Author: Ross Wintle

A super article on traits of good software developers.

https://endler.dev/2025/best-programmers/

#bookmarks

This is such a great tool. A web-based file converter backed by ffmpeg and other stuff, presumably using WASM.

https://howtoconvert.co/

#bookmarks

PSA for command-line folks on a Mac:

In MacOS 15.x (Sequoia) they have replaced regular rsync with openrsync for licensing reasons.

And it's mostly the same, but there are TINY cases where it isn't compatible.

And yes, I found this out the hard way at work today!!!

Turbo Admin Demo!

I've finally got to making a proper demo video of all of Turbo Admin's features. lt's too long really, but covers everything.

Now this is done, and I have the confidence of making again, I'll make some shorter, punchier ones.

If you don't know, Turbo Admin is my #WordPress command palette browser extension. But it does so much more!

https://vimeo.com/1074016276

I'm biased because I'm good friends with @tnash, but my goodness, he is a wealth of knowledge, and such a great communicator – so very eloquent and good at making complicated things simple. This is a joy to listen to and full of important #WordPress security content. 👏

https://wpbuilds.com/2025/03/27/415-feeling-insecure-with-tim-nash-episode-3-the-state-of-wordpress-security-and-the-transition-to-bcrypt/

Did you know?

Twenty years ago today there was a very important wedding near London that I was very blessed to be able to attend.

Oh yeah. And the king and queen got married that day too!

(Way to steal my thunder, Your Majesty! 😂🙄)

20 years through thick and thin. Children. Pandemics. Sharing. Supporting. Team Wintle is still strong!

My Sally is a wonderful partner and person. I’d be lost without her. And I love her with all my heart.

In which me, an old and cynical dude, adds his current opinions about AI to the pile.

Here’s the thing. People are saying “It’s not like blockchain”.

And it really is, from my vantage point.

https://rosswintle.uk/2025/04/my-latest-thoughts-on-ai/

I had genuine contact with people I consider “celebrities" in my world today. It's been properly delightful. Like when Twitter was actually good.

Woah!! Back in 2019 I was pondering "deepfakes" of words.

I mention a Podcast where "They discuss and critique how AI could so quickly churn out fake words, articles, and even fake interviews!”

I think this was all done with relatively simple Markov chains.

We REALLY didn't know what was coming, did we?

https://rosswintle.uk/2019/12/are-text-based-deep-fakes-ok/

And if you’re wondering, after my question about video/screencasting tools. The answer, as I thought it might be, is both ScreenStudio (which has so many great features for an initial edit of a screen recording) AND ScreenFlow (for final edit with annotations, slides, etc)

I’ve never done a full demo video for Turbo Admin before.

That is changing!!

If you really want to see all the ways my tool makes the WordPress admin better, hold tight!! It’s coming!!!

I’m on DadOps for a few days as it’s school holidays.

We have virtually no plans.

Expect randomness.

First up:

I swear… I SWEAR… that the “Play” button in my podcast app somehow summons a child with a request. EVERY! TIME!!

It’s a magic child-summoning button.

And yet. I bet if I ever used it to try and summon a child, they would stubbornly remain in place.

Two major things that bother me about all this generative AI:

1. It could go away at any moment. I’m certain it won’t. But it’s remote and under someone else’s control. Fine. Use it. But don’t become dependent on it!

2. I see it being used for things that a simpler, deterministic system could do better and more cheaply. Code refactoring. Data analysis. Stuff like that. Seems crazy to use non-deterministic, generative tech for that.

Yes! I did Connections on “Hard Mode”! Backwards order and no errors.

Connections
Puzzle #664
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟨🟨🟨🟨

One does not simply update one’s dependencies!

“I started trying to explain what I was doing and why, and as I did so I realised all the many, many things you have to understand for this process to make sense.”

https://rosswintle.uk/2025/04/one-does-not-simply-update-ones-dependencies/

Is there some weird virus going round where the only symptom is lethargy/tiredness?

I’ve had this two days this week. No fever. No headache. No cold symptoms. Just… extreme bleaugh and sleepiness and brain fog.

Feels like we NEED a bit of frivolous fun right now. More than ever. And people are doubling down on eliminating it all.

Can we not just all groan along with the forced and obvious bad jokes? Is that just what we need? No? Am I missing something?

I’m genuinely curious. Why do people hate April Fools Day so much? And is there a reason I should too that I don’t know about?

I’ve find it genuinely fun finding all the tricks and have seen some excellent marketing in there too.

The Worldle was just excellent.