# Christopher Burns - creator of c15t: the developer-first cookie banner

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/scaling-devtools/christopher-burns-creator-of-c15t-the-developer-first-cookie-banner
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/scaling-devtools/christopher-burns-creator-of-c15t-the-developer-first-cookie-banner.md
Podcast: [Scaling DevTools](https://stenobird.com/podcast/scaling-devtools)
Published: 2026-01-23T18:42:48+00:00
Episode link: https://podcast.scalingdevtools.com/episodes/christopher-burns-creator-of-c15t-the-developer-first-cookie-banner
Audio file: https://media.transistor.fm/03e4dac9/60e3dcac.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/scaling-devtools/episodes/christopher-burns-creator-of-c15t-the-developer-first-cookie-banner
Duration seconds: 3687

## Resource

Christopher Burns discusses the strategy behind building developer-first privacy infrastructure and the challenges of monetizing open-source tools. He explains how c15t uses a 'Trojan horse' approach to solve the technical and legal complexities of global privacy compliance.

## Highlights
- Main idea: Use open-source infrastructure as a wedge to enter much larger legal and observability markets
- Practical takeaway: Solving a developer's personal frustration (like bad cookie banners) is the best way to find product-market fit
- Failure mode: Avoid the 'bottoms-up' trap where developers love a tool but no one is willing to pay for it
- Technical insight: Performance issues in modern web apps often stem from unmanaged marketing scripts rather than the core framework
- Strategic insight: Providing legal indemnification and observability is more valuable to enterprises than just providing the raw code

## Topics

Developer Tools, Open Source Strategy, Privacy Compliance, GDPR, Web Performance, SaaS Monetization, Startup Ecosystems, Software Engineering

## Chapters
- 1:00 — The Art of Web Design and AI: A discussion on the intersection of AI agents, dashboard design, and the evolving aesthetic trends in web development.
- 5:30 — Finding Product-Market Fit: How to identify market opportunities by looking at existing product gaps and aligning them with user needs.
- 10:10 — The Strategy of Open Source: Exploring the balance between offering free value through open source and building a sustainable, paid business model.
- 19:20 — Startup Culture: London vs. SF: A debate on the merits of building a startup in London's unique ecosystem versus the established hub of San Francisco.
- 33:15 — Developer Experience and Performance: Why c15t prioritizes developer experience and how managing marketing scripts can significantly improve website performance.
- 47:20 — The Complexity of Global Privacy: Navigating the fragmented landscape of global privacy laws, from GDPR to CCPA, and the importance of automated compliance.

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## Transcript

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