About the Human Code Principles

The Human Code Principles (HCP) are a set of values for creating software in a way that honors both the craft of programming and the people behind it. They provide a human-centric foundation for developing technology: one that respects time, attention, health, curiosity, and the long-term sustainability of our work.

HCP does not prescribe tools, processes or methodologies. Instead, it offers a professional compass. Twelve principles that help developers, teams, and organizations refocus on what truly matters: clarity, empathy, honesty, sustainability, continuous learning, and the joy of creating.

These principles were shaped by decades of hands-on software development, consulting, and training. They reflect real-world experience across industries, teams, and technologies. Their goal is simple: to help us build software that is not only functional and efficient, but humane, resilient, and meaningful.

About the Author

Jani Järvinen is a Finnish software developer and technology professional with more than thirty years of experience in the field. He has worked with organizations of all sizes; startups, small businesses, and global enterprises; building web applications, desktop software, cloud services, integrations and everything in between.

For the past fifteen years, Jani has run his own software development, consulting and training companies. He is known for his expertise in C#, .NET, and modern web technologies, and he enjoys sharing knowledge through writing and teaching. Jani has published seven books and over two hundred magazine articles, and he has received the Microsoft C# MVP award fourteen times.

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