Building Software is Human

I’m Richard Bown, welcome to my blog. I’m a writer and a software person who works in DevOps and infrastructure.

I explore the human factors in software work, from development to operations, architecture to organisation. Looking at how humans survive and thrive under the unique stresses and strains that come to bear in the ‘software industry’.

Whether you’re an engineer or a manager, whether you work in operations or development, whether you’re an agilist or a project manager, a contractor or an employee, I hope you recognise some of the ideas I talk about in these articles.

Introducing HUMAN SOFTWARE

I’ve written a novel called HUMAN SOFTWARE. It’s about how engineers work, how we support 365/24/7 systems, and how companies and managers can sometimes exploit our natural behaviours.

It’s available from many outlets worldwide, including your local bookshop, Amazon, Waterstones, Barnes and Noble and many other outlets.

“A proper page-turner… makes serious points about generative AI, globalisation and dehumanisation.” – Charles Humble, Tech Journalist

“Freaked me out more than any Stephen King novel.” – Jeremy Markey, Rands Slack Book Reviewer

“Absolutely gripping! Valuable lessons for leaders and developers alike.” – Lovdeep Pannu, CTO

“A sharp, compelling novel… David versus Goliath in the age of AI.” – Susanne Kaiser, Tech Consultant

Popular Posts

Daniel Pink's "Drive" and what Self-Determination Theory (SDT) really saysNovember 5, 2023richard_w_bown

When to Say Stop to Copilot's Unhelpful HallucinationsNovember 14, 2025Richard Bown

Residues: Time, Change, and Uncertainty in Software Architecture – Barry O'ReillyJune 12, 2024richard_w_bown

Monitoring Azure DevOps Build Pipelines with Prometheus and GrafanaMarch 29, 2024richard_w_bown

An Elegant Puzzle: Systems of Engineering Management – Will LarsenJune 4, 2024richard_w_bown

John Romero's Ten Principles for Building Great SoftwareJanuary 5, 2023richard_w_bown

Latest Posts

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  At this Time of Year Just Stop Trying to Please PeopleDecember 20, 2025
  I get a text: “Want to join us for some beers later?” Urgh, the second night out of three and… Read More »At this Time of Year Just Stop Trying to Please People
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  Tech Won’t Fix it When It’s a Human ProblemDecember 7, 2025
  It saddens me that throughout software engineering, there is a very “tech will fix it” all-pervading attitude. Code first, think… Read More »Tech Won’t Fix it When It’s a Human Problem
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  How To Stay Ethically Connected in the Age of AIDecember 2, 2025
  LinkedIn is usually not the place to go to find a balanced argument. However it is the place where many… Read More »How To Stay Ethically Connected in the Age of AI
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  When to Say Stop to Copilot’s Unhelpful HallucinationsNovember 14, 2025
  It’s quite a regular requirement in my day job that we update the Linux and Windows images associated with our… Read More »When to Say Stop to Copilot’s Unhelpful Hallucinations
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  When It Feels Like You’re Going HomeOctober 26, 2025
  As we get closer to winter, our thoughts naturally turn to comfort, to the season of merriment and relaxation and,… Read More »When It Feels Like You’re Going Home
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  Why Did I Write a Novel about IT and Software Engineering?October 10, 2025
  When I look at my career trajectory, it’s a bit like a misfiring rocket. I started as a passionate techie,… Read More »Why Did I Write a Novel about IT and Software Engineering?