Behind the scenes with Extend’s developer experience team | Matthew Schrepel and Luke Patterson (Extend)

Developer Experience (DevEx) functions succeed by prioritizing the human element of software engineering over narrow, industrial-style productivity metrics. At Xtend, the DevEx team focuses on removing roadblocks and fostering a culture of learning rather than simply optimizing for velocity. Transitioning from unreliable Git and DORA-based dashboards to sentiment-driven data provides a more accurate signal of engineering health, enabling leadership to make informed, high-level decisions. By presenting these actionable insights directly to the board, the team elevates DevEx from a technical support function to a strategic business priority. This approach recognizes that software development is creative, knowledge-based work, requiring an environment that supports deep focus and well-being. Ultimately, investing in the developer experience—through curation of knowledge, onboarding, and process improvements—drives both organizational efficiency and long-term retention.