Notes on the software craft.
I explore technology and how to build software that is reliable, safe, and affordable, quickly.
by Pete Houghton peterhoughton.com LinkedIn
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
As I write this, my dog is grumpily moving around the room pausing intermittently to give me disappointed looks looks that only my elderly mother could compete with. She (my dog) is annoyed by the robot vacuum cleaner. Its not been run for a while in that room and its making a…As I write this, my dog is grumpily moving around the room pausing intermittently to give me disappointed looks looks… more »
There’s a great scene in the Simpsons where the Monorail salesman comes to town and everyone (except Lisa of course) is quickly entranced by Monorail fever… He has an answer for every question and guess what? The Monorail will solve all the problems… somehow. The hype around…There’s a great scene in the Simpsons where the Monorail salesman comes to town and everyone (except Lisa of course) is… more »
In 316 AD Emperor Constantine issued a new coin, there's nothing too unique about that in itself. But this coin is significant due to its pagan/roman religious symbols. Why is this odd? Constantine had converted himself, and probably with little consultation his empire to…In 316 AD Emperor Constantine issued a new coin, there's nothing too unique about that in itself. But this coin is… more »
I play a card game called cribbage. I often play it with my son. One interesting part of the game is the muggins rule. This means that you can claim points from other players turns, if they miscount the score. The scoring is slightly nerve racking, with each of us double and…I play a card game called cribbage. I often play it with my son. One interesting part of the game is the muggins rule.… more »
I was lucky enough to have started my career in a small company and then in a start up. Both provided me with an environment perfect for learning. I sat with experts who took time out of their day to help answer my questions. From them, I learned the basics of what I still use…I was lucky enough to have started my career in a small company and then in a start up. Both provided me with an… more »
I recently open sourced a simple Micropython library for LoRaWAN on the Raspberry Pi Pico. (If you are interested, You can find it on GitHub.) If you are unsure what that all means, let me unpack it for you... Micropython is a slimmed down version of Python 3.x that works on…I recently open sourced a simple Micropython library for LoRaWAN on the Raspberry Pi Pico. (If you are interested, You… more »