Bess Sadler
@eosadler.bsky.social
Software Engineer, Agile Team Coach, building DevOps and Safety culture for research data management
Reposted by Bess Sadler
If people weren’t so inherently kind and cooperative and striving towards building a better world, then Empathy Driven Development wouldn’t work
But it does! I’ve seen it do the impossible again and again. It’s my favourite secret sauce and it tastes amazing
But it does! I’ve seen it do the impossible again and again. It’s my favourite secret sauce and it tastes amazing
Write code to make being human easier. Rip code out if it makes being human harder. Write code to make caring for each other easier. Rip it out if it makes caring for each other harder.
Empathy driven development has literally never failed me. It’s done me better than everything else combined
Empathy driven development has literally never failed me. It’s done me better than everything else combined
January 4, 2026 at 6:33 AM
If people weren’t so inherently kind and cooperative and striving towards building a better world, then Empathy Driven Development wouldn’t work
But it does! I’ve seen it do the impossible again and again. It’s my favourite secret sauce and it tastes amazing
But it does! I’ve seen it do the impossible again and again. It’s my favourite secret sauce and it tastes amazing
Reposted by Bess Sadler
This is so real. One of my most unwavering beliefs is that humans are, at the core, good and want to do good things in the world
I know it can be hard to believe. Especially given the news right now, but it’s true. A few clowns don’t change the majority
I know it can be hard to believe. Especially given the news right now, but it’s true. A few clowns don’t change the majority
like so much of any given ~discourse~ comes down to a quiet sneering assumption that people are awful and I cannot stand it
projecting your self-loathing onto everyone and everything isn't insight, it's a voluntary commitment to brain damage, choose better
projecting your self-loathing onto everyone and everything isn't insight, it's a voluntary commitment to brain damage, choose better
January 4, 2026 at 6:31 AM
This is so real. One of my most unwavering beliefs is that humans are, at the core, good and want to do good things in the world
I know it can be hard to believe. Especially given the news right now, but it’s true. A few clowns don’t change the majority
I know it can be hard to believe. Especially given the news right now, but it’s true. A few clowns don’t change the majority
Reposted by Bess Sadler
“The neuron teaches us something uncomfortable: computation isn't a lens revealing neural truth—it's a filter that shows us only the biology that looks like a computer. Everything else gets discarded before we even begin our analysis.”
Fascinating read.
Fascinating read.
When we try to formalize a neuron computationally, we don't translate biology into code—we perform a violent collapse.
www.ocrampal.com/what-a-neuro...
#philosophy #science #psychology #AI #intelligence #physics #biology #philmind #philsci #philsky #philpsy #neurosky #neuroskyence
www.ocrampal.com/what-a-neuro...
#philosophy #science #psychology #AI #intelligence #physics #biology #philmind #philsci #philsky #philpsy #neurosky #neuroskyence
What a Neuron Teaches Us About Computation's Limits
When we try to formalize a neuron computationally, we don't translate biology into code—we perform a violent collapse. We lock causation into fixed arrows when biology lives in causal ambiguity. We sy...
www.ocrampal.com
January 4, 2026 at 12:09 PM
“The neuron teaches us something uncomfortable: computation isn't a lens revealing neural truth—it's a filter that shows us only the biology that looks like a computer. Everything else gets discarded before we even begin our analysis.”
Fascinating read.
Fascinating read.
Reposted by Bess Sadler
The two hardest problems in Computer Science are
1. Human communication
2. Getting people in tech to believe that human communication is important
1. Human communication
2. Getting people in tech to believe that human communication is important
December 24, 2025 at 12:42 PM
The two hardest problems in Computer Science are
1. Human communication
2. Getting people in tech to believe that human communication is important
1. Human communication
2. Getting people in tech to believe that human communication is important
Reposted by Bess Sadler
Literally a publication for eight-year olds 40 years ago
January 4, 2026 at 6:49 PM
Literally a publication for eight-year olds 40 years ago
Reposted by Bess Sadler
From the classic comic HELLBOY GOES TO THE GYM DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY
January 4, 2026 at 3:50 PM
From the classic comic HELLBOY GOES TO THE GYM DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY
Reposted by Bess Sadler
The main problem with Big Design Up-Front is that most of what we *really* need to know lies on the feedback side of the development process. Without that feedback, it's all just guesswork.
January 4, 2026 at 9:42 AM
The main problem with Big Design Up-Front is that most of what we *really* need to know lies on the feedback side of the development process. Without that feedback, it's all just guesswork.
Reposted by Bess Sadler
Good science fiction predicts not the car, but the traffic jam
There will be so many cars that none of them will be able to move
January 1, 2026 at 7:15 PM
Good science fiction predicts not the car, but the traffic jam
Reposted by Bess Sadler
FWIW, I've never had a year typify "You do not rise to the level of your goals, you fail to the level of your systems" more than 2025. Emotionally and energy wise --fires and fascism factored in -- I've never been more punched out. But I worked and lined up more work based on old habits saving me.
December 31, 2025 at 7:24 PM
FWIW, I've never had a year typify "You do not rise to the level of your goals, you fail to the level of your systems" more than 2025. Emotionally and energy wise --fires and fascism factored in -- I've never been more punched out. But I worked and lined up more work based on old habits saving me.
Reposted by Bess Sadler
Attacking a data center like it’s The Bastille, everyone fleeing with a bushels of RAM to desolder and resolder the chips. One peasant coded guy with a wheelbarrow of SFP+ modules. Manifesting this for 2026.
January 1, 2026 at 2:30 AM
Attacking a data center like it’s The Bastille, everyone fleeing with a bushels of RAM to desolder and resolder the chips. One peasant coded guy with a wheelbarrow of SFP+ modules. Manifesting this for 2026.
Reposted by Bess Sadler
Pretty wild that you have to be like, a graphic and web designer to tell your career and work story these days
I feel like we don't talk that much about the escalation of these aesthetics and expectations
I feel like we don't talk that much about the escalation of these aesthetics and expectations
December 31, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Pretty wild that you have to be like, a graphic and web designer to tell your career and work story these days
I feel like we don't talk that much about the escalation of these aesthetics and expectations
I feel like we don't talk that much about the escalation of these aesthetics and expectations
Reposted by Bess Sadler
25 years ago, I encouraged dev teams to take a multi-dimensional view of their business goals, balancing different - perhaps competing - perspectives.
In 2026, I just hope they *have* a business goal and that somebody will tell them what it is.
That's how far we've come.
In 2026, I just hope they *have* a business goal and that somebody will tell them what it is.
That's how far we've come.
January 1, 2026 at 8:50 AM
25 years ago, I encouraged dev teams to take a multi-dimensional view of their business goals, balancing different - perhaps competing - perspectives.
In 2026, I just hope they *have* a business goal and that somebody will tell them what it is.
That's how far we've come.
In 2026, I just hope they *have* a business goal and that somebody will tell them what it is.
That's how far we've come.
Reposted by Bess Sadler
How I teach software design starts with a problem.
It's hard to find vegan takeaway round here. I keep forgetting to buy bin liners. I miss the best bands when they're in town.
Not "An app..." or "An API..." or "An agent..."
A problem.
Remember those?
I mean, it's not like we ran out of them.
It's hard to find vegan takeaway round here. I keep forgetting to buy bin liners. I miss the best bands when they're in town.
Not "An app..." or "An API..." or "An agent..."
A problem.
Remember those?
I mean, it's not like we ran out of them.
December 31, 2025 at 6:12 PM
How I teach software design starts with a problem.
It's hard to find vegan takeaway round here. I keep forgetting to buy bin liners. I miss the best bands when they're in town.
Not "An app..." or "An API..." or "An agent..."
A problem.
Remember those?
I mean, it's not like we ran out of them.
It's hard to find vegan takeaway round here. I keep forgetting to buy bin liners. I miss the best bands when they're in town.
Not "An app..." or "An API..." or "An agent..."
A problem.
Remember those?
I mean, it's not like we ran out of them.
Reposted by Bess Sadler
“I’m honored to be your ancestor and believe that disabled oracles like us will light the way to the future. Don’t let the bastards grind you down. I love you all.”
Hero of 2025: Alice Wong
The disability justice icon's last message: "Don’t let the bastards grind you down."
www.motherjones.com
December 31, 2025 at 6:32 PM
“I’m honored to be your ancestor and believe that disabled oracles like us will light the way to the future. Don’t let the bastards grind you down. I love you all.”
Reposted by Bess Sadler
4 principles of modular design:
1. One reason to change
2. Hides internal workings
3. Has swappable dependencies
4. Usage-driven interfaces
I'm adding a 5th:
5. Does what it says on the tin, and says what it does on the tin
It should be obvious what it does, and it should bloody well do it!
1. One reason to change
2. Hides internal workings
3. Has swappable dependencies
4. Usage-driven interfaces
I'm adding a 5th:
5. Does what it says on the tin, and says what it does on the tin
It should be obvious what it does, and it should bloody well do it!
December 31, 2025 at 6:38 AM
4 principles of modular design:
1. One reason to change
2. Hides internal workings
3. Has swappable dependencies
4. Usage-driven interfaces
I'm adding a 5th:
5. Does what it says on the tin, and says what it does on the tin
It should be obvious what it does, and it should bloody well do it!
1. One reason to change
2. Hides internal workings
3. Has swappable dependencies
4. Usage-driven interfaces
I'm adding a 5th:
5. Does what it says on the tin, and says what it does on the tin
It should be obvious what it does, and it should bloody well do it!
Reposted by Bess Sadler
The teams producing reliable software are only able to do that because they test continuously.
Do you know what else they can do because they test continuously? Ship any time the customer wants.
Short lead times and reliability go hand-in-hand.
Long delays and buggy software likewise.
Do you know what else they can do because they test continuously? Ship any time the customer wants.
Short lead times and reliability go hand-in-hand.
Long delays and buggy software likewise.
December 31, 2025 at 12:18 PM
The teams producing reliable software are only able to do that because they test continuously.
Do you know what else they can do because they test continuously? Ship any time the customer wants.
Short lead times and reliability go hand-in-hand.
Long delays and buggy software likewise.
Do you know what else they can do because they test continuously? Ship any time the customer wants.
Short lead times and reliability go hand-in-hand.
Long delays and buggy software likewise.
Reposted by Bess Sadler
HAHAHAHA pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30101594/
Object personification in autism: This paper will be very sad if you don't read it - PubMed
Object personification is the attribution of human characteristics to non-human agents. In online forums, autistic individuals commonly report experiencing this phenomenon. Given that approximately half of all autistic individuals experience difficulties identifying their own emotions, the suggestio …
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
December 28, 2025 at 3:51 PM
HAHAHAHA pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30101594/
Reposted by Bess Sadler
How I'm walking out of 2025
December 28, 2025 at 5:04 AM
How I'm walking out of 2025
Reposted by Bess Sadler
"The software development game has completely changed because <goes on to describe what I was trying to tell them 28 years ago that I learned from a book published in the 1970s>"
December 28, 2025 at 5:07 AM
"The software development game has completely changed because <goes on to describe what I was trying to tell them 28 years ago that I learned from a book published in the 1970s>"
Reposted by Bess Sadler
On the McKinsey report that "discovered" smaller dev teams are more productive...
I coined a term: "project heat"
I'd estimate how much it would cost with a team of 4 good devs. Then I'd compare that to the actual.
The difference is "lost to heat". I've seen > 99% on more than one occasion.
I coined a term: "project heat"
I'd estimate how much it would cost with a team of 4 good devs. Then I'd compare that to the actual.
The difference is "lost to heat". I've seen > 99% on more than one occasion.
December 28, 2025 at 6:52 AM
On the McKinsey report that "discovered" smaller dev teams are more productive...
I coined a term: "project heat"
I'd estimate how much it would cost with a team of 4 good devs. Then I'd compare that to the actual.
The difference is "lost to heat". I've seen > 99% on more than one occasion.
I coined a term: "project heat"
I'd estimate how much it would cost with a team of 4 good devs. Then I'd compare that to the actual.
The difference is "lost to heat". I've seen > 99% on more than one occasion.
Reposted by Bess Sadler
Every year, the snowman claims another child from the British countryside.
December 24, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Every year, the snowman claims another child from the British countryside.
Reposted by Bess Sadler
As 2025 draws to a close, my hopes "AI" was going to force more teams to address the real bottlenecks in development fade into the distance.
95% will just ship less reliable software, and take longer and spend more £ doing it. And users will be coerced into eating the costs.
Business as usual.
95% will just ship less reliable software, and take longer and spend more £ doing it. And users will be coerced into eating the costs.
Business as usual.
December 24, 2025 at 9:09 AM
As 2025 draws to a close, my hopes "AI" was going to force more teams to address the real bottlenecks in development fade into the distance.
95% will just ship less reliable software, and take longer and spend more £ doing it. And users will be coerced into eating the costs.
Business as usual.
95% will just ship less reliable software, and take longer and spend more £ doing it. And users will be coerced into eating the costs.
Business as usual.
Reposted by Bess Sadler
Dear listeners,
When the days feel narrow and the noise gets loud, try a song.
Not as escape — as evidence.
Someone, somewhere, once felt this too and made something that still holds.
If hope is hiding, it often hums first.
When the days feel narrow and the noise gets loud, try a song.
Not as escape — as evidence.
Someone, somewhere, once felt this too and made something that still holds.
If hope is hiding, it often hums first.
December 23, 2025 at 5:12 AM
Dear listeners,
When the days feel narrow and the noise gets loud, try a song.
Not as escape — as evidence.
Someone, somewhere, once felt this too and made something that still holds.
If hope is hiding, it often hums first.
When the days feel narrow and the noise gets loud, try a song.
Not as escape — as evidence.
Someone, somewhere, once felt this too and made something that still holds.
If hope is hiding, it often hums first.
Reposted by Bess Sadler
"Coding is no longer the bottleneck".
So what you're saying is that NOTHING HAS CHANGED.
So what you're saying is that NOTHING HAS CHANGED.
December 23, 2025 at 9:45 AM
"Coding is no longer the bottleneck".
So what you're saying is that NOTHING HAS CHANGED.
So what you're saying is that NOTHING HAS CHANGED.
Reposted by Bess Sadler
It's fun watching organisations try to reduce the queues at the checkout by making the baskets bigger.
December 21, 2025 at 7:17 AM
It's fun watching organisations try to reduce the queues at the checkout by making the baskets bigger.