Thecodebeneaththecode
These aren't rules. They're convictions — shaped by building real things, breaking real things, and learning from both.
Core Tenets
Years Forged
Philosophy
Core Tenets
What I stand for
Build engines, not features
A feature solves one problem. An engine solves a category of problems. I build the machine that makes the machine. Every system I touch is designed to generate leverage — not just output.
Schema first, always
Before writing a single line of logic, define the shape of the data. The schema is the contract between what exists and what's possible. It constrains chaos into structure, and structure into scale.
Complexity is debt
Every unnecessary abstraction is a tax on future velocity. I refuse to build clever systems. I build clear systems. Simplicity isn't a compromise — it's a competitive advantage.
Scale is a design decision
Systems don't accidentally scale. Scale is chosen, architected, and defended from the start. I'd rather ship one thing that handles 10x load than ten things that break at 2x.
Everything is observable
If you can't see it, you can't fix it. Every system ships with logging, metrics, and traceability. Observability isn't a feature — it's a prerequisite for operating anything in production.
Ship, measure, iterate
Perfect is the enemy of production. Get the architecture right, ship the minimum viable system, then iterate based on real data. The feedback loop is the real product.
Own the infrastructure
Don't build on abstractions you don't understand. Know every layer of the stack. When something breaks at 3am, the only thing between you and recovery is your depth of understanding.
Think in systems, not screens
A screen is a view. A system is a world. I design for data flow, state transitions, and permission boundaries — not just pixel-perfect layouts. The UI is the surface; the system is the substance.
“I don't build products.
I build the infrastructure underneath them.”