PLAYBOOKS · DATA · FIELD NOTES

Notes from the engineering side

Long-form essays from current engagements. No AI hype. No agency template.

Virtual CTO Services: When You Need One and How to Hire

A virtual CTO gives you executive-grade engineering leadership without the cost of a full hire. Here is when to bring one in, what a real engagement looks like, and how to pick the right one.

Apr 28, 2026 · 6 min read

Engineering

Engineering Team Structure: Models That Scale from 10 to 100 Engineers

Three engineering team structures fit three different company sizes. Pick the wrong one and the next 20 hires arrive into a system that cannot absorb them.

June 9, 2026 · 6 min read

Engineering

Engineering Velocity: How to Measure It and Why It Stalls

Engineering velocity is not the sum of story points. It is the time from decision to production. Here is how to measure it properly and what to do when it stalls.

June 2, 2026 · 6 min read

Security

How to Prevent AI Data Leaks: A Practical Guide for Engineering Teams

AI assistants can leak your data through prompt injection. Six rules to prevent AI data leaks, what each one stops, and a checklist for your team.

May 30, 2026 · 8 min read

Do AI Coding Tools Actually Make Developers Faster? The 2026 Evidence

The only randomized trial on AI coding tools measured a 19% slowdown — while developers believed they were 20% faster. Here is what the evidence shows.

May 27, 2026 · 10 min read

Product

SaaS Product Roadmap: Examples, Templates and the Process We Use

Most SaaS product roadmaps read like project plans, get one missed deadline, and stop being trusted. Here is the three-layer roadmap structure, template and review cadence we use with our clients.

May 26, 2026 · 6 min read

Leadership

CTO Consulting Services & Advisory: A Complete Guide for Founders and Boards

CTO consulting and CTO advisory are not the same product, even when the same website sells both. Here is what each one delivers, what it costs, and how to choose between providers without losing a quarter.

May 19, 2026 · 7 min read

Leadership

Part-Time CTO vs Fractional vs Full-Time: Choosing the Right Engagement Model

A part time CTO, a fractional CTO and a full-time hire are not interchangeable. Here is what each one means in 2026, where each one earns its price, and how to pick without losing six months.

May 12, 2026 · 6 min read

Pricing

Fractional CTO Cost: Hourly Rates, Pricing Models and What You Actually Pay For

What a fractional CTO actually costs in 2026: the hourly rate ranges, the three pricing models you will be offered, and what drives the total fractional CTO cost up or down.

May 5, 2026 · 6 min read

WEEKLY NOTE

One insight per week. From current engagements.

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