Aardvark'd: The Fog Creek documentary, 18 years later (mtlynch.io)

Article summary

The article discusses the documentary Aardvark'd, which was filmed in 2005 at Fog Creek Software, a company founded by Joel Spolsky. The documentary follows four college interns as they design and launch a new software product, and features interviews with notable figures such as Paul Graham, Steve Huffman, and Aaron Swartz. The article reflects on the documentary 18 years later, highlighting its historical significance and the insights it provides into the tech industry at the time. The documentary has been made available for free on YouTube, despite its initial low viewership.

Main themes

• tech industry history
• software development
• office design
• collaboration vs focus
• Aaron Swartz legacy
• documentary filmmaking
• Fog Creek Software history

What commenters say

• The documentary provides a unique glimpse into the early days of the tech industry and the people who shaped it.
• Some commenters have fond memories of watching the documentary and appreciate its historical significance.
• Others criticize the documentary's production quality and lack of cohesion.
• There is disagreement over the legacy of Aaron Swartz, with some viewing him as a freedom fighter and others as a lawbreaker.
• The article and comments touch on the importance of functional specifications in software development.
• Some commenters discuss the evolution of office design and the trade-offs between collaboration and focus.
• The documentary's portrayal of the interns' experiences and the challenges they faced is seen as relatable and insightful by some.
• Others argue that the documentary's lack of resolution and unclear plot make it difficult to follow and less engaging.