Tomas Malmsten.com

Visualising informal influence

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Visualising informal influence

Where we look at how we can uncover undisclosed power lines and influence structures in our projects and workplaces to aid our software design.

Many have written and talked about how social structures in organisations influences the software we create. From Conway’s Law¹ to Domain Driven Design², and Diana Montalion’s book Learning Systems Thinking³. But I have so far not seen anyone write about how we can discover the implicit relationships we have that also play a role in design.

Giving your unit tests the trust they deserve

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Giving your unit tests the trust they deserve

Where we learn more about the value of unit tests, and about collaborating closely to better understand the complexities in our software.

Defining the unit in Unit Tests

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

Defining the unit in Unit Tests

Where we consider what a unit is when we talk about unit tests, with some help from Michael Feathers.

Collaborating on requirements with example mapping

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Collaborating on requirements with example mapping

Where we follow a team who make some fundamental discoveries in a short time using Example Mapping.

Example Mapping HowTo

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

Example Mapping HowTo

Where we look at the mechanics of Example Mapping.

How Continuous Delivery raises the bar on compliance

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

How Continuous Delivery raises the bar on compliance

Where we understand how Continuous Delivery allows us to continuously release fully compliant high quality software that stand up to regulatory scrutiny. By building quality in and automating all manual processes.

Untangling test setup

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Untangling test setup

Where we learn about some patterns that will help separate test setup from tests, making tests easier to read and understand.

Decomposing work

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

Decomposing work

Where we learn some more about how to slice work into smaller pieces, perhaps so small we can deliver many a day.

Every day resistance to the system

Sun, 29 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Every day resistance to the system

Where we discover that growing things is actually a form of political activism.

Subtraction over addition when making changes

Sun, 29 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Subtraction over addition when making changes

Where we consider the value of removing thing rather than adding things.

Frontend testing strategies - The GUI

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

Frontend testing strategies - The GUI

Where we learn two patterns that will make it possible to TDD the frontend.

Software Design is an Exercise in Human Relationships

Mon, 06 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Software Design is an Exercise in Human Relationships

Where we dive into the core of software design, the people.

A mechanic making preparatory tidying separate from feature changes

Tue, 17 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

A mechanic making preparatory tidying separate from feature changes

Where we learn a way to separate structural changes from behavioural even though making it easy to change takes quite a while.

The importance of direction

Wed, 11 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The importance of direction

Where we look closer at the value of going towards something over moving away from something.

On growing software

Wed, 26 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000

On growing software

Where we delve into the similarities between gardening and making software.

Estimating or not estimating

Wed, 07 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Estimating or not estimating

Where we learn that estimation on some levels are essential, on others harmful.

A case for Gherkin

Fri, 29 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000

A case for Gherkin

Where we learn a bit more about how Gherkin can help us.

Why doesn't Agile work

Mon, 02 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Why doesn’t Agile work

Where we look closer at the things stopping us from doing agile as it was intended.

Above my pay grade

Sun, 17 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Above my pay grade

Where we ponder the small lies we keep telling ourselves and the impact they have.

So, What is Developer Testing then?

Tue, 11 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0000

So, What is Developer Testing then?

Where we take a closer look att testing from the developer perspective.

Developer testing vs. Tester testing

Thu, 30 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Developer testing vs. Tester testing

Where we take a closer look at what is different and not between testers and developers thinking about testing.

Encapsulation in Java and Kotlin

Tue, 15 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Encapsulation in Java and Kotlin

Where we dive into tradeoffs in encapsulation in the Java and Kotlin languages.

Logical view and ¿developer view?

Tue, 25 Oct 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Logical view and ¿developer view?

Where we ponder the irrationalities of old.

Tackling legacy code

Thu, 20 Aug 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Tackling legacy code

Where we learn some strategies that will make scary code become less scary.

Why is Legacy Code so important?

Tue, 14 Jan 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Why is Legacy Code so important?

Where we take a close look at the value of code that scares us.

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