Articles / engineering
Engineering
Good Design Gives People Freedom
Sometimes we use a system and think, “They thought of that.” We don't have to hesitate, remember something, or enter the same information twice. Behind those small moments of ease is time that someone spent thinking about the design. In the final episode of Engineering Time, we look at the freedom that engineering time can create.
2026/10/26 ·
Engineering
Choose APIs for the Future
Building the functionality you need today is important. But a system does not end when it is completed. Pricing changes. Services change. New authentication methods may be needed. Let's think about APIs and system design that leave room for future change.
2026/10/18 ·
Engineering
The Happy Path Is Only the Beginning
When designing a system, we often begin with the ideal flow. But in systems used by real people, connections drop, inputs are incorrect, and external services sometimes fail to respond. Let's think about design that includes what happens when things don't go as planned.
2026/10/12 ·
Industry
What Do Humans Design When AI Writes the Code?
As AI makes coding faster, deciding what to build and what success looks like may become even more important. What should humans design in the age of AI—and could AI help us with that earliest stage of design as well? Let's think about the "far left" of software development.
2026/09/28 ·
Engineering
There Is No Single Best Authentication Method
Face authentication, passkeys, SMS authentication, voice authentication—which is the "best" method? People are different, and so are the environments in which they use systems. Instead of choosing one method and stopping there, let's think about authentication design that includes alternative paths to help people reach their destination safely.
2026/09/14 ·
Engineering
Authentication Has Become an Entrance
Authentication is no longer just about confirming who someone is. It can record attendance, retrieve information, and start the next workflow. In this Engineering Time, we look at authentication not as a barrier that stops people, but as an entrance that helps them move forward safely and smoothly.
2026/09/07 ·
Engineering
Automation Is Not About Reducing People
Is the purpose of automation to eliminate human work? By letting systems handle repetitive tasks and the work machines do well, people can spend more time thinking, making decisions, communicating, and caring for others. Let's think about automation that gives people more time to do the work humans do best.
2026/08/24 ·
Engineering
Don't start with the code. Start with the change you want to create.
An engineer's job is about more than writing code. It's about understanding people's problems and using technology to create meaningful change. A single line of code that makes someone say, "That's useful!" or "That really helps!" can be worth more than thousands of lines that solve the wrong problem.
2026/08/17 ·
