Shipping Code You Don't Understand
AI can write a working feature in minutes. The problem starts when nobody on the team can explain what it actually does, or why.
Blog
Insights on software development, AI, and building better businesses
The Same Developer's Greatest Hits
A developer left the company and we inherited their projects. Every codebase was a new adventure. SQL injection in the login page was just the warm-up act.
Building Dropbox Before Dropbox Existed: Syncing Files Across 5 Countries
How I built a distributed file sync system using rsync, MySQL replication, and PHP across offices in 5 countries, years before cloud storage was a thing.
Bambu Lab P2S Filament Tension Fix: Plastic Debris in the Extruder Sensor
My new Bambu Lab P2S kept throwing filament tension errors. Four filament brands later, I found the real cause: plastic manufacturing debris jammed in the extruder sensor.
Token Expired
A user couldn't understand why they could change their password on their computer but not their phone. The answer was both completely logical and a small UX failure all at once.
Nobody Wakes Up Wanting AI
Most AI companies lead with the technology. That's the wrong direction. Businesses don't want AI, they want their problems solved.
The Forklift
A 2am call about a total network outage at a warehouse led to a server room with everything on the floor and a wall moved half a metre. Security footage later revealed the culprit: a forklift driver who apparently didn't even notice.
Swann NVR-7400: Fixing It With Reolink Firmware
The Swann NVR-7400 has decent hardware let down by buggy software. It turns out the same hardware is sold as the Reolink RLN8-410, and their firmware actually works.
The Root User Incident: When 'Admin' Sounds Inappropriate
The story of how typing four letters on a Linux login screen nearly got me reported to HR. A lesson in technical literacy, communication gaps, and the chaos of supporting duct-tape infrastructure.
The Sump Pump Incident: When Coke Machines Outrank Network Infrastructure
The story of a recurring network outage that turned out to be caused by someone who valued cold drinks more than site-wide communications. A lesson in priorities, signage, and the chaos of early IT support.
Yamaha RX-V675 Repair: Fixing a Dry Solder Joint With a Paint Stripper
My Yamaha RX-V675 receiver started cutting out on cold mornings. No sound on startup, then pops and crackles for twenty minutes before it would work. Turned out to be a dry solder joint, fixed with a hairdryer, a bag of ice, and a Ryobi heat gun.
Clean Copy: Stripping Tracking Parameters from URLs with iOS Shortcuts
Build an iOS Shortcut to automatically remove UTM parameters and other tracking garbage from URLs. Share clean links without the surveillance baggage.