# Taming chaos is a learnable skill

DevFeed: [Taming chaos is a learnable skill](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/taming-chaos-is-a-learnable-skill-37643.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://swizec.com/blog/taming-chaos-is-a-learnable-skill>)

Author: hi@swizec.com (Swizec Teller)

Published: 2026-03-11T00:00:00Z

Content type: opinion

Language: en

Sources: [Swizec Teller](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/swizec-teller.md>)

Topics: [Software Engineering](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/software-engineering.md>), [engineering-culture](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/engineering-culture.md>), [Low-Code / Internal Tools](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/internal-tools.md>)

Tags: [approach](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/approach.md>), [chaos](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/chaos.md>), [engineering](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/engineering.md>), [exceptions](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/exceptions.md>), [internal-tools](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/internal-tools.md>), [operations](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/operations.md>), [software-engineering](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/software-engineering.md>), [startup](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/startup.md>)

## AI overview

The article argues that handling interruptions, operational surprises, exceptions, and changing priorities is a learnable software-engineering skill. It recommends owning system problems, managing scope and tradeoffs, validating quality requirements, and maintaining a long-term vision despite short-term disruption.

## Source excerpt

How you approach software engineering makes it harder or easier to handle interruptions and other chaos. Writing a behavioral interview made me realize this is a learnable skill!