The interfaces of our world: the known, the unexpected, and the risks of failure

In our field, when we say “interface,” we most often think of software and UX. But all objects in our world have interfaces, and we interact with them every moment of every day. Our brains are trained to use them in certain ways, but that training is unconscious and very culturally driven. Our assumptions about the interfaces of our world make the world much easier to navigate but can restrict our thinking and prevent us from being at our best.

Startups are building the future. The companies we build are full of interfaces. Your future stack isn't technological — it's cultural, and the most important interfaces you build are a part of your culture. What are these interfaces and what can happen when those contracts fail? How can we be good engineers and mitigate the risk of that failure?

Transcript

1. The interfaces of our world: the known, the unexpected, and the risks of failure Brent Miller Lead software engineer at New Relic @foliosus
2. @foliosus http://bit.ly/interfaces-fs14 2 @foliosus • insert content here
3. @foliosus http://bit.ly/interfaces-fs14 3 brent = FrontEndEngineer.new( twitter: '@foliosus', likes: ['Ruby', 'CSS', 'typography', 'plants'], dislikes: ['boilerplate code', 'being braindead'] ) #fs14
4. @foliosus http://bit.ly/interfaces-fs14 4 Road map What is an interface? Interface interpretation Interfaces are contracts
 (except when they aren’t) Interfaces & failure in your company
5. Pay attention! https://flic.kr/p/akCNRA
6. @foliosus http://bit.ly/interfaces-fs14 6 Interface
7. @foliosus http://bit.ly/interfaces-fs14 7 It’s what happens when two things interact
8. http://justamazingthings.blogspot.com/2012/07/top-10-creative-coffee-cup-designs.html
9. http://justamazingthings.blogspot.com/2012/07/top-10-creative-coffee-cup-designs.html
10. @gorbypuff
11. https://flic.kr/p/8yuMiC
12. www.growsmarttoys.com/blog/2012/08/technology-vs-toys/
13. @foliosus http://bit.ly/interfaces-fs14 13 Interfaces are interpreted
14. https://flic.kr/p/8QitFQ
15. @foliosus http://bit.ly/interfaces-fs14 15 That’s what they’re for! http://www.instructables.com/id/Portable-fire-pit-with-built-in-log-storage-rack-1/
16. @foliosus http://bit.ly/interfaces-fs14 16 How many uses can you think of for a paperclip?
17. @foliosus http://bit.ly/interfaces-fs14 17 Percentage of people who are divergent thinking geniuses 0% 25% 50% 75% 100% Kindergarten 5th grade 10th grade Adults
18. totality images https://flic.kr/p/72X8ZQ
20. Photo by Lucas Jackson http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/8/17/ferguson-clash-shooting.html AP Photo/Jeff Roberson http://www.thenation.com/article/181315/catalog-ferguson-police-weaponry
21. @foliosus http://bit.ly/interfaces-fs14 21 What is a paperclip’s interface?
22. @foliosus http://bit.ly/interfaces-fs14 22 Interfaces are contracts
23. @foliosus http://bit.ly/interfaces-fs14 23 public interface ApplicationNamingPolicy {! ! public void setApplicationName( Transaction transaction,! String name,! ApplicationNamePriority priority );! ! public boolean canSetApplicationName( Transaction transaction,! ApplicationNamePriority priority );! ! }!
24. @foliosus http://bit.ly/interfaces-fs14 24 SOA APIs
25. rub the belly! https://flic.kr/p/buRfjX
26. danger zone
27. mmm… tasty beverage
28. magma

 zone https://flic.kr/p/jDNLpX
29. @foliosus http://bit.ly/interfaces-fs14 29 Shared history or experience helps
30. https://flic.kr/p/9BDqV5
31. https://flic.kr/p/781eZw
33. http://kotaku.com/destiny-really-needs-beards-1627845173
34. @foliosus http://bit.ly/interfaces-fs14 34 Your future stack
35. What stack is right for you? https://flic.kr/p/5F8LDj
36. it doesn’t matter as much as you think
37. it’s all about the chefs
38. https://flic.kr/p/knDPjc https://flic.kr/p/qCLeh https://flic.kr/p/97ffWm https://flic.kr/p/knDPjc https://flic.kr/p/dghGTs
39. @foliosus http://bit.ly/interfaces-fs14 39 Managing culture == managing interfaces
40. @foliosus http://bit.ly/interfaces-fs14 40 Code
41. Teams https://flic.kr/p/mZjRpD
42. Managers http://fogsmoviereviews.com/2012/07/09/movies-that-everyone-should-see-office-space/
43. Leadership https://flic.kr/p/8sWeq
44. http://www.designntrend.com/articles/5078/20130620/john-mcafee-news-update-guns-strippers-cigarettes-appear-uninstallment-tutorial.htm
45. Cliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiipers! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/19/ballmer-leaves-microsoft-clippers_n_5692193.html
47. @foliosus http://bit.ly/interfaces-fs14 47 Understand & honor the contract. Let people know when you change it. Always think of the users! Be kind to them.

 They will reward you.
48. Questions? Come to the hacker lounge, or continue the convo on Twitter 
 @foliosus #fs14 Thank you