on computing being fun
I'm convinced that programmers (like myself) who bypassed the science in computing, at least partly did so because what we saw looked dull. At least, duller than just programming right away.…
neatly bookending a body of work
The most recent Write the Docs newsletter starts with a sign off by Beth, this being their last newsletter as editor.…
Remote work vs work from home vs distributed work: they're not the same
I am a distributed worker. Before this, I worked remotely, and had done so for several years. Even before that, I often worked from home. Isn't working from home just remote work? Yes and no.Yes－if when you work remotely you are, in fact, at home. That's work-from-home. COVID-19…
A quick YAML refresher, since I forget so easily
Take away: use comments generously in your YAML. Comments mitigate technical debt.…
simple computer science glossary
In my experience, comprehension is achieved through clarity of thinking. This glossary is an ongoing project to clarify my thinking by defining computer science concepts in simple language.…
(in)formal education
I value all the knowledge and, more importantly imo, experience that 5 years of professional programming has given me. But I'm surely not the first self-taught computer person to wonder about the gaps in my theoretical knowledge. I've made a plan to fill in those gaps, and more. I've selected…
Using dd on MacOS to make a live USB of Fedora
The Fedora Project has several documented methods for preparing a live USB. As of Fedora 34, the only official and supported method for creating a Fedora USB stick is the Fedora Media Writer utility. But, for my own reasons, I'll use the command line utility dd. Read the instructions for…
Pandemic restrictions have made me more self-sufficient, and will help me save $10k over 10 years
This is a story about haircuts. And the rare, light side of a particularly difficult year.…