CaSE: Conversations about Software Engineering Theo Schlossnagle on Meat, Machines, and Mastery in Software Engineering
Feb 25, 2025
Theo Schlossnagle, a world-class software engineer and owner of a butcher shop, discusses the intriguing parallels between butchery and software development. He emphasizes the power of curiosity in coding and explores automation in butcher operations. Unpacking the complexities of distributed systems, he shares strategies for debugging and managing state. Schlossnagle also critiques legacy systems, advocating for simplicity over abstraction. With insights on IoT and modern tooling, he highlights what truly defines great software engineering.
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Butchery Beginnings
- Theo Schlossnagle's butchery venture started with a neighborly bourbon discussion.
- They lamented the decline of local butcher shops and pre-cut grocery store meat.
Pre-Cut Meat Problem
- Pre-cut meat limits customer choice, making custom cuts difficult to obtain.
- Quality isn't the issue; it's the lack of specific cuts and portion sizes.
Outdated Software in Butchery
- Theo Schlossnagle found outdated software systems in the butchery industry.
- These systems present integration challenges for modern automation.