Paul Philp

"The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places." — Ernest Hemingway

I’m Paul. After 45 years in software engineering and a hard reset in my life, I retooled in AI, TypeScript, React/Next.js, Tailwind, and Effect.

This blog is the result of that journey. It has two tracks:

• Articles: engineering and the business of technology (AI, Effect, TypeScript, strategy, product, go‑to‑market).
• Series: A collection of articles on a specific topic that show the bigger picture.
• Essays: technical insights that sometimes include my story. All personal posts are tagged personal, so you can easily skip them.

What happened (facts, not drama)

• I spent a decade as the co‑founding CEO of a B2B SaaS startup. It failed.
• I went through personal bankruptcy and major depression.
• My marriage ended.
• I stepped away, took inventory, and chose to rebuild.

Rebuilding my foundations

• After 25 years in technology leadership, I rediscovered my love of building.
• I focused on modern web engineering and strong typing: AI, TypeScript, React/Next.js.
• I adopted Effect for disciplined functional design.
• I shipped small projects to retrain the habits: tests first, clear invariants, measurable outcomes.

What I learned that changed me

• Identity: I’m a relentless puzzle solver. When systems break, I pull them apart until the patterns are clear.
• Humility: The codebase is the ultimate truth-teller.
• Boundaries: Clarity and consent aren’t just personal lessons—they’re good system design.
• Patience: Momentum beats heroics. One good decision at a time compounds.

How I write here

• Articles are practical and specific: clear problem, constraints, code, tradeoffs, and what I’d do differently next time. They are always about how a system works. Each article starts with a Job to Be Done block that explains what the reader will get by reading the article.
• Series are collections of articles on related topics. Where articles are focused and the series shows the bigger picture.
• Essays include my experience only when it explains a decision or a design.
• I tag personal content so readers who want only the tech can skip it.

Why I’m building again

• Because I still believe in software as a force that compounds.
• Because I like hard problems that reward clarity and discipline.
• Because the last three years taught me enough about people and systems to do better work.

Gratitude

• Teachers who helped me get current: Matt Pocock (TypeScript), Theo Browne (modern web development), Ethan Neisser and Sandro Maglione (Effect).
• Friends and mentors who told me the truth when I needed it.

Where to go next

• Start Here: cornerstone Articles and Essays.
• Articles: engineering and the business of technology.
• Essays: lessons and decisions from my journey.