This marks the ninth year of our WeCoded celebration. While each year has had its highs and lows, this one feels especially noteworthy. We are witnessing a shift in the industry, and for me, it comes with significant professional and personal updates that feel impossible to separate from the work we do here.
For years, we were known as PBJ— @peter, @ben, and Jess. When you build something from the ground up as a trio, your identities become almost synonymous with the company and with each other. This year, that dynamic underwent its biggest shift yet when DEV was acquired by Major League Hacking (MLH). Most startups don’t make it "home" so this was a moment of immense pride that also marked a profound transition. I am moving from a seat where my co-founders and I held the collective weight of every decision we made to being one voice within a larger organization. It’s an exercise in leading through influence rather than direct authority. It is a transition I’m still navigating in a world that feels increasingly volatile to women and underrepresented folks in tech.
Designing a New Interface
This year hasn't just been about professional shifts; it’s been about personal ones, too. I recently started including they/them in my pronouns—a practice my partner and I have used for our children since they were born. We want them to discover who they are on their own timeline without being forced into a societal gender box before they’ve had a chance to explore.
That "box" is something I think about constantly as a developer. We are currently seeing a coordinated, systemic rollback of DEI initiatives across the U.S. tech sector. It’s a choice that feels insidious in its intent. In this climate, a "Man/Woman" radio button on a digital form isn't just a legacy UI choice; it’s a micro-enforcement of a rigid binary.
As developers, we are the architects of the interfaces the world lives in. We have the power to push back by building systems that refuse to force people into categories that don't fit.
A Small Act of Resistance
Visibility creates safety, especially when the broader environment feels restrictive. If you haven't yet, I’d love for you to add your pronouns to your DEV profile. If you’re curious about the "why," pronouns.org is a resource you can check out. It’s a way to signal that DEV remains a sanctuary even when the industry at large feels less certain.
Observing the Work
Amidst the whirlwind of the acquisition, I spent some time as a quiet observer at an MLH hackathon at RIT for Women in Computing. I was there to witness the next generation of engineers.
Watching these students work was a stark reminder of what is at stake. They are entering an industry that is statistically hostile to their longevity. We know the numbers: 50% of women leave the tech industry by age 35. Furthermore, during recent restructuring waves, women were laid off at nearly twice the rate of their representation in the workforce.
These students aren't just learning to code; they are learning to survive in a space that historically hasn't made room for them. Seeing their focus at RIT made me even more excited and committed to my work with MLH and DEV. I'm grateful to be part of an organization that can influence our overall tech culture so underrepresented groups aren't pushed out the back door.
Choosing Optimism
I won’t say the future looks "bright." For many of us, it feels like we are holding our breath. But I am hopeful.
I am hopeful because of the room full of curious students at RIT. I am hopeful because, despite the noise, we are still here, still building, and still insisting on our right to be seen.
Here are a few members writing about or building cool stuff that I admire:
To everyone participating in this challenge: thank you for your vulnerability. Your stories are proof that even when things are difficult, we can build together as a community.
Top comments (5)
Hey @jess! Hope you are well. Thanks for sharing your experience so far!
The way I see it, I see that you and your team made many great milestones that I never seen! Being able to create Dev and still continuing on for more than a decade is very impressive. Not a lot of people have that consistency to keep building on the project that they loved and being able to bring communities together on this platform. That should be an inspiration for others who are thinking of creating their own platform and building their own communities. I am proud to be part of this community you have built!
I never really thought about more of why the pronouns are important. For me, it's just being respectful to others. I remember someone calling me a "she" back then even though I was not remotely close in looking like a girl! Although it didn't really offended me, I can see how it can be offended by others if I were in their shoes.
Great work and congrats on the Dev + MLH! I wish to see what is in store in the future. I hope you will still connect with us and engage with the community with us like always as time progress. It's always good to hear you and @ben leaving comments throughout the whole Dev.to space! Keep at it no matter how big you get. That's how community survives!
Thanks for sharing Jess! Great work :D
Thank you @francistrdev! Also know that I have your email bookmarked in my inbox and plan to reply soon! Been a bit swamped today 😅
Sounds good! No rush. I am here all day today if you need anything!!
What the BPJ team has done is nothing short of legendary and I'm confident there's even more great things ahead for you!
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