Architecture and Operations
Start with the curated reading path, or browse related writing below, newest first.
- Why We Don’t Build Custom Operating Systems --
Custom operating systems create obligations most software customers should never have to inherit.
- Why We Favour Standards Over Proprietary Features --
Standards preserve choices, reduce lock-in, and make long-lived software easier to move and maintain.
- Why We Pin Container Images --
Pinned release artefacts make deployments reproducible, reviewable, and easier to recover when something goes wrong.
- Why Predictable Recovery Matters More Than Perfect Uptime --
Perfect uptime is a promise no honest operator can make; predictable recovery is a capability a system can be designed to provide.
- Why We Separate Operating Systems From Customer Data --
Separating the operating environment from customer data makes maintenance, recovery, and migration safer and more predictable.
- Why Every Tooljar Server Is Designed to Be Replaceable --
A replaceable server turns infrastructure failure from a rescue mission into a controlled recovery process.
- Why Deployment Should Be Boring --
A good deployment is repeatable, observable, and uneventful because reliability matters more than theatre.
- I No Longer Think Python Is the Most Important Programming Language I Know --
Pseudocode has become the design language of AI-assisted software engineering, where clear intent and system judgment matter more than memorized syntax.
- Local-First AI: Put the Control Plane Back Inside the Business --
An architecture option for model-assisted routing, with permissions, budgets, and approvals enforced independently of the model.
- The Federation Future: How Independent Systems Will Help You Command the Machines --
Introduction: The Coming Power Shift For most of the digital age, business owners have been told a simple story: centralize, streamline, and outsource as much of your technology as possible. Hand over your data to cloud platforms. Use single-vendor suites for everything from email to invoicing. Build your business on someone else’s infrastructure, because it’s
- It’s 10 o’clock. Do you know where your source code is? --
There used to be a late–night public service announcement on TV: “It is 10 o’clock. Do you know where your children are?” If you are a founder, CTO, or anyone responsible for software, you can adapt that line: “It is 10 o’clock. Do you know where your source code is?” Most people think they do.
- Why VAKIETA Isn’t Personality Profiling — And Why That Matters --
Introduction When people first encounter VAKIETA, they often assume it’s another personality profiling system — a kind of DISC, MBTI, or Big Five with better marketing and modern AI polish. That assumption is natural. The personal-development and corporate-training industries have been saturated for decades with tools that claim to explain who you are. But VAKIETA
- Rebuilding Trust in the Age of Synthetic Content: Introducing Verified Provenance --
The internet we grew up with was built on a simple idea: that content online was created by people — individuals, teams, authors, journalists, creators. It wasn’t always accurate, but there was an implicit assumption that behind every article, post, image, and video was a human being who had something to say. That era is
- AI Isn’t Killing Creativity — It’s Killing “Good Enough” --
An argument for using AI to move beyond generic output, with human judgment, originality, and direction at the centre of creative work.
- Apple Containers vs Docker on macOS: Differences and Trade-offs --
Compare Apple containers and Docker Desktop on macOS: VM isolation, networking, compatibility, and when each fits your development workflow.
- 50 Years In, and Still Learning ~ Why I Rebuilt Everything From Scratch (and What It Taught Me) --
After nearly five decades of tinkering with computers–from the days of beige boxes and clunky keyboards to today’s cloud-driven AI—I’ve come full circle. What started as a childhood fascination with the idea of machines that could think has now become part of my daily toolkit. Artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic dream; it’s a practical companion woven into my work, projects, and teaching. This return to solopreneurship feels lighter, more creative, and infinitely more fun thanks to the support of AI—and the best part is, the journey is only just beginning.
- Agile Is Dying. AI Just Made Waterfall Cool Again. --
For the past twenty-five years, “Agile” has been the gospel of software development. Executives have sat through endless Agile transformation initiatives, watched their organizations install “Scrum Masters,” and wondered why the promised nirvana never quite arrived. Burndown charts, sticky notes, and sprint ceremonies became part of the corporate theatre. But a quiet revolution is underway,
- Code Red, White & Open: Why Digital Sovereignty Is the Next Competitive Advantage --
In a world increasingly defined by digital dependence, control over your tech stack is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. Governments are waking up to the risks of vendor lock-in, and businesses of all sizes should take note. This article explores the growing importance of digital sovereignty, why open source and shared standards are more
- When Spaghetti Code Face‑Hugs Your Stack: Contain It Before It Hatches --
An unvarnished guide for senior executives who know legacy systems can turn on them at any moment. 1. A Walk Through the Egg Chamber Picture this: you step into a dark, echoing cavern. The floor is carpeted with Roma‑tomato “eggs,” rows upon rows just waiting. One egg cracks open and a writhing bundle of spaghetti
- Modernizing Legacy: How Containers Bridge the Gap Between Old Systems and Emerging Tech --
If you’re a senior decision-maker in tech or operations, chances are you’re dealing with the same problem I keep hearing about from other execs: your legacy system still runs the business, but it’s holding you back. It works—mostly. It’s stable—kind of. But trying to connect it to modern systems, APIs, or AI engines? Forget it.
- How AI Will Transform Training and What It Means for Solopreneurs & Small Businesses --
There’s no polite way to say this: AI is going to disrupt the world of coaching, training, and small service businesses in a big way. If you sell expertise—especially in areas like social media strategy, SEO, content marketing, or general business coaching—you are standing in the path of a tsunami. But here’s the thing: you
- When AI Writes the Code, Wisdom Writes the Rules --
It used to be that the measure of a software developer was how fast they could code. How cleanly. How cleverly. But in a world where AI can now write, refactor, test, and deploy code faster than most juniors can Google the syntax, raw coding speed and rote memory are rapidly losing their edge. The
- Judgment as a Service: Why AI Agents Need a Moral OS --
We don’t need more AI agents. We need better ones. That might sound contrarian in a world rushing to automate everything from customer service to creative ideation, but hear me out: the core problem with most agents isn’t capability — it’s judgment. Today’s AI agents are like eager interns. They act fast, they follow instructions,
- If It Can’t Say No, It’s Not an Agent --
Let’s talk about AI agents. Not the marketing buzzword, not the product demos hyped on Twitter, and definitely not the chore-doing bots people are rigging up with Zapier, LangChain, and a handful of prompts duct-taped together. I mean real agents. The kind that act with autonomy. The kind that think for themselves. The kind that,
- Docker: The Lightweight Secret Weapon for Faster, Smarter Development --
There’s a moment every developer and tech entrepreneur knows: You finally get a few precious hours to work on a project you’re excited about… …only to spend half the time fighting with your environment. Missing libraries. Conflicting versions. Random errors that make no sense. And the classic: “But it works on my machine!” It’s maddening.
- What is Vibe Coding? The Hype, Hope & Hidden Hazards --
In the ever-evolving world of software development, new trends pop up faster than you can say “deprecated.” Some make sense. Others are marketing spin masquerading as progress. And then there’s vibe coding—a concept that sounds cool, feels empowering, but falls apart under scrutiny. If you haven’t come across the term, vibe coding refers to the
- Why You Should Learn Python (Even If You Never Want to Be a Developer) --
When most people hear “Python,” they picture hardcore coders hunched over laptops, building complicated apps. They don’t picture normal people like you and me, saving hours of work with a few tiny, simple scripts. That’s a shame. Because Python isn’t just for developers. It’s for anyone who wants to stop wasting time on boring, repetitive
- Running Software Without Installing It: How to Use Docker the Smart Way --
Why Bother? Installing software the old-fashioned way clutters your machine fast. It drags in dependencies, risks version conflicts, and can turn clean-up into a frustrating mess. Docker changes the game. Instead of installing software directly on your system, you run it inside a container. Your system stays clean. No conflicts, no clutter, no wasted time
- Lunacy or a Leap of Faith? --
On March 31st, I did something some might call foolish. Others might call it brave. Me? I’m still not sure which camp I fall into. Maybe both. After years of working in a stable, well-paying role as Vice President of Software Engineering at Shift4 (formerly Givex), I handed in my resignation. No drama. No burned
- Build a Tech Stack That Can Survive Vendor and Jurisdiction Risk --
A practical framework for data residency, vendor concentration, sanctions, contractual access, portability, and tested exit plans without treating nationality as a proxy for trust.
- Building a Tech Stack That Scales with Your Small Business --
Welcome to the fourth edition of Tech with a Twist! This February 1st issue is all about building a tech stack that grows with your business. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to streamline and scale, having the right tools in place can make all the difference. Today, we’ll explore how to choose, implement,
- QR Codes: A Practical Threat Model Without the Scaremongering --
QR codes are data carriers, but their destinations and device actions can still expose people to phishing, fraudulent payments, malware, and vulnerable software.
- AI Agents: Transforming SaaS and Intelligent Automation --
An introduction to AI agents in SaaS, including potential applications, business benefits and implementation challenges.