APER vs LinearB
LinearB tracks how fast engineers move. APER evaluates whether they make economically sound engineering decisions. Speed without judgment is just fast failure.
| Dimension | APER | LinearB |
|---|---|---|
| What it measures | Engineering judgment and economic reasoning | Engineering activity and cycle time metrics |
| Output | Performance rating based on economic impact | Dashboards, benchmarks, team analytics |
| Question answered | "Can this engineer make economically sound decisions?" | "How productive are my engineers?" |
| Use case | Hiring, performance reviews, promotions | Sprint planning, bottleneck detection, team health |
| Approach | AI-powered economic reasoning assessment | Git/Jira data aggregation and analysis |
| Cost | Free (richardewing.io/tools/aper) | $20K-$80K+/yr enterprise contracts |
| AI-proof? | ✅ Tests judgment AI can't replicate | ⚠️ Measures metrics AI can inflate |
The Verdict
Metrics without judgment is measurement without meaning. LinearB tells you engineers are moving fast. APER tells you they are moving in a direction that creates economic value. Use both — but APER for the decisions that matter.
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