Lessons from the Terminal

Twice-weekly field notes on infrastructure, AI, and systems.

What I built, what broke, and the evidence that changed the next decision.

Jun 2026 AI

Why I Prefer One Clear Source of Truth

An agent can receive instructions from almost anywhere. A chat message describes the task. A scheduler supplies parameters. A repository contains conventions. A wrapper adds defaults. A saved prompt contributes another set of rules. Each source is convenient in isolation.

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May 2026 Automation

I Do Not Need Every Tool to Be Smart

The most useful place for intelligence in a data tool is usually a small box labeled “these two records might be the same.” Everything around that box can be ordinary comparison code.

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Apr 2026 AI

Why I Test From the Browser Backward

The browser is where all the private agreements in a web system become one public experience. A button carries the wrong label. A request leaves with the wrong shape. A response arrives correctly but never changes the screen. Each layer may look reasonable by itself, while the person using the pa...

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