AI is becoming part of how we build software. It helps us write code faster, explore ideas more quickly, and try things we wouldn’t have attempted before. That’s real progress. But using AI more is not the same as doing better work. See more

Both my son and daughter play chess. They are 9 and 7, respectively, and they have a 1400 and 900 ELO rating, also respectively. You may not know what an ELO is so the quick definition is that it defines your “level”. Anyone above 2000 is close to a master level. The highest is around 2500. A 100 point difference is enough to predict who is more likely to win. Hence why my kids don’t play with each other! See more

A dichotomy is a division or separation of something into two distinct parts, ideas, or perspectives. It is often used to describe a situation where there are two opposing viewpoints or approaches that are seen as mutually exclusive. Dichotomies can be useful for understanding complex issues and making decisions, but they can also be limiting if they oversimplify the complexity of a situation. See more

I spent almost two years working hard on the wrong thing because I did not fully understand the problem I was trying to solve. This note is about how I eventually identified the actual problem and how I learned to articulate it more clearly. The first part focuses on the process, the second part on a personal story told in abstract terms. I am sharing this because the insight I learned has changed how I approach work, and I believe it can be useful to others. See more