Ryan Abel on Atomic Spin

Understanding Software Jargon, Part 2: Process Terms

In the second part of this three-part series, I'll cover some common process terms you'll hear working on your first custom software product.

The Software Life

Understanding Software Jargon, Part 1: Development Terms

In this series, I'll take a stab at creating a glossary of terms for people new to custom software and software jargon.

Growing as Makers

What Makes Someone Fun to Work With?

A person who is fun to work with is often praising team members for their dedication and work ethic, not reflecting on their own successes.

Project & Team Management

Solve Problems By Making Work More Visible

Sometimes, it's hard to see progress on a software project. Here are three problems I’ve been able to solve by making work more visible.

Effective communication

3 Ways to Build Goodwill With Your Software Client

It’s important for your software team to build goodwill when you’re facing tough conversations around scope, budget, or rotating team members.

Planning Your Project

The Most Successful Software Teams Have Empowered Product Owners

There are plenty of reasons products fail. Don’t let yours be that you didn’t empower your product owner to do everything they could to deliver success.

Platforms & Languages

Solving the Gaps and Islands Problem in Postgres

I hope this is a straightforward way for you to understand the Gaps and Islands problem so you can apply it in your next project.

Project & Team Management

3 Problems Big Software Teams Face and How To Mitigate Them

If you are in a situation where big software teams are necessary, these common pitfalls and mitigation strategies may pay off for you and your team.

Project & Team Management

Intentional Project Ramp-Off: A 4-Step Transition Plan

With a strong transition plan and a clean exit, you will feel better about the position you’ve left both the project and team in.

Project & Team Management

5 Questions Your Backlog Should Answer

The software backlog is everyone’s main hub for information, and it should be more than a giant to-do list. Here are 5 questions your backlog should answer.

Project & Team Management

Feeling Disconnected from Your Remote Team? Host a Team Talk Show

To keep my team connected — and help us get to know each other better — I started hosting them on my "talk show" to share about their life outside of work.

Growing as Makers

5 Principles that Have Guided Me Through My Twenties

After spending nearly all of my 20s at a software consultancy, I’ve started to recognize a core set of principles that I think could help all software professionals.

Ryan Abel

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