Coloured-pencil sketch of a loosely coupled system with message arrows between independent boxes

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.

June 2, 2025 · 10 min · Oliver Daff
A hand-drawn stack of programming languages teeters above a calm lambda symbol — a visual metaphor for syntax overload and forgotten foundations

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.

May 25, 2025 · 9 min · Oliver Daff
Illustration of a tangled forest path with three signposts labelled State, Control, and Volume — and a narrow trail cutting through labelled Clarity

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.

May 13, 2025 · 9 min · Oliver Daff
Coloured pencil drawing of a human brain with maze-like pathways and a single orange path cutting through

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.

April 22, 2025 · 7 min · Oliver Daff