I’m Richard Bown, welcome to my blog! I’m a writer and a software person who works in DevOps and infrastructure. I used to be a developer, a gamer, a full-time, full-on geek, but now I like to explore what makes us software developers different, the things that bring us happiness, as well as the things we find challenging about working in organisations.
Over the two years, I’ve put these feelings into words. The result is a novel called HUMAN SOFTWARE. It’s about how we connect at work, how we support 365/24/7 systems, and how companies and managers can sometimes take advantage of our natural behaviours.
Published in October 2025, it’s available from many outlets worldwide, including my local bookshop just outside Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
Praise for HUMAN SOFTWARE
“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
What Is On This Blog?
Modern businesses are built on complex software systems. Teams are required to deploy and manage these systems. Teams of talented, unique individuals must work and collaborate closely day after day, week in and week out, sometimes at night or on the weekends.
This is where I explore the human factors at play in tech organisations, from development to operations, architecture to organisation. Looking at how humans survive and thrive and fight and fall apart 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 common problems and opportunities highlighted in these articles.
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