Dr Stuart Woolley
@fractaldoctor.bsky.social
Software type, not literal.
Likes maths, loves , prefers academia, often complex.
Drinks coffee, writes way too much on Medium, worries a lot.
Send 🧀 and 🍷.
Likes maths, loves , prefers academia, often complex.
Drinks coffee, writes way too much on Medium, worries a lot.
Send 🧀 and 🍷.
Studying to be a software engineering?
In the corporate grist mill of the modern Grand Game, you'll find that most of the time you're just box ticking someone else's SMART goals and rarely writing software.
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
In the corporate grist mill of the modern Grand Game, you'll find that most of the time you're just box ticking someone else's SMART goals and rarely writing software.
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
The Era Of Constant Supervision
Schoolyard guidelines surface once again in the modern corporate software engineering dystopia.
medium.com
November 23, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Studying to be a software engineering?
In the corporate grist mill of the modern Grand Game, you'll find that most of the time you're just box ticking someone else's SMART goals and rarely writing software.
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
In the corporate grist mill of the modern Grand Game, you'll find that most of the time you're just box ticking someone else's SMART goals and rarely writing software.
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
The faux-enthusiasm spouted by HR, especially at this time of year, about Christmas ("Holiday") events is surreal, unbelievable, and must surely be driven by amphetamines.
Like much mandatory fun, it's also hugely underwhelming if you give in and attend.
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
Like much mandatory fun, it's also hugely underwhelming if you give in and attend.
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
The Cult Of Mandatory Enthusiasm
I’ve started clapping myself when I go to the bathroom. Help.
medium.com
November 19, 2025 at 8:37 AM
The faux-enthusiasm spouted by HR, especially at this time of year, about Christmas ("Holiday") events is surreal, unbelievable, and must surely be driven by amphetamines.
Like much mandatory fun, it's also hugely underwhelming if you give in and attend.
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
Like much mandatory fun, it's also hugely underwhelming if you give in and attend.
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
What passes for "AI" right now, the probabilistic slop generator, isn't going well in the corporate world.
Sure, if you know what you're doing it can be useful, but if you're a 'vibe coder' or copy/paster, you're just making things so much worse.
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
Sure, if you know what you're doing it can be useful, but if you're a 'vibe coder' or copy/paster, you're just making things so much worse.
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
In The Slop Of Our Own Making
Automation for the talentless, by the clueless.
medium.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:31 AM
What passes for "AI" right now, the probabilistic slop generator, isn't going well in the corporate world.
Sure, if you know what you're doing it can be useful, but if you're a 'vibe coder' or copy/paster, you're just making things so much worse.
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
Sure, if you know what you're doing it can be useful, but if you're a 'vibe coder' or copy/paster, you're just making things so much worse.
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
I collected my continually growing tome of tales all together under one @Medium publication,
"The Grand Game of Software Engineering".
Now you can laugh, and cry, as you work your way through dire stories of the modern corporate dystopia.
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
"The Grand Game of Software Engineering".
Now you can laugh, and cry, as you work your way through dire stories of the modern corporate dystopia.
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
The Grand Game of Software Engineering
Stories, often even humor, from the dark side of corporate culture.
medium.com
November 6, 2025 at 10:58 AM
I collected my continually growing tome of tales all together under one @Medium publication,
"The Grand Game of Software Engineering".
Now you can laugh, and cry, as you work your way through dire stories of the modern corporate dystopia.
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
"The Grand Game of Software Engineering".
Now you can laugh, and cry, as you work your way through dire stories of the modern corporate dystopia.
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
For all but those management droids who still collect air miles and believe a company car invests some kind of social status, travelling for the company is a tedious endured monotony, even worse than a stand up meeting.
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
The Nausea Of Work Related Travel
Like a rollercoaster it starts with anticipation, fun, even laughter but ends with insufferable relentless tedium.
medium.com
November 5, 2025 at 9:13 AM
For all but those management droids who still collect air miles and believe a company car invests some kind of social status, travelling for the company is a tedious endured monotony, even worse than a stand up meeting.
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
As a software engineer "taking on more responsibility" should not just be "doing HR's work for them".
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
Now With 30% More HR Admin!
Rising through the ranks often means shedding your humanity and being recruited into HR as an unpaid deputy.
medium.com
October 28, 2025 at 11:05 AM
As a software engineer "taking on more responsibility" should not just be "doing HR's work for them".
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
If you've ever wondered why possibly the most ill fitting and unsuitable name was chosen for the worst, most inefficient, and over-engineered software development process possible then I may have some answers for you.
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
Just Why Is It Called The Agile ‘Manifesto’?
Surprisingly it’s an origin story that has its roots in comedy, politics, and strategic monetisation. Allegedly.
medium.com
October 26, 2025 at 8:46 AM
If you've ever wondered why possibly the most ill fitting and unsuitable name was chosen for the worst, most inefficient, and over-engineered software development process possible then I may have some answers for you.
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
Commuting, you've always done it because that's just how things were done and everyone else was doing it too - perhaps you've never even thought of it in the way before and it took a pandemic to bring it into focus.
Free to read, with added almost humour.
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
Free to read, with added almost humour.
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
The Collective Illusion Of Commuting
Realisations really do strike home when the familiar actions cease.
medium.com
October 25, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Commuting, you've always done it because that's just how things were done and everyone else was doing it too - perhaps you've never even thought of it in the way before and it took a pandemic to bring it into focus.
Free to read, with added almost humour.
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
Free to read, with added almost humour.
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
The exponential amount of slop generated by employees, told by their managers to "try it out" or "adopt it or be replaced" is truly phenomenal.
What a sorry tale. And, free to read too.
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
What a sorry tale. And, free to read too.
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
Slopocalypse Now
We bought the tech, they brought the buzzwords, everyone else gets the slop.
medium.com
October 24, 2025 at 7:25 AM
The exponential amount of slop generated by employees, told by their managers to "try it out" or "adopt it or be replaced" is truly phenomenal.
What a sorry tale. And, free to read too.
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
What a sorry tale. And, free to read too.
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
When management starts telling the developers, "we're all salesmen now" you know the writing is on the wall.
"The Performance Theatre Years"
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
"The Performance Theatre Years"
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
The Performance Theatre Years
A story of Tolstoy sized manuals, Teams pep talks, and own brand teabags.
medium.com
October 10, 2025 at 8:33 AM
When management starts telling the developers, "we're all salesmen now" you know the writing is on the wall.
"The Performance Theatre Years"
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
"The Performance Theatre Years"
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
Managing by making empty gestures, a common occurrence in the corporate world, remains just as prevalent today as it was in 2021, when I originally wrote this article.
At least, now, finally, attitudes are beginning to change.
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
At least, now, finally, attitudes are beginning to change.
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
“Gesture Management” by Companies regarding Remote Working
It’s best not to believe the hype, or you’ll be back behind a desk in six months.
medium.com
October 9, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Managing by making empty gestures, a common occurrence in the corporate world, remains just as prevalent today as it was in 2021, when I originally wrote this article.
At least, now, finally, attitudes are beginning to change.
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
At least, now, finally, attitudes are beginning to change.
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
CI/CD? Deployment toolchains? Automatic build and release on git commit? And all of that other fluff that has taken over the process of just deploying software.
Process dominating, once again, in the Grand Game of Software Engineering.
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
Process dominating, once again, in the Grand Game of Software Engineering.
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
When The Toolchain Becomes The Job
Engineers, you have nothing to lose but your toolchains. Ahem.
medium.com
October 2, 2025 at 9:06 AM
CI/CD? Deployment toolchains? Automatic build and release on git commit? And all of that other fluff that has taken over the process of just deploying software.
Process dominating, once again, in the Grand Game of Software Engineering.
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
Process dominating, once again, in the Grand Game of Software Engineering.
medium.com/the-grand-ga...
One of the more nauseating statements a manager can make is "well, that doesn't apply to me" - a statement which makes instant defenestration extremely tempting.
medium.com/codex/that-d...
medium.com/codex/that-d...
“That Doesn’t Apply To Me”
Managers often use seniority to avoid company initiatives which would, in fairness, actually improve things.
medium.com
June 24, 2025 at 7:35 AM
One of the more nauseating statements a manager can make is "well, that doesn't apply to me" - a statement which makes instant defenestration extremely tempting.
medium.com/codex/that-d...
medium.com/codex/that-d...
When even opening a (real) window is a delightful act of rebellion against the corporate dystopia.
"Things Your Managers Hate When You’re Working From Home"
medium.com/codex/things...
"Things Your Managers Hate When You’re Working From Home"
medium.com/codex/things...
Things Your Managers Hate When You’re Working From Home
Passive aggressiveness for the remote working masses, let’s go!
medium.com
June 21, 2025 at 4:45 PM
When even opening a (real) window is a delightful act of rebellion against the corporate dystopia.
"Things Your Managers Hate When You’re Working From Home"
medium.com/codex/things...
"Things Your Managers Hate When You’re Working From Home"
medium.com/codex/things...
"I Replaced My Project Manager With An ‘AI’"
tl;dr no-one noticed, so I'm going to do the same for everyone else in the company. Except the developers.
medium.com/codex/i-repl...
tl;dr no-one noticed, so I'm going to do the same for everyone else in the company. Except the developers.
medium.com/codex/i-repl...
I Replaced My Project Manager With An “AI”
Naturally, no-one noticed. But, I think I’m really onto something.
medium.com
June 15, 2025 at 5:19 PM
"I Replaced My Project Manager With An ‘AI’"
tl;dr no-one noticed, so I'm going to do the same for everyone else in the company. Except the developers.
medium.com/codex/i-repl...
tl;dr no-one noticed, so I'm going to do the same for everyone else in the company. Except the developers.
medium.com/codex/i-repl...
Commuting has always been a kind of collective illusion, something swallowed up like a mandatory medicine by employees - and they even pay for it with their time and money too.
medium.com/codex/the-co...
medium.com/codex/the-co...
The Collective Illusion Of Commuting
Realisations really do strike home when the familiar actions cease.
medium.com
June 9, 2025 at 7:24 AM
Commuting has always been a kind of collective illusion, something swallowed up like a mandatory medicine by employees - and they even pay for it with their time and money too.
medium.com/codex/the-co...
medium.com/codex/the-co...
You better get your academia done before falling into corporate life, as it's worse than pulling teeth getting a company to help you do some actual, real, studying*.
*not YouTube, obviously
medium.com/codex/the-pr...
*not YouTube, obviously
medium.com/codex/the-pr...
The Problem Of Learning While Earning
Or, “Attempting to better oneself in a system designed to reward stagnation.”
medium.com
June 6, 2025 at 6:45 AM
You better get your academia done before falling into corporate life, as it's worse than pulling teeth getting a company to help you do some actual, real, studying*.
*not YouTube, obviously
medium.com/codex/the-pr...
*not YouTube, obviously
medium.com/codex/the-pr...
You can recognise a project manager is many ways, but a major one is their nauseous performative behaviour in the corporate environment. Here's just one example.
medium.com/codex/the-sh...
medium.com/codex/the-sh...
The Shameless Project Manager
Yet more proof that activity is no substitute for value.
medium.com
June 2, 2025 at 7:22 AM
You can recognise a project manager is many ways, but a major one is their nauseous performative behaviour in the corporate environment. Here's just one example.
medium.com/codex/the-sh...
medium.com/codex/the-sh...
No-one noticed until there was an empty space in the car park and decidedly fewer Teams meetings.
I reckon it could work for you too.
medium.com/codex/i-repl...
I reckon it could work for you too.
medium.com/codex/i-repl...
I Replaced My Project Manager With An “AI”
Naturally, no-one noticed. But, I think I’m really onto something.
medium.com
May 26, 2025 at 1:06 PM
No-one noticed until there was an empty space in the car park and decidedly fewer Teams meetings.
I reckon it could work for you too.
medium.com/codex/i-repl...
I reckon it could work for you too.
medium.com/codex/i-repl...
Sometimes you should leave alone the things that you find hidden. Especially if your ancestors may have brushed true cosmic horror.
"The Frost Beneath"
medium.com/eldritchscri...
"The Frost Beneath"
medium.com/eldritchscri...
The Frost Beneath
A Lovecraftian tale of breath beneath the coals.
medium.com
May 19, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Sometimes you should leave alone the things that you find hidden. Especially if your ancestors may have brushed true cosmic horror.
"The Frost Beneath"
medium.com/eldritchscri...
"The Frost Beneath"
medium.com/eldritchscri...
AI isn’t taking your job, it’s taking your tasks.
If what you do is repetitive, predictable, or managerial - you’re already on the chopping block.
Survivors are those who build, train, or wield the tools.
Everyone else is being deprecated. At last.
medium.com/codex/is-the...
If what you do is repetitive, predictable, or managerial - you’re already on the chopping block.
Survivors are those who build, train, or wield the tools.
Everyone else is being deprecated. At last.
medium.com/codex/is-the...
Is The “AI” Grim Reaper Coming For Your Job?
Very likely, especially if you’re cranking out busywork or don’t do anything physical in your day job besides walking to meetings.
medium.com
May 18, 2025 at 7:45 AM
AI isn’t taking your job, it’s taking your tasks.
If what you do is repetitive, predictable, or managerial - you’re already on the chopping block.
Survivors are those who build, train, or wield the tools.
Everyone else is being deprecated. At last.
medium.com/codex/is-the...
If what you do is repetitive, predictable, or managerial - you’re already on the chopping block.
Survivors are those who build, train, or wield the tools.
Everyone else is being deprecated. At last.
medium.com/codex/is-the...
I use vi, or vim, everywhere - learn it once for life and you can pretty much guarantee it's always installed.
On the rare occasion I use VSC I install the vi keys thing and turn off EVERYTHING else. It's the only way to be sure.
medium.com/codex/the-em...
On the rare occasion I use VSC I install the vi keys thing and turn off EVERYTHING else. It's the only way to be sure.
medium.com/codex/the-em...
The Embellishment of Editors
Sometimes I really do think that I’m no longer in control of what I’m doing.
medium.com
May 17, 2025 at 9:47 AM
I use vi, or vim, everywhere - learn it once for life and you can pretty much guarantee it's always installed.
On the rare occasion I use VSC I install the vi keys thing and turn off EVERYTHING else. It's the only way to be sure.
medium.com/codex/the-em...
On the rare occasion I use VSC I install the vi keys thing and turn off EVERYTHING else. It's the only way to be sure.
medium.com/codex/the-em...
"I Watched An Engineer Die Inside Today" when they were forcibly returned to the cloud cuckoo land of eternal process, the grinding prison of agile, and the great conveyer belt of Jira tickets.
medium.com/codex/i-watc...
medium.com/codex/i-watc...
I Watched An Engineer Die Inside Today
Psychology is a vital, and very much underrated, skill in the Grand Game of Software Engineering.
medium.com
May 15, 2025 at 10:21 AM
"I Watched An Engineer Die Inside Today" when they were forcibly returned to the cloud cuckoo land of eternal process, the grinding prison of agile, and the great conveyer belt of Jira tickets.
medium.com/codex/i-watc...
medium.com/codex/i-watc...
Meetings are mostly theatre.
Ignore the slides, ignore the bullshit, but if a manager accidentally says something real?
Witness it. Record it. Weaponise it.
Accountability is gold dust in software engineering.
medium.com/codex/the-go...
Ignore the slides, ignore the bullshit, but if a manager accidentally says something real?
Witness it. Record it. Weaponise it.
Accountability is gold dust in software engineering.
medium.com/codex/the-go...
The Golden Nugget Of Accountability
We all shovel that, err, sand from one place to another — but it’s worth noticing what might sometimes be buried within it.
medium.com
May 11, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Meetings are mostly theatre.
Ignore the slides, ignore the bullshit, but if a manager accidentally says something real?
Witness it. Record it. Weaponise it.
Accountability is gold dust in software engineering.
medium.com/codex/the-go...
Ignore the slides, ignore the bullshit, but if a manager accidentally says something real?
Witness it. Record it. Weaponise it.
Accountability is gold dust in software engineering.
medium.com/codex/the-go...
Should Remote Workers Be Paid Less?
For the same work, or most likely more work, done more efficiently, and most likely with less stress?
Of course not!
medium.com/codex/should...
For the same work, or most likely more work, done more efficiently, and most likely with less stress?
Of course not!
medium.com/codex/should...
Should Remote Workers Be Paid Less?
The correct answer is obvious, unless you’re a middle-manager.
medium.com
May 9, 2025 at 7:06 AM
Should Remote Workers Be Paid Less?
For the same work, or most likely more work, done more efficiently, and most likely with less stress?
Of course not!
medium.com/codex/should...
For the same work, or most likely more work, done more efficiently, and most likely with less stress?
Of course not!
medium.com/codex/should...