About

I’m Jim Grey. I’ve made my living in the software industry since 1989. I wrote code a very long time ago, but have built my career on testing, technical writing, and managing releases, projects, and people.

When you’ve been delivering software as long as I have, you’re bound to have learned a few things and have formed some opinions. Now, my opinions come from years of delivering business software products. This is different from delivering software to internal users or to consumers (both of which I’ve done, but briefly). But software delivery has more in common even among these three different kinds of users than it has to manufacturing or to flipping burgers. So whatever kind of software you make, I think you’ll find some value here. And I hope you’ll share your perspectives with me in the comments.

I post here as often as I have something to say. If you’d like to read more of my writing on other topics, check out my main blog, Down the Road. I post there six days a week.

Disclaimer

I write this blog on my own time, with no compensation from any employer or third party. What I write here reflects my opinions and positions. If any of my past or present employers hold those opinions and positions too, then clearly they are brilliant — but it’s only coincidence. I do not speak for any of those employers. My current employer is Greenlight Guru.

Copyright

If you want to republish my writing the answer will be no, but I’d be happy to talk with you about doing new original work for you. If you represent a profit-making organization, I will expect to be paid. Use the contact form below to reach me.

If you want to use one of my photographs in some way not directly related to you making money, ask (using the contact form below). I’ll almost certainly say yes. Examples: you want to print my image to hang on your wall (even in your business), you want to use my image on your personal blog, or you want to print my image in a publication for your nonprofit.

If you want to use one of my photographs in some way related to you making money, I’m less enthusiastic about granting permission. Examples: you want to make a T-shirt with my image on it that you will sell, you want to use my image on your site that generates revenue through subscriptions or advertising. But ask anyway using the contact form above. Most of the time I will want some kind of compensation, even in trade (e.g., you send me one of the T-shirts with my photo on it, gratis). Sometimes I won’t want to be a part of your project and I’ll say so.