In this talk we will explore how different development environments shape the tech we create. Based on Stephanie’s decades of experience, this talk explores development for: research, prototyping, software products, video games, and game engines. There is a common foundation required for building compelling and useful technical solutions. Are there different methods for developing technical solutions in these different areas? Can the same procedures used in software products be used for developing video games? We’ll dive into some of the nuances of how these areas are affected by their different requirements and purposes. We’ll see how the wider context forms the code we write.