Abstract: Solid-state NMR is a powerful experimental probe of atomic scale structure and dynamics. A series of developments in electronic structure methods over the past two decades has given material scientists the ability to predict solid-state NMR parameters using codes such as CASTEP, QE and Wien2k. These are a valuable tool for the interpretation of experimental spectra. Indeed, it has been said that it is now hard to publish experimental solid-state NMR results without an accompanying DFT calculation. In this talk I will highlight the key methodological advances behind the prediction of NMR parameters. I will also reflect back on how an experimental community came to so completely adopt electronic structure calculations. Finally I will highlight some very recent advances which aim to increase the range of applicability of these calculations.