With AI coding assistants generating good-enough first drafts, implementation details and syntax mastery are becoming less important than specifications and systems design. This video explores where that shift is heading — and where it can go wrong. The core idea: small, well-specified “black box” modules that AI agents can generate, test, and regenerate on demand, […]
Specs over Code: How AI is Changing Software Read More »
Most developers aren’t using AI assistants anywhere near their full potential for architecture work. This video breaks down a practical framework for using AI at every stage of making a strategic technical decision — not to get “the perfect answer,” because that doesn’t exist in architecture, but to make better-informed trade-offs. What’s covered: AI won’t
AI Assistants for Software Architects: How to Use Them Right Read More »
Storing time series data in PostgreSQL or another relational database feels obvious – until the table hits 50 million rows and your queries take 15 seconds. The problem isn’t your schema or your indexes. You’re using the wrong tool. Time series databases are built especially for this usage pattern. We cover: If you’re manually partitioning
Fix Your Slow Time Based Queries Read More »
AI coding assistants misunderstand your architecture — not because they’re buggy, but because architectural intent was never visible in the code to begin with.In this video I read through and comment on Ian Bull’s article “Sinks, Not Pipes: Software Architecture in the Age of AI”, adding my own perspective from my work on usable software
Why AI Coding Assistants Misunderstand Your Architecture Read More »
Most developers are leaving a lot on the table with AI coding assistants — not because the tools aren’t good, but because of a few fixable mistakes I keep seeing in real teams.In this video I cover three common mistakes and how to avoid them: Plus a bonus fourth mistake: only using AI for code
3 AI Coding Assistant Mistakes I See in Real Teams — And What to Do Instead Read More »
A recent post by Simon Wardley makes the point that the transition to AI will take a while because it requires practices to emerge and be accepted, to co-evolve with AI. Alex analyzes and comments this theory. Links:
Practices Coevolve with AI Read More »
Evaluating the architecture of a system can be a very complicated process, with a lot of different possibilities for tools and techniques. In this video, we describe a mental model for evaluating architecture that helps us make sense and make the right decisions.
How to Evaluate Your Architecture Read More »
A programmer recently asked me how he could switch to a cybersecurity role. The answer might surprise you.
5 Effective Ways To Switch Roles Read More »
Every architectural decision is a trade-off. But trade-offs are not discussed enough and architects learn them empirically. So let’s look at some examples and discuss how to apply them. Links:
Trade offs examples Read More »
What’s orchestration? What’s choreography? How do we choose between them? If you’ve ever asked these questions, this is the video for you.
Orchestration vs Choreography Read More »
