Chris Zetter

@[email protected]
94 Followers
51 Following
100 Posts
Webhttps://chriszetter.com
GitHubhttps://github.com/zetter
Chris ZetterNov 21
I was recently on the Maintainable podcast and got to talk about pairing, tech debt, working with junior engineers and why I wrote a book about building a database- https://maintainable.fm/episodes/chris-zetter-building-a-database-to-better-understand-maintainability
Chris Zetter: Building a Database to Better Understand Maintainability

Software engineer and author Chris Zetter joins Robby to explore how pairing, documentation, and boring technology help teams build software that lasts. They unpack the real meaning of technical debt, how to guide junior engineers with confidence, and what building a database from scratch can teach us about architecture.

Maintainable Software Podcast
Show threadChris ZetterSep 26, 2025
My takeaway is that they can do it, but that the result isn't pretty. Claude Code wasn't able to maintain code quality and create good abstractions. Also the agent struggled more as the project grew and left a sizeable amount of dead code.
Chris ZetterSep 26, 2025
How good are coding agents at building complex systems? I've written about what I found after using Claude Code to try to build a Database Server: https://technicaldeft.com/posts/can-coding-agents-build-complex-systems
Can coding agents build complex systems?

What are the strengths and weakness of using AI coding agents for building complex systems

Chris ZetterSep 25, 2025

I’ve created a fundraising page for anyone else who wants to join me in donating to the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants:

https://www.justgiving.com/page/compasion-not-hate?1

Chris's fundraiser for JCWI

Help Chris Zetter raise money to support JCWI

JustGiving
Chris ZetterSep 21, 2025
In the hope of creating something positive out of the current situation in the Rails community, I have made a donation to the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI). I've created a fundraising page and encourage others to join me - https://www.justgiving.com/page/compasion-not-hate
Chris's fundraiser for JCWI

Help Chris Zetter raise money to support JCWI

JustGiving
Chris ZetterSep 16, 2025
James AdamSep 15, 2025

I am struggling to express how disappointed I am in DHH's latest post.

I have lived in London for almost 20 years, but there are countless people of other ethnicities and backgrounds with a far greater claim of "being a Londoner" than I'll ever have.

If you think what makes London great is "whiteness", you couldn't be more wrong. It's absurd and it's offensive.

If you cannot appreciate what diversity brings to this city, then you will never be able to appreciate what makes London great.

Chris ZetterSep 16, 2025
jcoglanSep 16, 2025
it is past time for the rails project and community to sever ties with dhh
Chris ZetterJul 28, 2025
Just refreshed the design of my personal site - https://chriszetter.com. Still a very happy Jekyll user.
Chris Zetter

Personal site and blog of Chris Zetter.

Chris ZetterJul 23, 2025
I wrote about what makes SQL special compared to other programming languages and what came before it - https://technicaldeft.com/posts/what-makes-sql-special
What makes SQL special

A step-by-step guide to building your own database server. Learn about SQL and improve your programming skills.

Chris ZetterJul 5, 2025

Nostalgic for the days developing for Internet Explorer? Enjoy long feedback loops? Think that modern web inspector tools make life too easy? Like comprising on design in favour of compatibility?

If you answered YES to all of these, I recommend creating an epub.