Kent Beck
@kentbeck.com
Independent I guess these days you'd say content producer, artist, programmer, musician, pokerist. More about me at https://KentBeck.com.
Reposted by Kent Beck
❓ THIS WEEK'S ONE BIG QUESTION: What Skills Do Developers NEED To Have In An AI Future? ❓
@trishagee.bsky.social / @kentbeck.com
AVAILABLE NOW | WATCH HERE ➡️ youtu.be/lJiDBRh96oU
@trishagee.bsky.social / @kentbeck.com
AVAILABLE NOW | WATCH HERE ➡️ youtu.be/lJiDBRh96oU
February 7, 2026 at 10:17 PM
❓ THIS WEEK'S ONE BIG QUESTION: What Skills Do Developers NEED To Have In An AI Future? ❓
@trishagee.bsky.social / @kentbeck.com
AVAILABLE NOW | WATCH HERE ➡️ youtu.be/lJiDBRh96oU
@trishagee.bsky.social / @kentbeck.com
AVAILABLE NOW | WATCH HERE ➡️ youtu.be/lJiDBRh96oU
Reposted by Kent Beck
@kentbeck.com ’s The Forest & The Desert Are Parallel Universes at GOTO CPH 2025 explored how similar behaviors lead to opposite outcomes - and how to get from crumbs to cake. 2026’s lineup looks incredible.
The Forest & The Desert Are Parallel Universes • Kent Beck • GOTO 2025
This presentation was recorded at GOTO Copenhagen 2025. #GOTOcon #GOTOcph
https://gotocph.com
Kent Beck - Software Engineer & Creator of Extreme Programming @KentLBeck…
youtu.be
February 4, 2026 at 1:01 PM
@kentbeck.com ’s The Forest & The Desert Are Parallel Universes at GOTO CPH 2025 explored how similar behaviors lead to opposite outcomes - and how to get from crumbs to cake. 2026’s lineup looks incredible.
Reposted by Kent Beck
Inviting English hate monger Graham Linehan to Congress is bullshit.
Actual parents are terrified their children will lose access to medical care. Republicans respond by importing lying bigots to lie.
I am running for Congress so they have to say this shit to my face: bethfordemocracy.com
Actual parents are terrified their children will lose access to medical care. Republicans respond by importing lying bigots to lie.
I am running for Congress so they have to say this shit to my face: bethfordemocracy.com
Beth for Democracy | Bethany Andres-Beck for Congress
Bethany Andres-Beck is a candidate for Congress running to represent Massachusetts' 6th District.
bethfordemocracy.com
February 5, 2026 at 11:53 PM
Inviting English hate monger Graham Linehan to Congress is bullshit.
Actual parents are terrified their children will lose access to medical care. Republicans respond by importing lying bigots to lie.
I am running for Congress so they have to say this shit to my face: bethfordemocracy.com
Actual parents are terrified their children will lose access to medical care. Republicans respond by importing lying bigots to lie.
I am running for Congress so they have to say this shit to my face: bethfordemocracy.com
If software development is human communication & two parties are speaking different languages, we regain hope for mutual progress when we realize that we are speaking different languages (even though we use the same words).
@kentbeck.com ’s The Forest & The Desert Are Parallel Universes at GOTO CPH 2025 explored how similar behaviors lead to opposite outcomes - and how to get from crumbs to cake. 2026’s lineup looks incredible.
The Forest & The Desert Are Parallel Universes • Kent Beck • GOTO 2025
This presentation was recorded at GOTO Copenhagen 2025. #GOTOcon #GOTOcph
https://gotocph.com
Kent Beck - Software Engineer & Creator of Extreme Programming @KentLBeck…
youtu.be
February 4, 2026 at 5:08 PM
If software development is human communication & two parties are speaking different languages, we regain hope for mutual progress when we realize that we are speaking different languages (even though we use the same words).
Reposted by Kent Beck
Why The "10x Engineer" Is A Dangerous Myth | with Charity Majors 📽️ AVAILABLE NOW
Watch: youtu.be/aDCOuZ80lDQ
Watch: youtu.be/aDCOuZ80lDQ
January 30, 2026 at 10:40 PM
Why The "10x Engineer" Is A Dangerous Myth | with Charity Majors 📽️ AVAILABLE NOW
Watch: youtu.be/aDCOuZ80lDQ
Watch: youtu.be/aDCOuZ80lDQ
experienced engineers: one change, test, one change, test
junior engineers: batch everything because they're in a hurry
this is exactly backwards
the person least capable of batching is the one most likely to batch
junior engineers: batch everything because they're in a hurry
this is exactly backwards
the person least capable of batching is the one most likely to batch
January 28, 2026 at 1:33 AM
experienced engineers: one change, test, one change, test
junior engineers: batch everything because they're in a hurry
this is exactly backwards
the person least capable of batching is the one most likely to batch
junior engineers: batch everything because they're in a hurry
this is exactly backwards
the person least capable of batching is the one most likely to batch
Reposted by Kent Beck
It's been hard (it's being hard?) to learn how to make human connections. It's still a learnable skill.
January 17, 2026 at 4:24 PM
It's been hard (it's being hard?) to learn how to make human connections. It's still a learnable skill.
Agreed. It's hard for me emotionally some days too. Even intellectually, the idea that value creation is separated so far from resource allocation baffles me.
January 15, 2026 at 12:53 AM
Agreed. It's hard for me emotionally some days too. Even intellectually, the idea that value creation is separated so far from resource allocation baffles me.
I've accepted that I have no control over what people do with my work. I take care to do the work as well as I can, because I enjoy that. I also have a portion of my work that I don't make open because that scarcity allows me to charge for it which allows me to pay my bills.
January 14, 2026 at 3:58 PM
I've accepted that I have no control over what people do with my work. I take care to do the work as well as I can, because I enjoy that. I also have a portion of my work that I don't make open because that scarcity allows me to charge for it which allows me to pay my bills.
I know we're in the "horseless carriage" stage of augmented development & it's too soon to know what the "real" name is of this new activity, but...
...the genie suggested "wishcraft" & I don't hate it.
...the genie suggested "wishcraft" & I don't hate it.
January 13, 2026 at 4:50 PM
I know we're in the "horseless carriage" stage of augmented development & it's too soon to know what the "real" name is of this new activity, but...
...the genie suggested "wishcraft" & I don't hate it.
...the genie suggested "wishcraft" & I don't hate it.
Slices fail when they're too small to provide feedback. But no amount of features fixes a flawed premise. Go smaller, but ask questions with what you build.
January 13, 2026 at 1:16 AM
Slices fail when they're too small to provide feedback. But no amount of features fixes a flawed premise. Go smaller, but ask questions with what you build.
Whatever happened to furniture polish. I know it must still exist but the ads for Lemon Pledge used to be everywhere. Did we all just become inured to dull furniture
January 10, 2026 at 8:50 PM
Whatever happened to furniture polish. I know it must still exist but the ads for Lemon Pledge used to be everywhere. Did we all just become inured to dull furniture
Reposted by Kent Beck
Models suddenly getting good enough to write most of my code - which I am now prompting - creates complicated feelings.
It took a long time to get good at coding. And it's not easy. Plus, there was something special about being in "the zone."
Full: blog.pragmaticengineer.com/the-grief-wh...
It took a long time to get good at coding. And it's not easy. Plus, there was something special about being in "the zone."
Full: blog.pragmaticengineer.com/the-grief-wh...
January 7, 2026 at 6:57 PM
Models suddenly getting good enough to write most of my code - which I am now prompting - creates complicated feelings.
It took a long time to get good at coding. And it's not easy. Plus, there was something special about being in "the zone."
Full: blog.pragmaticengineer.com/the-grief-wh...
It took a long time to get good at coding. And it's not easy. Plus, there was something special about being in "the zone."
Full: blog.pragmaticengineer.com/the-grief-wh...
Reposted by Kent Beck
Two legends confirmed for The Pragmatic Summit: Martin Fowler (@martinfowler.com) and Kent Beck (@kentbeck.com)
We'll talk about what past booms+busts taught them, and their take on AI+software engineering: what they see working, and what not so much
11 Feb, SF: www.pragmaticsummit.com
We'll talk about what past booms+busts taught them, and their take on AI+software engineering: what they see working, and what not so much
11 Feb, SF: www.pragmaticsummit.com
December 29, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Two legends confirmed for The Pragmatic Summit: Martin Fowler (@martinfowler.com) and Kent Beck (@kentbeck.com)
We'll talk about what past booms+busts taught them, and their take on AI+software engineering: what they see working, and what not so much
11 Feb, SF: www.pragmaticsummit.com
We'll talk about what past booms+busts taught them, and their take on AI+software engineering: what they see working, and what not so much
11 Feb, SF: www.pragmaticsummit.com
I want the government that Beth is a part of.
I majored in theater because of Augusto Boal.
He wanted to "make this world a place to live and be happy in - rather than just a vast market in which we sell our goods and our souls."
He tried to convince the government that it is possible. I decided to become the government. bethfordemocracy.com
He wanted to "make this world a place to live and be happy in - rather than just a vast market in which we sell our goods and our souls."
He tried to convince the government that it is possible. I decided to become the government. bethfordemocracy.com
Beth for Democracy | Bethany Andres-Beck for Congress
Bethany Andres-Beck is a candidate for Congress running to represent Massachusetts' 6th District.
bethfordemocracy.com
December 29, 2025 at 3:39 PM
I want the government that Beth is a part of.
Reposted by Kent Beck
Interesting post: The Bet On Juniors Just Got Better open.substack.com/pub/tidyfirs...
by @kentbeck.com #ai
by @kentbeck.com #ai
The Bet On Juniors Just Got Better
Why genies can make hiring juniors more profitable, & what you need to change to get there
open.substack.com
December 12, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Interesting post: The Bet On Juniors Just Got Better open.substack.com/pub/tidyfirs...
by @kentbeck.com #ai
by @kentbeck.com #ai
Reposted by Kent Beck
Some economists claim “affordability” problems are a myth.
Their reports miss that return to office is basically a 10% cut in our hourly wages. And the resulting traffic hits everyone.
Economics doesn’t measure our lives.
Their reports miss that return to office is basically a 10% cut in our hourly wages. And the resulting traffic hits everyone.
Economics doesn’t measure our lives.
December 12, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Some economists claim “affordability” problems are a myth.
Their reports miss that return to office is basically a 10% cut in our hourly wages. And the resulting traffic hits everyone.
Economics doesn’t measure our lives.
Their reports miss that return to office is basically a 10% cut in our hourly wages. And the resulting traffic hits everyone.
Economics doesn’t measure our lives.
Reposted by Kent Beck
Catch up on this week’s episode with @KentBeck.com
He breaks down how teams burn optionality, why structure matters, and how making the hard change easy shapes every feature that follows.
Listen with host @robbyonrails.com: maintainable.fm/episodes/ken...
He breaks down how teams burn optionality, why structure matters, and how making the hard change easy shapes every feature that follows.
Listen with host @robbyonrails.com: maintainable.fm/episodes/ken...
December 11, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Catch up on this week’s episode with @KentBeck.com
He breaks down how teams burn optionality, why structure matters, and how making the hard change easy shapes every feature that follows.
Listen with host @robbyonrails.com: maintainable.fm/episodes/ken...
He breaks down how teams burn optionality, why structure matters, and how making the hard change easy shapes every feature that follows.
Listen with host @robbyonrails.com: maintainable.fm/episodes/ken...
Reposted by Kent Beck
We Tried Trunk-Based Development... The Results Were Shocking | @davefarley77.bsky.social
📽️ AVAILABLE NOW
WATCH HERE ➡️ youtu.be/CR3LP2n2dWw
📽️ AVAILABLE NOW
WATCH HERE ➡️ youtu.be/CR3LP2n2dWw
We Tried Trunk-Based Development... The Results Were Shocking.
YouTube video by Modern Software Engineering
youtu.be
December 10, 2025 at 7:01 PM
We Tried Trunk-Based Development... The Results Were Shocking | @davefarley77.bsky.social
📽️ AVAILABLE NOW
WATCH HERE ➡️ youtu.be/CR3LP2n2dWw
📽️ AVAILABLE NOW
WATCH HERE ➡️ youtu.be/CR3LP2n2dWw
Emily is really digging deep here.
I am really enjoying having some time between contracts at the moment... I just wrote an article about the test desiderata - this has been on my mind to write about for several years at this point! coding-is-like-cooking.info/2025/12/test...
Test Desiderata 2.0 - Coding Is Like Cooking
Kent Beck is one of the original authors of JUnit, an open source tool that kick-started a huge shift in programmer behaviour that I and others have found immensely valuable. In 2019 he published his ...
coding-is-like-cooking.info
December 8, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Emily is really digging deep here.
You know that rude driving move where 2 cars going opposite ways are stopped at a light. The oncoming car is making a left turn. As soon as the light turns, the oncoming car guns it in front of the car with the right of way & forces it to slam on its brakes.
Just saw a Waymo do this.
Just saw a Waymo do this.
December 1, 2025 at 9:52 PM
You know that rude driving move where 2 cars going opposite ways are stopped at a light. The oncoming car is making a left turn. As soon as the light turns, the oncoming car guns it in front of the car with the right of way & forces it to slam on its brakes.
Just saw a Waymo do this.
Just saw a Waymo do this.
Goodhart is an optimist
November 24, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Goodhart is an optimist
Reposted by Kent Beck
Socialism is good, actually.
We deserve Representatives with the courage to say so.
bethfordemocracy.com
We deserve Representatives with the courage to say so.
bethfordemocracy.com
Beth for Democracy | Bethany Andres-Beck for Congress
Bethany Andres-Beck is a candidate for Congress running to represent Massachusetts' 6th District.
bethfordemocracy.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Socialism is good, actually.
We deserve Representatives with the courage to say so.
bethfordemocracy.com
We deserve Representatives with the courage to say so.
bethfordemocracy.com