shouldiuse.io

VERDICT

Should I use Rands in Repose?

Stories about the humans who build software - randsinrepose.com

Worth it. There is nothing to buy: this is Michael Lopp's free blog on engineering leadership, respected for over 20 years. Read it if you manage engineers; ignore it if you wanted management software.

Confidence

Medium. Based on ~20 public sources. No vendor pricing or security data exists — this is a personal blog, not software.

Ratings

  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Feature depth
  • Support qualityPersonal site; no support org
  • Security postureContent site; no disclosures

Pricing

Free

Blog archive

ModelNot disclosed
Monthly feesNot disclosed
HardwareNot disclosed
Free tierYes

Best for

  • First-time engineering managers
  • Tech leads running 1:1s
  • Fans of long-form opinion essays
  • Leaders hiring and retaining developers

Not for

  • Anyone shopping for management software or tools
  • Non-engineering teams — it's software-culture focused
  • People wanting templates, courses, or certifications
  • Buyers expecting vendor support, SLAs, or security docs

Gotchas - check before you buy

medium

Newer content lives on Substack; follow both or you'll miss posts.

low

Private Slack and newsletter exist, but reviewed sources show no published pricing.

low

No security page on the site — irrelevant for a reader, disqualifying for a vendor.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Free archive of engineering-leadership essays since 2002.
  • Author is a veteran of Apple, Palantir, and Slack.
  • Widely recommended across Reddit, Hacker News, and manager circles.
  • Classic, practical pieces on 1:1s and performance reviews.
  • Writing continues via newsletter and a private Slack community.

Cons

  • It's a blog, not a product — no features, support, or SLAs.
  • Main weblog archived; active writing moved to Substack.
  • Some readers call pieces 'appealingly simplistic'.
  • Messy web footprint — third-party listings miscategorize it entirely.

Sources & method

Analyzed 9/22/2026 - 10 sources - No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

official x3review x4news x3

Key stats

  • Value for money: 5/5

    Rating

  • Free

    Starting price

  • 10

    Sources

  • Analyzed

  • Value for money: 5/5. Free, two decades of essays
  • Ease of use: 5/5. A website — just read it
  • Feature depth: 1/5. It's writing, not software
  • Support quality. Personal site; no support org
  • Security posture. Content site; no disclosures
  • $0 Price Free public blog archive
  • 2002 Running since © 2002–2026 on the site
  • Apple, Palantir, Slack Author pedigree Michael Lopp's employers
  • Blog + newsletter Format Web archive, Substack, private Slack

Pricing

Blog archive

Free

  • All public essays, 2002–2026
  • RSS feed available
  • No account required

Security

No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

Full analysis

Based on ~20 public sources. No vendor pricing or security data exists — this is a personal blog, not software.

A free blog, not a product — excellent engineering-management essays. Read it; don't shop it.

Methodology

Based on ~20 public sources. No vendor pricing or security data exists — this is a personal blog, not software.

Sources

  1. Rands in Repose – Stories about the humans who build softwarerandsinrepose.com
    official
  2. About – Rands in Reposerandsinrepose.com
    official
  3. The Leadership Newsletter | Michael Lopp | Substackrands.substack.com
    official
  4. Rands in Repose on performance reviewsproduct.hubspot.com
    review
  5. Bored People Quit – Rands in Repose : r/webdevreddit.com
    review
  6. Need advice : r/ITManagersreddit.com
    review
  7. Rands in Repose: How to Run a 1:1news.ycombinator.com
    review
  8. The human side of world-class engineering leadership (First Round)review.firstround.com
    news
  9. Mastering the Art of Managing with Michael Lopp (Enrich)joinenrich.com
    news
  10. Rands in Repose Digital Project | CrowdFavorite Case Studycrowdfavorite.com
    news

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