Posts

A computer science anecdote from the mid-2000s about AI and divinity seems remarkably prescient in today’s world of interconnected AI systems.

Conversational AI has transformed how I learn new topics, offering personalized explanations and instant clarification that traditional search can’t match.

Practical strategies for software engineers with inattentive ADHD to manage risk, avoid missing critical details, and excel in detail-oriented work.

I have a confession: I am absolutely, unabashedly in love with TODO lists. Not just fond of them, not just dependent on them — I’m talking about a deep, passionate love affair that has lasted my entire career. And as a neurodivergent engineer with ADHD, this isn’t just a quirky productivity habit. It’s my secret superpower. The ADHD Brain and External Memory Most neurotypical people use TODO lists as reminders. For neurodivergent minds, they’re something far more powerful: an external memory system that compensates for our unique cognitive patterns. ...

I was recently diagnosed with ADHD. To be honest, it feels strange to even type those words out loud. When the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine began, my mental health completely collapsed. I hit what I now know was the lowest point of my life. I weighed around 140kg, I was severely depressed, constantly anxious, and felt like I was drowning. Doctors put me on SSRI antidepressants, but they didn’t help. The side effects were there, but the relief wasn’t. I felt broken. But somewhere deep inside, my stubborn problem-solving brain was still alive, whispering: “Don’t give up. Keep looking.” ...

“We need an enterprise solution,” the CTO announced in our Monday meeting. I nodded thoughtfully, but internally I was screaming. What does that even mean? Is it the software equivalent of putting “artisanal” on a coffee shop menu — a fancy word that justifies charging more? After building software for startups and Fortune 500 companies for over a decade, I’ve learned that “enterprise” is both the most overused and misunderstood term in tech. Let’s cut through the marketing fluff and figure out what it actually means. ...

Ruby on Rails is simultaneously perfect and terrible for enterprise applications, depending on what you optimize for.

Moving from batch jobs to an event-driven architecture wasn’t just a technical upgrade — it changed the way we thought about systems, risk, and ownership.

Stories We Tell Ourselves We are storytelling creatures. Since we first gathered around fires, humans have crafted narratives to make sense of existence — where we came from, why we’re here, what happens when we die. These stories become the religions that shape civilizations, the myths that guide moral intuitions, the frameworks through which we interpret reality itself. Today, many argue that consumerism has become our de facto religion, complete with its own temples (shopping malls), rituals (Black Friday), and promises of salvation (the next purchase will finally make us happy). But I find myself drawn to an older, deeper story — one written not in ancient texts but in the very fabric of reality itself. ...

Every feature has an ongoing cost that extends far beyond initial development. Understanding this total cost of ownership changes how we evaluate what to build.

Looking back at my early days as a developer, the mid-2000s web was simpler, faster, and more human. We built things for fun — and we shipped more.

Software architectures fall into two categories: nested abstractions like Russian dolls, or composable pieces like Lego blocks. Understanding the difference changes how you build systems.