Andrew Harmel-Law
@andrewhl.bsky.social
They/them. Technical Principal at Thoughtworks UK. All opinions are my own (at least I sourced them myself) and don't reflect those of my employer.
Pinned
Andrew Harmel-Law
@andrewhl.bsky.social
· Dec 15
My book, Facilitating Software Architecture has been included in the Gartner 2026 Reading Guide for Software Architects and Engineers by Peter Hyde. 😱🎉
Being selected is both humbling and energizing.
Thank you everyone who contributed to what became the book. 📚
Being selected is both humbling and energizing.
Thank you everyone who contributed to what became the book. 📚
Reposted by Andrew Harmel-Law
Nonsense. It's not possible to steal AI technology. I know this because Google's own LLMs are built using a complete copy of my legal blog, and that's somehow not stealing because, as Google says, a complete copy of my legal blog is both trivial and utterly essential for their tech to work.
Ex-Google Engineer Convicted of Stealing A.I. Secrets for Start-Up in China
www.nytimes.com
January 30, 2026 at 11:22 AM
Nonsense. It's not possible to steal AI technology. I know this because Google's own LLMs are built using a complete copy of my legal blog, and that's somehow not stealing because, as Google says, a complete copy of my legal blog is both trivial and utterly essential for their tech to work.
Reposted by Andrew Harmel-Law
I keep seeing leftists from outside of Minneapolis say they’ve seen all this before, and no, you haven’t. I’ve been at this for 30+ years and I haven’t either. It’s not what you’re picturing. This is something else
I know people keep saying this but it’s hard to communicate the depth of active resistance here. Like, I’m on random cafes and people are checking in for observation shifts. Signs everywhere. Folks in visibility vests on the corners. It’s wild. Absolutely wild.
January 22, 2026 at 6:18 PM
I keep seeing leftists from outside of Minneapolis say they’ve seen all this before, and no, you haven’t. I’ve been at this for 30+ years and I haven’t either. It’s not what you’re picturing. This is something else
This book, and the discussion with Bill, James and Bruce changed the way I reason about and with code entirely. You *need* to check both out. Trust me.
What if the compiler could check your side effects? Bill Frasure, @bruceeckel.bsky.social & James Ward tell @andrewhl.bsky.social how effects manage unpredictability - no math degree required.
Effect Oriented Programming • Bill Frasure, Bruce Eckel, James Ward & Andrew Harmel-Law • GOTO 2026
This interview was recorded for the GOTO Book Club. #GOTOcon #GOTObookclub
http://gotopia.tech/bookclub
Check out more here:
https://gotopia.tech
Bill Frasure - Co-Author of "Effect Oriented…
youtu.be
January 22, 2026 at 1:11 PM
This book, and the discussion with Bill, James and Bruce changed the way I reason about and with code entirely. You *need* to check both out. Trust me.
My book, Facilitating Software Architecture has been included in the Gartner 2026 Reading Guide for Software Architects and Engineers by Peter Hyde. 😱🎉
Being selected is both humbling and energizing.
Thank you everyone who contributed to what became the book. 📚
Being selected is both humbling and energizing.
Thank you everyone who contributed to what became the book. 📚
December 15, 2025 at 1:11 PM
My book, Facilitating Software Architecture has been included in the Gartner 2026 Reading Guide for Software Architects and Engineers by Peter Hyde. 😱🎉
Being selected is both humbling and energizing.
Thank you everyone who contributed to what became the book. 📚
Being selected is both humbling and energizing.
Thank you everyone who contributed to what became the book. 📚
Reposted by Andrew Harmel-Law
Yes this is something @roundcrisis.com @andrewhl.bsky.social and I discussed for one of our upcoming stories of facilitation. I also want to start experimenting with this pretty soon myself!Only worry I have is resulting: the tendency to equate the quality of the decision with that of the outcome.
December 9, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Yes this is something @roundcrisis.com @andrewhl.bsky.social and I discussed for one of our upcoming stories of facilitation. I also want to start experimenting with this pretty soon myself!Only worry I have is resulting: the tendency to equate the quality of the decision with that of the outcome.
Reposted by Andrew Harmel-Law
You may possess wide contextual knowledge, but you lack the agency of implementation.
If you are in an architecture role, how do you ensure your high-level choices actually align with where the resources are being allocated?
If you are in an architecture role, how do you ensure your high-level choices actually align with where the resources are being allocated?
December 8, 2025 at 1:13 PM
You may possess wide contextual knowledge, but you lack the agency of implementation.
If you are in an architecture role, how do you ensure your high-level choices actually align with where the resources are being allocated?
If you are in an architecture role, how do you ensure your high-level choices actually align with where the resources are being allocated?
Reposted by Andrew Harmel-Law
As an architect, you can select an option. But ultimately, the engineers implement that choice. If they encounter friction and pivot to an alternative solution during coding, your decision was never actually made—because the resources were allocated elsewhere.
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December 8, 2025 at 1:13 PM
As an architect, you can select an option. But ultimately, the engineers implement that choice. If they encounter friction and pivot to an alternative solution during coding, your decision was never actually made—because the resources were allocated elsewhere.
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Reposted by Andrew Harmel-Law
However, consider the definition of a decision we use in our book, which originates from Gien’s work: a decision is a choice between two alternatives that involves an irrevocable allocation of resources.
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December 8, 2025 at 1:13 PM
However, consider the definition of a decision we use in our book, which originates from Gien’s work: a decision is a choice between two alternatives that involves an irrevocable allocation of resources.
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Reposted by Andrew Harmel-Law
Both works highlight that without these skills, architects often revert to command-and-control tactics, believing they are making decisions for the teams.
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December 8, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Both works highlight that without these skills, architects often revert to command-and-control tactics, believing they are making decisions for the teams.
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Reposted by Andrew Harmel-Law
In Collaborative Software Design, the book I co-authored with @evelynvankelle.bsky.social and @gienverschatse.com, we argue that facilitation skills are critical to solving this. @andrewhl.bsky.social also explores this extensively in his book, Facilitating Software Architecture.
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December 8, 2025 at 1:13 PM
In Collaborative Software Design, the book I co-authored with @evelynvankelle.bsky.social and @gienverschatse.com, we argue that facilitation skills are critical to solving this. @andrewhl.bsky.social also explores this extensively in his book, Facilitating Software Architecture.
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Reposted by Andrew Harmel-Law
These architects are attempting to maintain system integrity across the organisation while trying not to block the teams' development flow. The challenge lies in shifting the approach from dictating to facilitating decision-making.
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December 8, 2025 at 1:13 PM
These architects are attempting to maintain system integrity across the organisation while trying not to block the teams' development flow. The challenge lies in shifting the approach from dictating to facilitating decision-making.
...
...
Reposted by Andrew Harmel-Law
During a training session with tech leaders today, a familiar friction point regarding architecture decision-making surfaced. Participants consistently observed that architects operating outside the teams are perceived as controlling and micromanaging.
This behaviour often stems from a paradox.
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This behaviour often stems from a paradox.
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December 8, 2025 at 1:13 PM
During a training session with tech leaders today, a familiar friction point regarding architecture decision-making surfaced. Participants consistently observed that architects operating outside the teams are perceived as controlling and micromanaging.
This behaviour often stems from a paradox.
...
This behaviour often stems from a paradox.
...
Reposted by Andrew Harmel-Law
#GOTOpodcast w/ @andrewhl.bsky.social & Marit Van Dijk hits a nerve many of us know well:
architecture ends up slowing us down.
• Architects as facilitators
• ADRs as lightweight documentation
• Psychological safety as the hidden architecture layer
🎧 gotopia.tech/podcast
architecture ends up slowing us down.
• Architects as facilitators
• ADRs as lightweight documentation
• Psychological safety as the hidden architecture layer
🎧 gotopia.tech/podcast
November 25, 2025 at 3:53 PM
#GOTOpodcast w/ @andrewhl.bsky.social & Marit Van Dijk hits a nerve many of us know well:
architecture ends up slowing us down.
• Architects as facilitators
• ADRs as lightweight documentation
• Psychological safety as the hidden architecture layer
🎧 gotopia.tech/podcast
architecture ends up slowing us down.
• Architects as facilitators
• ADRs as lightweight documentation
• Psychological safety as the hidden architecture layer
🎧 gotopia.tech/podcast
Reposted by Andrew Harmel-Law
Do we need software architects? A question that always sparks debate. We held an open discussion on the role, its anti-patterns, and expectations. Missed it? You can rewatch the session or listen to the podcast on our website.
buff.ly/fCTti5d
buff.ly/fCTti5d
Do we need software architects?
Do Software architects have a bad name? Why? What are your expectations, what anti-patterns you experience? What are you thankful for from your architects? Should you have a software architect in the…
buff.ly
November 13, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Do we need software architects? A question that always sparks debate. We held an open discussion on the role, its anti-patterns, and expectations. Missed it? You can rewatch the session or listen to the podcast on our website.
buff.ly/fCTti5d
buff.ly/fCTti5d
Reposted by Andrew Harmel-Law
Holding another Developer Science Office Hour TODAY and the theme is Design-a-Study, a mini (very mini) workshop on imagining a study from the very beginning!
www.eventbrite.com/e/design-a-s...
www.eventbrite.com/e/design-a-s...
Design a Study: with Dr. Cat Hicks
Join our free & open Developer Science Office Hour to "Design-a-Study"! Like Build-a-Bear, but for learning about research design!
www.eventbrite.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Holding another Developer Science Office Hour TODAY and the theme is Design-a-Study, a mini (very mini) workshop on imagining a study from the very beginning!
www.eventbrite.com/e/design-a-s...
www.eventbrite.com/e/design-a-s...
Reposted by Andrew Harmel-Law
Pieter Bruegel the Elder, The Harvesters, 1565 #themet #europeanart
November 8, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Pieter Bruegel the Elder, The Harvesters, 1565 #themet #europeanart
“The hardest part (of deciding) is framing the problem. It is also the part we spend the least amount of time on.”
This is _so_ true.
👏🏻 @gienverschatse.com closing #NewCrafts #Paris 2025.
This is _so_ true.
👏🏻 @gienverschatse.com closing #NewCrafts #Paris 2025.
November 6, 2025 at 4:27 PM
“The hardest part (of deciding) is framing the problem. It is also the part we spend the least amount of time on.”
This is _so_ true.
👏🏻 @gienverschatse.com closing #NewCrafts #Paris 2025.
This is _so_ true.
👏🏻 @gienverschatse.com closing #NewCrafts #Paris 2025.
Reposted by Andrew Harmel-Law
“Anarchy doesn’t mean you can’t organise, but it should be done voluntary, functional, temporal and small”
November 6, 2025 at 11:31 AM
“Anarchy doesn’t mean you can’t organise, but it should be done voluntary, functional, temporal and small”
Reposted by Andrew Harmel-Law
At @newcrafts.bsky.social watching @andrewhl.bsky.social talk about anarchy and how we can organise ourselves differently in our company instead of the hierarchy we have gotten so used to.
November 6, 2025 at 11:31 AM
At @newcrafts.bsky.social watching @andrewhl.bsky.social talk about anarchy and how we can organise ourselves differently in our company instead of the hierarchy we have gotten so used to.
Reposted by Andrew Harmel-Law
For all of you who wonder why a perfect technical plan does not result in the perfect technical implemention #HolisticEngineering might be what you are looking for. Thanks @andrewhl.bsky.social and @gotocon.com for this interview.
Your codebase is a crime scene of decisions nobody made. @vanessaformicola.bsky.social tells @andrewhl.bsky.social how career paths, reorgs & human psychology shape architecture-and what you can do about it.
Holistic Engineering: Organic Problem Solving • Vanessa Formicola & Andrew Harmel-Law • GOTO 2025
This interview was recorded for GOTO Unscripted. #GOTOcon #GOTOunscripted
https://gotopia.tech
Read the full transcription of this interview here:
https://gotopia.tech/articles/403
Vanessa…
youtu.be
October 20, 2025 at 12:57 PM
For all of you who wonder why a perfect technical plan does not result in the perfect technical implemention #HolisticEngineering might be what you are looking for. Thanks @andrewhl.bsky.social and @gotocon.com for this interview.
Such an important idea, and one that’s not even that difficult to avoid, *if* you know what to look out for. Some really key insights from @vanessaformicola.bsky.social here. 💙🎉
Your codebase is a crime scene of decisions nobody made. @vanessaformicola.bsky.social tells @andrewhl.bsky.social how career paths, reorgs & human psychology shape architecture-and what you can do about it.
Holistic Engineering: Organic Problem Solving • Vanessa Formicola & Andrew Harmel-Law • GOTO 2025
This interview was recorded for GOTO Unscripted. #GOTOcon #GOTOunscripted
https://gotopia.tech
Read the full transcription of this interview here:
https://gotopia.tech/articles/403
Vanessa…
youtu.be
October 20, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Such an important idea, and one that’s not even that difficult to avoid, *if* you know what to look out for. Some really key insights from @vanessaformicola.bsky.social here. 💙🎉
Reposted by Andrew Harmel-Law
. @andrewhl.bsky.social’s revolutionary approach to architecture is live! Learn how everyone can contribute without creating chaos. Watch his talk on democratizing decisions & subscribe for more perspectives! youtu.be/zp9Go2ChAdw
#amaberlin
#amaberlin
A Commune in the Ivory Tower: A New Approach to Architecture - Andrew Harmel Law
YouTube video by Agile meets Architecture
youtu.be
October 20, 2025 at 6:35 AM
. @andrewhl.bsky.social’s revolutionary approach to architecture is live! Learn how everyone can contribute without creating chaos. Watch his talk on democratizing decisions & subscribe for more perspectives! youtu.be/zp9Go2ChAdw
#amaberlin
#amaberlin
Reposted by Andrew Harmel-Law
Blimey: downdetector.co.uk #hugops all around.
Status overview
downdetector.co.uk
October 20, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Blimey: downdetector.co.uk #hugops all around.
Reposted by Andrew Harmel-Law
October 16, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Reposted by Andrew Harmel-Law
October 16, 2025 at 7:32 PM