Published in CodeX·PinnedHow “Progression Syndrome” Can All Too Easily Lead To ManagementIt’s an avoidable trap, but far too many software engineers are caught by it. I’ve theorised a new kind of syndrome within the grand game of software engineering that is similar to the already known to be widespread Imposter Syndrome and I’m going to officially christen it “Progression Syndrome”. In…Humor6 min read
Published in CodeX·PinnedWhy You Should Always Turn Down An Exit InterviewInterview busywork at its very best. Many companies often invite a leaving employee to what they, somewhat darkly, refer to as an ‘exit’ interview during their notice period. This is often framed as a way in which the company in question can learn how to improve itself, internally, from its…Work4 min read
Published in CodeX·13 hours agoMistrust In The Workplace, Mistrust At HomeWork monitoring is fast becoming ubiquitous, especially for remote workers, and it’s totally unacceptable. Some modern workplaces do still hang on to the anachronistic and dictatorial belief that efficiency is directly related to how long you spend sitting in your office chair staring at a screen all day. Aside from…Humor5 min read
Published in CodeX·3 days agoThe 4 Most Heinous Hardware Devices In Software EngineeringIt’s not always people the problem, often it’s the hardware, and not the hardware you may think. There are many things that are harmful irritants in software engineering. From the many toxic tiers of management, through the endless fetid pools of process, amidst the bubbling and offensive gases of HR…Humor6 min read
4 days agoA Cold War Story : “The Spy And The Traitor”A short almost-review of the gripping book by Ben MacIntyre detailing the story of double agent Oleg Gordievsky. An Introduction I used to read a lot of books, but primarily due for to hours staring at a computer screen as a part of my day to day life, my eyes started getting…Cold War3 min read
Published in CodeX·5 days agoIdentifying A Fellow Progressive DeveloperA few observations of what sets the pseudo-sociopath, sorry, progressive apart from your usual software developer. I’ve always referred to what I think of pragmatic, thoughtful, somewhat philosophical software engineers as progressives. They’re progressive, simply, because they favour change and shun doctrine. It’s not just that they attempt to remain…Humor8 min read
Published in CodeX·Jun 21The Fine Line Between Genius And MadnessTinker, Tailer, Soldier, Spy? More Psychologist, Philosopher, Diplomat, Sociopath to be completely honest. We walk a very fine line in the grand game of software engineering, often on a daily basis, and it can be very confusing for people outside of the industry when you tell them that you’re not…Humor5 min read
Published in CodeX·Jun 19The Difficulty With Goal Setting In Performance ReviewsA short rant on something that continually both alienates and annoys progressive engineers. If you’ve read any of my recent articles relating to performance reviews, their associated goals, and the general HR mandated tomfoolery around avoiding giving you an anywhere near decent pay rise then you’ll appreciate my utterly disdainful…Software Engineering4 min read
Published in CodeX·Jun 16The Worrisome Banality of Modern SoftwareWhen did software products become so bland and unexciting and, more to the point, why? These days I really find it pretty hard to get excited about software. I mean, it’s not at all unusual to be completely unimpressed with things like UML, agile, design patterns, or yet another [JavaScript|Python]…Humor4 min read
Published in CodeX·Jun 14Company Mandatory Fun : Please StopWork events taking place out of hours are still work events, no matter how much ‘fun’ you’re told to have. Enough, now. I only recently learned the term ‘Mandatory Fun’, surprisingly. This is really quite embarrassing after what seems like a lifetime of avoiding unpleasant and undesirable situations where some…Humor9 min read