Alex Semin
@alllex.me
Making software even softer, @gradle.com
✍️ https://alllex.me/
✍️ https://alllex.me/
It's refreshing to see a deep UX write-up of something seemingly simple yet apparently tricky
I admit, I didn't get it on the first go
Bonus points for more than one reference to NNGroup materials
I admit, I didn't get it on the first go
Bonus points for more than one reference to NNGroup materials
🔥 New blog post: Dark mode toggles that expose three states (system, light, dark) seem like the best option.
Until you think about user goals, that is.
Before rushing to disagree, hear me out.
lea.verou.me/blog/2026/da...
PS: As a data point, @jakearchibald.com was converted after reading this 😅
Until you think about user goals, that is.
Before rushing to disagree, hear me out.
lea.verou.me/blog/2026/da...
PS: As a data point, @jakearchibald.com was converted after reading this 😅
Dark mode toggles: two states are enough • Lea Verou
Yes, the underlying model must have three states, but one is always irrelevant to the actual user goal. Users do not seek out solutions to problems they don’t currently have. A lot of the hate towards...
lea.verou.me
August 7, 2026 at 10:43 AM
It's refreshing to see a deep UX write-up of something seemingly simple yet apparently tricky
I admit, I didn't get it on the first go
Bonus points for more than one reference to NNGroup materials
I admit, I didn't get it on the first go
Bonus points for more than one reference to NNGroup materials
Happy to finally bring it to the world!
As always, it's only the beginning. There is so much work to do to let your builds avoid doing the work!
As always, it's only the beginning. There is so much work to do to let your builds avoid doing the work!
Isolated Projects graduates from experimental to incubating in Gradle 9.7.0.
Projects are configured in parallel. Gradle's own 300-subproject build saw median IDE sync drop from 84s to 47s.
Config cache is a prerequisite.
https://blog.gradle.org/introducing-isolated-projects
Projects are configured in parallel. Gradle's own 300-subproject build saw median IDE sync drop from 84s to 47s.
Config cache is a prerequisite.
https://blog.gradle.org/introducing-isolated-projects
Introducing Isolated Projects
Gradle 9.7.0 promotes Isolated Projects from experimental to incubating. The feature configures projects in parallel, making IDE sync and task runs significantly faster.
blog.gradle.org
August 6, 2026 at 6:22 PM
Happy to finally bring it to the world!
As always, it's only the beginning. There is so much work to do to let your builds avoid doing the work!
As always, it's only the beginning. There is so much work to do to let your builds avoid doing the work!
Even though I can't solve it, it's a beautiful twist on the NYT classic
June 13, 2026 at 5:55 PM
Even though I can't solve it, it's a beautiful twist on the NYT classic
Robo-ducking is less ambiguous and more intent-revealing than "grill me"
May 4, 2026 at 10:53 AM
Robo-ducking is less ambiguous and more intent-revealing than "grill me"
I am yet to see another company that makes you anxious literally on the sign-in page
It'd be strange if you can't immediately guess, but it says in the small font as well
It'd be strange if you can't immediately guess, but it says in the small font as well
October 27, 2025 at 3:06 PM
I am yet to see another company that makes you anxious literally on the sign-in page
It'd be strange if you can't immediately guess, but it says in the small font as well
It'd be strange if you can't immediately guess, but it says in the small font as well
This perfectly summarizes my expectation of AI status quo -- tons of make up from designers for features you can't rely on, only *hope* that they work and do the right thing
July 9, 2025 at 11:05 AM
This perfectly summarizes my expectation of AI status quo -- tons of make up from designers for features you can't rely on, only *hope* that they work and do the right thing
This is creative! Will prolly keep the top posts top, but rotate the bottom posts
May 18, 2025 at 9:10 PM
This is creative! Will prolly keep the top posts top, but rotate the bottom posts
At this point, Slack must have "reduced motion" option to suppress all animated tripping vibrant custom emojis everybody uses for engagement
May 18, 2025 at 2:45 PM
At this point, Slack must have "reduced motion" option to suppress all animated tripping vibrant custom emojis everybody uses for engagement
Modern music notation is based on fonts!
Though the design is quite different from regular fonts used for languages
I learned a lot from a video by @tantacrul.bsky.social, who designed Leland
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGo4...
Though the design is quite different from regular fonts used for languages
I learned a lot from a video by @tantacrul.bsky.social, who designed Leland
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGo4...
How I Designed a Free Music Font for 5 Million Musicians (MuseScore 3.6)
YouTube video by Tantacrul
www.youtube.com
May 4, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Modern music notation is based on fonts!
Though the design is quite different from regular fonts used for languages
I learned a lot from a video by @tantacrul.bsky.social, who designed Leland
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGo4...
Though the design is quite different from regular fonts used for languages
I learned a lot from a video by @tantacrul.bsky.social, who designed Leland
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGo4...
You'd think we are past geocentrism, until you remember any modern fiction with multiple dimensions
February 16, 2025 at 9:09 AM
You'd think we are past geocentrism, until you remember any modern fiction with multiple dimensions
The most beautiful and probably the most expense *changelog entry* ever
www.youtube.com/watch?v=itpc...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=itpc...
Nintendo Switch 2 – First-look trailer
YouTube video by Nintendo of America
www.youtube.com
January 16, 2025 at 2:24 PM
The most beautiful and probably the most expense *changelog entry* ever
www.youtube.com/watch?v=itpc...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=itpc...
Reposted by Alex Semin
refactoring will continue until morale improves
January 8, 2025 at 8:14 PM
refactoring will continue until morale improves
Reposted by Alex Semin
This is why I think the longer term future of software isn’t necessarily “app builder”, it’s more an entire OS where you start solving a problem and interactive interfaces are used as appropriate.
January 3, 2025 at 5:26 PM
This is why I think the longer term future of software isn’t necessarily “app builder”, it’s more an entire OS where you start solving a problem and interactive interfaces are used as appropriate.
Bugward compatibility
is a friendlier name for the Hyrum's Law
is a friendlier name for the Hyrum's Law
January 2, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Bugward compatibility
is a friendlier name for the Hyrum's Law
is a friendlier name for the Hyrum's Law
Reposted by Alex Semin
Great article to pause and ponder on timeless topics of mature software engineering
Complexity, dependencies (on code and people), testing testing testing
Complexity, dependencies (on code and people), testing testing testing
December 26, 2024 at 1:27 PM
Great article to pause and ponder on timeless topics of mature software engineering
Complexity, dependencies (on code and people), testing testing testing
Complexity, dependencies (on code and people), testing testing testing
What's the equivalent of jazz improv in software world?
December 24, 2024 at 6:08 PM
What's the equivalent of jazz improv in software world?
Reposted by Alex Semin
My first wiki is live!
It's rather empty now, but I'm happy with a template. More content coming soon
https://wiki.alllex.me/
It's rather empty now, but I'm happy with a template. More content coming soon
https://wiki.alllex.me/
December 22, 2024 at 9:08 PM
My first wiki is live!
It's rather empty now, but I'm happy with a template. More content coming soon
https://wiki.alllex.me/
It's rather empty now, but I'm happy with a template. More content coming soon
https://wiki.alllex.me/
Who coined the term “coined”?
December 21, 2024 at 9:49 PM
Who coined the term “coined”?
Everything that happens in the RAM stays in the RAM
December 21, 2024 at 9:11 PM
Everything that happens in the RAM stays in the RAM
tweets => flits
Swift and light movements of thought
Swift and light movements of thought
December 21, 2024 at 8:10 PM
tweets => flits
Swift and light movements of thought
Swift and light movements of thought