Craig J. Bass
@craigjbass.bsky.social
Strategy, tech & products to improve society. Principal Software Engineer @madetech.bsky.social (he/him/they/them)
Getting these vibes, really
a bald man is sitting in a chair with his finger in his mouth and the words `` one billion '' above him .
ALT: a bald man is sitting in a chair with his finger in his mouth and the words `` one billion '' above him .
media.tenor.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Getting these vibes, really
It is okay to fund and build a thing that is designed entirely for other software development teams to use/integrate with… so that the end user facing systems in the overall “whole system” context are simpler/easier to deliver faster/reliable/secure/etc.
BUT product management of these are tricky!
BUT product management of these are tricky!
November 1, 2025 at 7:23 PM
It is okay to fund and build a thing that is designed entirely for other software development teams to use/integrate with… so that the end user facing systems in the overall “whole system” context are simpler/easier to deliver faster/reliable/secure/etc.
BUT product management of these are tricky!
BUT product management of these are tricky!
When government services turn users into enterprise service busses, ferrying data between disjointed steps on a complex journey… this is what drives administrative burden up.
I’d hypothesise that your population only has so much bandwidth to deal with admin burden, before impacting productivity
I’d hypothesise that your population only has so much bandwidth to deal with admin burden, before impacting productivity
October 31, 2025 at 7:32 PM
When government services turn users into enterprise service busses, ferrying data between disjointed steps on a complex journey… this is what drives administrative burden up.
I’d hypothesise that your population only has so much bandwidth to deal with admin burden, before impacting productivity
I’d hypothesise that your population only has so much bandwidth to deal with admin burden, before impacting productivity
Factorio is really good at teaching theory of constraints
Factorio Space Age is really good at teaching you that you are smart enough to manage that much complexity at the same time on your own 😂
Factorio Space Age is really good at teaching you that you are smart enough to manage that much complexity at the same time on your own 😂
October 29, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Factorio is really good at teaching theory of constraints
Factorio Space Age is really good at teaching you that you are smart enough to manage that much complexity at the same time on your own 😂
Factorio Space Age is really good at teaching you that you are smart enough to manage that much complexity at the same time on your own 😂
How did I miss WHSmiths changing its name to TG Jones. 🫨
September 27, 2025 at 7:59 PM
How did I miss WHSmiths changing its name to TG Jones. 🫨
The UK has multiple methods that appear to solve “identity”;
- driving license
- passport
- national insurance number
- birth certificate
- government gateway
- GOV.UK OneLogin
None of them solve the whole problem. For various Reasons ™️.
We do need to tackle that.
What do other countries do?
- driving license
- passport
- national insurance number
- birth certificate
- government gateway
- GOV.UK OneLogin
None of them solve the whole problem. For various Reasons ™️.
We do need to tackle that.
What do other countries do?
September 27, 2025 at 8:41 AM
The UK has multiple methods that appear to solve “identity”;
- driving license
- passport
- national insurance number
- birth certificate
- government gateway
- GOV.UK OneLogin
None of them solve the whole problem. For various Reasons ™️.
We do need to tackle that.
What do other countries do?
- driving license
- passport
- national insurance number
- birth certificate
- government gateway
- GOV.UK OneLogin
None of them solve the whole problem. For various Reasons ™️.
We do need to tackle that.
What do other countries do?
“Vibe Coding Cleanup Specialist”… what an absolutely amazing opportunity for TDD loving, approval test wielding, extreme programmers everywhere.
September 21, 2025 at 10:00 AM
“Vibe Coding Cleanup Specialist”… what an absolutely amazing opportunity for TDD loving, approval test wielding, extreme programmers everywhere.
Supply chain attacks are a real threat
Cyber security investment is urgent
It isn’t more important than treating people with dignity and respect
Cyber security investment is urgent
It isn’t more important than treating people with dignity and respect
September 19, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Supply chain attacks are a real threat
Cyber security investment is urgent
It isn’t more important than treating people with dignity and respect
Cyber security investment is urgent
It isn’t more important than treating people with dignity and respect
The service design around “abandoned vehicles” is really poor.
> car with no number plates is not considered abandoned
> DVLA are like its LA problem
> LA use fix my street which routes to highways team
> highways team are like “not my problem” it’s a parking enforcement issue (diff team)
> car with no number plates is not considered abandoned
> DVLA are like its LA problem
> LA use fix my street which routes to highways team
> highways team are like “not my problem” it’s a parking enforcement issue (diff team)
August 5, 2025 at 10:57 AM
The service design around “abandoned vehicles” is really poor.
> car with no number plates is not considered abandoned
> DVLA are like its LA problem
> LA use fix my street which routes to highways team
> highways team are like “not my problem” it’s a parking enforcement issue (diff team)
> car with no number plates is not considered abandoned
> DVLA are like its LA problem
> LA use fix my street which routes to highways team
> highways team are like “not my problem” it’s a parking enforcement issue (diff team)
This latest Sharepoint vulnerability shows how important multiple trust boundaries are necessary in system design.
Also why deserialisation of arbitrary data from any user is bad.
This video has the best description I’ve found for anyone looking to avoid the same mistakes! youtu.be/HL8YZwjZHFE
Also why deserialisation of arbitrary data from any user is bad.
This video has the best description I’ve found for anyone looking to avoid the same mistakes! youtu.be/HL8YZwjZHFE
sharepoint hacking situation is completely insane
YouTube video by Low Level
youtu.be
July 26, 2025 at 10:15 PM
This latest Sharepoint vulnerability shows how important multiple trust boundaries are necessary in system design.
Also why deserialisation of arbitrary data from any user is bad.
This video has the best description I’ve found for anyone looking to avoid the same mistakes! youtu.be/HL8YZwjZHFE
Also why deserialisation of arbitrary data from any user is bad.
This video has the best description I’ve found for anyone looking to avoid the same mistakes! youtu.be/HL8YZwjZHFE
I wish that I could, in building digital services, just tell users to stop using the service so much.
Like water companies do.
This is surely predictable and could have been avoided with appropriate infrastructure investment.
Like water companies do.
This is surely predictable and could have been avoided with appropriate infrastructure investment.
July 1, 2025 at 6:01 PM
I wish that I could, in building digital services, just tell users to stop using the service so much.
Like water companies do.
This is surely predictable and could have been avoided with appropriate infrastructure investment.
Like water companies do.
This is surely predictable and could have been avoided with appropriate infrastructure investment.
Reposted by Craig J. Bass
Private finance for public service is back. How do we learn the lessons of past issues here? We produced an @nao.org.uk report drawing together lessons from 140 NAO reports
on.ft.com/446gixl
on.ft.com/446gixl
UK government launches new wave of private financing for public services
Ministers insist infrastructure projects will avoid pitfalls of earlier PFI deals
on.ft.com
June 20, 2025 at 6:44 AM
Private finance for public service is back. How do we learn the lessons of past issues here? We produced an @nao.org.uk report drawing together lessons from 140 NAO reports
on.ft.com/446gixl
on.ft.com/446gixl
The platform side announcer this morning I noticed it didn’t say “the blah blah blah southwestern railway service to… etc”
It said “Arterio Service”
Arterio isn’t a company it’s the train stock. I wonder if it’s intentional or the result of a code change now these trains are under public control
It said “Arterio Service”
Arterio isn’t a company it’s the train stock. I wonder if it’s intentional or the result of a code change now these trains are under public control
June 18, 2025 at 7:11 AM
The platform side announcer this morning I noticed it didn’t say “the blah blah blah southwestern railway service to… etc”
It said “Arterio Service”
Arterio isn’t a company it’s the train stock. I wonder if it’s intentional or the result of a code change now these trains are under public control
It said “Arterio Service”
Arterio isn’t a company it’s the train stock. I wonder if it’s intentional or the result of a code change now these trains are under public control
GenAI is still in its cheap massively capex funded phase. Couple dozen £ per month. ChatGPT wants to sell me a £200 per month subscription. So this is probably still at a loss for them but they think cheap….
I reckon the prices are going to be WILD in a few years. Properly wild.
I reckon the prices are going to be WILD in a few years. Properly wild.
June 17, 2025 at 9:14 PM
GenAI is still in its cheap massively capex funded phase. Couple dozen £ per month. ChatGPT wants to sell me a £200 per month subscription. So this is probably still at a loss for them but they think cheap….
I reckon the prices are going to be WILD in a few years. Properly wild.
I reckon the prices are going to be WILD in a few years. Properly wild.
Denmark, Ministry of Digital Affairs publishes it will ditch Microsoft for Linux and Libreoffice.
June 17, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Denmark, Ministry of Digital Affairs publishes it will ditch Microsoft for Linux and Libreoffice.
Outlook encourages people to not reply to calendar invites by default. Which lowers productivity of teams.
In Google if you decline, the event remains but it is striked through.
In Microsoft if you decline, THE EVENT DISAPPEARS AND THE EMAIL THAT INVITED YOU IS DELETED.
Super confusing.
In Google if you decline, the event remains but it is striked through.
In Microsoft if you decline, THE EVENT DISAPPEARS AND THE EMAIL THAT INVITED YOU IS DELETED.
Super confusing.
June 17, 2025 at 6:45 AM
Outlook encourages people to not reply to calendar invites by default. Which lowers productivity of teams.
In Google if you decline, the event remains but it is striked through.
In Microsoft if you decline, THE EVENT DISAPPEARS AND THE EMAIL THAT INVITED YOU IS DELETED.
Super confusing.
In Google if you decline, the event remains but it is striked through.
In Microsoft if you decline, THE EVENT DISAPPEARS AND THE EMAIL THAT INVITED YOU IS DELETED.
Super confusing.
People are sceptical about LLMs but frankly I’ve seen some crimes in legacy systems that no GenAI would ever commit. I’m not sure I’m scared or happy that this is the case.
June 13, 2025 at 6:04 PM
People are sceptical about LLMs but frankly I’ve seen some crimes in legacy systems that no GenAI would ever commit. I’m not sure I’m scared or happy that this is the case.
Schleswig-Holstein state in Germany decides to migrate away from Microsoft 365 for productivity suite. I suspect it’s going to be a challenging move, but I generally support diversifying the number of suppliers in this space.
June 13, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Schleswig-Holstein state in Germany decides to migrate away from Microsoft 365 for productivity suite. I suspect it’s going to be a challenging move, but I generally support diversifying the number of suppliers in this space.
I think the myth that agility is this “digital” or “tech” thing done in shady basements by nerds (or top floors) is sort of half the battle.
No you can’t keep doing agile and good digital delivery if the organisation policies and processes can’t adapt to digital delivery.
No you can’t keep doing agile and good digital delivery if the organisation policies and processes can’t adapt to digital delivery.
June 11, 2025 at 7:03 PM
I think the myth that agility is this “digital” or “tech” thing done in shady basements by nerds (or top floors) is sort of half the battle.
No you can’t keep doing agile and good digital delivery if the organisation policies and processes can’t adapt to digital delivery.
No you can’t keep doing agile and good digital delivery if the organisation policies and processes can’t adapt to digital delivery.
I suspect “Trump Derangement Syndrome” (which is nonsense) will get more traction as a tool to jail or restrict freedoms of people Trump doesn’t like.
Expect some people “everyone” hates will be punished first with this tool e.g. Musk. Trump has already said that Musk has TDS.
It will expand.
Expect some people “everyone” hates will be punished first with this tool e.g. Musk. Trump has already said that Musk has TDS.
It will expand.
June 10, 2025 at 8:51 PM
I suspect “Trump Derangement Syndrome” (which is nonsense) will get more traction as a tool to jail or restrict freedoms of people Trump doesn’t like.
Expect some people “everyone” hates will be punished first with this tool e.g. Musk. Trump has already said that Musk has TDS.
It will expand.
Expect some people “everyone” hates will be punished first with this tool e.g. Musk. Trump has already said that Musk has TDS.
It will expand.
Controv: Day rate caps make sense when the strategy is to outsource substantive roles in volumes. Where staff augmentation is the model and margin is blended across many teams. If Gov is serious about reducing volumes, whilst accessing expertise in bursty pattern then day rate caps are incompatible
June 9, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Controv: Day rate caps make sense when the strategy is to outsource substantive roles in volumes. Where staff augmentation is the model and margin is blended across many teams. If Gov is serious about reducing volumes, whilst accessing expertise in bursty pattern then day rate caps are incompatible
Unconvinced that optimising for maximal GDP is optimal for the future of humanity.
Fundamentally, we need to divert course away from “infinite economic growth” as a species and discover a new way of measuring species enbetterment.
Fundamentally, we need to divert course away from “infinite economic growth” as a species and discover a new way of measuring species enbetterment.
June 8, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Unconvinced that optimising for maximal GDP is optimal for the future of humanity.
Fundamentally, we need to divert course away from “infinite economic growth” as a species and discover a new way of measuring species enbetterment.
Fundamentally, we need to divert course away from “infinite economic growth” as a species and discover a new way of measuring species enbetterment.
Looking at business models around media is fascinating. Throughout history produce has been in limited supply, you buy a manufactured item. For the first time we are experiencing infinite abundance of some items.
Legally digital piracy is theft.
Ethics in the public consciousness do not match this
Legally digital piracy is theft.
Ethics in the public consciousness do not match this
June 2, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Looking at business models around media is fascinating. Throughout history produce has been in limited supply, you buy a manufactured item. For the first time we are experiencing infinite abundance of some items.
Legally digital piracy is theft.
Ethics in the public consciousness do not match this
Legally digital piracy is theft.
Ethics in the public consciousness do not match this
Imagine if trains we so simple; just tap in and out, and cost was calculated on a simple system like “as the crow flies” mileage. Like £10 per 100 miles.
And what if they were run as a critical enabler of the economy, not as a method to make a profit, like as a public service.
And what if they were run as a critical enabler of the economy, not as a method to make a profit, like as a public service.
May 29, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Imagine if trains we so simple; just tap in and out, and cost was calculated on a simple system like “as the crow flies” mileage. Like £10 per 100 miles.
And what if they were run as a critical enabler of the economy, not as a method to make a profit, like as a public service.
And what if they were run as a critical enabler of the economy, not as a method to make a profit, like as a public service.
Remember: engaging in cyber security theatre decreases cyber security, folks.
May 27, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Remember: engaging in cyber security theatre decreases cyber security, folks.