Things worth writing down
Notes on technology leadership, architecture decisions and what contracting is actually like. Written while doing the work rather than afterwards.
When writing well becomes suspicious: my AI authenticity problem
3 Feb 2026
My formal writing style, dyslexia, and grammar tools mean I now 'write like AI'. Here's why authenticity policing based on style is an ad hominem fallacy.
Architecture Decisions
Azure Alternatives: UK Cloud Hosting Comparison for .NET Applications (2026 Pricing)
28 Jan 2026
Compare Azure to 8 UK cloud providers. Save 50-85% on hosting costs with DigitalOcean, Hetzner, and OVHcloud. Includes 2026 UK pricing.
Technical Leadership
The Hero Developer anti-pattern: why your best engineer might be your biggest risk
26 Jan 2026
The developer who saves every project is often your biggest risk. Hero culture creates bottlenecks, hides complexity, prevents scaling, and burns out your best
Claude Code vs GitHub Copilot in 2026: the convergence is real - here's what actually differs
26 Jan 2026
Skills, MCP, and agent profiles now work in both tools. Here's what genuinely differentiates Claude Code and GitHub Copilot in January 2026 - and why we chose
Zero-Downtime Cloud Migration: A Technical Blueprint
18 Jan 2026
A comprehensive technical guide to migrating from Azure to DigitalOcean with zero downtime. Includes Terraform configurations, CI/CD migration strategies, and
The Cloud Migration ROI Reality Check: When Moving Providers Actually Pays Off
17 Jan 2026
Cloud migration savings of 30-40% sound compelling, but the hidden costs tell a different story. A pragmatic framework for making data-driven migration
MongoDB Atlas vs DigitalOcean Managed MongoDB: The Developer's Guide
16 Jan 2026
Compare MongoDB Atlas and DigitalOcean managed MongoDB for production workloads. Includes pricing tables, feature comparison, and clear recommendations for
Azure vs DigitalOcean: A Real-World Cost Comparison for SMBs
15 Jan 2026
Cut cloud costs by 33% without sacrificing reliability. A detailed comparison of Azure vs DigitalOcean pricing for CMS hosting and multi-API platforms, with
Tech Toolbox
Discover Advanced Automated Marketing Solutions
13 Jan 2026
In today's fast-paced digital world, staying ahead means embracing technology that works smarter, not harder. I've seen firsthand how automated marketing tools
Technical Leadership
Why You Should Always Plan for Growth — Even if You're the Only Developer
11 Jan 2026
When you're building a product as a solo developer, it's easy to assume you'll always be the one maintaining it. But if there's one thing...
Technical Leadership
Accidental CTO: How HCD Prepared Me for Leadership I Didn't See Coming
9 Jan 2026
When I joined Holiday Caravans Direct (HCD), I didn't plan on leading. I wasn't hired as a CTO or even a lead developer — I was simply...
Technical Leadership
From Placement to Professional
8 Jan 2026
My Journey from University to Brightside Leaving university can feel like stepping off a cliff. One moment you're immersed in lectures,...
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