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Investigating Software

Notes on testing, automation, and software craft.

  • Who would have thunk it, coding was automated before testing!

    13 May 2026 · testing automation ai evals

    It’s not that analysis, solution design etc are automated but the writing of the code itself is now fully automatable. "Testing is also automated!" you say! well in a sense, yes, but much like how the broader/deeper work of analysis and system & solution design is still a human…It’s not that analysis, solution design etc are automated but the writing of the code itself is now fully automatable.… more »

  • Vimes Boots & why the right AI evals could save your project

    07 May 2026 · ai automation cloud evals illusion investigation

    "The reason the rich were so rich, Vimes reasoned, was because They managed to spend less money" Sam Vimes, from Men at Arms by Terry Pratchett. The theory goes that richer people can afford a pair of boots that last longer before repair or replacement than poor people, who can…"The reason the rich were so rich, Vimes reasoned, was because They managed to spend less money" Sam Vimes, from Men at… more »

  • Be the Human Out of The Loop to avoid being The Fall Guy

    15 April 2026 · agile ai automation breaking things critical thinking deep learning

    Do you know what a fall guy is? the answer is you. Why? Because when you're told that there is a human in the loop means... there is a you shaped person to blame. So, while you are working harder than ever, using the latest tools money can buy or tokens can build someone has…Do you know what a fall guy is? the answer is you. Why? Because when you're told that there is a human in the loop… more »

  • The best book on AI Agents for the layman

    27 March 2026 · agile ai banking breaking things bug gothic

    Alan J. Portis once quipped that: "the best book on programming for the layman is Alice in Wonderland, but that's because it's the best book on anything for the layman". In the same theme, I'd like to suggest an addition to your library, the best non technical book on AI Agents…Alan J. Portis once quipped that: "the best book on programming for the layman is Alice in Wonderland, but that's… more »

  • AI Agents & the aptly named Butt report

    19 March 2026 · agile ai automation banking questioning

    It's August 1941, during the opening years of WW2, the axis powers had conquered much of mainland Europe and the Allies were desperately trying to limit the capacity of the axis military industrial complex. They did this with little feedback on their success much like some…It's August 1941, during the opening years of WW2, the axis powers had conquered much of mainland Europe and the Allies… more »

  • Validators as coding agent specifications

    05 March 2026 · ai automation banking deep learning human payments

    I was raised in a world full of rules, like all of us, though as I grew up in a military family in and around military bases so maybe a bit more so for me. As a parent myself, rules are at play "no son you can't bang our wooden table with an old hammer". Even the business world…I was raised in a world full of rules, like all of us, though as I grew up in a military family in and around military… more »

  • Bucket of trouble, if you don't keep an eye on AI

    08 January 2026

    Ever tried to get a teenager to do more chores around the home? For those without this joy in their lives, I’ll let you in on a secret it goes down like a bucket of sick. You can sometimes cajole them, sometimes bribe them and even threaten them (We’ll take away your laptop!)…Ever tried to get a teenager to do more chores around the home? For those without this joy in their lives, I’ll let you… more »

  • Can 'reasoning' LLMs help with recs data creation?

    25 February 2025 · ai deep learning records

    A nervous tourist, glances back and forth between their phone and the street sign. They then rotate their phone 180 degrees, pauses, blink and frown. The lost traveller, flags a nearby ‘local’ (the passer by has a dog on a lead. “Excuse me…” she squeaks, “How may I get to Tower…A nervous tourist, glances back and forth between their phone and the street sign. They then rotate their phone 180… more »

  • Don't be a Vogon, make it easy to access your test data!

    03 February 2025 · automation exposure

    The beginning of the hitch hikers guide to the galaxy leads with an alien ship about to destroy the Earth, and the aliens saying we (mankind) should have been more prepared – as a notice had been on display quite clearly – on Alpha Centauri the nearby star system, for 50 years.…The beginning of the hitch hikers guide to the galaxy leads with an alien ship about to destroy the Earth, and the… more »

  • Can Gen-AI understand Payments?

    04 September 2024 · ai automation cloud deep learning iso20022 machine learning

    When it comes to rolling out updates to large complex banking systems, things can get messy quickly. Of course, the holy grail is to have each subsystem work well independently and to do some form of Pact or contract testing – reducing the complex and painful integration work.…When it comes to rolling out updates to large complex banking systems, things can get messy quickly. Of course, the… more »

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