Brian Byrne
Engineering
New perspective
My journey at DevRev is one of new perspectives. For the majority of my 14-year career, my efforts have been shrouded in infrastructure, writing systems designed to be used exclusively by other machines. In this world, efficiency and reliability are key, where function precedes form and inconsistencies can be catastrophic.Humans are different. While they're more forgiving in terms of latency, they're also fairly imprecise, relying on an accumulation of information to guide and enhance their experience. Framing back-end engineering decisions in terms of how they enhances users' productivity—and ultimately, their happiness—flexes an empathy muscle that had atrophied in the infrastructure layers.
This mental shift accompanies a personal change as I've become a first-time father in late April. It has been uniquely rewarding to attempt to see the world through my daughter's eyes as she discovers contrasts and colors. As I start my life-long journey to help her navigate the complexities of life and to teach her how to find value in a world of noise, I can't help but draw parallels to my new professional venture.