Build, Lead& Ship Better
A newsletter for developers, tech leads, and product builders who care about craft, clarity, and building solutions that last.
Quick, sharp reads on engineering, product, and the habits that make teams unstoppable. Plus a few “yep, I messed this up so you don’t have to” stories.
Why This Newsletter Exists (and Why You Might Care)
If you want more than surface-level “thought leadership” and crave insight that actually improves how you build, you're in the right place.
Sharp thinking without the jargon or buzzword bingo.
Playbooks & frameworks you can plug straight into your team and workflow.
Product + engineering in harmony (without the org drama).
Stories & Lessons from experiments, wins, and the fun “oops” moments
Short enough to read over coffee.
Valuable enough to forward to your team.
What I Write About
Think of each issue as a small upgrade for your brain and your craft.
Human + AI engineering
Using AI as leverage without losing taste, judgment, or originality.
Developer experience that actually helps
Tools, rituals, and process tweaks that make work joyful—not bureaucratic.
Where product meets engineering
Roadmaps, prioritization, experiments, and execution that move outcomes.
Leadership & career (minus the guru talk)
Growing with intention, leading with clarity, staying curious—without burning out.
Each piece is grounded in real teams, real products, and real experiments.
Recent Stories
ChatGPT vs. Human Programmers: An Empirical Reality Check
What really happens when AI pair-programs with developers.
Read on Substack →Developer Productivity for Humans
Rethinking productivity without burning out your best builders.
Read on Substack →Delivery Delayed Is Delivery Denied
Why urgency, clarity, and trust separate teams that ship from teams that talk.
Read on Substack →The AI Paradox: Innovation or Imitation?
AI can give you an edge—or make you look like everyone else.
Read on Substack →DX: The Secret Weapon for Transformative Dev Outcomes
Developer experience as leverage—not bureaucracy.
Read on Substack →Product Engineering Excellence: Beyond Technical Skills
How to build products that move metrics—not just ship features.
Read on Substack →Who’s Behind It?
Ibtihaaj Khurram, a software engineer, product-obsessed builder, and someone who cares deeply about how great teams build great products without burning out or losing the plot. I write DevNama as ongoing field notes.
Over the years, I've worked across engineering, product, and leadership. DevNama is where I share real experiments (wins + fails), lessons from building and scaling products, and insights on AI, DX, and modern engineering practice.
Every issue is grounded in teams I've worked with, products I've shipped, and the messy realities of building software. Expect practical ways to work, lead, and stay excited about the craft.
Get next one straight to your inbox
Bi-weekly. High-signal. Zero wasted words.
If you value thoughtful work, gentle ambition, and building with intention — this will feel like a good space to land.
Subscribe Now