-tough...
swizec.com/blog/a-tough...
Nothing feels better than recent hires saying “I’ve never seen engineering move this fast”
January 17, 2026 at 6:30 AM
Nothing feels better than recent hires saying “I’ve never seen engineering move this fast”
LLMs are pushing us back towards Not Invented Here syndrome. Why pay a vendor for 2 features you need and 10 you don't? It's easy to build yourself
ironically this means we'll need *more* software engineers, not less
all this stuff gotta stay maintained
ironically this means we'll need *more* software engineers, not less
all this stuff gotta stay maintained
January 16, 2026 at 2:51 PM
LLMs are pushing us back towards Not Invented Here syndrome. Why pay a vendor for 2 features you need and 10 you don't? It's easy to build yourself
ironically this means we'll need *more* software engineers, not less
all this stuff gotta stay maintained
ironically this means we'll need *more* software engineers, not less
all this stuff gotta stay maintained
I think for many programmers, coding agents are their first experience of working on an actual team.
it's kinda beautiful to watch people discover collaboration, basic project management, writing specs, etc
it's kinda beautiful to watch people discover collaboration, basic project management, writing specs, etc
January 15, 2026 at 11:06 PM
I think for many programmers, coding agents are their first experience of working on an actual team.
it's kinda beautiful to watch people discover collaboration, basic project management, writing specs, etc
it's kinda beautiful to watch people discover collaboration, basic project management, writing specs, etc
My biggest career miss was saying No to Shopify two years before IPO. Back when Tobi was still the last interview. That was cool.
But you can't win every bet
Your goal is to be a little more right than wrong and keep playing. Long-term it all works out
swizec.com/blog/place-g...
But you can't win every bet
Your goal is to be a little more right than wrong and keep playing. Long-term it all works out
swizec.com/blog/place-g...
Place good startup bets | Swizec Teller
You can't win every bet. Your goal is to be a little more right than wrong and keep playing
swizec.com
January 14, 2026 at 6:24 PM
My biggest career miss was saying No to Shopify two years before IPO. Back when Tobi was still the last interview. That was cool.
But you can't win every bet
Your goal is to be a little more right than wrong and keep playing. Long-term it all works out
swizec.com/blog/place-g...
But you can't win every bet
Your goal is to be a little more right than wrong and keep playing. Long-term it all works out
swizec.com/blog/place-g...
wow v0 built a whole system to collect testimonials
took a little iteration but pretty sweet. I can finally “code” from my iPad while watching TV
took a little iteration but pretty sweet. I can finally “code” from my iPad while watching TV
January 14, 2026 at 5:26 AM
wow v0 built a whole system to collect testimonials
took a little iteration but pretty sweet. I can finally “code” from my iPad while watching TV
took a little iteration but pretty sweet. I can finally “code” from my iPad while watching TV
Here's the best part of transitioning to eng management
It is 4:51pm. I finally have time to start coding.
But it's an urgent prod issue that we didn't plan for
🙃
It is 4:51pm. I finally have time to start coding.
But it's an urgent prod issue that we didn't plan for
🙃
January 13, 2026 at 12:52 AM
Here's the best part of transitioning to eng management
It is 4:51pm. I finally have time to start coding.
But it's an urgent prod issue that we didn't plan for
🙃
It is 4:51pm. I finally have time to start coding.
But it's an urgent prod issue that we didn't plan for
🙃
unironically starting to think about my Leave Now criteria
when you have official accounts quoting Ein Volk, Ein ... that is not a good sign
when you have official accounts quoting Ein Volk, Ein ... that is not a good sign
January 12, 2026 at 10:07 PM
unironically starting to think about my Leave Now criteria
when you have official accounts quoting Ein Volk, Ein ... that is not a good sign
when you have official accounts quoting Ein Volk, Ein ... that is not a good sign
someone asked if I’d ever cofound a startup [again]
January 12, 2026 at 4:28 PM
someone asked if I’d ever cofound a startup [again]
The best engineering books feel like I should’ve read them 10 years ago, but 10 tats ago I’d think they’re dumb
January 11, 2026 at 5:12 PM
The best engineering books feel like I should’ve read them 10 years ago, but 10 tats ago I’d think they’re dumb
Minutes of planning save you days of programming.
It is shocking how little planning it takes to make a big difference.
swizec.com/blog/small-p...
It is shocking how little planning it takes to make a big difference.
swizec.com/blog/small-p...
January 10, 2026 at 5:37 PM
Minutes of planning save you days of programming.
It is shocking how little planning it takes to make a big difference.
swizec.com/blog/small-p...
It is shocking how little planning it takes to make a big difference.
swizec.com/blog/small-p...
Reposted by Swizec Teller
Late Christmas present: my copy of Scaling Fast by @swizec.com just got delivered. 📦
January 9, 2026 at 2:24 PM
Late Christmas present: my copy of Scaling Fast by @swizec.com just got delivered. 📦
honestly comments like this make sweating over a book for 3 years feel worth it
January 8, 2026 at 8:13 PM
honestly comments like this make sweating over a book for 3 years feel worth it