A collection of aphorisms and other thoughts on computing. If I’ve accidentally quoted you or someone you know without attribution, email me.
1
Social media isn’t the internet.
2
Computing is a medium to master not a product to consume.
3
Your system shouldn’t be a mystery.
4
Assume the user is an intelligent adult, but be respectful of their time and attention.
5
If you find that your user’s attention is the product, you’re building the wrong thing.
6
AI agents have collapsed the time to minimum viable abandonware.
7
If you wouldn’t want to maintain it, consider carefully if you actually want to build it.
8
Default to improving or contributing to what software already exists unless there is overwhelming evidence that that choice would be a bad idea. (see 7.)