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jslaker.net
@jslaker.net
· Feb 19
A short story about self-nerdsniping and Claude Code:
A conversation with a friend about John Ossoff's age lead to a shower thought, which lead to a Claude Code session, which lead to a couple of hours of data-wrangling, which lead to emailing the US Senate Historian to correct an official record.
A conversation with a friend about John Ossoff's age lead to a shower thought, which lead to a Claude Code session, which lead to a couple of hours of data-wrangling, which lead to emailing the US Senate Historian to correct an official record.
companies are already loathe to invest in development pipelines.
most of them pay lip service to the idea, but hiring managers are only interested in people with experience as a matter of survival.
there simply isn't room for someone growing into a role on a team that's been cut to the bone.
most of them pay lip service to the idea, but hiring managers are only interested in people with experience as a matter of survival.
there simply isn't room for someone growing into a role on a team that's been cut to the bone.
the thing about this is that this isn't an AI problem. AI is *accelerating* the problem, but industry investment in training, mentoring and developing employees has been waning for decades, what's different is that it's going to hit white collar work in the way it's been hitting the trades for years
Btw, even among pro AI friends, this concern is ALL OVER THE PLACE. Devs wondering how we get senior devs if the ecosystem for junior devs goes away. Doctors talking about not needing interns. Lawyers not needing paralegals. There's an ecological aspect to this and we need a plan.
September 12, 2026 at 12:42 AM
companies are already loathe to invest in development pipelines.
most of them pay lip service to the idea, but hiring managers are only interested in people with experience as a matter of survival.
there simply isn't room for someone growing into a role on a team that's been cut to the bone.
most of them pay lip service to the idea, but hiring managers are only interested in people with experience as a matter of survival.
there simply isn't room for someone growing into a role on a team that's been cut to the bone.
Reposted
tbh, anybody who wants to tell me that open source isn't on the ropes is going to have to answer why there are millions of dollars for Dotfile DHH but github sponsors mostly emits cobwebs and a faint wheeze for people who are making stuff we all use every day at work
September 10, 2026 at 11:43 PM
tbh, anybody who wants to tell me that open source isn't on the ropes is going to have to answer why there are millions of dollars for Dotfile DHH but github sponsors mostly emits cobwebs and a faint wheeze for people who are making stuff we all use every day at work
Reposted
I think AI leaves only the hardest and most interesting parts to the engineer.
Which is invigorating and exposing all at once.
If you were a bad engineer(ing organisation) before, you're going to be turbo-bad with AI. If were good, you're going to have the chance to soar.
Which is invigorating and exposing all at once.
If you were a bad engineer(ing organisation) before, you're going to be turbo-bad with AI. If were good, you're going to have the chance to soar.
September 6, 2026 at 3:08 PM
I think AI leaves only the hardest and most interesting parts to the engineer.
Which is invigorating and exposing all at once.
If you were a bad engineer(ing organisation) before, you're going to be turbo-bad with AI. If were good, you're going to have the chance to soar.
Which is invigorating and exposing all at once.
If you were a bad engineer(ing organisation) before, you're going to be turbo-bad with AI. If were good, you're going to have the chance to soar.
the future is process engineering.
So this is the start of a series I've been working on to explain, in a coherent way, how we should be thinking about actually using LLMs to be useful, instead of the LinkedIn-esque "I burned $5000 on Fable AND--"
The thumbnails aren't going to get any less dumb, though. That's the Ed Promise.
The thumbnails aren't going to get any less dumb, though. That's the Ed Promise.
Chasing big models is a curse. Fix your workflows instead.
YouTube video by ed3d dot net
youtu.be
September 3, 2026 at 3:48 PM
the future is process engineering.
a key indicator that AI is on a clear trajectory toward becoming an Established Technology is that we are now settling into clear patterns of annoying nerdsniping and bikeshedding over the minutia of its use.
(also guilty)
(also guilty)
September 1, 2026 at 5:28 PM
a key indicator that AI is on a clear trajectory toward becoming an Established Technology is that we are now settling into clear patterns of annoying nerdsniping and bikeshedding over the minutia of its use.
(also guilty)
(also guilty)
The November 2025 Problem is the paradox that Claude Code becoming decent and Opus 4.5 suddenly being much cheaper is what got many people into LLM-driven development but also developmentally stunted them into thinking that terminal-watching and ever larger models are the correct path forward.
August 31, 2026 at 3:47 PM
The November 2025 Problem is the paradox that Claude Code becoming decent and Opus 4.5 suddenly being much cheaper is what got many people into LLM-driven development but also developmentally stunted them into thinking that terminal-watching and ever larger models are the correct path forward.
apropos of nothing, I've been doing a deep dive trying out different text editors so I can tell people what's good
August 29, 2026 at 4:21 PM
apropos of nothing, I've been doing a deep dive trying out different text editors so I can tell people what's good
further, the kernel of truth is generally something that will make the audience say "that's obviously true. everyone knows that." that's the foot in the door.
then when the wild extrapolations are challenged, the defense is "why are you arguing against something that's obviously true?"
then when the wild extrapolations are challenged, the defense is "why are you arguing against something that's obviously true?"
yes.
conspiracy theories often contain a kernel of the truth. companies absolutely do social marketing.
it's the evidence-free formulation of "THEY are suppressing major platforms so you don't know THE TRUTH. this could be dangerous" that makes it indistinguishable from conspiracy thinking.
conspiracy theories often contain a kernel of the truth. companies absolutely do social marketing.
it's the evidence-free formulation of "THEY are suppressing major platforms so you don't know THE TRUTH. this could be dangerous" that makes it indistinguishable from conspiracy thinking.
August 24, 2026 at 2:28 PM
further, the kernel of truth is generally something that will make the audience say "that's obviously true. everyone knows that." that's the foot in the door.
then when the wild extrapolations are challenged, the defense is "why are you arguing against something that's obviously true?"
then when the wild extrapolations are challenged, the defense is "why are you arguing against something that's obviously true?"
credit where due: using a career reporting on misinformation and conspiracy theorists to springboard into being an unapologetic purveyor of misinformation and conspiracy theories is a pretty funny bit.
August 20, 2026 at 2:48 AM
credit where due: using a career reporting on misinformation and conspiracy theorists to springboard into being an unapologetic purveyor of misinformation and conspiracy theories is a pretty funny bit.
The DNC: obviously capable of pulling off a vast conspiracy to undermine the One True Candidate, twice.
Also the DNC: can't get their own House leader to commit to the officially adopted party platform.
Also the DNC: can't get their own House leader to commit to the officially adopted party platform.
Jeffries stop short of committing to holding a vote to abolish ICE is he's House Speaker next January, but says he's "committed to dramatically reforming ICE ... the masks should come off, body cameras should come on, judicial warrants should be required."
August 16, 2026 at 10:49 PM
The DNC: obviously capable of pulling off a vast conspiracy to undermine the One True Candidate, twice.
Also the DNC: can't get their own House leader to commit to the officially adopted party platform.
Also the DNC: can't get their own House leader to commit to the officially adopted party platform.
the aero and suspension package needed to keep that thing this planted is unreal.
my brain is having a hard time comprehending how much speed he's carrying knowing how rough those roads up Mt Washington are.
my brain is having a hard time comprehending how much speed he's carrying knowing how rough those roads up Mt Washington are.
POV: Scott Speed smashes Mt. Washington Hillclimb Record 2026
YouTube video by Subaru
www.youtube.com
August 14, 2026 at 4:39 PM
the aero and suspension package needed to keep that thing this planted is unreal.
my brain is having a hard time comprehending how much speed he's carrying knowing how rough those roads up Mt Washington are.
my brain is having a hard time comprehending how much speed he's carrying knowing how rough those roads up Mt Washington are.
this rings true to me.
people that were just keeping the lights on punching jira tickets all day (because they weren't allowed to do more) aren't going to be the ones that translate a tool reliant on individual initiative into productivity.
people that were just keeping the lights on punching jira tickets all day (because they weren't allowed to do more) aren't going to be the ones that translate a tool reliant on individual initiative into productivity.
To the extent that AI use boosts firm performance, some early signs here that early AI adopting firms that were already doing well may start to outpace others.
Data from OpenAI shows some firms are using AI much more, and they tend to be firms that started with the most productive employees.
Data from OpenAI shows some firms are using AI much more, and they tend to be firms that started with the most productive employees.
August 13, 2026 at 11:43 PM
this rings true to me.
people that were just keeping the lights on punching jira tickets all day (because they weren't allowed to do more) aren't going to be the ones that translate a tool reliant on individual initiative into productivity.
people that were just keeping the lights on punching jira tickets all day (because they weren't allowed to do more) aren't going to be the ones that translate a tool reliant on individual initiative into productivity.
Reposted
I remain extremely bullish on the value of LLMs and bearish on the the average (especially non-tech) company's ability to extract that value.
Dysfunction in internal process and inability to identify clear goals will be a massive blunting instrument. That describes more places than not.
Dysfunction in internal process and inability to identify clear goals will be a massive blunting instrument. That describes more places than not.
August 3, 2026 at 12:08 PM
I remain extremely bullish on the value of LLMs and bearish on the the average (especially non-tech) company's ability to extract that value.
Dysfunction in internal process and inability to identify clear goals will be a massive blunting instrument. That describes more places than not.
Dysfunction in internal process and inability to identify clear goals will be a massive blunting instrument. That describes more places than not.
lol they just skipped the 'develop an open weight model' portion of this attack
July 30, 2026 at 3:34 PM
lol they just skipped the 'develop an open weight model' portion of this attack
The STi is afflicted with Carolina squat because there aren't enough daylight hours to get the rear done.
July 29, 2026 at 1:20 AM
The STi is afflicted with Carolina squat because there aren't enough daylight hours to get the rear done.
what's particularly maddening about Anthropic loudly screaming about the strategic threat of LLMs is that the second-order effects of that are far more immediate than anything to do with LLMs.
the second "TSMC will spike the fabs" doesn't mean immediate economic apocalypse, we're in for a wild time
the second "TSMC will spike the fabs" doesn't mean immediate economic apocalypse, we're in for a wild time
July 27, 2026 at 11:50 PM
what's particularly maddening about Anthropic loudly screaming about the strategic threat of LLMs is that the second-order effects of that are far more immediate than anything to do with LLMs.
the second "TSMC will spike the fabs" doesn't mean immediate economic apocalypse, we're in for a wild time
the second "TSMC will spike the fabs" doesn't mean immediate economic apocalypse, we're in for a wild time
wherein Dario yet again reinforces to the CCP that they should consider LLMs a national strategic asset.
surely this couldn't possibly result in China further throwing the weight of the state behind their efforts, removing whatever leverage the west had
surely this couldn't possibly result in China further throwing the weight of the state behind their efforts, removing whatever leverage the west had
Our position on open-weights models
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei on open-weights models
www.anthropic.com
July 27, 2026 at 10:47 PM
wherein Dario yet again reinforces to the CCP that they should consider LLMs a national strategic asset.
surely this couldn't possibly result in China further throwing the weight of the state behind their efforts, removing whatever leverage the west had
surely this couldn't possibly result in China further throwing the weight of the state behind their efforts, removing whatever leverage the west had
needed to put my feelings into meme form so I don't yell at people
the answer rhymes "alantir."
the answer rhymes "alantir."
July 23, 2026 at 9:09 PM
needed to put my feelings into meme form so I don't yell at people
the answer rhymes "alantir."
the answer rhymes "alantir."
Being forced to use both again for the first time in a couple of months due to work:
Claude Code is a bad harness and Opus is a weaker, more expensive model than other options at the buffet.
It's painful going back.
There's a lot of Stockholm Syndrome out there.
Claude Code is a bad harness and Opus is a weaker, more expensive model than other options at the buffet.
It's painful going back.
There's a lot of Stockholm Syndrome out there.
July 23, 2026 at 6:40 AM
Being forced to use both again for the first time in a couple of months due to work:
Claude Code is a bad harness and Opus is a weaker, more expensive model than other options at the buffet.
It's painful going back.
There's a lot of Stockholm Syndrome out there.
Claude Code is a bad harness and Opus is a weaker, more expensive model than other options at the buffet.
It's painful going back.
There's a lot of Stockholm Syndrome out there.
writing software is hard work y'all
July 11, 2026 at 8:14 PM
writing software is hard work y'all
One thing about the current moment is that it's made clear that the stubborn, arrogant insistance that your expertise in one field is instantly transferrable to others is not a malady limited to engineers.
Being bad at something new is the natural order, not an indication that the thing sucks.
Being bad at something new is the natural order, not an indication that the thing sucks.
This borders on misinformation, and if nothing else, this kind of incuriosity is going to keep you from figuring out which of your students are using LLMs to cheat
July 11, 2026 at 2:08 PM
One thing about the current moment is that it's made clear that the stubborn, arrogant insistance that your expertise in one field is instantly transferrable to others is not a malady limited to engineers.
Being bad at something new is the natural order, not an indication that the thing sucks.
Being bad at something new is the natural order, not an indication that the thing sucks.
blackhat is in 3 weeks lol, lmao, lmfao
July 10, 2026 at 6:46 PM
blackhat is in 3 weeks lol, lmao, lmfao
This screenshot is the result of receiving a fundraising email from the DNC for Graham Platner on June 29, a week before this news broke.
GTFO with the martyrdom complex.
GTFO with the martyrdom complex.
July 9, 2026 at 10:53 PM
This screenshot is the result of receiving a fundraising email from the DNC for Graham Platner on June 29, a week before this news broke.
GTFO with the martyrdom complex.
GTFO with the martyrdom complex.