Notes on building software that earns its keep.
Practical writing for the people who have to live with the software: what to build, what to buy, what to migrate, and what to automate. No hype, just the honest read from work we have actually done.
Custom software vs off-the-shelf: when should a business actually build?
Buying is cheaper, faster, and safer, right up until it isn't. Here is the honest test for when a custom build pays for itself, and the trap of the tool your team quietly works around.
How to build a defect management system: the complete guide
The data model, the lifecycle, roles and approvals, field-friendly capture, and what it honestly costs. Written from building one for LNG carrier fleets.
Custom softwareReplacing Excel with custom software: the complete migration guide
The signs you have outgrown the spreadsheet, what replaces each part of it, how the data moves, and the honest cases where you should stay on Excel.
Workflow automationDesigning approval workflows that people don't route around
Routing, escalation, audit trails, the four standard patterns, and the anti-patterns that send everyone back to WhatsApp.
ModernizationModernizing legacy software: rehost, replatform, rebuild, or replace
How to tell when a system has become a liability, the four strategies and how to choose, and how to move with zero downtime.
Custom softwareHow much does custom software cost, and why won't anyone give a straight number?
What actually drives the number, the ranges you will see quoted, and why the three-year total matters more than the sticker price. With two diagrams.
Website migrationWill migrating your website hurt your Google rankings?
Most ranking loss during a migration is self-inflicted and preventable. What actually causes it, and how to move a site without losing the traffic you already earned.
Workflow automationWhat you can actually automate in your business (and what you can't)
Automation is not magic and it is not for everything. A clear test for which work is worth handing to a machine, and which judgment calls should stay with people.
Choosing a partnerHow to choose a software development partner, and the red flags to watch
The most telling moment happens before anyone writes code. What good partners do differently, the questions that separate them, and the warning signs worth walking away from.
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