Matt Schouten
@cybadger.com
I like to build things up. People, systems, software, knowledge... | Leadership and team coach | I also like books! | https://www.cybadger.com/
"Weeks of coding can save you minutes of thinking."
It's true!
I wrote an article exploring how the models you choose can make software easier—or harder to build and maintain. And yes, there's a case study of a bad model I chose.
Also includes advice on picking better models.
It's true!
I wrote an article exploring how the models you choose can make software easier—or harder to build and maintain. And yes, there's a case study of a bad model I chose.
Also includes advice on picking better models.
Models Matter - Matt Schouten
The models you use to think about software and the world matter—a lot. This post explores a bad model, and ways to pick better models.
www.cybadger.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:53 PM
"Weeks of coding can save you minutes of thinking."
It's true!
I wrote an article exploring how the models you choose can make software easier—or harder to build and maintain. And yes, there's a case study of a bad model I chose.
Also includes advice on picking better models.
It's true!
I wrote an article exploring how the models you choose can make software easier—or harder to build and maintain. And yes, there's a case study of a bad model I chose.
Also includes advice on picking better models.
This is a fun talk, with lots of good lessons on becoming a more effective engineer. I took away several good reminders and a few new thoughts, and I've been doing this for a couple decades.
Ross is a really good engineer, and a kind and wise human as well.
Worth watching!
Ross is a really good engineer, and a kind and wise human as well.
Worth watching!
Oh, yay! I didn’t think my LoopConf talk recording was going to be free to watch. But it’s out on YouTube.
This was an epic labour of love. I’m so glad I can share it with you.
My 25 Lessons from 25 years of software development in (a little over) 25 minutes.
youtu.be/cyxQ82L298Y
This was an epic labour of love. I’m so glad I can share it with you.
My 25 Lessons from 25 years of software development in (a little over) 25 minutes.
youtu.be/cyxQ82L298Y
25 Lessons from 25 Years
YouTube video by LoopConf
youtu.be
November 6, 2025 at 1:57 PM
This is a fun talk, with lots of good lessons on becoming a more effective engineer. I took away several good reminders and a few new thoughts, and I've been doing this for a couple decades.
Ross is a really good engineer, and a kind and wise human as well.
Worth watching!
Ross is a really good engineer, and a kind and wise human as well.
Worth watching!
📚The Engineering Executive's Primer by @lethain.com.
A bit dry, but actionable and just as advertised. Good "start here" for lots of topics, and covers high-level mindset. Useful starter manual + handbook for those stepping into (or curious about) exec roles.
#booksky
A bit dry, but actionable and just as advertised. Good "start here" for lots of topics, and covers high-level mindset. Useful starter manual + handbook for those stepping into (or curious about) exec roles.
#booksky
The Engineering Executive's Primer: Impactful Technical…
As an engineering manager, you almost always have someo…
www.goodreads.com
October 22, 2025 at 4:02 PM
📚The Engineering Executive's Primer by @lethain.com.
A bit dry, but actionable and just as advertised. Good "start here" for lots of topics, and covers high-level mindset. Useful starter manual + handbook for those stepping into (or curious about) exec roles.
#booksky
A bit dry, but actionable and just as advertised. Good "start here" for lots of topics, and covers high-level mindset. Useful starter manual + handbook for those stepping into (or curious about) exec roles.
#booksky
I learned something about sed today!
I knew you could delete a range of line numbers:
sed '2,5d'
I didn't realize you could use patterns, too:
sed '/#Start/,/#End/d'
(If you don't know what sed is, and why this is cool, that's okay. In short, it edits text without user interaction.)
I knew you could delete a range of line numbers:
sed '2,5d'
I didn't realize you could use patterns, too:
sed '/#Start/,/#End/d'
(If you don't know what sed is, and why this is cool, that's okay. In short, it edits text without user interaction.)
October 15, 2025 at 8:52 PM
I learned something about sed today!
I knew you could delete a range of line numbers:
sed '2,5d'
I didn't realize you could use patterns, too:
sed '/#Start/,/#End/d'
(If you don't know what sed is, and why this is cool, that's okay. In short, it edits text without user interaction.)
I knew you could delete a range of line numbers:
sed '2,5d'
I didn't realize you could use patterns, too:
sed '/#Start/,/#End/d'
(If you don't know what sed is, and why this is cool, that's okay. In short, it edits text without user interaction.)
I wrote an article about an unreasonably useful question you can ask: "How do you know?"
Not challenging, but examining. And ways to become more certain.
“It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so.” - Mark Twain
Not challenging, but examining. And ways to become more certain.
“It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so.” - Mark Twain
How Do You Know? - Matt Schouten
I often ask a simple, unreasonably useful question: “how do you know?” I will ask that question of myself (“how […]
www.cybadger.com
October 1, 2025 at 1:33 PM
I wrote an article about an unreasonably useful question you can ask: "How do you know?"
Not challenging, but examining. And ways to become more certain.
“It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so.” - Mark Twain
Not challenging, but examining. And ways to become more certain.
“It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so.” - Mark Twain
It’s Fat Bear Week! 🐻
Go and “vote for the bear you believe best exemplifies fatness and success in brown bears.”
#fatbearweek
Go and “vote for the bear you believe best exemplifies fatness and success in brown bears.”
#fatbearweek
Fat Bear Week 2025
Fat Bear Week 2025
explore.org
September 23, 2025 at 12:28 PM
It’s Fat Bear Week! 🐻
Go and “vote for the bear you believe best exemplifies fatness and success in brown bears.”
#fatbearweek
Go and “vote for the bear you believe best exemplifies fatness and success in brown bears.”
#fatbearweek
Reposted by Matt Schouten
Yeah I can read about something but how can I _really_ learn what it is? This was the question that struck me during a morning walk and this piece is an attempt to answer it.
ilonaborsos.com/en/posts/jak...
ilonaborsos.com/en/posts/jak...
How to understand something intuitively? | Ilona Borsos
Working as a product manager means that I constantly come across new topics and concepts that I need to absorb. Sometimes it’s just about quickly acquiring the knowledge necessary to complete a specif...
ilonaborsos.com
September 12, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Yeah I can read about something but how can I _really_ learn what it is? This was the question that struck me during a morning walk and this piece is an attempt to answer it.
ilonaborsos.com/en/posts/jak...
ilonaborsos.com/en/posts/jak...
Heard this arrangement of "The Times They Are A-Changin'" at a choir concert last spring. It's beautiful.
The Times They Are A-Changin' by Bob Dyland (SATB Choir + Solo) - Arranged by Adam Podd
YouTube video by Hal Leonard Choral
youtu.be
September 17, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Heard this arrangement of "The Times They Are A-Changin'" at a choir concert last spring. It's beautiful.
If you assign a deadline, give a reason.
Deadlines drive behavior, and if you don't share the reason for a deadline, you might be driving the wrong behavior.
Deadlines drive behavior, and if you don't share the reason for a deadline, you might be driving the wrong behavior.
Why Deadlines? Why That Deadline? - Matt Schouten
It was about 10PM that Thursday night when I got back to my apartment. After a full day of work, […]
www.cybadger.com
September 16, 2025 at 1:05 PM
If you assign a deadline, give a reason.
Deadlines drive behavior, and if you don't share the reason for a deadline, you might be driving the wrong behavior.
Deadlines drive behavior, and if you don't share the reason for a deadline, you might be driving the wrong behavior.
📚 "This is Lean, Resolving the Efficiency Paradox" by Niklas Modig and Pär Åhlström.
Slim book, concisely defines "Lean" beyond "what Toyota does". Encourages deliberate choices and ongoing improvement.
Excellent read, despite some (translation?) clunkiness in wording.
#booksky #lean #agile
Slim book, concisely defines "Lean" beyond "what Toyota does". Encourages deliberate choices and ongoing improvement.
Excellent read, despite some (translation?) clunkiness in wording.
#booksky #lean #agile
This Is Lean: Resolving the Efficiency Paradox
This-is-Lean
www.goodreads.com
September 11, 2025 at 5:03 PM
📚Radio Free Vermont by @billmckibben.bsky.social
A craft beer tour of Vermont hidden inside a climate fiction tale of backwoods local government, community, potential (inadvertent) secession, and biathlon.
Quirky, silly, fun to read, yet thought-provoking.
Good for fans of Parks & Rec or NPR. 🎙️
A craft beer tour of Vermont hidden inside a climate fiction tale of backwoods local government, community, potential (inadvertent) secession, and biathlon.
Quirky, silly, fun to read, yet thought-provoking.
Good for fans of Parks & Rec or NPR. 🎙️
Radio Free Vermont: A Fable of Resistance
"I hope no one secedes, but I also hope that Americans…
www.goodreads.com
September 9, 2025 at 7:09 PM
📚Radio Free Vermont by @billmckibben.bsky.social
A craft beer tour of Vermont hidden inside a climate fiction tale of backwoods local government, community, potential (inadvertent) secession, and biathlon.
Quirky, silly, fun to read, yet thought-provoking.
Good for fans of Parks & Rec or NPR. 🎙️
A craft beer tour of Vermont hidden inside a climate fiction tale of backwoods local government, community, potential (inadvertent) secession, and biathlon.
Quirky, silly, fun to read, yet thought-provoking.
Good for fans of Parks & Rec or NPR. 🎙️
Had way too many tabs. I still have way too many tabs, but now at least they're organized.
Window 1: email, two current-but-small projects (~15)
Window 2: to-read (~100)
Window 3: job search (and a few related to marketing my manager coaching biz, ~10)
Separating contexts to help my brain. 🧠
Window 1: email, two current-but-small projects (~15)
Window 2: to-read (~100)
Window 3: job search (and a few related to marketing my manager coaching biz, ~10)
Separating contexts to help my brain. 🧠
September 7, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Had way too many tabs. I still have way too many tabs, but now at least they're organized.
Window 1: email, two current-but-small projects (~15)
Window 2: to-read (~100)
Window 3: job search (and a few related to marketing my manager coaching biz, ~10)
Separating contexts to help my brain. 🧠
Window 1: email, two current-but-small projects (~15)
Window 2: to-read (~100)
Window 3: job search (and a few related to marketing my manager coaching biz, ~10)
Separating contexts to help my brain. 🧠
"If you're remote, ramble." Never tried having a personal ramblings channel for each team member like @stephango.com suggests.
But I have noticed remote teams are more effective the more they share—and yes, ramble—in public. It avoids isolation and keeps the humans connected.
But I have noticed remote teams are more effective the more they share—and yes, ramble—in public. It avoids isolation and keeps the humans connected.
If you're remote, ramble
A lightweight way to add ambient social cohesion for remote teams.
stephango.com
September 7, 2025 at 12:57 PM
"If you're remote, ramble." Never tried having a personal ramblings channel for each team member like @stephango.com suggests.
But I have noticed remote teams are more effective the more they share—and yes, ramble—in public. It avoids isolation and keeps the humans connected.
But I have noticed remote teams are more effective the more they share—and yes, ramble—in public. It avoids isolation and keeps the humans connected.
Here's a great list of ideas if you feel like you're too engrossed in that little glass rectangle in your pocket (or...the one you're staring at RIGHT NOW 😜).
Bonus idea: a friend of mine has started inviting people to have lunch at his house. "Come on over, let's make some sandwiches."
Bonus idea: a friend of mine has started inviting people to have lunch at his house. "Come on over, let's make some sandwiches."
The Analog Life: 50 Ways to Unplug and Feel Human Again
A toolkit of habits, routines and products to help you live more intentionally
www.insidehook.com
September 6, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Here's a great list of ideas if you feel like you're too engrossed in that little glass rectangle in your pocket (or...the one you're staring at RIGHT NOW 😜).
Bonus idea: a friend of mine has started inviting people to have lunch at his house. "Come on over, let's make some sandwiches."
Bonus idea: a friend of mine has started inviting people to have lunch at his house. "Come on over, let's make some sandwiches."
📚"Murder by Memory" by @oliviawaite.com, random library pickup.
It's a cozy murder mystery novella set on an interstellar ship. New bodies are available to passengers when needed—so how (and why?) did this murder happen?
Fun premise, interesting setting, well constructed, quick read.
#booksky
It's a cozy murder mystery novella set on an interstellar ship. New bodies are available to passengers when needed—so how (and why?) did this murder happen?
Fun premise, interesting setting, well constructed, quick read.
#booksky
Murder by Memory (Dorothy Gentleman, #1)
Becky Chambers meets Miss Marple in this sci-fi ode to …
www.goodreads.com
September 5, 2025 at 12:15 PM
📚"Murder by Memory" by @oliviawaite.com, random library pickup.
It's a cozy murder mystery novella set on an interstellar ship. New bodies are available to passengers when needed—so how (and why?) did this murder happen?
Fun premise, interesting setting, well constructed, quick read.
#booksky
It's a cozy murder mystery novella set on an interstellar ship. New bodies are available to passengers when needed—so how (and why?) did this murder happen?
Fun premise, interesting setting, well constructed, quick read.
#booksky
Finally wrote that little shell script to automate that slightly tedious manual step in a task I do a few times a week.
It's already worth it. That task is so much less annoying now.
It's already worth it. That task is so much less annoying now.
September 4, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Finally wrote that little shell script to automate that slightly tedious manual step in a task I do a few times a week.
It's already worth it. That task is so much less annoying now.
It's already worth it. That task is so much less annoying now.
📚I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons by Peter S. Beagle
Charming fantasy tale of a beautiful princess, handsome prince, a dragon exterminator, dragons, and an evil wizard. Funny yet deep, subversion of the genre yet conventional. Hints of a big world, but tight and focused. Very enjoyable read!
#booksky
Charming fantasy tale of a beautiful princess, handsome prince, a dragon exterminator, dragons, and an evil wizard. Funny yet deep, subversion of the genre yet conventional. Hints of a big world, but tight and focused. Very enjoyable read!
#booksky
I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons
Dragons are common in the backwater kingdom of Bellemon…
www.goodreads.com
September 2, 2025 at 2:40 PM
📚I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons by Peter S. Beagle
Charming fantasy tale of a beautiful princess, handsome prince, a dragon exterminator, dragons, and an evil wizard. Funny yet deep, subversion of the genre yet conventional. Hints of a big world, but tight and focused. Very enjoyable read!
#booksky
Charming fantasy tale of a beautiful princess, handsome prince, a dragon exterminator, dragons, and an evil wizard. Funny yet deep, subversion of the genre yet conventional. Hints of a big world, but tight and focused. Very enjoyable read!
#booksky
Cross-country running is the only high school sport I’m aware of that results in athletes and spectators being sweaty and tired for the same reasons. 🏃♂️🏃♀️🏃
September 1, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Cross-country running is the only high school sport I’m aware of that results in athletes and spectators being sweaty and tired for the same reasons. 🏃♂️🏃♀️🏃
📚Exit Strategy by Charlton Pettus.
Tough situation ➡️ despair ➡️ disappearing. Then things start to get wild.
Page-turner, fast-paced thriller, but lots of graphic icky/gory/cruel stuff. Some plot gaps, some unresolved issues, and some of the characters were not well constructed.
#booksky
Tough situation ➡️ despair ➡️ disappearing. Then things start to get wild.
Page-turner, fast-paced thriller, but lots of graphic icky/gory/cruel stuff. Some plot gaps, some unresolved issues, and some of the characters were not well constructed.
#booksky
Exit Strategy
An innovative debut thriller about the secretive organi…
www.goodreads.com
August 29, 2025 at 5:04 PM
📚Exit Strategy by Charlton Pettus.
Tough situation ➡️ despair ➡️ disappearing. Then things start to get wild.
Page-turner, fast-paced thriller, but lots of graphic icky/gory/cruel stuff. Some plot gaps, some unresolved issues, and some of the characters were not well constructed.
#booksky
Tough situation ➡️ despair ➡️ disappearing. Then things start to get wild.
Page-turner, fast-paced thriller, but lots of graphic icky/gory/cruel stuff. Some plot gaps, some unresolved issues, and some of the characters were not well constructed.
#booksky
📚August = Biography Month at MPL. My basketball-loving son handed me the bio of his favorite player: Giannis by Mirin Fader (@mirinfader.bsky.social).
Great research, thorough, very readable. Covers hardships and highs equally well.
Spoiler: Giannis becomes a good basketball player. 🏀
#booksky
Great research, thorough, very readable. Covers hardships and highs equally well.
Spoiler: Giannis becomes a good basketball player. 🏀
#booksky
Giannis: The Improbable Rise of an NBA MVP
Discover the story of one of the most transcendent play…
www.goodreads.com
August 27, 2025 at 4:18 PM
📚August = Biography Month at MPL. My basketball-loving son handed me the bio of his favorite player: Giannis by Mirin Fader (@mirinfader.bsky.social).
Great research, thorough, very readable. Covers hardships and highs equally well.
Spoiler: Giannis becomes a good basketball player. 🏀
#booksky
Great research, thorough, very readable. Covers hardships and highs equally well.
Spoiler: Giannis becomes a good basketball player. 🏀
#booksky
If your team has difficulty communicating—or remembering—the communication/collaboration maturity model in this article from @another.rodeo is worth a read.
Failure to communicate | Another Rodeo
The Four Levels of Remote Communication, or Why Your Team Forgets Everything
another.rodeo
August 26, 2025 at 4:39 PM
If your team has difficulty communicating—or remembering—the communication/collaboration maturity model in this article from @another.rodeo is worth a read.
📚Interstellar Megachef by Lavanya Lakshminarayan (@lavanya.bsky.social).
Despite the sprinkle donut on the cover, a fairly heavy read. Good for foodie technocritics interested in sociology, probably. Enjoyed it.
Loved the ambiguity and "anything could happen" feel of the ending.
#booksky
Despite the sprinkle donut on the cover, a fairly heavy read. Good for foodie technocritics interested in sociology, probably. Enjoyed it.
Loved the ambiguity and "anything could happen" feel of the ending.
#booksky
Interstellar MegaChef (Flavour Hacker, #1)
Looking for your one shot to rise to the "top of the po…
www.goodreads.com
August 25, 2025 at 1:20 PM
📚Interstellar Megachef by Lavanya Lakshminarayan (@lavanya.bsky.social).
Despite the sprinkle donut on the cover, a fairly heavy read. Good for foodie technocritics interested in sociology, probably. Enjoyed it.
Loved the ambiguity and "anything could happen" feel of the ending.
#booksky
Despite the sprinkle donut on the cover, a fairly heavy read. Good for foodie technocritics interested in sociology, probably. Enjoyed it.
Loved the ambiguity and "anything could happen" feel of the ending.
#booksky
Reposted by Matt Schouten
📚 Hum by Helen Phillips @helencphillips.bsky.social (second opinion; my wife read it for a grad class and disliked it)
Perceptive and likely prescient dystopian novel about humans, tech, and who the tech serves.
Thought-provoking, worth a read. BUT very unsure if I liked or enjoyed it. 😵💫
#booksky
Perceptive and likely prescient dystopian novel about humans, tech, and who the tech serves.
Thought-provoking, worth a read. BUT very unsure if I liked or enjoyed it. 😵💫
#booksky
Hum
From the National Book Award–longlisted author of The N…
www.goodreads.com
August 22, 2025 at 1:09 PM
📚 Hum by Helen Phillips @helencphillips.bsky.social (second opinion; my wife read it for a grad class and disliked it)
Perceptive and likely prescient dystopian novel about humans, tech, and who the tech serves.
Thought-provoking, worth a read. BUT very unsure if I liked or enjoyed it. 😵💫
#booksky
Perceptive and likely prescient dystopian novel about humans, tech, and who the tech serves.
Thought-provoking, worth a read. BUT very unsure if I liked or enjoyed it. 😵💫
#booksky