Andrew Jones
@andrew-jones.com
Principal Engineer. Created Data Contracts and wrote the book on it. Father of 2. Brewer of beer. Aphantasic.
Newsletter 👉 https://andrew-jones.com/newsletter
Newsletter 👉 https://andrew-jones.com/newsletter
We’ve had a data breach incident, but I couldn’t get my hands on our security guy. Maybe he ransomware? #SundayPunday
November 23, 2025 at 2:00 PM
We’ve had a data breach incident, but I couldn’t get my hands on our security guy. Maybe he ransomware? #SundayPunday
In this week's newsletter how we can use the iPhone model to create integrated developer, data, and other platform features.
Also links to articles on data as code, data platforms for data scientists, and stream and batch analytics with Iceberg.
a-j.io/n251121 #DataBS
Also links to articles on data as code, data platforms for data scientists, and stream and batch analytics with Iceberg.
a-j.io/n251121 #DataBS
The iPhone model for integrated platforms
To create an integrated experience we need to change how we build platforms.
a-j.io
November 21, 2025 at 8:17 AM
In this week's newsletter how we can use the iPhone model to create integrated developer, data, and other platform features.
Also links to articles on data as code, data platforms for data scientists, and stream and batch analytics with Iceberg.
a-j.io/n251121 #DataBS
Also links to articles on data as code, data platforms for data scientists, and stream and batch analytics with Iceberg.
a-j.io/n251121 #DataBS
I just found there’s a new documentary about Rolex. I’ve added it to my watchlist. #SundayPunday
November 16, 2025 at 2:01 PM
I just found there’s a new documentary about Rolex. I’ve added it to my watchlist. #SundayPunday
In this week's newsletter I write about how taking control makes you a bottleneck.
Also links to articles on a decade of AI platform, context layers, and a scope creep game.
a-j.io/n251114 #DataBS
Also links to articles on a decade of AI platform, context layers, and a scope creep game.
a-j.io/n251114 #DataBS
Control vs Consequences
Taking control makes you a bottleneck. Are the consequences worth the cost?
a-j.io
November 14, 2025 at 8:10 AM
In this week's newsletter I write about how taking control makes you a bottleneck.
Also links to articles on a decade of AI platform, context layers, and a scope creep game.
a-j.io/n251114 #DataBS
Also links to articles on a decade of AI platform, context layers, and a scope creep game.
a-j.io/n251114 #DataBS
Does anyone want to buy my broken barometer? No pressure. #SundayPunday
November 2, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Does anyone want to buy my broken barometer? No pressure. #SundayPunday
In this week's newsletter I write about the internal cost of data quality issues - the costs to your team.
Also links to articles on why you'll never have a FAANG data infrastructure, handling multiple data platforms, and the dbt blues.
a-j.io/n251031 #DataBS
Also links to articles on why you'll never have a FAANG data infrastructure, handling multiple data platforms, and the dbt blues.
a-j.io/n251031 #DataBS
The internal cost of data quality issues
How does your team feel when working with poor quality data?
a-j.io
October 31, 2025 at 3:58 PM
In this week's newsletter I write about the internal cost of data quality issues - the costs to your team.
Also links to articles on why you'll never have a FAANG data infrastructure, handling multiple data platforms, and the dbt blues.
a-j.io/n251031 #DataBS
Also links to articles on why you'll never have a FAANG data infrastructure, handling multiple data platforms, and the dbt blues.
a-j.io/n251031 #DataBS
It’s Halloween 👻 so tell me, what’s the most scary thing working with data?
I have two answers to get us started, one much more serious than the other…
I have two answers to get us started, one much more serious than the other…
October 31, 2025 at 10:17 AM
It’s Halloween 👻 so tell me, what’s the most scary thing working with data?
I have two answers to get us started, one much more serious than the other…
I have two answers to get us started, one much more serious than the other…
Do you know there is a Spanish programming language? It’s called Si++ #SundayPunday
October 26, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Do you know there is a Spanish programming language? It’s called Si++ #SundayPunday
In this weeks newsletter I write about keeping data contracts for your users simple even as you add more capabilities.
Also links to articles on implementing data contacts, data platforms as a product, and watermarks when streaming.
a-j.io/n251024 #DataBS
Also links to articles on implementing data contacts, data platforms as a product, and watermarks when streaming.
a-j.io/n251024 #DataBS
Keeping data contracts simple
Add more capabilities to your data contracts while keeping them simple for your users.
a-j.io
October 24, 2025 at 8:12 AM
In this weeks newsletter I write about keeping data contracts for your users simple even as you add more capabilities.
Also links to articles on implementing data contacts, data platforms as a product, and watermarks when streaming.
a-j.io/n251024 #DataBS
Also links to articles on implementing data contacts, data platforms as a product, and watermarks when streaming.
a-j.io/n251024 #DataBS
Ask a software engineering team to build on the same CDC stream you’re building on.
They won’t.
They’d want an API, or an event stream, or some other interface abstracted from the database.
Because they know the impact building directly on a database will have on their systems.
So should you.
They won’t.
They’d want an API, or an event stream, or some other interface abstracted from the database.
Because they know the impact building directly on a database will have on their systems.
So should you.
October 23, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Ask a software engineering team to build on the same CDC stream you’re building on.
They won’t.
They’d want an API, or an event stream, or some other interface abstracted from the database.
Because they know the impact building directly on a database will have on their systems.
So should you.
They won’t.
They’d want an API, or an event stream, or some other interface abstracted from the database.
Because they know the impact building directly on a database will have on their systems.
So should you.
The most disapproving of all the Pharaohs was King Tut. #SundayPunday
October 19, 2025 at 1:01 PM
The most disapproving of all the Pharaohs was King Tut. #SundayPunday
This week I write about source-aligned data products: do they solve our problems or do we need an output port on the source system.
Also articles on scaling data platform teams, the automation paradox in data governance, and a minimal data contract.
a-j.io/n251017 #DataBS
Also articles on scaling data platform teams, the automation paradox in data governance, and a minimal data contract.
a-j.io/n251017 #DataBS
Source-aligned data products, or output ports on the source?
Do source-aligned data products solve the problem, or do we instead need a more suitable output port on the source system.
a-j.io
October 17, 2025 at 8:17 AM
This week I write about source-aligned data products: do they solve our problems or do we need an output port on the source system.
Also articles on scaling data platform teams, the automation paradox in data governance, and a minimal data contract.
a-j.io/n251017 #DataBS
Also articles on scaling data platform teams, the automation paradox in data governance, and a minimal data contract.
a-j.io/n251017 #DataBS
Tried kangaroo flavoured beer last night. You can really taste the hops. #SundayPunday
October 12, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Tried kangaroo flavoured beer last night. You can really taste the hops. #SundayPunday
In this week's newsletter I write about creating a business case for improving data quality.
There's also links to articles on ODPS hitting 1.0, a modern data platform with a focus on data products, and the data platform at Decathlon.
a-j.io/n251010 #DataBS
There's also links to articles on ODPS hitting 1.0, a modern data platform with a focus on data products, and the data platform at Decathlon.
a-j.io/n251010 #DataBS
A business case for data quality
Linking data quality to a business outcome to create a business case.
a-j.io
October 10, 2025 at 7:32 AM
In this week's newsletter I write about creating a business case for improving data quality.
There's also links to articles on ODPS hitting 1.0, a modern data platform with a focus on data products, and the data platform at Decathlon.
a-j.io/n251010 #DataBS
There's also links to articles on ODPS hitting 1.0, a modern data platform with a focus on data products, and the data platform at Decathlon.
a-j.io/n251010 #DataBS
Can you believe that Spandau Ballet only had one number one single? It’s True. #SundayPunday
October 5, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Can you believe that Spandau Ballet only had one number one single? It’s True. #SundayPunday
In this week's newsletter I explain why data contracts are becoming so important.
There's also links to articles comparing data product standards, what to do with cross-functional data, and a new cloud data platform from Cloudflare.
a-j.io/n251003 #DataBS
There's also links to articles comparing data product standards, what to do with cross-functional data, and a new cloud data platform from Cloudflare.
a-j.io/n251003 #DataBS
Why data contracts?
To do more with data, to be more effective, and to have more control, we need data contracts.
a-j.io
October 3, 2025 at 8:17 AM
In this week's newsletter I explain why data contracts are becoming so important.
There's also links to articles comparing data product standards, what to do with cross-functional data, and a new cloud data platform from Cloudflare.
a-j.io/n251003 #DataBS
There's also links to articles comparing data product standards, what to do with cross-functional data, and a new cloud data platform from Cloudflare.
a-j.io/n251003 #DataBS
My doctor tells me I should step away from the computers and go for a walk more often. I said I understand. #SundayPunday
September 28, 2025 at 1:01 PM
My doctor tells me I should step away from the computers and go for a walk more often. I said I understand. #SundayPunday
Great article on what leadership really is idiallo.com/blog/how-to-...
How to Lead in a Room Full of Experts
Here is a realization I made recently. I'm sitting in a room full of smart people. On one side are developers who understand the ins and outs of our microservice architecture. On the other are the fro
idiallo.com
September 28, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Great article on what leadership really is idiallo.com/blog/how-to-...
In this week's newsletter I launched by new Implementing Data Contracts course! Also links to articles on data architectures of the future, dbt at scale, and the power of small wins for data ROI.
a-j.io/n250926
a-j.io/n250926
Implementing Data Contracts course now live!
Looking to implement data contracts in your organisation, but don’t know where to start? This course is for you.
a-j.io
September 26, 2025 at 8:17 AM
In this week's newsletter I launched by new Implementing Data Contracts course! Also links to articles on data architectures of the future, dbt at scale, and the power of small wins for data ROI.
a-j.io/n250926
a-j.io/n250926
To dentists, X-rays are really just tooth pics. #SundayPunday
September 21, 2025 at 1:00 PM
To dentists, X-rays are really just tooth pics. #SundayPunday
In this week's newsletter I describe 3 steps to getting started with data contracts.
There's also links to articles on dealing with shrinking teams, positive reinforcement for data contracts, and data quality guidelines.
a-j.io/n250919 #DataBS
There's also links to articles on dealing with shrinking teams, positive reinforcement for data contracts, and data quality guidelines.
a-j.io/n250919 #DataBS
3 steps to getting started with data contracts
Run a PoC, build minimal tooling, and talk to everyone. Then repeat.
a-j.io
September 19, 2025 at 8:05 AM
In this week's newsletter I describe 3 steps to getting started with data contracts.
There's also links to articles on dealing with shrinking teams, positive reinforcement for data contracts, and data quality guidelines.
a-j.io/n250919 #DataBS
There's also links to articles on dealing with shrinking teams, positive reinforcement for data contracts, and data quality guidelines.
a-j.io/n250919 #DataBS
We all know about Alan Turing who cracked the Enigma code. But very few people know about his sister Kate, who provided drinks and snacks for him and his team. #SundayPunday
September 14, 2025 at 1:00 PM
We all know about Alan Turing who cracked the Enigma code. But very few people know about his sister Kate, who provided drinks and snacks for him and his team. #SundayPunday
In this week's newsletter I write about how CI is still too late in the SDLC to prevent major data model changes.
There's also links to articles on IaC, what's still true in data engineering, and Nike's changes to their streaming architecture.
a-j.io/n250912 #DataBS
There's also links to articles on IaC, what's still true in data engineering, and Nike's changes to their streaming architecture.
a-j.io/n250912 #DataBS
CI is too late in the SDLC to identify data changes
Using data contracts just for CI still leaves you reacting to changes. To shift left you need to engage earlier in the software development life cycle.
a-j.io
September 12, 2025 at 10:51 AM
In this week's newsletter I write about how CI is still too late in the SDLC to prevent major data model changes.
There's also links to articles on IaC, what's still true in data engineering, and Nike's changes to their streaming architecture.
a-j.io/n250912 #DataBS
There's also links to articles on IaC, what's still true in data engineering, and Nike's changes to their streaming architecture.
a-j.io/n250912 #DataBS
I can cut a piece of wood in half just by looking at it. It’s true, I saw it with my own eyes. #SundayPunday
August 31, 2025 at 1:01 PM
I can cut a piece of wood in half just by looking at it. It’s true, I saw it with my own eyes. #SundayPunday
This week's newsletter is the final part of a mini-series on publishing events, and today I introduce the listen to yourself pattern.
There's also links to skipping the DWH, caching, and TimescaleDB.
a-j.io/n250829 #DataBS
There's also links to skipping the DWH, caching, and TimescaleDB.
a-j.io/n250829 #DataBS
The listen to yourself pattern
How the listen to yourself pattern solves the dual-write problem
a-j.io
August 29, 2025 at 8:13 AM
This week's newsletter is the final part of a mini-series on publishing events, and today I introduce the listen to yourself pattern.
There's also links to skipping the DWH, caching, and TimescaleDB.
a-j.io/n250829 #DataBS
There's also links to skipping the DWH, caching, and TimescaleDB.
a-j.io/n250829 #DataBS