22 articles found
Sony Interactive Entertainment doesn't just build PlayStation for the world; its own teams, from chip designers to elite game developers at PlayStation Studios, are the first and most demanding users. This deep internal usage and feedback loop is critical in forging the cutting-edge hardware, intuitive software, and compelling experiences that define each PlayStation generation.
For a company named Lovable, creating products that users genuinely adore is more than a mission—it's a daily practice. By immersively using their own suite of UX design, feedback, and sentiment analysis tools, Lovable's team ensures their platform for crafting delightful user experiences is, itself, truly lovable.
GitHub isn't just where the world builds software; it's where GitHub itself is built. By rigorously using its own platform—from Issues and Actions to Codespaces and Copilot—GitHub's own engineering teams act as 'customer zero,' ensuring their tools are powerful, intuitive, and truly developer-first.
For Basecamp (formerly 37signals), 'eating their own dogfood' isn't just a strategy—it's the company's entire operational and product development philosophy. By running every aspect of their business on Basecamp, they ensure their project management and team communication software is a direct reflection of their own well-honed, real-world needs.
Exploring how YouTube leverages Google's and its own proprietary technology to power its massive video platform, from infrastructure like Bigtable and custom CDNs to AI-driven recommendations and internal development frameworks.
Toast isn't just selling restaurant technology; they're deeply immersed in it. From rigorous internal 'Test Modes' and 'Demo Labs' to high-pressure, real-world simulations, Toast actively utilizes its own platform to refine its POS, KDS, and a full suite of restaurant management tools. This piece explores how this commitment to experiencing their own solutions fuels product development and aims to keep them aligned with the dynamic needs of the hospitality world.
Exploring how Netscape's internal use of its groundbreaking browser and server software fueled innovation and market dominance, but also how this reliance might have contributed to standards battles and its eventual shift towards an open-source future.
Coinbase doesn't just facilitate access to the cryptoeconomy; it actively builds upon and utilizes its own products, APIs, and infrastructure like the Base L2 network. This post explores how this deep internal engagement shapes its services, from AI innovations to open-sourcing security tools, and examines the inherent complexities and lessons learned when a company 'eats its own crypto dog food.'
A look at how AOL utilized its own software, like AIM and homegrown systems, for its operations, and how this internal usage shaped its products and, in some cases, highlighted missed strategic opportunities.
TikTok's rapid rise and constant evolution suggest a dynamic development process. While ByteDance's internal testing practices for its flagship app aren't widely publicized, we explore the clues that point to how the company might 'eat its own dog food' to refine the TikTok experience.
Bumble's mission is to create a platform built on safety, kindness, and empowering women. But do its own employees use pre-release versions of the app to ensure it hits the mark? This post explores Bumble's approach to product refinement, internal testing, and the unique considerations of dogfooding a dating app.
Snapchat is renowned for its innovative and rapidly evolving features. A key, albeit secretive, part of its development process involves 'dogfooding' – where Snap employees rigorously use pre-release versions of the app. This post delves into how this internal testing, coupled with public betas and a unique company culture, shapes the Snapchat experience.
How Meta (formerly Facebook) built React to solve its own massive UI challenges and continues to shape the framework's evolution through extensive internal use across its vast ecosystem of products, for better or sometimes, for more complex.
How Microsoft's 'Eat Your Own Dog Food' philosophy shaped their development culture
Mailchimp famously helps millions market to their customers. But how does this primate-branded behemoth leverage its own potent marketing tools for its internal needs? We explore where this internal usage shines and where the platform's external focus might lead internal communicators down a tricky path.
An exploration of how LinkedIn leverages its own vast technological infrastructure and employee usage to refine its platform, and the potential pitfalls of this deep internal reliance.
Uber leverages its own technology extensively, from sophisticated experimentation platforms to internal tools and targeted beta programs. This post explores how dogfooding—using their own products—helps Uber innovate, refine, and occasionally, stumble.
HashiCorp's suite of tools forms the backbone of modern cloud infrastructure for countless organizations. But how does the company itself leverage its powerful creations like Terraform, Vault, Consul, and Nomad? We delve into how HashiCorp's own operational experiences shape its products, highlighting both the symbiotic relationship and the pragmatic approach of integrating external solutions when needed.
Google Search is the gateway to the internet for billions. But before new features or algorithm tweaks reach the public, they often go through rigorous internal testing by Google's own employees—a practice known as 'dogfooding.' This post explores how Google eats its own search dog food to refine the world's most popular search engine.
Etsy, the global marketplace for unique and creative goods, doesn't just build tools for its millions of sellers and buyers; they immerse themselves in their own ecosystem. This exploration delves into how Etsy applies dogfooding principles to refine its platform, improve user experience, and foster innovation, while also considering the nuances of this approach.
A deep dive into how Asana leverages its own work management platform for everything from product development and infrastructure management to internal communication and goal setting. Discover the patterns and practices that help them refine their product and the occasional insights gained when the system is stretched.
DoorDash encourages employees, from engineers to executives, to directly experience its platform through programs like WeDash. This post explores how this immersive approach, alongside dedicated internal tool development, aims to refine its services, and touches on the complexities and feedback surrounding such initiatives.