January 9, 2025

code2prompt (via)

This is a really cool tool. I use LLMs extensively in my side projects with great success (my workplace is still investigating whether there are ways we can use them that will align with their privacy needs) and often simulate what this tool is purpose-built to do. I think it's going to save me even more time.

When I first started playing with AI-assistant editors (like Cursor, Windsurf, Co-pilot, etc.) I assumed they would be way better than chatting back-and-forth with an LLM, but it turns out, counterintuitively (to me anyway), that I much prefer chatting over the in-editor suggestions. I find these mostly intrusive and wrong, and they just create more work for me. In a chat interface, though, I can guide the conversation in constructive directions.

It might have something to do with the types of questions I ask them, or maybe just my personality. In any case, I frequently copy-paste dozens of files into a project, describe in great details a project's structure and data model, and then ask questions about it to an LLM. It sounds like this tool can automate and improve that process, which is great news for people like me who frequently engage in this kind of workflow.

link/#llms#software#software-engineering#tools

April 28, 2021

My dream static site generator

I'm on the hunt for a simple tool to build simple websites. In my last post I explained a bit about what I mean by that and why I find the existing options unsatisfactory. It got me thinking about what my requirements are. I think it's good in general to think up front about how software should work. It helps me quickly pass on existing solutions before wasting tons of time learning a new thing only to discover it can't do what I need (because I didn't know what I needed until it was too late). It also helps me make better software. […6 min read]

post/#software#static-websites

February 18, 2021

Building a fast command-line app with Clojure

Like most developers, I always have about a hundred ideas for little tools or apps I wish existed. Every once in a while I get the time and energy to magic one of them into existence. Clojure is my language of choice these days, but at first glance it's not super well suited to building little command-line apps (which is usually what I start with). Some things that make it not an obvious first choice: […4 min read]

post/#cli#clojure#graalvm#software