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NFJS2025

Metaphysics of Software Design

NOTE: THIS IS A DISCUSSION ORIENTED SESSION. THERE WILL BE MINIMAL LECTURE AND SLIDES.

According to Wikipedia, metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that studies the essence of a thing. This definition invites the question, “Does software design have an essence?” And if it does, would the discovery and understanding of this essence lead to a fundamental improvement in our ability to build well-designed software? Does design matter? What exactly is the design of software? Can we point to it? Or is it something immaterial?

These are the types of questions that I want to confront in this session. We’ll draw inspiration from various individuals, from Don Norman to Fred Brooks to Jack Reeves to Christopher Alexander. We’ll consider their explorations of design, both in and out of the software realm. But ultimately, we’re going to have a conversation inspired by the Dialogues of Plato, and each iteration of this session will arrive at its own conclusions.


Matt Stine

About Matt Stine

My passion is taking a metaphysical approach to software engineering: what is the nature of the collaborative game that we continuously play, and are there better, more contextually-aware ways to play that game?

By day I lead a team tasked with taking a first-principles-centric approach to intentionally enabling programming language usage at the largest bank in the United States.

By night I write and teach my way through a masterclass in software engineering and architecture targeting early-career software engineers working in large-scale enterprise technology organizations.

What is the primary goal?

To win the game. More seriously: to get 1% better every day at providing business value through software.

Who am I?

I'm a 22-year veteran of the enterprise software industry. I've played almost every role I can imagine:

  • Software Engineer
  • Software Architect
  • Technical Lead
  • Engineering Manager
  • Consultant
  • Product Manager
  • Field CTO
  • Developer Advocate
  • Conference Speaker
  • Author
  • Technical Trainer
  • Technical Marketer
  • Site Reliability Engineer
  • Desktop Support Specialist

I've worked at Fortune 500 companies, a tenacious teal cloud startup, and a not-for-profit children's hospital. I've written a book, and I've hosted a podcast. I've learned a lot along the way, including many things I wish I'd known when I first got started. And so now I want to pass those learnings on to you, especially if you've only just begun your career.

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