Scott Chacon

Ask Your Code

What if git blame is lying to you? Learn to ask your code the questions that reveal its true history, not just the easy ones.

Ask Your Code
#1about 6 minutes

Using first principles thinking for better product design

Learn how to use the "why" technique to break down assumptions and uncover fundamental truths about the problems you are solving.

#2about 4 minutes

Applying first principles to modern version control systems

By repeatedly asking why we use tools like Git, we can uncover its core purposes and compare its model to alternatives like Google Docs.

#3about 1 minute

Using version control for code archeology and context

Version control serves as an archeological tool that helps developers ask questions about code history to gain context for making better decisions.

#4about 3 minutes

The limitations of common git log and blame commands

Standard commands like `git log` and `git blame` often provide superficial answers because they are easy to ask, not because they are the most useful.

#5about 2 minutes

Asking better questions with advanced git log commands

Discover more powerful `git log` variations for comparing branches and using the pickaxe search (`-S`) to find exactly when a specific string was introduced.

#6about 2 minutes

Tracing code history beyond simple git blame results

Use advanced `git blame` flags (`-C -C -C`) to track code that has been moved across files, identifying the original author instead of just the refactorer.

#7about 1 minute

Discovering related files using commit history analysis

A custom script can analyze commit history to find which other files are most frequently modified alongside a specific file, revealing hidden dependencies.

#8about 3 minutes

The impossible questions that version control cannot answer

Explore valuable questions that current version control systems can't answer, such as linking code changes to pull requests, chat conversations, or design specs.

#9about 7 minutes

Q&A on merge vs rebase and writing commit messages

The speaker shares his preference for `merge` over `rebase` to preserve history and suggests using AI tools to help generate better commit messages.

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Matching moments

Organizing a developer conference for 15,000 attendees
01:32 MIN

Organizing a developer conference for 15,000 attendees

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Increasing the value of talk recordings post-event
04:57 MIN

Increasing the value of talk recordings post-event

Cat Herding with Lions and Tigers - Christian Heilmann

Establishing a single source of truth for all data
02:39 MIN

Establishing a single source of truth for all data

Cat Herding with Lions and Tigers - Christian Heilmann

Rapid-fire thoughts on the future of work
02:44 MIN

Rapid-fire thoughts on the future of work

What 2025 Taught Us: A Year-End Special with Hung Lee

Breaking down silos between HR, tech, and business
03:39 MIN

Breaking down silos between HR, tech, and business

What 2025 Taught Us: A Year-End Special with Hung Lee

Why HR struggles with technology implementation and adoption
04:22 MIN

Why HR struggles with technology implementation and adoption

What 2025 Taught Us: A Year-End Special with Hung Lee

Shifting from formal corporate speak to an authentic voice
04:57 MIN

Shifting from formal corporate speak to an authentic voice

Leveraging Leaders’ Voices: The Business Power of Personal Branding

Understanding global differences in work culture and motivation
06:10 MIN

Understanding global differences in work culture and motivation

The Future of HR Lies in AND – Not in OR

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