Josh Beckman
@joshbeckman.org
Building software and extensible platforms online at https://www.joshbeckman.org and inside Shopify
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/reading/the-overstory
The Overstory
This book is like a fictional, tragic rhyme with Braiding Sweetgrass.
I started it in the summer, read the first c...
The Overstory
This book is like a fictional, tragic rhyme with Braiding Sweetgrass.
I started it in the summer, read the first c...
The Overstory
This book is like a fictional, tragic rhyme with Braiding Sweetgrass.
I started it in the summer, read the first c...
www.joshbeckman.org
November 9, 2025 at 11:35 PM
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/reading/the-overstory
The Overstory
This book is like a fictional, tragic rhyme with Braiding Sweetgrass.
I started it in the summer, read the first c...
The Overstory
This book is like a fictional, tragic rhyme with Braiding Sweetgrass.
I started it in the summer, read the first c...
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/watching/letterboxd-review-1067773849-evil-under-the-sun
Evil Under the Sun
Marybeth had just read this book for High Stakes book club and so it was on our minds. She had many differences betwe...
Evil Under the Sun
Marybeth had just read this book for High Stakes book club and so it was on our minds. She had many differences betwe...
Evil Under the Sun
Marybeth had just read this book for High Stakes book club and so it was on our minds. She had many differences betwe...
www.joshbeckman.org
November 9, 2025 at 5:35 PM
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/watching/letterboxd-review-1067773849-evil-under-the-sun
Evil Under the Sun
Marybeth had just read this book for High Stakes book club and so it was on our minds. She had many differences betwe...
Evil Under the Sun
Marybeth had just read this book for High Stakes book club and so it was on our minds. She had many differences betwe...
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/practicing/systems-and-methods-for-selectively-executing-usergenerated-logic
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SELECTIVELY EXECUTING USER-GENERATED LOGIC
Our (me and some of my team members at Shopify) U.S. patent application (number 10677, with the menacing all-caps tit...
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SELECTIVELY EXECUTING USER-GENERATED LOGIC
Our (me and some of my team members at Shopify) U.S. patent application (number 10677, with the menacing all-caps tit...
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SELECTIVELY EXECUTING USER-GENERATED LOGIC
Our (me and some of my team members at Shopify) U.S. patent application (number 10677, with the menacing all-caps tit...
www.joshbeckman.org
November 9, 2025 at 5:35 PM
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/practicing/systems-and-methods-for-selectively-executing-usergenerated-logic
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SELECTIVELY EXECUTING USER-GENERATED LOGIC
Our (me and some of my team members at Shopify) U.S. patent application (number 10677, with the menacing all-caps tit...
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SELECTIVELY EXECUTING USER-GENERATED LOGIC
Our (me and some of my team members at Shopify) U.S. patent application (number 10677, with the menacing all-caps tit...
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/attending/kaytranada-and-justice-at-the-united-center
KAYTRANADA and Justice at The United Center
I’ve long been a fan of KAYTRANADA (see his latest album) but have only ever been able to see him perform at outdoor ...
KAYTRANADA and Justice at The United Center
I’ve long been a fan of KAYTRANADA (see his latest album) but have only ever been able to see him perform at outdoor ...
KAYTRANADA and Justice at The United Center
I’ve long been a fan of KAYTRANADA (see his latest album) but have only ever been able to see him perform at outdoor ...
www.joshbeckman.org
November 9, 2025 at 5:38 AM
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/attending/kaytranada-and-justice-at-the-united-center
KAYTRANADA and Justice at The United Center
I’ve long been a fan of KAYTRANADA (see his latest album) but have only ever been able to see him perform at outdoor ...
KAYTRANADA and Justice at The United Center
I’ve long been a fan of KAYTRANADA (see his latest album) but have only ever been able to see him perform at outdoor ...
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/attending/tame-impala-at-the-united-center
Tame Impala at The United Center
I had never been to see Tame Impala before but had only heard good things and so I went with friends to watch the mos...
Tame Impala at The United Center
I had never been to see Tame Impala before but had only heard good things and so I went with friends to watch the mos...
Tame Impala at The United Center
I had never been to see Tame Impala before but had only heard good things and so I went with friends to watch the mos...
www.joshbeckman.org
November 9, 2025 at 5:38 AM
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/attending/tame-impala-at-the-united-center
Tame Impala at The United Center
I had never been to see Tame Impala before but had only heard good things and so I went with friends to watch the mos...
Tame Impala at The United Center
I had never been to see Tame Impala before but had only heard good things and so I went with friends to watch the mos...
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/practicing/making-mcp-tool-calls-scriptable-with-mcpcli
Making MCP Tool Calls Scriptable with mcp_cli
I will often explore a solution or script with an LLM agent (e.g. Claude Code) for a while. I’ll iterate on ways to e...
Making MCP Tool Calls Scriptable with mcp_cli
I will often explore a solution or script with an LLM agent (e.g. Claude Code) for a while. I’ll iterate on ways to e...
Making MCP Tool Calls Scriptable with mcp_cli
I will often explore a solution or script with an LLM agent (e.g. Claude Code) for a while. I’ll iterate on ways to e...
www.joshbeckman.org
November 6, 2025 at 2:39 PM
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/practicing/making-mcp-tool-calls-scriptable-with-mcpcli
Making MCP Tool Calls Scriptable with mcp_cli
I will often explore a solution or script with an LLM agent (e.g. Claude Code) for a while. I’ll iterate on ways to e...
Making MCP Tool Calls Scriptable with mcp_cli
I will often explore a solution or script with an LLM agent (e.g. Claude Code) for a while. I’ll iterate on ways to e...
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/watching/letterboxd-review-959583071-the-fantastic-4-first-steps
The Fantastic 4: First Steps
Lots of pretty CGI and claims of someone being smart but not doing smart on screen and lots of magic claiming to be s...
The Fantastic 4: First Steps
Lots of pretty CGI and claims of someone being smart but not doing smart on screen and lots of magic claiming to be s...
The Fantastic 4: First Steps
Lots of pretty CGI and claims of someone being smart but not doing smart on screen and lots of magic claiming to be s...
www.joshbeckman.org
October 29, 2025 at 8:44 AM
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/watching/letterboxd-review-959583071-the-fantastic-4-first-steps
The Fantastic 4: First Steps
Lots of pretty CGI and claims of someone being smart but not doing smart on screen and lots of magic claiming to be s...
The Fantastic 4: First Steps
Lots of pretty CGI and claims of someone being smart but not doing smart on screen and lots of magic claiming to be s...
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/watching/andor
Andor
We watched the final episodes of Andor on the day that we protested a real-life authoritarian government. This show i...
Andor
We watched the final episodes of Andor on the day that we protested a real-life authoritarian government. This show i...
Andor
We watched the final episodes of Andor on the day that we protested a real-life authoritarian government. This show i...
www.joshbeckman.org
October 20, 2025 at 2:39 PM
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/watching/andor
Andor
We watched the final episodes of Andor on the day that we protested a real-life authoritarian government. This show i...
Andor
We watched the final episodes of Andor on the day that we protested a real-life authoritarian government. This show i...
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/no-kings-protest-chicago-20251018
No Kings Protest, Chicago, 2025-10-18
We protested Trump and his fascist federal government actions again (previously). And by “We” I mean “We the people”:...
No Kings Protest, Chicago, 2025-10-18
We protested Trump and his fascist federal government actions again (previously). And by “We” I mean “We the people”:...
No Kings Protest, Chicago, 2025-10-18
We protested Trump and his fascist federal government actions again (previously). And by “We” I mean “We the people”:...
www.joshbeckman.org
October 19, 2025 at 5:37 PM
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/no-kings-protest-chicago-20251018
No Kings Protest, Chicago, 2025-10-18
We protested Trump and his fascist federal government actions again (previously). And by “We” I mean “We the people”:...
No Kings Protest, Chicago, 2025-10-18
We protested Trump and his fascist federal government actions again (previously). And by “We” I mean “We the people”:...
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/bedmounds-in-montreal
Bedmounds in Montreal
The light was beautiful in my Hotel Monville Montreal room this morning, so I made a tribute to Bedmounds by Noah Kal...
Bedmounds in Montreal
The light was beautiful in my Hotel Monville Montreal room this morning, so I made a tribute to Bedmounds by Noah Kal...
Bedmounds in Montreal
The light was beautiful in my Hotel Monville Montreal room this morning, so I made a tribute to Bedmounds by Noah Kal...
www.joshbeckman.org
October 19, 2025 at 5:37 PM
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/bedmounds-in-montreal
Bedmounds in Montreal
The light was beautiful in my Hotel Monville Montreal room this morning, so I made a tribute to Bedmounds by Noah Kal...
Bedmounds in Montreal
The light was beautiful in my Hotel Monville Montreal room this morning, so I made a tribute to Bedmounds by Noah Kal...
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/watching/letterboxd-review-1039608007-the-thing
The Thing
What a treat to watch this in a private screening at Logan Theater for Caleb's birthday. That brought in a few ho...
The Thing
What a treat to watch this in a private screening at Logan Theater for Caleb's birthday. That brought in a few ho...
The Thing
What a treat to watch this in a private screening at Logan Theater for Caleb's birthday. That brought in a few ho...
www.joshbeckman.org
October 12, 2025 at 8:37 PM
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/watching/letterboxd-review-1039608007-the-thing
The Thing
What a treat to watch this in a private screening at Logan Theater for Caleb's birthday. That brought in a few ho...
The Thing
What a treat to watch this in a private screening at Logan Theater for Caleb's birthday. That brought in a few ho...
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/reading/ensorcelled
Ensorcelled
I pre-ordered Ensorcelled on a recommendation from Craig Mod and read it this morning over tea and cold sunshine and ...
Ensorcelled
I pre-ordered Ensorcelled on a recommendation from Craig Mod and read it this morning over tea and cold sunshine and ...
Ensorcelled
I pre-ordered Ensorcelled on a recommendation from Craig Mod and read it this morning over tea and cold sunshine and ...
www.joshbeckman.org
October 12, 2025 at 5:36 PM
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/reading/ensorcelled
Ensorcelled
I pre-ordered Ensorcelled on a recommendation from Craig Mod and read it this morning over tea and cold sunshine and ...
Ensorcelled
I pre-ordered Ensorcelled on a recommendation from Craig Mod and read it this morning over tea and cold sunshine and ...
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/practicing/earning-the-right-to-be-illegible
Earning the Right to Be Illegible
Seeing like a software company is the best writing about large-company software engineering I’ve read in quite a whil...
Earning the Right to Be Illegible
Seeing like a software company is the best writing about large-company software engineering I’ve read in quite a whil...
Earning the Right to Be Illegible
Seeing like a software company is the best writing about large-company software engineering I’ve read in quite a whil...
www.joshbeckman.org
October 12, 2025 at 5:36 PM
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/practicing/earning-the-right-to-be-illegible
Earning the Right to Be Illegible
Seeing like a software company is the best writing about large-company software engineering I’ve read in quite a whil...
Earning the Right to Be Illegible
Seeing like a software company is the best writing about large-company software engineering I’ve read in quite a whil...
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/watching/listers
LISTERS
Man, I need more things in my life that are as beautifully-made and heart-healing as LISTERS: A Glimpse Into Extreme ...
LISTERS
Man, I need more things in my life that are as beautifully-made and heart-healing as LISTERS: A Glimpse Into Extreme ...
LISTERS
Man, I need more things in my life that are as beautifully-made and heart-healing as LISTERS: A Glimpse Into Extreme ...
www.joshbeckman.org
October 8, 2025 at 5:37 AM
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/watching/listers
LISTERS
Man, I need more things in my life that are as beautifully-made and heart-healing as LISTERS: A Glimpse Into Extreme ...
LISTERS
Man, I need more things in my life that are as beautifully-made and heart-healing as LISTERS: A Glimpse Into Extreme ...
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/ice-on-chicagos-lips
ICE on Chicago's Lips
Over the weekend, ICE and illegal federal raids were asked/talked about in most conversations. We haven’t seen any in...
ICE on Chicago's Lips
Over the weekend, ICE and illegal federal raids were asked/talked about in most conversations. We haven’t seen any in...
ICE on Chicago's Lips
Over the weekend, ICE and illegal federal raids were asked/talked about in most conversations. We haven’t seen any in...
www.joshbeckman.org
October 6, 2025 at 2:39 PM
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/ice-on-chicagos-lips
ICE on Chicago's Lips
Over the weekend, ICE and illegal federal raids were asked/talked about in most conversations. We haven’t seen any in...
ICE on Chicago's Lips
Over the weekend, ICE and illegal federal raids were asked/talked about in most conversations. We haven’t seen any in...
https://www.joshbeckman.org/notes/advice-on-being-a-firsttime-parent
Advice on Being a First-Time Parent
We are at dinner with Steve and Heather and, in a quiet moment, Steve leans in to tell me:
When the baby is born,...
Advice on Being a First-Time Parent
We are at dinner with Steve and Heather and, in a quiet moment, Steve leans in to tell me:
When the baby is born,...
Advice on Being a First-Time Parent
We are at dinner with Steve and Heather and, in a quiet moment, Steve leans in to tell me:
When the baby is born,...
www.joshbeckman.org
October 6, 2025 at 2:38 PM
https://www.joshbeckman.org/notes/advice-on-being-a-firsttime-parent
Advice on Being a First-Time Parent
We are at dinner with Steve and Heather and, in a quiet moment, Steve leans in to tell me:
When the baby is born,...
Advice on Being a First-Time Parent
We are at dinner with Steve and Heather and, in a quiet moment, Steve leans in to tell me:
When the baby is born,...
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/watching/letterboxd-review-1030754741-one-battle-after-another
One Battle After Another
This movie is long but earns the runtime by keeping you running through its entirety. A deep family backstory builds ...
One Battle After Another
This movie is long but earns the runtime by keeping you running through its entirety. A deep family backstory builds ...
One Battle After Another
This movie is long but earns the runtime by keeping you running through its entirety. A deep family backstory builds ...
www.joshbeckman.org
October 3, 2025 at 5:37 PM
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/watching/letterboxd-review-1030754741-one-battle-after-another
One Battle After Another
This movie is long but earns the runtime by keeping you running through its entirety. A deep family backstory builds ...
One Battle After Another
This movie is long but earns the runtime by keeping you running through its entirety. A deep family backstory builds ...
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/attending/sg-lewis-at-radius
S.G. Lewis at Radius
I most wanted to see the opener, Sofia Kourtesis, a Peruvian producer, vocalist, and DJ from Berlin. So we got there ...
S.G. Lewis at Radius
I most wanted to see the opener, Sofia Kourtesis, a Peruvian producer, vocalist, and DJ from Berlin. So we got there ...
S.G. Lewis at Radius
I most wanted to see the opener, Sofia Kourtesis, a Peruvian producer, vocalist, and DJ from Berlin. So we got there ...
www.joshbeckman.org
September 28, 2025 at 5:35 PM
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/attending/sg-lewis-at-radius
S.G. Lewis at Radius
I most wanted to see the opener, Sofia Kourtesis, a Peruvian producer, vocalist, and DJ from Berlin. So we got there ...
S.G. Lewis at Radius
I most wanted to see the opener, Sofia Kourtesis, a Peruvian producer, vocalist, and DJ from Berlin. So we got there ...
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/practicing/reinvesting-in-local-ci
Re-Investing in Local CI
I read this great post by Brandur over the weekend and got inspired. Specifically, the sketch of a world where contin...
Re-Investing in Local CI
I read this great post by Brandur over the weekend and got inspired. Specifically, the sketch of a world where contin...
Re-Investing in Local CI
I read this great post by Brandur over the weekend and got inspired. Specifically, the sketch of a world where contin...
www.joshbeckman.org
September 27, 2025 at 5:36 PM
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/practicing/reinvesting-in-local-ci
Re-Investing in Local CI
I read this great post by Brandur over the weekend and got inspired. Specifically, the sketch of a world where contin...
Re-Investing in Local CI
I read this great post by Brandur over the weekend and got inspired. Specifically, the sketch of a world where contin...
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/practicing/the-box-model-a-framework-for-role-clarity
The Box Model: A Framework for Role Clarity
I spent months as a Senior Staff Engineer before realizing nobody had clear and consistent expectations of what I sho...
The Box Model: A Framework for Role Clarity
I spent months as a Senior Staff Engineer before realizing nobody had clear and consistent expectations of what I sho...
The Box Model: A Framework for Role Clarity
I spent months as a Senior Staff Engineer before realizing nobody had clear and consistent expectations of what I sho...
www.joshbeckman.org
September 25, 2025 at 2:39 PM
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/practicing/the-box-model-a-framework-for-role-clarity
The Box Model: A Framework for Role Clarity
I spent months as a Senior Staff Engineer before realizing nobody had clear and consistent expectations of what I sho...
The Box Model: A Framework for Role Clarity
I spent months as a Senior Staff Engineer before realizing nobody had clear and consistent expectations of what I sho...
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/practicing/bending-the-fiddle-leaf-fig
Bending the Fiddle Leaf Fig
This fiddle leaf fig has been in two homes with us now for about 7 years, maybe 8. It first grew from about a foot t...
Bending the Fiddle Leaf Fig
This fiddle leaf fig has been in two homes with us now for about 7 years, maybe 8. It first grew from about a foot t...
Bending the Fiddle Leaf Fig
This fiddle leaf fig has been in two homes with us now for about 7 years, maybe 8. It first grew from about a foot t...
www.joshbeckman.org
September 24, 2025 at 5:37 AM
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/practicing/bending-the-fiddle-leaf-fig
Bending the Fiddle Leaf Fig
This fiddle leaf fig has been in two homes with us now for about 7 years, maybe 8. It first grew from about a foot t...
Bending the Fiddle Leaf Fig
This fiddle leaf fig has been in two homes with us now for about 7 years, maybe 8. It first grew from about a foot t...
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/attending/polo-pan-at-the-salt-shed
Polo & Pan at The Salt Shed
Polo & Pan came to the Salt Shed for our friend Paul’s birthday and brought Tycho along as an opener. We ate ...
Polo & Pan at The Salt Shed
Polo & Pan came to the Salt Shed for our friend Paul’s birthday and brought Tycho along as an opener. We ate ...
Polo & Pan at The Salt Shed
Polo & Pan came to the Salt Shed for our friend Paul’s birthday and brought Tycho along as an opener. We ate ...
www.joshbeckman.org
September 23, 2025 at 2:40 PM
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/attending/polo-pan-at-the-salt-shed
Polo & Pan at The Salt Shed
Polo & Pan came to the Salt Shed for our friend Paul’s birthday and brought Tycho along as an opener. We ate ...
Polo & Pan at The Salt Shed
Polo & Pan came to the Salt Shed for our friend Paul’s birthday and brought Tycho along as an opener. We ate ...
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/listening/on-keeping-a-notebook
On Keeping a Notebook by Joan Didion, Read by Parker Posey
This is my favorite essay on writing, by Joan Didion, read by Parker Posey.
Your browser does not support the ...
On Keeping a Notebook by Joan Didion, Read by Parker Posey
This is my favorite essay on writing, by Joan Didion, read by Parker Posey.
Your browser does not support the ...
On Keeping a Notebook by Joan Didion, Read by Parker Posey
This is my favorite essay on writing, by Joan Didion, read by Parker Posey.
Your browser does not support the ...
www.joshbeckman.org
September 22, 2025 at 2:40 PM
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/listening/on-keeping-a-notebook
On Keeping a Notebook by Joan Didion, Read by Parker Posey
This is my favorite essay on writing, by Joan Didion, read by Parker Posey.
Your browser does not support the ...
On Keeping a Notebook by Joan Didion, Read by Parker Posey
This is my favorite essay on writing, by Joan Didion, read by Parker Posey.
Your browser does not support the ...
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/practicing/apple-calendars-search-just-doesnt
Apple Calendar's Search Just Doesn't
I cannot, for the life of me, figure out what Apple Calendar’s search feature doesn’t return events/results with titl...
Apple Calendar's Search Just Doesn't
I cannot, for the life of me, figure out what Apple Calendar’s search feature doesn’t return events/results with titl...
Apple Calendar's Search Just Doesn't
I cannot, for the life of me, figure out what Apple Calendar’s search feature doesn’t return events/results with titl...
www.joshbeckman.org
September 21, 2025 at 11:35 PM
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/practicing/apple-calendars-search-just-doesnt
Apple Calendar's Search Just Doesn't
I cannot, for the life of me, figure out what Apple Calendar’s search feature doesn’t return events/results with titl...
Apple Calendar's Search Just Doesn't
I cannot, for the life of me, figure out what Apple Calendar’s search feature doesn’t return events/results with titl...
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/attending/big-wild-at-the-salt-shed
Big Wild at The Salt Shed
This was my fourth time seeing Big Wild (previously) and it seemed like the shortest concert; I wanted it to last so ...
Big Wild at The Salt Shed
This was my fourth time seeing Big Wild (previously) and it seemed like the shortest concert; I wanted it to last so ...
Big Wild at The Salt Shed
This was my fourth time seeing Big Wild (previously) and it seemed like the shortest concert; I wanted it to last so ...
www.joshbeckman.org
September 20, 2025 at 8:36 PM
https://www.joshbeckman.org/blog/attending/big-wild-at-the-salt-shed
Big Wild at The Salt Shed
This was my fourth time seeing Big Wild (previously) and it seemed like the shortest concert; I wanted it to last so ...
Big Wild at The Salt Shed
This was my fourth time seeing Big Wild (previously) and it seemed like the shortest concert; I wanted it to last so ...