Build the scary stuff | Bryan Cantrill (Oxide)
Bryan is the CTO of Oxide Computer Company and previously a Distinguished Engineer at Sun Microsystems
From being a distinguished engineer at Sun Microsystems to co-founding Oxide Computer Company to build a new kind of server, Bryan joins the show to chat about being told that he’s on a suicide mission when starting Oxide, the moment he felt “I’m actually living HBO Silicon Valley”, lessons from Sun, and much more.
Highlights
#1 Problems worthy of attack, prove their worth by fighting back.
When tackling a hard problem, it's easy to feel discouraged and want to give up. But remember that problems worthy of attack prove their worth by fighting back. It's when you're punched in the face and pushed down that you know you're onto something valuable.
The key is to celebrate small wins, even when they feel insignificant. Those little victories build up and give you the confidence to take on even bigger challenges. And when you're working with a team, the sense of accomplishment is amplified.
Don't be afraid to be vulnerable and admit when you're struggling. It's okay to feel terrified or unsure, but don't let that hold you back. As the saying goes: "Things take time." Grind, grind, grind, and eventually, you'll get that win.
#2 Using RFDs in the hiring process.
An unique step in Oxide’s hiring process are the Requests for Discussion (RFDs). These detailed documents give candidates a glimpse into the thought process and the level of complexity involved in the work.
By making many of their RFDs publicly available, they do not only showcase their expertise but also set expectations for potential hires. As Bryan puts it, "If you dig deep enough, you'll get to the limit of our own thinking." This transparency helps attract candidates who are up for the challenge and willing to put in the hard work required to excel.
Segments:
(00:02:24) The Origin of Bryan's Nom-de-Guerre: "Colonel of Data Corruption"
(00:04:02) What Debugging Performance Issues at Twitter in the Early Days Revealed About Silicon Valley
(00:13:37) Value of Formal Education and the Experience That Everyone Should Have
(00:16:02) Balancing Following One's Passion vs. Having Stability
(00:21:14) What Shaped Bryan's Sense of Integrity
(00:25:39) The Moments When Values Are Instilled
(00:30:25) The Dark Side of Tech
(00:35:12) "Economic Opportunities Attract Economic Opportunists"
(00:40:35) The Origins of Oxide Computers
(00:50:20) Building the A-Team
(00:52:18) "Compaq Was the Most Successful Startup"
(00:55:51) The Venture Capitalist's Dilemma
(01:03:04) Being Told "You're on a Suicide Mission"
(01:07:12) The Lifestyle of the "Lifestyle Business"
(01:09:30) The Harsh Reality of Raising Venture Capital
(01:13:12) The Challenges of Building Hardware
(01:16:36) Why You Should Think About Not Only Gross Margin but Net Margin
(01:19:14) Hardware and Software Co-Design
(01:22:06) The Frustrations of Infrastructure Deployment
(01:26:46) Finding the Right VCs
(01:28:16) "Oh My God, I'm Actually Living HBO Silicon Valley"
(01:33:12) Oxide's Principles and Lessons from Sun Microsystems
(01:39:51) Sun's Unspoken Values
(01:45:03) Sun's Legacy of Empowering Employees
(01:48:53) Sun's Missed Opportunities
(01:53:04) The Reason Why Sun Survived the Dot-Com Crash
(01:56:21) "God Bless the Early Adopters"
(01:57:39) A Tweet from Shopify's CEO
(02:01:24) The Hard Thing About Hard Things
(02:12:55) The Hardest Moment in Oxide's History
Show Notes:
Oxide’s principles: https://oxide.computer/principles
Requests for Discussion (RFDs):
Toby’s tweet: https://x.com/tobi/status/1793798092212367669
Bryan on twitter: https://x.com/bcantrill
Stay in touch:
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Music: Vlad Gluschenko — Forest License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en