Hey, my name is Spencer!
About Me
I love to build things and solve interesting problems. When I was little I spent a lot of time playing with Lego and K'Nex, drawing, and doing various arts and crafts. As I got older I gravitated towards video games, with my favourites involving some combination of building or optimizing something.
Eventually this translated into software development, where I've spent the last decade. For me, software development provides the perfect blend of creative expression and creative problem solving.
I like solving unconventional problems; the kind that gives me the opportunity to develop an elegant solution to an otherwise messy problem by finding the best balance between function and form. Guiding others through these problems is another source of enjoyment.
If you're looking for someone with a genuine passion for building things and solving interesting problems, I might be the right person, because how you do anything is how you do everything.
What Matters To Me
Values
Build for the Long-Term
Set customers up for success in the long-term by considering more than what's required in the short-term.
Solve the Right Problem
Establish a fundamental understanding of the problem, then determine the best solution given the constraints.
The Boy Scout Rule
Leave the camp cleaner than when I found it by building solutions that are easier to use, understand, and maintain.
Be Transparent
Ensure stakeholders are aware of problems promptly, so that they can be addressed collaboratively and quickly.
Mitch Dickinson
Testimonial
"I was Spencer's direct or indirect manager for approximately 5 years across 2 companies.
Spencer is one of the strongest and deepest thinkers I know. His drive to fully understand concepts and systems from first principles leads to his ability to spot insights and create innovative solutions that others would not. He excels at building long term solutions that can stand the test of time.
Spencer produces the best outcomes when the client's values align with his way of approaching problems. Values like building for the long term, striving for the highest quality and shipping solutions that are predicated on deep problem understanding. When those values are aligned, magic can happen."
Agile
Principles
Plans are worthless, but planning is everything.
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
Based on the original Agile Manifesto, these are the principles I use to structure and manage my projects, aiming to provide the best long-term value.
Satisfaction
From Continuous Delivery
See the value of your money spent through the frequent delivery of working software and detailed reports.
Something that can be used, so you know we're on the right track.
Close collaboration leads to building the best possible solution, with the fewest trade-offs and the lowest overhead.
Ensure those who need to be in the room are there to provide feedback.
Quality
From Close Collaboration
Momentum
From Frequent Communication
Frequent communication ensures that problems are caught and addressed early.
Promptly resolving issues means less time wasted working on the wrong thing.
Simplicity, or "the art of maximizing the amount of work not done", allows us to make changes while minimizing the effect of past decisions.
Be flexible; requirements can change quickly.
Agility
From Simplicity and Flexibility
Why Side Trails?
Name
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
- Albert Einstein
My friends and I enjoy going on trail hikes, and sometimes we'll come across side trails. These side trails are less travelled, rougher, and more challenging, but often more interesting. I always wonder where they will take us and what we might discover.
In software development, these "side trails" are the unconventional solutions that can lead to unexpected discoveries, deeper understanding, and ultimately better solutions.
If the status quo is the main trail, then the side trails represent the unorthodox. It often makes sense to stick with the status quo, and solve problems within it, but exploring the side trails builds confidence in that decision and ensures we don't miss anything along the way.