English Blogposts on Klaus Breyer

BonBonBon - A Toy Receipt Printer for Kids (and Grown-Ups)

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

My son is absolutely fascinated by the scales in the fruit and vegetable section at Kaufland - the ones that print those little stickers with prices and barcodes.
Watching numbers turn into a printed label feels like pure magic to him.

That fascination became the inspiration for a small DIY project.

I bought a cheap thermal printer, connected it to a Raspberry Pi, and added a simple USB numpad. The result is a tiny “checkout system” designed for a child’s room.

How to Spot North Korean Scammers When Hiring EU Remote Developers

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

I hadn’t hired anyone in a year.

Then I stepped into my new role as CPTO at myo and now need to expand the team.

We have a very specific stack, Elixir and Phoenix, so from the beginning I was open to remote candidates from across the EU.

We posted the job on Join - you can find the job description here . They then distributes the job to places like Stepstone, LinkedIn, and probably others I’m not aware of.

ML Week Europe: Bridging the AI-UX Gap in B2B SaaS through Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Today I’m speaking at ML Week Europe in Berlin.

edding: Bridging the AI-UX Gap in B2B SaaS through Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Machine Learning adds complexity to product design—not just in implementation, but even more during product discovery, where user value is explored. At edding, the easycheck team transformed to an empowered product team, collaborating across disciplines by rethinking roles, rituals, and structures. This session shares insights on making ML research and implementation a first-class citizen and enabling product managers and designers to work with uncertain model outputs.

CodeTalks Hamburg: Move Fast and break Silos - Interdisciplinary Teams That Work

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Today I’m speaking at the code.talks conference in Hamburg! ¶

Software development isn’t a manufacturing line, where one group mindlessly executes what another has decided. It’s an interdisciplinary design process. Yet in many organizations, ticket systems, overloaded Kanban boards, and rigid roles create silos that slow everything down.

This session explores how small, interdisciplinary teams with real ownership can move fast and deliver quality at scale. It also examines how leaders and individual contributors can enable this at every level.

Agile Prague 2025: Tickets Create Silos

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Today I’m speaking at Agile Prague about a topic that lies at the heart of modern product development: why tickets create silos – and how we can move beyond them to unlock true interdisciplinary collaboration.

In the early days of software development, tickets served an important purpose: they protected developers from overbearing management and created structure in a simpler process. But today’s teams are different. They are multidisciplinary by design – developers, designers, and product managers working together. And here, tickets fall short. By separating “thinking” from “doing,” tickets split responsibility in a way that limits creativity and prevents real collaboration. One side defines work, the other merely implements it.

French Polynesia – A Report.

Sat, 13 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Today I want to share about the trip with my wife to French Polynesia. The journey had been planned for a long time – a dream destination with a family backstory: my parents-in-law went there when they were our age, so they were more than happy to take care of our kids for three weeks to let us experience the same.

French Polynesia is a place not everyone knows about – let alone knows where it even is. That’s why I’d like to take you along on my trip.

Tech Lead Journal - #224 Move Fast, Break Silos: Leadership for Interdisciplinary Teams

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

“Building software is a design process. As software engineers, we are not implementing a solved problem. We are solving the problems. We are making creative decisions every hour of the day.”

Is your software development process stuck on a conveyor belt? Discover how to break free from outdated manufacturing mindsets and build truly high-performing, agile teams that “Move Fast and Break Silos.”

In this episode, experienced CPTO, Klaus Breyer, introduces a revolutionary approach to software development. He explains why treating software engineering like a factory assembly line leads to inefficiency, micromanagement, and disempowered teams. Learn how to slice work effectively—from objectives down to delivery—and align small, empowered teams to solve real customer problems and ship value faster.

alphalist: Distributed, Yet Focused - High-Impact Remote Teams

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

I taught a masterclass for CTOs of the alphalist community:

Distributed, Yet Focused – High-Impact Remote Teams

Remote work isn’t a challenge – it’s an advantage.
But offices create culture by accident. Remote teams need to design it on purpose.

We’ll talked about:

🧭 How async communication, sync rituals, and clear expectations make the difference
📊 Why visibility ≠ productivity – and what to measure instead
🤝 How intentional culture fosters real belonging
💸 And why a few more great people might be better than an office lease

Aligning Teams around Work - An Optimization Problem Solved by Smaller Cells

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 08:05:55 +0200

Let’s start with one of my favorite quotes:

Organizations [that design systems] produce designs that mirror their communication structures.

This is Conway’s Law from 1968 and fifty years later, it’s still true.

That’s why designing systems (slicing work ) and designing teams must go hand in hand. If they don’t, your architecture will follow your organizational chart rather than your product vision.

Big Picture: Empowered Product Teams ¶

How to Slice Work - First Principles to Build The Product Process

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 15:05:55 +0200

Building software is fundamentally different from manufacturing . Software development is an exploratory and creative process where decisions are made continuously within evolving systems. Rigid assembly-line thinking focusing on ticket-driven workflows is not suited and only creates silos .

To empower small, interdisciplinary teams, we need to rethink how we slice work so that it aligns with the way we build software. This chapter lays out the first principles and practical tools for slicing work effectively.

How to Make MS Teams Actually Usable (by Emulating Slack)

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 08:27:12 +0200

I’ve ranted about Teams often enough. As much as that always generates good LinkedIn engagement (here and here ), I can provide a remedy this time.

To summarize the rants, MS Teams has multiple UX challenges:

Forced threaded conversations make casual, spontaneous exchanges cumbersome.
Older replies bump threads to the top, burying new updates.
Public visibility in channels often makes users hesitant, reducing open discussions.
Lost transparency because people default to direct messages instead of discussing things publicly.

Slack handles all of this elegantly by making threads optional, keeping the flow of communication by default lightweight.

Tickets Create Silos

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 10:05:55 +0200

Lets start with a quote:

Agile now means, we do half of Scrum poorly and Use Jira.

(Andy Hunt, 2017 )

Coders had a vision, but business took over. ¶

Remember the Agile Manifesto ? It wasn’t about Jira tickets or stand-up meetings. It was about values—like individuals and interactions over processes and tools.

But somewhere along the way, Agile got hijacked.

Coders had a vision, but business took over, and Scrum became the interface between business and engineering.

Building Software Isn’t an Assembly Line. It’s a Design Process.

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 08:51:31 +0200

Let’s rewind to 1913.

Henry Ford was already a successful car manufacturer but was far from the global icon he would later become.

At that time, his factory floor looked quite different from what we imagine today. Cars stood still while workers walked around them, building each car in a single place. The process was slow and tedious. It took 12 hours to complete just one vehicle.

But then Ford had a brilliant idea.

#AgileWay - Interdisciplinary Teams

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

I recently joined Zuzi Sochova’s #AgileWay podcast for a short and sharp conversation on agile practices in interdisciplinary teams — with a nod to my upcoming talk at AgilePrague .

In the podcast, I hint at what I’ll be doing live in Prague: provoking a room full of certified Scrum practitioners by challenging the idea of tickets. I’ll show how they create silos — and what truly collaborative software development can look like instead.

alphalist: Move Fast and Break Silos - Leading Interdisciplinary Teams and Organizations

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

I taught a masterclass for CTOs of the alphalist community:

Move Fast and Break Silos - Leading Interdisciplinary Teams and Organizations

🎨 Software isn’t manufacturing with specialized disciplines—it is supposed to be an interdisciplinary design process.
🎟️ But tickets create silos, short cycles with big teams lead to micromanagement, and endless Kanban columns drain energy.
✂️ Slicing the work differently—around objectives, problems, solutions, and delivery—changes everything.
🔄 Design and scale interdisciplinary small teams, ownership, and habit-enforcing reporting structures.
💙 Emancipate teams by giving real people real ownership and setting the stage for success.

Klaus, leading Product & Technology at edding, shares insights from leading interdisciplinary teams—from his startups to exit and corporate transformation. Today, the methods, tools, and principles all exist, but change often feels too drastic and transformation stalls. This talk breaks concepts down into first principles and comes with practical, easy-to-try experiments.

Hyundai IONIQ5 – After 3 Years.

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

After three years and 42,000 km from Copenhagen to Maranello with the IONIQ 5, I’d like to share my experiences – the good, the not-so-good, and the reasons why I’ve now decided to get a new car.

Defects ¶

I had four recall actions in total. For these, I had to drive across Berlin to the dealer, usually during rush hour.

After just a few weeks, fast charging stopped working. I think a fuse was broken. Anyway, it took five weeks, during which we had to squeeze our family into a Kona as a replacement car, which we fortunately received from the dealer as a courtesy.

To-Do ≠ To-Think

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 08:33:12 +0100

While managing product & tech at edding AG, my work sometimes spans from the strategic to the operational level.

Balancing these different levels of responsibility often led to context switching and a confusing to-do list that lumped everything together—making it hard to focus on what truly needed deep thought versus what just required quick action.

That’s when I discovered a simple yet effective hack.

Separating Tasks Into “To-Do” and “To-Think” ¶

Instead of treating all tasks equally, I now divide them into two clear categories:

Click, Jake Knapp, John Zeratsky, 2025

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In Click, Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky provide a practical framework for building products that actually work—products that “click” with customers. The book introduces the founding hypothesis framework and a two-day foundation sprint process to help teams identify the right customer, problem, approach, and differentiation before building anything. It’s a systematic approach to avoid the common pitfalls of unclear markets, fake problems, long-shot approaches, and differentiation that nobody cares about.

Developer Accountability, Stephan Schmidt, 2025

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In Developer Accountability, Stephan Schmidt provides practical techniques for holding developers accountable. The book covers starting with “anything left?” and otherwise “what about X?”, using the “echo technique” to make expectations clear, ensuring commitments come from the team, and making teams accountable rather than individuals (when the team is ready for it).

Top 3 Learnings:

Start with “anything left?” and otherwise “what about X?” When you feel something wasn’t done, ask with “who is responsible” and “who owns this.” They must find it themselves—don’t solve it for them. Use the “echo technique”: make expectations clear, then have them repeat it back to ensure it arrived. You are the storyteller and must give context, show them interconnectedness, and show the rest of the company when their commitments fail.

Engineering Role Descriptions, Stephan Schmidt, 2025

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In Engineering Role Descriptions, Stephan Schmidt provides guidance on creating clear role descriptions for engineering teams. The book covers why roles matter (develops features and products), responsibilities (responsible for quality and security, responsible for developing and mentoring junior developers), what they own (architecture, code, and long-term maintenance; co-owns development process), and success criteria (being professional, solving problems on their own, timely delivery of features, platform stability).

From Project to Product Mode, Sebastian Borggrewe, Thomas Hartmann, 2025

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In From Project to Product Mode, Sebastian Borggrewe and Thomas Hartmann outline seven challenges for shifting from project to product mode: segmentation (homogeneous customer segments), pricing (individual requests highly priced), product discovery (filters ideas), prioritization (long-term value generation), product orgs (empowered PMs and cross-functional teams), push vs. pull (validated opportunities), and standardization through configuration. The book provides a framework for leading this transformation.

Rewilding Software Engineering, Simon Wardley, Girba Tudor, 2025

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In Rewilding Software Engineering, Simon Wardley and Girba Tudor explore software engineering as a decision-making process about systems that are too large for us to fully grasp. The book introduces “holdable development”: constantly create new micro tools synthesizing new information which we then codify into our model of the system. Software engineering can be seen as primarily a decision-making activity about continuously changing systems.

Startup Phases For CTOs, Stephan Schmidt, 2025

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In Startup Phases For CTOs, Stephan Schmidt outlines the core phases startups go through and what CTOs should focus on in each: ideation (generate ideas, talk to potential customers, resist coding and building castles in the sky), prototype (sell early, sell often), MVP (make something people want, start from scratch, stick with mainstream frameworks), PMF (B2B: sales can sell without huge rebates or free software development; 90% onboarding is configuration, not development), traction, hyper growth (replace things that might break, break up modulith into microservices, focus on security, monitoring, observability), and cash cow (focus on costs and margins).

Design Systems Aren't Meant to Be Component Libraries

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 08:08:16 +0100

I for sure knew designers and engineers didn’t think the same way. But I spent far too long trying to teach designers to think like engineers.

I assumed designers could “adapt” to the engineers to build the design system iteratively, “on the go,” as they create reusable components: As we develop features, we identify patterns and gradually assemble a robust design system in sync with the component library.

It felt efficient and iteratively. But reality is humbling.

Template: Impact-Appetite-Tierlist - Roadmapping for Empowered Product Teams

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 14:12:45 +0100

It was just the usual mess: The product team had merged a couple of months before, inheriting a codebase from an agency working on a shoestring budget. Technical debt loomed, basic foundations were missing, and product management had many interesting problems.

However, the good side in this case is that it is an empowered product team that includes insourced engineering, design, and product management—all the responsibility, resources, and freedom.

So, the challenge is doable for the team.

Empowering Your Staff Doesn’t Work. Here’s What Does.

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 11:13:06 +0100

There was a time when I managed some individuals who weren’t particularly independent. They were talented, no doubt, but hesitant to take action without my input. My solution? Empower them. Or so I thought.

I’d say things like, You’re empowered! Make the call! Take charge! But it never worked the way I hoped. They’d start a task, get partway through, and then ask for clarification—or worse, look for my approval. Frustrated, I found myself micromanaging to ensure things were done correctly. The cycle repeated endlessly: empowering them in words, controlling them in actions.

How Shape Up enables Remote Empowered Product Teams (and Why I Disagree with Marty Cagan)

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 09:29:24 +0100

Marty Cagan has been vocal in his books and online about his belief in co-locating empowered product teams. While I respect him and am fundamentally thankful for everything he shares on empowered product teams, I disagree with him on this precise aspect.

First, I understand why he takes this position. Many managers who haven’t seen a robust remote culture in action assume it’s impossible, pushing for a return to the office policy . They’ve been burned by their remote experiences—and not without reason. In year 4, after COVID-19, most organizations have failed at remote work.

ChatGPT as Coach for Coaching

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 09:26:37 +0100

I know how important solid coaching skills are for any leader. Honestly, though, I’m still learning—and always looking to improve. I think we all do, and I had an epiphany today.

Sometimes, it’s tough to translate my intentions into practical coaching questions, especially when I’m in the thick of team challenges, maybe even frustrated or emotionally attached.

So, I decided to try something new: I turned to ChatGPT for support in refining my coaching approach, which I mostly learned from Michael Bungay Stanier’s books The Coaching Habit and The Advice Trap.

One question that changes everything in Shape Up – How to Discuss Appetite

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 15:32:04 +0100

Let me share a recent story from a real project.

We’re in week 4 of a 6-week cycle. We haven’t entirely kept up with the expected speed, and it’s taken much longer than anticipated because we had to modernize a lot of the architecture and the process. After all, the team is relatively new to an existing codebase.

Which is okay.

But we would need more time to complete everything we originally planned. I estimated it would take another four weeks, two weeks over the timebox.

Timelessness of Human Perception and Good Ideas

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

I am always amazed to think that people 6,000 years ago were not so much less intelligent than we are today. We simply build on such a vast body of knowledge accumulated over time. Biologically, we are almost the same humans. Only a minimal evolutionary selection could have taken place since then if we consider the relatively few generations since civilization began. But the people 6,000 years ago likely had the same emotions we experience today.

Leading Eng Berlin 2024

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Conferences are everywhere, but some stand out. The Leading Eng Berlin Conference 2024 was one of those rare events, offering actionable insights, meaningful connections, and a fresh take on key topics.

The audience consisted mainly of the middle management layer—directors and engineering managers. There were no pure developers and not many CTOs or CPOs. I didn’t spend too much time checking the schedule beforehand because, by experience, I know that the quality of a session often depends more on the actual speaker than on the title. And some of them delivered.

Password Protection with Shareable Links Wordpress Plugin

Sat, 26 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Ensuring the security of your WordPress content is essential, especially when sharing sensitive information. To address this need, I’ve developed Password Protection with Shareable Links , a WordPress plugin that allows you to protect any post, page, or custom content type with a password. Additionally, the plugin generates encrypted links that provide direct access to your protected content, bypassing the need for manual password entry. (WordPress )

Key Features:

Whole Year Calendar For Online Whiteboards

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Effective planning and organization are crucial for team productivity. To assist in this, I’ve developed the Whole Year Calendar for Online Whiteboards , a client-side tool that generates quarterly calendars tailored for online whiteboards.

👉 Try the Live Demo to see it in action!

You can customize the calendar view using URL parameters:

year: Set the year (e.g., ?year=2024)
quarter: Choose the quarter (1-4)

Just make a screenshot with your browserand upload it to your online whiteboard.For example in firefox:

randomized - Random Name Shuffler for Workshops and Group Activities

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Organizing workshops and group activities often requires randomizing participant lists to ensure fairness and engagement. To facilitate this, I’ve developed randomized , a Go-based web application that shuffles and displays names in a random order. This tool is particularly useful for assigning tasks, forming teams, or selecting individuals randomly during events.

randomized operates as a web server, allowing users to input a list of names via the URL. You can try it out on the live example here . Upon accessing the specified route, the application processes the names and presents them in a randomly shuffled sequence on a simple HTML page. This ensures an unbiased and transparent method for random selection, enhancing the interactive experience in group settings.

Rename All Your Photos Based on Exif Because Google Fotos Destroys the File Timestamp

Sun, 08 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Google Photos often alters the original file timestamp during uploads, making it difficult to organize photos chronologically. To solve this issue, I created rename-all-your-photos-based-on-exif-because-google-fotos-destroys-the-file-timestamp , a script that renames photos based on EXIF metadata, preserving the original capture date in the filename.

rename-all-your-photos-based-on-exif-because-google-fotos-destroys-the-file-timestamp ensures that even if file timestamps are altered, your photos remain in the correct order by relying on EXIF data for accurate dating.

For more details and to access the source code, visit the GitHub repository .

Sulawesi – A Report

Sun, 08 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

First, the key dates:

25.07.2024: Toraja
30.07.2024: Rammang-Rammang & Leang-Leang
31.07.2024: Bangka
07.08.2024: Return journey

Arrival ¶

Traveling to Indonesia or Southeast Asia always has two key moments for me:

Moment 1: When you suddenly become the “foreigner” yourself. In our case, that means being the only white people on the entire plane.
Moment 2: The humid, heavy air that always smells like smoldering fire and mixes with strange, floral scents. Then you know – you’re in Indonesia.

Select Original Photos Based on Filenames Because Apple's Shared Photo Albums Reduce Resolution

Sat, 31 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Apple’s Shared Albums are convenient for photo sharing but often reduce image resolution, which can be problematic when you need the original quality. To address this, I’ve developed select-original-photos-based-on-file-names-because-Apple-s-shared-photo-albums-reduce-resolution , a shell script that helps you retrieve original photos based on filenames from a reference directory.

select-original-photos-based-on-file-names-because-Apple-s-shared-photo-albums-reduce-resolution works by comparing filenames in your reference folder with those in your input folder, identifying and copying the original files to a designated output folder. This ensures you maintain the highest quality versions of your photos, even after sharing.

Self Documenting Code Is Bullshit

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Hopefully, every development team reaches a point where they discuss their guidelines and policies. Part of this discussion, hopefully, includes expectations around documentation.

So far, so good. Unfortunately, many teams (and I have made this mistake in the past as well) take the easy route and claim they don’t need extensive documentation if they write self-documenting code. Besides the fact that this is just an easy way to avoid a discussion (because everyone interprets this differently), it is just plain wrong. Let’s debunk this myth.

The only way to fix a tech zoo is by focusing on stability first

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

When I read inspiring stuff like Stephan’s radicalsimpli.city , I always think about all the situations where wrong decisions have already been made, some of them from my past—stuck with a zoo of tech and frameworks that are either unsuited or unmaintained or facing significant version changes close to a rewrite.

In short, it is a setting where many things are messed up, and tech decisions have been made that you wouldn’t have made or would not make again. A situation where you know of the value of “radical simplicity” :)

All The Requests

Fri, 14 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Out of my daily work during testing callbacks locally, I have created and released a new open-source project called All The Requests . A simple HTTP server (built in Go) logs every incoming request. This tool captures details like timestamps, paths, headers, and payloads, making it great for debugging callbacks and webhooks.

Why Use It? ¶

Comprehensive Logging: It logs request paths, headers, and bodies.
Timestamping: Each request log includes a timestamp.
Customizable Ports: You can set the port via command-line arguments.

Example Usage ¶

Start the server on port 9090:

A Rant About Neglected AI Tooling and Developer Pride

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

I am currently hiring senior developers, and I assumed that AI would be used to “cheat” during coding tests. So, I made it part of the task that they should explain afterward how and for what they used AI.

I am a coder at heart, and I feel developers should use AI tooling at every opportunity. And I mean it quite literally. They should use every opportunity to determine how the current AI tooling performs on their problems.

The Biggest Hiring Mistake: Not Involving The Team

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Regularly, I encounter team members who are surprised that they got to meet the candidates before I made the decision. They weren’t used to this from their past experiences.

But let me provide some context: I am currently the Head of Product and Technology for edding AG , transforming a team around the easycheck product into an empowered product team. So, we’re not the typical tech company, and it is not a large team, either.

Unspoiled - the latest YouTube videos without spoilers

Sun, 09 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

As a Formula One fan, I often find it challenging to avoid spoilers when following YouTube channels like Sky Deutschland. They frequently post videos with clickbait or even reveal race results in the title, which can ruin the experience for those of us who want to watch later.

To tackle this, I created Unspoiled , an open-source tool that fetches and displays the latest video from a specified YouTube channel without exposing spoilers. This way, I can stay updated without the risk of unintended spoilers.

What World of Warcraft Taught Me About Remote Team Leadership

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

I often state that I have over 20 years of experience leading remote teams, which, if you do the math, means since 2004.

The catch: I’ve been at it since I was 16, but I was leading remote teams while playing World of Warcraft.

Without this spoiler, you would have been impressed.

While I know the title sounds cheezy, especially since the ‘I proposed [and] here’s what I learned about B2B sales’ incident, playing World of Warcraft was a serious affair for me back then. And not just for me, but for a lot of players who took this game more seriously than their job (or school).

Open sourcing dumplink: Intuitive Task Grouping and Risk Visualization

Fri, 31 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

News! We decided to open source dumplink , the tool for Shape Up Teams. This means it is free for the whole Shape Up community to use, and we also invite everybody with ideas to collaborate with us. The GitHub repository also contains all our ideas and concepts in the pipeline.

2023 - Introducing dumplink: A New Era in Project Management ¶

Imagine a scenario where a product and tech team, enthusiastic about the Shape Up methodology, find themselves grappling with the challenge of translating high-level projects into actionable tasks. This is a familiar scene in many tech teams, where the conceptual leap from the big picture to the granular details often becomes a stumbling block.

Driving Innovation Like Porsche: The Stair-Step Method of Product & Tech Innovation

Mon, 27 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The picture above is from a YouTube video in which I learned about Porsche’s strategy for managing innovation. They use a decimal point system for model releases. Instead of launching entirely new cars, Porsche introduces a “.1” model with an updated design but the previous generation’s engine. A few years later, they release a “.2” model with the same body and interior but a new engine.

This strategy reduces risks by always using one proven major component. It keeps customers happy with familiar yet advanced models and avoids issues typical of entirely new (re-) launches .

Coding Test Equivalent for Product Management - How to Hire for an Empowered Remote Product Team

Fri, 24 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

I am currently transforming a team within Eedding into an empowered product team. To do this, I am looking for an excellent product manager who thrives in a remote team. Today, I am sharing how I approach this.

The Job Posting ¶

You can see the full job posting here . The job posting is in German for a role in the German market (but ChatGPT can assist English native speakers here). I did not use a generic job posting but described how I expect a product manager to work in an empowered product team. I want to draw special attention to the last paragraph:

The New SONOS App: A Dumpster Fire That Shows How Not to Relaunch an App

Tue, 21 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

I have been a loyal Sonos customer for years, with several thousand euros of Sonos hardware in my home. For years, there have been big complaints about the Sonos app quality: too slow, poor search functionality, etc.

I’ve defended the app and the concept to my wife for almost a decade: Fundamentally, the idea that the speakers fetch music from the internet is superior to streaming audio content via AirPlay.

Freeing My Mind from Work Thoughts on the Go with the Apple Watch

Thu, 16 May 2024 15:39:19 +0200

I often find myself out and about with just my Apple Watch (either because I’m running or playing with the kids in the garden) when that one important work thought hits me. Unfortunately (or fortunately!), the Apple Watch doesn’t have a notes app or a mail client.

So, I’ve gotten into the habit of sending myself SMS messages to my business number. When I’m back at the office and check my business phone the next day, I can take care of it immediately. And the best part is that it’s off my mind for the time being.

Iterative Architecture During Feature Shaping with Feedback Loops

Tue, 14 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

I often discuss how and when to address software architecture while building a new feature. I answer this here with the terminology of Shape Up, but the answer is not specific to Shape Up but applies generally (however you call this stage your process).

TLDR: Architecture needs to be addressed during the shaping of a feature. Only then can the implementing team work autonomously during the delivery cycle. It would be unfair to throw things at the team, without even remotely clarifying how to implement them.

Centaur Programmers shrink product team sizes — at least, they should.

Mon, 06 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Pedro Alves, Bruno Pereira Cipriano, 2023 :

The idea of the Centaur Programmer is based on the premise that a collaborative approach between humans and AI will be more effective than AI alone, as demonstrated in centaur chess tournaments where mixed teams of humans and AI beat sole computers.

The linked paper is about the programmers themself.

I want to discuss the implications for their respective product teams today.

Dear Digital Agencies, Stop Asking Your Customers for a Product Owner.

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

A client-side Product Owner isn’t necessary for successful digital products — I even consider it harmful in some cases. What’s crucial is proper and effective Product Management by the agency.

(The beloved “PO per proxy” won’t cut it, either.)

Having experience with both sides, I wrote some fictional letters to them.

The biggest mistake clients of digital agencies can make is writing tickets. ¶

Dear future client, please stop writing tickets.

Outsourced Engineering: Painting By Numbers Kills Product Innovation

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Most groundbreaking ideas bubble up directly from those closest to the technology. Why?

Writing Software is not a manufacturing process. It is not about “producing” anything. The written code is a byproduct. Software Engineering is a design process, the essential design process of solving problems and building a product.

Software engineers discover their real tasks only by starting to do real work. Sometimes, they even discover something that prohibits or boosts the value provided to the user.

Dear Samsung Internet: Please Fix Your Forced Dark Mode! (Update!)

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Samsung Internet’s dark mode ignores CSS for prefers-color-scheme: dark, instead renders light theme CSS and applies a proprietary transformation algorithm to simulate dark mode. This leads to unintended visual outcomes on websites, disrupting carefully designed user interfaces.

Context ¶

As the Head of Product and Technology at edding AG , I manage a team that owns the easycheck product. Part of it is a mobile-only frontend for driver’s license verification, so the team is used to facing continual challenges with mobile web environments. However, there is a significant issue with the Samsung Internet browser and its forced dark mode.

Bicycle for my Mind - How I Organize Myself and My Knowledge

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Peter Drucker said in 1967: “The knowledge worker cannot be supervised closely or in detail. He can only be helped. But he must direct himself.”

As a serious knowledge worker for a lifetime, I honed how I “direct myself” over the years quite a bit. I have settled on a relatively flat and simple system to manage myself, linking my active project to-dos and my entire knowledge base—comprising everything I’ve accumulated from YouTube, podcasts, etc.

Flow & Reflection: My Approach to Team Management

Fri, 05 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Over the years, I have refined a management approach that is both effective and adaptable, especially in leading remote teams. As Head of Product & Technology at edding AG , I am currently hands-on managing the interdisciplinary team at easycheck . But the underlying pattern is not limited to direct team management but also extends to managing managers and reporting to C-Level colleagues.

Team Check-in (Async) ¶

Our week kicks off with an asynchronous check-in every Monday morning. The goal is for each team member to reflect on their plans for the week and share them with the team. The fundamental question we answer is, “What do you plan on working on this week?”

How to Strategize

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Rejecting the normative constraints of static PowerPoint presentations and the rigid frameworks reminiscent of ancient temples, my approach to startup strategy embraces clarity and divergence. It’s not just about standing out; it’s about being contrarian!

Being contrarian ¶

In the startup realm, differentiation isn’t merely about being unique; it’s about adopting a contrarian stance. This means crafting a narrative that underlines a startup’s distinct position, not just in opposition to others but as a pioneer in new spaces.

Amazing CTO, Stephan Schmidt, 2024

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Most of the time, I read books to reflect on certain topics related to my everyday obligations rather than to learn something new.

In this regard, I appreciate the style of Stephan Schmidt’s Amazing CTO book. It is a short book with many good thoughts on the whole spectrum of a CTO’s job, all general enough to immediately think about how those apply to one’s situation - basically like a meditation.

Become a Great Engineering Leader, James Stanier, 2024

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Personal Brand ¶

For whom do I write? For everyone with (C)PT(O) in the title.

Organizational Structure ¶

6: Organizational Levels ¶

9: Military - 3 Levels: ¶

VP (Strategic Level): High-level goals
Director (Operational Level): Planning and executing to achieve strategic goals
EM (Tactical Level): Implementations

11: EM - Success: ¶

Committed work done on time?
High quality / well-maintained?
Respond to incidents/outages in a timely manner
Coach, mentor, develop team members

11: Director - Operational (1-year horizon) ¶

“Why” is defined, focus on “how”
Operational area

12: VP - Strategic (2-3 year horizon) ¶

“Why” & “with what”
Strategic area
Metrics > Planning
Investments?
Market + Competition

Your Place in the Org Chart ¶

32: Tactical: EM ¶

Tech Lead defining technical direction
ICS
Manager in Training

Tactical: Senior EM ¶

Senior ICS
EM

34: Operational: Director Engineering ¶

Senior EM
Other Directors
Area Technical Lead
Right-Hand Engineer

34: Strategic: VP Engineering + CTO ¶

Directors
Craft Leads (Frontend, etc.)
Technical Lead

37: Best Team Size: 8 ¶

42: Dunbar’s Number: 5, 15, 50, 150, 500, 1500 ¶

45: Team Topologies are fractal and can represent entire departments. ¶

Enabling Teams (Collections): Ensuring coherent data formats → Collaboration
Enabling Teams (Dashboard UX): Facilitating
Platform Team + Crawling Team: Clear “X as a Service” boundaries

Time: Observed, Spent & Allocated ¶

60: Shopify = 100-year company ¶

61: Long-termism ¶

Vision & Strategy
Hiring & Developing the right people
Developing a Bench of Successors (for oneself)
Scalability, Resilience & Reliability
Slowing down projects that move faster than interconnected teams can handle

62: CTO Tasks: ¶

Is the organization on track with goals?
Connecting/steering direct reports?
Meetings that benefit from my presence
Connect & collaborate with peers and other groups
Own strategic work

Organizing Work ¶

66: Capacity Management > Time Management. It fluctuates with context. ¶

78: Calendar: ¶

Group similar-context meetings together
Block time for deep work in the morning/evening
Office hours

81: Focus Blocks: ¶

With a goal! E.g., daily/weekly objectives
Reading / Reviewing
Async content to broadcast
Other long-term activities

Not for:

Job Moves, Bob Moesta, 2024

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Job Moves explores the psychology behind career transitions and how to approach career changes with intentionality and purpose. The book introduces a framework that focuses on understanding the motivations driving career moves and offers strategies for identifying the root causes of dissatisfaction. Moesta emphasizes that job seekers should prioritize their values and capabilities rather than just pursuing titles or salary increases, and it encourages the exploration of future career prototypes to ensure better alignment with personal and professional growth.

Meditations for Mortals, Oliver Burkeman, 2024

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In Meditations for Mortals, Oliver Burkeman explores imperfectionism—the idea that your own limitations are not obstacles. Don’t fight them, but accept them to live fully. Only when you no longer expect perfectionism can you engage with full energy. The book covers being finite, taking action, letting go, and showing up imperfectly.

Top 3 Learnings:

It’s worse than you think—and that’s liberating. The psychological shift when you realize something is not just very difficult but impossible. You become as good as you’ll get—when you accept that, you can really think about what you’re good at. “Our suffering is believing there is a way out.” Don’t wait for the perfect system—just do it, regardless of what type you are. Don’t become a “meditator”—just meditate.

Slow Productivity, Cal Newport, 2024

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In today’s fast-paced world, the concept of productivity has become synonymous with busyness and constant activity. However, Cal Newport, in his book “Slow Productivity,” challenges this notion and presents a compelling alternative. Newport argues that true productivity in knowledge work is not about doing more things faster, but rather about focusing on fewer things, working at a natural pace, and obsessing over the quality of the work produced. This approach stands in stark contrast to the prevalent “pseudo-productivity” mindset, which emphasizes visible activity as a proxy for actual productive effort.

This is Strategy, Seth Godin, 2024

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Seth Godin’s This is Strategy presents a fresh perspective on strategic thinking by combining empathy, systems thinking, and long-term positioning. Instead of focusing solely on competition, Godin emphasizes building systems that create lasting change.

Top 3 Learnings:

Strategy is about systems, not tactics. Effective strategies work within existing systems rather than against them. Understanding feedback loops and leveraging the system’s inherent tendencies allows for sustainable impact.

Transformed, Marty Cagan, 2024

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Imagine a tech company that, at its surface, seems like any other, selling products and maintaining a market presence. Yet, underneath this facade, it operates not as a conventional business but as a forward-thinking, technology-driven powerhouse. This scenario isn’t just a theoretical framework—it’s the core argument Marty Cagan presents in his 2024 book, “Transformed.” Cagan posits that the essence of a modern tech company lies not in what it sells but in how it operates.

Untrapping Product Teams, David Pereira, 2024

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

David Pereira’s Untrapping Product Teams provides actionable insights into moving beyond feature factories to truly empowered product teams. It challenges conventional ways of working and encourages focusing on value creation through collaboration, experimentation, and simplification.

Top 3 Learnings:

Kill the feature factory mindset. Instead of focusing on outputs and backlogs, prioritize learning and outcomes by continuously evaluating ideas and eliminating those that don’t serve the product vision.

Useful Not True, Derek Sivers, 2024

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In Useful Not True, Derek Sivers challenges conventional thinking about truth, belief, and decision-making. The book emphasizes that beliefs shape emotions, which in turn drive actions. Sivers explores the fluidity of life’s meaning, suggesting that life simply is, and it’s up to us to assign meaning. He encourages readers to adopt flexible philosophies, test them, and understand that there’s no singular “right” way to approach life or work. The focus is on pragmatic decisions, self-reliance, and balancing options to avoid paralysis while acknowledging the importance of setbacks in growth.

37C3 - The Heart of Hacker Culture

Fri, 29 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Imagine a realm where the curious and the ingenious converge, creating a microcosm of radical acceptance and innovation. This was the setting of the 37th Chaos Communication Congress (37C3) in Hamburg, an event I had the privilege of experiencing firsthand on its third day.

The Genesis of My 37C3 Expedition ¶

Having followed the Chaos Communication Club activities since around 2008, and having personally attended the Congress in Hamburg twice, I ventured this year to delve deeper. With a press pass in hand and a sharpened focus, I explored the Congress, navigating its vibrant landscape while respecting the stringent photo policy. A special thanks to the ‘angels’ who guided my photographic journey, ensuring a seamless blend of exploration and privacy.

Knowledge Work's Disruption and the Future of Product Development

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Earning my living as a CTO or CTPO, I recently launched a new Software Tool in a crowded market: a tool to help teams build software. Entering an established market with a different approach needs a sound foundation for why the new solution is contrarian to what others are already doing while also still providing value. Today I want to share the core principles and the thought leaders that inspired me here.

Unbundling Shape Up: Principles for Product Teams

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Understanding Shape Up’s flexibility as a set of guiding principles rather than a rigid process is instrumental in managing projects in today’s varied organizational landscapes.

Principles ¶

Fixed Time, Variable Scope ¶

Emphasizing time-boxed projects with a flexible scope, this principle allows teams to adjust deliverables based on time constraints, ensuring quality, timing, and costs.

Appetite ¶

Shifting the focus from “how long will it take?” to “how much are we willing to spend?” enhances high-level decision-making and communication, making risk management a central aspect of creative project work.

Shape Up for AI Products: Prototyping while Shaping

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

In software, outcomes can never be guaranteed. This is why Shape Up excels with its fixed-time, variable-scope approach, allowing strategic deployment of ressources.

But, outcomes can be even harder to guarantee when you build products on top of some form of AI like LLMs. This is why de-risking projects with a structured yet flexible approach like Shape Up is even more important.

Let me explain.

Framing - Laying the Foundation ¶

The journey begins with Framing. This initial phase is all about understanding and articulating:

Japan – A Report

Mon, 13 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

From August 6th to 19th, 2023, I was in Japan with my wife Julia. We had quite a few stops in the short 14 days. But we thought: Why should we travel Japan differently than how Japanese people travel Europe?

Our route:

08/06/2023: KIX – Transit
08/07/2023: Ishigaki – South Sea flair and diving
08/11/2023: Kyoto – Inari, Gion & Tea plantation tour with owner
08/15/2023: Yakushima – 3000-year-old cedars & moss forests
08/19/2023: Tokyo – Kyushu, Shibuya & teamLab Planets
08/21/2023: Return journey

We had relatively little planned (for our standards). And I approached the trip very open-minded and unprepared. The only expectation was that I would be amazed and leave my comfort zone.

Innovating Product Process Cadence: Shape Up Beyond 6+2

Fri, 10 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

While I am currently bootstrapping a startup idea centered on Shape Up tooling, I’ve gathered multi-faceted insights: from interviewing 10 successful Shape Up teams to personal experiences and consulting roles. The Classic 6+2 model is prevalent, but intriguing variations exist, often featuring on-call or enablement teams.

Classic (6+2) ¶

Method: 6 weeks of building, followed by 2 weeks of cooldown.

Cooldown: 2 weeks

Best For: The staple for many, including Basecamp. Ideal for teams looking for a time-tested approach.

How I Use ChatGPT to Enhance My Productivity for Software Development

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

I recently found out that not everyone in tech is using ChatGPT daily. That surprised me. Software development is a fast-paced game. It’s not just about cranking out code; it’s about solving problems efficiently. And ChatGPT has been a game-changer for me in that regard.

Here are the examples with the most impact in my daily development and product work:

1. Unix Sorcery and Shellscripts: From AWS commands, sed, jq to modifying makefiles for different operating systems, ChatGPT has been a beacon of knowledge. Tasks that once felt like insurmountable challenges are now tackled with finesse and precision.

Refactoring Legacy Code in Shape Up: The Dilemma

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction ¶

Legacy code is the proverbial elephant in the room. The nagging issue isn’t “if” it should be refactored, but “when” and “how.” When following the Shape Up methodology, the tech lead has two main options.

The Dedicated Tech Sprint ¶

This is a ‘clean-up’ cycle, usually directed by the tech lead and staffed by one or two more devs. The objective: navigate the labyrinth of legacy code.

The Game Plan ¶

Before the first line of code is altered, there’s shaping to be done. The tech lead joins forces with the product team to draft a basic plan, complete with goals and desired outcomes. This isn’t aimless tinkering; it’s a planned operation.

Nobody Owes You Simplicity. YOU Must Fight Details Early On.

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 13:29:00 +0200

Product development isn’t about cramming every detail from the get-go. It’s about clarity and purpose.

Focusing isn’t just about zeroing in on one thing; it’s about saying no to all the other distractions. Every “yes” comes with a hidden cost.

No one will filter the noise for you. That’s on you, especially when you’re an engineer.
Don’t discuss; it creates even more complexity.
Bring your own minimal version (prototype) to the table. Start at the epicenter.

Redefining Client Work - The Agency's Guide to Shape Up.

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 10:58:00 +0200

Two different agency worlds. In the first, designers and developers hustle, juggling multiple client projects, always feeling the pressure of looming deadlines. In the second, there’s a noticeable contrast. There is a structured flow, with teams confidently navigating client work.

The difference? The latter agency has embraced the Shape Up methodology. Originally designed for product development, how can Shape Up be the game-changer in the volatile world of agency work? Let’s delve in and find out."

Ripples of Shape Up: An Organizational Deep Dive

Fri, 15 Sep 2023 10:56:00 +0200

Shape Up, at its core, is a method for software development. However, its influence doesn’t stop there. Today, I want to delve into the broader organizational implications that this methodology brings along, beyond its direct application in development.

Reminder: Why Embrace Shape Up? ¶

Rekindling the Startup Spirit: For organizations that feel they’ve plateaued, Shape Up brings back the agility and enthusiasm synonymous with startups.
Efficient Scaling: As growth ambitions soar, Shape Up provides a structured roadmap to scale without chaos.
Maintaining Innovation: Especially pertinent for product-centric organizations that need to consistently churn out fresh ideas and solutions.

Foundational Principles ¶

Folder Feeder: Personal Adhoc Podcast Hosting

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Imagine this: your favorite YouTube content creators have just uploaded a series of insightful podcasts. But there’s a catch – they’re all in video format. This is a familiar scenario in our digital age, where engaging audio content is often locked within visual media, posing a challenge for those with limited screen time or a preference for audio.

Bridging the Gap: From Visual to Audio ¶

Ever since I started using ChatGPT for coding, I’ve been spotting GPT-4 sized holes everywhere that I swiftly patch up. Recognizing this gap I just described above, I’ve crafted a straightforward yet powerful PHP script: Folder Feeder . This tool is a bridge, transforming any collection of audio files into a podcast feed. It’s particularly effective for converting YouTube videos into podcast episodes, enabling seamless enjoyment of these videos, akin to traditional podcasts in your personal playlist.

All The Highlights: Centralizing Readwise Highlights

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Managing book highlights efficiently is a challenge I’ve tackled with All The Highlights , a tool designed to fetch and format Readwise highlights for personal knowledge systems. This solution offers a streamlined approach to handling reading insights.

The essence of this project lies in its ability to take a raw data stream from Readwise and transform it into a structured, usable format. While I will personally review and integrate these highlights into my broader knowledge management system, the tool itself serves as a foundational step in this process.

The .io Dilemma: Navigating Ethical Concerns in Domain Choice

Fri, 14 Apr 2023 06:49:22 +0200

As someone involved in tech and startups for a while now, I’ve had my fair share of experiences with domain names. Choosing a suitable TLD (top-level domain) can be a daunting task, and it’s something that many people need to give more thought to.

Context ¶

For a long time, I thought that the “.io” TLD was a safe bet. It seemed catchy and modern and had a certain techy vibe that I was drawn to. However, over time I started to hear rumblings about potential issues with this domain name choice. There were rumors that the ownership of the “.io” TLD was being contested or that a sketchy organization owned it. I didn’t know the specifics, but something wasn’t quite right.

The Art of Constant De-Risking: How Shape Up Revolutionizes Agile Software Development

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 09:22:00 +0100

Shape Up emphasizes the importance of constantly de-risking a feature idea from its origins until implementation by making technical, design, and product decisions with all professions represented.

It is essential to state that this is more art - than science. But when I explain Shape Up, it comes down to fundamental principles across all team sizes and scale levels.

Let us unpack.

Constant de-risking of a feature ¶

One could imagine the Shape Up Process to de-risk a feature idea constantly. From the first origin until the final implementation, it is about continually assessing and evaluating risks associated with each feature without pouring too much concrete too early.

Hidden Treasures of TLDs: How I Scraped Hackernews for Domain Names

Fri, 10 Mar 2023 08:35:00 +0100

Background Story ¶

As somebody who often starts new projects, I often need to think about project names and domain names.

No bullshit backlog management

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 15:36:00 +0100

None of the teams I ever worked with had the courage to remove (currently) irrelevant tickets from the backlog. Too often, there was the fear of forgetting something. So the teams end up with a very long backlog of things that are neither important nor urgent, but where the implicit expectation is that they are getting done - sometimes. But sometimes never comes - and I’m not particularly eager to sweep such tickets under the carpet.

2023 Homepage Relaunch

Fri, 13 Jan 2023 17:26:22 +0100

Over the quiet days at the end of last year, I relaunched my website.

And since relaunches of people with some visibility in the tech scene are always eyed with particular attention to the tech they used (and what they thought), here’s my thinking.

Design ¶

My design has always been minimalistic, so there is no massive change here. It is much easier to do browser testing without a fancy design in mind.

Daily Dad, Ryan Holiday, 2023

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

In Daily Dad, Ryan Holiday provides daily meditations on fatherhood, drawing from Stoic philosophy and his own experiences as a parent. The book covers teaching children to question things, showing courage (it only takes 20 seconds of bravery—it’s not as bad as you imagine), accepting mortality (everyone will die—wife, children, etc.—so rejoice every day they’re still here), and the importance of loving their mother as the best thing you can do for your children.

Excellent Advice for Living, Kevin Kelly, 2023

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

This book offers concise, practical wisdom for navigating life with purpose and clarity. Kevin Kelly distills decades of experience into actionable insights that emphasize the value of simplicity, respect, and embracing change. The advice touches on personal growth, relationships, leadership, and productivity, all delivered in short, memorable statements.

Top 3 Learnings:

Simplify everything to its core and then amplify what truly matters—whether in presentations, writing, or life decisions.
Seek advice, not money—people are more willing to invest in those they’ve already helped.
Focus on the process, not just the outcome—true success is sustained by consistently improving the journey rather than chasing fleeting results.

Make Something Wonderful, Steve Jobs, 2023

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The book offers an intimate look at Steve Jobs’ philosophies on creativity, leadership, and personal growth. It emphasizes the power of curiosity, intuition, and the pursuit of excellence through building meaningful products with talented teams. Jobs rejected the traditional concept of a career, advocating instead for a life driven by passion and continuous learning.

Top 3 Learnings:

Careers are limiting constructs—true fulfillment comes from focusing on building things, taking ownership, and constantly seeking new challenges instead of following predefined paths.
Excellence is a habit; repeated actions and a commitment to high standards, even in difficult times, shape character and long-term success.
Investing in personal growth and meaningful work, rather than material comfort, leads to a more rewarding and purpose-driven life.

Million Dollar Weekend, Noah Kagan, 2023

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The book provides actionable strategies for starting and validating business ideas quickly with minimal risk. Kagan emphasizes the importance of taking action, learning from failures, and continuously iterating based on real customer feedback. His practical approach centers around overcoming fear, developing an entrepreneurial mindset, and focusing on solving real problems rather than waiting for the perfect idea.

Top 3 Learnings:

Safe Haven: Investing for Financial Storm, Mark Spitznagel, 2023

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

In “Safe Haven: Investing for Financial Storms”, Mark Spitznagel skillfully marries philosophical wisdom with the practicalities of investing. Spitznagel’s distinctive perspective on risk management underlines the essentiality of minimizing losses.

His philosophy-driven approach to investment is compelling: in the quantum realm of Schrödinger, where all potentialities exist simultaneously until the final moment, one might instinctively rely on the arithmetic mean of investment returns. However, by invoking Nietzsche’s concept of eternal recurrence - living as if destined to repeat our lives innumerable times - Spitznagel invites us to reconsider the significance of sequence and order in our decisions. This is dramatically exemplified when considering that a stock needing to rebound by 100% after a 50% fall just to restore its original position.

The Creative Act, Rick Rubin, 2023

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

I love Rick Rubin. He has a very pragmatic no bullshit attitude - while still creating Art! (It is worth mentioning his podcast experiences in the Tim Ferris show 2015 and 2023 ).

He published a book about creativity last year, which spoke to me. His exploration of creativity and the underlying mindset also offers insights for everyone in tech, product, and leadership. Let the quotes speak for themselves.

The Crux, Richard Rumelt, 2023

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

In The Crux, Richard Rumelt focuses on identifying the crux—a narrow attention to a critical issue that, when solved, makes other puzzle pieces fall into place. The book introduces challenge-based strategy, distinguishing between choice challenges (selecting from alternatives), engineering/design challenges (building to specification using models), and gnarly challenges (no alternatives, no models—must be designed). Good strategy isolates the crux, forms an embedded solvable problem, then solves it.

The SaaS Playbook, Rob Walling, 2023

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The book provides a practical roadmap for bootstrapping and scaling a SaaS business, emphasizing a step-by-step approach to building sustainable revenue and market fit. Walling shares insights on customer development, pricing strategies, and creating defensible businesses through strategic positioning and smart execution.

Top 3 Learnings:

The Stair-Step Approach—start with simple, repeatable revenue sources through organic marketing channels before moving to standalone SaaS products to achieve greater control over time and income.
Market understanding comes from conversations, not assumptions—engaging with customers through thoughtful questions helps identify real pain points and validate demand before scaling.
Building a moat is key to long-term success—integrations, brand strength, and high switching costs provide defensibility, while relying solely on unique features is a false security.

Tidy First, Kent Beck, 2023

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

In Tidy First, Kent Beck explores the importance of tidying (or refactoring) code in a way that balances both structural and behavioral changes. He highlights the value of creating options for future behavior changes through thoughtful design decisions and emphasizes the importance of maintaining flexibility in software systems. The book provides practical advice on when and how to refactor code, ensuring that improvements enhance the system’s overall clarity, cohesion, and future adaptability without overcomplicating the process.

When Monsters Roar and Angels Sing, Hartmut Rosa, 2023

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

In When Monsters Roar and Angels Sing, Hartmut Rosa explores how metal music creates resonance—deep, meaningful connections—in a world that often feels alienating. The book examines resonance axes: social (with other people), physical (with things, materials), with ourselves (body, psyche, memories), and vertical/existential (existence, life, world, nature, cosmos). Metal music provides a stable resonance axis, allowing people to “fearlessly dance on the existential rift.”

Shape Up staffing and process patterns v2

Fri, 16 Dec 2022 10:39:57 +0100

Shape Up staffing and process patterns ¶

One thing that should be discussed more in detail in Shape up is how to implement it for smaller teams, like migrating an unhappy Scrum team. Many of the cases addressed publicly are for the entire company. But with the correct Pattern, even smaller teams can benefit from the principles of appetite and small, autonomous teams .

Update: This is an updated version of this article. So, besides the theoretical patterns, there is also a reality check - besides some other clarifications. I also made the graphics easier to understand. Find the changes highlighted.

Prototyping Case Study: Fillter.me

Tue, 27 Sep 2022 10:13:38 +0200

This is a short case study regarding the prototyping mindset of one of my projects. It is called Fillter.me (currently only available in German).

Felix and Oğuz were victims of their success and drowned in many (poorly written!!) inquiries from brands and agencies with their Creator Management YilmazHummel .

So they developed a unique question technique on their homepage with WordPress forms to better fill inbound inquiries for themselves (pun intended).

Shape Up Track for Scrum - how to hack a process v2

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 14:02:47 +0200

Not everybody on our team was happy with the overhead of Scrum. But it isn’t easy to change a development process for an (otherwise) stable team.

We tried nonetheless and approached it as an experiment: Test and prove that something new is working for us while not wholly abandoning what is currently working.

As a result, we realized that Scrum and Shape Up are not mutually exclusive but complement each other perfectly.

Raja Ampat – A Report.

Sun, 07 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Raja Ampat is probably the most remote place I’ve ever been. Not just geographically, but from… everything.

For those who don’t know it yet: Raja Ampat is an archipelago in West Papua, in the far east of Indonesia, in the middle Australian time zone.

To get there from Germany, you need 48 hours in 3-5 airplanes and 1-2 boats.

Why would anyone want to go there? I tried to capture that. With words. And with pictures. However, there’s a slight text-image gap. Some impressions (in words) only fully manifested themselves after returning home.

unixtime.app - How I developed my own unix timestamp conversion tool to improve API developer workflows

Fri, 10 Jun 2022 11:37:27 +0200

Hi, Iam Klaus Breyer. And I am the author of unixtime.app: An API developers tool for bulk timestamp conversion.

Here I want to tell the story of how I scratched my own itch and how this turned into a product.

Context: IIotT (Industrial Internet of Things) ¶

The idea’s genesis happened during my current stint as Tech Lead for a front-end-heavy product in an IIoT microservice context. Data in the IIoT environment has a lot of timestamps. In the ecosystem I currently work for, the dates were unfortunately not encoded as ISO but as Unix timestamps in milliseconds.

All the Heics

Fri, 22 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Managing HEIC files from Apple devices can be challenging due to compatibility issues. To address this, I’ve developed all-the-heics , a tool that converts all HEIC files in a specified directory to JPG format, preserving both EXIF data and original timestamps. This ensures seamless integration with various platforms and applications.

all-the-heics is built using the Wails framework, combining Go for backend processing and standard web technologies (JavaScript, HTML, CSS) for the frontend, offering a responsive and efficient user experience.

PrusaPax: 3D Printer Setup in IKEA Pax Wardrobe with Twitch Livestream

Tue, 15 Mar 2022 08:07:07 +0100

The 3D printer (Prusa) in my closet (Pax) now has a live stream on Twitch. https://www.twitch.tv/prusapax

The complete setup

How it came about - Background Story ¶

The fascination for a 3D printer at home was great, especially at the beginning for the kids. However, especially for longer projects, the noise level in our open apartment was a bit disturbing.

So, I put the printer in my wardrobe and rearranged a few shelves.

4000 Weeks, Oliver Burkeman, 2022

Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The book challenges our modern obsession with productivity and control, highlighting the inevitability of our limited time and the need to embrace it. Instead of constantly optimizing and planning for an ideal future, it argues for focusing on what truly matters in the present. Accepting limits and making meaningful choices without fear of missing out leads to a more fulfilling life.

A Skill Called Luck, Jakob Greenfeld, 2022

Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The book explores how luck is not purely random but can be cultivated through deliberate actions, structured learning, and strategic positioning. It emphasizes experimenting with multiple small projects rather than one big effort, ensuring faster feedback and continuous improvement. By focusing on visibility, openness, and likability, and developing both selling and building skills, one can create more opportunities for “luck” to happen.

Effective Remote Work, James Stanier, 2022

Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

I had the pleasure of hearing James Stanier speak at a conference, and his insights on remote work stuck with me.

He introduces the concept of asynchronous work methodologies as a potential solution for effective remote work. He suggests that by embracing tools such as documents, diagrams, designs, and video recordings, teams can circumvent the limitations of their physical environments to achieve greater focus and productivity.

Central to Stanier’s thesis is the idea that the design of our workspaces—including the now ubiquitous home offices—should be intentional and reflective of three core elements: focus, privacy, and ergonomics, as illustrated in his Home Office Venn Diagram. These elements are not just crucial for comfort but are vital for sustaining productivity in a remote setting.

Home Made Russia, Damon Murry, 2022

Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

In Home Made Russia, Damon Murry documents the incredible inventiveness and human warmth of people making things work with limited resources. The book shows how people care for each other, make things beautiful together, and find creative solutions—sometimes simply “because I can.” It’s a deeply personal book that captures not just a printed museum but a printed feeling—something you must recommend to others, and when you feel that, you already know exactly who to recommend it to.

Learning to Build, Bob Moesta, 2022

Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

In the dynamic world of product development, mastering the art of customer interviews is crucial for unearthing genuine needs and fostering innovation. Bob Moesta’s book, Learning to Build, serves as an indispensable guide, packed with nuanced strategies that enhance our understanding of what customers truly desire, beyond mere surface-level interactions.

A Dive into Moesta’s Methods ¶

Moesta’s approach challenges us to transcend traditional interviewing techniques through methods that are as insightful as they are pragmatic. His focus on context invites us to dig deeper into the customer’s environment, ensuring a richer, more accurate capture of their needs and desires. The technique of contrasting different options, unpacking ambiguous terms like “fast,” and tapping into the energy of how customers describe their experiences, offers a multi-dimensional understanding that typical interviews might miss.

Plays Well with Others, Eric Barker, 2022

Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The Challenge of Effective Listening ¶

When a crisis unfolds, like a hostage situation, active listening emerges as a vital skill. It can defuse the immediate tension, offering a path to temporary stability. However, outside of these high-stress scenarios, the technique’s efficacy diminishes, particularly in enduring personal relationships where emotions deeply intertwine.

Facilitating Self-Expression and Understanding ¶

Effective communication isn’t merely about interpreting external cues accurately; it’s more about creating an environment where individuals can freely express themselves. This realization shifts the focus from trying to ‘read’ people better to facilitating a clearer expression of their thoughts and feelings, enhancing mutual understanding.

The Big Book of Business Idea Prompts, Jakob Greenfeld, 2022

Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The Big Book of Business Idea Prompts offers a collection of thought-provoking questions designed to inspire creative and innovative business ideas. Greenfeld focuses on how to spot market opportunities by asking questions that challenge the status quo. The prompts guide readers to explore areas like unmet customer needs, alternative business models, and disruptive innovations. The book encourages thinking beyond conventional solutions and helps identify unique opportunities in various industries, from tech to personal services.

The Practice of Groundedness, Brad Stulberg, 2022

Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Brad Stulberg’s The Practice of Groundedness provides a transformative path to sustainable success, focusing on patience, presence, and balance rather than relentless hustle and over-optimization. The book challenges the modern obsession with heroic individualism and encourages a mindset shift toward steady, value-driven progress.

Top 3 Learnings:

Groundedness is about deep roots, not constant growth. Instead of chasing endless goals, focusing on foundational values and consistent, mindful action leads to long-term fulfillment and resilience. It’s not about reaching a final state but practicing daily.

Bug Triage

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 09:17:20 +0100

In every project, the question of prioritizing the backlog comes up again and again. In the end, in my experience, it is not a single criterion, and also not a two-dimensional matrix that can be used to classify a bug as Trivial / Minor / Major / Critical. Instead, there are many different aspects, not all of which fit every ticket type. Because: Visual bugs are different from Technical Debt, and a product close to release is a different situation than at the start of development.

Costa Rica – A Report.

Mon, 09 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0000

We spent the last few weeks traveling around Costa Rica. Whenever something occurred to me or caught my attention, I wrote it down. I’d like to share these thought fragments (and a few pictures) with you:

You can’t actually see stars here. (Because it’s always cloudy.)

Everything is damp because of the humidity. Unbelievable. Books curl just from reading them, chips are no longer crispy after just 1 hour, and clothes take 2 days to dry. But you get used to it, even stepping into damp clothes.

A Philosophy of Software Design, John Ousterhout, 2021

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000

A Philosophy of Software Design is a book based on John Ousterhout ’s lectures at Stanford.

It has a nice flow and dives deep into the philosophy of software development. It is another one of those books that you could read over 2-3 weeks while reflecting on your current architecture and practices in your team.

Here are some key insights from my notes.

A World Without Email, Cal Newport, 2021

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000

The book explores how modern workplaces are trapped in the “hyperactive hivemind,” a workflow driven by constant, unstructured digital communication that hinders productivity and focus. Instead of relying on endless email threads and instant messages, Newport argues for structured workflows, clear processes, and reducing communication overload to reclaim cognitive bandwidth and foster deep work.

Top 3 Learnings:

Unstructured, reactive communication (email, IM) creates dependencies and distractions that harm productivity; structured workflows are essential to breaking free.
Optimizing workflows is more effective than increasing responsiveness—true productivity comes from reducing cognitive overload and improving process clarity.
Specialization and reducing multitasking lead to better results; batching communication alone isn’t enough—systemic workflow changes are needed.

Continuous Discovery Habits, Teresa Torres, 2021

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000

In Continuous Discovery Habits, Teresa Torres provides a practical framework for product teams to maintain weekly touchpoints with customers, conducting small research activities in pursuit of desired outcomes. The book emphasizes that discovery is a mindset—outcome-oriented, customer-centric, collaborative, visual, experimental, and continuous—rather than just a set of tactics.

Top 3 Learnings:

Map the opportunity space before jumping to solutions. Use experience maps to visualize what you know, conduct continuous interviews to understand actual customer behavior (not what they say they want), and build an opportunity solution tree that helps you compare and contrast opportunities rather than making yes/no decisions. The whole team is responsible for the entire tree, and you should always be developing assumptions.

Effortless, Greg McKeown, 2021

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000

In Effortless, Greg McKeown argues that trying too hard makes it harder to get the results you want. The book introduces the “effortless inversion”: asking “what if this could be easy?” and finding the simplest way to achieve a result. McKeown explores how to make essential things enjoyable, rest properly, notice what matters, take effortless action, and achieve effortless results.

Is This Anything, Jerry Seinfeld, 2021

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000

In Is This Anything, Jerry Seinfeld shares insights from his decades in comedy, covering the craft of writing jokes, performing, and understanding what makes people laugh. The book includes observations about human nature, relationships, and the creative process.

Top 3 Learnings:

We don’t know what we want—we only know it’s not what we have. Like channel surfing on TV—we know it’s not what we’re currently watching, but we’re not sure what we’re looking for. This applies to many aspects of life and decision-making.

The Almanack of Naval Ravikant, Eric Jorgenson, 2021

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000

In The Almanack of Naval Ravikant, Eric Jorgenson compiles Naval’s wisdom on wealth, happiness, and building startups. The book covers owning equity instead of renting out your time, finding specific knowledge at the edge of knowledge, using leverage (capital, people, products with no marginal cost), and learning to sell and build. It also explores happiness as a learnable skill, being present in the moment, and removing the feeling that something is missing from your life.

Pocket-Highlights

Thu, 31 Dec 2020 17:26:22 +0100

I did manage to do a little christmas project this year, scratching my own itch. (Remember: the best projects come from an actual need.. ;) ).

So - what is my need? While reading my links stored in Pocket, I asked myself what would be an easy way (without 3rd party tools) to link them with my knowledge I put regularly in Roam Research (some call it a note-taking tool).

Second-system effect

Mon, 04 May 2020 09:34:43 +0200

Second-system effect ¶

I regularly see the Second-system effect when building products and introducing new technology. A simple, well-functioning system reaches its limits and is replaced by a much too large, bloated system due to over-expectations and over-confidence - and everyone is unhappy. :)

Maybe you know this. In my practice, for example, a small, hip social media agency is handed agency software designed for venerable, large, classic advertising agencies with print processes. Or, even more blatantly, an eCommerce startup introduces Microsoft’s Navision and subsequently uses only 20% of the initially introduced functionality at the end of the day and has replaced or supplemented 80% of it with its customizations.

Run like hell

Mon, 16 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Go for a run one more time, while you still can. No matter how unsporty you look doing it. That seemed to be today’s motto.

The market hall in Kreuzberg – eerie. Already at noon, there was the absolute strong suspicion that this was probably the last time things would be as they always were. Fear for the “hipster lifestyle.” But above all, grief for and with culinary small business owners.

Advice Trap, Michael Bungay Stanier, 2020