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
If you are a follower of my YouTube channel and are interested in how and why we started, do check-out, my son, Tom's video on that topic.
Oh! and don't forget to "Like & Subscribe", maybe to both channels 😉😎
youtu.be/EWMwqp3gH7Q
Oh! and don't forget to "Like & Subscribe", maybe to both channels 😉😎
youtu.be/EWMwqp3gH7Q
The Real Story Behind the Success of Modern Software Engineering
YouTube video by Tom Farley
youtu.be
November 13, 2025 at 4:25 PM
If you are a follower of my YouTube channel and are interested in how and why we started, do check-out, my son, Tom's video on that topic.
Oh! and don't forget to "Like & Subscribe", maybe to both channels 😉😎
youtu.be/EWMwqp3gH7Q
Oh! and don't forget to "Like & Subscribe", maybe to both channels 😉😎
youtu.be/EWMwqp3gH7Q
Reposted by Kent Beck
I am very comfortable with my lack of gender.
Partially it’s just because I’ve been like this for decades. But it is also an act of faith.
My religion teaches that my experience of gender is holy and sanctified. To deny my experience would move away from the sacred.
www.uua.org/pressroom/pr...
Partially it’s just because I’ve been like this for decades. But it is also an act of faith.
My religion teaches that my experience of gender is holy and sanctified. To deny my experience would move away from the sacred.
www.uua.org/pressroom/pr...
www.uua.org
November 12, 2025 at 10:54 PM
I am very comfortable with my lack of gender.
Partially it’s just because I’ve been like this for decades. But it is also an act of faith.
My religion teaches that my experience of gender is holy and sanctified. To deny my experience would move away from the sacred.
www.uua.org/pressroom/pr...
Partially it’s just because I’ve been like this for decades. But it is also an act of faith.
My religion teaches that my experience of gender is holy and sanctified. To deny my experience would move away from the sacred.
www.uua.org/pressroom/pr...
Reposted by Kent Beck
Please join us in celebrating the newest presenter to join us on the Modern Software Engineering channel... @tastapod.com (Daniel Terhorst-North! 🎉
Dan is a technology and organizational change specialist who has been coaching, coding and consulting for over 30 years...
1/2
Dan is a technology and organizational change specialist who has been coaching, coding and consulting for over 30 years...
1/2
November 10, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Please join us in celebrating the newest presenter to join us on the Modern Software Engineering channel... @tastapod.com (Daniel Terhorst-North! 🎉
Dan is a technology and organizational change specialist who has been coaching, coding and consulting for over 30 years...
1/2
Dan is a technology and organizational change specialist who has been coaching, coding and consulting for over 30 years...
1/2
Doomsday scenario: we figure out that genies can cheaply file for software patents & suddenly everything in software is patented, stuff like lazy initialization. Then the genies spend all their time negotiating about patent rights & no time coding.
November 4, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Doomsday scenario: we figure out that genies can cheaply file for software patents & suddenly everything in software is patented, stuff like lazy initialization. Then the genies spend all their time negotiating about patent rights & no time coding.
Building Ikea furniture this weekend reminded me of two challenging life facts:
* If it's not aligned, more force won't help.
* If it's aligned, more force won't help.
Take that, #996.
* If it's not aligned, more force won't help.
* If it's aligned, more force won't help.
Take that, #996.
November 3, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Building Ikea furniture this weekend reminded me of two challenging life facts:
* If it's not aligned, more force won't help.
* If it's aligned, more force won't help.
Take that, #996.
* If it's not aligned, more force won't help.
* If it's aligned, more force won't help.
Take that, #996.
Reposted by Kent Beck
Interesting post: Pitching Hackathon Ideas: Oxymoron open.substack.com/pub/tidyfirs...
by @kentbeck.com
by @kentbeck.com
Pitching Hackathon Ideas: Oxymoron
The economic rationale for hackathons is that they create value by injecting uncertainty into development.
open.substack.com
October 31, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Interesting post: Pitching Hackathon Ideas: Oxymoron open.substack.com/pub/tidyfirs...
by @kentbeck.com
by @kentbeck.com
If you demand that people control something they can't control, then expect them to control something else. If the mandate is "No Bugs!" without any social or technical change, then expect a response like "no *reported* bugs".
October 22, 2025 at 5:13 PM
If you demand that people control something they can't control, then expect them to control something else. If the mandate is "No Bugs!" without any social or technical change, then expect a response like "no *reported* bugs".
Reposted by Kent Beck
The flow of money represents the wants and needs of everyone in an economy.
The problem with having billionaires is the same problem as trying to add huge numbers to tiny numbers using floating point.
Except that in this case the “tiny numbers” that get lost are “normal people’s wants and needs”.
The problem with having billionaires is the same problem as trying to add huge numbers to tiny numbers using floating point.
Except that in this case the “tiny numbers” that get lost are “normal people’s wants and needs”.
One challenge I am finding on this campaign: I have great political metaphors that work for very niche audiences.
October 16, 2025 at 3:53 PM
The flow of money represents the wants and needs of everyone in an economy.
The problem with having billionaires is the same problem as trying to add huge numbers to tiny numbers using floating point.
Except that in this case the “tiny numbers” that get lost are “normal people’s wants and needs”.
The problem with having billionaires is the same problem as trying to add huge numbers to tiny numbers using floating point.
Except that in this case the “tiny numbers” that get lost are “normal people’s wants and needs”.
The number of assertions per test is power law distributed.
Continuing my series of posts attempting to (pseudo-)formalise the practice of Test-Driven Development, I want to look at a “rule” of TDD that’s actually helpful whether you’re going test-first or test-after.
codemanship.wordpress.com/2025/10/13/t...
codemanship.wordpress.com/2025/10/13/t...
TDD Under The Microscope #3 – One Outcome Per Test
Continuing my series of posts attempting to (pseudo-)formalise the practice of Test-Driven Development, I want to look at a “rule” of TDD that’s actually helpful whether you’…
codemanship.wordpress.com
October 14, 2025 at 12:44 AM
The number of assertions per test is power law distributed.
Reposted by Kent Beck
Refactoring is a key skill for good software design and it's also something you can get better at through practice. Check out my newly-published video training course which has lots of examples and exercises you can try courses.cd.training/courses/refa...
Refactoring Made Simple: Improve Code Design Safely
Learn refactoring, clean code, and software testing with Emily Bache. Explore tutorials and full courses on refactoring legacy code, coding best practices, and software engineering training for develo...
courses.cd.training
October 1, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Refactoring is a key skill for good software design and it's also something you can get better at through practice. Check out my newly-published video training course which has lots of examples and exercises you can try courses.cd.training/courses/refa...
Reposted by Kent Beck
Please join us in celebrating a new presenter joining us on Modern Software Engineering, Sam Newman
Technologist, independent consultant, speaker, and author of Building Microservices and Monolith To Microservices.
Welcome, Sam.
Technologist, independent consultant, speaker, and author of Building Microservices and Monolith To Microservices.
Welcome, Sam.
September 26, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Please join us in celebrating a new presenter joining us on Modern Software Engineering, Sam Newman
Technologist, independent consultant, speaker, and author of Building Microservices and Monolith To Microservices.
Welcome, Sam.
Technologist, independent consultant, speaker, and author of Building Microservices and Monolith To Microservices.
Welcome, Sam.
Augmented coding is like ocean swimming vs pool swimming. In the pool you have straight lines & plenty of feedback. In the ocean you have to pop your head up & see where you're going periodically to actually make progress towards a goal. More strokes faster isn't going to get you there faster.
September 17, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Augmented coding is like ocean swimming vs pool swimming. In the pool you have straight lines & plenty of feedback. In the ocean you have to pop your head up & see where you're going periodically to actually make progress towards a goal. More strokes faster isn't going to get you there faster.
Augmented coding prediction--we're going to see team sizes shrink. XP has been dealing with this for 25 years, so g'head & ask if you'd like to know what comes next.
September 15, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Augmented coding prediction--we're going to see team sizes shrink. XP has been dealing with this for 25 years, so g'head & ask if you'd like to know what comes next.
Beth certainly will!
When I am elected, I will read the code DOGE wrote. I will find out how they stole your data and what they have done with it.
And then I will tell you
And then I will tell you
September 9, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Beth certainly will!
Reposted by Kent Beck
@kentbeck.com of the day:
Rhythm. Waiting until the right moment preserves energy and avoids clutter. Act with intensity when the time comes to act.
Rhythm. Waiting until the right moment preserves energy and avoids clutter. Act with intensity when the time comes to act.
September 5, 2025 at 5:23 PM
@kentbeck.com of the day:
Rhythm. Waiting until the right moment preserves energy and avoids clutter. Act with intensity when the time comes to act.
Rhythm. Waiting until the right moment preserves energy and avoids clutter. Act with intensity when the time comes to act.
Reposted by Kent Beck
We’re proud to announce our 2nd #YOW25 keynote speaker: @kentbeck.com!
His keynote “Sustainable Augmented Development” explores how we can keep development velocity high without sacrificing long-term sustainability.
🎟️ MEL 4-5 | BNE 8-9 | SYD 11-12 Dec
yowcon.com
His keynote “Sustainable Augmented Development” explores how we can keep development velocity high without sacrificing long-term sustainability.
🎟️ MEL 4-5 | BNE 8-9 | SYD 11-12 Dec
yowcon.com
September 1, 2025 at 10:42 PM
We’re proud to announce our 2nd #YOW25 keynote speaker: @kentbeck.com!
His keynote “Sustainable Augmented Development” explores how we can keep development velocity high without sacrificing long-term sustainability.
🎟️ MEL 4-5 | BNE 8-9 | SYD 11-12 Dec
yowcon.com
His keynote “Sustainable Augmented Development” explores how we can keep development velocity high without sacrificing long-term sustainability.
🎟️ MEL 4-5 | BNE 8-9 | SYD 11-12 Dec
yowcon.com
Running tests contains a fundamental information asymmetry seemingly ignored by most test runners. Test passes? NBD Information value much less than one bit. At most, increment some counter you'll show me later.
When a test fails, though, that's a big deal! Show me that for sure.
When a test fails, though, that's a big deal! Show me that for sure.
August 26, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Running tests contains a fundamental information asymmetry seemingly ignored by most test runners. Test passes? NBD Information value much less than one bit. At most, increment some counter you'll show me later.
When a test fails, though, that's a big deal! Show me that for sure.
When a test fails, though, that's a big deal! Show me that for sure.
3X Explore/Expand/Extract observation--criticism as a resource. I tried to use a tool yesterday & was angry when it didn't (yet) work for me.
If you're Exploring & a user gets mad, that's such a gift. Just yesterday you a) didn't know quite what to do & b) weren't sure anyone cared what you did.
If you're Exploring & a user gets mad, that's such a gift. Just yesterday you a) didn't know quite what to do & b) weren't sure anyone cared what you did.
August 21, 2025 at 3:10 PM
3X Explore/Expand/Extract observation--criticism as a resource. I tried to use a tool yesterday & was angry when it didn't (yet) work for me.
If you're Exploring & a user gets mad, that's such a gift. Just yesterday you a) didn't know quite what to do & b) weren't sure anyone cared what you did.
If you're Exploring & a user gets mad, that's such a gift. Just yesterday you a) didn't know quite what to do & b) weren't sure anyone cared what you did.
Reposted by Kent Beck
Coding agents aren't like juniors, they are like Amelia Bedelia
August 19, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Coding agents aren't like juniors, they are like Amelia Bedelia
Reposted by Kent Beck
My favorite part of running so far is connecting with skeptics.
People have a picture in their head of a “trans socialist”. It isn’t usually a curious motorcycle-riding homeowner with a pickup truck who is nearly impossible to offend.
That moment of confusion can be the start of a conversation.
People have a picture in their head of a “trans socialist”. It isn’t usually a curious motorcycle-riding homeowner with a pickup truck who is nearly impossible to offend.
That moment of confusion can be the start of a conversation.
August 17, 2025 at 4:53 PM
My favorite part of running so far is connecting with skeptics.
People have a picture in their head of a “trans socialist”. It isn’t usually a curious motorcycle-riding homeowner with a pickup truck who is nearly impossible to offend.
That moment of confusion can be the start of a conversation.
People have a picture in their head of a “trans socialist”. It isn’t usually a curious motorcycle-riding homeowner with a pickup truck who is nearly impossible to offend.
That moment of confusion can be the start of a conversation.
If your most effective management skill is insisting people work 80 hours a week, you might want to consider learning some new management skills.
August 9, 2025 at 8:39 PM
If your most effective management skill is insisting people work 80 hours a week, you might want to consider learning some new management skills.
Reposted by Kent Beck
The NUMBER ONE Principle of Software Design | @davefarley77.bsky.social & @kentbeck.com
AVAILABLE NOW 📽️
Watch HERE 🔗 youtu.be/oRxHR-Ll4zQ
AVAILABLE NOW 📽️
Watch HERE 🔗 youtu.be/oRxHR-Ll4zQ
The NUMBER ONE Principle of Software Design
YouTube video by Modern Software Engineering
youtu.be
August 8, 2025 at 6:06 PM
The NUMBER ONE Principle of Software Design | @davefarley77.bsky.social & @kentbeck.com
AVAILABLE NOW 📽️
Watch HERE 🔗 youtu.be/oRxHR-Ll4zQ
AVAILABLE NOW 📽️
Watch HERE 🔗 youtu.be/oRxHR-Ll4zQ
Reposted by Kent Beck
I don’t understand what any of this stuff going on in the culture means but I fully support it because it upsets maga nazis so much
August 5, 2025 at 10:38 AM
I don’t understand what any of this stuff going on in the culture means but I fully support it because it upsets maga nazis so much
Vocab word to avoid—inguinal
July 31, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Vocab word to avoid—inguinal
Reposted by Kent Beck
Join @kentbeck.com's #YOW25 1-day masterclass: Tidy Together: A Software Design Masterclass, and learn safe refactoring, design change mgmt & the human side of code.
📍 MEL 3 Dec yowcon.com/melbourne-20...
📍 SYD 10 Dec yowcon.com/sydney-2025/...
📍 MEL 3 Dec yowcon.com/melbourne-20...
📍 SYD 10 Dec yowcon.com/sydney-2025/...
July 29, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Join @kentbeck.com's #YOW25 1-day masterclass: Tidy Together: A Software Design Masterclass, and learn safe refactoring, design change mgmt & the human side of code.
📍 MEL 3 Dec yowcon.com/melbourne-20...
📍 SYD 10 Dec yowcon.com/sydney-2025/...
📍 MEL 3 Dec yowcon.com/melbourne-20...
📍 SYD 10 Dec yowcon.com/sydney-2025/...