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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 desktop computer setup with two computer monitors displaying code in a terminal window. The monitors are  placed side by side on a desk, and between them is a keyboard with a pink backlight. There is on keyboard visible; partially shown in the foreground. On the left side, there's a wall with a red light emanating from it, which appears to be glowing on the desk and under the keyboard as well. The image has an overlay effect where two photos are superimposed, creating a dual exposure appearance. 5 Sep 2025 · 7 min Designing for the Modern Workplace: Lessons from "A Philosophy of Software Design"

This blog post delves into key principles of software design, drawing inspiration from 'A Philosophy of Software Design.' It …

A well-organized computer desk with a monitor displaying the time '09:40'. The desk has a keyboard, mouse, and various  other electronic devices. The foreground features a keyboard and mouse, the keyboard has a colourful array of keys. 29 Aug 2025 · 6 min The Hidden Cost of Poor Developer Experience

Your £100k developers are operating at 20% capacity. Here's how poor Developer Experience is costing SMEs millions, and how to fix …

The image shows a wall covered with multiple sticky notes, each containing different handwritten text. Some of the visible texts include 'THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM', 'NEED TO COMPARE BOOKING TO...', 'CONCLUSIONS FOR A FULL COMPARISON', and 'TOO MANY TABS'. The sticky notes are grouped together, suggesting an ongoing brainstorming session or planning activity. The wall is set against a background that appears to be a whiteboard or board with some writing and diagrams on it, further indicating a workspace or project area. The image has a candid quality, as if capturing an unplanned moment of work in progress 22 Aug 2025 · 7 min Finding the Human in Software: Lessons from "Managing Humans"

This post dives into key leadership lessons from Michael Lopp's 'Managing Humans,' specifically tailored for the challenges faced …

This is a digital image that appears to show a computer screen displaying a stock market chart. The chart shows a line graph with price data on the left vertical axis and time on the horizontal axis, suggesting it represents the historical performance of a particular financial asset over time. There's a secondary vertical axis indicating percentages, which might represent the change in value or return on investment. The top section of the screen displays what appears to be a candle stick chart, which is commonly used in technical analysis to represent price movements of an asset over a given period. Each candle has a body that shows the opening and closing prices for a particular time interval and wicks (or shadows) that show the high and low prices during that interval. The bottom section of the screen includes additional data with various metrics related to the performance of the asset in question. However, due to the resolution and angle of the photograph, specific details about these metrics are not clearly legible. The data is presented on a dark background with white text, which is typical for financial charts to improve readability against the often colourful market data. The image captures the screen from an elevated angle, providing a top-down view of the computer setup, but it's not clear whether there are any physical objects or people in the frame. The style of the photograph is realistic and unadorned, likely taken to document the information displayed on the computer screen. 15 Aug 2025 · 5 min The £100K Developer Who’s Actually Costing You £500K

Why your talented developers are delivering at 20% capacity, and how fixing it changes your competitive position fast.

The image shows a scrabble board with words spelled out using letter tiles. The words that are chosen highlight positive and motivational themes. At the top, the word 'TEAM' is completed with three double-letter tiles, making it the longest word across that row. Below it, the word 'SUCCESS' follows, with a similar number of tiles. On the left side, the word 'LEAD' is visible. The letters on the board vary in color, with blue, green, red, yellow, and orange being used. The background of the image is not clearly visible due to the focus on the crossword puzzle. There are no people or other significant objects within the frame of the photograph. 8 Aug 2025 · 7 min Leading with Ownership: Lessons from Extreme Ownership for the Modern Workplace

This post explores how the principles of 'Extreme Ownership' – a book detailing leadership strategies used by Navy SEALs – can be …

The image shows a smartphone displaying a digital interface with a padlock icon, suggesting that the phone is locked or protected. The screen also features a 'Sign In' button, which could imply that a user needs to enter their login credentials to unlock the phone. In front of the phone, on a wooden surface, there are objects suggesting a workspace: glasses, a potted plant (in the background), headphones with a cable hanging off the table, and a book. There is also a small amount of text visible at the bottom right corner of the phone screen that reads 'Secured.' The setting suggests someone's personal workstation, with a focus on privacy or security given the padlock image on the phone's screen. 1 Aug 2025 · 7 min The 5-Minute Investment That Could Save Your Company Millions: A Developer’s Guide to SBOMs

Why Software Bills of Materials aren't just 'compliance stuff' - they're your early warning system for dependency disasters, …

The image displays a computer screen showing a trading chart with various indicators and candlestick patterns. The chart is set against a dark background, which helps the colors of the chart stand out. The candlesticks represent price movements within certain time frames, often used in technical analysis to predict future market behaviour. The trading chart includes what appears to be a Fibonacci retracement tool, which is used by traders to identify potential levels of support and resistance based on past price actions. There are also other technical indicators visible, such as a moving average and possibly a volume indicator or another custom indicator on the lower part of the screen. The chart's design suggests that it could be part of a trading platform used by a trader to analyze the financial markets, possibly for stocks, currencies, commodities, or other tradable instruments. The presence of candlesticks and multiple indicators indicates that the user is likely performing technical analysis to inform their trading decisions. The image itself is a digital composition with no real-world context provided. It is meant to convey a concept related to financial trading and chart analysis rather than depict a specific event or location. 25 Jul 2025 · 5 min Why SMEs Fail at AI Implementation (And How to Succeed)

Most SMEs waste £100k+ on failed AI projects. Here's why they fail and the strategic approach that guarantees ROI.

The image shows a computer keyboard with a key labelled 'AI' that is highlighted in blue, indicating that it has been selected. Surrounding the AI key are other keys in black, and the keyboard itself is set against what appears to be a dark surface. The background is out of focus, emphasizing the keyboard as the central subject of the image. The overall style of the image is a photograph with a shallow depth of field, focusing on the immediate foreground area. 18 Jul 2025 · 7 min Your Competitors Are Using AI. Here’s Why That’s Good News

While your competitors chase shiny AI toys, you can leap ahead with strategic AI implementation that actually delivers ROI. Here's …

People seated around a large screen displaying what appears to be a presentation or lecture. The audience is focused on the front where a speaker  is standing behind a lectern, presumably delivering a speech or presenting. There are whiteboards visible in the background with some writing on them, and the overall atmosphere suggests an educational or professional event. The style of the image is candid and documentary, capturing moments from these events as if they are being captured during  their actual occurrence. There are no visible texts that provide additional context within the images. 4 Jul 2025 · 4 min Empowering Future Engineers: RJJ Software’s Involvement with Greenhead College, Huddersfield

Explore RJJ Software's impactful collaboration with Greenhead College during their 'Step Into Your Future' week. Discover how our …

The image is a photograph of a tabletop with various items on it. There's an iPad open to what appears to be a drawing application, showing a digital sketch or design with several layers and tools visible on the screen. In front of the tablet, there are two white mugs that say 'Caffeine,' which suggests they might be for coffee. To the right of the table, partially out of frame, there is a black plant with spiky leaves. The background is neutral, focusing attention on the items in the foreground. 27 Jun 2025 · 4 min Workflow Inefficiencies: Simple Steps to Optimize Your Business Velocity

Explore how RJJ Software, a UK-based tech leader, transforms SME workflows through bespoke AI solutions and efficient podcast …

The image depicts a collaborative work environment, with several people engaged in activities around laptops and various other office equipment. There are four individuals present in the scene; one is working on a laptop, while others are observing or interacting with their devices. On the table, there are multiple cups of coffee, suggesting that they have been working for some time. The table itself has several personal items like bottles, a book, and a notebook on it. The laptops are open, indicating active use, and some peripherals like keyboards are visible near them. There is a chair in the scene, likely used by one of the individuals. The background shows a cozy and informal setting with a wooden table and a wall adorned with what appears to be artwork or decorations. The overall atmosphere is casual yet focused, indicative of a modern, flexible workspace designed for creative professionals or teams. 20 Jun 2025 · 6 min The Unseen Architecture: Why Information Flow is as Critical as Code Structure in Complex Systems

Information flow is critical in complex systems; as critical as the code, if not more so. The post explores how critical …

The image shows a laptop computer sitting on a table with a white surface. The laptop is open and displays a blank screen. Behind the laptop, there's a wall with various post-it notes and diagrams attached to it, suggesting an organized workspace or brainstorming area. These notes are clustered and arranged in no particular order. The room has a modern, professional ambiance. There are no visible people or distinctive features that allow for specific identification of the location or event. The focus of the image is on the laptop, which appears to be the main subject. 13 Jun 2025 · 6 min The Silent Erosion of Developer Productivity: Unmasking Technical Debt as a Strategic Blind Spot

The article highlights technical debt as an insidious challenge in software development that erodes organization productivity and …

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