Graphite, a company that developed a successful code review platform, learned crucial lessons on product development through failures and pivots, ultimately succeeding by focusing on real user needs. The founders initially created tools like a "bug capture" tool and iOS rollbacks that failed to gain traction because they did not address significant pain points. The key turning point was embracing "The Mom Test," a concept from a book that emphasizes asking unbiased questions to understand genuine user needs, rather than relying on positive feedback from supportive peers. By focusing on existing demands and acknowledging solutions already in use, Graphite found success with its code review tool, which was already desired by developers at large companies like Google and Facebook. Through this iterative process, the importance of identifying actual user problems and ensuring a product's relevance became clear, illustrating the value of seeking honest feedback in product development, particularly within the DevTools sector.