Linear Poker with Chris Morrell

Chris Morel expresses his constant curiosity about programming, emphasizing the importance of understanding how things work rather than just using them. This curiosity fuels his tendency to explore side projects and tinkering, where he dives deep into the source code to gain a thorough understanding of programming concepts.

The discussion highlights the value of side projects, particularly for developers. Chris shares how his side projects often stem from his inquisitiveness, and he acknowledges that unfinished projects can still yield valuable insights. This cyclical process of exploration and experimentation leads to personal growth and skill enhancement.

Chris describes his Linear Poker project, which was inspired by the need for better project estimation tools after switching from JIRA to Linear. He explains how the project allows teams to collaboratively estimate tasks using a fun, interactive approach but has not been actively used despite its completion.

In this section, Chris shares his experiences and opinions on GraphQL, noting its flexibility and self-documenting capabilities. However, he acknowledges the challenges developers face when working with non-JavaScript environments, particularly in using GraphQL effectively outside its intended ecosystem.

The conversation touches on the real-time aspect of apps built with modern JavaScript frameworks. Chris explains how he integrated live updates into the Linear Poker app and contrasts the experience of building with Next.js and Vercel against Laravel, revealing gaps in the Laravel ecosystem.

As the episode wraps up, Chris hints at future projects involving automation with Linear, demonstrating how side projects can continuously evolve and contribute to workflow efficiency. He contemplates the joy and creativity found in building without the pressure of a concrete outcome.