Building software

Notes from the work itself: how we build and maintain web and mobile applications, the tools we keep coming back to, and what technical debt actually costs a business.

The Xero reporting dashboard for the Si Novi organisation

9th July 20264 min read

Pointing agentic AI at our own bookkeeping

An experiment in turning agentic tooling on our own operations, starting with the timeconsuming Xero bookkeeping jobs I'd rather not do by hand.

5th June 20266 min read

What is AI-native?

AI-native means software designed from the ground up with AI in mind. The spectrum from AI-washed to AI-native, and how to tell the difference.

29th October 20257 min read

AWS Lambda end of support for Node.js 18 and Node.js 16 extended to March 2026

AWS has given Lambda users a short reprieve: Node.js 18 and Node.js 16 runtimes will now remain supported until 9 March 2026. But this is no time for complacency. Unsupported runtimes still present security, compliance and operational risks - and upgrading to Node.js 20 or 22 will still take time.

28th July 20254 min read

Amazon RDS MySQL 8.0 deprecation and Extended Support

MySQL 8.0 reaches end of standard support in July 2026 and moves to Amazon RDS Extended Support. How to prepare for an RDS migration or the support costs.

Two people tend a tree with interlocking roots, repairing its foundation and adding fresh lime-green growth.

12th March 20256 min read

Maintenance vs value creation: unlocking business agility through proactive maintenance

How prioritising proactive maintenance can accelerate feature development, reduce technical debt, and enhance business agility.

4th December 20242 min read

AWS re:Invent 2024 breakout sessions

Didn't make re:Invent this year? Catch up on the announcements and sessions on the AWS Events YouTube channel. Here are the playlists to get you started.

Amazon Aurora DSQL in the AWS console service search

3rd December 20244 min read

Amazon Aurora DSQL: What might it mean for web applications?

Amazon Aurora DSQL debuts with active-active global availability, distributed scalability and PostgreSQL compatibility. What it could mean for web applications.

Two hands hold a large key containing connected software modules, with a broken chain below.

8th November 20247 min read

Are you in control of your own application?

Control over your web application's future depends on securing essential resources like domains, code, and cloud accounts. This guide helps you navigate key steps to avoid vendor lock-in and maintain full ownership, ensuring that your app's growth remains in your hands

Three people assemble five coloured interlocking blocks into a sturdy foundation and arch.

2nd October 20248 min read

Consider these 5 vital aspects when commissioning a digital project

In this article we discuss five key factors to plan for when commissioning a digital project. These considerations will help guide your project effectively and avoid common pitfalls.

Rust code demonstrating variable shadowing

25th September 20245 min read

Rust variables vs JavaScript variables: A comparison

In recent projects we've been looking at Rust as an alternative to Node.js Lambda functions and as a language to write cross-platform desktop applications. In learning a new language, we've been comparing the syntax of Rust to our familiar languages of JavaScript and TypeScript.