James Holwell
@jamesholwell.bsky.social
Once upon a time I used to make software, but now I mostly just talk about making software
Reposted by James Holwell
i would rather have a machine that can solve a problem in a way where it is possible to verify the result. as opposed to a machine that can have anxiety and depression
November 9, 2025 at 1:49 PM
i would rather have a machine that can solve a problem in a way where it is possible to verify the result. as opposed to a machine that can have anxiety and depression
Reposted by James Holwell
Mozilla deployed an AI bot that overwrote 20 years of volunteer Japanese translations, without consultation. JP community leader resigned, and the offer from Mozilla is to "hop on a quick call to understand why they're struggling". FFS.
HN discussion: news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4583...
HN discussion: news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4583...
End of Japanese community | Hacker News
news.ycombinator.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Mozilla deployed an AI bot that overwrote 20 years of volunteer Japanese translations, without consultation. JP community leader resigned, and the offer from Mozilla is to "hop on a quick call to understand why they're struggling". FFS.
HN discussion: news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4583...
HN discussion: news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4583...
Perfect timing, leaving just before it got exciting…
We’re sunsetting our presence on Bluesky.
For continued 24x7 support and assistance, please reach out to us on www.reddit.com/r/MSFTAzureS... or x.com/azuresupport.
Thank you for being part of our community!
For continued 24x7 support and assistance, please reach out to us on www.reddit.com/r/MSFTAzureS... or x.com/azuresupport.
Thank you for being part of our community!
October 29, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Perfect timing, leaving just before it got exciting…
Reposted by James Holwell
A lot of professional services companies' expertise seems to essentially boil down to "We read the instructions".
October 28, 2025 at 10:31 AM
A lot of professional services companies' expertise seems to essentially boil down to "We read the instructions".
Reposted by James Holwell
Consider the possibility that, in software development, communication and feedback is the work, and coding is the interruption.
October 27, 2025 at 5:32 AM
Consider the possibility that, in software development, communication and feedback is the work, and coding is the interruption.
Reposted by James Holwell
this is vg www.ft.com/content/94e0...
October 25, 2025 at 11:57 AM
this is vg www.ft.com/content/94e0...
Reposted by James Holwell
Picard management tip: Refusing to decide is the worst decision you can make.
October 24, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Picard management tip: Refusing to decide is the worst decision you can make.
Reposted by James Holwell
Updating my LEGO White House
October 23, 2025 at 2:51 AM
Updating my LEGO White House
West Wing s1e03
“It's bad, I know.
- That's it?
- What'll you do?
Bring him in for questioning,
pending charges.
Why be in power if you can't
haul your enemies in?
We're not gonna do anything?
Yeah, we need to arrest people
for being mean.
There is no law, no decency.
He's just getting that”
“It's bad, I know.
- That's it?
- What'll you do?
Bring him in for questioning,
pending charges.
Why be in power if you can't
haul your enemies in?
We're not gonna do anything?
Yeah, we need to arrest people
for being mean.
There is no law, no decency.
He's just getting that”
October 16, 2025 at 10:56 PM
West Wing s1e03
“It's bad, I know.
- That's it?
- What'll you do?
Bring him in for questioning,
pending charges.
Why be in power if you can't
haul your enemies in?
We're not gonna do anything?
Yeah, we need to arrest people
for being mean.
There is no law, no decency.
He's just getting that”
“It's bad, I know.
- That's it?
- What'll you do?
Bring him in for questioning,
pending charges.
Why be in power if you can't
haul your enemies in?
We're not gonna do anything?
Yeah, we need to arrest people
for being mean.
There is no law, no decency.
He's just getting that”
Reposted by James Holwell
Welcome to Exeter College! 🎓
It's fantastic to see the College buzzing with life again as we welcome all our new and returning students for 0th Week.
We're excited for the year ahead. ✨
#ExeterCollegeOxford #FloreatExon #OxfordWelcome
It's fantastic to see the College buzzing with life again as we welcome all our new and returning students for 0th Week.
We're excited for the year ahead. ✨
#ExeterCollegeOxford #FloreatExon #OxfordWelcome
October 7, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Welcome to Exeter College! 🎓
It's fantastic to see the College buzzing with life again as we welcome all our new and returning students for 0th Week.
We're excited for the year ahead. ✨
#ExeterCollegeOxford #FloreatExon #OxfordWelcome
It's fantastic to see the College buzzing with life again as we welcome all our new and returning students for 0th Week.
We're excited for the year ahead. ✨
#ExeterCollegeOxford #FloreatExon #OxfordWelcome
This is a great video: very accessible for seeing how much simple chips can do without needing microprocessors
If you've ever wanted to learn analog electronics for synths, check out Moritz Klein's videos. Each one is a masterclass. The latest for a two-button-all-analog-no-code drum-machine is great. And the result is very expressive! www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9HK...
This drum sequencer breaks all the rules
YouTube video by Moritz Klein
www.youtube.com
October 1, 2025 at 1:52 PM
This is a great video: very accessible for seeing how much simple chips can do without needing microprocessors
Reposted by James Holwell
New! Cassetteboy vs Keir Starmer.
This took absolutely ages, so if you'd like to buy us a coffee at ko-fi.com/cassetteboy we'd really appreciate it. Thanks!
This took absolutely ages, so if you'd like to buy us a coffee at ko-fi.com/cassetteboy we'd really appreciate it. Thanks!
September 30, 2025 at 10:55 AM
New! Cassetteboy vs Keir Starmer.
This took absolutely ages, so if you'd like to buy us a coffee at ko-fi.com/cassetteboy we'd really appreciate it. Thanks!
This took absolutely ages, so if you'd like to buy us a coffee at ko-fi.com/cassetteboy we'd really appreciate it. Thanks!
Earlier this evening: Royal Albert Hall, last night of the tour.
Wow… what a show.
The new tracks went down really well (Leymelli was the standout for me) and the new arrangements of old favourites were just magical: such a special atmosphere.
Wow… what a show.
The new tracks went down really well (Leymelli was the standout for me) and the new arrangements of old favourites were just magical: such a special atmosphere.
Europe - 2025
Tickets for all shows have now SOLD OUT.
If you have bought tickets to a show and are now unable to attend you can sell your tickets directly to other fans on Twickets: partners.twickets.live/agnesobel
Tickets for all shows have now SOLD OUT.
If you have bought tickets to a show and are now unable to attend you can sell your tickets directly to other fans on Twickets: partners.twickets.live/agnesobel
September 29, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Earlier this evening: Royal Albert Hall, last night of the tour.
Wow… what a show.
The new tracks went down really well (Leymelli was the standout for me) and the new arrangements of old favourites were just magical: such a special atmosphere.
Wow… what a show.
The new tracks went down really well (Leymelli was the standout for me) and the new arrangements of old favourites were just magical: such a special atmosphere.
Reposted by James Holwell
imagine if a family of beavers randomly showed up right now and finished whatever thing you've been putting off
September 22, 2025 at 9:41 PM
imagine if a family of beavers randomly showed up right now and finished whatever thing you've been putting off
Reposted by James Holwell
Reposted by James Holwell
Today is the 30th anniversary of Hackers
September 15, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Today is the 30th anniversary of Hackers
Reposted by James Holwell
Completely forgot to mention it here, but I've hooked up my receipt printer to a public website through a Raspberry Pi and Cloudflare.
You can send me a message, and it'll print out immediately on my desk!
ping.aschmelyun.com
You can send me a message, and it'll print out immediately on my desk!
ping.aschmelyun.com
September 14, 2025 at 3:20 AM
Completely forgot to mention it here, but I've hooked up my receipt printer to a public website through a Raspberry Pi and Cloudflare.
You can send me a message, and it'll print out immediately on my desk!
ping.aschmelyun.com
You can send me a message, and it'll print out immediately on my desk!
ping.aschmelyun.com
Reposted by James Holwell
Microsoft’s 6502 BASIC is now Open Source opensource.microsoft.com/blog/2025/09...
Microsoft Releases Historic 6502 BASIC - Microsoft Open Source Blog
Explore the original 6502 BASIC—now open source! Dive into retro code, history, and emulators. Fork it, run it, and relive computing's roots.
opensource.microsoft.com
September 3, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Microsoft’s 6502 BASIC is now Open Source opensource.microsoft.com/blog/2025/09...
Reposted by James Holwell
📸 Gabriel Puyana
August 31, 2025 at 4:00 AM
📸 Gabriel Puyana
Reposted by James Holwell
The Gen A.I. Borg do not saye "you will be assimilated" thei saye "you will be woven ynto the nuanced and poignant tapestrye of historye"
August 28, 2025 at 12:31 AM
The Gen A.I. Borg do not saye "you will be assimilated" thei saye "you will be woven ynto the nuanced and poignant tapestrye of historye"
Reposted by James Holwell
things were better when the computer lived in its own specific room and you only went in there sometimes
August 21, 2025 at 4:36 PM
things were better when the computer lived in its own specific room and you only went in there sometimes
Reposted by James Holwell
The only difference between our reality and a Philip K Dick novel is the characters in a Philip K Dick novel don't choose to live like this
August 16, 2025 at 6:11 PM
The only difference between our reality and a Philip K Dick novel is the characters in a Philip K Dick novel don't choose to live like this
Reposted by James Holwell
"When's a good time for code reviews? Before merging? Before committing? After refactoring? Whenever the tests are passing?"
Yes.
Yes.
August 13, 2025 at 9:10 AM
"When's a good time for code reviews? Before merging? Before committing? After refactoring? Whenever the tests are passing?"
Yes.
Yes.
Reposted by James Holwell
“The concept is beautifully simple: instead of your app being a fancy form that sends data to a server, it has its own local database. Sometimes the server is just another client to sync with. It can be a fundamental inversion of how we build web applications.”
bytemash.net/posts/i-went...
bytemash.net/posts/i-went...
Linear sent me down a local-first rabbit hole | Bytemash
A deep dive into local-first architecture, triggered by wondering why Linear feels so fast. Looking at the technical implementation, exploring tools like Jazz and Electric SQL, and explaining why my n...
bytemash.net
August 11, 2025 at 8:24 AM
“The concept is beautifully simple: instead of your app being a fancy form that sends data to a server, it has its own local database. Sometimes the server is just another client to sync with. It can be a fundamental inversion of how we build web applications.”
bytemash.net/posts/i-went...
bytemash.net/posts/i-went...