I must admit, I've developed a bit of an aversion to planning. The idea of a "five-year plan" often seems laughable, and sometimes even a one-year plan can sometimes feel disconnected from reality.

However, there are certainly moments when looking ahead is necessary. So, how can we strike a balance...

Ever heard the metaphor comparing software development to building a house? It's a common analogy, but here's my take on it:

🏠 Building a house follows a standardized process: from rough framing, plumbing, electrical work, to drywall, floors, and finishes. It's a familiar sequence.

💻 But if we wer...

There's a tale of gorillas in a cage. Bananas are placed atop a ladder, yet every time a gorilla attempts the climb, ALL the gorillas get drenched in cold water 🧊. Soon, they give up on the ladder.

Enter a new gorilla, replacing an existing one. Unfamiliar with the chilly consequence, as it approac...

A typical scenario involves a mature system which is so mired in tech debt that it eventually implodes. We've all seen that one...💥 

Less common - but happens - is an early stage team striving for perfection and failing to take on any tech debt. This leads to slow iteration cycles at a time where tha...

Every coder worth their salt knows the sacred mantra: DRY - "Do Not Repeat Yourself". It's chanted in nearly every coding guide, textbook, and even by those bearded coding wizards in the corner cubicle. While it's hailed as a cardinal rule, can one ever overdose on such wisdom?

The underlying thoug...

How is this possibly true?

"If we keep everyone 100% scheduled during a sprint, this is how we get the max out of the team, right?"

Unlikely: this creates local, but not global efficiencies. It's painful to watch the sprint planning meetings where we try to stuff as much we can on every engineer's...