mlambert_uk

AI-Assisted Development: 5 Questions Every Engineering Manager Should Ask

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

AI-Assisted Development: 5 Questions Every Engineering Manager Should Ask

I recently sent a survey about AI tools to our engineering team. The response rate was higher than I'd hoped—genuine enthusiasm was clear. But underneath that enthusiasm, I noticed something else: Anxiety. Developers were interested in these tools, but worried about doing the wrong thing. They wanted guidance. They wanted to know what 'good' looked like. Without that clarity and support, that initial enthusiasm turns into hesitation.

Keeping the Fire Alive - Why Side Projects Matter for Your Career

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

There's a special kind of energy that comes from making something purely for enjoyment. In my playground project, arcadezombie.uk, I've given myself permission to create simple web games in Angular—no pressure, no deadlines, no performance reviews. Just the thrill of building something because it's fun.

In 35+ years of software engineering, I've learned something crucial: Side projects aren't a luxury. They're essential for your long-term career satisfaction and growth.

The Reality of Day Job Development

Most of us spend 40+ hours a week building software for employers. We write production code, attend meetings, manage stakeholders, and solve business problems. This work is important—it pays the bills and builds our professional reputation.

Omarchy

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

One of the most significant ways you can improve your desktop experience is to change your Operating System. The two obvious choices being Windows and Mac. But what if you want something a little different. Something that gives you control? In that case you should look towards the world or Linux. But with the myriad of distributions to chose from it is easy to get lost in the shear amount of choice. Some are designed to be friendly for new starters, others are for the tinkerers among us, who like nothing more than editing configuration files and learning special commands.

The dangers of Vibe Coding

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The advances of Large Language Models (LLM) and "AI" has started to transform how we do things. Instead of spending hours figuring out how to word an email for example, you could, just ask an AI tool to do it for you. And this same technology is having an impact in the software development world as well. With tools like Copilot, ChatGPT, Cursor etc. there is a new buzz word, 'Vibe Coding'. But what is Vibe Coding, and why am I saying that it is dangerous?

Virtual Commute

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

We all now live in a world where Remote working is a normal, accepted way of working. I know it has significantly improved my work / life balance as well as my productivity when at work. But not everyone finds making the transition from being office based to working at home easy. One of the main challenges some people experience is making the mental switch between home and work life. Your home is, after all is said and done, where you relax. However, it is important to realise that just because you no longer need to go into an office, you do still need to 'go' to work. Some techniques like ensuring you still follow the same routine you would've done if you were going into the office can really help. Getting up at the same time, getting dressed for work (instead of staying in your comfy clothes) all help you to make that mental flip into work mode. But another idea that has worked well for a number of developers is the idea of a virtual commute.

Personal Knowledge Management

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Implementing a Personal Knowledge Management system is a crucial skill to master as early as possible in your career. One of the most powerful tools you can employ to learn a new technology or system is to write down what you learn. The act of writing things down, in your own words, helps cement comprehension, as well as providing you with a permanent record for you to refer back to in the future. With how fast technology moves, it can be difficult to keep up. I can honestly say, I have forgotten more than I currently know.

Why I Migrated to Static Site Generation

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

I have used a number of systems to run and host my website over the years. The latest was WordPress—a powerful, flexible content management system that has powered millions of websites. WordPress is incredibly popular because it's easy to set up, allows rapid content creation, and provides endless customisation through plugins and themes.

But popularity comes with a cost. Every day, my website was under attack. Failed login attempts, plugin exploits, database vulnerabilities—the constant stream of security alerts made it clear: WordPress is a target.

Daily Stand-ups

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Daily Stand-ups

One important part of working in a successful team is good communication. Knowing what the rest of the team are working on, understanding what is coming next and being able to identify where you can help the rest of the team to remove blocking problems so we are all more productive. A great way to foster this culture is by conducting daily stand-up meetings where each member of the team take turns to answer three questions:

Coding Katas

Thu, 22 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000

What is a Coding Kata?

A coding kata is a small, self-contained programming problem designed to help you practice and improve your skills. The term "kata" comes from martial arts—a choreographed pattern of movements repeated to build muscle memory and improve technique.

In software development, a kata serves a similar purpose:

Clear problem statement: No ambiguity about what needs solving
Appropriate difficulty: Challenging but not overwhelming
Repetition: Solve the same kata in different languages, or with different approaches (TDD, functional, imperative, etc.)
Feedback: You know immediately if your solution works

Katas are valuable for:

Building My Own Arcade Machine - From Nostalgia to Creation

Sun, 22 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

I grew up loving arcade games. I remember family holidays, standing on my tiptoes to reach the controls, shovelling 10p pieces into the latest machine I could find. That electric hum, the flashing lights, the satisfying click of the joystick—arcade games were magic.

That nostalgia never left me. Years later, with the skills to actually build something, I decided to turn that memory into reality: I'd design and build my own fully functional arcade cabinet.