Build High Value Software Systems

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It’s never been easier to generate high-quality code quickly. Most delay, waste, and fragility in software development persists because end-to-end delivery systems are burdened with unnecessary steps, complex infrastructure, and needless ceremony. This book introduces an AI-aware systems thinking approach adapted for the modern software development lifecycle, targeting the bottlenecks where high-value improvements live.

In the late 1990s, the “Lean” philosophy migrated from industrial manufacturing to software development with the promise of maximizing business value while continuously eliminating process waste. Many Lean-inspired delivery systems emphasize automated testing, iterative review, and other code-centric approaches to software quality. In this book, author Leigh Griffin demonstrates how Lean thinking can shape quality, operational cost, and long-term maintainability in a workflow that includes coding agents and other modern tools. Instantly familiar concrete examples ground each concept, including pull request reviews, debugging scenarios, and CI/CD workflows that mirror real-world engineering practice.

What's inside

• How to clarify value before generating code
• Detecting hidden waste CI/CD pipelines
• Improving flow in pull requests, reviews, and production work
• Root-cause problem-solving for debugging and production
• Effective AI usage along the SDLC

About the reader

For professional software developers and technical leaders.

About the author

Leigh Griffin holds a PhD in Computer Science and is a Lean Black Belt with over 20 years of experience in software engineering and technical leadership. He has led engineering teams from hands-on development to large scale delivery, focusing on improving flow, reducing waste, and accelerating value delivery. Leigh currently works as a Senior Manager at Red Hat, where he explores the intersection of AI, emerging technologies, and Lean thinking. He is also a qualified coach and an advocate for applying Lean principles directly to modern software practice.