Engineerspeak - Translation skills between teams

Copyright 2026, Bri Hatch, Creative Commons BY-NC-SA License

Story one - the login

Cranky User

One savvy user could never log in

I Can Haz Screenshare?

Story two - CAPTCHA Hell

Gently wafting curtains

bzzzt

It's redirects all the way down

Root Causes

First case: password truncation

Second case: bad IDP URL data

Result:

• cranky users
• cranky engineers

How to describe the problem?

Good Idea

We fixed a problem with extreemly long passwords; the new limit is 128 characters. We have contacted the affected users and confirmed the fix is functional.

Or

We identified an infinite redirect loop in our logout procedure that would result in a chrome error message, and could additionally cause you to need to perform a CAPTCHA at your next login.

However at no point was there a security issue as the logout was completed sucessfully on both server, IDP, and browser.

I haven't a clue

Overheard at the all hands...

"My god, if we can't even log users out correctly, can we even call ourselves a security company?"

Overheard at the all hands...

My god, if we can't even log users out correctly, can we even call ourselves a security company?

Frantic side discussions ensued

• Is it really that bad?
• Have we been lying to our customers?
• Do I need to look for a new job?
• What have I gotten myself into?

All around me are familiar faces

        
def sum_even_numbers(numbers):           
    total = 0
    i = 0                                

    while i < len(numbers):              

        if numbers[i] % 2 == 0:

            total = total + numbers[i]   

        i = i + 1                        

    return total

Worn out places, worn out faces

        
def sum_even_numbers(numbers):           # no type hinting?
    total = 0
    i = 0                                # why have a counter???

    while i < len(numbers):              # Iterate via
                                         #  'for num in numbers'
        if numbers[i] % 2 == 0:

            total = total + numbers[i]   # total += num

        i = i + 1                        # delete entirely

    return total

Mad World, Mad World

        
def sum_even_numbers(numbers):           # no type hinting?
    total = 0
    i = 0                                # why have a counter???

    while i < len(numbers):              # Iterate via
                                         #  'for num in numbers'
        if numbers[i] % 2 == 0:

            total = total + numbers[i]   # total += num

        i = i + 1                        # delete entirely

    return total

# This whole function should be one line! What is this, C?
#
# def sum_even_numbers(numbers):
#    return sum(n for n in numbers if n % 2 == 0)

All charts lie

Translation Table

Communications Guidelines

So what can we do?

• Say what is true, but also what is not at risk
• Optimize for interpretation
• Talk impact and scope, not mechanisms
• If it sounds dramatic, try again

"This issue is X. It affects Y, and does not affect Z."

Communications guidelines (cont)

More ideas

• Avoid jargon / terms of art / acronym soup
• Route info through PMs, or SEs, or TAMs
• Pick the top 2-3 things, not ten
• Ask them to repeat back what they think you said

While we're at it...

• Does it need to be said?
• Does it need to be said by me?
• Does it need to be said by me right now?
• If it's really satisfying to say, do not say it!

Takeaways

• To an engineer, language is like code - it must be precise, or the program crashes
• To a non-engineer, language is a bridge - it's meant to move people toward a feeling or an action

Thanks!

Presentation: https://www.ifokr.org/bri/presentations/lfnw-2026-engineerspeak/

Copyright 2026, Bri Hatch, Creative Commons BY-NC-SA License