• Autodesk
    A large organization. The kind that has lots of VPs and SVPs.

    I worked at Autodesk for 15 years, starting in 2007 when Navisworks was acquired, and finishing up as Chief Architect for the Autodesk Construction Solutions business unit.

  • AWS
    Amazon Web Services

    The world’s biggest cloud provider and the one that I have most experience with.

  • Blog
    Blogging about the Blog

    Building and managing the blog.

  • Cambridge University
    My Alma Mater

    I spent 11 years in Cambridge. I started with a degree in Computer Science, stayed on for a PhD in Computer Graphics and got my first job as a researcher in the Architecture department.

  • Cloud Architecture
    Software Architecture but using someone else's computer

    I have ten years experience as a Software Architect working on Cloud products at Autodesk.

  • Computer Graphics
    Interactive Viewing for Large Geometric Models

    Computer Graphics in general, but mostly focused on interactive viewing for Large Geometric Models. You know, the kind of thing that Navisworks does.

  • Databases
    Where else are you going to put your data?

    The priceless experience that comes as a Software Architect working with teams that use databases. All the fun of schema and query design with none of the operational headaches of figuring out why the database has stopped responding.

  • Front End
    Because every Back End needs a Front End

    I’ve spent most of my life working on graphics engines and back-end systems in the cloud. The last serious front-end work I did was building an MFC UI for a Windows desktop application. Which was over 20 years ago. However, every back end needs a front end, so I need to be a full-stack developer. This is my journey to get up to speed with modern front-end development.

  • Gear
    Reviews and Humble Brags

    Everyone working in technology loves gear. Sometimes I feel the need to tell you about the gear that I’m using.

  • Mac
    I have a Mac. They're special.

    I never owned a Mac before. Here’s some things I’ve learned.

  • Navisworks
    My life's work. So far.

    Navisworks was originally a research project of mine at Cambridge University. I went with it when the technology was spun out as a startup. I joined Autodesk when Navisworks was acquired.

  • Organizational Anti-Patterns
    Lessons for large technology organizations

    As a Software Architect working in a large organization you increasingly realize that many of your problems are organizational rather than technology related. Software Anti-Patterns help you and your managers avoid the pitfalls of superficially attractive technology solutions. Similarly, it’s my hope that Organizational Anti-Patterns will help you and your VPs avoid the pitfalls of superficially attractive organizational solutions.

  • Spreadsheets
    Building a better spreadsheet

    My journey building a cloud based, open source, serverless, customer deployed, scalable spreadsheet.