Why Superthread is Fully Remote: From a Garden Office to Global Talent
Superthread founder David Hasovic shares the journey of building a remote-first company, from coding 100% test coverage in a shed to hiring global talent.
Jan 31, 2021
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David Hasovic
The Accidental Remote Founder
When I started Superthread, I didn’t set out to build a fully remote company. I was a solo founder with a vision: to create a lightning-fast documentation tool that would eventually integrate with a powerful issue tracker.
At the time, I was also pushing my own technical boundaries. I decided to build Superthread using Golang and Vue.js, two languages I had never used before.
Learning in Public: The 100% Test Coverage Rule
I don't believe in specializing in just one language; once you know the core principles, the rest follows. While learning Golang, I committed to something I’d never done before: 100% unit and integration test coverage.
Bizarrely enough, writing tests for everything made me faster. It gave me the 'code confidence' to change anything, knowing the tests would catch any regressions immediately.
'Don’t get me wrong—any test coverage is cool. But if you're doing it, you may as well do 100%.'
The Pivot to Remote
My plan was originally to open an office in Shoreditch, the tech heart of London. It’s a wonderful area with fantastic pubs and a great vibe. But then two things happened:
The Talent Catalyst: I met a Vue.js expert on a freelancing site. He was living and breathing the framework and professionalized our front-end to an incredible degree. It proved we could build a world-class product without being in the same room.
The Pandemic: When COVID-19 struck, the Shoreditch dream was off the table. Remote wasn't just an option; it was the only path.
Investing in the 'Shed' Office
Like many in England, I found working from inside the house distracting. I replaced my leaky, flaky garden shed with a proper, well-insulated garden office. That investment paid dividends, it created a dedicated space for the 'deep work' that programming requires.
The Case for Remote Productivity
I’ve realized that for programmers and designers, working from home isn't just a perk—it’s a productivity multiplier.
Work Environment | Estimated Productivity | Reason |
Open-Plan Office | 50% | Constant noise, interruptions, and 'drive-by' meetings. |
Home (with family) | 70% | High focus, but prone to domestic distractions. |
Dedicated Garden Office | 100% | Total control over environment; perfect for deep work. |
Why Remote Wins for Superthread
Global Talent: We aren't limited to the expensive (and highly competitive) talent pools of London or San Francisco. We hire the best English-speaking developers in the world, wherever they choose to live.
Brain Drain & Carbon Footprint: By letting people stay in their home countries, we help stop the 'brain drain' from smaller economies and drastically reduce our carbon footprint by eliminating the commute.
Deep Work: Our team can focus without the performative nature of an office.
Building the Future of Collaboration
A remote company only works if you organize it properly. At Superthread, we use:
Camera-on meetings for real connection.
Regular stand-ups to keep the momentum.
Demo days to celebrate what we’ve built.
We are still in the early stages, and we are looking for early access subscribers who want an issue tracker that actually keeps up with their speed.
Join a team that prioritizes focus over office politics.
Superthread is built by a remote team, for remote teams. Experience the speed of a tool that respects your deep work. Sign up for Superthread.
