GOTO - The Brightest Minds in Tech

Why Software Architecture is Mostly Communication • David Whitney, Ian Cooper & Hannes Lowette

David Whitney, Ian Cooper, Hannes Lowette & GOTO Season 5 Episode 73

This interview was recorded for GOTO Unscripted.
https://gotopia.tech

Check out more here:
https://gotopia.tech/articles/400

David Whitney - Director of Architecture at NewDay
Ian Cooper - A Polyglot Coding Architect at Just Eat
Hannes Lowette - Principal Consultant at Axxes, Monolith Advocate, Speaker & Whiskey Lover

RESOURCES
David
https://bsky.app/profile/davidwhitney.co.uk
http://twitter.com/david_whitney
https://www.instagram.com/davidwhitneycouk
https://github.com/davidwhitney
https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidwhitney
https://davidwhitney.co.uk/blog

Ian
https://bsky.app/profile/icooper.bsky.social
https://hachyderm.io/@ICooper
https://twitter.com/ICooper
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-cooper-2b059b
https://github.com/iancooper
https://ian-cooper.writeas.com

DESCRIPTION
Three experienced software engineers - Ian Cooper, David Whitney, and Hannes Lowette - discuss the evolution of software architecture from traditional "ivory tower" approaches to modern, collaborative practices. The conversation explores the tension between emergent and designed architecture, the importance of sustainable versus "slash-and-burn" development approaches, and how architectural decisions scale with organizational growth.
Key themes include the critical role of communication and coaching in architecture, the dangers of pattern cargo-culting, and the fundamental reality that all architectural challenges are ultimately people problems requiring empathy, shared language, and cultural change.

RECOMMENDED BOOKS
Barry O'Reilly • Residues • https://leanpub.com/residuality
Barry O'Reilly • The Architect's Paradox • https://leanpub.com/architectsparadox
Diana Montalion • Learning Systems Thinking • https://amzn.to/3ZpycdJ
Sam Newman • Monolith to Microservices • https://amzn.to/2Nml96E
Ronnie Mitra & Irakli Nadareishvili • Microservices: Up and Running• https://amzn.to/3c4HmmL
Jacqui Read • Communication Patterns • https://amzn.to/3E37lvv
Vaughn Vernon & Tomasz Jaskula • Strategic Monoliths & Microservices • https://amzn.to/3AcUscj

Bluesky
Twitter
Instagram
LinkedIn
Facebook

CHANNEL MEMBERSHIP BONUS
Join this channel to get early access to videos & other perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs_tLP3AiwYKwdUHpltJPuA/join

Looking for a unique learning experience?
Attend the next GOTO conference near you! Get your ticket: gotopia.tech

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL - new videos posted daily!