Thoughts on (Modern?) Software Development

Visiting speaker from Germany shares practical realities of building software careers, including the uncomfortable truths about why development stays messy.

Alex Thurow travels between tech communities sharing a pragmatic take on why software development remains fundamentally messy, even as we chase new methodologies and frameworks. This talk cuts past the usual platitudes about modern development, instead exploring the gap between how we think the industry works and the uncomfortable realities of actually building careers in it. Originally developed for graduates entering the workforce, it's equally valuable for experienced developers wondering why familiar problems keep resurging. Expect a candid exploration of skill gaps, team dynamics, and why the industry struggles with predictability, delivered by someone who's tested these ideas across different tech cultures. The DDD meetup crowd tends to be thoughtful practitioners interested in deeper conversations beyond surface-level best practices.