Mike Bowers - From ISAM to JSON—Navigating 40+ Years of Database Evolution

Mike Bowers, Chief Architect at FairCom, has spent decades navigating the evolution of database technology. In this conversation, he and Robby explore the challenges of maintaining a 40+ year-old codebase, balancing legacy constraints with forward-thinking design, and the realities of technical debt.

Mike shares how FairCom transitioned from ISAM-based databases to modern JSON-driven APIs, the trade-offs between strict schemas and flexible document stores, and how software architecture plays a critical role in long-term maintainability. He also explains why human-readable JSON simplifies debugging, how documentation-driven development improves API usability, and why many software teams struggle with refactoring at the right time.

Topics covered

• [00:05:32] The role of software architecture in long-term maintainability
• [00:10:45] Why FairCom's legacy ISAM technology still matters today
• [00:14:20] Transitioning to a JSON-based API for modern developers
• [00:19:40] The challenges of maintaining 40+ years of C code
• [00:24:10] Technical debt: What it really means and how to manage it
• [00:28:50] The trade-offs between strict schemas and flexible NoSQL approaches
• [00:34:00] When to refactor vs. when to start over from scratch
• [00:38:15] The influence of product management thinking on software architecture
• [00:42:30] Advice for engineers considering a shift into architecture roles

Resources Mentioned

• FairCom
• Mike Bowers on LinkedIn
• FairCom on Twitter/X

Book Recommendation:

The Influential Product Manager by MSc Bucero

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