The Architecture Behind the Mindset
These are the people and works I use as references in my work on Diggs, and what each of them is used for.
Revised 5 October 2026: This text was previously a separate page under “Inspiration” and has been moved here. It was first published on 30 March 2026 and last changed on 28 September 2026.
Jan-Henrik Haukeland
My tech mentor when I was young, the man behind Fri Surf and technical director at sol.no. In 1998 he gave me a CD-R with Red Hat 5.2 and WordPerfect.
Used for: The starting point for why I begin with open systems.
Alexey Pajitnov & Tetris
Pajitnov coded Tetris on a state-owned machine, and the Soviet state took ownership of the code through Elorg.
Used for: The example of licence ownership and exit cost in “The Tetris Syndrome”.
Linus Torvalds
The architect behind Linux and Git.
Used for: The example of the kind of open infrastructure the doctrine builds on.
Jing Venås Kjeldsen
We worked together at Fanbooster, where he learned new programming languages in days and later built Superside. He taught me that foundations can be replaced.
Used for: Reversibility, principle P3 in the doctrine.
Olav Eggum
Serial entrepreneur and one of the founders of Fanbooster. He taught me the idea of “hurrying slowly”.
Used for: Phased migration: making the transition in steps.
Pelle Ljungberg
Vocalist in Crawling Duck Johnsen, who gave me three words: Kill your darlings.
Used for: Discarding my own solutions and correcting mistakes, as in “The Voice in My Own Code”.
The Matrix
The 1999 film about a world where infrastructure controls what you think is free, and where most people never see the code behind it.
Used for: The image of the shaping the reader does not see, as in “Neutrality is a design choice”.
What has shaped me
These people and works have shaped how I think and work. They are here because they tell where I come from, even though they are not used as references in the project.
Synne Bersvendsen
A neighbour, running partner and friend during my time in Oslo. She recommended Steve Jobs' 2005 commencement address at Stanford to me, the one where he talks about connecting the dots. I am not quite sure why, but I doubt I would have watched it if the suggestion had not come from her. Its message is that you can only connect the dots looking backwards, and that the small things do not always make sense at the time. I reflect on that a great deal today, as I begin to see the value of the dots further back in my life. This whole list is a kind of example of it, and it was Synne who made me notice.
Roger Jensen
A business original in the export of heavy machinery. He taught me the value of staying “calm” – keeping emotions in check even when enthusiasm runs high. Where large companies lean on legal departments, he navigates international markets with pragmatism and an ability to cut through noise and focus on the core of a deal. His best advice is as simple as it is demanding: Don't listen to anyone else. It is advice I take with me when I challenge established truths in the technology industry.
Isabelle Ringnes
I worked with Isabelle in 2013 when we mobilised the grassroots and got the majority in Oslo to vote yes to the 2022 Olympics (even though the politicians eventually pulled the brake). Even then, her capacity for work was clear. Her journey as a tech founder, voice and leader in the years since has inspired me. She combines strategic overview with the ability to get things done.
Jonas Neubauer
7-time world champion in Classic Tetris, and one of the most down-to-earth people I have met on the internet. I followed him when the Classic Tetris World Championship became popular on YouTube. What made an impression was that he took the time for everyone. We talked about Final Fantasy XI when no one else in the chat cared, and about drums. I recommended a bass drum pedal to him once. He bought it. When I finally got myself an NES and Tetris, I waited excitedly to tell him about the purchase and thank him for the inspiration. Jonas never logged on again. He had passed away. He showed that mastery and genuine human warmth go together.
Frank Zappa
A musician with a worldview of his own and rare intellectual sharpness. He had the courage to stand by his opinions, and although he could be harsh, he was always on target and to the point. His ability to challenge established truths inspires me.
Anika Nilles
A drummer with a feel for detail and polyrhythm. I have followed her for years, and meeting her at a masterclass in Oslo confirmed my respect for her dedication to her craft. She has gone from being a “YouTube phenomenon for nerds” to touring with Jeff Beck and Rush. An example of skill in systems and detail getting through.
Nobuo Uematsu & Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy is my favourite series. I have put hundreds of hours into it, and it is rarely the story itself that draws me in, but the systems. And the music: Nobuo Uematsu created music with great feeling, from 8-bit to its high point in the 16-bit era. An example of building depth with limited tools.
Daft Punk
Their music has lasted, but it is their choice to step aside that fascinates me most. By performing as robots, they took the focus away from the individual and let the product itself stand at the centre. It is a reminder that when the quality of what you deliver is good enough, you don't need to shout the loudest to be heard.
Fun fact: NES Tetris (1989)
As one of the first in Norway (4th registered), I have “maxed out” (999,999 points) the original Tetris for the NES. My friend and rival, Gerhard Adler from Kongsvinger, followed up with his first maxout the day after me – making us the 4th and 5th in the country within 24 hours, over 30 years after the game's release.
It is a test of system understanding under time pressure. At the highest speeds, pieces fall faster than human reaction time allows. Since you only see one piece ahead, it is about building an architecture robust enough to handle any piece that might come. It is a constant struggle to keep order in a system designed to end in chaos.
What you see on the scoreboard screen — the name I enter — is a small, personal greeting to Jonas.