Articles

Using AI to spark connections at a conference

We built an AI algorithm to help you find interesting people to talk to at a conference. And make sure it's not awkward

Notes for my Scaling Fast talk next week

Decided to publish my notes because they look pretty useful on their own. Although I hope my stage presence adds a little something something. Enjoy :)

How to use feature flags

All the hard lessons learned using feature flags in production. Skips the why and gets to the how.

Why useSuspenseQuery works

A reader asked 'Wtf why does this work?'

Cleaner components with useSuspenseQuery

Sick of complex states in your code? React Suspense can simplify your components for more readable, robust code!

Why you shouldn't use AI to write your tests

If you derive tests from your implementation, you can't apply the Beyonce rule. What if the code is wrong and that wasn't the programmer's intent? We'll never know. The bug now exists in both places.

Validate your assumptions early

here's war story from last summer. I've talked about it in workshops but haven't written it down before. It's for a book I'm working on.

A better roadmap solves many issues

Many engineering challenges start with your roadmap

Get us over the water, not build us a bridge

effective engineering teams should work *with* their product owner/manager, not *for* them

Outputs are not outcomes

Doing the work is not the same as getting things done

Coordinating at the end is too late

When working: sync first *then* async

43 years of the actor model

The actor model is now part of everyday tooling and ensures concurrency safety. Understanding the principles behind it helps you write less buggy code.

From trivial to complex – 4 software quadrants

You can classify software projects into 4 quadrants from trivial to complex

Coding is a brawl, not a battle of wits

Discover why coding is more like a boxing match, focused on delivering results rather than perfect technique. Learn how to navigate economic upheaval and prioritize business needs in this unexpected comparison.

Approve with comment

A shift in your code review process can boost your team's productivity. Empower authors to make the call.

The best engineering books get good 5 years into your career

The best engineering books aren't those you read at the start of your career. It's the ones you appreciate 5 years in.

Architecture is like a path in the woods

You're doing too much. Sit back, relax, see how people *want* to use the code. THEN build the abstraction.

How to start playing with generative AI

Generative AI is entering the early adopters phase of Moore's technology cycle. Lots of people have been asking me for the quickest and cheapest way to get started.

Code yourself out of the job

Don't get stuck being a critical member of the team.

The quickest way to kill a team

The answer to 5 soloists in a trench coat

Team dysfunction where everyone's a soloist? Try this fix: Force the team to work on ONE story at a time.

5 soloists in a trench coat

Ever felt like your software team is just soloists in a trench coat? You may be right!

The market always wins

No amount of growth hacking, investor money, or a/b testing will save you, if people don't want what you have.

Why you need a regular retro

Agile is something you are, not something you do.

Your resumé has a job

Is your resume a tech bingo card? Not great.

5 tips for effective standups

Talk about today, not yesterday

Can I get your opinion

Books start with a detailed outline that's easy to change. That's when they're easy to change and where you can help.

Onboarding to a new team

People are starting to cheat in interviews using ChatGPT. It's obvious, doesn't work, and wouldn't even be cheating if you did it right!

What interviewers look for in senior engineers

People are starting to cheat in interviews using ChatGPT. It's obvious, doesn't work, and wouldn't even be cheating if you did it right!

What being an expert looks like

The blue sweater scene in 'Devil Wears Prada' is a masterclass in expertise