Amitai Schleier

@schmonz@schmonz.com

Force multiplier.
Outcome improver.
Decision sharer.
Developer, leader, coach.
https://agilein3minut.es podcaster.
Musician.
Bad poet (award-winning).
JoinedApr 05, 2017 (@octodon.social)
SelfHostedMar 30, 2025
Pronounshe/they
Podcasthttps://agilein3minut.es
Consultancyhttps://latentagility.com
Morehttps://schmonz.com
Keyoxideaspe:keyoxide.org:PAC6KHICU3QSHQZVPJCZFS7KIA
📌 9 ★ 5 ↺

[?]Amitai Schleier [he/they] » 🌐
@schmonz@schmonz.com

Teammate on most recent team gave me this parting feedback: “I learned a ton, we got lots done, our team dynamics were awesome, and I’ve never felt this kind of team feeling before.”

If your business makes software, I might be good for your business.

https://schmonz.com/snac/schmonz/p/1750949585.435936

...
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[?]Amitai Schleier [he/they] » 🔓
@schmonz@schmonz.com

“I may prefer interactions that don't involve power, but that doesn't mean everyone else does.
If I'm not trying to play power games, but others are, then too bad, I'm playing — and probably losing.”
@schmonz

https://octodon.social/@schmonz/111386938537451037

#EngineeringLeadership #PowerDynamics



original post: https://octodon.social/@schmonz/111387399233124905

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[?]Amitai Schleier [he/they] » 🔓
@schmonz@schmonz.com

Doing this music-making, and sharing it with you, has been one of my better life decisions. It’ll be sweet when I can get back to sharing it with you. Thanks for lending your ears. 🎵🎹💕

https://octodon.social/@schmonz/111381673968397356



original post: https://octodon.social/@schmonz/111384035294484409

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[?]Amitai Schleier [he/they] » 🔓
@schmonz@schmonz.com

I'm pressing Pause on continuous delivery of music. When conditions change, I'll resume shipping to prod. https://schmonz.com/2023/11/09/intermission

In the meantime, please find and share your favorites from the last 1.5 years!

#PianoMiniature #PianoMiniatures #DailyPiano #WeeklyPiano



original post: https://octodon.social/@schmonz/111381673968397356

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[?]Amitai Schleier [he/they] » 🔓
@schmonz@schmonz.com

Some of you are too young to remember a time before Agile for Humans. In one of the very first episodes, Ryan Ripley, Bob Galen, and I talked about simplicity, risk, leadership, and how they're interconnected. https://overcast.fm/+EkqYFJpYg

(Hire me: https://schmonz.com/2023/08/05/who-needs-an-amitai)



original post: https://octodon.social/@schmonz/111376126482193318

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[?]Amitai Schleier [he/they] » 🔓
@schmonz@schmonz.com

Dear #lazyweb,

Are there any VPS hosting providers that

(1) Allow arbitrary OSes to be installed from .iso

and

(2) Offer free-tier service to #OpenSource projects

?



original post: https://octodon.social/@schmonz/111369990655215663

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[?]Amitai Schleier [he/they] » 🔓
@schmonz@schmonz.com

No school today, so no office hours today. But don't wait till next week to ask me something! Set up a quick call for us via the link at https://latentagility.com.

(Pssst... I can still be hired for engineering leadership or senior engineering: https://schmonz.com/2023/08/05/who-needs-an-amitai)



original post: https://octodon.social/@schmonz/111369584161288348

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[?]Amitai Schleier [he/they] » 🔓
@schmonz@schmonz.com

“In environments that mandate 40 hours, it feels like I have to manage my time and energy against value delivered, so I alternate between erring one way and the other.”

@schmonz

#DeveloperProductivity #KnowledgeWork #CognitiveLoad #EngineeringLeadership

https://octodon.social/@schmonz/111364027973088537



original post: https://octodon.social/@schmonz/111365231197376028

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[?]Amitai Schleier [he/they] » 🔓
@schmonz@schmonz.com

The technical documentation I treasure most has at least these tendencies:

1. To stay accurate over time
2. To defer learning we don't yet want
3. To clarify when a decision ought to be revisited
4. To appear in our moments of need



original post: https://octodon.social/@schmonz/111359436138818206

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[?]Amitai Schleier [he/they] » 🔓
@schmonz@schmonz.com

“I take greatest delight in my work when I'm being asked to solve problems whose challenges I can likely rise to meet, for people whose needs our solutions are likely to meet, with people whose generosity and skill bring out the best I have to offer.”

@schmonz

https://octodon.social/@schmonz/111346917623766682



original post: https://octodon.social/@schmonz/111347304692134508

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[?]Amitai Schleier [he/they] » 🔓
@schmonz@schmonz.com

On #notqmail's origin story:

“Who do I invite, and how do I invite them?”

“This kind of collaboration is possible because of the properties of the code.”

“What are some implementations we wouldn't want to merge? Give a picture of what we'd say no to.”

https://marcusblankenship.com/collaboration-and-notqmail-with-amitai-schleier/



original post: https://octodon.social/@schmonz/111336251644933021

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[?]Amitai Schleier [he/they] » 🔓
@schmonz@schmonz.com

“I’m gonna be so jealous of whoever gets to hire Amitai, that’s all I’ll say.”
@d_stepanovic

I’m holding office hours today, 3 hours from now (that’ll be 12:15pm US/Eastern).

Bring your puns, dad jokes, code conundra, management challenges, anything else. See you there!



original post: https://octodon.social/@schmonz/111329861677665312

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[?]Amitai Schleier [he/they] » 🔓
@schmonz@schmonz.com

Hi. Does your org need an Amitai?

"Opportunity!! An awesome engineering leader!"
@RuthMalan

I've got success stories from managing products, projects, and people.

I understand the challenges of delivering effective software as well as anyone.

https://schmonz.com/2023/08/05/who-needs-an-amitai



original post: https://octodon.social/@schmonz/111326032917622008

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[?]Amitai Schleier [he/they] » 🔓
@schmonz@schmonz.com

"Being free means recognizing not only that choices are ours to make, but also that consequences are ours to incur. Effective use of being free means learning how to make choices that take consequences into account."
@schmonz

https://octodon.social/@schmonz/111324614548209393



original post: https://octodon.social/@schmonz/111325864309685496

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[?]Amitai Schleier [he/they] » 🔓
@schmonz@schmonz.com

Avoid "root cause analysis", or be disciplined about getting to the root. It's never the person nearest the visible mistake. And if we point a finger at them anyway, no analysis is needed to find the root cause for why everyone now feels much less safe.
@schmonz

https://octodon.social/@schmonz/111307328072037075



original post: https://octodon.social/@schmonz/111308347281448155

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[?]Amitai Schleier [he/they] » 🔓
@schmonz@schmonz.com

I’ve been a software developer, and will be again.
I’ve been a software team and product manager, and will be again.
I’m a #SoftwareDevelopment coach, and will never again not be one.

What’s #coaching like? How’d I find it? Listen to me with @maxmautner: https://theaccidentalengineer.com/coached-software-development-amitai-schleier/



original post: https://octodon.social/@schmonz/111296813638070783

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[?]Amitai Schleier [he/they] » 🔓
@schmonz@schmonz.com

Sorry, can't make office hours today. Should be back next week.

If something's on your mind, please feel free to find a time for you and me: https://latentagility.com/link/free-call



original post: https://octodon.social/@schmonz/111290521878641832

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[?]Amitai Schleier [he/they] » 🔓
@schmonz@schmonz.com

@GeePawHill one of the many reasons I’m attached to ikiwiki is how adaptably it embraces both.



original post: https://octodon.social/@schmonz/111287633075244053

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[?]Amitai Schleier [he/they] » 🔓
@schmonz@schmonz.com

"When we frame what we're doing as an experiment, we've primed ourselves to digest surprising outcomes as the rich sources of valuable information they are."
@schmonz

https://octodon.social/@schmonz/111284633239921121



original post: https://octodon.social/@schmonz/111285720795188682

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[?]Amitai Schleier [he/they] » 🔓
@schmonz@schmonz.com

“Unless we continually defend against it, the cost of continued development tends to increase over time. The discipline of pair programming helps us notice when our own actions might be contributing to that cost, so that we can choose more effective actions.”

@schmonz

https://octodon.social/@schmonz/111274406468397723



original post: https://octodon.social/@schmonz/111275293397464629

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[?]Amitai Schleier [he/they] » 🔓
@schmonz@schmonz.com

One hour from now, on my regularly scheduled stream, if all goes well, we’ll be releasing notqmail 1.09.

“We” not only because it’s #OpenSource with many contributors (including a couple dozen from my erstwhile #PubMob), but also because I’ll have help.

https://www.twitch.tv/schmonzie



original post: https://octodon.social/@schmonz/111262541600865716

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[?]Amitai Schleier [he/they] » 🔓
@schmonz@schmonz.com

On Greater Than Code a few years back, @jessitron, @reinh, John Sawers, and I talked about:

- Running mail servers
- Orienting in new problem spaces
- Being intentional and precise while #refactoring
- Collecting techniques for the practical perfectionist

https://www.greaterthancode.com/bounded-perfection



original post: https://octodon.social/@schmonz/111256813944853963

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[?]Amitai Schleier [he/they] » 🔓
@schmonz@schmonz.com

Office half-hour today. Starts in one hour (that'll be 12:15pm US/Eastern). Drop in and join the conversation.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89405675221?pwd=WHRueXFFbzZoaUsyTkxFV3hrOWpvQT09



original post: https://octodon.social/@schmonz/111251028451672044

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[?]Amitai Schleier [he/they] » 🔓
@schmonz@schmonz.com

Reviewing a linear product backlog is like reviewing code. What alternatives were considered? Why were they ruled out? How were the decisions made? Under what conditions might we want to change them? None of this is visible from looking at one static path through a problem space.



original post: https://octodon.social/@schmonz/111247046857702921

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