Leaving Google (airs.com)

Article summary

Ian Lance Taylor, a key contributor to the Go programming language, has left Google after 19 years. He reflects on his time working on Go and its unexpected success, which has become a widely-used language. Taylor plans to take a break but hopes to contribute to Go again in the future. He notes that Google, the Go project, and the programming environment have changed, making it clear that he is no longer a good fit for the project.

Main themes

• Go programming language
• Google company changes
• Career transitions
• Software development priorities
• Management pressures
• Technological evolution

What commenters say

• The authors of Go initially expected it to serve as an example for other languages, not necessarily to be widely adopted itself.
• Google's history of killing products and changing priorities may have contributed to the departure of key contributors like Ian Lance Taylor.
• The success of Go can be attributed to its careful management and the positive image of Google at the time of its creation.
• Some commenters speculate that management pressures and cost-cutting measures may have played a role in Taylor's departure, despite his prominent position.
• The engineering ladder at Google has changed over time, potentially affecting the roles and responsibilities of senior engineers like Taylor.
• The departure of key contributors like Taylor and Russ Cox may be related to broader changes in the company's priorities and values.
• Some argue that even prominent engineers are not insulated from management pressures and performance evaluations, which can affect their work and decisions.