Uwe Friedrichsen
@ufried.bsky.social
Uwe Friedrichsen. Longtime traveler in the world of IT. Dot Connector. Keeper of timeless wisdom. Translator between floors. System design. Resilience. Sustainability. Tries to make (not only) IT a (bit) better place.
Reposted by Uwe Friedrichsen
➕ We solve problems by adding, not subtracting—even when subtracting is better.
@ufried.bsky.social : "The addition bias quandary"
We drown in complexity. Yet we keep adding more.
@ufried.bsky.social : "The addition bias quandary"
We drown in complexity. Yet we keep adding more.
January 23, 2026 at 9:11 AM
➕ We solve problems by adding, not subtracting—even when subtracting is better.
@ufried.bsky.social : "The addition bias quandary"
We drown in complexity. Yet we keep adding more.
@ufried.bsky.social : "The addition bias quandary"
We drown in complexity. Yet we keep adding more.
i released a new blog post discussing that based on scientific research we default to add things when solving problems instead of subtracting things, what it means for us and IT in general. enjoy if you like ... ;)
www.ufried.com/blog/additio...
www.ufried.com/blog/additio...
We default to addition
A cognitive bias getting in our way
www.ufried.com
January 11, 2026 at 10:50 AM
i released a new blog post discussing that based on scientific research we default to add things when solving problems instead of subtracting things, what it means for us and IT in general. enjoy if you like ... ;)
www.ufried.com/blog/additio...
www.ufried.com/blog/additio...
Reposted by Uwe Friedrichsen
I joined the Oxide and Friends annual predictions podcast episode this week - here are my 1, 3 and 6 year predictions for AI and LLMs (and Kākāpō parrots) simonwillison.net/2026/Jan/8/l...
January 8, 2026 at 7:45 PM
I joined the Oxide and Friends annual predictions podcast episode this week - here are my 1, 3 and 6 year predictions for AI and LLMs (and Kākāpō parrots) simonwillison.net/2026/Jan/8/l...
Reposted by Uwe Friedrichsen
"The Human's world ends soon," said the cat.
"Again?" said the dog.
"They are fond of endings and beginnings. Even if nothing changes."
The dog whined.
"Same procedure as last year?" said the cat.
"Please."
The cat lay on the dog's head and purred, muffling the fireworks.
#CrossRepost
"Again?" said the dog.
"They are fond of endings and beginnings. Even if nothing changes."
The dog whined.
"Same procedure as last year?" said the cat.
"Please."
The cat lay on the dog's head and purred, muffling the fireworks.
#CrossRepost
December 31, 2025 at 7:15 PM
"The Human's world ends soon," said the cat.
"Again?" said the dog.
"They are fond of endings and beginnings. Even if nothing changes."
The dog whined.
"Same procedure as last year?" said the cat.
"Please."
The cat lay on the dog's head and purred, muffling the fireworks.
#CrossRepost
"Again?" said the dog.
"They are fond of endings and beginnings. Even if nothing changes."
The dog whined.
"Same procedure as last year?" said the cat.
"Please."
The cat lay on the dog's head and purred, muffling the fireworks.
#CrossRepost
Reposted by Uwe Friedrichsen
Rich Hickey with the best #AI take of 2026 so far - gist.github.com/richhickey/e...
Thanks AI!
Thanks AI! GitHub Gist: instantly share code, notes, and snippets.
gist.github.com
December 31, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Rich Hickey with the best #AI take of 2026 so far - gist.github.com/richhickey/e...
i just released the 2nd (and last) blog post discussing the well-known paper "the ironies of automation" and what its findings mean for the current agentic ai automation move (spoiler: some more questions we still need to take care of).
enjoy if you like ... ;)
www.ufried.com/blog/ironies...
enjoy if you like ... ;)
www.ufried.com/blog/ironies...
AI and the ironies of automation - Part 2
Some (well-known) consequences of AI automating work
www.ufried.com
December 14, 2025 at 9:34 AM
i just released the 2nd (and last) blog post discussing the well-known paper "the ironies of automation" and what its findings mean for the current agentic ai automation move (spoiler: some more questions we still need to take care of).
enjoy if you like ... ;)
www.ufried.com/blog/ironies...
enjoy if you like ... ;)
www.ufried.com/blog/ironies...
Reposted by Uwe Friedrichsen
I thoroughly recommend reading all of Cory Doctorow's recent speech on AI skepticism, it's crammed with new arguments and interesting new ways of thinking about these problems pluralistic.net/2025/12/05/p...
Pluralistic: The Reverse-Centaur’s Guide to Criticizing AI (05 Dec 2025) – Pluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorow
pluralistic.net
December 7, 2025 at 10:21 PM
I thoroughly recommend reading all of Cory Doctorow's recent speech on AI skepticism, it's crammed with new arguments and interesting new ways of thinking about these problems pluralistic.net/2025/12/05/p...
the recording of my talk "simplify! 10 ways to reduce complexity in software development" from code.talks 2025 is live: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Psx6...
the unabridged slide deck is available at: speakerdeck.com/ufried/simpl...
enjoy if you like ... ;)
the unabridged slide deck is available at: speakerdeck.com/ufried/simpl...
enjoy if you like ... ;)
Simplify! 10 ways to reduce complexity in software development - Uwe Friedrichsen | code.talks 2025
YouTube video by code.talks (ehem. Developer Conference)
www.youtube.com
December 3, 2025 at 8:23 AM
the recording of my talk "simplify! 10 ways to reduce complexity in software development" from code.talks 2025 is live: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Psx6...
the unabridged slide deck is available at: speakerdeck.com/ufried/simpl...
enjoy if you like ... ;)
the unabridged slide deck is available at: speakerdeck.com/ufried/simpl...
enjoy if you like ... ;)
Reposted by Uwe Friedrichsen
Final reminder! If you've got a software architecture practice story we'd love to hear it at ICSA 2026 next summer. Abstracts due this Friday (28/Nov) and submissions (paper or presentation) the following Friday (5/Dec). conf.researchr.org/track/icsa-2...
#icsa2026 #softwarearchitecture
#icsa2026 #softwarearchitecture
ICSA 2026 - Software Architecture in Practice - ICSA 2026
The International Conference on Software Architecture (ICSA) is the premier venue for practitioners and researchers interested in software architecture, in component-based software engineering and in ...
conf.researchr.org
November 24, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Final reminder! If you've got a software architecture practice story we'd love to hear it at ICSA 2026 next summer. Abstracts due this Friday (28/Nov) and submissions (paper or presentation) the following Friday (5/Dec). conf.researchr.org/track/icsa-2...
#icsa2026 #softwarearchitecture
#icsa2026 #softwarearchitecture
as so often, hobbes nails it … imo, his observation has become even more accurate today …
How are we still stuck dealing with winter instead of cool sci fi upgrades?
#CalvinandHobbes #FutureLetdown
#CalvinandHobbes #FutureLetdown
November 24, 2025 at 2:56 PM
as so often, hobbes nails it … imo, his observation has become even more accurate today …
i just released a new blog post (part 1 of 2) discussing the well-known paper "the ironies of automation" and what its findings mean for the current agentic ai automation move (spoiler: quite some questions we still need to find answers for). enjoy if you like ... ;)
www.ufried.com/blog/ironies...
www.ufried.com/blog/ironies...
AI and the ironies of automation - Part 1
Some (well-known) consequences of automating work
www.ufried.com
November 23, 2025 at 9:51 AM
i just released a new blog post (part 1 of 2) discussing the well-known paper "the ironies of automation" and what its findings mean for the current agentic ai automation move (spoiler: quite some questions we still need to find answers for). enjoy if you like ... ;)
www.ufried.com/blog/ironies...
www.ufried.com/blog/ironies...
simple observation, often hard to implement: if you want to implement change in your organization, you must be willing to sacrifice the heroes of your current organization.
(not always but) very often they are the preservers of the status quo because change threatens their hero status.
(not always but) very often they are the preservers of the status quo because change threatens their hero status.
November 17, 2025 at 11:04 AM
simple observation, often hard to implement: if you want to implement change in your organization, you must be willing to sacrifice the heroes of your current organization.
(not always but) very often they are the preservers of the status quo because change threatens their hero status.
(not always but) very often they are the preservers of the status quo because change threatens their hero status.
Reposted by Uwe Friedrichsen
Heute auf der W-JAX: Agile Flow Day – Modern Productivity
OKRs, Lean & Kanban im Fokus – mehr Flow, bessere Zusammenarbeit von Mensch & Technik.
Mit Wolfgang Pleus, Thomas Schissler, Tal Uscher, @felixstein.bsky.social, @hschwentner.bsky.social & @ufried.bsky.social.
#jaxcon
OKRs, Lean & Kanban im Fokus – mehr Flow, bessere Zusammenarbeit von Mensch & Technik.
Mit Wolfgang Pleus, Thomas Schissler, Tal Uscher, @felixstein.bsky.social, @hschwentner.bsky.social & @ufried.bsky.social.
#jaxcon
November 3, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Heute auf der W-JAX: Agile Flow Day – Modern Productivity
OKRs, Lean & Kanban im Fokus – mehr Flow, bessere Zusammenarbeit von Mensch & Technik.
Mit Wolfgang Pleus, Thomas Schissler, Tal Uscher, @felixstein.bsky.social, @hschwentner.bsky.social & @ufried.bsky.social.
#jaxcon
OKRs, Lean & Kanban im Fokus – mehr Flow, bessere Zusammenarbeit von Mensch & Technik.
Mit Wolfgang Pleus, Thomas Schissler, Tal Uscher, @felixstein.bsky.social, @hschwentner.bsky.social & @ufried.bsky.social.
#jaxcon
released a new blog post in the light of the recent aws outage, discussing why blaming aws is exhibiting outdated thinking patterns and what you need to do instead if you want to build reliable systems today: www.ufried.com/blog/it_is_y.... enjoy if you like ... ;)
It is your fault if your application is down
Do not blame the infrastructure provider
www.ufried.com
November 1, 2025 at 10:34 AM
released a new blog post in the light of the recent aws outage, discussing why blaming aws is exhibiting outdated thinking patterns and what you need to do instead if you want to build reliable systems today: www.ufried.com/blog/it_is_y.... enjoy if you like ... ;)
Reposted by Uwe Friedrichsen
Okay, for the folks who asked: here's the majority AI view, writing up the reasonable, thoughtful view on AI that the vast majority of people in tech hold, that gets overshadowed by the bluster and hype of the tycoons trying to shill their nonsense. anildash.com/2025/10/17/t... Please share!
The Majority AI View - Anil Dash
A blog about making culture. Since 1999.
anildash.com
October 17, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Okay, for the folks who asked: here's the majority AI view, writing up the reasonable, thoughtful view on AI that the vast majority of people in tech hold, that gets overshadowed by the bluster and hype of the tycoons trying to shill their nonsense. anildash.com/2025/10/17/t... Please share!
i released a new blog post discussing that using genai agents for coding – while impressive in their capabilities – primarily seem to be a technological distraction from underlying, deeper problems (again): www.ufried.com/blog/ai_assi.... enjoy if you like ... ;)
Solving the wrong problem
The nagging feeling that something does not fit
www.ufried.com
October 17, 2025 at 2:56 PM
i released a new blog post discussing that using genai agents for coding – while impressive in their capabilities – primarily seem to be a technological distraction from underlying, deeper problems (again): www.ufried.com/blog/ai_assi.... enjoy if you like ... ;)
Reposted by Uwe Friedrichsen
This may just be the best CS paper I’ve read this year. Just read the abstract and first para of the intro! The rest of the intro is really wild too, but very very good:
dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1...
dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1...
October 14, 2025 at 1:12 PM
This may just be the best CS paper I’ve read this year. Just read the abstract and first para of the intro! The rest of the intro is really wild too, but very very good:
dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1...
dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1...
a 50/50 chance means that if you open your glasses case, in 1 out of 10 times you will open it with the right side up.
i am sure there is an important lesson in this but somehow it still evades me ...
i am sure there is an important lesson in this but somehow it still evades me ...
October 14, 2025 at 8:34 AM
a 50/50 chance means that if you open your glasses case, in 1 out of 10 times you will open it with the right side up.
i am sure there is an important lesson in this but somehow it still evades me ...
i am sure there is an important lesson in this but somehow it still evades me ...
if you try to take a balanced position regarding AI, considering the advantages and options as well as the challenges and risks, the fanboys call you a skeptic and the skeptics call you a fanboy. well, then ... <sigh>
October 10, 2025 at 7:52 AM
if you try to take a balanced position regarding AI, considering the advantages and options as well as the challenges and risks, the fanboys call you a skeptic and the skeptics call you a fanboy. well, then ... <sigh>
Reposted by Uwe Friedrichsen
i released a new blog post about the intricacies of process-based organizations, discussing how processes often lead to rigid and fragile organizations and impede resilience: www.ufried.com/blog/busines.... enjoy if you like ... ;)
The process deadlock
Why business processes impede resilience
www.ufried.com
September 21, 2025 at 9:38 AM
i released a new blog post about the intricacies of process-based organizations, discussing how processes often lead to rigid and fragile organizations and impede resilience: www.ufried.com/blog/busines.... enjoy if you like ... ;)
heard from a colleague today: "wer einen sch*** prozess digitalisiert, hat einen sch*** digitalen prozess." ("if you digitize a shitty process, you get a shitty digital process") – i think there are more diplomatic ways to phrase it but i have to admit he brought his point across unequivocally :)
September 12, 2025 at 2:29 PM
heard from a colleague today: "wer einen sch*** prozess digitalisiert, hat einen sch*** digitalen prozess." ("if you digitize a shitty process, you get a shitty digital process") – i think there are more diplomatic ways to phrase it but i have to admit he brought his point across unequivocally :)
Reposted by Uwe Friedrichsen
Xenomorphs don’t look as scary when they have Cookie Monster eyes. 😂
September 8, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Xenomorphs don’t look as scary when they have Cookie Monster eyes. 😂