Jun 24, 2024

Coffee with Developers - Leah Culver

The developer of the first Twitter iOS app declined an NDA to speak freely. She reveals how new leadership misunderstood and dismantled the platform’s core business model.

#1about 3 minutes

Contrasting iOS development with the open web

A comparison of closed ecosystems like Apple's iOS with the open, accessible nature of JavaScript and the early web's "view source" culture.

#2about 2 minutes

Unpacking the real reason for GitHub's success

GitHub's success stemmed from being the simplest, most accessible platform for hosting open-source code, rather than its social features.

#3about 5 minutes

Why we need a new social media platform

The takeover of Twitter/X highlights the need for a new, authentic social network that isn't controlled by one person and has a sustainable business model.

#4about 3 minutes

Confronting the negative impact of social media

Social media platforms have evolved into addiction machines that negatively affect mental health, requiring a backlash to reclaim them as productive tools.

#5about 6 minutes

Balancing data permanence and the right to be forgotten

The web's shift from open links to walled gardens raises questions about data ownership, the role of the Internet Archive, and an individual's right to be forgotten.

#6about 3 minutes

Understanding the pitfalls of AI-generated search results

AI-powered search summaries often suffer from hallucinations and bad data because they are designed to provide an answer at all costs, even if it's incorrect.

#7about 3 minutes

How investors evaluate startups beyond the hype

Investors look past buzzwords like AI to focus on whether a startup is solving a real problem and if the founders have the right experience and passion to succeed.

#8about 3 minutes

Navigating the job market as a junior developer

The current tech industry trend of cutting staff and prioritizing senior hires creates a challenging but unsustainable environment for junior developers.

#9about 2 minutes

The startup dilemma of prioritizing accessibility

Startups often delay implementing accessibility and internationalization because they must first focus limited resources on achieving product-market fit.

#10about 3 minutes

Establishing healthy social norms for the digital age

The generation that adopted the internet as young adults has a unique responsibility to establish healthy usage norms and combat misinformation for older and younger generations.

#11about 1 minute