From 18 months to 6: High-velocity database engineering

In this episode, Carl Sverre and David Wynn sit down with Philip O'Toole, creator of rqlite. We dive into his philosophy of using tests as a core design strategy, his tactical advice for turning AI agents into technical research assistants, and how leveraging AI tools compressed his typical 18-month release cycle down to just six months.
If you’re interested in a principled approach to solo projects in the AI era, or where the future of AI swarm management for critical infrastructure might be going, you’ll want to give it a listen.