Testing and tradeoffs
31st August 2021More 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.
How much does it cost to make an app?
1st July 2021It’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.
For a better web, let developers learn
31st May 2021Systemic demands on developers prevent them from building deep expertise, and it's holding back the web on an industry-wide scale. Here's why.
Choosing a good development partner
6th April 2021When 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.
The economics of JavaScript web apps
23rd February 2020Your single page JavaScript web app probably doesn't make you as much money as its old-school alternative. Sorry.
Fix the right problems in your code
2nd February 2020We 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.
Twitter makes me feel bad
4th January 2020Twitter 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.
Things I wish I understood before starting an agency
26th October 2019In 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.
Putting Amazon Textract to the test
17th September 2019Amazon 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.
How to thrive in an automated business world
20th August 2019How can your business thrive when you're constantly being disrupted by leaner, faster, more automated competition on a global scale?
Automate where it matters with process maps
16th July 2019We'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.
Goals matter
18th June 2019Without 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.
The power of small development phases
17th December 2018Imagine this scenario — someone in your company proposes a new software feature with the potential to save the business …
A home office for productivity
2nd August 2018At Leaf, we embrace remote work to get a productive edge. However, it’s easy for a remote environment to work against you.
Behavioural traps in software teams
21st May 2018In my experience of software teams, there are a few behavioural traps that leaders (senior stakeholders …
Working too much? Please stop
20th November 2017These days, people in most organisations are encouraged to work in their personal time …
5 tips for actually shipping a side project
29th March 2017We took Howdy, our own little app, from an idea to a fully published SaaS application entirely in our spare time. During its development…
There are no excuses for poor engineering in 2017
2nd March 2017Writing great code is easier than ever, and yet we act like it doesn’t matter.
5 tips for a smoother code review process
18th March 2015Some tips for a better code review process based on my experiences working at Holiday Extras.
Taming your Technical Debt
9th March 2014What I learned about getting technical debt within a large team under control while working at Holiday Extras.
5 tips for great performance from your Cordova app
20th January 2014Back 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
29th October 2021I 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.
Freelancing update - August 2021
14th September 2021Revenue and reflections on my fifth month of working as a freelance development consultant.
Freelancing update - July 2021
12th August 2021Revenue and reflections on my fourth month of working as a freelance development consultant.
Freelancing update - June 2021
12th July 2021Revenue and reflections on my third month of working as a freelance development consultant.
Freelancing update - May 2021
7th June 2021I started working as a freelance development consultant full time in April 2021. Here are the numbers and reflections on my second month.
My first month of freelancing
4th May 2021I started working as a freelance development consultant full time in April 2021. Here are the numbers and reflections on my first month.
Moving on from Leaf
19th March 2021Leaf 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.