One of Coda’s mottos is “Everyone’s a maker,” so I’m posting this as a passionate Coda maker. I started using Coda way before I joined as an employee in 2021.
Disclaimer: I am an employee of Coda, but everything expressed here is solely my own opinion.
Last week was a whirlwind, to say the least- and now that I’ve had some time to pause, learn, and reflect, I want to share some of my thoughts:
- Change is hard. I’m also anxious and nervous about the future of the product and the company-- we all are. That’s a very human feeling after so many changes. So, if you’re feeling anxious, we have that in common, and it’s okay to feel like that.
- AI is a bit scary and confusing. I have no idea what “the AI-native productivity suite” actually means. All I know is that the way humans are getting their work done is changing, and it’s changing very fast. But I’m cautiously optimistic that Coda+Grammarly will figure it out. Both companies have a good track record of solving tough problems.
- Coda docs are here to stay, and they’re about to get a big upgrade. I think the reason is pretty obvious: Grammarly doesn’t have a “surface”- and Coda docs are an excellent surface, so those docs better be damn good and ready for whatever comes next.
- I have a ton of appreciation and respect for Shishir and other leaders at Coda- I know we’re in good hands; it might not seem like it, but they’re really trying to build a product and company that works for most people.
- Coda (and I) could definitely do a better job of connecting with our community and users. It’s honestly frightening sometimes—power dynamics can be tricky, but I’ll try and encourage others to try as well. If you have a specific question for the Coda team, I encourage you to ask directly and quickstart the conversation.
- The Grammarly team is super smart and just as excited as we are about Coda. I had the opportunity to meet some of them and learn about their product, company, and culture. I love their vibes!
- Huge thanks to everyone here who openly expressed their concerns, excitement, ideas, and questions. Coda is lucky to have such a passionate group of makers and shouldn’t take that for granted. I appreciate everyone who took the time and energy to express what they think- not an easy thing to do (as I’m feeling ridiculously vulnerable for writing this).
Finally, I’m sharing something a Codan shared a few weeks ago that resonated with me:
Resolve to approach whatever is to come with an open mind, a positive attitude, and a renewed sense of patience and engagement. No matter what’s to come, the future of Coda is going to be what we make of it.
To state the obvious, I’m incredibly excited about what’s to come in 2025!
Happy holidays to those who celebrate!
-Hector
ps: my DMs are always open, please reach out.