General

Is it really happening that quickly? 2025 edition

I had a conversation with a colleague yesterday about AI and how fast everything seems to be moving. The sense that this time feels genuinely different. That we're in the middle of something exponential. It reminded me of a piece I wrote back in 2014. The argument then was simple: despite all the noise about … Continue reading Is it really happening that quickly? 2025 edition

Weeknotes

Weeknote 765: directions

This week I have learned: Getting people together to think and talk is of such value. I'm increasingly using audio recording and NotebookLM to analyse after the fact. It means everyone can focus on the conversations. Production complications might hit our release date. It's been a busy week, with big set pieces for both of … Continue reading Weeknote 765: directions

Weeknotes

Weeknote 764: Apophenia

This week I have learned: a series of events happening in quick succession can often become a pattern in our minds, even when they are merely a random coincidence. The Availability Heuristic can then amplify that pattern-creation. It's a phenomenon called Apophenia, and it's something that I have studied at length in the work for … Continue reading Weeknote 764: Apophenia

Weeknotes

Weeknote 763: Hugh!

This week I have learned: how to start building back ends as well as front ends. My LLM coding until now has focused on building simple (in structure) HTML apps. This week, I made my first foray into building a back end to support data. Hopefully I will recognise when this starts to get out … Continue reading Weeknote 763: Hugh!

Weeknotes

Weeknote 762: 2026

This week I have learned: how fusing metaphors can lead to fascinating outcomes (blog on this here). how being away from work for a while can give the brain space to make those sorts of connections. how nice our newly-refurbished offices in Farringdon are. how the end of the first full week back is the … Continue reading Weeknote 762: 2026

General

Chesterton’s Hedge

There's a reasonably well-known principle in software engineering circles called Chesterton's Fence. The idea, borrowed from the writer G.K. Chesterton, is simple: don't remove a fence until you understand why it was put there. It's become a useful corrective to the "move fast and break things" mentality — a reminder that the people who came before … Continue reading Chesterton’s Hedge

Weeknotes

Weeknote 761: Last full week

This week I have learned: that I'm getting very tired of year "wraps" that are just spurting out random data analysis. Spotify thought I was 73. LinkedIn proved how dull the place is. However I did find out that the 5th most popular audiobook among the WB40 Spotify listenership is Jilly Cooper's Riders. I think … Continue reading Weeknote 761: Last full week

Weeknotes

Weeknote 760: Socialised

This week I have learned: It's so nice to catch up with people. I've had half a dozen events this week, catching up with friends, colleagues and some of those folk who are both. I've loved every minute of it. I received a physical prototype of the book. To hold the things in my hands … Continue reading Weeknote 760: Socialised

Weeknotes

Weeknote 759: PM

This week I have learned: it was a wonderful experience to be able to talk about something important on BBC Radio 4's PM programme this week. I wrote a piece about the value of jury service after serving last month. Someone shared it with someone on the production team. And to coincide with government announcements … Continue reading Weeknote 759: PM

Weeknotes

Weeknote 758: 55

This week I have learned: that I've only gone and submitted a finished book to a publisher! In a way it's been strangely anticlimatic - we were 5 days ahead of deadline and everything went without any major snags. Having said that, there's still lots of web content to create, and I'm also now thinking … Continue reading Weeknote 758: 55