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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Outdated Software in Butchery
- Theo Schlossnagle found outdated software systems in the butchery industry.
- These systems present integration challenges for modern automation.
Automation for Consistency
- Automate processes to improve consistency and reduce human error, not just workload.
- This is crucial for accurate inventory management, especially in specialized fields like butchery.
System Integration Challenges
- Theo's butchery uses a mix of systems with varying API quality, including Square and older, less documented options.
- He even encountered Korean-documented Windows DLLs from the 1980s for scales.