Beyond the Commit
The Human Side of Software Development
A mindful guide to building sustainable software teams—where clarity, code, and compassion meet.
About the Book
Software is built by people, not just by code.
Beyond the Commit looks at the unseen side of software development (the burnout, the friction, the quiet moments of doubt that ripple through teams). It’s a book for developers, tech leads, and managers who know there’s more to success than shipping features.
Drawing on decades of experience, I share lessons learned from late-night releases, failed projects, and hard-won breakthroughs. You’ll find stories about what goes wrong in engineering cultures, but also practical ways to build something healthier: teams that collaborate without ego, leaders who balance clarity with compassion, and practices that keep complexity from overwhelming us.
This isn’t a manual of tricks. It’s a guide to presence and awareness in the work we do every day. From object-oriented patterns to human-centered leadership, Beyond the Commit weaves technical insight with mindfulness, showing how we can write better code by building better habits together.
Who It’s For
Developers who feel the grind of late nights, shifting requirements, and creeping burnout.
Tech leads balancing the pull of code reviews, mentorship, and delivery pressure.
Engineering managers trying to build teams that are productive without burning out.
Executives and decision makers who want the truth about why software teams struggle and what helps them thrive.
Anyone curious about how mindfulness, leadership, and practical programming patterns intersect.
Inside the Pages
The Myth of the 10x Engineer
Why culture shapes success more than individual heroes, and how the myth distracts from real teamwork.
Code Without Ego
Practical ways to collaborate so that decisions outlast personal pride.
Mentorship Matters
Stories of good and bad mentors, and how small acts of guidance can reshape careers.
Process Friction
The small obstacles that drain a team’s energy, and how to notice them before they wear people down.
Impermanence In Technology
Tools and frameworks change, but the habits of presence and awareness stay useful in any stack.
About the Author
Michael Payne has spent more than twenty-five years building and leading software teams. As a consultant, mentor, and founder of Coexius, he has worked with organizations of all sizes to help them navigate complexity with clarity and care.
Born and raised in New Jersey, Michael learned early that technology isn’t just about systems, it’s about the people who design, maintain, and struggle with them. His career has taken him from hands-on coding to executive advising, but the thread has always been the same: helping developers and leaders do their work without losing themselves to burnout or ego.
When he isn’t working with teams or writing about software culture, Michael is at home in Texas with his wife, Liz, their three sons, and their daughter.