Vibe coding: Is this really how we'll build software?

Colin is joined by Dean Kerr (Lead Developer) and Amy Laws (Developer) to discuss 'The Experiment' – a four‑week study exploring how AI really affects software development. Instead of synthetic benchmarks, the team tackled genuine issues in an open‑source project, alternating between AI‑assisted work and going completely 'cold turkey'. The contrasts were striking. Amy's AI‑free period exposed how dependent everyday development has become on instant summaries and contextual answers. Meanwhile, Dean found that adopting a simple agentic loop – Analysis → Implementation → Reflection – helped him make better use of AI rather than blindly accept its output. Together, their experiences reveal a discipline in flux: developers gain speed and support from AI, but also confront questions about craftsmanship, learning, and where the fun in software now sits as the tools reshape both workflow and mindset. Useful links for this episode Measuring the Impact of Early-2025 AI on Experienced Open-Source Developer Productivity – METR SWE-bench – SWE-bench Team Analysis → Implementation → Reflection – a practical technique for issue resolution with agentic AI – Dean Kerr, Scott Logic Agentic Engineering Patterns – Red/green TDD – Simon Willison's Weblog

In this episode of Beyond the Hype, Colin Eberhardt is joined by Remi Van Goethem to unpack the fast‑evolving world of AI‑accelerated software development. From everyday autocompletion to emerging multi‑agent frameworks, they explore how AI is reshaping coding practice and where human engineering judgement still matters. Remi shares his recent experience rapidly prototyping a planning application using a Research–Plan–Implement workflow, highlighting how AI can transform early‑stage discovery, architecture thinking, and delivery speed. Together, they consider what this shift means for developers, architects, and CTOs as AI starts to generate more of our code, and whether vibe coding is a glimpse of software's future or simply the latest trend. Useful links for this episode Will the future of software development run on vibes? – Ars Technica Welcome to Gas Town – Stephen Yegge I miss thinking hard – Juan Ernesto Agentic Coding Makes Old Coders Young and Young Coders Old – Scott Francis AI-Assisted Development at Block – Angie Jones Research → Plan → Implement Pattern – Goose  

In this episode, Oliver Cronk is joined by colleagues James Camilleri and Hélène Sauvé to explore the complex topic of AI sustainability. It's a conversation that spans the environmental impact of AI, from carbon emissions to water usage, and examines whether the industry narrative matches reality.   They delve into the trade-offs between energy and water, the role of lifecycle analysis, and how approaches such as federated learning and smaller models could help. They also ask whether "green AI" is more than marketing hype, and what practical steps organisations can take to make AI genuinely sustainable. Useful links for this episode Technology Carbon Standard – Open-sourced by Scott Logic Balancing AI Innovation and Sustainability: Our presentation at HM Treasury ID25 – Oliver Cronk Greener AI - what matters, what helps, and what we still do not know – James Camilleri Introducing AI-related emissions into the Technology Carbon Standard – Hélène Sauvé Mapping the carbon footprint of digital content – Hélène Sauvé Sustainability in AI - why we must listen to the smaller players – Hélène Sauvé Sustainability topic on the Scott Logic Blog Beyond the Hype: Can technology sustainability really make a difference? Beyond the Hype: Can we do better than 'carbon aware' computing? Artificial intelligence threatens to raid the water reserves of Europe's driest regions – Marianne Gros and Leonie Cater, Politico Mistral Green Tech South West Will new models like DeepSeek reduce the direct environmental footprint of AI? – Chris Adams Government Digital Sustainability Alliance (GDSA) Hugging Face Empire of AI – Wikipedia Computer Says Maybe podcast GreenIO podcast V-Bucks – Fortnite Wiki

In this episode, Oliver Cronk is joined by Josie Walledge, Catherine Pratt and Dave Ogle to explore whether Agile has lost its meaning – or worse, become a dirty word. With years of combined experience, the panel reflects on Agile's evolution from a revolutionary mindset to a sometimes rigid and misunderstood process. They unpack common misconceptions, like Agile being synonymous with speed or chaos, and discuss how frameworks like Scrum and SAFe can either empower or constrain teams. The conversation highlights the importance of planning, governance, and trust, emphasising that Agile works best when it's flexible, outcome-focused, and tailored to context. Whether you're deep in delivery or just curious about Agile's relevance today, this episode offers practical insights and candid reflections that go well beyond the hype. Useful links for this episode The Agile Manifesto Our Approach to Delivery – Josie Walledge, Scott Logic Why a holistic approach is the key to a successful legacy modernisation project – Catherine Pratt, Scott Logic Dave Ogle's blog posts on Agile – Dave Ogle, Scott Logic Strategy to Reality with Whynde Kuehn, Lisa Woodall and Catherine Pratt – Architect Tomorrow

In this episode of Beyond the Hype, Oliver Cronk is joined by Ani Allen from OutSystems and Ryan Grey from Marra to discuss the evolving landscape of Low-Code, No-Code, and AI-assisted development. With backgrounds spanning neuroscience, enterprise software, and consultancy, the guests bring a rich mix of perspectives to a conversation that cuts through the hype.   They explore the spectrum from No-Code, through Low-Code, to High- (or Pro-?) Code, and consider how AI is reshaping the development experience. From citizen developers and shadow IT to the promise (and pitfalls) of conversational coding, the discussion highlights both the opportunities and governance challenges that come with democratising software creation.   Whether you're a developer, tech leader, or just curious about the future of building software, this episode offers a grounded look at how Low-Code and AI might transform your digital strategy, if used wisely. Useful links for this episode Marra insight articles – Marra OutSystems blog posts – OutSystems Microsoft Power Platform Center of Excellence (CoE) Starter Kit – Microsoft Is It Cake? – Wikipedia

In this episode, Oliver Cronk dives into the world of Event-Driven Architecture (EDA) with Tom Fairbairn from Solace and Scott Logic's Gordon Campbell. The discussion explores whether EDA has matured beyond the hype into a practical strategy for modern systems integration, or if it's just another architectural buzzword. Together, they unpack the core principles of EDA, its role in taming point-to-point integration chaos, and how asynchronous processing can help smooth demand spikes. Drawing on real-world examples from finance, retail, and public sector projects, the conversation highlights the power and pitfalls of adopting EDA. Whether you're navigating legacy systems, planning a cloud migration, or exploring AI integration, this episode offers a grounded perspective on when – and when not – to go event-driven. Useful links for this episode Data engineering posts on the Scott Logic blog Tom Fairbairn's posts on the Solace blog Event-Driven Integration posts on the Solace blog

Oliver Cronk is joined by Scott Logic's Sophia Ashley and Alix Dunn from the 'Computer Says Maybe' podcast for a wide-ranging discussion which poses ethical questions that are frequently ignored in the race for technological innovation. Together, they explore the intersection of technology and power, and examine whether society is unwittingly allowing technology to reshape our world without adequate scrutiny or safeguards. As technological innovations continue to promote the atomisation and polarisation of society and the erosion of human agency, our guests consider what's required to achieve the right balance of People, Planet and Profit. From the global to the local, the discussion rounds off by providing practical advice on how you can promote a more human-centric approach to technology in your life and your work. Useful links for this episode Computer Says Maybe podcast Defying Datafication with Dr Abeba Birhane – Computer Says Maybe The Human in the Loop: what's it like to work in the AI supply chain? – Computer Says Maybe Are we sleepwalking into tomorrow's AI challenges? – Oliver Cronk Gradual Disempowerment: Systemic Existential Risks from Incremental AI Development – Jan Kulveit, Raymond Douglas, Nora Ammann, Deger Turan, David Krueger, David Duvenaud The Planet as a Stakeholder The Responsible Business Map The Green PO Doing the Doughnut Tech

In this episode, Oliver Cronk is joined by colleagues David Rees, Hélène Sauvé, Ivan Mladjenovic and Emma Pearce. Together, they delve into the practical applications and limitations of agentic AI and its implications for enterprise AI deployments. The team shares insights from the 'Infer' research and development projects, through which Scott Logic produced and open-sourced InferLLM (a local, personalised AI agent) and InferESG (which uses AI agents to identify greenwashing in Environmental, Social and Governance reports). With real-world examples and expert perspectives, the panel provides a nuanced view of whether fully autonomous agents are hype or reality in 2025. They discuss the balance between human oversight and automation, and emphasise the importance of transparency and traceability in AI systems. They also consider the ethical considerations of self-building agents and the challenges of ensuring reliable AI outputs. Have a listen to gain a deeper understanding of the evolving landscape of agentic AI and its potential impact on various sectors. Useful links for this episode InferLLM on GitHub – Open-sourced by Scott Logic InferESG on GitHub – Open-sourced by Scott Logic InferESG: Augmenting ESG Analysis with Generative AI – David Rees, Scott Logic InferESG: Finding the Right Architecture for AI-Powered ESG Analysis – David Rees, Scott Logic InferESG: Harnessing agentic AI for due diligence – Scott Logic case study Beyond the Hype: Will we ever be able to secure GenAI? – Scott Logic Beyond the Hype: Is architecture for AI even necessary? – Scott Logic Draft classification for different types of Enterprise AI deployment – Oliver Cronk, Scott Logic

In this episode, Oliver Cronk is joined by colleagues Jess McEvoy and James Heward, and Atom Bank's Head of AI and Data Science, Russell Collingham, to tackle the provocative question: "Is architecture for AI even necessary?" They explore the transformative impact of generative AI and the critical role of architecture in ensuring sustainable and scalable implementations. Russell shares Atom Bank's approach to building reusable AI components while navigating security and governance challenges. James emphasises the evolving role of architects in balancing innovation with practical constraints, arguing that architecture remains essential for mission-critical applications. Jess provides a public sector perspective, highlighting the need for a balanced approach to AI regulation and innovation. The episode also delves into the geopolitical implications of AI, the importance of data sovereignty, and the potential for the UK to develop its own AI strategy. Have a listen to gain insights into the ongoing debate about the necessity of architecture in the AI era and the strategic considerations for leveraging AI effectively. Useful links for this episode There is more than one way to do GenAI – Oliver Cronk, Scott Logic Are we sleepwalking into tomorrow's AI challenges? – Oliver Cronk, Scott Logic Building Effective AI Agents – Anthropic Fully Autonomous AI Agents Should Not Be Developed (PDF) – Hugging Face Will the US cloud soon be illegal in the EU? – CIO

In this episode of Beyond the Hype, Oliver Cronk is joined by Bradon Rogers from Island, along with Scott Logic colleagues Dean Kerr and Robat Williams, to explore the potential of enterprise browsers. They delve into the advantages of enterprise browsers over standard options like Chrome and Edge, particularly in terms of security and productivity. Bradon describes how enterprise browsers, built on a Chromium foundation, offer a familiar user experience while integrating robust security features and application delivery capabilities. The discussion also covers the challenges of using consumer-grade browsers in corporate environments, the benefits of desktop container technologies, and the potential for enterprise browsers to simplify security and enhance user productivity. Join the panel as they consider whether enterprise browsers will transform the way organisations manage and secure their digital workspaces. Useful links for this episode Emerging Tech: Security — The Future of Enterprise Browsers – Gartner Web browsers: Reimagining remote work needs at the enterprise level – CIO The rise of the enterprise browser and what's next for secure browsing – VentureBeat