The hottest Substack posts of Rethinking Software

And their main takeaways
2 HN points 14 Aug 24
  1. Many developers are unhappy with Agile and Scrum. They feel it leads to more stress and micromanagement instead of helping them.
  2. There's a strong desire among developers for more autonomy in their work. They want to solve problems themselves rather than follow strict daily tasks.
  3. People are questioning the effectiveness of Agile methods. If developers are not thriving under these processes, it might be time for a change.
1 HN point 30 Sep 24
  1. Scrum is an approach used to make teamwork more effective. It helps teams focus on delivering results in small, manageable pieces.
  2. Good communication is essential in Scrum. Regular check-ins and updates keep everyone on the same page and help solve problems quickly.
  3. Scrum encourages continuous improvement. Teams should always look for ways to do better and learn from past experiences.
1 HN point 09 Sep 24
  1. Scrum gives all product decision power to the Product Owner, leaving engineers to persuade rather than decide. This can create frustration for engineers who want to contribute to product direction.
  2. Many companies confuse the Product Backlog with engineering tasks, making it hard for engineers to focus on their work without interference. Keeping these backlogs separate can help maintain clear roles.
  3. The way Scrum is often implemented leads to engineers being sidelined in decisions about what to build, showing a need for better practices to include their input in product decisions.
4 HN points 10 Aug 23
  1. Delegation can be categorized into 'gofer delegation' and 'stewardship delegation'.
  2. Stewardship delegation, focusing on results over methods, leads to better software and happier developers.
  3. Too many constraints in management practices can hinder innovation and motivation in software companies.
3 HN points 14 Aug 23
  1. Building software often involves uncertainty in knowing both the timeline and the features included.
  2. Software development processes should adapt to this uncertainty by considering alternative strategies like check-ins and flexible release dates.
  3. Exploring different release strategy categories can help eliminate common industry challenges associated with traditional fixed scope and release date approaches.
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3 HN points 20 Jul 23
  1. Agile is about quickly adapting to changes, not rigid planning like Waterfall.
  2. Agile values working software over meticulous estimates and backlogs.
  3. In true agile environments, teams have autonomy in their processes and don't adhere to rigid standards.
1 HN point 11 Oct 20
  1. Breaking work into small tasks can make workers feel like they have no creative control. When given bigger responsibilities, they feel trusted and more motivated to contribute ideas.
  2. Focusing too much on metrics and small tasks can take away from the bigger picture of a project. It can lead to a lack of respect for individual skills and creativity.
  3. Estimating small tasks accurately is tough. It's easy for simple tasks to become complicated, leading to time wastage and misunderstandings in the project.
0 implied HN points 05 Nov 24
  1. Reaching consensus in teams can be difficult, often leading to tension. It's better to allow differing opinions and find a way to move forward, rather than forcing everyone to agree.
  2. Many workers are stuck using tools like Microsoft Teams, which can be frustrating for coders. It raises the question of whether companies are prioritizing cost savings over better options, like Slack or Discord.
  3. There's a concern about the 'Agile Industrial Complex' imposing rigid processes on developers. It's important to remember that agile methods should be flexible and designed based on the team's needs, not forced upon them.
0 implied HN points 16 Sep 24
  1. Software engineering often feels like assembly-line work, where programmers are given tiny tasks with no time for deeper thinking or creativity. This can be frustrating for those who want to tackle bigger projects.
  2. There is a growing idea that people should focus on fewer tasks and prioritize quality over just being busy. This philosophy encourages a more balanced and thoughtful approach to work.
  3. Many people dislike strict management practices like Scrum, feeling they limit creativity and autonomy. They prefer a work environment where they can work freely on projects without constant oversight.
0 implied HN points 22 Dec 24
  1. Literate programming helps reduce code repetition by allowing you to define things in one place and use them throughout your project. This makes it easier to manage updates, like changing a copyright notice in multiple files with just one change.
  2. You can create variables in your project to store common values, like project names or copyright years, and include them wherever needed. This keeps your code clean and makes it easy to change values in the future.
  3. Using features like include guards in literate programming can help prevent issues when including files in your code. By generating names programmatically, you avoid conflicts and keep everything organized.
0 implied HN points 08 Jul 22
  1. The author wants to create a space for honest discussions on software development
  2. The platform aims to be free from workplace politics and profit-driven motivations
  3. The focus is on inviting programmers to share their opinions on software development processes