Surface Tension reveals how problems are solved by pushing against constraints. From coding to creative writing, constraints are the universal pattern underlying all problem-solving and innovation — this is where we make that pattern visible and actionable.
Photo Credit: Imagen3 After nearly a decade of fits and starts, I have put together my magnum opus. Not because I set out to create one, but because certain ideas like water droplets on a leaf have a way of gathering themselves into something larger through their own internal logic. Introducing Surface Tension.What I've discovered, through years of building software systems and pushing against their limitations, is that constraints aren't obstacles — they're the invisible architecture that gives shape to possibility. Surface Tension is my attempt to make that architecture visible.Here's how to navigate these waters:Begin in Foundations, where we explore the fundamental ideas that shape how constraints create possibility. These articles are your compass, helping you map the territory between nothing and everything.For those who speak in code, the Blueprints section translates these concepts into tangible solutions. Here, theory meets practice in ways that transform how we think about building systems.The Building Blocks section is our laboratory — where we experiment with ideas piece by piece, building complexity from simplicity. It's particularly suited for those who want to deepen their technical understanding.And then there are the Tangents — those wonderful digressions that often lead to the most surprising insights. Think of these as the conversations we might have over coffee, ranging from AI ethics to the nature of creativity itself.Here's what I believe: every constraint you push against is an invitation to discover something new. Whether you're a developer, a creator, or simply someone curious about how things work, there's something here for you. Let's explore these boundaries together, finding the places where resistance creates form, where limitations breed innovation, and where surface tension holds worlds of possibility.Welcome to the journey.
Software development's biggest failures stem from critical design decisions being made invisibly by individual developers during implementation, rather than systematically surfacing these constraint discoveries during specification when business context is available and changes are cheap.9 June 2025
Surface Tension and CharmIQ exist in a recursive embrace — each made possible by the other's existence. Together they demonstrate how constraints create possibility and how cognitive partnership amplifies human capability, transforming how we think about both software development and AI collaboration.21 February 2025
