Systems Thinking in Practice

This series explores how systems behave, evolve, and sometimes resist our best intentions. It’s not about diagrams or buzzwords—it’s about the quiet architecture beneath the tools we use and the decisions we make.

I write from the perspective of a systems programmer, debugger designer, and long-term observer of complexity. These posts aim to turn subtle behaviors into clear insights, and to offer tools for thinking—not just coding.

Core Themes

• Systems Scaffolding: The invisible structures that support complex software. Not glue code, but architectural intent.
• Question and Answer Thinking: A method for debugging and problem-solving that treats each question as a structural probe.
• Boundary Behavior: Where systems meet, misalign, and reveal their assumptions.

Featured Posts

• Question and Answer Thinking A framework for debugging and systems reasoning through structured inquiry.

• How I Read New Code A framework for navigating unfamiliar code through layered observation and systems reasoning.

• Systems Scaffolding (Coming Soon) A foundational post introducing the concept and its applications in design and debugging.

• Handling Multiple Breakpoints in Trap Redux A 10-year retrospective on a subtle bug—and what it teaches about invisible system behavior.

• Refactor Fail A candid look at how good intentions can go sideways in systems work.

How to Engage

• Follow the blog for new posts on debugging, systems design, and technical philosophy.
• Join the newsletter for occasional deep dives and behind-the-scenes reflections.
• Explore the debugger series for hands-on systems implementation in C and Rust.

What’s Next

• A post on Systems Scaffolding as a design discipline
• A reflection on Weaponized Complexity in organizational behavior

If you’ve ever felt like the real work happens between the lines of code, this series is for you.