Josh Kerievsky on sufficient design, agile and high-performing teams

Distributed.

How do great teams build better software?

In this episode of the Distributed podcast, host Jack Hannah speaks with Josh Kerievsky, founder and CEO of Industrial Logic and one of the earliest pioneers of Agile software development. Josh shares insights into the practices that help teams thrive, including sufficient design, pairing, ensembling, and continuous deployment. He also advocates for a balance between in-person and remote collaboration, the evolving role of AI in software development, and why a focused approach is what matters most for success.

Highlights:

• The concept of sufficient design and why perfection isn’t always necessary
• How pairing and ensemble programming improve knowledge transfer and help develop stronger teams
• The role of continuous deployment in elevating software delivery practices
• Balancing in-person and remote collaboration to support team mental health
• The potential and challenges of AI in software development

In this episode, we cover:

(00:00) – Kicking Things Off With Josh Kerievsky

(01:05) – When Agile Clicked: Lessons From the 90s

(05:05) – Sufficient Design: Knowing When Good Enough Is Enough

(09:50) – Remote, Hybrid, and In-Person Work: Finding the Right Balance

(12:27) – Social Programming: Why Pairing and Ensembling Matter

(20:43) – The Making of a High-Performing Software Team

(30:11) – AI, Specification-Driven Development, and the Future of Coding

(33:46) – Josh’s Advice: Collaborate More, Code Better

Referenced:

Agile Manifesto: https://agilemanifesto.org/

Where to connect further:

Connect with Josh Kerievsky on LinkedIn

More about Industrial Logic

Follow @tuple

Want to hear more? Check out distributed.fm

Connect with Jack Hannah