Posts

Sep 9, 2026 6 min read

Me and My Ph.D

"당신의 지원 동기는 무엇입니까?" 자기소개서와 면접에서 좀처럼 빠지지 않는 질문이다. 지원자는 이 질문 앞에서 자신의 바람을 상대가 듣고 싶어 할 말로 포장한다. 더 나은 환경에서 살고 싶다는 마음은 성장의 의지가 되고, 좋은 경력을 쌓고 싶다는 기대는 조직에 기여하겠다는 포부가 된다. 거짓은 아니지만, 속마음을 그대로 옮긴 말도 아니다. 지원자도 면접관도 그쯤은 짐작하고 있을 것이다. 지원 동기를 쓰는 일이 어색한 이유가 여기에 있다. 동기는 제법 분명한데, 그대로 적자니 속물처럼 보일 것 같다.
Mar 3, 2026 3 min read

Writing specifications is the new bottleneck of implementing software

One of the primary drivers behind the shift from Waterfall to Agile was the sheer inefficiency of trying to freeze requirements. Requirements are in a constant state of flux; they evolve and are discovered anew. During the implementation phase, unforeseen challenges inevitably emerge, forcing us to incorporate elements into the specifications that were never previously considered. This phenomenon intensifies with the scale of the software. It’s the same logic as a long vector: even a minuscule shift in angle results in a massive displacement at the tip.
Feb 24, 2026 1 min read

Test Agents, not Students

In the era of AI agents, problem-solving skills are no longer paramount, as AI will solve everything for us. Nevertheless, higher education remains centered around teaching problem-solving skills. Exams are a prime example of this. Excelling at solving problems does not necessarily mean one is good at managing others. You have likely heard of cases where an outstanding worker gets promoted to a management role, only to become a terrible manager.