☕️ We started with coffee, like most chats do. Black for me, cappuccino for Jimothy (he actually prefers Jim, or James). Corner terrace, Singelgracht. One of those confusing Amsterdam afternoons where the sky can’t decide − sunlight breaks through the clouds, then ducks back behind them. Just long enough to let a few leaves blow […]
AI-assisted coding feels like magic. You type what you want, and out comes working code. (well, maybe after a few hours of setup − but still) Like all magic, though, it has a cost. And right now, that cost is mostly hidden − even as the invoices show up every month. What makes it work […]
In software engineering, we often rely on “exponential back-off” when retrying failed network requests − a technique where each subsequent attempt is spaced out further in time to avoid overloading the system. Oddly enough, I’ve found myself applying a similar concept to human communication. As a Engineering lead, I’m frequently on the receiving end of […]
Remember when a five‑digit Stack Overflow score was a flex? Today that, and a vintage 2022 playbook will buy you precisely zero leverage. Yesterday’s job, tomorrow’s irrelevance Many Engineering managers still run on three rituals: However, none of those moves the product faster. Meanwhile, AI agents are quietly doing code reviews, generating boilerplate, even writing RFCs. The org chart hasn’t […]
When most of us hear “NIST guidelines”, our first reaction might be “another boring PDF I’ll never open again“. My first encounter with NIST Special Publication 800-190 happened when I was studying for the GIAC GCSA exam, which is focused on DevSecOps and container security. The SP 800-190 is refreshingly different. It isn’t just another […]
So you’ve spent years honing your craft as an individual contributor (IC), and now you’re considering a transition to a leadership position. The appeal is obvious: greater influence, more responsibility, and a unique chance to shape your organization’s trajectory. However, stepping into a lead role comes with challenges that aren’t always highlighted in the job […]
Every Engineering manager knows the feeling: you wake up already juggling a thousand thoughts, your calendar is a battlefield, and Slack notifications seem endless. It’s a chaotic yet rewarding role, one where the pressure to deliver is only rivaled by the satisfaction of seeing your team succeed. In 2024, my days as an Engineering manager […]
Picture this: your software application is running smoothly in production, serving thousands of users. Then, you hear about a new critical vulnerability affecting open-source libraries, and panic sets in. Is your application exposed? If so, which part is at risk? Without a clear map of your software’s components, answering these questions can feel like searching […]
In the complex world of software engineering, high-level estimates play a critical role in guiding project planning and resource allocation.
Engineering leaders often find HLEs daunting due to inherent uncertainty, pressure for commitments, potential scope changes, blame games, and the challenge of conveying complexity to non-technical stakeholders.
Based on my journey, this blog post explores the factors influencing high-level estimates in software engineering.
Explaining the engineering manager role is not a new subject. Nevertheless, the EM function is often defined differently depending on the company, its size, and even the market it operates. In this post, I offer my version of it, in an attempt to provide a new, valuable perspective. Fun fact: this is the first piece […]