3 Nasty ways complexity influences software projects

Having a gut feeling that the system you are working on is too complex? But you are missing numbers about the consequences? This article will give insights about the magnitude of the consequences ad pointers for a discussion with fellow engineers and managers.

3 Approaches to reduce complexity in software systems

Many approaches exist to handle complexity in a software system. In this article I will touch three of them: general- vs. special-purpose modules, using layers and staying consistent.

The importance of information hiding in modules

In programming some modules feel more complex than others. Why is that? Often the complex modules do not hide their complexity well.

5 Lessons I learned during my first year in China

Over a year ago my family and I moved to China to work and live. Time for a retrospective. What turned out how I expected it, what did not?

My biggest challenges settling in China

Did you settle in already? A question that I heard many times after moving to China. In this post I give insights into my biggest challenges after coming to China and how I dealt with them.

Expectations and growth strategies for Senior Software Engineers

In this article I want to give a brief overview of what I think is expected of a Senior Software Engineer, what you should aim for to be good and how you can grow. This information would have been tremendously helpful to me when I started my journey in software development.

When you need to see a doctor in China

Being sick in a foreign country can be exhausting. Different rules, different processes, different language. In this post I give an overview of the health care system in Germany and China. I also detail my experiences of seeing doctors in China.

3 Patterns that keep System Complexity under control

Knowing what system complexity is is good. You might ask though, how you can identify system complexity and how you can manage it. In this article I will introduce the three manifestations of system complexity and three patterns to control it.

How to prepare for an interview in China

Understanding cultural differences before you are in an interview situation can be a big plus. In this article I want to introduce you to the subtle differences of an interview setting in China.

System Complexity - The Engineer's Nightmare

The more time you spend in Software Engineering, the fewer you will be concerned about which programming language or fancy framework will be used. Another factor plays a big role in how a project develops over time and how much fun it is to work on it: System Complexity.

How to find a job in China as a foreigner

When we decided move to China in 2022, I had no idea how to look for a job there. I needed to start from scratch and get familiar with the job market. In this post I give advice on how to start a job hunt in China.

Expectations and growth strategies for Junior Software Engineers

In this article I want to give a brief overview of what I think is expected of a Junior Software Engineer, what you should aim for to be good and how you can grow. This information would have been tremendously helpful to me when I started my journey in software development.