Stephan Schwab

Stories, software, and a life lived across several worlds

Stories, books, and judgment shaped by real software delivery.

La Startup — A Fintech Telenovela from Bogotá Código del Destino — Legacy Systems, Legacy Families Signal Through Noise — Cutting Through Organizational Chaos The Last Batch — When Competence Becomes an Existential Threat

About me

I build and rescue software, and I write fiction about the human side of how it gets made. Here you’ll find my stories and novelas, notes on craft, and field notes from a life lived across several worlds.

Working with software teams is what I do professionally — see how on caimito.net. You can also read about my experience since 1986.

Work with me

Hire me as the senior who embeds in your team and makes it ship.

caimito.net

Bread and Games—But What Are We For? Bread and Games—But What Are We For? 06 Aug 2026 Mobility, As Authorized Mobility, As Authorized 05 Jul 2026 Das Amt für das Richtige Das Amt für das Richtige 31 May 2026 The Mouth Between Suns The Mouth Between Suns 24 May 2026 The Little Oracle The Little Oracle 17 May 2026 Open Weight Contraband Open Weight Contraband 12 May 2026 Flowing Seasonal Creek Flowing Seasonal Creek 12 Feb 2024 Living on the farm Living on the farm 09 Jul 2019 Spent the night in the new house Spent the night in the new house 29 Dec 2018 Working on the inside of the house Working on the inside of the house 03 Nov 2018 Solar pump for the shallow well Solar pump for the shallow well 04 Oct 2018 Air conditioner for the offgrid house Air conditioner for the offgrid house 31 Aug 2018 Washing and drying with solar power Washing and drying with solar power 04 Aug 2018 It is moving day It is moving day 31 Jul 2018 We got cows for the farm We got cows for the farm 23 Jul 2018 Putting up drywall and insulation Putting up drywall and insulation 22 Jul 2018 Installing windows Installing windows 21 Jul 2018 Bird's nest in the engine compartment Bird's nest in the engine compartment 20 Jul 2018 Solar power for the house Solar power for the house 19 Jul 2018 Pasture eaten and trampled Pasture eaten and trampled 18 Jul 2018 Automatic waterer for the animals Automatic waterer for the animals 17 Jul 2018 Erecting the mongolian yurt the second time Erecting the mongolian yurt the second time 16 Jul 2018 Wrapping the house in paper Wrapping the house in paper 15 Jul 2018 Electrical wiring Electrical wiring 14 Jul 2018 Digging with the backhoe Digging with the backhoe 13 Jul 2018 Sheep shelter and getting plans changed Sheep shelter and getting plans changed 12 Jul 2018 Decking the roof Decking the roof 11 Jul 2018 Roundpen for horse training Roundpen for horse training 10 Jul 2018 Installing water pipe for the kitchen Installing water pipe for the kitchen 09 Jul 2018 Every guy needs a backhoe Every guy needs a backhoe 08 Jul 2018 Getting a horse and some wildlife Getting a horse and some wildlife 07 Jul 2018 Consumed by tall gras Consumed by tall gras 07 Jul 2018 Water proofing the roof Water proofing the roof 27 Jun 2018 We got four Merino sheep We got four Merino sheep 26 Jun 2018 Closing in the roof Closing in the roof 25 Jun 2018 Adding a second half to the house Adding a second half to the house 24 Jun 2018 Adding the Mongolian Yurt to the building Adding the Mongolian Yurt to the building 23 Jun 2018 Progress on the house build 2 Progress on the house build 2 21 Jun 2018 Как информационная безопасность может нанести вред компании Как информационная безопасность может нанести вред компании 18 May 2018 How Information Security can harm your company How Information Security can harm your company 18 May 2018 Design for replaceability Design for replaceability 08 Apr 2018 Draft of a ROCA- and SCS-style application Draft of a ROCA- and SCS-style application 07 Apr 2018 Considerations for a farm following the principles of Lean Startup Considerations for a farm following the principles of Lean Startup 02 Apr 2018 Progress on the house build Progress on the house build 21 Mar 2018 Setting up the first electric fence Setting up the first electric fence 04 Feb 2018 All walls have been completed All walls have been completed 04 Feb 2018 First time framing walls First time framing walls 21 Jan 2018 Day saved for delivery truck driver Day saved for delivery truck driver 21 Jan 2018 Decking for the subfloor Decking for the subfloor 13 Jan 2018 Testing with Selenium Docker Container Testing with Selenium Docker Container 07 Jan 2018 Building the subfloor for the temporary housing at the farm Building the subfloor for the temporary housing at the farm 31 Dec 2017 Fixing a fence temporarily Fixing a fence temporarily 17 Nov 2017 Veterinarian checks cows and vaccinates pigs Veterinarian checks cows and vaccinates pigs 16 Nov 2017 Some metal work and planning for another building Some metal work and planning for another building 22 Oct 2017 Finally some rain Finally some rain 18 Oct 2017 Rock and patches of concrete in the patio Rock and patches of concrete in the patio 14 Oct 2017 Cleaning up patio and workshop Cleaning up patio and workshop 13 Oct 2017 Planning the farm layout Planning the farm layout 07 Oct 2017 First lunch at new farm First lunch at new farm 04 Oct 2017 First impressions from the new farm First impressions from the new farm 03 Oct 2017 New farm in Andalucia New farm in Andalucia 02 Oct 2017 Sunday afternoon in the neighborhood of Poblenou in Barcelona Sunday afternoon in the neighborhood of Poblenou in Barcelona 11 Dec 2016 Highlights of 2015 Highlights of 2015 31 Dec 2015 Real IFR landing Real IFR landing 25 Aug 2015 Back to Kassel with a safety landing Back to Kassel with a safety landing 13 Jul 2015 Mountain trip from Sabadell to La Cerdanya Mountain trip from Sabadell to La Cerdanya 11 Jul 2015 Kassel - Avignon - Sabadell Kassel - Avignon - Sabadell 10 Jul 2015 Cloud surfing Cloud surfing 27 May 2015 Taking delivery of N521CD Taking delivery of N521CD 05 Apr 2015 We cannot do this We cannot do this 01 Dec 2014 What should the ALE News web client do? What should the ALE News web client do? 27 Sep 2014 Learning AngularJS to create the ALE News web client Learning AngularJS to create the ALE News web client 25 Sep 2014 Chinese Thank You Dinner Chinese Thank You Dinner 22 Sep 2014 Safe driving education Safe driving education 21 Sep 2014 Corporate singing contest Corporate singing contest 20 Sep 2014 Night Shadows Night Shadows 19 Sep 2014 Is uncovering issues an issue? Is uncovering issues an issue? 18 Sep 2014 Xi'an indoor food court and market Xi'an indoor food court and market 17 Sep 2014 It can get hot in China It can get hot in China 15 Sep 2014 Bring your own container to the supermarket to buy flour or sugar Bring your own container to the supermarket to buy flour or sugar 14 Sep 2014 General Aviation in China General Aviation in China 13 Sep 2014 干杯 - Bottoms up 干杯 - Bottoms up 24 Aug 2014 Words matter a lot - Speaking in images Words matter a lot - Speaking in images 13 Jul 2014 Impressions of Chinese street life Impressions of Chinese street life 30 Jun 2014 Dance Show at Shenzhen Waterworld Dance Show at Shenzhen Waterworld 28 Jun 2014 Chinese Lunch Chinese Lunch 25 Jun 2014 Some Beijing impressions Some Beijing impressions 25 Jun 2014 Chinese business dinner Chinese business dinner 24 Jun 2014 First impressions and travel to Beijing First impressions and travel to Beijing 23 Jun 2014 Next. Coaching software developers in China Next. Coaching software developers in China 18 Jun 2014 Agile Cologne 2014 Agile Cologne 2014 13 Jun 2014 This time with oxygen This time with oxygen 11 Jun 2014 Es wäre anders gar nicht möglich Es wäre anders gar nicht möglich 21 May 2014 Dealing with delays and last minute landing (EDVK - EDFC) Dealing with delays and last minute landing (EDVK - EDFC) 15 May 2014 Flight into the night (EDAZ - EDVK) Flight into the night (EDAZ - EDVK) 14 May 2014 This time above the clouds in the sunshine (EDFC - EDAZ) This time above the clouds in the sunshine (EDFC - EDAZ) 12 May 2014 IFR Flight Berlin-Schönhagen (EDAZ) to Aschaffenburg (EDFC) IFR Flight Berlin-Schönhagen (EDAZ) to Aschaffenburg (EDFC) 06 May 2014 IFR Flight Aschaffenburg (EDFC) to Berlin-Schönhagen (EDAZ) IFR Flight Aschaffenburg (EDFC) to Berlin-Schönhagen (EDAZ) 05 May 2014 An afternoon trip to Freiburg An afternoon trip to Freiburg 02 May 2014 First IFR solo trip from EDFC to EDAZ First IFR solo trip from EDFC to EDAZ 29 Apr 2014 Philadelphia (KLOM) to Boston (KBED) Philadelphia (KLOM) to Boston (KBED) 10 Apr 2014 Touring Philadelphia in IMC and circle to land at minimums Touring Philadelphia in IMC and circle to land at minimums 04 Apr 2014 Travel to a meeting followed by two full days of work with no hassle Travel to a meeting followed by two full days of work with no hassle 29 Mar 2014 Commencing IFR Training Commencing IFR Training 12 Oct 2013 On The Development Of Capabilities On The Development Of Capabilities 22 Sep 2013 ALE2013 - Forth leg Szeged, Hungary, to Mühldorf, Germany ALE2013 - Forth leg Szeged, Hungary, to Mühldorf, Germany 05 Sep 2013 ALE2013 - Third leg Szeged, Hungary, to Bucharest, Romania ALE2013 - Third leg Szeged, Hungary, to Bucharest, Romania 03 Sep 2013 ALE2013 - Second leg Ostrava, Czech Republic, to Szeged, Hungary ALE2013 - Second leg Ostrava, Czech Republic, to Szeged, Hungary 02 Sep 2013 ALE2013 - Use of Real Options When Flying VFR ALE2013 - Use of Real Options When Flying VFR 01 Sep 2013 ALE2013 - First leg Egelsbach, Germany, to Ostrava, Czech Republic ALE2013 - First leg Egelsbach, Germany, to Ostrava, Czech Republic 01 Sep 2013 Business travel with light aircraft Business travel with light aircraft 30 Jun 2013 Highlights of 2012 Highlights of 2012 31 Dec 2012 Thoughts On Our Natural Inability to Communicate Well Thoughts On Our Natural Inability to Communicate Well 06 May 2012 Two Opposites: Right-Brain Extrovert vs Left-Brain Introvert Two Opposites: Right-Brain Extrovert vs Left-Brain Introvert 26 Mar 2012 Riding Again Riding Again 20 Mar 2012 Maximiliano - Training the trained horse Maximiliano - Training the trained horse 18 Mar 2012 Teaching cues to Maximiliano Teaching cues to Maximiliano 13 Feb 2012 A Real Pickup Truck A Real Pickup Truck 22 Jan 2012 Peruvian Paso Maximiliano arrives and meets Max Peruvian Paso Maximiliano arrives and meets Max 11 Jan 2012 Road trip: 4 states and a Peruvian Paso gelding Road trip: 4 states and a Peruvian Paso gelding 30 Dec 2011 Max the Haflinger Max the Haflinger 06 Dec 2011 Finally - Paddock right in front of the house Finally - Paddock right in front of the house 20 Aug 2011 Snake hides in a moving box Snake hides in a moving box 05 Jul 2011 Horses, cows and a view to the Pacific Ocean Horses, cows and a view to the Pacific Ocean 30 Jun 2011 The importance of craftsmanship The importance of craftsmanship 27 May 2011 Remarkable insect Remarkable insect 01 Apr 2011 Water is essential for new pasture during dry season Water is essential for new pasture during dry season 30 Mar 2011 Cucumber: When Programmers Have a Dream Cucumber: When Programmers Have a Dream 17 Oct 2010 Building a transmitter over the weekend Building a transmitter over the weekend 12 Apr 2010 Peruvian mares mastering rough terrain very well Peruvian mares mastering rough terrain very well 04 Apr 2010 City girls - too afraid of creeks City girls - too afraid of creeks 23 Mar 2010 Right of Possession and local authorities that fear to act Right of Possession and local authorities that fear to act 17 Mar 2010 Building a temporary horse stable Building a temporary horse stable 10 Mar 2010 30 km and different food can have a dramatic effect on a horse's health 30 km and different food can have a dramatic effect on a horse's health 07 Mar 2010 Fine Peruvian Horses Fine Peruvian Horses 01 Mar 2010 Meeting with the district administrator to complete the road Meeting with the district administrator to complete the road 18 Feb 2010 Registering our brand Registering our brand 17 Feb 2010 Checkpoints everywhere during Carnival Checkpoints everywhere during Carnival 16 Feb 2010 Crossing the "Brazo de Chuluganti" river Crossing the "Brazo de Chuluganti" river 15 Feb 2010 Jeep as Logging Tool Jeep as Logging Tool 13 Feb 2010 First baby trees in the tree nursery First baby trees in the tree nursery 13 Feb 2010 Where no car has gone before: what a great feeling Where no car has gone before: what a great feeling 07 Feb 2010 Progress on our dirt road Progress on our dirt road 04 Feb 2010 We are building a dirt road in the jungle We are building a dirt road in the jungle 02 Feb 2010 The last 300 meters The last 300 meters 28 Jan 2010 A path on top A path on top 27 Jan 2010 Hauling a tree with the Jeep Hauling a tree with the Jeep 26 Jan 2010 Cherimoya fruit was seeded Cherimoya fruit was seeded 14 Jan 2010 Started to seed in the new tree nursery Started to seed in the new tree nursery 12 Jan 2010 Very pleased with the wood transport rikshaw Very pleased with the wood transport rikshaw 10 Jan 2010 Wood Rickshaw Wood Rickshaw 09 Jan 2010 Nice doors and final paint job for the offroad trailer Nice doors and final paint job for the offroad trailer 07 Jan 2010 Doors for the offroad trailer Doors for the offroad trailer 05 Jan 2010 Going off the road with our homemade trailer Going off the road with our homemade trailer 04 Jan 2010 Setting up a tree nursery Setting up a tree nursery 30 Dec 2009 Homemade offroad trailer Homemade offroad trailer 27 Dec 2009 Making signs Making signs 25 Dec 2009 Making our own trailer hitch Making our own trailer hitch 23 Dec 2009 Clamp slabs together to saw poles Clamp slabs together to saw poles 28 Nov 2009 Turning the guayacan log into slabs Turning the guayacan log into slabs 27 Nov 2009 Think like a cow: pasture Think like a cow: pasture 23 Nov 2009 How to make wooden marker poles How to make wooden marker poles 23 Nov 2009 Land survey in the jungle Land survey in the jungle 22 Nov 2009 Searching for wood and finding a "quebrada"; More weeding Searching for wood and finding a "quebrada"; More weeding 21 Nov 2009 Fixing up and cleaning the rancho Fixing up and cleaning the rancho 20 Nov 2009 A farm in the rainforest - but with great cellphone coverage A farm in the rainforest - but with great cellphone coverage 19 Nov 2009 Removing a large jobo tree to unblock the access trail Removing a large jobo tree to unblock the access trail 18 Nov 2009 Pedron's hoof is getting better Pedron's hoof is getting better 17 Nov 2009 Our first two heads of cattle Our first two heads of cattle 16 Nov 2009 Buying cattle from a local farmer Buying cattle from a local farmer 13 Nov 2009 Buying cattle via Blackberry Buying cattle via Blackberry 11 Nov 2009 Pedron receives a house visit by the medical team Pedron receives a house visit by the medical team 04 Nov 2009 Vaccines for our horses Vaccines for our horses 02 Nov 2009 Where the rainforest is Where the rainforest is 31 Oct 2009 Flower and fruits Flower and fruits 28 Oct 2009 Food and beverage in the wilderness Food and beverage in the wilderness 26 Oct 2009 How to do a land survey How to do a land survey 24 Oct 2009 Rights of Possession in Panama Rights of Possession in Panama 22 Oct 2009 Seems like this will be the access road (2/2) Seems like this will be the access road (2/2) 19 Oct 2009 Seems like this will be the access road (1/2) Seems like this will be the access road (1/2) 17 Oct 2009 Luzero's accident and rescue Luzero's accident and rescue 15 Oct 2009 Luzero, Toby and Pedron visit a teak plantation Luzero, Toby and Pedron visit a teak plantation 13 Oct 2009 Some more offroad fun Some more offroad fun 04 Oct 2009 Exploring a true jungle Exploring a true jungle 02 Oct 2009 Another attempt at finding a good route for the access road (2/2) Another attempt at finding a good route for the access road (2/2) 22 Sep 2009 Another attempt at finding a good route for the access road (1/2) Another attempt at finding a good route for the access road (1/2) 19 Sep 2009 Didimo's old and new home Didimo's old and new home 18 Sep 2009 Our temporary home base Our temporary home base 16 Sep 2009 The big trip to the farm for our new horses The big trip to the farm for our new horses 15 Sep 2009 Horse Beauty Salon Horse Beauty Salon 14 Sep 2009 Picking up Luzero to join the others Picking up Luzero to join the others 13 Sep 2009 Saddles, Machetes, Lasso, etc. Saddles, Machetes, Lasso, etc. 12 Sep 2009 Finding horses Finding horses 11 Sep 2009 Going all the way to the end of the road (2/2) Going all the way to the end of the road (2/2) 10 Sep 2009 Sometimes leaving can be difficult Sometimes leaving can be difficult 07 Sep 2009 Going all the way to the end of the road (1/2) Going all the way to the end of the road (1/2) 07 Sep 2009 Figuring out where to build an access road Figuring out where to build an access road 07 Sep 2009 How the farm looks like at the moment How the farm looks like at the moment 06 Sep 2009 Exploring the farm Exploring the farm 06 Sep 2009 The final 2 km are on horseback The final 2 km are on horseback 06 Sep 2009 How to get to the farm How to get to the farm 04 Sep 2009 Left the city behind and went 4x4 Left the city behind and went 4x4 28 Dec 2008 IEEE Panama celebrates Dia del Programador IEEE Panama celebrates Dia del Programador 15 Sep 2008 Thoughts on the ideal project team Thoughts on the ideal project team 05 Feb 2008 Cram the team into a small space or let them think Cram the team into a small space or let them think 24 Nov 2007 Ohio for a few days Ohio for a few days 22 Nov 2007 Panama JUG: Two Day Conference Panama JUG: Two Day Conference 01 Sep 2007 Java stack for all purpose development Java stack for all purpose development 19 Mar 2007 Cerro Azul - Vacation Homes Between the Clouds Cerro Azul - Vacation Homes Between the Clouds 03 Feb 2007 Presented at 4th Geek Fest Panama Presented at 4th Geek Fest Panama 01 Feb 2007 Taxis in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia Taxis in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia 27 Sep 2006 Leisurely Sunday at the beach Leisurely Sunday at the beach 27 Aug 2006 Welcome Antonio Welcome Antonio 23 Aug 2006 Quite fast Quite fast 19 Aug 2006 Fiber Optics for Internet Access Fiber Optics for Internet Access 15 Aug 2006 Moving in Moving in 23 Jul 2006 Arrived in Panama and started working in my new office Arrived in Panama and started working in my new office 10 Jul 2006

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