Why Next.js Co-Creator Tony Kovanen Prefers the Sidelines

You may not have heard of open source developer Tony Kovanen, but the 34-year-old has collaborated on projects you know — including co-creating Next.js and co-founding ZEIT, which became Vercel, along with Guillermo Rauch and Naoyuki Kanezawa.

All told, the Finland native has had a hand in many open source projects and startups that matter to the frontend.

In a world where extroverts and influencers dominate the stage, he occasionally speaks at conference, but he is generally quiet about his work. He’s worked on projects, though, that are…