How to Create a Cohesive Conceptual Model from Diverse Mental Models

A successful software application needs one united conceptual model. But bringing together different mental models and turning them into a cohesive experience is a significant design challenge. Where should the application maintain divergence, and where should it unify similar concepts? Where do we (as a product team) aim to meet expectations, and where do we […]

Successful Dev. Team Onboarding – Trust, Tradeoffs, and Giving Everyone the Benefit of the Doubt

Adding a new team member can be a challenge for both the individual and the team. A new person can shake up a team’s culture, and a team’s culture may force the new member to adapt and change. Sometimes it goes well. Sometimes it doesn’t. For things to go smoothly, everyone needs to play their […]

Four Considerations when Managing an AWS VPC

Hosting your cloud infrastructure on AWS in a more protected environment can strengthen the security of your infrastructure. That’s what an Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) is for. It creates an isolated slice of the cloud within which you have control to manage your own network. But it also means you’re now required to manage […]

Practicing Agile with a Growing Team – Part 2: Everything Else

This is the second in a two-part series about adjusting Agile practices for larger teams. In Part 1 of this mini-series, we took a look at how individuals and interactions impact Agile practices. In Part 2, I’ll share what we’ve seen in the other areas. Confession: Most of these points still come down to individuals […]

Practicing Agile with a Growing Team – Part 1: Individuals and Interactions

Our project teams usually fit into most people’s definition of a small team, even if you include key players from our client in the count. As a result, many of our default Agile practices are best suited to that smaller team size and need a few adaptations as team size grows. On a recent project […]

Strategies for Data Synchronization on Rewrite Projects: Part 3 – No Integration

This is the third in a three-part series about strategies for synchronizing data between systems during a software replacement project. You can read about one-way integration and two-way integration if you want to catch up.

Strategies for Data Synchronization on Rewrite Projects, Part 2 – Two-Way Integration

When replacing large existing software systems, we need to be able to use both systems in parallel, or at least parts of the systems. And to achieve that goal, we often need to share data between the two systems. In this three-part series, we’ll look at a number of strategies that you can use.

Strategies for Data Synchronization on Rewrite Projects: Part 1 – One-Way Integration

The Agile principle of delivering value early and often is critical when replacing large, existing software systems. To achieve that goal, we want to be able to use both systems in parallel, or at least parts of the systems. And to achieve that goal in a rewrite situation we often need to share data between […]

Considering a Non-Technical Role? Think about these 6 Things

Almost three years ago, after spending 13 years as a software developer, I took on the role of Delivery Lead here at Atomic. It was a step away from code and toward all things related to project delivery: project management, backlog management, reviewing completed work, managing the team’s Scrum process, etc. It was a move I […]

You – Yes, You – Are a Consultant. Are You Making the Most of It?

We include the term “consultant” in almost all of our job titles at Atomic. We’re a software design and development consultancy, and we like to carry that part of our company identity through to individual job titles. But don’t think that just because you don’t work at a consultancy, you’re not a consultant. Your job […]

Atomic Spin

Atomic Object’s blog on everything we find fascinating.

By: Jason Porritt

Author: Jason Porritt