Foundations of Software Systems
This curated series walks through the most important papers in software systems — from foundational thinking to distributed consensus protocols.
Foundations of Software Systems
Reactive, Not Just Responsive: How a Manifesto Rewired Our Thinking About Systems
More than a design guide, the Reactive Manifesto triggered a shift in how developers approach time, failure, control, and team dynamics. This post traces its deeper impact — across technical, philosophical, psychological, and cultural lines.
The Next 700 Programming Languages
Behind every new language is an old idea we forgot to name. This post explores how Landin’s paper helped us see code as scaffolding for thought — and why that lens still matters.
The Blueprint Behind the Bottleneck
Architecture isn’t just technical — it’s psychological, cultural, and historical. This piece explores how ideas like Conway’s Law, DDD, and platform thinking reshaped problem decomposition and organisational design.
The Tar We Swim In: Rethinking Complexity After 'Out of the Tar Pit'
This post explores the deep impact of Moseley and Marks’ work on software architecture, drawing out its technical, historical, philosophical, and cultural significance.
No Silver Bullet and the Systems Mindset
This isn’t just about one paper. It’s about the shift it caused — from chasing tools to understanding systems, from hoping for miracles to working with reality.
Worse Is Better: How an Ugly Idea Changed Everything
A deep dive into Richard Gabriel’s provocative thesis — and why software that survives often starts simple, flawed, and just good enough.