Strategy

Why building AI-powered agents is so challenging. For now.

3 February 2024

Despite growing excitement about the potential for AI-driven agents, there are a lot of problems to solve before we can build agent-based architectures on any scale…

Architecture governance is a spectrum: exploring styles of enterprise architecture

8 January 2024

There is a spectrum of different styles of architecture governance, from the tightly structured and framework-driven, through to the deliberate absence of formal architecture.

Generative AI does not mean the “end of programming”

12 December 2023

The demise of software engineers is one of those tired old tropes that refuses to die. Perhaps the programming revolution has already happened…?

Minimal Viable Architecture and the case for up-front design

13 November 2023

Evolutionary design and iterative development only get you so far - you still need some level of up-front thinking and forward planning.

Establishing a new architecture practice in agile organisations

2 September 2023

How should you go about building an architecture practice in organisations where people are allowed to say “no”? Ultimately, this becomes an exercise in persuasion, pragmatism, and patience.

The shared code fallacy: Why internal libraries can be an anti-pattern

15 July 2023

Most internal shared libraries are based on the fallacy that code sharing always makes development more efficient.

Monoliths and the microservices backlash

22 May 2023

We need a more nuanced understanding of how to get the best out of monoliths, microservices, and serverless architectures.

Internal developer platforms and the cult of Kubernetes

13 April 2023

We all agree that engineering enablement is important, but “platform teams” can often be a fig leaf for organisational anti-patterns and overly complex Kubernetes implementations.

How can architecture improve agility and delivery flow?

2 March 2023

Agile practices on their own are no guarantee of fast flow. You also need a planned architecture that enables team autonomy and supports rapid, iterative delivery.

When to use serverless architecture... and when not to

9 February 2023

The potential benefits of an architecture based on serverless functions are nuanced, making it a good fit only for some very specific use cases.

AI and the hype cycle: oversold, overlooked, then... eventually indispensable?

10 December 2022

When any technology emerges, it can be challenging to chart a course between the unhelpful hype and the disappointment that is bound to follow…

Can internal developer platforms really be optional?

14 November 2022

Internal developer platforms are supposed to be so compelling that engineering teams will flock to them, but are we givng teams any real choice?

Inner source is more of a cultural shift than a technical change

12 June 2022

Adopting inner source is more than just a matter of putting a project into GitHub and accepting pull requests.

In defence of the Scaled Agile Framework (and other 'branded agile' variants)

17 May 2022

Larger organisations are beset with complexity that can’t be fully addressed by autonomous teams focusing on value. At least frameworks like SAFe recognise this and attempt to offer solutions based on experience.

How should architects collaborate with development teams?

6 February 2022

If we’re serious about empowering engineering teams to make decisions, then we should be embedding architectural skills rather than architects themselves.