At Cockroach Labs, expressing gratitude is ingrained in both personal and professional practices, with the concept of "peer acks" serving as a cornerstone of their workplace culture. Initiated in 2016 following a suggestion during an employee survey, peer acknowledgments provided a platform for publicly recognizing colleagues' contributions, initially through emails read aloud by co-founder Ben Darnell at weekly meetings. As the company expanded, the practice evolved with the development of a web app by engineer Andrei Matei, later replaced by a Slack app created by engineering manager Ken Liu, to streamline the process. This tradition not only fosters a supportive work environment but also reflects the company's commitment to appreciation and community, aligning with its open-source ethos. While the methods for delivering acknowledgments have transformed over time, the core intention remains the celebration and gratitude for the efforts of coworkers, embodying a culture of appreciation that extends beyond the workplace.