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Focused blog card: Building a Learning Culture — Why It's a Lot Like Parenting Twins

Building a Learning Culture: Why It's a Lot Like Parenting Twins

What parenting twins taught me about retros, pairing, and building adaptable teams.
Culture
Focused blog card: Mitigating Risk, Unlocking Potential — Observability and Agentic Systems

Mitigating Risk, Unlocking Potential: Observability and Agentic Systems

Agents need observability to operate with real precision. Here’s why OpenTelemetry is the key to making them truly useful in production.
Blog
Two developers collaborating at a desk with multiple monitors showing code

A/B Testing: What It Is and Why You Should Use It to Improve Your Decisions

A/B testing can improve decision-making and user experience. Learn how to implement it effectively, avoid common pitfalls, and keep experiments from overwhelming your code.
Blog
Focused blog card: Parallel Execution with LangChain & LangGraph

Parallel execution with LangChain and LangGraph.

Learn how to significantly speed up LangChain and LangGraph agent workflows with parallel execution. A straightforward, powerful technique for faster results.
LangChain
Laptop screen showing a VS Code extension marketplace page with a coffee mug beside it

Shifting to an Observability Mindset from a Developer's Point-of-view

Learn how tracing completes the Observability picture beyond logs and metrics, helping developers proactively spot performance issues in distributed systems.
Blog
Abstract geometric overlay illustration for unified digital ecosystem article

Part One: A Unified Experience Blocked By A Fractured Ecosystem

Focused helped a Big Three automaker tackle microservice sprawl and unify their customer experience with a federated GraphQL API.
Blog
Close-up of colorful source code displayed on a monitor in a dark code editor

Developing AI Agency

AI is reshaping software development. Learn how leaders can navigate advocates, skeptics, and holdouts, and why pairing is the key to lasting change.
Blog
Team discussing around monitors and a whiteboard with analytics charts in a tech office

How We Focus: The Working Agreement

How a simple team ritual sets the stage for successful, collaborative software projects.
Blog
Group of coworkers having a casual conversation in a bright office with whiteboards behind them

What XP Gets Right About Learning

Bridging XP and learning science to create more resilient, collaborative, and growth-oriented software teams.
Blog
Focused Labs logo mark in purple on a dark navy blue background

Our Year in Focus | 2024 Reflections from our CEO

Reflecting on growth, change, and Focused's rebrand. Here’s how we’re entering 2025 more focused than ever.
Blog
Person typing on a laptop with a glowing cloud computing hologram floating above the keyboard

Pivotal Cloud Foundry to Kubernetes: Tips for Migration

Make better decisions for your company once you understand the benefits and challenges of migrating from Pivotal Cloud Foundry to Kubernetes.
Blog
Dark purple branded graphic with Focused Labs logo and abstract geometric shapes

The Anti-Agency Approach: Embracing the Deprecation Model

Unlike traditional consultancies that create dependencies, Focused's anti-agency deprecation model is designed to elevate client teams and make us unnecessary over time.
Blog
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Focused Labs Launches Rebrand to Champion Value-Driven Modernization of Enterprise Systems

Focused (formerly Focused Labs) unveils strategic rebrand, emphasizing its expertise in modernizing existing software systems. The Chicago-based consultancy helps established companies evolve existing technology infrastructure while maintaining operational stability.
News
Headshot of Austin Vance next to the Forbes logo on a pastel gradient background

Focused CEO Austin Vance Featured in Forbes Discussion on AI Regulation

Focused Labs CEO, Austin Vance, shares insights in Forbes on the potential effects of California's AI legislation and its impact on tech innovation.
News
Close-up of hands typing on a laptop keyboard with a purple overlay and Focused brand accents

5 Software Development Methodologies You Should Know

Developing software is complicated, and picking the right methodology matters. This guide breaks down five approaches — CI/CD, Rapid Application Development, Pair Programming, Extreme Programming, and Continuous Feedback Loops — covering the pros, cons, and best applications of each to help you choose the right workflow for your team and project.
Blog
Diverse team working together in a modern open-plan brick-walled office with a purple overlay

Legacy Application Modernization: Strategies That Carry on Your Legacy

Legacy applications don't have to hold your company back. With the right modernization strategy, you can transform outdated systems into modern platforms that drive innovation — without throwing away what already works.
Blog

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