Thoughtworks Technology Podcast

Matthew Skelton and Manuel Pais, co-authors of Team Topologies, dive into the challenges of integrating AI into organizational design. They explore how generative AI can transform team dynamics and enhance productivity while emphasizing the need for structure without stifling creativity. The duo discusses the importance of team autonomy and adaptability, revealing insights from diverse organizations on optimizing workflows. Their conversation also previews the evolution of their ideas ahead of the second edition of Team Topologies, set to launch in September 2025.

Birgitta Böckeler, a distinguished engineer and generative AI expert, and Chandirasekar Thiagarajan, a seasoned tech principal with retail experience, dive into legacy modernization. They discuss how generative AI can reverse engineer aging systems without full access to code, revolutionizing the process. The conversation includes practical applications of tools like Playwright for user journey analysis and data-driven insights to reconstruct application logic. They also highlight challenges of decompiling legacy binaries and the need for careful risk management when using AI.

Simon Noonan, CTO at MYOB with over 25 years in tech, and May Xu, Head of Tech for Thoughtworks APAC, dive into the practicalities of AI in business. They discuss the delicate balance of optimism and caution while utilizing AI tools. Topics include a new strategy for enhancing customer experience through AI, building organizational AI literacy, and the importance of governance. The duo also emphasizes the need for effective leadership and collaboration to navigate AI adoption challenges, ensuring responsible and impactful integration.

Heidi Waterhouse, a seasoned public speaker and documentarian, dives into the essential role of documentation in today’s AI-driven software landscape. She and host Lilly Ryan discuss how human insight is vital in capturing what AI often misses, especially in technical writing and prompt engineering. They also explore the importance of indexing for information accessibility and the balance between AI automation and accurate communication. Plus, hear about her upcoming book, Progressive Delivery, aimed at connecting software delivery with business value.

Unmesh Joshi, a Principal Consultant at ThoughtWorks known for his focus on developer happiness, teams up with Martin Fowler, a long-time ThoughtWorks luminary in software development. They discuss the urgent need for 'Expert Generalists' in tech, advocating for professionals who connect specialized fields rather than narrowing their skills. Emphasizing collaboration and continuous growth, they argue that fostering these versatile talents enhances team dynamics and innovation, while addressing the dangers of over-specialization in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.

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.

In this engaging discussion, Zichuan Xiong, a ThoughtWorker specializing in AI solutioning and ops, delves into the transformative power of the Model Context Protocol (MCP) for IT operations. He highlights how MCP enhances AI's capability to think like IT staff, moving beyond traditional APIs to provide deeper context-sensitive functionality. Zichuan also examines the strategic decisions surrounding building versus buying infrastructure, the evolution of open-source tools, and the importance of integrating multiple contexts for effective incident management.

Join Andy Yates, Head of Ecosystems Development at Thoughtworks, as he unpacks the highlights from Google I/O 2025. The conversation dives into the groundbreaking Gemini framework and its transformative impact on e-commerce and brand identity. Andy discusses the complexities organizations face when implementing new tools, emphasizing the need for effective change management. The chat also explores AI innovations in media production, including advances in photo and video editing, while considering user privacy and workforce shifts in the evolving tech landscape.

Rob Mee, CEO of Mechanical Orchard, and Rachel Laycock, CTO of Thoughtworks, discuss the challenges of modernizing mainframe systems using generative AI. They explore how their collaboration has led to innovative tools that simplify the complexity of legacy codebases. The conversation highlights the gradual approach required for effective modernization and the importance of skilled developers. They also emphasize the role of generative AI in identifying crucial data flows and creating reliable new code, prioritizing quality and maintainability throughout the process.

You might think you know software engineering, but what are the really fundamental elements? What are the concepts, ideas and practices that are completely essential? What makes software engineering what it is? Thoughtworker Nate Schutta and Dan Vega are attempting to address those questions in their upcoming book with O'Reilly, The Fundamentals of Software Engineering. Covering topics ranging from reading code through to the importance of learning to learn, it promises to offer a fresh insight into the skills and knowledge needed to be a successful software engineer. In this episode of the Thoughtworks Technology Podcast, Nate and Dan join hosts Neal Ford and Ken Mugrage to discuss the book and to dive into what really are the fundamental elements of software engineering. Listen for a fresh perspective on the discipline and a deep dive that shows it's about far more than just writing code. Learn more about The Fundamentals of Software Engineering: https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/fundamentals-of-software/9781098143220/