Writing

Is there really a difference between overthinking and not thinking in the first place?
Is there a word for a builder who doesn't ship?
Where's the joke about the economist who's walking down the street
Reflections on going west and taking a chance.
Apr 2024
Competition from other startups is usually just a distraction.
Mar 2024
Be Direct. Have the Hard Conversation. Don't Waste Time.
I'm not talking about the one you use to write code.
Highlighting some key differences between South Carolina and `/dev/null`
Solving Define a `ransackable_attributes` class method in your `ActiveStorage::Attachment`
You keep spinning in circles until you realize you were already there.
The best version of your own story is the most interesting thing you can share with the world.
Sep 2022
Taking something from an idea to actually shipped feels so good.
Sep 2022
Nerd-sniping might be one of the best ways to learn something.
Center has raised an $11M seed round led by Thrive Capital and Founders Fund.
How to think about equity between co-founders.
Faster test suites lead to better smart contracts.
When the outrage mob comes knocking, Claude Shannon smiles down on you.
David Swensen and University Endowments.
Why flash loans are important.
The publishing platform that now hosts this site.
I'm joining Paradigm as an EIR for the next 6 months.
Web3.py HTTP and Websocket Providers for Amazon Managed Blockchain
Everybody knows feedback can be hard. Here's why.
Lightweight framework for running multistep workflows.
Ruby ledger engine I've been thinking about.
Maybe the actual reason is more prosaic than we thought.
Something I believe that not many others do.
You were saying something about.. best intentions?
Apr 2020
Some things I think I've figured out.
Simple pattern for accessing views in Rails.
Why blockchain is exciting.
Jekyll Generator to split up collections.
Dec 2019
A simple framework to be more productive with Redux and Typescript.
Guaranteed way to get better at writing code.
Why would someone make a clock with four hands?
What we still might need to figure out to pass the Turing Test.
Everything I learned about eng recruiting in 2018.
Fun with shorthand method signatures in Ruby.
A powerful construct to parse class Meta blocks.
Here's a small pandoc extension to convert Markdown to Slack formatting.
Difficult problems can be easy to solve if you catch them early enough.
Apr 2018
I'm joining Coinbase as part of the Earn.com acquisition.
A quick shortcut to make a new post in Jekyll.
An interesting use case of a blockchain can be used in a business.
We need a way for authors to share work without huge reputational risk.
Fun with SAT Solvers, SQL, and the NY Times Crossword.
Introducing a Python Package for handling business logic in web apps.
Reflecting on my time at the Recurse Center.
Assorted books / papers I've enjoyed reading over the past weeks.
We counter existential dread with optimistic nihilism.
My solution to one of Facebook's early engineering challenges.
I'm joining the Recurse Center's Fall batch in New York City.
How remapping Command+T on my mac helped me focus on what's important.
Aug 2017
You might have heard the old joke about two hikers getting ready for a walk into the woods.
Combining Arabic calligraphy and vector-based imaging.
A few helpful design principles I've learned over the years.
You came in and gave us sugar cubes!
Learn about the stack we've used to deliver over $750M in investments.
A good reminder that we all use relatively similar tools.
A guide to tweaking one of the most popular databases.
Thinking about mobile apps that direct you to something better instead of reminding you what not to do.
We're working on much bigger failures right now. And I'm not kidding.
Three things I've been thinking about recently.
I used to think these two things were the same.
If a person trained for a marathon but didn't write about it on the internet, did they ever train?
Chase, Chance, and Creativity: The Lucky Art of Novelty
It feels like the left and right hemispheres of my brain are becoming great waltz partners.
It's indeed possible to do incredible work while also iterating rapidly.
I'm joining LendingHome to work on the retail investing platform! Some thoughts on the decision and space.
Aug 2015
Why I'm excited about chat interfaces
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
Migrating Data to a Columnar Database
Fifty Solutions to the Fermi Paradox and the Problem of Extraterrestrial Life
Better late than never: when the technical cofounder begins to understand the value of a non-technical cofounder.
As long as you remain in control of what you're doing, you'll be A-O-K.
That great feeling with python decorators start to make intuitive sense.
Aug 2011
This seems interesting.
It took me a lot longer than I'd like to admit to figure this one out.
Top-Down Metrics
Balancing "Make Something People Want" and "Scratch the Itch"
I am new.
If pure self–seeking is so pervasive, it’s because those who seek only for themselves imagine that they are the whole world.
"...self-deprecating humor, unpretentious demeanor, and unaggressive style in conversation"
Didn't rush for a frat, started a frat music website instead.
First, you must decide exactly what it is you want to accomplish. Most people never do that in their entire lives.
Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark