Rob Whelan 🌱
@robw.bsky.social
Turns out I can skip posts not intended for me. AI/ML @ Grafana; everything is UX; let's make it better; he/him
I've confirmed my spouse's first book was used in Anthropic's training material
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October 2, 2025 at 1:54 PM
I've confirmed my spouse's first book was used in Anthropic's training material
Master of Literal Puppets
Take Five, Literally
Take Five, Literally
Ruin a song by adding the word ‘literally’ to the title. I’ll start.
Love will literally tear us apart.
Love will literally tear us apart.
September 14, 2025 at 7:19 AM
Master of Literal Puppets
Take Five, Literally
Take Five, Literally
Reposted by Rob Whelan 🌱
Big projects are faster to do on your own, but if you want buy-in from others (e.g. culture, strategy, reorg, pivot, brand change), you need to work with others, so that there is buy-in at the end.
(1/3)
(1/3)
September 6, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Big projects are faster to do on your own, but if you want buy-in from others (e.g. culture, strategy, reorg, pivot, brand change), you need to work with others, so that there is buy-in at the end.
(1/3)
(1/3)
Reposted by Rob Whelan 🌱
this iconic advertising copywriter named Kathy Hepinstall Parks died over the weekend and I wanted to share something from her website I thought Bluesky would like
August 22, 2025 at 2:20 PM
this iconic advertising copywriter named Kathy Hepinstall Parks died over the weekend and I wanted to share something from her website I thought Bluesky would like
Reposted by Rob Whelan 🌱
Oops! Paid attention to politics during the workday and now I can’t concentrate because of the overwhelming feeling that this is all such a goddamn mess and I don’t know which details to engage with if any
August 19, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Oops! Paid attention to politics during the workday and now I can’t concentrate because of the overwhelming feeling that this is all such a goddamn mess and I don’t know which details to engage with if any
Reposted by Rob Whelan 🌱
A product that (almost) everyone uses from mid-sized tech companies and up but I rarely hear talked about: Grafana
In The Pragmatic Engineer 2025 survey, it had more mentions than Cursor, and dominates as the answer to "how do you turn information into graphs"
This is Grafana:
In The Pragmatic Engineer 2025 survey, it had more mentions than Cursor, and dominates as the answer to "how do you turn information into graphs"
This is Grafana:
August 18, 2025 at 9:14 AM
A product that (almost) everyone uses from mid-sized tech companies and up but I rarely hear talked about: Grafana
In The Pragmatic Engineer 2025 survey, it had more mentions than Cursor, and dominates as the answer to "how do you turn information into graphs"
This is Grafana:
In The Pragmatic Engineer 2025 survey, it had more mentions than Cursor, and dominates as the answer to "how do you turn information into graphs"
This is Grafana:
Good read, because I agree with many of these points, and because if you're building AI- powered products today (which we are), you are pitching to people who:
• have been force-fed a LOT of hype on what gen AI can do & its goals
• are already disillusioned on many of those promises
• ->
• have been force-fed a LOT of hype on what gen AI can do & its goals
• are already disillusioned on many of those promises
• ->
August 5, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Good read, because I agree with many of these points, and because if you're building AI- powered products today (which we are), you are pitching to people who:
• have been force-fed a LOT of hype on what gen AI can do & its goals
• are already disillusioned on many of those promises
• ->
• have been force-fed a LOT of hype on what gen AI can do & its goals
• are already disillusioned on many of those promises
• ->
Philips instructions, not assuming you have a chemistry degree, but that you have AI at your fingertips.
Our new Philips egg cooker came with no textual instructions, only pictorial ones. How many people without a chemistry degree are likely to figure out what “4% AcOH” means?
(Spoiler: it means “vinegar”)
(Spoiler: it means “vinegar”)
August 3, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Philips instructions, not assuming you have a chemistry degree, but that you have AI at your fingertips.
Reposted by Rob Whelan 🌱
that's why a classic rule for interface design is:
The User Is Drunk
(as a substitute for every other incapacitating and distracting life factor)
The User Is Drunk
(as a substitute for every other incapacitating and distracting life factor)
July 31, 2025 at 7:27 PM
that's why a classic rule for interface design is:
The User Is Drunk
(as a substitute for every other incapacitating and distracting life factor)
The User Is Drunk
(as a substitute for every other incapacitating and distracting life factor)
I don't often use Strava on my phone; but now I've hit some great bugs in it.
I apparently forgot to properly end a run in London; then (weeks later) chose a suggested route here in the mountains in France, and it thinks I just ... jumped?
And it gets better
I apparently forgot to properly end a run in London; then (weeks later) chose a suggested route here in the mountains in France, and it thinks I just ... jumped?
And it gets better
July 18, 2025 at 10:34 PM
I don't often use Strava on my phone; but now I've hit some great bugs in it.
I apparently forgot to properly end a run in London; then (weeks later) chose a suggested route here in the mountains in France, and it thinks I just ... jumped?
And it gets better
I apparently forgot to properly end a run in London; then (weeks later) chose a suggested route here in the mountains in France, and it thinks I just ... jumped?
And it gets better
Reposted by Rob Whelan 🌱
1. We interrupt this programming for some LEGITIMATELY GOOD NEWS
Violent crime in Baltimore has PLUMMETED to historic lows
How did the city do it?
Baltimore adopted a comprehensive set of "woke" policies, treating violence as a public health issue
Violent crime in Baltimore has PLUMMETED to historic lows
How did the city do it?
Baltimore adopted a comprehensive set of "woke" policies, treating violence as a public health issue
The secret to Baltimore's extraordinary year
This April, Baltimore saw five homicides.
popular.info
July 16, 2025 at 1:14 PM
1. We interrupt this programming for some LEGITIMATELY GOOD NEWS
Violent crime in Baltimore has PLUMMETED to historic lows
How did the city do it?
Baltimore adopted a comprehensive set of "woke" policies, treating violence as a public health issue
Violent crime in Baltimore has PLUMMETED to historic lows
How did the city do it?
Baltimore adopted a comprehensive set of "woke" policies, treating violence as a public health issue
"Unfortunately the kidnappers were posing as ICE agents"
"How terrible! How did they do that?"
"Wore masks, had no badges or ID or marked vehicle... just said they were ICE"
"How terrible! How did they do that?"
"Wore masks, had no badges or ID or marked vehicle... just said they were ICE"
Genuine Question because I Do not understand… so if these men roll up in plain clothes and masks, grab a human being… even a child, and throw them in an unmarked vehicle I am just supposed to look the other way and say nothing ?? Ask Nothing ?
June 18, 2025 at 5:17 AM
"Unfortunately the kidnappers were posing as ICE agents"
"How terrible! How did they do that?"
"Wore masks, had no badges or ID or marked vehicle... just said they were ICE"
"How terrible! How did they do that?"
"Wore masks, had no badges or ID or marked vehicle... just said they were ICE"
If you need a moment to refocus on something healthy: may I suggest this more-likely alt-history of velociraptor + human coexistence?
June 17, 2025 at 11:25 AM
If you need a moment to refocus on something healthy: may I suggest this more-likely alt-history of velociraptor + human coexistence?
Reposted by Rob Whelan 🌱
🏳️🌈 Pride began with the bravery to be seen.
We honor the courage of those who stood up at Stonewall—and stand with the LGBTQIA+ community today and every day.
#PrideMonth
We honor the courage of those who stood up at Stonewall—and stand with the LGBTQIA+ community today and every day.
#PrideMonth
June 16, 2025 at 6:37 PM
🏳️🌈 Pride began with the bravery to be seen.
We honor the courage of those who stood up at Stonewall—and stand with the LGBTQIA+ community today and every day.
#PrideMonth
We honor the courage of those who stood up at Stonewall—and stand with the LGBTQIA+ community today and every day.
#PrideMonth
Reposted by Rob Whelan 🌱
I'd actually love to see more systems designed for disengagement - where I can achieve my goals with the least work with the system, leaving me more for time & energy for what I choose (cf. the great Kathy Sierra & my own attention theft piece & also any number of detachment disciplines)
Incidentally when I say reconceptualize I don't mean "hey let's all stop using anthropomorphic phrases" or anything like that. If that's your thing that's fine, but it won't save us from this. I mean these systems have to be built differently, and we have the right to demand that.
We have to re-conceptualize what AI is, and fast I think. It's here to stay, but we don't have to accept this model of it.
June 13, 2025 at 3:43 PM
I'd actually love to see more systems designed for disengagement - where I can achieve my goals with the least work with the system, leaving me more for time & energy for what I choose (cf. the great Kathy Sierra & my own attention theft piece & also any number of detachment disciplines)
Still relatively early in my career — Google released their search autocomplete feature, amazing at the time.
People were asking on Slashdot how they did it; I raced through their (frontend) code and wrote up my best guesses; and Joel Spolsky quoted me & linked my reply from a blog post.
People were asking on Slashdot how they did it; I raced through their (frontend) code and wrote up my best guesses; and Joel Spolsky quoted me & linked my reply from a blog post.
Right folks. Feeling rather down at the moment so bringing back an oldie
Please Quote this with your most minor celebrity interaction
Please Quote this with your most minor celebrity interaction
June 13, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Still relatively early in my career — Google released their search autocomplete feature, amazing at the time.
People were asking on Slashdot how they did it; I raced through their (frontend) code and wrote up my best guesses; and Joel Spolsky quoted me & linked my reply from a blog post.
People were asking on Slashdot how they did it; I raced through their (frontend) code and wrote up my best guesses; and Joel Spolsky quoted me & linked my reply from a blog post.
Reposted by Rob Whelan 🌱
Periodic reminder for those who forget or struggle with remembering to add alt text:
Bluesky has a setting that will remind you to add alt text before posting any images.
Go to "Settings," then "Accessibility." Select the checkbox for "Require alt text before posting."
Bluesky has a setting that will remind you to add alt text before posting any images.
Go to "Settings," then "Accessibility." Select the checkbox for "Require alt text before posting."
June 4, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Periodic reminder for those who forget or struggle with remembering to add alt text:
Bluesky has a setting that will remind you to add alt text before posting any images.
Go to "Settings," then "Accessibility." Select the checkbox for "Require alt text before posting."
Bluesky has a setting that will remind you to add alt text before posting any images.
Go to "Settings," then "Accessibility." Select the checkbox for "Require alt text before posting."
Reposted by Rob Whelan 🌱
one of my beefs with "write what you know" is that I've never seen it used as a way to encourage someone to go learn something new
May 30, 2025 at 11:16 AM
one of my beefs with "write what you know" is that I've never seen it used as a way to encourage someone to go learn something new
Been wanting to post about ethics & AI for a while.
It's complex, and I always feel like I need to learn more, but here's my current take; thoughts & disagreement welcome.
I'm a software engineering manager (+ parent, US citizen, French resident), not philosopher, ethicist, regulation expert, etc.
It's complex, and I always feel like I need to learn more, but here's my current take; thoughts & disagreement welcome.
I'm a software engineering manager (+ parent, US citizen, French resident), not philosopher, ethicist, regulation expert, etc.
I’m officially done with takes on AI beginning “Ethical concerns aside…”.
No! Stop right there.
Ethical concerns front and center. First thing. Let’s get this out of the way and then see if thre is anything left worth talking about.
1/2
No! Stop right there.
Ethical concerns front and center. First thing. Let’s get this out of the way and then see if thre is anything left worth talking about.
1/2
May 25, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Been wanting to post about ethics & AI for a while.
It's complex, and I always feel like I need to learn more, but here's my current take; thoughts & disagreement welcome.
I'm a software engineering manager (+ parent, US citizen, French resident), not philosopher, ethicist, regulation expert, etc.
It's complex, and I always feel like I need to learn more, but here's my current take; thoughts & disagreement welcome.
I'm a software engineering manager (+ parent, US citizen, French resident), not philosopher, ethicist, regulation expert, etc.
It took me way too long to realize that explaining why X isn't a real risk doesn't help people fighting anxiety
... that said, I still feel pretty useless, trying to help. I need to read more here
(advice welcome)
... that said, I still feel pretty useless, trying to help. I need to read more here
(advice welcome)
Very anxious tonight about how hard it will be to get a job when I get out of prison
There isn’t any reason to think I’m going to prison - I’m afraid of crime - but if I do and then I get out of prison I don’t think they’d give me my job back
In case anyone was wondering what Anxiety is like
There isn’t any reason to think I’m going to prison - I’m afraid of crime - but if I do and then I get out of prison I don’t think they’d give me my job back
In case anyone was wondering what Anxiety is like
May 24, 2025 at 7:56 AM
It took me way too long to realize that explaining why X isn't a real risk doesn't help people fighting anxiety
... that said, I still feel pretty useless, trying to help. I need to read more here
(advice welcome)
... that said, I still feel pretty useless, trying to help. I need to read more here
(advice welcome)
Well, there's a profoundly terrible idea
Buried in the tax bill: "no State or political subdivision thereof may enforce any law or regulation regulating artificial intelligence models, artificial intelligence systems, or automated decision systems during the 10-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act."
May 22, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Well, there's a profoundly terrible idea
It's cruel to just post these kinds of looming mortality numbers with no trigger warning or anything
Java was *brand new* when I started college, and that was 15 or 20 years ago, max
Java was *brand new* when I started college, and that was 15 or 20 years ago, max
I don’t have the opportunity to travel as much anymore to continually nurture the #Java community. But, I’m thankful that I had the chance to spotlight 30 years of Java these past 2 weeks at @devoxx.uk & #JCON2025. These events are all about people 1st, technology 2nd.
May 17, 2025 at 3:03 PM
It's cruel to just post these kinds of looming mortality numbers with no trigger warning or anything
Java was *brand new* when I started college, and that was 15 or 20 years ago, max
Java was *brand new* when I started college, and that was 15 or 20 years ago, max
Staring at an email asking me to confirm the details of an urgent change, with a disastrous error I need to correct before they go ahead.
Gmail, helping me:
Gmail, helping me:
May 17, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Staring at an email asking me to confirm the details of an urgent change, with a disastrous error I need to correct before they go ahead.
Gmail, helping me:
Gmail, helping me:
Reposted by Rob Whelan 🌱
Did you know Bluesky has a setting that will remind you to add alt text before posting any images?
Global Accessibility Awareness Day is a great day to help you get that set up.
Go to "Settings," then "Accessibility." Select the checkbox for "Require alt text before posting."
#GAAD #GAAD2025
Global Accessibility Awareness Day is a great day to help you get that set up.
Go to "Settings," then "Accessibility." Select the checkbox for "Require alt text before posting."
#GAAD #GAAD2025
May 15, 2025 at 7:58 PM
I cannot express enough how much I appreciate people who make distant & abstract science real like this.
May 14, 2025 at 11:25 AM
I cannot express enough how much I appreciate people who make distant & abstract science real like this.