Our people
Rod Paddock
Rod Paddock founded Dash Point Software, Inc. in 2001 to develop high-quality custom software solutions. With 30+ years of experience, Rod's current and past clients include: Six Flags, First Premier Bank, Microsoft, Calamos Investments, The US Coast Guard, and US Navy. Along with developing software, Rod is a well-known author and conference speaker. Since 1995, Rod has given talks, training sessions, and keynotes in the US, Canada, and Europe. Rod was the Editor-in-Chief of CODE Magazine from 2001 to 2026.
Articles Authored
Articles
Showing 1–157 of 157
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YAGNI Revisited
Rod thinks that YAGNI should be treated as a flexible decision-making tool, not a rigid rule: what seems unnecessary early in a project may later become essential as requirements, data volume, and costs change. Using examples from large-scale data ingestion and optimization, he shows how reframing assumptions and revisiting old systems can improve performance and reduce expenses. He closes by reflecting on his departure from CODE Magazine and thanking the team, authors, and readers.
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The AI Shift Is Here
Rod explores how AI has moved from experimentation to everyday production use, sharing insights from CES 2026 and his own experience with tools like Copilot and Google Gemini to show how they're reshaping productivity across industries.
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Accessibility
Rod is touched by a documentary about a disabled young man playing video games and explores accessibility when it comes to software.
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Reading for Fun and Profit
Rod Paddock reflects on how a curated library of timeless software books has profoundly shaped his coding practice and view of the field. He explains why classic titles—from Weinberg’s psychology of programming to Brooks’s Mythical Man-Month, Game Developer postmortems, Kocienda’s Creative Selection, and Programmer at Work interviews—remain inspirational because they illuminate teamwork, real-world project challenges, and the social nature of software.
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Discernment and Determinism
These days, AI is everywhere. Rod looks at using Snowflake's Cortex to make a good internal search engine.
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25 Years of CODE Magazine
Rod celebrates the silver anniversary of this magazine with a look back at the technology we've covered and some very cool cover art.
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Software Finds Its Way
Rod writes about the long-term nature and high costs of software maintenance compared to initial development. Through personal experienceshe illustrates the importance of adopting strategic approaches to ease maintenance challenges. He highlights techniques like leveraging polymorphism and function overloading to lower maintenance costs, ultimately advocating for thoughtful design decisions that anticipate future needs and promote flexibility.
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AI is Stimulating Change
Rod explores the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), emphasizing their increasing accessibility to smaller developers and companies. He notes that AI tools like Whisper and LangChain can enhance application functionalities while acknowledging the accompanying challenges, such as the potential for misinformation and the need for human oversight to ensure accuracy. Through CODE Magazine, Rod hopes to guide readers in integrating AI into their work responsibly, underscoring the importance of evaluating AI's suitability and potential risks. He advocates for a cautious and informed approach akin to "Trust but Verify."
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Potential and Possibility
Rod explores the boundless opportunities available to software developers, likening their tools—code, compilers, text editors—to an artist's materials such as pencils and paint. He recounts a personal anecdote where a simple proof of concept using a new feature in the .NET Framework led to the creation of a fully functional call-center management system, exemplifying the power of seeing and acting on potential. Rod extends this philosophy to contemporary technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and large language models (LLMs), emphasizing the importance of leveraging these tools to unlock new possibilities. He encourages developers to remain curious and open-minded, echoing Picasso's sentiment about maintaining a childlike sense of creativity and wonder throughout one's career.
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One Fret Away from Harmony
Sometimes, you’re just about on top of an elusive solution. Stepping away can help you find it, but so can making slight adjustments to the project’s trajectory.
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Unfinished Paintings
Rod reflects on his fascination with unfinished works of art. He shares his experiences at the Academy Awards Museum and the Broad Museum in Los Angeles where he saw unfinished artwork from Disney's The Little Mermaid and Keith Haring's collection, respectively. He is drawn to these incomplete works because they provide insights into the creative process and allow him to imagine the artist at work. He relates this fascination to his own process as a developer, where he values the journey from rough sketches and demos to finished solutions.
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Remote Collaboration
Rod writes about the COVID crisis and how the remote collaboration it forced on everyone impacted music and television production. He notes how it impacted Melanie's efforts to continue her music rehearsals which had to go online, and that they needed to find ways to adapt to overcome lag. Ultimately, people overcome obstacles and adapt.
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Creative Symbiosis
Rod looks at how consuming creative things can fuel his own creativity. He's been on a live music events kick.
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Error-Driven Development
Rod notices that sometimes, looking at a nagging obstacle in a new way can open your eyes to more than just a coding solution.
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Things Will Be Different
This editorial explores the implications of the rapid development of ChatGPT. Rod also reflects on how his own experience of visiting a record store with his son made him realize the importance of considering the specific needs of projects before blindly adopting new technologies, and how sometimes the best solutions are those that look to the past.
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The Power of the Pivot
Rod explores how changing your plans and perspective can open your eyes. Go ahead and pivot.
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Introduction to Snowflake
In this article, author Rod Paddock introduces Snowflake, a cloud-based SQL database that offers a range of capabilities for developers. Paddock discusses the features of Snowflake, such as its cloud-agnostic nature, support for querying JSON data, and secure data sharing capabilities. He explains how Snowflake's unique architecture allows for "infinite" computing through its warehouse concept and provides insights into using Snowsight, the web-based application for managing Snowflake infrastructure. Rod also discusses building a data loading pipeline, securing data with masking, and sharing data with other Snowflake users. He concludes by highlighting the power and user-friendly nature of Snowflake as a game-changing product.
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The Way of the Coder
Rod talks about some of the perils and foibles of being a software engineer.
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Take a Break
It wasn’t just the COVID break that kept Rod from attending conferences, but now that he’s back, he remembers what he loved about them.
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Life Lessons for Developers
Rod’s keynote speech was an opportunity to look back at how he got here. He shares tips for getting along as a developer in the trenches for over 30 years.
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New in .NET 7
Rod Paddock argues that .NET 7 advances the platform with strong developer-centric improvements across languages, frameworks, and tooling. He highlights C# 11 features like raw string literals, MAUI’s strengthened cross-platform capabilities, and Blazor's expanded interoperability and hot-reload experience. He emphasizes sustained performance gains, and valuable EF enhancements that streamline data-centric development. Paddock frames these updates as part of a coherent forward and backward-compatible trajectory, designed to meet developers where they are and preserve prior sweat investments while enabling new capabilities. The result is a highly productive, future-proof .NET ecosystem.
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Recovering Creativity
Rod hits a creative wall and expores how to climb over it. Take the downtime you need. Get outside without your tech. Revisit what makes you creative, and finally, embrace what works.
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Longevity
Rod talks about writing code that lasts. The applications he's writing today will likely still be used in 15-20 years, so good software architecture is key to that longevity.
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Artistic Collaboration
It takes a village to build a great app with real staying power. Rod reflects on the myth of the Lone Wolf coder.
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The Computer is My Paintbrush
Rod realizes that sometimes, the most useful tools are the ones we take most for granted.
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The Secrets of Manipulating CSV Files
Rod shows you how CSV is anything but old news.
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Beating the Doldrums
We've all had a rough couple of years. Rod talks about what's helped him cheer up and that we're all in this together.
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.NET Focus Features Fabulous Features
Rod reflects on this being the third CODE Focus issue he has managed and highlights some of the great articles about .NET 6 in this issue.
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Finding Your Cohort
Rod uses the year of isolation to do some reading and recognize his circle of peers and what he’s learned from both.
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Building Command Line Utilities in C# and Python
Rod whips up a quick app to help a friend and ends up discovering some pretty cool multi-platform features that are part of command line utilities.
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Don’t Go Down with Sunk Costs
Rod has some great suggestions for how to work more efficiently.
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Who Is Your Audience?
Rod muses on what's really necessary in UI design. Don't let your requirements deter your customers from wanting to use your product.
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Keeping the Creative Fires Lit
Rod looks at how a new project or tool can spark new interest in getting your work done.
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Editorial
Rod describes how Morning Pages has significantly changed his life, unblocked creative energy and made him happier.
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The New Normal
Rod writes about how the pandemic is shifting the perspective about what's the "New Normal" for him.
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The Joy of Being a Beginner
Rod Paddock is spending some of his pandemic time exploring new software technologies including .NET Core, Docker, Vue and Python.
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Rodman Visits the World of FX on Hulu’s “Devs”
Rod writes the editorial of his life after visiting Earling Studios in the UK where they filmed the TV series Devs in 2019. In Jan 2020, interviewed Alex Garland, the creator-writer-director of Devs.
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The Importance of Community
Sofware developers grow in a community of their peers.
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Theory Meets Reality
Some planning for modular development from the past makes a change by Apple for deprecated features much easier to handle.
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.NET Core: The WOW Factor
Rod is just as excited as everyone else about all the new tools in .NET Core 3.0.
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Code Smells Are Universal
Rod sniffs out some questionable code.
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Decades of Thanks
Rod Paddock reflects on his journey from being laid off at Pinnacle Publishing to building a successful career as an independent consultant. He recounts pivotal moments and expresses gratitude to the individuals who shaped his path, including Jerry Whiting, Erik Ruthruff, David Anderson, Greg Lawrence, and Melanie Spiller. Through their mentorship, trust, and lessons in business, teaching, delegation, and interpersonal communication, Rod developed key skills that defined his career. The article is a heartfelt acknowledgment of the relationships and experiences that contributed to his growth, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, kindness, and lifelong learning.
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Part 4: The Tenets of UAT
Rod's big project is drawing to a close, and it's time to consider User Acceptance Testing.
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Part 3: Merrily We Roll Along
Rod continues the tale of an enormous conversion project.
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Act II
Rod's project continues and he gives us some good advice about managing a team.
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Act 1: Into the Great Unknown
Rod tells us about the complexities of a legacy code conversion project.
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A Software "Pre-mortem"
Rod's about to embark on a large-scale legacy conversion and he talks about the process before they begin.
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Ending Malaise
Rod Paddock argues that developer malaise stems from stagnation rather than workload, and his breakthrough came only when he returned to what he loves: learning new things. By exploring how his API could be consumed from Swift and expanding into Python and other tools, he rekindled enthusiasm and overcome burnout. He advocates lifelong learning, refreshing the “battery” by adding new skills (and even arts) as a antidote to fatigue, noting that growing in diverse directions can prevent burnout and keep programming rewarding.
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Lessons Learned from a Second Trip Around the Block
Rod and his team go back to a client site and uncover useful things from their involvement in the upgrade.
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Choices, Choices, Choices
Rod looks at the many options available to developers these days and having to choose what's best for your clients.
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Making Informed Decisions
Rod writes about his experiences in the trenches and how enthusiasm for novelty can sometimes cause problems.
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Processing Large Datasets Using C# and SQL Server Table Data Types
If you’ve got large datasets, you don’t want to slow the system down every time you save them to your SQL Server database. Rod shows you an uncomplicated way to keep your records zipping along.
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Shokunin
Rod Paddock explores the concept of mastery and dedication to craft, drawing inspiration from the Japanese term "shokunin," which embodies both technical excellence and a deep social responsibility to serve others. Using the example of sushi chef Jiro Ono and his rigorous apprenticeship process, Paddock highlights the importance of sustained effort, practice, and commitment in achieving greatness in any field, including software development. He emphasizes that true mastery not only involves skill but also a sense of obligation to positively impact the lives of others, challenging readers to reflect on their own dedication to their craft.
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The Art of Making Art
Rod explores the similarities between making fine art and writing code.
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Editorial
Rod addresses the issues in the ever-changing scenery of JavaScript frameworks.
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Creative Fear
Rod explores some of the things that hold us back when we want to start a new project, including FEAR.
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The Curious Coder
Rod reflects on how lucky we are to work in an industry where a trip down the rabbit hole can be good for you and for your clients.
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Editorial
Rod Paddock discusses over-engineered code - how you should always code as if the person who ends up maintaining your code is a violent psychopath who knows where you live.
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Editorial
To celebrate our anniversary, Rod takes a look at his May/June editorials he's written for the past 15 years.
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Musings of a Wandering Developer
Rod considers the benefits and pitfalls of having multiple clients running multiple tools.
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The Times, They are a-Changin'
Rod takes a look at the great changes coming because of ASP.NET vNext
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Editorial
In this issue, Rod discusses the cost benefit analysis of tools.
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Editorial
Rod takes a look at how to evaluate the winners and losers when it comes to new technologies.
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Editorial
Rod shares a bit of his knowledge over the last 20 years as an independent consultant/contractor.
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Twenty Years as a Software Engineer
This editorial reflects on past conferences and looks forward to 2014.
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Codes of Conduct
Rod Paddock argues that the growing adoption of codes of conduct at software conferences reveals a deeper problem: a pervasive “brogrammer” culture that tolerates harassment and boorish behavior. While he agrees that harassment must be addressed, heeshifts focus from the codes themselves to the underlying environment that necessitates them, urging a return to merit, professionalism, and an inclusive, respectful culture. He advocates creating safe spaces for all attendees and reframing behavior without losing sight of constructive interaction, summarizing his stance with Wil Wheaton’s “Don’t be a dick.”
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Software Development and Filmmaking Parallels
March/April 2013 Editorial by Rod Paddock
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Introduction to Ruby on Rails
Ruby on Rails is an open source web development stack with a large developer base. Last year, Ruby on Rails reached a critical milestone with the release of Ruby on Rails version 3.0. For more information about Ruby on Rails I recommend checking out www.rubyonrails.org. You can find installation information, documentation and links to other resources on this site. This article will demonstrate how to get up and running with Ruby on Rails with help from the RailsInstaller.
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On Conferences
Rod gives you some pointers on how to get the most out of conferences and why you should go.
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We Are Customer Service!
Rod Paddock editorial Jan/Feb 2011
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Show Me the Money and Other Sundry Stories
Rod Paddock Nov/Dec 2010 Editorial
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Using the Amazon Web Service SDK for .NET
The richest set of cloud computing services comes from a little e-commerce company known as Amazon.com. Developers can access the Amazon Web Services (AWS) platform using numerous tools including the .NET platform.Amazon.com is a major player in the cloud computing space and has numerous services available to developers. In late 2009, Amazon released the AWS SDK for .NET. This article will demonstrate using the AWS SDK to create a custom backup service using the Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3).
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Can a Fish Use a Bicycle?
In "Can a Fish Use a Bicycle?", Rod Paddock argues that Agile development is fundamentally a philosophy focused on collaboration, individuals, and adaptability, rather than a set of tools or techniques. Responding to critiques that Agile fails to address the complexity of modern development toolsets, Paddock emphasizes that Agile principles are tool-agnostic and can be applied with any technology. He cautions against rigid interpretations of Agile and suggests that while some tools may align better with Agile practices, the methodology itself does not solve tool complexity, which remains an ongoing challenge for developers.
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Post Mortem Web Project
First Premier Bankcard (www.firstpremier.com) is the 10th largest issuer of Visa and MasterCard credit cards in the United States.First Premier employs multiple thousands of people spread across the state of South Dakota. A major percentage of the employees at First Premier work in call-center operations helping people apply for credit cards.
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Not a Spectator Sport
Cover Headlines: VS 2010, C#, VB, EF, Silverlight, ASP.NET, ASP.NET MVC
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Open Source Software
Rod Paddock's May/June 2009 Editorial article.
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Programming Twittering with Visual Basic
Social networking has reached critical mass. One unique social networking platform, Twitter, launched in March of 2006 and took the world by storm with its social networking and microblogging platform.The developers of Twitter had the forethought to provide a REST -based API. Numerous developers have used the REST-based API to build Twitter clients on dozens of different platforms. In this article I’ll demonstrate how to access Twitter using the .NET platform.
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Languages Re-Unleashed
Sept/Oct 08 Editorial by Rod Paddock
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Boy Scouts, Dungeons and Dragons, and Community
Rod Paddock argues that growth as a software developer is inseparable from active participation in a community. Through his own arc—from Boy Scouts and high school gaming to online forums, user groups, conference speaks, and editorial work at CODE Magazine—he shows how mentorship, collaboration, and sharing knowledge build skills and confidence. Personal stories of teaching, presenting, and forging lasting connections illustrate the rewards of contributing and helping others. He ends with a call to action: engage in user groups, Code Camps, Open Space events, blogs, and writing to strengthen and sustain the community.
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Creating Visual Studio Add-Ins
Visual Studio provides one of the most powerful IDE’s on the market. One under-exploited aspect of this IDE is the extensibility model. Programming IDE’s are not static development tools. Development techniques, tools, and concepts change. Extensibility has been built into Visual Studio from its early inceptions. The great thing about Microsoft’s foresight is that you can augment functionality of Visual Studio yourself. This article will demonstrate how to extend the Visual Studio IDE using Visual Studio, the .NET Framework, and the Visual Studio Add-In and automation models.
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It’s an Agile World
Jan/Feb 08 Editorial by Rod Paddock
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The Age of Specialists and Generalists
Nov/Dec 2007 Editorial Column by Rod Paddock
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Seeing the Silverlight
Rod Paddocks July/August 2007 Editorial Article
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Exploring Tablet PC Application Deployment
You have decided to take the plunge and create a Microsoft® Windows® XP Tablet PC Edition operating system-aware application. This decision comes with a new set of requirements when it comes to enabling Tablet PC-specific features and deployment of your application. This article will take you through the process of creating a Tablet PC-aware application and deploying it in the enterprise.
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Integrating .NET Code and SQL Server Reporting Services
SQL Server Reporting Services versions 2000 and 2005 (SSRS) has many powerful features. SSRS has a well-designed data access engine, a great set of layout tools, and an excellent expression system for creating complex formulas. While the expression system is quite powerful it is not suitable for all applications. This is where SSRS shines. SSRS gives developers the ability to add custom code to their report layouts. This article demonstrates adding custom code to SQL Server Reporting Services reports.
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Surfs Up!
In this editorial Rod Paddock urges developers to "paddle out" and seize the current software waves—Windows Vista and Office 2007, .NET 3.0 (WPF, WCF, WWF), SharePoint 2007, Team Systems, and the upcoming Orcas/LINQ—each offering new UI, workflow, communication, and development opportunities; he highlights how these platforms simplify tasks and enable richer applications, shares his own interests (LINQ and SharePoint), and thanks contributors and readers as he enters his sixth year as CoDe Magazine's editor.
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Axes and Imagination
So what the heck is Rod doing with Stewie and Brian Griffin (of Family Guy fame) you ask? Well, Rod is sharpening his axe.
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The Modern World of Mobility
Rod Paddock - Editorial for Tablet PC 2006
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The Times they Are a Changin'
Rod Paddock Editorial Article July/August 2005
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Visual FoxPro 9 IDE Enhancements
Visual FoxPro 9 includes a number of IDE enhancements that make its already rich development environment considerably richer.
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What Makes an Effective Software Manager?
Rod Paddock Editorial September October 2004 Issue
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Creating Custom Data Extensions for SQL Server 2000 Reporting Services
In early 2004, Microsoft released a new set of extensions to SQL Server 2000 called SQL Server 2000 Reporting Services.SQL Server Reporting Services provides a comprehensive platform for creating, managing, securing, scheduling, and outputting data from SQL Server, Oracle, OLE DB and ODBC data sources. When Microsoft created SQL Server Reporting Services they created it as an extendable platform. You can create your own data extensions and your own output extensions. In this article, I'll show you how to create your own custom data extensions for SQL Server Reporting Services.
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Comparing VFP String Performance to .NET String Performance
Markus Egger benchmarks string operations on a 3.3MB "War and Peace" text to compare Visual FoxPro (VFP) and .NET (C#), showing that VFP offers richer, convenient string functions while .NET consistently outperforms VFP in speed and stability; .NET benefits from JIT and GC but requires careful use of StringBuilder to avoid memory costs, whereas VFP can be fast for some operations but suffers from inconsistent timings and limitations (e.g., ALines array size) for very large texts—overall both platforms have strong string capabilities.
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Creating User-Defined Data Types in Yukon
The next version of SQL Server (code name Yukon) has extensive support of the Common Language Runtime (CLR).Previous versions of SQL Server (2000 and earlier) had a mechanism for creating custom data types. These data types were nothing more than aliases to system data types. In Yukon, you can create your own fully functional custom data types.
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Hearts and Minds
Rod Paddock argues that the ongoing VB.NET vs C# debate is less about one language being inherently superior and more about context and practical needs. Drawing on his background across VB, Visual FoxPro, and other tools, he contends that good design transcends language and that supporters of either side often overstate benefits. He notes VB.NET’s unique features like edit-and-continue, acknowledges its warts, and suggests choosing a language based on the developer’s background and project requirements. Ultimately, CoDe Magazine will showcase multiple languages, emphasizing pragmatic, task-driven development.
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Using MySQL 4.0 with .NET
All database developers should know about MySQL.MySQL is an open source database that you can use to develop robust applications without paying the steep licensing fees attached to other database systems.
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Using the Microsoft Visual Studio Tools for the Microsoft Office System
Microsoft has opened wide Office development to Visual Studio .NET developers by creating the Microsoft Visual Studio Tools for the Microsoft Office System. These tools work with Microsoft Office 2003 Professional Edition.In its previous versions, Microsoft has spent considerable time making Office available for integration with other Windows-based applications. The ability to integrate with Office began with DDE, went on to OLE 1.0, then to automation, and finally added Visual Basic for Applications. The Visual Studio Tools for Office combine the vision of its predecessors with the functionality of the future in Office 2003.
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Toys, Toys, Toys
Rod Paddock portrays the Whidbey and Yukon previews as exciting new software development “toys” that expand and energize the developer landscape. He shares his enthusiasm for features like integrating .NET into Yukon’s triggers and stored procedures, creating new data types, and Whidbey’s edit-and-continue, along with numerous ASP.NET, Windows Forms, and language updates. Paddock invites readers to explore these advances and reads the accompanying expert articles, underscoring a playful yet serious anticipation for the next generation of Visual Studio, .NET Framework, and SQL Server.
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Looking Forward and Back (Editorial)
In this editorial, Rod Paddock reflects on the pivotal technological developments of 2002, highlighting the significance of Visual Studio .NET, the rise of web services, and the expanding influence of SQL Server and Microsoft’s acquisition of Great Plains. He emphasizes the growing importance of security and notes Microsoft’s strategic retreat from My .NET Services. Additionally, Rod points to emerging technologies like Tablet PCs and the Compact .NET Framework as promising opportunities for developers, ultimately encouraging readers to embrace these innovations as they look ahead to the future.
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The Importance of Friends
Rodman (Rod Paddock) reflects on the September 11, 2001 crisis to argue that, beyond professional achievement, the true value in life lies in friends, family, and freedom. He uses the tragedy to illustrate how quickly life and global connections become fragile, and how meaningful exchanges with loved ones sustain us. The piece then broadens to celebrate international collaboration in his field, before urging developers to prioritize human relationships and personal time over constant work, reminding readers to nurture what truly matters.
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The Silver Bullet is Found
Rod Paddock argues that despite recurring claims about miracle tools and methodologies—CASE, Java, the Unified Process/UML, Extreme Programming—none are a true "silver bullet" for software development; instead, he contends that practical common sense, a problem-solving mindset, and judicious use of tools (and even a simple notebook and pen) are what consistently produce successful software.
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All for a Box of Onions
Rod Paddock uses a lighthearted box-of-onions anecdote to argue a serious point about consulting: the value of choosing the best tool for the job, not what’s most familiar or easiest for the consultant. When a client faced Mac incompatibility with Visual FoxPro, Paddock suggested Citrix, and the client’s success validated that recommendation. The story illustrates that good advisers think outside the box and prioritize the client’s outcomes over personal gain, even if that means passing up an opportunity to build a flashy solution.
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