Writing
Thoughts on building software that lasts, AI that actually helps, and lessons from two decades of production code.
2025
Why 'It Just Works' Meant I Was Underpaid for 15 Years
The invisible work paradox - when doing your job well means nobody sees the disasters you prevented.
Measuring AI Output Quality: The Evaluation Harness
How to score AI outputs with rubrics, regression checks, and decision-focused metrics instead of gut feel.
The Five Levels Nobody Told You About: From Junior Dev to CTO
The real hierarchy of technical talent - from junior dev to CTO - and why understanding these levels prevents expensive hiring mistakes.
20-Year Systems, Part 3: Incident Patterns and Fixes
The recurring incident patterns that almost took us down—and the fixes that stuck.
What $300/Hour Actually Buys You (Developer vs. Architect Economics)
The economic reality behind the rate gap between developers and architects - and why the expensive option is often cheaper.