In Berlin Monday. Not sure how much time I’ll have free — possibly none — but if you’ll be around, let me know.
Amitai Schleier
@schmonz.com
Force multiplier. Outcome improver. Decision sharer. Developer, leader, coach. agilein3minut.es podcaster. Musician. Bad poet (award-winning).
Yes, it’s smart to invest in ratcheting down software maintenance costs over time. But as a sucker for congruence, I’m far more interested in hearing this kind of message from folks whose leadership skill level and style don’t incur such heavy costs of their own.
After a much-needed break from work, I’m pleased to be back at it. In my new role I’ll get to: 1. Make full use of my particular set of skills AND (this is a big and) 2. Have their results be appreciated. Here’s what I’ll see when I occasionally go to the office.
Once I'd shown myself serious about piano, my parents bargain-hunted this 1923 Baldwin baby for a few grand.
Always loved the 11” MacBook Air. For tray table usage, still undefeated.
Even though I know to expect this, there’s always a Marc-André Hamelin moment that catches me out. Years ago, for instance, a pedaled downward gliss with every note enunciated, waves stacking so precisely as to sound electronic. Tonight’s moment was in the Etude-Tableau.
We were not formally introduced, but my style of scratching passed muster. Being assigned the task of carrying the weight of a donkey’s head for a few minutes is a privilege.
Live-upgraded MacPro1,1 NAS to OMV 8. Reboot failed. Of course I forgot something about 32-bit UEFI grub2. Booted 8’s ISO without any special grub flags. (On this box, whoa.) Easy repair. These were my final big questions. I now trust this system with my data. Blog post soon.
Today’s #pkgsrc hacking: 1. Get fastfetch and all of its dependencies building on Mac OS 10.9 #MavericksForever 2. Include pkgsrc in the package report
It’s hard to fix something because it’s easy to break something else? That’s your clue: refactor first. (Special case of the general KFB wisdom “First make the change easy, then make the easy change.”) #Refactoring #ExtremeProgramming #XPLives
Periodic reminder: if you’re intrigued by a job posting touting #ExtremeProgramming, maybe it’s what it claims to be. I hope so. But maybe not. Hit up your network before applying. If you’re reading this, I’m in your network.
Periodic reminder: if you’re intrigued by a job posting touting #ExtremeProgramming, maybe it’s what it claims to be. I hope so. But maybe not. Hit up your network before applying. If you’re reading this, I’m in your network.
If #EngineeringLeadership doesn’t believe neurospicy folks can strengthen a team, they’re simply wrong. Maybe they’ll learn. But if a supposed #ExtremeProgramming expert doesn’t grok this, such remarkably deep failure of understanding indicates ignorance AND profound obstinacy.
If you don’t know how to care for people and don’t care to learn, by definition — no matter how convincingly you write, speak, and code — you are not an #ExtremeProgramming expert. And when you take a power position and try to enact XP among humans, we can see you’re a charlatan.
If you don’t know how to care for people and don’t care to learn, by definition — no matter how convincingly you write, speak, and code — you are not an #ExtremeProgramming expert. And when you take a power position and try to enact XP among humans, we can see you’re a charlatan.
2018 Mac mini was already being weird. Then macOS Tahoe dropped support. Usually I'd want NetBSD. But the only option was Linux, and it's pretty darn okay. Here's my setup: schmonz.com/2025/11/12/s... (Writing... muscles... loosening.) #macos #linux #netbsd
Small Macs
schmonz.com
Got some slack time? Pick a risk to reduce. Got no slack time? Defer something, then pick a cost to reduce. #ContinuousImprovement
Most practical experts don’t write a book. Distinct tasks, incentives, skills. For the same reasons, some published authors are better at describing than at enacting. Maybe an author really knows, in context, under stress, how to *do* the thing. Maybe not. #ExtremeProgramming
Unfortunately, even if the person following these steps loves #ExtremeProgramming (and is widely held to be expert in it), they’re no less destructive.
Amitai Schleier@schmonz.com · 12mo agoHate #ExtremeProgramming and want others to hate it? 1. Become Director of Engineering 2. Tell org and stakeholders that XP will fix longstanding problems 3. Regularly interfere with devs’ learning 4. Design projects to delay ROI 5. Find scapegoats Maybe they’ll blame #XP.
Unfortunately, even if the person following these steps loves #ExtremeProgramming (and is widely held to be expert in it), they’re no less destructive.
Amitai Schleier@schmonz.com · 12mo agoHate #ExtremeProgramming and want others to hate it? 1. Become Director of Engineering 2. Tell org and stakeholders that XP will fix longstanding problems 3. Regularly interfere with devs’ learning 4. Design projects to delay ROI 5. Find scapegoats Maybe they’ll blame #XP.
Hate #ExtremeProgramming and want others to hate it? 1. Become Director of Engineering 2. Tell org and stakeholders that XP will fix longstanding problems 3. Regularly interfere with devs’ learning 4. Design projects to delay ROI 5. Find scapegoats Maybe they’ll blame #XP.
If you love #ExtremeProgramming and you see a rare opportunity to be hired specifically for that, you might jump at the chance. I do. I did. Maybe in your case it’ll be what it sounds like. I hope so. But beware.
Amitai Schleier@schmonz.com · 12mo agoIf the only code you’re ever satisfied with is your own, you’re not qualified for #TechnicalLeadership. Especially if you’re sure you are. If the only bits of #ExtremeProgramming you’ve mastered are the technical ones, you’re not an XP expert. Especially if you’re sure you are.
If the only code you’re ever satisfied with is your own, you’re not qualified for #TechnicalLeadership. Especially if you’re sure you are. If the only bits of #ExtremeProgramming you’ve mastered are the technical ones, you’re not an XP expert. Especially if you’re sure you are.
If you think #ExtremeProgramming coaches have to “know the most” or “be the most technical”, you might not understand coaching, influence, or your own technique-acquisition process. If you’re still sure of your understanding, regardless of cost to you and others… clownshoes.
🤡👞
Amitai Schleier@schmonz.com · 12mo agoIf you repeatedly fail to perceive or appreciate what reputable #ExtremeProgramming coaches are accomplishing in your org, maybe you’re a great leader who doesn’t know yet what specifically to look for. If you do this while claiming to be an #XP expert, that’s clownshoes.
If you repeatedly fail to perceive or appreciate what reputable #ExtremeProgramming coaches are accomplishing in your org, maybe you’re a great leader who doesn’t know yet what specifically to look for. If you do this while claiming to be an #XP expert, that’s clownshoes.