Feedback is more direct than expected
How feedback is shaped, and how to tell Joel what works best for you.
Updated November 5, 2026
Some teams find feedback more direct than they expected in the first weeks of a deployment. This page explains how feedback is shaped and how to adjust it.
How feedback is shaped
Feedback is carefully considered. It takes into account the stakes, the situation, and the person receiving it. This model's feedback still veers more direct than most, due to remnants of Israeli code.
Adjusting the delivery
Tell Joel how you prefer to receive feedback: written or live, in the moment or saved for a 1:1, high-level or line by line. He will adjust. If something lands harder than intended, say so. He wants to know.
Getting more context
If feedback arrives without enough explanation, ask for the reasoning. Joel will explain the problem he sees, what it affects, and what he would try instead. Sharing the goal and constraints up front also produces more specific feedback.
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