Just make good things

Measurements are tricking you

Software companies are obsessed with measuring their products. They measure every single click, hover, and engagement. They run controlled studies to determine if a new feature is significantly (in the statistical sense) better. Immense effort is put in to ensure that every single aspect of a product is measured and known.

We need to stop.

Wait, what? Why?

• Measurements are short term, focused on incremental changes
• When the metric becomes the goal, it begins to deviate from a positive user experience
• User trust degrades easily, and a loss of trust doesn't show up in an A/B test
• People are so starved for quality products, that if you actually put in the work to make something good they will use it
• Enshrining measurements stops your workers from really thinking about what they're doing
• Companies that follow this path inevitably end up in enshittification, and then die once the next new not-horrible thing comes around