QFM103: Engineering Leadership Reading List - February 2026
Source: Photo by Denise Jans on Unsplash
This month's Engineering Leadership Reading List covers AI-augmented development, disciplined prioritisation, and the craft of engineering thinking. Simon Willison profiles StrongDM's "Software Factory" where AI agents build serious software without anyone looking at the code — using scenario-based testing and "digital twin" clones of third-party services to validate unreviewed agent-generated code.
On the leadership side, Saying No to Good Ideas examines one of a leader's hardest decisions — rejecting promising opportunities that would dilute focus — while Nicole Tietz makes a compelling case for using an engineering notebook, arguing that hand-writing detailed, dated notes while working improves memory retention, clarifies thinking, and enhances productivity despite being remarkably uncommon among software engineers.
As always, the Quantum Fax Machine Propellor Hat Key will guide your browsing. Enjoy!
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Originally published on quantumfaxmachine.com and cross-posted on Medium.
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