Musings on the software world and beyond
It’s 2 a.m. I’m halfway through a beer, sitting across from my good friend. We’ve done this many times, arguing about tech, late into the night, each trying to convince the other they’re wrong. Sometimes it’s about programming languages, sometimes about remote work, sometimes about who should’ve never been promoted. Tonight it’s AI (recently, it’s [ ]
After a long time, I once again stumbled upon the very popular article “Falsehoods Programmers Believe About Names”. I liked the format, and I’ve been thinking a lot about the state of our industry recently, so I scribbled a few falsehoods programmers believe about it! Here it goes… Falsehoods Programmers Believe About the IT Industry What [ ]
Setting and managing expectations is key for any team, especially in software development. Things run smoothly when everyone knows their roles and what’s expected of them. This is even more important for small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) where resources are tight and every team member’s contribution counts. Without clear expectations, tasks can overlap, accountability can [ ]
Effective communication is the backbone of any successful team, and software development is no exception. For small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs), clear and efficient communication keeps projects on track, aligns team members, and ensures goals are met. Unlike larger organizations with more resources and structured processes, SMBs need to be extra careful to avoid miscommunication [ ]
High-performing developers are your most valuable asset, and you should treat them as such. They drive innovation, set the standard for excellence, and often lead by example. However, managing high performers requires a strategic approach to ensure they remain motivated, engaged, and continuously challenged. A common mistake organizations make is not managing their highest performers. [ ]
If you keep the low performers in your organization longer than you should, you risk demoralizing the rest of the team, and the performance standard will degrade as long as you don’t rectify the situation. The direct impact is more pronounced. Your business is not getting the value for the low performer’s compensation. The former [ ]
“People are the company’s most valuable asset.” This sentence became a cliche, and unfortunately, it is hardly a positive one. Employees often chant it sarcastically whenever company management does something that directly contradicts this sentiment. Unlike in larger companies, where a sub-optimal setup and its consequences can slip through the cracks and not do immediate [ ]
In small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs), the success of a software development project often hinges on the clarity of roles and responsibilities within the team. Unlike larger organizations with extensive resources and well-defined structures, SMBs must be particularly vigilant in avoiding ambiguity and confusion that can lead to inefficiencies and conflicts. If only two people [ ]
I was talking recently with two fellow engineers who are actively writing on their blogs and occasionally on social media. We discussed how much garbage is floating around the internet, and dumbed-down and AI-generated fluff gets more impressions and engagement than genuine and original content. It can be frustrating to see your posts get buried [ ]
When determining the approach to team setup and processes, it’s crucial to avoid adopting rules that are too large for your current size. Many businesses overestimate the need for scale and adopt processes that are over-engineered and slow for their size. Most available material is written with large organizations in mind, which can be misleading [ ]