Essays by Ry Walker

Essays on AI, startups, and software engineering by Ry Walker, founder of Tembo and Astronomer.

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Feb 3, 2026What Actually Helps Developer Performance

No single number captures developer performance. The honest answer is a portfolio of imperfect signals, used to develop people rather than rank them.

Feb 2, 2026Embracing Uncertainty in Conversation

The best exchanges happen when people feel safe to speculate and admit they do not know. "No stats whatsoever" and "always exceptions" build that space.

Jan 29, 2026The Tyranny of Show Me the Data

Every observation now demands a citation. Somewhere along the way we lost the ability to simply notice things, and the conversation got worse for it.

Sep 7, 2025From Code Writer to Code Judge

The biggest blocker to AI coding adoption is not the technology. It is the developer's ego attachment to typing. The role has to shift from author to judge.