Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programmers

We’re closing in on the end of the 1968 conference report, in this section discussion software service, maintenance, and other “special topics” including educating software engineers, and whether it’s reasonable to pay for software at all. Along the way, we … Continue reading →

This episode digs into the problems of software design and software production as perceived in the 1968 conference, most urgently: just what are software design and software production? The episode is supported by members of the Chiron Codex Patreon (use this … Continue reading →

This episode contextualises the 1968 NATO Science Committee conference on Software Engineering, and explains what we learn through the executive summary, preface, and first three sections of the conference report. Upcoming episodes will cover the rest of the 1968 conference, … Continue reading →

The topic for this episode is Niklaus Wirth’s A Plea for Lean Software. The episode is sponsored by…your generous support. Head over to https://www.patreon.com/chironcodex/redeem/A31E3 to get a free month of Insider access to my Patreon, with my gratitude! Links: Episode … Continue reading →

In which I first apologise for the four-year gap between episodes, and then explain what I’m doing now and why that means I can start podcasting again. Other than creating valuable internet content I don’t have any work, so you … Continue reading →

The idea that increased autonomy and privilege for software engineers can only come when we have better confidence that software engineers are working in the best interests of society. Mike Klimek—Modern Software Development Gergely Orosz: What Silicon Valley “Gets” about … Continue reading →

I look at the difference between being a deep specialist as a software engineer working on a particular “stack” and a generalist who builds software using a wide variety of tools, from the perspective of someone who has done both.

Software freedom is a free speech issue. This has important consequences Software is eating the world Why can’t Karen Sandler get the source code for her pacemaker The Four Essential Freedoms On Social Justice and Software Licensing (or: why the … Continue reading →

Sometimes it just seems like our customers are fickle flibbertigibbets who change their minds at the drop of a hat, right? Let’s look at what might be going on, and how to work with that. The Computer Programme Design Sprint … Continue reading →

I look at the historical basis of the white collar/blue collar divide in defining occupations, and the problems this distinction has with comprehending modern roles like engineering and various technician occupations. I then have difficulty fitting software roles into any … Continue reading →