Perhaps I'm too attuned to NDA issues after having listened to the most recent episode of Gruber's Talk Show (http://5by5.tv/talkshow/46), but I am guessing that this guy is coming dangerously close to — and is perhaps crossing — the line with respect to disclosing details about Apple's technology and software development practices.
When in doubt, STFU. Not just for legal reasons, but also because you don't want future collaborators and employers thinking you're a Chatty Cathy who's going to tell everyone about your secret sauce.
"Take issue with" is vague. Is someone at a company allowed to think, "Dude, you don't talk about Fight Club"? Is that too extreme a reaction? Or are you talking about the legal department filing a lawsuit. Or something in between?
I don't think it's fair to expect Steve Jobs to hop in his helicopter and track down Joe Moreno so that he can high-five the guy for writing something that got on the front page of Hacker News.
It was in part a response to your suggestion that the author might be toeing the line of an NDA violation. The idea that a company would make you sign an NDA prohibiting you from discussing the development methodologies in use is a bit ridiculous to me. (Not that I don't believe that it could happen, but it's not a company I'd want to work for.)
Also, the "because you don't want future collaborators and employers thinking you're a Chatty Cathy who's going to tell everyone about your secret sauce" bit rubbed me the wrong way. I mean... really? I feel like that rates high on the unwarranted paranoia scale.
Just what crept up my mind when I read the article. But then I realized: If American culture allows this kind of insight publicized, what boon that is to freedom of thought and freedom of expression!
All around us we see civilians cuffed and murdered for their opinions (for example, in countries with dictatorial regimes), but apparently this is not the 'status quo' in the USA.
edw, you raise a good point. Keep in mind that Apple has hundreds of development teams. Each one is different. I don't think I disclosed any secrets and I was very careful to not say anything that might embarrass Apple.
I think Guy Kawasaki's first book, The Macintosh Way, goes much further than my comments here – and he was even rehired back at Apple several years after his book was published.
My hope is two fold. 1. That someone reading this would pick up some good practices; and 2. That someone reading this would say, "I want to be a part of that!"
Apple's a great company to work at on so many different levels.
When in doubt, STFU. Not just for legal reasons, but also because you don't want future collaborators and employers thinking you're a Chatty Cathy who's going to tell everyone about your secret sauce.