Author: Ross Wintle

Spent a morning doing some recreational coding. Properly getting into some data design and gnarly issues. No agents. Pure code. So good to exercise my brain in this way. I took my time. Thought about what I was doing. And very nearly one-shotted a feature. And cool stuff coming soon as a result. 😃

You know that thing in npm where you can tell it not to install anything until it’s older than X days? Does that exist for
a) browser extensions?
b) editor add-ons/extensions?

Yes, I am hiding from the sun and catching up on my bookmarks!!

So, someone made an online RPG card game called DDDnD. And I’m reading a write up of some of the things that happen in the game, and I’m laughing out loud at how clever and brilliantly observed this is.

https://blog.moriel.tech/posts/dddnd-mirror/

The article on hardening GitHub actions by @sebastian is worthy of a read by anyone that uses GitHub actions – or any CI/CD really. Really good to understand some of the possible weaknesses.

https://phpunit.expert/articles/hardening-github-actions-workflows.html

Anyone developing a real fear of software dependencies at this point? I don’t want to install anything or run any updates right now.

Ah yes. This is good info!

https://mastodon.social/@john_fisherman/116617981969242002

I increasingly recognise the ability to choose as counter-cultural – perhaps even rebellious. Choosing what you read and watch. Choosing who you share data with. Choosing carefully what you buy. These things take time and effort. And probably require privilege too. They are not the easy way. But they are the better way!

https://fosstodon.org/@mike/116613366092460616

RE: https://crikey.social/@ross/116605777298450051

And clashes happen when people have different communication expectations. You think I’m being long and rambling when actually I REALLY want you to understand without needing to ask further questions.

You’ve written me a short, vague message assuming I understand but I need more details.

Etc.

Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

RE: https://crikey.social/@ross/116605777298450051

You have no idea how long I spent considering the words this post. I think I went for succinct-precise. 😆

You know how there is a product triangle of cheap, good and quick? Where you can only have two?

I think there is a communication triangle that is similar.

Communication can be simple, succinct and precise. Or any two of those. But never all three.

Simple, precise communication will need lots of words and not be succinct.

Succinct, precise communication will need terminology and not be simple.

And simple, succinct communication will never be precise.

(Note to family/friends/colleagues: Yes, I frequently fail hard on “succinctly”, but you can’t fault my precision… I hope! 😉)

I also wonder if there is something about probably being neurodiverse and not “getting” AI.

I don’t want to use long rambling sentences to describe what I want. I want to learn the specific meanings of things so that I can communicate precisely and succinctly.

This video, for example, is baffling: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Z-h1HLilceQ

A while back I got frustrated with people on a school Facebook group asking simple questions of each other that were answered on the school website. I thought the fix was clever technology. But I later realised that asking other people has real value. Community. Social capital.

AI robs us of this.

“Sam Campbell’s ULTIMATE Photo Editing Tutorial” is my new favourite video on YouTube.

I’ve watched it three times today and laughed out loud every time. I’m still not sure I’ve seen all the jokes in it. 6 minutes and worth every second.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6D1sYQ8AvA

You know, I’ve been researching solar. But I asked myself the question: “Is it worth it, doing my part?”

And then I read the tech news and I’m like: “Fuck it, I’m gonna install three gas turbines, a power shower, a plastic lawn, and never bother with thinking about recycling again.”

In an attempt the brain-hack my way to more exercise I bought Ring Fit adventure for the Switch in Vinted for £15. Seems like fun. And definitely works up a sweat!