Hello! I’m Clinton and I like to pick things apart. Even in my early childhood, my happiness no longer came from unpacking a new toy, but from revealing its hidden secrets with a screwdriver. The desire to understand how things work at a deep level has driven me throughout my 20-year career in software development, technical leadership, consulting and technology storytelling. I’m excited to bring this curiosity to my new role as Principal Analyst for Software Development Services and Developer Organizational Change at Forrester.
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Where have you been?
I began my career in 2004 as a freelance full-stack web developer in the nonprofit advocacy space, building hundreds of websites and (later) mobile apps for charitable causes. I also learned a lot about Linux, object-oriented PHP (still the breakfast of champions!) and IE6 CSS hacks along the way. What fascinated me most was the complex alchemy of translating human requirements into machine-readable code – still a vexing problem even in the age of Agile, DevOps and LLMs.
After a career break (during which I earned a PhD in philosophy and discovered a joy in classroom teaching and deconstructing big ideas), I spent several years in technical management at a small systems integrator developing cloud-native applications for public sector clients. Through this role, I gained valuable experience in how organizational challenges (like Conway’s Law, Yak Shaving, and the Project Management Triangle – to name a few of my favorites!) present themselves at scale and how emerging complexity leads to undesirable outcomes even in seemingly well-understood systems.
Most recently, I served as Field CTO at Snyk—a leading application security company—for six years, where I provided strategic vision and thought leadership on the evolving relationship between developer experience, software risk, and AI. I have had the privilege of advising executives at Fortune 50 customers and partners on developing secure modern applications. I was a regular speaker at conferences about the future of software craftsmanship.
What brought you to Forrester?
The core of my career is developing compelling narratives about technology and its intersection with people. Stories are what bring us together, and there has never been a more critical time for new concepts to help us understand the rapidly changing landscape.
What will your research area be?
In my role at Forrester, I will focus on:
- Advanced software services, including system integrators, consulting, and custom application development and deployment.
- Long-term software stewardship, including technical debt management, application risk mitigation, and assurance-based pricing.
- Redesigning the technical organizational structure and management techniques for the new world of agent building.
- The future role and career development of the software developer in a landscape of standardized code generation.
But who are you really?
When I’m not at work, I’m a proud Luddite and prefer to surround myself with analog technology like books, records, film cameras, typewriters, and other vintage finds (which often require some attention from the aforementioned screwdriver). As an avid DIYer, cook, and maker, I still find time to read philosophy and think critically about the impact of technology and AI on human society. I live deep in the woods of the Berkshires in western Massachusetts with my trusty rescue beagle (and retired professional fox hunter) Mr. Burt.
Shall we talk?
Yes! Especially if you are a leading software engineer interested in the evolution of the developer experience, the new value proposition of responsibility-centered software services, the career progression of engineers, or the changing risk/responsibility model of modern development teams in the world of agent AI – or if you just want to dabble in information theory or complex systems design! Let’s connect:
https://www.forrester.com/blogs/meet-clinton-herget-principal-analyst-for-software-development-services-and-developer-organizational-change/
