Peter van Hardenberg - Ink and Switch, Automerge

Peter van Hardenberg - Ink and Switch, Automerge

Author: Andrew Lisowski, Justin Bennett January 12, 2026 Duration: 50:32


This week we're joined by Peter van Hardenberg (PVH), director of the Ink and Switch research lab and co-author of the seminal Local First Software paper.Peter shares the origin story of local-first software, from his realization on a San Francisco train to his work at Heroku and beyond.We dive deep into Automerge, Ink and Switch's local-first sync engine built on CRDTs (Conflict-Free Replicated Data Types), exploring how it enables real-time collaboration while keeping data on your computer.We discuss the technical challenges of building distributed systems, the philosophy behind local-first software, and how projects like Key Hive are pushing the boundaries of decentralized data access.Peter also shares his vision for the future of computing, where software ownership and interoperability become fundamental principles rather than afterthoughts.


Hosted by Andrew Lisowski and Justin Bennett, devtools.fm is a conversation with the builders shaping the daily experience of software development. This isn't just a technical rundown of features; it's a deep dive into the philosophy, challenges, and stories behind the tools that power modern code. Each episode connects you directly with the creators and core contributors driving innovation in open source and beyond. You'll hear candid discussions about the creation of front-end frameworks like React, Svelte, or Vue, the evolution of JavaScript and TypeScript runtimes such as Node.js, Deno, and Bun, and the design choices behind emerging languages like Rust and Zig. The dialogue extends into foundational web technologies-WASM, WebGPU, WebGL-and the infrastructure, including databases and deployment tools, that turns ideas into reliable applications. The focus is always on the human element: the problem-solving, the collaboration, and the vision that turns a concept into a crucial piece of a developer's toolkit. Tune into this podcast for an authentic look at the craft of toolmaking, offering both insight for your own projects and a greater appreciation for the ecosystems we build within.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

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