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“Continuous improvement” is an upbeat term that we like to throw around in technology circles. Let’s keep getting better! Who can argue with that? But realistically, nothing and no one improves continuously. We grow, we plateau, regress a bit, grow again, and so on. If we’re being honest, that “plateau” stage can sometimes last a long time, and we need a jolt to trigger our next climb to new heights. For many organizations, developer productivity has been "stuck" for a while now. Could AI be the thing to shake it loose? We just published a new paper that makes the case that it will. The topic of developer productivity came to a head in the second half of 2023, as people debated new ways to measure software delivery performance. How do you actually measure software developers? Do you just look at output and activity? What about outcomes and impact? Should we be looking at individuals or teams? In some respects, it seems like we’ve flatlined on some of the team-based measures of productive activity. For example, adoption of core delivery capabilities like continuous integration and continuous deployment hover at 30% year after year. Developers are asked to do a lot — too much, if I’m being honest — and it feels like we’ve hit a plateau on how much more we can do. Until something changes. Something did change. I’m talking about the mainstreaming of generative AI. It’s already changed how we work. From brainstorming and prototyping, to coding and infrastructure optimization, we finally have tools that can break the productivity logjam. This new class of tool stands to fundamentally alter significant portions of the software development lifecycle and help us do more, with less effort. This new paper is for team and organization leaders. It explores what it means to measure developer productivity and how generative AI will make a difference. We look at frameworks like DORA and SPACE, offer questions for assessing your own organization’s approach to developer productivity, and then explain how AI-assisted developer tooling improves your productivity outcomes. Just throwing powerful tools at your team won’t yield the benefits you’re hoping for. But if you have the right frame of mind on productivity while creating an excellent developer experience, we believe that the introduction of AI assistance to your developers will have a generational impact on their productivity. To read more, download the paper here. View the full article

Rust developers at Google are twice as productive as C++ teamsView the full article

In the realm of productivity, every efficiency gained counts. For many, the terminal serves as the central hub for navigating the digital landscape. Whether you're a seasoned developer, a system administrator, or simply someone who spends a lot of time working in the command line, customizing your terminal can transform it from a basic tool into a personalized powerhouse. In this guide, we'll explore various ways you can hack your terminal to enhance your workflow, boost productivity, and create a workspace tailored to your needs. Most of the stuff will revolve around modifying your bashrc/zshrc config. Enhance the Look With Powerlevel10k The aesthetic appeal of your terminal plays a significant role in your overall experience. Powerlevel10k is one of the coolest themes you can install in your zsh terminal. It transforms your terminal from a basic interface into a sleek, informative, and visually captivating display, providing a significant upgrade in both aesthetics and functionality. View the full article

Data silos are draining developers’ productivity. Here's how to break away from these silos with better observability. View the full article

Bill Doerrfeld explores whether you can actually measure developer productivity and, more importantly, if you should. View the full article