Just A Few Random Thoughts

A few philosophies and ideas that resonate with me and inform a lot of what I do and believe in.

Sometimes The Hard Way Is Easier

Like many folks who dabble in pasttimes like Linux and home automation I think that I'm sometimes mistaken for somebody who enjoys complication.

To the contrary! To my mind, simplicity is the ultimate expression of true mastery over a subject.

I believe that technology should be as accessible as possible - just not to the point at which the user should be expected to surrender the ability to customise their system.

I am enormously in favor of tools like generative AI, low-code, and any other innovation that promises to lower the barriers to entry to technology and democratise the benefits it has to bring.

Equally, there are times when the best approach, over the long run, is to do things in a manner that seems rather difficult.

Examples

- Python scripts can do more than many overengineered data wrangling tools but require learning Python to use.

-Editing code by hand and integrating libraries is hard but is often still easier than sifting through dozens of Wordpress plugins.

There Is Vast Power In Continuous Incremental Improvement

If there is one philosophy from a different culture that speaks to me most, it's the idea of kaizen (my definition/interpretation: continuous iterative improvement sustained over time).

Almost nothing great gets built in a day. Or a hackathon. Building great relationships, or systems, or projects, is a long-term endeavor.

As an ADHDer, I often feel an innate attraction towards the satisfaction of finishing a project.

The weapon that helps me most in overcoming the fear of "letting go"?

Task lists (I love them). I find that if I can be diligent in documenting where I left off and itemise what's next on my to-do list I can step away in peace and come back to it refreshed in the morning.

I'm constantly trying to tell myself to work more 'kaizen'.