Sam Partee, CTO of Arcade AI, explains that building production-grade agentic systems requires moving beyond simple chatbots. He details the critical components for creating reliable, secure, and scalable tools, including rigorous schema management, the principle of least privilege, continuous evaluation, and a crucial distinction between 'exploratory' and 'operational' tools.
Jessica Kerr and Diana Montalion explore a pragmatic approach to AI-assisted coding, framing AI not as a replacement for developers, but as a powerful tool for automating tedious work like typing, scaffolding, and error handling. They argue that AI's strength lies in executing well-defined, laborious tasks, which frees up developers to focus on the nuanced, high-level work of systems thinking, architectural design, and discerning the right response to complex problems—skills where AI currently falls short.
Legacy code isn't just old; it's a treasure trove of lost business knowledge. Alessandro Colla and Alberto Acerbis, authors of 'Domain-Driven Refactoring,' argue for a business-first approach to modernization. They explain how to rediscover the 'why' behind your system using Domain-Driven Design, treating the monolith not as something to be destroyed, but as a block of marble from which a well-structured solution can be carefully carved.
Michael Nygard, author of 'Release It!', discusses his experiences at Sabre and Nubank, offering deep insights into balancing autonomy and centralization, the practical implications of Conway's Law, and how architectural boundaries can reduce organizational friction and the need for constant alignment.
Ben Smith and James Beswick explore the evolution of modern software architecture, discussing the critical role of workflow services in managing distributed systems, the trade-offs between microservices and monoliths, and the power of plugin architectures.
Alice Bartlett, Tech Director at the Financial Times, offers a deep dive into her leadership role, managing a 70-person team responsible for FT.com and the mobile apps. She discusses the transition from principal engineer to director, the art of managing stakeholder relationships, strategies for tackling technical debt, and her nuanced perspective on the impact of AI on software development and team dynamics.