Erik on Software

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A collection of 50 issues

Community Comment: Part 44 - Ask clarifying counter-questions when experts provide different answers to the same question

* Why do experts sometimes provide different answers to the same question? * If answers don't align due to differing scenarios, the same question isn't being answered * In other words, multiple questions are being answered rather than just one * Before moving forward, ask clarifying counter-questions in return

Community Comment: Part 43 - "Future proofing" is similar to "predicting" because nothing is certain

* The future is a known unknown that contains risks * Risks can be mitigated through scenario planning * "Future proofing" is similar to "predicting" because nothing is certain * Planning over plans, yes, but lack of strategy can be a risk in itself

Community Post: Part 7 - Regardless of method, time isn't being saved if a comparable amount of time is being spent on rework

* How much time do you think you are saving each week by using AI? * In one survey, executives and staff demonstrated differing perspectives * What does "saving" time actually mean when it's not qualified with a definition? * Time isn't being saved if a comparable amount

Community Post: Part 6 - GPTZero can't be relied upon to determine human or AI authorship

* I've been quoted 25 times by various publications since 2016 * A platform I started using in 2025 provides a "Check for AI" option * GPTZero increasingly considers my replies to be AI generated * Apparently, my English is too perfect to be human

Community Comment: Part 42 - Positive, negative & "realistic" company culture

* For a long time, I valued being a realist rather than a pessimist or optimist * However, I've long discovered something * The world is largely negative, so being a realist means largely being negative * Making the choice to be positive is the only true alternative path The comments I

Community Comment: Part 41 - Always do the right thing, even when nobody's watching

* Management is doing the things right * Leadership is doing the right thing * This Peter Drucker quote is about the nature of one's actions * Always do the right thing, even when nobody's watching The comments I provided in reaction to a community discussion thread. Former Senior Advisor

Community Comment: Part 40 - Being bold & clear helps avoid the traps of enterprise architecture

* Enterprise architecture traps and how to avoid them * Be bold and direct when it comes to describing traps and cures * Ivory tower architectures are traps, but who actually creates architectures? * If you want to make progress, avoid usage of unclear or circular definitions The comments I provided in reaction to

Community Comment: Part 39 - George Bernard Shaw's dictum extended to AI

* The "AI is going to take all our jobs" narrative is lazy * Shaw: "Those who can, do" * Shaw: "Those who can't, teach" * Gfesser: "Those who can't do or teach, use AI"

Community Comment: Part 37 - All code is disposable; only some code is trash

* All code is disposable; only some code is trash * The word "trash" has negative connotations * All portions of given code base have life cycle * Avoid miscommunication by being clear! The comments I provided in reaction to a community discussion thread. Software Architect at Design & Construction Product Firm:

Community Comment: Part 36 - Data modelers need to understand patterns

* Data modelers need to understand patterns * Like programming, don't reinvent the wheel * Universal patterns & metapatterns exist * Remember "The Data Model Resource Book"