Standard of care

Code

• Write code for the person who reads it next, not for the compiler.
• Prefer boring, obvious solutions over clever ones.
• Tests are documentation. If it's not tested, it's not done.
• Review every line, including my own — and especially LLM-generated code.

Systems

• Assume failure. Design for retries, idempotency, and timeouts.
• Observability is not optional — it's the interface to a running system.
• Limit complexity. A big part of the job is saying no.

Teams

• Clear is kind. Say the hard thing early and directly.
• Blame the process, not the person.
• Give credit generously, take responsibility fully.
• Mentoring is part of the job, not a favor.