Articles
My first failed product
A year after launch, I’m declaring my first product a failure. Here’s why it didn’t work out, and what I plan to do differently next time.
31st August 2021Testing and tradeoffs
More tests aren't always better. In this post, we explore testing tradeoffs and the importance of using a mix of tools to control software quality.
1st July 2021How much does a web application cost?
It’s simple to ask, but difficult to answer. In this post, we explore factors affecting software cost so you can get more value from your development projects.
31st May 2021For a better web, let developers learn
Systemic demands on developers prevent them from building deep expertise, and it's holding back the web on an industry-wide scale. Here's why.
6th April 2021Choosing a good development partner
When developing new software, timelines, cost, and quality can be hard to control. Here's how to choose the right development partner to keep things on track.
23rd February 2020The economics of JavaScript web apps
Your single page JavaScript web app probably doesn't make you as much money as its old-school alternative. Sorry.
2nd February 2020Fix the right problems in your code
We spend too much time making vanity improvements to our code, while failing to make refactors that affect the long-term quality of our software. We need to do better.
4th January 2020Twitter makes me feel bad
Twitter has some great web development chatter. However, it also makes me feel like a fake and a failure. Here's why, and what I intend to do about it.
26th October 2019Things I wish I understood before starting an agency
In 2015 I started a digital agency. As an employee who made the switch to running a business, here are some things I wish I'd understood before starting.
17th September 2019Putting Amazon Textract to the test
Amazon Textract extracts text and structured data from scanned or photographed documents, but how reliably can it be used for business process automation? We put it to the test.
20th August 2019How to thrive in an automated business world
How can your business thrive when you're constantly being disrupted by leaner, faster, more automated competition on a global scale?
16th July 2019Automate where it matters with process maps
We've experienced how competing stakeholders, unclear ROIs, and uncertainty can make committing to business automation difficult. Process maps provide a powerful way to clear the fog.
18th June 2019Goals matter
Without a clear definition of success, it's hard to know which direction to take, or whether you're making any progress. Goals provide direction and clarity for your teams.
17th December 2018The power of small development phases
Imagine this scenario — someone in your company proposes a new software feature with the potential to save the business …
2nd August 2018A home office for productivity
At Leaf, we embrace remote work to get a productive edge. However, it’s easy for a remote environment to work against you.
21st May 2018Behavioural traps in software teams
In my experience of software teams, there are a few behavioural traps that leaders (senior stakeholders …
20th November 2017Working too much? Please stop
These days, people in most organisations are encouraged to work in their personal time …
29th March 20175 tips for actually shipping a side project
We took Howdy, our own little app, from an idea to a fully published SaaS application entirely in our spare time. During its development…
2nd March 2017There are no excuses for poor engineering in 2017
Writing great code is easier than ever, and yet we act like it doesn’t matter.
18th March 20155 tips for a smoother code review process
Some tips for a better code review process based on my experiences working at Holiday Extras.
9th March 2014Taming your Technical Debt
What I learned about getting technical debt within a large team under control while working at Holiday Extras.
20th January 20145 tips for great performance from your Cordova app
Back from the days before React Native, some tips for getting the best performance possible from a Cordova based mobile app.
Personal updates
Mistakes from 6 months of freelancing
I started working as a freelance development consultant in April 2021. 6 months and almost £50,000 later, here are a few of my biggest mistakes.
14th September 2021Freelancing update - August 2021
Revenue and reflections on my fifth month of working as a freelance development consultant.
12th August 2021Freelancing update - July 2021
Revenue and reflections on my fourth month of working as a freelance development consultant.
12th July 2021Freelancing update - June 2021
Revenue and reflections on my third month of working as a freelance development consultant.
7th June 2021Freelancing update - May 2021
I started working as a freelance development consultant full time in April 2021. Here are the numbers and reflections on my second month.
4th May 2021My first month of freelancing
I started working as a freelance development consultant full time in April 2021. Here are the numbers and reflections on my first month.
19th March 2021Moving on from Leaf
Leaf is closing its doors in April 2021. Here's why we're winding down a profitable agency business, and what I plan to do next.