Quick wins for legacy systems through API enablement
A lighthearted, mock email between two government program managers discussing the immediate benefits of API enablement as a precursor to modernizing a legacy system.
Our Blog
Our written thoughts on design, technology, and more.
Kin Lane: Harnessing the connective power of APIs
Kin Lane's career path has taken him from software engineer to one of the world's foremost API experts before joining Skylight. Here, he has been working with our government clients to improve their use of APIs. His advice for people thinking about joining us: Do it.
Story of a DARPA proposal
A brief story of our experience submitting a proposal to DARPA to conduct research on the latest Low Power Wide Area Network technology.
How to rescue failing programs
To rescue a failing program, you must protect the four freedoms of enterprise system development.
Principles for a federal CIO-led digital transformation
The digital revolution presents a unique leadership opportunity for federal CIOs to reinvent themselves and their agencies. Here we present a set of key principles for federal CIOs to consider following in order to seize it.
Unsolicited proposal for a microconsulting services marketplace platform
A preannouncement for an unsolicited proposal to construct a microconsulting services marketplace platform, which we plan to pitch to the entire federal government.
Public domain procurement
Avoiding vendor lock-in situations is just one of many reasons that the government should consider using public domain procurements.
The search for mentor-protégé relationships
We're actively looking to establish mentor-protégé relationships with companies interested in joint, ongoing pursuit of digital project opportunities.
Five former Presidential Innovation Fellows and 18F co-founders join Skylight
Announcing the addition of Chris Cairns, Robert Read, John Teeter, Geoff Mulligan, and Kin Lane to the Skylight team.
Reactions to our Agile Share-in-Savings model
Several months ago, we published a blog post series on a concept called Agile Share-in-Savings. We received a number of positive reactions, as well as some worthy counter-arguments.
Software badness quantified
Until a more robust model for measuring technical debt is developed, we suggest using a simple formula for measuring the "badness" of a codebase in order to facilitate system improvement decisions.
Case management: a study in non-traditional economics for government
Case management systems are commonplace and largely overlap. Agencies and vendors should consider innovative models for cooperating with one another in order to reduce duplicative efforts.