JetBrains CEO Reveals How 'Eating Your Own Dog Food' Drives Breakthrough Developer Tools
Breaking: JetBrains Credits Internal Dogfooding for Industry-Leading Tools
JetBrains, the company behind popular developer tools like IntelliJ IDEA and Rider, attributes its success to a rigorous internal practice: dogfooding. According to CEO Kirill Skyrgan, every feature in their software is tested firsthand by the very engineers who build it. This approach ensures that tools are not just designed for developers but by developers, creating a direct feedback loop that accelerates improvements.
“You can only build truly great software if you use it yourself. Every feature and every decision comes from firsthand experience.” – Kirill Skyrgan, CEO of JetBrains
Background: What Is Dogfooding?
Dogfooding, short for “eating your own dog food,” is the practice of using a company’s own products in its daily operations. At JetBrains, it’s not a mandate but a culture of trust. Engineers, designers, product managers, and even technical writers rely on JetBrains tools for their own workflows. They write code in IntelliJ IDEA and track projects in YouTrack.
This isn’t about compliance; it’s about authenticity. The team uses their tools because they genuinely help them work better. When something fails, it gets fixed immediately. “We don’t chase trends or design for hypothetical users,” says Skyrgan. “If something slows us down, we know it likely affects thousands of developers too.”
Benefits: Faster Feedback and Better Software
Dogfooding turns every employee into a quality advocate. Instead of waiting weeks for customer reports, developers spot issues as they code. A feature that feels unintuitive or a broken shortcut often gets fixed within hours. This tight feedback loop shortens the distance between problem and solution, catching bugs long before they reach users.
It also fosters deep empathy. Using the tools daily means feeling the friction points – the slowdowns, the “why is this like that?” moments. “Those thousands of tiny corrections made over time are what turn a good product into a great one,” Skyrgan explains. “They come from people who want it to be better, not for KPIs, but because they genuinely care.”
Immediate, Unfiltered Feedback
Instead of relying on abstract user personas, JetBrains staff experience problems firsthand. This gives the company immediate, unfiltered feedback that traditional user testing can’t match. The result? Software that feels intuitive because it was built by people who actually use it.
Examples: Rider’s Rocky Start
One powerful example is Rider, JetBrains’ .NET IDE. In 2016, Rider was unstable and full of rough edges. Yet developers began using it for real work long before its official release. Some days, the editor would crash mid-typing. Instead of giving up, teams fixed issues on the spot.
That perseverance paid off. Today, Rider is a polished, production-ready tool used by thousands. “Dogfooding turned a broken beta into a trusted daily driver,” says a senior engineer at JetBrains. “We know every pain point because we lived it.”
What This Means for the Developer Community
JetBrains’ dogfooding strategy offers a blueprint for any software company aiming to build tools that developers actually love. It proves that authentic use leads to better design, faster iteration, and higher quality. For users, it means the tools they buy have already been battle-tested by the people who made them.
As Skyrgan puts it, “We don’t ask users to accept what we wouldn’t use ourselves.” This philosophy may explain why JetBrains tools consistently earn top marks in developer surveys. The company’s next challenge is scaling this culture as it grows, but the core principle remains: build what you use, use what you build.
Actionable Insight for Tech Leaders
If you’re a CTO or product manager, consider implementing dogfooding in your own teams. It doesn’t require expensive tools – just a commitment to using your own software. Start with a pilot project and track the feedback loop. The results could be transformative.
This story is developing. Check back for updates on JetBrains’ product launches and how dogfooding continues to shape the developer experience.