Beyond the Hype

Colin is joined by Dean Kerr (Lead Developer) and Amy Laws (Developer) to discuss 'The Experiment' – a four‑week study exploring how AI really affects software development. Instead of synthetic benchmarks, the team tackled genuine issues in an open‑source project, alternating between AI‑assisted work and going completely 'cold turkey'.
The contrasts were striking. Amy's AI‑free period exposed how dependent everyday development has become on instant summaries and contextual answers. Meanwhile, Dean found that adopting a simple agentic loop – Analysis → Implementation → Reflection – helped him make better use of AI rather than blindly accept its output.
Together, their experiences reveal a discipline in flux: developers gain speed and support from AI, but also confront questions about craftsmanship, learning, and where the fun in software now sits as the tools reshape both workflow and mindset.
Useful links for this episode
Measuring the Impact of Early-2025 AI on Experienced Open-Source Developer Productivity – METR

SWE-bench – SWE-bench Team

Analysis → Implementation → Reflection – a practical technique for issue resolution with agentic AI – Dean Kerr, Scott Logic

Agentic Engineering Patterns – Red/green TDD – Simon Willison's Weblog

In this episode of Beyond the Hype, Colin Eberhardt is joined by Remi Van Goethem to unpack the fast‑evolving world of AI‑accelerated software development. From everyday autocompletion to emerging multi‑agent frameworks, they explore how AI is reshaping coding practice and where human engineering judgement still matters.
Remi shares his recent experience rapidly prototyping a planning application using a Research–Plan–Implement workflow, highlighting how AI can transform early‑stage discovery, architecture thinking, and delivery speed. Together, they consider what this shift means for developers, architects, and CTOs as AI starts to generate more of our code, and whether vibe coding is a glimpse of software's future or simply the latest trend.
Useful links for this episode
Will the future of software development run on vibes? – Ars Technica
Welcome to Gas Town – Stephen Yegge
I miss thinking hard – Juan Ernesto
Agentic Coding Makes Old Coders Young and Young Coders Old – Scott Francis
AI-Assisted Development at Block – Angie Jones
Research → Plan → Implement Pattern – Goose

In this episode, Oliver Cronk is joined by colleagues James Camilleri and Hélène Sauvé to explore the complex topic of AI sustainability. It's a conversation that spans the environmental impact of AI, from carbon emissions to water usage, and examines whether the industry narrative matches reality.
 
They delve into the trade-offs between energy and water, the role of lifecycle analysis, and how approaches such as federated learning and smaller models could help. They also ask whether "green AI" is more than marketing hype, and what practical steps organisations can take to make AI genuinely sustainable.
Useful links for this episode
Technology Carbon Standard – Open-sourced by Scott Logic
Balancing AI Innovation and Sustainability: Our presentation at HM Treasury ID25 – Oliver Cronk
Greener AI - what matters, what helps, and what we still do not know – James Camilleri
Introducing AI-related emissions into the Technology Carbon Standard – Hélène Sauvé
Mapping the carbon footprint of digital content – Hélène Sauvé
Sustainability in AI - why we must listen to the smaller players – Hélène Sauvé
Sustainability topic on the Scott Logic Blog
Beyond the Hype: Can technology sustainability really make a difference?
Beyond the Hype: Can we do better than 'carbon aware' computing?
Artificial intelligence threatens to raid the water reserves of Europe's driest regions – Marianne Gros and Leonie Cater, Politico
Mistral
Green Tech South West
Will new models like DeepSeek reduce the direct environmental footprint of AI? – Chris Adams
Government Digital Sustainability Alliance (GDSA)
Hugging Face
Empire of AI – Wikipedia
Computer Says Maybe podcast
GreenIO podcast
V-Bucks – Fortnite Wiki

In this episode, Oliver Cronk is joined by Josie Walledge, Catherine Pratt and Dave Ogle to explore whether Agile has lost its meaning – or worse, become a dirty word. With years of combined experience, the panel reflects on Agile's evolution from a revolutionary mindset to a sometimes rigid and misunderstood process.
They unpack common misconceptions, like Agile being synonymous with speed or chaos, and discuss how frameworks like Scrum and SAFe can either empower or constrain teams. The conversation highlights the importance of planning, governance, and trust, emphasising that Agile works best when it's flexible, outcome-focused, and tailored to context.
Whether you're deep in delivery or just curious about Agile's relevance today, this episode offers practical insights and candid reflections that go well beyond the hype.
Useful links for this episode
The Agile Manifesto
Our Approach to Delivery – Josie Walledge, Scott Logic
Why a holistic approach is the key to a successful legacy modernisation project – Catherine Pratt, Scott Logic
Dave Ogle's blog posts on Agile – Dave Ogle, Scott Logic
Strategy to Reality with Whynde Kuehn, Lisa Woodall and Catherine Pratt – Architect Tomorrow

In this episode of Beyond the Hype, Oliver Cronk is joined by Ani Allen from OutSystems and Ryan Grey from Marra to discuss the evolving landscape of Low-Code, No-Code, and AI-assisted development. With backgrounds spanning neuroscience, enterprise software, and consultancy, the guests bring a rich mix of perspectives to a conversation that cuts through the hype.
 
They explore the spectrum from No-Code, through Low-Code, to High- (or Pro-?) Code, and consider how AI is reshaping the development experience. From citizen developers and shadow IT to the promise (and pitfalls) of conversational coding, the discussion highlights both the opportunities and governance challenges that come with democratising software creation.
 
Whether you're a developer, tech leader, or just curious about the future of building software, this episode offers a grounded look at how Low-Code and AI might transform your digital strategy, if used wisely.
Useful links for this episode
Marra insight articles – Marra
OutSystems blog posts – OutSystems
Microsoft Power Platform Center of Excellence (CoE) Starter Kit – Microsoft
Is It Cake? – Wikipedia