Software Design on 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.