Greetings, I am Ris Adams
Welcome to my blog! Whether you're looking for career hacks, tips to boost your well-being, or fresh perspectives on self-improvement, you've come to the right place. Let's navigate this journey together!
Since 1996 I've been a Software Architect, Scrum Master, and DevSecOps Engineer with a passion for human-computer interaction and open-source projects. I help teams build better software while coaching mid-career developers to take control of their professional journey.
I'm a father to an amazing son. I believe in lifelong learning, embracing challenges, and finding balance between technical excellence and personal growth.
I'm sharing my 25+ years of expertise to help others thrive.
Code. Care. Conquer Life.
Blog Posts
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A Val Farewell: How Val Kilmer Shaped My World
I still remember sitting cross-legged on the floor of my childhood living room, completely mesmerized as Madmartigan swung his sword across our family TV screen. Yesterday, on April 1, 2025, when I heard that Val Kilmer had passed away at 65 from pneumonia, it felt like losing an old friend who had been with me through every chapter of my life.
Essential Questions Every New Scrum Master Should Ask
Joining an existing team as a new Scrum Master is like being dropped into the middle of a complex ecosystem with its own established patterns and invisible rules. You might be tempted to immediately start "fixing" things based on textbook Scrum implementations or previous experiences. Don't. Instead, invest time understanding the current landscape before making any changes. These teams have history, context, and reasons (good or otherwise) for how they operate. Your first job isn't to change - it's to comprehend.
Git Merge vs Git Rebase: Understanding the Perfect Integration Strategy
Version control with Git offers developers multiple ways to integrate changes across branches, with merge and rebase standing as the two primary approaches. While both accomplish the same fundamental goal—incorporating changes from one branch into another—they do so through fundamentally different mechanisms, resulting in distinct commit histories and team workflows. Understanding when to use each strategy can significantly impact your project's history clarity, team collaboration, and conflict resolution process. In this deep dive, we'll explore how each option works under the hood, examine real-world usage patterns, and provide clear guidelines for choosing the right approach for your specific situation.
Shadows -- Remembering Carl Dean
With yesterdya's new of the passing of Carl Dean, the beloved husband of Dolly Parton,
Energizing Your Sprint Retrospectives: A Guide to Meaningful Team Reflection
As a Scrum Master and seasoned software developer, I've come to understand that sprint retrospectives are pivotal moments
The Importance of Solitude for a blanced life
This is not about forced solitude or how to cope with it. It's not about being lonely or escaping from the world into mountain seclusion. Rather, solitude is an exercise in nurturing your state of mind to achieve inner freedom. Read on to discover the many advantages of solitude.
Latest Recipes
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Fried Cabbage with Bacon
This hearty, soul-warming dish transforms humble cabbage into something truly special. The combination of crispy, smoky bacon with tender cabbage creates a perfect balance of flavors, while a touch of sugar adds subtle sweetness that complements the natural flavors of the vegetables. Ready in under 30 minutes, this simple side dish pairs beautifully with almost any main course, from roasted chicken to grilled pork chops. It's comfort food at its finest – unpretentious, satisfying, and deliciously addictive.
Creamy Curried Carrot Soup
There's nothing quite like a warm, comforting bowl of creamy carrot soup to soothe the soul and satisfy your taste buds.
Extra Cheesy Garlic Bread
If you're a fan of garlic and cheese, this Extra Cheesy Garlic Bread is about to become your new favorite treat. Perfectly crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside, and loaded with gooey, melted cheese, this bread is a savory delight that pairs perfectly with any meal or can be enjoyed on its own.
Crispy Roasted Chickpeas
Picture the sizzle as tender chickpeas hit a hot oven, olive oil coating each little morsel to golden perfection. The crisp snap of a perfectly roasted chickpea pairs with fragrant spices that dance on the nose—an irresistible invitation for snacking that will leave you reaching for more.
Simple Syrup
Picture a warm stream of liquid sugar cascading into a glass, glistening with a soft golden hue as it mixes seamlessly with your favorite beverages. Simple syrup is all about pure sweetness—perfect for stirring into iced coffee, balancing out cocktails, or drizzling over desserts. It’s effortlessly smooth, instantly brings out rich flavors, and has a taste that keeps you coming back for more.
Spiced Cranberry Sauce
Picture plump, ruby-red cranberries simmering until they burst with sweet-tart flavor, filling the kitchen with the cozy aroma of the holidays. A spoonful of this homemade sauce is guaranteed to perk up any dish with its bright color, luscious texture, and refreshing zing—perfect for turning an ordinary meal into something special.