Thoughtworks Technology Podcast The three new fallacies of distributed computing
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Jun 26, 2025 
Neal Ford, a software architect and director at Thoughtworks, and Mark Richards, an experienced software architect and author, discuss the three new fallacies of distributed computing. These include the misconceptions that versioning is easy, compensating updates always work, and observability is optional. They also delve into the emergence of modular monoliths and the importance of architectural governance in distributed systems. Listeners get fresh insights into key concepts shaping software architecture, paving the way for innovations in 2025.
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The Complexity of Versioning
- Versioning software artifacts is complex beyond just assigning version numbers. - Successful versioning requires communication, maintenance strategies, and thoughtful deprecation processes.
Limits of Compensating Updates
- Compensating updates in distributed transactions don't always succeed. - Failure of compensating updates introduces significant complexity in maintaining consistency.
Essential Role of Observability
- Observability is essential in distributed architectures, not optional. - Treat it as first-class to gain operational and process insights for scalability and reliability.
