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JOHN ATHAYDE
BLUE RIDGE RUBY
APRIL 2026
Learning From
PERMACULTURE
Sustainable So
ft
ware Development
@johnathayde (x)
@johnathayde.com (bsky)
@[email protected]
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Every codebase
you inherit is
someone else's
horse farm.
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Before you rip anything out:
observe
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Permaculture (a contraction of "permanent
agriculture" and "permanent culture") is a design
system centered on mimicking natural ecosystems to
create sustainable, regenerative human habitats and
agricultural systems. It integrates land, resources,
people, and the environment through mutually
bene
fi
cial synergies, focusing on working with rather
than against nature.
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https://extension.usu.edu/sustainability/research/permaculture
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3
Ethics
12
Principles
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Care of the Earth
Care of People
Return of Surplus
3
Ethics
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Observe and Interact.
Catch and Store Energy.
Obtain a Yield.
Apply Self-Regulation.
Use Renewable Resources.
Produce No Waste.
12
Principles
Design from Patterns to Details.
Integrate Rather Than Segregate.
Use Small and Slow Solutions.
Use and Value Diversity.
Use Edges and Value the Marginal.
Creatively Use and Respond to Change.
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Observe and Interact.
Catch and Store Energy.
Obtain a Yield.
Apply Self-Regulation.
Use Renewable Resources.
Produce No Waste.
12
Principles
Design from Patterns to Details.
Integrate Rather Than Segregate.
Use Small and Slow Solutions.
Use and Value Diversity.
Use Edges and Value the Marginal.
Creatively Use and Respond to Change.
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1. Observe & Interact
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git log --oneline -20
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Photo: Flickr / CreativeMornings Chicago CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
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2. INTEGRATE RATHER
THAN SEGREGATE
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2011
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INTEGRATION IS
NOT WORKFLOW.
IT’S AN
ORGANIZATIONAL
REALITY.
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3. DESIGN FROM
PATTERNS TO DETAILS
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First Steps:
DOMAIN
MODEL
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The Map is Not the
TERRITORY
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ActiveRecord is
SEDUCTIVE
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Name concepts before
your tables.
Name boundaries before
you write associations.
Design from the pattern.
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3.5. ZONES
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https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/extension-gardener-handbook/appendix-g-permaculture-design
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TYPE I
ERROR
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4. USE SMALL &
SLOW SOLUTIONS
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The system that lasts is the
ONE THAT GREW
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https://martinfowler.com/bliki/StranglerFigApplication.html
THE
STRANGLER
FIG
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https://drpicox.medium.com/the-strangler-
fi
g-pattern-a8ea077e4480
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Keep a
SUSTAINABLE
PACE
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BONUS:
THE EDGE EFFECT
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https://permaculturepractice.com/forest-edge/
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The Controller
IS AN EDGE
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ActiveRecord
IS AN EDGE
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Your API
IS AN EDGE
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Sidekiq
IS AN EDGE
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https://permaculturepractice.com/forest-edge/
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BONUS:
SUCCESSION
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https://permacultureapprentice.com/building-
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AI
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“The most durable
systems of the AI era
will be built from code
that is meant to die.”
https://aicoding.lea
fl
et.pub/3majnyfydzs2y
—Chad Fowler
“The Phoenix Architecture: Regenerative So
ft
ware”
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Thank You!
www.meticulous.com
www.sfumatofarm.com
[email protected]
@johnathayde (x)
@johnathayde.com (bsky)
@[email protected]