Field notes from shipped engagements
Long-form essays on AI in production, senior engineering hiring in NYC, build-vs-buy strategy, and what mid-market CTOs are actually funding. Written by the engineers and leaders who did the work.
AI coding assistants in production: what actually ships in 2026
Two years after the hype peak, we know which AI coding tools survive contact with production codebases — and which quietly get uninstalled. Here's what actually ships.
The real cost of a bad senior engineer hire in NYC
A senior engineer who doesn't work out doesn't just cost their salary. Here's the honest breakdown for an NYC firm — direct cost, opportunity cost, and the cleanup bill.
When to build vs. buy: a decision framework for CTOs
The build-vs-buy call is where most CTOs quietly lose a year of engineering runway. Here's the framework we use with mid-market clients — five questions, one rubric.
What NYC financial services CTOs are buying in 2026
A composite view of what mid-market NYC financial services CTOs are actually funding in 2026 — from AI to compliance automation to the quiet return of on-prem.
How to read a software development proposal (red flags)
The proposal is where most bad software engagements start. Here are the specific red flags — bait pricing, weasel SLAs, missing acceptance criteria — that predict trouble.
Should you hire a fractional CTO, a dev shop, or an agency?
Fractional CTO, dev shop, agency — the labels overlap and the pitches sound identical. Here's the honest breakdown of when each is the right call.
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