Merry Christmas! 🎄

Today's coffee and work spot.

I discovered a bug today simply by explaining my idea to somebody. The very act of explaining how something works is the best possible way for you to test whether *you* understand it.

As part of Build Mode, we do a "skill swap" session. I showed off Bloom Filters and a nice video editing effect I like. I recorded a demo here, if anyone's curious: www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5AL...

Bloom filters

YouTube video by Martin Rue

youtube.com

Since stickering my MacBook, I feel like people in public are starting to treat me like a Windows user. Problem solved.

I gotta say... I've had some absolutely unreal conversations this week with almost everyone in Build Mode. I just got off one more... deep, nuanced, and insanely motivating. I think we need to start sharing these publicly and put some out as long-form podcasts or something.

Interviewer: "So you're a real software engineer?" Me: "Yes, I am" Interviewer: "Please pronounce idempotency for me..." Interviewer: "So, we'll let you know!"

Just found this piece of art in my hotel and barely noticed it was floppy disks. It would be super cool if this was actually on the disks as well. I wonder…

I feel like I haven't been so active here lately. Most of my time has been spent in Build Mode, having launched it last week. I'm so pleased how it's kicked off, with some amazing people and a huge amount of motivation and accountability. Just checking in to let you all know I'm not dead.

Minimalism ftw.

It's actually amazing how much work it has been to get Build Mode off the ground. So many logistics – event planning, meetings, calendars... But it has been so worth it, and I can't wait to get it officially started tomorrow with 11 really impressive people. PS: Who found it!?

Three UDP packets walk into a bar. First: I'll have a whisky Third: Vodka for me. Second: Just water. Bartender: What you lads having? IYKYK

It has been a long week. Lots of calls. But the good news is that I have put together a genuinely amazing group of people to kickstart Build Mode – the new builder community I'm launching next week. 👏 Still spots available, so if you're curious, here's all the info: buildmode.club

Remember: The best way to get the right answer on the internet is not to ask a question. It's to post the wrong answer.

I'm learning Thai, and he resource I'm using is clearly the correct one because I've already learned กาแฟ ☕️

Free startup idea for anyone that wants it: round up all these zombies and get them onto treadmills. Infinite energy supply. 🧟‍♂️

So, applications close for Build Mode in 9 days. And I hid something on the website... Only the smartest people will find it. If they do, they get to skip the application process entirely. Only 1 person has been successful so far.

Starting my week by welcoming some very cool people to Build Mode's official launch in 10 days. I'm working from a local co-working space today. Love the Manchester bee they have on the wall.

“Take for example the item right at the top of my list right now. It was supposed to be done eleven months ago. I have accomplished an enormous number of important things as a way of not working on it.” This is a masterpiece: structuredprocrastination.com

Good morning! Here’s a bit of Monday inspiration: “Anyone can do any amount of work, provided it isn't the work he is supposed to be doing at that moment."

I'm visiting the UK right now and what I'm missing most this Sunday evening is my regular ride up and around Núi Sơn Trà in Đà Nẵng.

📢 If you hack your brain with SRS via Anki, listen up... Anki still defaults to its classic SM-2 algorithm. But FSRS is superior, and it has been supported in Anki since 2023. So change it, and hack your brain better.

Build Mode is filling up with some very cool people. Two more joined today. Excited to see this thing coming together. buildmode.club

Build Mode

The private online members club for people in build mode.

buildmode.club

Guys, I'm human after all (damn). I built a social network with almost 2000 users. After years of not a single bug, this morning it died. 💀 10 mins later and we're back! It was a fun bug that lay silent for a very long time! Who wants to try and spot it?

It’s been a few days since I did this to my MacBook and I still love it. Phew.

Friends, I launched something today. 🚀 Build Mode is a private online community for people working on cool stuff but feeling like they're not around the right people. It's scratching a big personal itch, too. If it sounds relevant, here's the site: buildmode.club Applications close in 2 weeks. 🙏🏻

I'm not focused on langsesh.com (my language-learning product) right now. But every day people are still using it to do lessons! 👏 I have big plans for you LangSesh, but I have another mission first. It's awesome to see it still being helpful for now, though!

POV: Preparing for launch tomorrow. 🚀

Learning a language teaches you to embrace being wrong and see how important it is to make real progress. A useful skill for many other things.

However good the input you consume, if you're not converting it to output, you're not closing the loop. Start the project. Teach what you've learnt. Speak the language. Design the app. Make the music. Act. It may have gone in, but what really matters is how it comes back out.