Irving Montes

Before writing any code, I focus on understanding the problem deeply. This means spending time with the domain experts, observing how work actually gets done, and identifying the real constraints—not just the stated requirements.

Every system operates within constraints: time, budget, existing infrastructure, and human factors. I design for these constraints rather than ignoring them. A solution that works in theory but fails in practice is not a solution.

I ask why repeatedly until I reach the root cause. Often the obvious problem is a symptom of something deeper. Fixing symptoms wastes time; fixing root causes creates lasting value.

“Understand deeply. Design for constraints. Build once, build right.”

Modularity is non-negotiable. Systems should be composed of discrete, testable components with clear interfaces. When one part fails, the rest should continue operating. When requirements change, individual components should be replaceable without rewriting the entire system.

Reliability is a feature, not an afterthought. Every system I build includes failure modes, graceful degradation, and recovery paths from day one. If a component fails, the system should know, report it, and continue in a safe state.

Observability enables understanding. Logs, metrics, and traces are essential infrastructure. You cannot operate what you cannot see. I instrument systems comprehensively so that when issues arise, they can be diagnosed quickly without guesswork.

“Modularity enables change. Observability enables understanding.”

Industrial systems must work for years, not just until deployment. This changes how you write code, structure deployments, and make technology choices. I optimize for operability and maintainability over novelty.

Simplicity beats cleverness. Complex systems are harder to understand, debug, and maintain. I prefer straightforward solutions using well-understood technologies. Innovation belongs in the problem space, not the tooling.

Documentation is part of the deliverable. A system without documentation is incomplete. I write for the engineer who will maintain this system three years from now—who might be me. Clear documentation saves hours of debugging and prevents catastrophic mistakes.

“Systems must work for years. Code is read more than written.”