Architecture

17 articles · all categories

8 articles from 2023 · show all

August 2023

Avoid spooky action at a distance

Shared state in programming isn't the enemy, it's unclear dependencies that tangle your code. Keep it clean with explicit state dependencies and strict access guidelines

Finding modules in a Big Ball of Mud with ChatGPT

Detangling a Big Ball of Mud is hard. You have to find domain boundaries where none exist. Looks like AI can help 🤩

Followup answers to Forget complicated code, focus on the system

Why are utility files bad? How do you recognize architectural complexity? What the hell is a transitive dependency?

Forget complicated code, focus on the system

Clean code matters, but it's the architectural complexity that truly impacts your productivity and bug count. Focus on simplifying the system, not just the code.

July 2023

What I learned from Team Topologies

You can't escape Conway's Law. Might as well use it for good.

April 2023

A backend service nobody can grok

a little case study from an upcoming book I'm writing with Manning about software rewrites

Own the outcome, not the work

Efficient problem-solving in engineering with a shift in perspective – focusing on user outcomes can lead to innovative solutions and change your approach to system design.

March 2023

Clever technical hackery can't solve the wrong design

A simple change in perspective can help you overcome complex technical challenges and save time on future projects.