When Does an FDE Pay for Itself?
Automation pays back in 3-9 months, platform plays in a year or more. The napkin breakeven formula, the pessimist discount, and the red flags.
Read article → FDE FundamentalsWorking Onsite With Clients: The FDE Field Guide
Plant tours, badge rules, and the thermometer rule: why FDEs embed where the work happens, and how to earn floor trust in week one.
Read article → Case Studies & StoriesBecoming the One-Person IT Department
One integration gig quietly turned into being the computer person for 40 people. The week, the math, and the boundary list that kept it sane.
Read article → Tools & StackVercel vs. Cloudflare: An FDE's Deploy Decision
Both platforms are good; that's what makes the choice annoying. Framework fit, egress pricing, and the operator after month six decide it.
Read article → Prototyping & DeliveryScope Creep Defense: Rules of Engagement
Scope creep isn't a client character flaw; it's an intake system with no door. The parking lot, version numbers, and priced change requests fix it.
Read article → AI & DataLLM Cost Control: No Surprise Token Bills
Your AI feature 4x'd its API bill and nobody did anything wrong. Four boring levers (routing, caching, prompt diets, budgets) fix it in a week.
Read article → Industry PlaybooksFDE in Energy and Utilities: Old Grid, New Software
Utilities run on 30-year-old systems and a lot of binders. Here's where an FDE can move fast (crews, reports, meter data) and the one line you never cross.
Read article → Hiring & CareersNegotiating an FDE Offer: Levers People Miss
Two FDE offers, $8k apart, and the candidate agonizes over base while ignoring the travel policy. How to negotiate what decides your life.
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