Hi there 👋

Do you like running? I believe you have a very clear answer to that. It’s a polarizing question. Everyone I know either loves running or hates it. There seems to be no in-between. I love running. And the reason is, as most likely for everyone else who loves it, the flow state Runner’s High. Running looks so simple from the outside, but there’s a huge difference between pushing yourself through every step and gliding forward in a perfect flow. I know the hard version very well: when every metre feels slow, your muscles ache, and you’re out of breath even though the pace is embarrassingly low. Your mind wants you to stop, and you start counting seconds instead of kilometres. This state is unavoidable sometimes. And still, I keep running. Because I’ve also experienced the other side: the flow, the effortless rhythm, the elusive “runner’s high.” ...

Disclaimer: I’ve never been part of a truly massive software project. But I’ve been involved in several efforts where up to 40 people tried to build something useful (and occasionally succeeded!). Over the years, my responsibilities grew, and I learned a lot - sometimes the hard way. One day, I might write a post about all the beliefs I held early in my career that turned out to be… let’s say naive. But today, I want to focus on what I currently believe does work - three things I always pay attention to when I’m involved in a software project. ...

I still remember one of my first runs. It was December 1999, the day after hurricane “Lothar” had just swept through southern Germany. I did this run toghether with my dad. Since then, I’ve done roughly 2,000 runs - just a rough estimate, but with 26 years of running and about 1-2 runs per week, the math checks out. I enjoy competition, so getting faster was always my main motivation. ...

Have you ever packed a backpack for a hike? Packing for a hike can be tricky. There are so many useful things you could bring, but only so much room in your backpack. If you try to pack everything, the backpack becomes too heavy. Suddenly, the hike feels impossible, despite all those useful items you’ve brought along. Software development faces a similar challenge. Adding too many features might seem helpful, but it often backfires. The product becomes too complex and frustrating to use. ...

A few days ago, I was chatting with friends about goals in endurance sports. They mentioned wanting to join an event next year to have something to aim for. I totally get it — having a goal keeps you motivated. You picture yourself crossing the finish line, and just imagining it gives you a boost. And, of course, the closer the event is, the more urgency you feel to start training. ...

The deadline for a critical software feature is just two weeks away. I’m in a meeting with my team to plan the work. I glance at the calendar again—it’s tight, but I think we might just make it. The team has broken down the feature into smaller tasks, estimating the effort for each one. I’m holding my breath, hoping two weeks will be enough. Then the team gives me the news: they estimate at least six weeks. My heart sinks, and a cold sweat breaks out. This feature was promised by the deadline. But now it’s clear—there’s no way we can deliver it on time. ...