Just Trying to Build Something

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Exhausted male sitting with head down on laptop. Frustrated worker mental health problems.

software architecture Featured

Never Just One

Writing software these days involves asking the question "How many?" over and over again. There is one answer that's always wrong.

The concept of inaccessibility and secrecy. Security systems. Inaccessible and hidden options. Secret, mystery.

process Featured

Inner Source is not the goal

Inner Source often gets touted as the way to improve productivity, time to market, and many other business-oriented metrics. It helps, but it shouldn't be the goal. There are better ways.

Old grain elevator built in USSR. Granary for wheat. Cherkasy, Ukraine

retros Featured

Tales from the Retro: Siloing

After 15 years of running agile retrospectives, I've noticed a few patterns. Today's theme is siloing.

Calm female worker meditate at workplace managing stress not paying attention to angry colleagues

process Featured

How "Code Wins" Can Lead to Bad Decisions

A few months ago, I saw a post on LinkedIn about the concept of "code wins" or sometimes "code wins arguments". As someone who used to espouse this idea, I decided to stop and think hard about what it means and why I stopped using it

Gift boxes, paper's rolls and decorations on color background, top view.

design reviews Featured

Design Reviews: Wrapping up

It's the holiday season, so it's probably time I wrap up the design review series, like I was supposed to in October. <insert rim shot here> Honestly, my goal to get ahead failed, and a new job prevented me from even keeping up. In

stack of white paper documentation close up

Finding a Job in the "Current Macroeconomic Conditions"

I posted on LinkedIn a couple weeks ago that I'd accepted another offer. I've had some people ask me various forms of the same question: how?

design reviews Featured

Design Reviews: Patterns and Anti-patterns

A couple weeks ago, we addressed the preparation and general structure of the design review. Still, there's a gap when you think about how people should approach the review and behave during the review. It's all too common to experience frustration, anxiety, and hopelessness during reviews,

Quick Update

Hello! I wanted to provide a quick update here. First, the next post on design reviews will come out next week. Between the holiday weekend and finishing up my job search, I've been very busy and haven't finished the patterns and anti-patterns post. Second, I do,

Anakin and Padme meme: 1) A: Today is my design review! 2) P: You don't have 2 hours of slides, right? 3) A: 4) P: RIGHT?!

design reviews Featured

Design Reviews: Meeting Format

We've finally made it. The design review is happening. What do you do?!

Business people having meeting in conference room, sitting with laptops and discussing

design reviews Featured

Design Reviews: Attendees

Who do you invite to your design reviews?

Business development strategy, advancement and goal concept

design reviews Featured

Design Reviews: Goals

Defining what you want out of design reviews can change how well they work.

Charts maze and graphs for energy saving

design reviews Featured

Design Reviews Part 1: Why does everyone avoid them?

Design reviews are one of the most dreaded parts of software engineering process. Why do we always try to avoid them?

Programming Notes

Whew, that first post was super depressing, huh? Well, I just wanted to have a separate place to provide some context about what's coming. To start, I'm going to start off trying to get posts out once per week, hopefully with a healthy backlog of scheduled

LAYOFF rubber stamp on paper with paper pins in the background. 3D illustration

layoffs Featured

The Elephant in the Room: Layoffs

Welcome to my new blog/newsletter/whatever you call these things these days. I figured it would be good to start off on a lighter note and the reason I'm here: tech layoffs.