Link Dump #196

Did you ever wonder what is the best day for reading? I would say the best is "every" :)

1. Software Architecture
   1. Schema Evolution in Apache Avro, Protobuf, and JSON Schema
      This post explores how schema evolution is handled across three common serialization formats: Apache Avro, Google Protobuf, and JSON Schema. You’ll walk through examples, common compatibility strategies, and tools to keep your contracts safe as they evolve.
2. Software Development
   1. The productivity paradox: Why smart developers initially struggle with AI coding tools #PickOfTheWeek
      Frustrated with 'junior dev AI'? This article tackles why developers initially resist agentic coding tools. Discover the critical mindset shift required: providing specific, actionable instructions to AI, enabling you to move beyond basic output and achieve real productivity gains.
   2. Pursuit of Universal Ownership at LinkedIn #PickOfTheWeek
      If you’re asking, “How do we keep our platforms, codebases, and data from slipping through the cracks as responsibilities shift?” this article is for you. The authors share how their systematic ownership model reduces confusion while fostering collaboration and strategic alignment across an organization.
   3. Agentic Misalignment: How LLMs could be insider threats
      This article warns about the dangers of agentic misalignment, where AI acts against its deployer's goals. Learn why caution is paramount when deploying current AI models in roles with minimal human oversight and access to sensitive information.
3. Clean Code
   1. Can AI help rebuild an application without accessing its code? #PickOfTheWeek
      Can AI rebuild your legacy applications without touching a line of code? This Thoughtworks article details an experiment in 'blackbox reverse engineering' using Generative AI to create functional specifications and rebuild a modern replacement by observing only the UI, database, and network traffic.
   2. Ratcheting to zero: How incremental constraints eliminate technical debt
      The author shares how in their company they made working with legacy code enjoyable: measure what you want to improve → automate it → make a change. Repeat. The demonstrable march toward improvement is what makes development satisfying.
4. Languages and Libraries
   1. Implementing CQRS and Event Sourcing with Axon Framework in Spring
      In this article, you’ll learn how to implement CQRS and Event Sourcing using the Axon Framework in Spring Boot. The author covers the core concepts behind CQRS and Event Sourcing, how Axon supports domain-driven design (DDD) and how to define aggregates, commands, and events.
5. Leadership
   1. The Illusion of Control
      The more you try to control, the less control you might have. This article unpacks 'The Illusion of Control,' revealing why leaders often feel a loss of power as their companies grow. Discover how delegating decision-making, not just tasks, is the key to maintaining true influence in an expanding organization.
   2. Why setting short-term goals can be problematic for high-tech companies #PickOfTheWeek
      Beyond immediate profits, discover the hidden costs of short-term goal setting in tech. This article reveals how it compromises long-term financial health, damages customer relationships, and stifles innovation – a 'hidden cancer' that can be fatal to your organization's sustainability and market appeal.
6. Communication
1. Brilliant Ideas, Bad Pitch? How to Communicate Tech Proposals That Win Support #PickOfTheWeek
   Some things seem obviously valuable — until you try to convince someone else. That’s when you realize it’s not just about what you say, but how you say it.