Notes on software, work, and leadership.
AI
4- 2 min read →
Thoughts on AI: Shallow vs Deep State
AI works well when a task depends on visible local context. It struggles when correct behavior depends on years of hidden decisions across a codebase.
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Thoughts on AI: On Slop
AI made software production much cheaper. It did not make people better at deciding what is worth building, which is where most slop begins.
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Thoughts on AI: Vibe Coding, Revisited
Better AI tools changed the cost of code generation, but not the need for ownership. Our rule is simple: whoever merges AI-generated code owns it.
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Thoughts on AI: Vibe Coding
AI can write code faster than I can, but heavy use has a hidden cost. It can prevent developers from building the understanding they need when the code breaks.
Software
6- 1 min read →
Sorting Cardboard Boxes
Asking for a software estimate before understanding the work is like asking someone to sort a sealed box. A precise answer does not make the unknowns disappear.
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Keeping Things Simple
In software projects, many factors can overshadow the goal of keeping things simple. Technical and non-technical folks often sacrifice simplicity for ha...
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Reframing 'Best Practices'
'Best practice' is widely used and accepted as describing the optimal solution. However I believe this term can often mislead us more than guide us. It'...
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Favorite Color Problems
def sum_list_for(nums): total = 0 for num in nums: total += num return total # vs def sum_list_while(nums): total, i = 0, 0 while i < len(nums): tota...
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Software and Communication
Many software developers believe that programming is primarily focused on problem solving. I believe that software is more about communication. When we...
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Software Development Principles
Our team reduced a broad discussion about maintainable software to two principles: minimize complexity and optimize for readability.
Leadership
12- 1 min read →
Meaningful Output
Organizations should compare meaningful output with the resources used to produce it. Processes become harmful when they increase support work at the expense of the main work.
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Modes of Communication
Communication tools have different strengths. Choose one based on whether the conversation must be permanent, quick, detailed, or easy to share.
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One on One Notes
One-on-one meetings work best when managers use them to build trust, follow through on concerns, and give reports a safe place to speak directly.
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Meeting Signal Ratio
Meeting Signal Ratio is the share of a meeting that is useful to each attendee. Improving it requires fewer attendees, clear meeting types, and better preparation.
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Reconciling Timelines in Business
Businesses need plans, but software progress is difficult to predict. Teams should use timelines as planning tools and measure whether work produces useful outcomes.
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Agile vs Waterfall - The Road Trip Analogy
Over the years I've seen a lot of confusion around Waterfall and Agile approaches. I wanted to provide a high-level analogy to help people understand th...
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Why Suboptimal Solutions are Implemented
A solution can be poor for the system and rational for the person choosing it. Fear, incentives, learning, and novelty often explain decisions that look incompetent.
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Software vs Product Engineers
I use software engineer and product engineer to describe two ways of working. The main difference is how much product ambiguity someone is expected to resolve.
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The Cost of Processes
A process can be useful by itself and still make a team less effective when combined with every other process. The hidden costs are time, attention, and context switching.
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Effective Meeting Tips
Consider whether you really need the meeting or whether a message or e-mail would be more appropriate. Determine what type of meeting it is. Presentatio...
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Effective Directorship Tips
Work streams should always be ranked, so there is no ambiguity about priorities. If everything is important, nothing is important. Attempt to limit conc...
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Effective Management Tips
Manage your own anxiety before you start managing other people. Don't worry about how people are getting things done, just that they are. People will of...
Work
6- 1 min read →
Cultivation
Skills, hobbies, and relationships change based on the attention they receive. The useful question is whether your attention matches your values.
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The Math of Collective Success
Small individual efforts can produce a much larger shared result when each person does their part. Half effort gives up most of that return without saving much work.
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PMS Framework
Skill grows from preparation guided by a clear standard. Decide how good you want to become, then prepare in ways that close the gap.
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Daily Notes
I keep one running note for each day. It helps me plan work, remember decisions, and write useful summaries without maintaining a separate task system.
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Information Consumption Efficiency
Recently I've been thinking a lot about how to consume information more efficiently. Historically my primary method of consuming information around my i...
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Energy Management
I usually have enough time to work toward my goals. What I run out of is energy. I use three categories to decide how to spend and restore it.
Business
2- 1 min read →
Two Climbers
One person starts before understanding the risk. Another plans until the risk prevents them from starting. Progress requires enough preparation and a willingness to learn on the way.
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Ideas are 1%
A business idea has little value without the ability to execute it. A short set of questions can expose whether an idea is ready to become a product.