Custom software or off the shelf? When building is worth it — and when it isn't
Most businesses should buy far more software than they build. The skill is recognising the small number of places where building your own genuinely pays off.
Insights
Engineering thinking, written down.
Practical writing on software architecture, AI, product and cloud — for the people who commission, build and run software.
- Topics
- Business Technology, Product, AI, Engineering, Software Architecture, Cloud, UX
How to scope a software project before you ask for quotes
Vague briefs produce quotes that cannot be compared. A few days of structured thinking before you contact suppliers will save weeks of confusion later.
What it takes to put an AI agent into production
An agent that works in a demo is a long way from one you can trust with real customers and real systems. Here is what closes the gap.
Why we build business web applications with Next.js — and when we don't
Next.js gives business applications a sensible default for rendering, data access and deployment. It is not the answer to everything, and knowing where it does not fit matters as much.
Modernising a legacy system without stopping the business
Rewriting a critical system from scratch is one of the riskiest projects a business can take on. Incremental replacement is slower to describe and far safer to deliver.
Keeping cloud costs sensible as your product grows
Cloud bills rarely jump because of one bad decision. They creep, through forgotten resources and defaults nobody revisited. A few habits keep them in check.
Internal tools deserve good design too
Staff use internal tools for hours every day, often far more than customers use your public product. Designing them well is one of the most direct ways to save time and reduce errors.
Have a product worth building?
Tell us what you are trying to achieve. The first conversation is about understanding the problem — not selling you a solution.