Blog

Matrices of Boolean Nets

mathematics

complexity-systems

quantum-computing

Matrices representing boolean nets can shed some light on their properties with nice links to quantum computing and category theory.

Kauffmann’s Basic Gene Nets

complexity-systems

mathematics

Turns out that Kauffman’s gene nets were more general than Wolfram’s later elementary cellular automata and share some interesting properties.

Christopher Alexander and Network Theory

complexity-systems

modelling

software-architecture

Christopher Alexander’s philosophy evolved from an algorithmic to an experience based framework. Can we get the best of both worlds?

design,alexander,network theory

Predictability and batch size

software-engineering

statistics

It turns out that delivery predictability decreases linearly with batch size.

probability,forecasting

Dunbar’s number deconstructed (again)

science

statistics

When linear regression is taken too far.

Investigating Dunbar’s number

science

statistics

organisations

Dunbar’s number is widely references but also widely misunderstood.

On not having a map

modelling

statistics

How much does having a map help when travelling over rugged terrain?

models,map-is-not-terrain

Flow and Cognitive Load

software-engineering

philosophy

Falling over our own terminology

A Little Every Day

organisations

philosophy

Tackling daunting challenges

Inverse Markov

statistics

modelling

Inferring a model about how stuff moves about

estimation modelling

Accelerate and Farmers’ Gates

statistics

software-engineering

Predictive inference is not enough.

Why Lognormal?

statistics

software-architecture

The distribution of latencies in a system is often approximately log-normal. Why?

Load Balancing Strategies and their Distributions

software-architecture

statistics

A comparison of different load balancing strategies and the statistical distribution of requests.

Polynomial Chaos

mathematics

statistics

Approximating probability distributions with polynomials.

Stop Using @Autowire

programming-languages

software-architecture

software-engineering

Some reasons why Spring’s @Autowire annotation could be considered a code smell.

spring framework,java

Technical Practices for Continuous Delivery

software-engineering

software-architecture

Looking at the relationships between the different technical practices in the DORA model.

continuous delivery

Teams, Systems and Catastrophe

complexity-systems

organisations

software-architecture

Examples of surprising cascading effects when increasing the rate or strength of interactions in a team or distributed system.

scaling teams,networks,complexity

DIKUW for Programmers

philosophy

communication

software-engineering

An explanation for programmers of the concepts behind the decision-making information hierarchy.

The Hodgepodge Machine

complexity-systems

simulation

programming-languages

A classic 2D cellular automa with Julia.

complexity,julia

Chaotic Waterwheel with Planck

simulation

complexity-systems

A simulation of a chaotic waterwheel with the Planck JavaScript physics engine.

complexity,javascript

Communication Clarity Confidence

communication

organisations

A few ideas for improving leadership skills for technical people.

communication,leadership

An Encounter with ℂ𝕠𝕞𝕡𝕝𝕖𝕩𝕚𝕥𝕪

complexity-systems

modelling

From the Game of Life to Cynefin, systems flourish on the edge of chaos.

complexity,cynefin,systems

The Stability of Systems

complexity-systems

software-engineering

A quote from an ecologist regarding the stability of ecosystems could also apply to software systems.

complexity,systems

Why ask why?

philosophy

A paradox of modern life - take charge of your life but go with the flow.

Consider Technical Documentation

communication

software-architecture

Visualising a system can lead to more effective communication and better decisions.

Quality and Time

software-engineering

philosophy

Digging into the meaning of quality and its relationship with time.

semiotics,quality

Some Perspectives on the Nature Of Meaning

philosophy

communication

An understanding of how we arrive at meaning has great implications for learning and communication.

Serverless is the new Mainframe

software-architecture

software-engineering

Many of the touted advantages of serverless architectures have been enjoyed on Mainframes for decades. What lessons can be learnt for the new serverless era?

Native µservices with Graal and Gradle

software-architecture

programming-languages

Moving from Maven to Gradle for the Kotlin/SparkJava. Spoiler it’s almost too easy.

graalvm,jvm,kotlin,microservices

Professionalism - Learning at Work

organisations

software-engineering

The debate about where to learn your craft focuses on the professional on the one side or the employer on the other. We should be considering their relationship instead.

Estimate Everything

statistics

software-engineering

The power of estimation is widely denigrated or ignored. That is a shame.

estimation,agile,critical thinking

There’s More Than One Kind of Project

software-engineering

organisations

Software engineering projects come in many shapes and this article lists some of them. Different skills apply to each one, however, and we need to be able to distinguish them and apply the right tools to each.

What happened to UML?

software-architecture

communication

software-engineering

UML seems to have fallen out of favour with many software developers. It’s understandable but maybe we have thrown the baby out with the bath water.

The Dangers of Abstraction

modelling

philosophy

software-engineering

Thoughts on the use of high-level abstractions where, if we are not careful, words easily loose their meaning.

critical thinking

Teal Organisation in the Methodist Tradition

organisations

Comments on the similarity between the way Methodists organise themselves and so-called Teal organisations.

Quantum Computing Primer

quantum-computing

Basic maths-free introduction to quantum computing for software engineers.

quantum computing

Argument Maps

communication

philosophy

Simple example of using argument maps to visualise and simplify claims and objections to a given argument.

communication,logic

The Good Programmer

software-engineering

organisations

Some notes on the different meanings of quality.

Evolution of a Unit Test

software-testing

software-engineering

Example of the evolution of a real unit test over the course of a morning.

Expected Loss of a Unit Test

software-testing

statistics

Exploration of the concept of expected loss as a measure of the effectiveness of a unit testing.

SOLID Principles, Cohesion and Coupling

software-engineering

software-architecture

Some observations about the relationship between well known programming principles.

oop,programming

Political Anti-Fragility

complexity-systems

philosophy

Certain politicians have the ability to gain popularity even in the face of severe criticism.