Default to writing
A decision said in a meeting is half a decision. We document the why before we move on. It is slower in the moment, faster across the year.
Culture
What it is like to build here.
Thoughtful decisions, clear communication, and room to do careful work. These are the principles we want our working culture to reflect.
How we work, day to day
The norms we hold each other to.
Disagree, decide, commit
We argue hard in the room. Once a decision is made, everyone moves with it. Re-litigating is its own kind of cost.
Own the outcome
Engineers own systems end to end. Designers own the experience until it is in production. Project managers own the calendar and the budget. No hand-offs without ownership.
Bring people up
Share context, give useful feedback, and make it easier for someone else to do good work. Learning should strengthen the whole team.
No heroics
A team that ships at 2 a.m. is a team that did not plan the release. We celebrate the boring launch where everything worked.
Build the firm
We are not contractors filling seats. We are building the institution we want African software to be known by — a small, deliberate amount each week.
What a focused working day can look like
Make space for the work that matters.
08:30
Standup, in writing first
Async updates posted before any live conversation. Saves the meeting for what is actually unclear.
10:00
Deep work block
Protect time for concentrated work. Keep interruptions visible and make room for careful implementation.
12:30
Open lunch
Step back from the screen and make room for informal conversation across disciplines.
14:00
Code reviews & pairing
Use reviews and pairing to share context, question assumptions, and improve the work.
16:00
Client demo or retro
Show progress, gather feedback, and adjust priorities while there is still time to act.
17:30
Learning hour
Make time for reading, experiments, and sharing what a project has taught the team.