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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.

Latest Post
Git Diff Deep Dive: Choosing the Right Algorithm for Your Workflow

Git Diff Deep Dive: Choosing the Right Algorithm for Your Workflow

everyone doEver stared at a Git diff that looks like it was generated by a cat walking across your keyboard? You're not alone. While Git's default diff algorithm works well enough most days, there are times when it produces cryptic, unusable output that leaves you scratching your head.

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Career

Strategic guidance and practical insights for navigating your professional journey with purpose and fulfillment

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Holistic approaches to physical and mental wellbeing, focusing on sustainable practices for optimal health in a high-demand world

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Technical guides, coding best practices, and software engineering insights for building robust, maintainable applications

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 Latest Blog Posts

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  • Git Diff Deep Dive: Choosing the Right Algorithm for Your Workflow

    Git Diff Deep Dive: Choosing the Right Algorithm for Your Workflow

    everyone doEver stared at a Git diff that looks like it was generated by a cat walking across your keyboard? You're not alone. While Git's default diff algorithm works well enough most days, there are times when it produces cryptic, unusable output that leaves you scratching your head.

  • The Autism "Epidemic" Myth: Why We're Just Getting Better at Recognition

    The Autism "Epidemic" Myth: Why We're Just Getting Better at Recognition

    Every few days, I see another panicked headline about "skyrocketing autism rates" or well-meaning friends sharing concerns about an "autism epidemic." As someone who is autistic, and who has an autistic child, and has spent considerable time studying how systems evolve and improve diagnostics, I want to break down why this framing is both inaccurate and potentially harmful.

  • Git Notes & Trailers: The Hidden Features You Should Be Using

    Git Notes & Trailers: The Hidden Features You Should Be Using

    I stumbled across Git Notes during a late-night debugging session last week, and honestly, I'm slightly annoyed that I hadn't been using this feature for years. If you've ever wanted to attach persistent metadata to commits without changing commit hashes (and who hasn't?), this hidden gem deserves your attention. And while we're exploring Git's underappreciated features, let's also look at Git trailers - another powerful tool for managing metadata in your repositories.

  • Crafting the Perfect Sprint Retrospective

    Crafting the Perfect Sprint Retrospective

    As a Scrum Master with years of experience facilitating retrospectives for development teams, I've discovered that the success of a retro hinges on thoughtful preparation. The right format, the right questions, and the right energy can transform a session from a routine meeting into a powerful tool for team growth and improvement.

  • A Val Farewell: How Val Kilmer Shaped My World

    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

    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.

  •  Latest Recipes

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  • Asian style cucumber

    Asian style cucumber

    This refreshing Asian-style cucumber dish combines crisp cucumber slices with a perfect balance of savory, tangy flavors. It's a quick and easy recipe that makes for an excellent light snack or side dish to complement heavier meals. The combination of ginger, garlic, and soy sauce creates a delightful umami profile that transforms simple cucumbers into something special.

  • Fried Cabbage with Bacon

    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

    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

    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

    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

    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.