A reading path through the questions that have shaped my AI writing: how to learn, how to build, how to lead, and how to judge the consequences. These seven essays connect technical practice with the human side of change.
For my latest projects, production patterns, and explainers, visit Engineering & AI. This page keeps the earlier seven-essay collection together as a guided starting point.
Build the learning foundation
The Practical AI Skills Roadmap for 2026: What Actually Matters and How to Get Started
Not another list of tools to learn. A structured progression for IT professionals who want to build durable AI competency — grounded in what employers are actually hiring for right now.
Becoming an AI-Savvy IT Professional: A Practical Roadmap for Learners
Written for the practitioner who’s been in the industry long enough to be skeptical of hype — and wise enough to know they can’t afford to ignore the shift. A grounded, actionable learning path.
Understand through building and storytelling
From Zero to MCP: A Real-World Guide to Building Your First Model Context Protocol
Most MCP tutorials stop at “hello world.” This one doesn’t. Walk through building a real integration step by step — the architecture decisions, the gotchas, and the moment when the abstraction finally clicks.
The Detective Who Knew Everyone: A Story About MCP
What if you explained the Model Context Protocol through the lens of a detective who has informants everywhere? A narrative metaphor that makes the architecture stick in ways diagrams never could.
Lead teams and delivery through change
Leading in the AI Age: A Manager’s Guide to Building and Orchestrating AI Teams
Managing engineers was already complex. Managing engineers who build with AI is a different discipline entirely. This guide tackles structure, culture, and the new cadence of delivery.
Software Project Management with AI: The Complete 2026 Guide
A comprehensive playbook for engineering leaders navigating AI-assisted development — from estimation and planning to delivery risk and team velocity in the new normal.
Question the cost of speed
The AI Velocity Trap: Why Your 40% Productivity Gains Might Be Creating a Maintenance Crisis
The uncomfortable truth behind AI-assisted coding speed: faster shipping can mean faster accumulation of debt nobody fully understands. A candid warning for teams celebrating their productivity numbers.
Continue with RAG Explained, the RAG Blueprint Workshop, or The Tech Strategist’s Edge for new technology essays.