Screenshots and vibe coding only get your agent so far. The Headway dev team digs into what it actually takes to keep AI-generated code consistent at scale, from design system MCPs to structured component APIs to hooks that prevent drift.

The Headway dev team breaks down the AI tools, workflows, and tradeoffs behind how they're actually shipping production software in 2026.

Dive into the intricate world of system architecture, focusing on Conway's Law and its impact on software development. Learn how organizational communication structures can shape the architecture of systems. The Headway team discusses the balance between creating independent teams for faster development and the potential pitfalls of unnecessary silos, especially for startups and smaller teams. Listen to debates on the merits of microservices versus monolithic applications, with insights into how modern technologies like Elixir's flame pattern and serverless solutions like AWS Lambda can offer scalable and efficient solutions. They also discuss hosted environments, from on-premises setups to cloud-native solutions, and how new patterns and technologies make it easier for developers to build robust applications without deep DevOps expertise. This episode provides valuable perspectives and innovative approaches to system design and scalability. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion that bridges theory and practical application in software architecture. Discussion: 01:34 Diving into System Architecture and Deployment Evolution 02:20 Exploring Conway's Law in Software Development 04:04 The Challenges of Team Communication and Project Management 06:45 Efficiency in Small Teams: The Power of Three 09:04 Navigating Full Stack Development and Conway's Law 17:14 Innovative Approaches to Hosted Infrastructure Technology 27:32 Concluding Thoughts on Conway's Law and the Future of Software Development Even-Keeled is a podcast by Headway, a digital product agency. https://www.headway.io/

The Headway development team dives into the power of design systems and seamless designer-developer collaboration. Learn about implementing design systems in various environments, automated design-to-code processes, and the crucial role of detailed design documentation. Find out how tools like Tailwind and Storybook can enhance or complicate development. The team doesn't shy away from discussing the real-world implications of maintaining design systems and the delicate balance of collaboration required between designers and developers. Discover how tools like Figma, Tailwind CSS, and Storybook can improve your workflow and consistency and reduce errors. Tune in for engaging debates and actionable tips on optimizing your design and development process. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting, this episode offers valuable takeaways you won't want to miss. 00:00 Introduction 01:50 Defining Design Systems and Their Importance 03:22 The Role of Figma in Design Systems 07:51 Tailwind CSS and Its Impact on Design Systems 10:28 Exploring Storybook and Its Alternatives 17:32 Design Systems in Mobile Development 22:04 Collaboration Between Designers and Developers 33:02 The QA Process and Design Review 34:48 Balancing Design Review with Development Cycles 37:52 Upcoming Conference Talk on Design Systems Even-Keeled is a podcast by Headway, a digital product agency. https://www.headway.io/

Exploring AI in Development: Tools, Privacy, and Local Hosting Insights The Headway development team dives into various aspects of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in development. Discussion topics range from using AI tools such as ChatGPT in browsers and code editors (including VS Code and Vim), to addressing privacy and security concerns surrounding AI. They explore options for running large language models (LLMs) locally to mitigate privacy issues and highlight Headway's internal developments in the AI space. The conversation also touches on consumer-facing AI tools, troubleshooting development issues with AI assistance, and the potential of hosting AI models locally for development purposes, showcasing Elixir's potency in the ML ecosystem through projects like Medicode and tools such as Live Book. 01:13 Exploring AI Tools and ChatGPT Experiences 08:27 AI in Code Editors: Enhancing Developer Productivity 23:13 The Future of AI in Troubleshooting and Development 33:10 Local Hosting of LLMs and Elixir's Role in AI 41:41 Wrapping Up: AI Innovations and Future Directions Even-Keeled is a podcast by Headway, a digital product agency. https://www.headway.io/

We're back! Join the Headway development leadership team for a chat about RailsConf, Vim and VS Code, PWAs, Turbo Native, Rails 8, Elixir, React, and more. We discuss recent steps Apple has taken constraining the capabilities of Progressive Web Applications (PWAs) in the European Union. The team also explores TurboNative, a tech solution that blends native and web apps, and Supabase, an open-source Firebase competitor built on Postgres. The resurgence in popularity of the Ruby on Rails framework is also discussed. The episode suggests that while JavaScript libraries like React continue to dominate, full-stack solutions offered by platforms like Rails are experiencing a revival, particularly for start-ups. 00:00 Introductions and Discussion on Technology Trends and Workflows 00:54 Exploring the World of Programming with Core Technologies 01:21 RailsConf and the Journey of Submitting a Talk 02:33 The Vim vs VS Code Debate 08:23 Exploring Other Editors and the Power of Vim 13:26 Apple's Decisions on PWAs and its Impact 19:15 Introduction to Turbo Native 19:51 Turbo Native vs Other Systems 20:54 Turbo Native's Unique Features 22:09 Turbo Native for iOS and Android 22:34 Benefits of Turbo Native for Clients 24:55 The Evolution of React and Rails 25:51 The Resurgence of Rails 26:51 The Future of React and Rails 27:33 The Flexibility of React 36:14 The Use of Supabase in Projects 38:56 The Challenges and Rewards of Consulting 39:51 Preview of Next Discussion: AI, ML, and Cloud Native Hear from Jon Kinney, Partner & CTO, Tim Gremore, Development Lead, Dan Diemer, Mobile Lead, and Chris Held, Development Lead at Headway. Even-Keeled is a podcast by Headway, a digital product agency. https://www.headway.io/

In this episode, Jon chats with Jacob Hebert and Matt Mcgee from the Headway development team about creating static sites with Gatsby. They dive into their experience with Gatsby on client projects and solutions they’ve found most helpful for CMS integration, styling, SEO, and more. Even-Keeled is a podcast by Headway, a digital product agency. https://www.headway.io/

Team retrospectives are a great way to understand what your team can improve on after completing a project. In this episode, Jon chats with Andrew Stuntz, Senior Developer at Headway, about specific ways you can make your team's retrospectives more impactful. That way you can get the most out of your meetings, prevent your team from talking in circles, and do better work together. Even-Keeled is a podcast by Headway, a digital product agency. https://www.headway.io/

In this episode, we discuss storytelling through pull requests and git commit messages and dig into how to effectively use git rebase to craft the story of your code. Even-Keeled is a podcast by Headway, a digital product agency. https://www.headway.io/

Jon Kinney, Partner & CTO, and the development team at Headway explore development methodologies and best practices that help teams build successful software. Learn about the format and content of the podcast as well as some background about your host. Even-Keeled is a podcast by Headway, a digital product agency. https://www.headway.io/