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Clever Architecture is Not Good Architecture There’s a common trap that many architects—especially those who enjoy the theoretical side of software—fall into: the belief that a clever architecture is a good architecture. It’s tempting to create something elegant, intricate, and innovative, something worthy of an academic paper or a conference talk. But in the real world, clever architecture […]

Why Does Software Cost So Much? (And Why It’s Not Just About Code) Tom DeMarco’s Why Does Software Cost So Much? is a collection of essays tackling one of the most misunderstood aspects of software development: why it’s expensive, why it’s often late, and why throwing more people at the problem rarely helps. The answer isn’t just “because

Structurizr: Bringing the C4 Model to Life in Code When it comes to documenting and visualising software architecture, the C4 model offers a structured and effective approach. But what if you could automate the creation and maintenance of your C4 diagrams directly from the code? That’s where Structurizr comes in. In this post, we’ll explore how Structurizr

Why ‘Start with Why’ is Just Common Sense Simon Sinek’s Start with Why presents a simple yet powerful idea: great leaders, businesses, and teams succeed because they have a clear purpose—their why. While the book is often framed as a leadership philosophy, at its core, it’s just a sensible approach to decision-making, communication, and building organisations that actually

A Pragmatic Architecture Process for Embedded, Application, and Cloud Systems Introduction Architecting complex systems—whether for embedded, application, or cloud—requires a structured yet adaptable approach. Too much process leads to analysis paralysis, while too little results in chaos. The key is just-enough architecture, balancing flexibility with rigor. This post presents a pragmatic architecture process that fits Agile, Waterfall,

Tom DeMarco’s Slack is a refreshing counterargument to the obsession with efficiency, relentless productivity, and squeezing every last drop of output from employees. His core message? Busyness is not the same as effectiveness. High-performing teams and organisations don’t run at 100% capacity—they leave room for thinking, problem-solving, and, well, slack. In an era where companies glorify “hustle culture” and

Architecture as Code (AAC): Building Better Systems Through Code-Driven Architecture As software systems grow in complexity, ensuring that architecture aligns closely with implementation is becoming more critical than ever. In traditional approaches, architectural diagrams and documents are often maintained separately from the codebase, leading to discrepancies between design intentions and actual implementations. Enter Architecture as Code

What is an Architecture Vision and Why Does It Matter? Introduction In the world of software and systems architecture, the term Architecture Vision often gets thrown around, but it’s not always well understood or executed effectively. An Architecture Vision is a high-level, aspirational view of where an organisation, product, or system is heading. It sets the direction, aligns stakeholders,

The C4 Model Visualising Software Architecture In this post, we’ll explore the C4 model—a simple yet powerful way to describe your software architecture using a set of hierarchical diagrams. As a solution architect, I’ve found that C4 brings clarity to both developers and non-technical stakeholders, making it easier to understand and communicate architectural decisions. We’ll

Why Companies Keep Failing at Software (And Never Learn) Software engineering has been around for decades, yet many companies still manage to do it badly. Fred Brooks wrote The Mythical Man-Month nearly 50 years ago, warning of the pitfalls of software development—yet the same mistakes he outlined are repeated daily in companies across the world. Why? Why