How to avoid the most common mistake most architects make when designing solutions
So what is one of the most common mistakes that most software developers and architects make? Very simply, developers and architects rarely consider the user interface when designing solutions. That’s it, you can stop reading now if you are part of the 1% that don’t make this mistake. However, if you are part of the […]
When is it time to scrap your old code base and start over?
In last week’s article I mentioned that one of the developers on my team pulled me aside, quite frustrated, and proceeded to tell me how bad the code base is for the product we are delivering. If you want to read the whole backstory then check out last week’s article: Are you really as good […]
Are you really as good a developer as you think you are?
Last week was a travel week for me which means I spent the majority of my week in Denver speaking with the architects and developers I work with. This trip was a big deal for me because I live in sunny Jacksonville Florida, and while I was in Denver it hit record lows, getting to […]
Humility and the software architect
The role of the software architect is as much about relationships as it is about technology. This is why one of the most important qualities attributes of the software architect is humility. Humility is important because it is an enabler. It enables your team to achieve greatness through openness, acceptance, and empathy. Humble architects recognize […]
Architecting your process
Delivering even a small software project takes a team and when working with a team process is your best friend. A clearly defined and repeatable process must be adopted if you are going to succeed. Keep this in mind as you approach each new project; keep a list of the things that work and develop […]
Three things that negatively influence an architects design choices
There are three things that software architects and developers let influence our design choices that we should all be wary of. On the surface these may not seem all that bad but give me 5 minutes to change your mind. New and Shiny I may be going out on a limb here but here goes…Architects […]
What is an architect expected to know?
If you are just stepping into the software architect role you may be experiencing a bit of a culture shock. You are probably being included in many meetings that you were not privy to as a developer. These meetings may include your organization’s directors, executives, and sometimes even the CEO. All of these people are […]
Why do we need Software Architects?
Is it possible to create software applications without an architect? Absolutely! After all software developers write the software, not the architect. However, as software systems become more complex so does the likelihood that a project will fail. Projects fail for a variety of reasons but it has been my experience that most failures are related […]
What is an architect expected to be skilled at?
The software architect role is extremely challenging because it requires that we master a number of skills, not all of which are technical. These are often thought of as soft skills but I think for most technologists these are really the hard skills. The architect skill-set is a fusion of technical, management and leadership skills not […]
So who is a software architect?
A software architect is the person or persons on your team with skills, knowledge and experience to address the challenges an application will encounter before, during and after construction. This person may not have the architect title but we all know he or she has the best intentions of the development team, the business and […]
