The Art of Automation in Modern Engineering
Designing Systems That Think Without Forgetting to Feel
By Nigel Dsouza
We us...
For further actions, you may consider blocking this person and/or reporting abuse
man i love this take - building stuff that people actually enjoy using instead of just cranking out scripts sounds way more interesting tbh. you ever feel like there’s a line between making things easier for people and making them forget everything?
In an age of AI that’s going to touch every user, and engineers are struggling with issues around human psychology and even the definition of consciousness, Nigel takes a wonderful step forward in this beautifully written article by evoking the concept of designing and architecting systems through the lens of human emotion and sensibility - widening the scope for how designers can think and imagine their work. Refreshing read!!
Totally agree that too much automation can hurt. Sometimes introducing bit of friction can differentiate great designs from good ones. Like how android started requiring you to enter password after 72hr so that you don't forget it.
This was a beautifully composed piece — poetic, insightful, and deeply relevant. I especially loved the metaphor of infrastructure as a symphony; it captures the harmony (and chaos) of modern engineering perfectly. The shift from brittle automation to meaningful, resilient design really resonated. Thank you for reminding us that automation isn’t just about efficiency — it’s about empathy, intention, and craftsmanship. Subscribed for more! 👏
Really enjoyed this, Nigel. You’ve done a great job breaking down how automation isn’t just about saving time — it’s about building smarter, more reliable systems that actually help teams thrive. The part about “good automation saving teams” really stood out to me. It’s easy to forget how much thought goes into doing it well. Thanks for the thoughtful write-up — bookmarking this one.
Wonderful short read. We take Automation for granted and expect results without much sweat. But Nigel has bought forward a different perspective on Automation in this modern world. Love the phrase ‘Designing for Delight, Not Just Delivery’. Agree with Nigel when he says that we have to make Automation more of an experience and feelable. It’s a medium and Engineers are born to make it an art. Well said.
Nice article Nigel. Thanks for sharing.
Really liked the suggestion about looking at automation as an art. The tagline" Bad automation saves time. Good automation saves teams." is really powerful. Your thoughts will help other automation engineers think about automation in the right way
Nigel puts forward a unique perspective comparing software automation to creating symphony or art. This demonstrates not only his love for the art of software development, but also that he is good at it
Nigel paints an insightful view of automation, emphasizes that the true success of automation lies in its ability to enhance the human experience. The concept of making automation "feelable" is particularly thought-provoking, suggesting designers can be more intuitive, supportive, and transparent to the user.
Interesting and well written.
Super relevant in today's time where there's so much misinformation and misuse of automation
Well written, very informative.
Well said Nigel! I love the harmonic orchestra analogy - perfect fit!!
Very well written. Your style and take on the topic on hand is 'out of the box'. Really liked it.
Very well written! 👏
Very well written. Worth a read
Nigel, you have made a great point. I believe that in the age of AI, there are opportunities to build ”feelable” systems in the time it takes to put together a few commands!
Wonderful read!
Great Article 👍. Very informative
Interesting read with a unique perspective. Automation is good but can hurt if not developed with care and intuition. I like Nigel’s comparison of automation to music and art.
Well written. Very insightful and informative.
Very nicely conceptualized with the orchestra anology. Interesting concept.
Very nicely conceptualized
I like the bit about the best automation teaching and supporting humans rather than replacing them. Would love to see more engineers as artists / conducting Symphonies!!
Brilliantly written! Loved the analogy of automation as the nervous system of modern engineering. A powerful reminder that great systems don’t just work, they feel too.
Great insights on responsible and resilient automation.
The most refreshing takes on automation I’ve read
never really thought about automation like this before, Thanks for sharing Nigel!
Very relevant to today's scenario
I guess this is Artificial Intelligence at the next level. Well done!
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Thought provoking!
Fresh perspective. Very well written!
The analogy of automation as a nervous system and later as a symphony is both original and effective🙌
Completely agreed. I hope this message reaches all the engineers. We can save a lot of time and pressure.
Very informative read