Field notes from the build floor.
Essays and case studies on engineering software for businesses with real operational complexity. Slow cadence, long form, no listicles.
When a website stops being a website
The line between a website and a web platform isn't visual - it's whether the thing does work. The symptoms operators notice when they've crossed it, and what to do about them.
Freelancer, agency, or build partner: who should build your software?
The three ways to get custom software built, the failure mode of each, and how to tell which one your project actually needs - including when a freelancer is the right call.
AI as engineering, not theater
On the difference between adding AI to your product and engineering AI into your operation - and why most consulting work is the wrong one.
Spreadsheets as load-bearing infrastructure
Most operational software gets commissioned the day someone realizes a spreadsheet is doing a job nobody can explain. Here's what to do about it.