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Writing

Essays on technology leadership, AI adoption, architecture and developer experience, published continuously since 2019.

151 pieces · 2019–2026

The image shows a flat lay composed of various office and data-related items against a dark background. In the foreground, there are colourful 3D illustrations of graphical elements such as pie charts, bar graphs, and iconic digital interface icons. Surrounding these figures is an assortment of digital tools and accessories that suggest a technologically oriented environment. These items include what appears to be data visualization software with overlapping charts and diagrams, a colourful palette of gradients, a set of measuring cups and spoons, a pair of glasses with transparent lenses, and a few other small decorative objects. The overall impression is that this could be a representation of a digital workspace or a conceptual artistic arrangement related to analytics and data analysis. 21 Nov 2025 · 6 min From ‘Trust Us’ to ‘Look at This’: Building Engineering Dashboards That Boards Actually Understand

Your Agile process is working beautifully, but the board keeps asking 'How do we know?' Here's how to build dashboards that …

This is a minimalist-style photograph of an indoor plant with large, glossy leaves. The plant is placed in a small, clear vase and appears to be a type of Monstera deliciosa, which is commonly known as the Swiss cheese plant due to its distinctive leaf pattern. The background is a neutral gray color, emphasizing the subject. 14 Nov 2025 · 8 min Finding Simplicity in Complexity: Lessons from "The Rules of Programming"

This blog post explores key principles from Chris Zimmerman's "The Rules of Programming," arguing that simplicity and …

The image shows a group of people sitting around a long table in what appears to be an indoor setting, possibly a conference room or co-working space. There are several individuals present, engaging in various activities that suggest a collaborative work environment. Some individuals seem to be writing on clipboards, while others appear to be engaged in conversation. The room has a modern and professional ambiance, with natural light coming through a large window or glass panel, illuminating the scene. There are no visible texts or distinctive branding in the image. The style of the photograph is candid and seems to capture an authentic moment from the group's meeting or gathering. 7 Nov 2025 · 7 min Communities of Practice: Your Secret Weapon for Breaking Silos and Accelerating Learning

How a simple Wednesday lunch meeting transformed siloed teams into collaborative problem-solvers and turned 'that's not possible' …

A collection of books stacked on top of each other in an indoor setting. The books come in various sizes and colors, indicating a diverse range of titles or genres. The photo has a vertical orientation with the spine of a book facing outward prominently. 31 Oct 2025 · 6 min The Enduring Wisdom of ‘The Rules of Programming’

This blog post delves into the enduring relevance of Chris Zimmerman's 'The Rules of Programming' for modern development teams. It …

The image shows a scene featuring a person standing next to an old blue car parked on the side of the street. The car is facing away from us, with the driver's side visible. Behind the car and the person stands an imposing brick building with large windows on both sides, giving it a somewhat dilapidated appearance. There are signs of vandalism or urban decay, such as graffiti or marks on the walls. The setting suggests an urban environment during the daytime, given the shadows visible on the ground. 24 Oct 2025 · 5 min Why Your ‘Stable’ Software Is a Ticking Time Bomb

The car maintenance guide to software updates: Why ignoring that blinking dashboard light will leave you stranded at the worst …

This is a photograph of a person sitting at a desk, with their head resting on one hand. The individual appears to be in a state of frustration or exhaustion, as suggested by their facial expression and posture. In front of the person, there is an open laptop, we cannot see what it says. They have discarded their glasses on top of an overturned iPhone, indicating a stressful situation. The overall mood of the image conveys stress or overwhelm, commonly associated with high-pressure jobs, especially in technology fields where multitasking and information overload are prevalent. The focus of the photograph is on the person's head and upper body, making it a close-up shot capturing an intense moment. 24 Oct 2025 · 6 min Why ‘Upgrade and Pray’ Cost My Client 140 Engineering Days (And How to Avoid It)

A systematic approach to framework upgrades that prevents months of rework and actually improves Developer Experience.

The image shows a collection of scrabble tiles with various words written on them. These words are likely used to create different phrases or sentences, as is typical in the game of Scrabble. Each tile has a single word printed on it, and these tiles appear to be arranged casually. The photograph is taken at an angle that captures the variety of letters available for use in this word-building activity. There are no people visible in the image. 17 Oct 2025 · 6 min Beyond the Buzzwords: More Practical Wisdom from ‘The Rules of Programming’ for the Modern Workplace

This blog post delves into the practical wisdom found within Chris Zimmerman's 'The Rules of Programming,' specifically focusing …

The image depicts a man sitting at a desk with his attention focused on the screen of a laptop computer. He appears to be engaged in some work or activity, possibly related to software development or coding given the open source code editor displayed on the laptop screen. Behind him, another person is visible from the waist up; they are standing and facing away from the camera, suggesting an interaction between the two individuals, potentially discussing a project or sharing information. The setting seems to be an office or workspace with a professional ambiance, indicated by the tidy desk and the presence of technical equipment. 10 Oct 2025 · 8 min When Your Team Thinks They’re Done Learning: A Tech Lead’s Guide to Reigniting Growth

Your developers have stopped learning. Not because they can't, but because they won't. Here's how to reignite their curiosity …

The image shows a stylized road sign arrow against a backdrop that appears to be an asphalt surface with some texture suggesting it might be tarmac. The arrow is white and pointed upwards, indicating the direction of traffic or movement in that direction. The sign has a black outline and there are no visible texts on it. The style of the image is graphic, with a focus on the simplicity and clarity of the sign itself. 3 Oct 2025 · 6 min Simplicity in Code: A Lesson for the Modern Workplace (The Rules of Programming)

This blog post delves into the timeless wisdom of Chris Zimmerman's 'The Rules of Programming,' exploring its relevance to the …

This is a photograph of an office interior with a contemporary design. The space features rows of desks, each equipped with a computer monitor, a keyboard, and a chair. A few individuals are seated at the desks, working or using their laptops. In the background, there is a large window allowing natural light to enter the room, which has an industrial feel due to its exposed ceiling and concrete flooring. The overall atmosphere suggests a modern workspace designed for collaboration and productivity. 26 Sep 2025 · 6 min Get Back to the Office Before You’re Forced: A Developer’s Guide to Strategic RTO

Why smart development teams should embrace hybrid working voluntarily, and how to do it right.

This is an image of a coffee spill on a tiled floor. The coffee has spread out, creating a dark pool in the center, and there is a trail leading from it to a small puddle at the bottom right corner of the frame. There's also a single coffee cup lid upside-down near the spill. 19 Sep 2025 · 8 min Embracing Failure: A Key to Success in the Modern Workplace

A CPD review of Amy C. Edmondson's Right Kind of Wrong, focused on what changes when engineering teams stop treating failure as a …

The image depicts an indoor conference room setting. There are several rows of chairs facing a stage where a speaker is positioned beside a podium. The speaker is giving a presentation, facing to the camera, and they appear to be speaking or gesturing towards the audience. The audience members are seated in the foreground, attentively watching the speaker. The room has an ambiance that suggests it could be an academic or professional conference given the formal setup and attire of some individuals. There are also logos visible on the stage and walls, which may indicate sponsors or organizers. 12 Sep 2025 · 8 min Why Blocking Developer Learning Is Your Most Expensive Technical Decision

That conference you just denied? It might have prevented your next production outage. Here's why the ROI on developer learning …

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