Engineering perspectives, software strategy, and technology leadership from the Active Logic team.https://activelogic.com/en-ushttps://activelogic.com/insights/if-your-software-doesnt-have-an-api-youre-going-to-struggle/https://activelogic.com/insights/if-your-software-doesnt-have-an-api-youre-going-to-struggle/APIs are no longer just developer tools — they're the primary interface for AI-driven workflows. Why your software needs a real API.Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMTapiaienterprisestrategydigital-transformationhttps://activelogic.com/insights/codex-vs-claude-cli-real-world-comparison/https://activelogic.com/insights/codex-vs-claude-cli-real-world-comparison/Hands-on testing of OpenAI Codex and Claude CLI across a dev team — real numbers on cost, efficiency, token usage, and practical limits.Wed, 25 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMTaiengineeringtech-tipsstrategyhttps://activelogic.com/insights/how-to-vibe-code-as-a-non-techy-business-leader/https://activelogic.com/insights/how-to-vibe-code-as-a-non-techy-business-leader/How to vibe code as a non-technical business leader. Build a working CRM with AI tools like Lovable and validate ideas before investing in custom dev.Thu, 29 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMTdigital-transformationtech-tipsaivibe-codinghttps://activelogic.com/insights/communicating-software-progress/https://activelogic.com/insights/communicating-software-progress/Most software projects don't fail because of bad code — they fail because of poor communication between engineering teams and stakeholders.Tue, 27 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMTleadershipenterprisestrategyengineeringhttps://activelogic.com/insights/ai-doesnt-replace-engineering/https://activelogic.com/insights/ai-doesnt-replace-engineering/Coding is being automated. Engineering is not. Here's why the distinction matters and why AI amplifies bad decisions instead of eliminating them.Thu, 22 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMTaiengineeringleadershipstrategyenterprisehttps://activelogic.com/insights/ai-powered-vs-ai-dependent/https://activelogic.com/insights/ai-powered-vs-ai-dependent/There's a critical difference between using AI as a tool and using it as a replacement for engineering judgment. Speed without strategy produces garbage.Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMTaiengineeringleadershipstrategyenterprisehttps://activelogic.com/insights/safe-spaces-philanthropy/https://activelogic.com/insights/safe-spaces-philanthropy/Employee philanthropy spotlight — Software Engineer Justin Werner shares why he chose to donate to The Trevor Project and the story behind it.Thu, 31 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMTcommunityleadershiphttps://activelogic.com/insights/ai-gartner-hype-cycle-roi/https://activelogic.com/insights/ai-gartner-hype-cycle-roi/Generative AI is sliding into the Trough of Disillusionment while AI agents peak. Here's how to evaluate AI investments based on ROI, not hype.Wed, 16 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMTaienterprisestrategydigital-transformationhttps://activelogic.com/insights/active-logic-recognized-goodfirms/https://activelogic.com/insights/active-logic-recognized-goodfirms/Active Logic has been recognized by GoodFirms as a top US custom software development company — a decade of engineering-first enterprise delivery.Fri, 25 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMTenterpriseleadershiphttps://activelogic.com/insights/giving-back-fosteradopt-connect/https://activelogic.com/insights/giving-back-fosteradopt-connect/Employee philanthropy spotlight — Senior Engineer Aaron Case shares his family's foster care journey and why he chose FosterAdopt Connect.Thu, 10 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMTcommunityleadershiphttps://activelogic.com/insights/laravel-upgrade-best-practices/https://activelogic.com/insights/laravel-upgrade-best-practices/A practical guide to Laravel upgrades — pre-upgrade audits, dependency management, database migrations, testing strategies, and monitoring.Mon, 24 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMTengineeringtech-tipsdigital-transformationhttps://activelogic.com/insights/no-you-cant-redevelop-uber-for-50k/https://activelogic.com/insights/no-you-cant-redevelop-uber-for-50k/A reality check on custom software costs. Real cost breakdowns, salary data, and what $50K actually gets you when building a complex application like Uber.Tue, 11 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMTstrategyenterpriseleadershipengineeringhttps://activelogic.com/insights/how-to-vet-software-development-company/https://activelogic.com/insights/how-to-vet-software-development-company/A practical guide to evaluating software development partners — what to look for, what to ask, and the red flags most companies miss.Thu, 26 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMTstrategyenterpriseleadershiphttps://activelogic.com/insights/building-house-vs-software/https://activelogic.com/insights/building-house-vs-software/Why building custom software is a lot like building a custom home — and what the parallels teach us about architecture, scope, and buy vs. build.Mon, 16 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMTstrategyenterpriseleadershiphttps://activelogic.com/insights/10000-tasks-one-request-half-the-cost/https://activelogic.com/insights/10000-tasks-one-request-half-the-cost/A deep-dive into Anthropic's Message Batches API — process 10,000 AI requests simultaneously at 50% cost reduction, with enterprise use cases.Wed, 06 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMTaiengineeringtech-tipsdigital-transformationhttps://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-026-digital-transformation-with-purpose/https://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-026-digital-transformation-with-purpose/How Unbound, a nonprofit serving 280,000+ families across 17 countries, uses modern technology and AI to reduce photo processing from 90 days to just 3.Tue, 22 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMTdigital-transformationainonprofitenterprisestrategyhttps://activelogic.com/insights/active-logic-turns-10/https://activelogic.com/insights/active-logic-turns-10/From a solo freelancer to a 30+ person software company — Active Logic celebrates ten years of enterprise software with 100% US-based engineers.Wed, 16 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMTenterprisestrategydigital-transformationleadershiphttps://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-023-tech-governance-higher-ed/https://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-023-tech-governance-higher-ed/Ottawa University CTO Adam Caylor discusses multi-campus IT infrastructure, technology governance, ERP challenges, and strategic IT leadership in higher ed.Wed, 25 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMTenterprisestrategyleadershipdigital-transformationhttps://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-022-school-hard-knocks/https://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-022-school-hard-knocks/Rig Technologies founder Alex Savenok shares his journey from intern to tech entrepreneur — microservices, avoiding rewrites, and building distributed teams.Wed, 21 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMTengineeringleadershipstrategyenterprisehttps://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-021-serious-side-saas/https://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-021-serious-side-saas/Rig Technologies founder Alex Savenok shares the real obstacles of scaling a SaaS marketplace — capital challenges to AI-powered predictive maintenance.Wed, 14 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMTenterprisestrategyaileadershiphttps://activelogic.com/insights/false-shoring/https://activelogic.com/insights/false-shoring/False-shoring is when agencies claim to be US-based while quietly offshoring development. How to spot it and what to ask before signing.Fri, 19 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMTleadershipenterprisestrategyengineeringhttps://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-020-in-person-teams/https://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-020-in-person-teams/Ad Astra CTO Geoff Vandegrift presents research-backed arguments for why in-person dev teams outperform remote — communication, social cohesion, and more.Wed, 17 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMTleadershipengineeringenterprisestrategyhttps://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-019-holacracy-flat-orgs/https://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-019-holacracy-flat-orgs/Ad Astra CTO Geoff Vandegrift explains holacracy, self-managed teams, and flat org structures — how they work for dev teams and when they break down.Wed, 10 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMTleadershipengineeringstrategyhttps://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-018-metrics-that-matter/https://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-018-metrics-that-matter/Nelnet VP Sebastian Kline shares the key metrics engineering leaders should track — deployment frequency, customer-detected bugs, and data-driven culture.Wed, 05 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMTengineeringleadershipstrategyenterprisehttps://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-017-bringing-back-why/https://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-017-bringing-back-why/Nelnet VP Sebastian Kline examines how engineering leaders maintain alignment with organizational purpose while managing growth and distributed teams.Tue, 28 May 2024 00:00:00 GMTleadershipenterprisestrategyengineeringhttps://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-025-innovation-gap-manufacturing/https://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-025-innovation-gap-manufacturing/HIX Corporation CTO Arturo Pino explores the gap between U.S. manufacturing and global competitors — Industry 4.0, workforce challenges, and open-source.Tue, 21 May 2024 00:00:00 GMTdigital-transformationenterprisestrategyaihttps://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-016-ai-enterprise-pt2/https://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-016-ai-enterprise-pt2/Lazarus AI CEO John Keddy continues exploring enterprise AI — regulation, ethical deployment, competitive advantage, and reliable AI integration strategies.Wed, 08 May 2024 00:00:00 GMTaienterprisestrategyleadershiphttps://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-015-ai-enterprise-pt1/https://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-015-ai-enterprise-pt1/Lazarus AI CEO John Keddy breaks down practical enterprise AI adoption — language models, OCR, document automation, and human-in-the-loop quality control.Wed, 01 May 2024 00:00:00 GMTaienterprisestrategydigital-transformationhttps://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-024-blueprint-industrial-innovation/https://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-024-blueprint-industrial-innovation/HIX Corporation CTO Arturo Pino shares his path from mechanical engineering to tech leadership, and how open-source tools are transforming manufacturing.Tue, 30 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMTengineeringenterprisestrategydigital-transformationhttps://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-014-healthcare-inventory/https://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-014-healthcare-inventory/Ascendco Health CTO Welsh Harris discusses digitizing healthcare inventory systems, EMR integration, BI adoption, and building hybrid engineering teams.Wed, 17 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMTenterprisedigital-transformationaistrategyhttps://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-013-hiring-developers/https://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-013-hiring-developers/Ascend Learning VP Nick Ide shares lessons on remote work productivity, engineering metrics, managing international developers, and avoiding hiring bias.Tue, 09 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMTleadershipengineeringenterprisestrategyhttps://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-012-tech-ulture/https://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-012-tech-ulture/Ascend Learning VP Nick Ide explores how engineering leaders build and preserve team culture during scaling, remote work, and international expansion.Wed, 03 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMTleadershipengineeringenterprisehttps://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-010-cultural-barriers/https://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-010-cultural-barriers/Oracle Health's Jim Poteet discusses managing international dev teams, navigating cultural barriers, and leading through Oracle's Cerner acquisition.Wed, 20 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMTleadershipenterprisestrategydigital-transformationhttps://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-011-path-to-leadership/https://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-011-path-to-leadership/Oracle Health's Jim Poteet shares lessons on leadership development, change management, building high-performing teams, and accountability in healthcare tech.Tue, 19 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMTleadershipenterprisestrategyengineeringhttps://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-008-scaling-teams/https://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-008-scaling-teams/Trualta CTO Shahzad Zafar discusses team scaling strategies, startup vs. enterprise engineering cultures, and adapting leadership as organizations grow.Wed, 06 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMTleadershipengineeringenterprisestrategyhttps://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-009-introverted-leader/https://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-009-introverted-leader/Trualta CTO Shahzad Zafar shares how introverted leaders thrive in tech — trust-building, conflict management, networking, and leading teams at any scale.Wed, 06 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMTleadershipengineeringstrategyhttps://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-006-team-cultures/https://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-006-team-cultures/Quext CTO Ben Kittrell discusses building team cultures in remote and hybrid environments, distributed leadership, and maintaining work-life balance.Wed, 21 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMTleadershipengineeringenterprisehttps://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-007-mergers-acquisitions/https://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-007-mergers-acquisitions/Quext CTO Ben Kittrell shares firsthand experience navigating the Homebase.ai acquisition — team integration, tech consolidation, and leading change.Wed, 21 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMTstrategyleadershipenterprisehttps://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-005-soc2-compliance/https://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-005-soc2-compliance/Flight Schedule Pro CTO Vance Collins breaks down SOC 2 attestation — Type 1 vs Type 2 audits, ISO 27001 and GDPR comparisons, and when to pursue it.Wed, 07 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMTengineeringenterprisestrategyhttps://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-004-servant-leadership/https://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-004-servant-leadership/Flight Schedule Pro CTO Vance Collins discusses servant leadership, building trust, emotional intelligence, and managing distributed engineering teams.Wed, 24 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMTleadershipengineeringstrategyhttps://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-001-tech-healthcare/https://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-001-tech-healthcare/PromptCare CTO Phil Merrell discusses AI in healthcare, cybersecurity in medtech, EMR management, telemedicine, and the healthcare regulatory landscape.Wed, 10 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMTaienterprisedigital-transformationstrategyhttps://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-002-bots-healthcare/https://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-002-bots-healthcare/PromptCare CTO Phil Merrell discusses RPA and bots in healthcare, avoiding 'shiny object syndrome' with AI, and integrating automation into clinical workflows.Wed, 10 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMTaienterprisedigital-transformationstrategyhttps://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-003-sourcing-development/https://activelogic.com/insights/oscxo-ep-003-sourcing-development/FullScale.io founder Matt Watson breaks down internal teams vs outsourcing, fractional CTOs, hiring challenges, and strategies for sourcing dev work.Wed, 10 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMTstrategyengineeringenterprise