Is it possible to create a strategy that can be applied to any software infrastructure to enforce that the configuration of that infrastructure is environmentally friendly? This would be really great to have because it would allow for consistent compliance checks to be built that could be applied to any software infrastructure. Any company could... Continue Reading →

I read an English translation of The Golden Bird as recorded by The Brothers Grimm (you can read it here) and found it fascinating. You need to read that text before you read this analysis. Here is what I understood. Old parables present multiple choices as different people of the same gender. In The Golden... Continue Reading →

Software engineering is very project based. And the difference between a good project and a bad project can be huge! In the below video I explain the four step process that I use to get better projects as a software engineer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAsiDIN8Sbs If you liked this video, check out my other software engineer career resources... Continue Reading →

Writing marketing or promotional content can be agonizing. I struggle to know what kind of information is most useful and how to formulate benefits in a persuasive way. Are testimonials important? If so, where should they be placed? When is the best time to show the price? These struggles are why I created my Copywriting... Continue Reading →

I explained why I wear earplugs to live music shows in my last blog post. Now let's take a look at the specific earplugs I use, the Etymotic ETY•Plugs. Design ETY•Plugs are non-custom earplugs. This means you can buy them and stick them straight in your ear. No need to take casts of your ear... Continue Reading →

It is an unforgettable experience to see a band you love live. All the times you have listened to the recordings make seeing the live performance even better. You know their music so well, but there is so much to anticipate. What will their stage presence be like? What kind of visual effects will they... Continue Reading →

After I wrote the blog post My principles of effectiveness a lot of people expressed interest in learning how to be less effective. Making your life worse can result in some unexpected benefits. Or at least I hope so. Here are my personal tips. I rush I hurry past things that I could enjoy. I... Continue Reading →

In my interview with Zach, we created a process map of software development at his Airbnb Payments team. In this case study I am going to rant about randomization in software development processes. What is randomization? Zach told me that top Airbnb executives would sometimes change what software teams were working on. This is how... Continue Reading →

My second guest is a former Airbnb software engineer who is a good friend. I really enjoyed talking about the specific challenges of larger software development ecosystems where multiple teams work on a single part of the product. I hope you enjoy our conversation! https://youtu.be/H078SpQAdD8 The full diagram we created can be viewed here.