> Markdown version of [/@john-coghlan](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/@john-coghlan). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md).

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# John Coghlan
Developer advocate at GitLab focused on community building and AI agent drift.

## About

John Coghlan leads developer advocacy at GitLab. He focuses on building inclusive communities and making tools that help people actually enjoy their work.

He spends a lot of time thinking about "Agentic Drift"—the chaos that ensues when AI agents modify code and systems faster than teams can track. He helps engineers build safeguards that keep humans in the loop without slowing things down.

Before moving into tech, John managed volunteer projects in New York and founded one of Brooklyn’s first coworking spaces.


## Upcoming Sessions

### World Congress 2026 North America · September 23, 2026
San José, CA
- [Agentic Drift: keeping pace with your agents](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/events/world-congress-2026-north-america/sessions/1739-agentic-drift)





## Links

- [X](https://twitter.com/john_cogs)
- [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnwcoghlan/)