I remain very cynical about the current high-water mark for LLMs and augmented coding… but at the same time I use them every day and I don't think they're finished improving.

Let's growth hack blog visitor numbers record how I use them today as a little reflection on where I think they work and where they don't. Something I can revisit as the tech (and my skill with it) improves

This is update number one, or entry number two, depending on how you want to count it. So, here are the changes in how I'm using LLMs

(we had a brownbag on this at work yesterday, so it's been on my mind)

the first entry is here

• manage context
• track longer tasks in a structured file
• smallest prompt that describes how you want to work
• be sparing with auto-accept edits

I've been at PostHog for four years. After having the best four years of my career at Co-op Digital, I'm privileged to have then also had the best four years of my career at PostHog. Surely, I've learned something that I can cram into a cliche format?!

• Don't look for a family, look for a team
• Talk to users all the time
• You can YOLO and strangle your figs at the same time
• Trust is a super power

I remain very cynical about the current high-water mark for LLMs and augmented coding… but at the same time I use them every day and I don't think they're finished improving.

Let's growth hack blog visitor numbers record how I use them today as a little reflection on where I think they work and where they don't. Something I can revisit as the tech (and my skill with it) improves

An amazing engineer colleague has taken on (booming, god-on-the-mountain voice) extra responsibilities. Unfortunately for them, one of those responsibilities is managing me.

They asked me how I like to be managed. I thought it was a good question, so I pushed it into my background processing queue, got distracted, and never answered them.

Periodically I feel guilty about that, so I thought I'd write it down here. Maybe it will help me decide what my answer is…

I remain super un-inspired to write over the last few years. Which is a shame - because it's a a great way to learn. And very uninspired to write about 2024 in particular. So, here are some very short year notes for 2024.

Recently my mum died. And I don't know how to process what felt like a very quick and very slow experience all at the same time.

I've been writing here for a long time, maybe writing here will help me… At least it helps shamelessly ask for donations to Cancer Research

Talking with my brother one thing that stood out was that we both want to remember to focus on the good things. There's a risk that otherwise we only remember the last few relatively horrible months. So, I wanted to spend some time to reflect about what things I want to be sure to remember.

(I normally try to vary the starting words of my sentences… but no apologies for overusing sentences starting with mum in this one)

#FuckCancer

I wrote year notes for 2019, and 2020, and 2022. I remain super un-inspired to write over the last few years. Which is a shame - because it's a a great way to learn. Although 7 posts in 2023 isn't as few as I expected.

This year we've grown way too many zucchinis.

One way I've been trying to use them up is putting them in dough.

The kids love it!

Everyone should have their own law… This is mine:

All new build tools are better than what came before. Until they are able to solve all of the problems of the thing they replaced and then they're at least as bad. A new tool will then replace them

Year Goals for 2023

• continue becoming a better engineer and team-mate
• practice Italian every day
• train at the gym at least twice a week every week
• 8 leisurely cycle rides
• visit Italy at least twice

How did March go?