01
The Oath of Hermes
Software is never merely software.
Behind every line of code are people, organisations, processes and responsibilities. Our decisions affect business continuity, data security, service quality and the trust on which organisations depend.
At a time when artificial intelligence can generate more and more software, human responsibility becomes more important than ever.
That is why every Code Director commits to the Oath of Hermes.
Hermes represents the messenger, the connector and the protector of knowledge. His name symbolises careful communication, craftsmanship and responsibility. Anyone who calls themselves a Code Director accepts the responsibility that comes with developing, modernising and operating software others rely on.
The Oath of Hermes is the professional code of conduct of The Code Directors. It is inspired by general principles of duty of care, craftsmanship, confidentiality and accountability.
02
Our Commitment
When we take responsibility for a client’s digital environment, we treat it with the same care with which a physician treats a patient.
That is why we commit ourselves to the following promise:
I put the interests of the client first and respect their views.
I will do no harm to the client.
I will listen and keep the client properly informed.
I will keep confidential what has been entrusted to me.
I will continue to develop my knowledge and share it with others.
I recognise the limits of my abilities and will remain open and accountable.
I will not misuse my knowledge.
This commitment forms the foundation of every assignment we undertake.
03
The Rule of Benedict
The Oath of Hermes describes what we take responsibility for.
The Rule of Benedict describes how we work every day.
We believe sustainable quality is not created by haste or ego, but by discipline, attention and continuous development.
That is why every Code Director works according to three simple principles.
I. Stabilitas
Steadfastness
Always do everything to the best of your ability.
Steadfastness begins with loyalty to yourself and to the work in front of you. We commit fully, with attention, care and integrity. Not to be perfect, but to carry out every task as well as possible. We take responsibility for our work, even when nobody is watching.
II. Conversio Morum
Continuous Development
If you have done something before, do it better than last time.
Software is never finished. People are not finished either. Every assignment, mistake, release and collaboration creates an opportunity to learn. We aim to make every next step better than the previous one. Not out of dissatisfaction, but out of craftsmanship. Continuous improvement is not a project. It is a way of working.
III. Obedientia
Attentive Listening
Listen, listen and listen again. And if you want to ask something, listen a little longer first.
Good software does not begin with code. It begins with listening. We listen to the organisation, the users, the client and our colleagues. And when we think we already know the answer, we listen once more. Only those who truly understand what is meant can build what is truly needed.
04
AI Under Human Responsibility
We believe AI is an exceptionally powerful tool.
But AI does not carry responsibility. People do.
That is why we use AI only as an extension of human expertise. Decisions about architecture, security, privacy, continuity and quality remain the responsibility of experienced professionals.
AI accelerates the work. The Code Director carries the responsibility.
05
The Power of Words
listen: understand context
formulate: make decisions explicit
direct: guide AI with intent
We believe good software begins with clear language.
If a problem cannot be described explicitly, it cannot be solved well.
That is why every Code Director is evaluated on the power of words.
We listen carefully. We formulate explicitly. We communicate unambiguously. We make complex questions understandable. We record expectations clearly. We take responsibility for every word we speak or write.
Because the quality of the instruction ultimately determines the quality of the outcome.
AI writes code. People define direction. AI generates the code. The Code Director defines its purpose.
06
Our Professional Principles
Every Code Director commits to the following principles:
- We build software that can be understood.
- We make complex systems simpler, not more complicated.
- We document what we build.
- We share knowledge so organisations can continue independently.
- We respect existing investments and replace only what truly needs to be replaced.
- We protect confidential information as if it were our own.
- We choose security over speed when both cannot be achieved together.
- We choose stability over spectacle.
- We choose quality over volume.
- We choose collaboration over ego.
- We choose transparency over false certainty.
- We choose responsibility over non-commitment.
- We build software that can still be understood, maintained and used securely ten years from now.
07
Our Responsibility
When an organisation entrusts its software to us, it receives more than technical expertise.
It receives professionals who understand that software can make or break a business.
That trust obliges us to work with care, honesty and continuous development of our craft.
08
Our Promise to Every Client
We will never make technology more important than the organisation it is meant to serve.
We will never use AI to replace human responsibility.
We will never knowingly choose solutions that make a client unnecessarily dependent.
We will always strive for software that is secure, stable, understandable and fit for the future.
Ultimately, the code is not our greatest responsibility. The people who rely on it are.