Travis Northcutt
@travisnorthcutt.com
Software, gifs, caring, silliness, curiosity.
Essays etc.: https://travisnorthcutt.com
Podcast: https://everythingisinterestingpod.com/
Keep showing up.
I’m in northern Colorado. If you are too or are passing through, drop me a line!
Essays etc.: https://travisnorthcutt.com
Podcast: https://everythingisinterestingpod.com/
Keep showing up.
I’m in northern Colorado. If you are too or are passing through, drop me a line!
I've started making wood sculpture recently, and I really, really like it.
This is my first piece.
I have many, many more to come, I think. My head is swimming with ideas and shapes.
This is my first piece.
I have many, many more to come, I think. My head is swimming with ideas and shapes.
June 8, 2025 at 4:39 PM
I've started making wood sculpture recently, and I really, really like it.
This is my first piece.
I have many, many more to come, I think. My head is swimming with ideas and shapes.
This is my first piece.
I have many, many more to come, I think. My head is swimming with ideas and shapes.
Feels like it's extremely common to encounter something like
A: "I want xyz"
B: "Ok, but reality prevents that because abc"
A: "But I want xyz"
I wonder what the most effective ways to engage with someone in this mode are, and how to guide them out of it
A: "I want xyz"
B: "Ok, but reality prevents that because abc"
A: "But I want xyz"
I wonder what the most effective ways to engage with someone in this mode are, and how to guide them out of it
March 11, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Feels like it's extremely common to encounter something like
A: "I want xyz"
B: "Ok, but reality prevents that because abc"
A: "But I want xyz"
I wonder what the most effective ways to engage with someone in this mode are, and how to guide them out of it
A: "I want xyz"
B: "Ok, but reality prevents that because abc"
A: "But I want xyz"
I wonder what the most effective ways to engage with someone in this mode are, and how to guide them out of it
is post-vacation emotional hangover a thing?
Just kinda feeling detached and confused, not energized or anything
Just kinda feeling detached and confused, not energized or anything
February 3, 2025 at 8:03 PM
is post-vacation emotional hangover a thing?
Just kinda feeling detached and confused, not energized or anything
Just kinda feeling detached and confused, not energized or anything
I am pretty sure that a huge part of parenting well is helping your children learn how to fully see and feel their feelings, and express those feelings in a way that is healthy and not abusive to those around them.
January 28, 2025 at 4:51 PM
I am pretty sure that a huge part of parenting well is helping your children learn how to fully see and feel their feelings, and express those feelings in a way that is healthy and not abusive to those around them.
Reposted by Travis Northcutt
Ok, second time in two days I've shared with folks, so probably need to broadcast more broadly:
If you are using Cursor's Composer feature, switch to "agent" mode. It's a straight-up upgrade over "normal", better in every way.
Click "agent" and the prompt will change to "Ask agent to do anything"
If you are using Cursor's Composer feature, switch to "agent" mode. It's a straight-up upgrade over "normal", better in every way.
Click "agent" and the prompt will change to "Ask agent to do anything"
January 16, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Ok, second time in two days I've shared with folks, so probably need to broadcast more broadly:
If you are using Cursor's Composer feature, switch to "agent" mode. It's a straight-up upgrade over "normal", better in every way.
Click "agent" and the prompt will change to "Ask agent to do anything"
If you are using Cursor's Composer feature, switch to "agent" mode. It's a straight-up upgrade over "normal", better in every way.
Click "agent" and the prompt will change to "Ask agent to do anything"
@kaidav.is hey am I remembering right that you have some piece you often link to for explaining the concept of expected value?
January 16, 2025 at 6:32 PM
@kaidav.is hey am I remembering right that you have some piece you often link to for explaining the concept of expected value?
What would it mean to mark time not by seconds and minutes and hours but by books read, glances shared, fits of laughter, tears shed?
January 13, 2025 at 9:41 PM
What would it mean to mark time not by seconds and minutes and hours but by books read, glances shared, fits of laughter, tears shed?
Reposted by Travis Northcutt
what is an AI agent?
Spent some time this morning thinking about "agents": what are they? how do they work? are they the silver bullet for all problems in software?
I dive really deep on this one: no framework, just JSON to understand how agents work.
johncodes.com/archive/2025...
Spent some time this morning thinking about "agents": what are they? how do they work? are they the silver bullet for all problems in software?
I dive really deep on this one: no framework, just JSON to understand how agents work.
johncodes.com/archive/2025...
January 11, 2025 at 8:14 PM
what is an AI agent?
Spent some time this morning thinking about "agents": what are they? how do they work? are they the silver bullet for all problems in software?
I dive really deep on this one: no framework, just JSON to understand how agents work.
johncodes.com/archive/2025...
Spent some time this morning thinking about "agents": what are they? how do they work? are they the silver bullet for all problems in software?
I dive really deep on this one: no framework, just JSON to understand how agents work.
johncodes.com/archive/2025...
Reminder that some people want everything to be part of the "culture war", but you don't have to participate.
That path is toxic to everyone who walks it.
You can opt out.
That path is toxic to everyone who walks it.
You can opt out.
January 9, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Reminder that some people want everything to be part of the "culture war", but you don't have to participate.
That path is toxic to everyone who walks it.
You can opt out.
That path is toxic to everyone who walks it.
You can opt out.
@simonwillison.net Hey Simon, just wanted to say how much I appreciate your commentary, notes, etc. on LLMs and related tools.
I feel like you've developed as a very trustable voice in that space, and your signal to noise ratio stays very very high, which is so nice.
Thanks for what you do!
I feel like you've developed as a very trustable voice in that space, and your signal to noise ratio stays very very high, which is so nice.
Thanks for what you do!
January 9, 2025 at 7:35 PM
@simonwillison.net Hey Simon, just wanted to say how much I appreciate your commentary, notes, etc. on LLMs and related tools.
I feel like you've developed as a very trustable voice in that space, and your signal to noise ratio stays very very high, which is so nice.
Thanks for what you do!
I feel like you've developed as a very trustable voice in that space, and your signal to noise ratio stays very very high, which is so nice.
Thanks for what you do!
@visakanv.com writing some stuff and I wanted this in my notebook
This is very dear to me. Thank you for sending it into the world.
Also LOL at the monsters
This is very dear to me. Thank you for sending it into the world.
Also LOL at the monsters
January 7, 2025 at 9:44 PM
@visakanv.com writing some stuff and I wanted this in my notebook
This is very dear to me. Thank you for sending it into the world.
Also LOL at the monsters
This is very dear to me. Thank you for sending it into the world.
Also LOL at the monsters
This is a great thread with some excellent picks
A running thread of some of my favorite books over the years:
January 2, 2025 at 2:00 AM
This is a great thread with some excellent picks
Reposted by Travis Northcutt
I know all about the AI dev tool landscape. I use Cursor every day.
But what about design? What AI design tools out there can level me up?
Is there a Cursor equivalent for design?
But what about design? What AI design tools out there can level me up?
Is there a Cursor equivalent for design?
December 31, 2024 at 4:10 PM
I know all about the AI dev tool landscape. I use Cursor every day.
But what about design? What AI design tools out there can level me up?
Is there a Cursor equivalent for design?
But what about design? What AI design tools out there can level me up?
Is there a Cursor equivalent for design?
Reposted by Travis Northcutt
I'm always amazed at what functionality is built into Chrome's DevTools. I really need to just watch a video or do a course on it already. Does anyone have one in particular they know of and like already?
Tip: Chrome DevTools can override the content of Fetch/XHR requests! Useful for mocking APIs without waiting on backend changes.
December 30, 2024 at 2:52 AM
I'm always amazed at what functionality is built into Chrome's DevTools. I really need to just watch a video or do a course on it already. Does anyone have one in particular they know of and like already?
I made some Christmas ornaments for family this year. Soldered brass.
December 28, 2024 at 4:33 AM
I made some Christmas ornaments for family this year. Soldered brass.
Merry Christmas Eve
December 24, 2024 at 6:04 PM
Merry Christmas Eve
Long exposure pictures with the iPhone are pretty good
December 24, 2024 at 3:11 PM
Long exposure pictures with the iPhone are pretty good
I made challah bread. It turned out pretty good I think!
December 24, 2024 at 1:07 AM
I made challah bread. It turned out pretty good I think!
@johnrudolphdrexler.com @wking.dev This thread probably has some stuff of interest to y'all news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4244...
This especially John: boardgamelab.app
probably you're already familiar with this stuff, but in case not!
This especially John: boardgamelab.app
probably you're already familiar with this stuff, but in case not!
Boardgame.io: an engine for creating turn-based games using JavaScript | Hacker News
news.ycombinator.com
December 20, 2024 at 4:52 PM
@johnrudolphdrexler.com @wking.dev This thread probably has some stuff of interest to y'all news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4244...
This especially John: boardgamelab.app
probably you're already familiar with this stuff, but in case not!
This especially John: boardgamelab.app
probably you're already familiar with this stuff, but in case not!
If you were just now thinking "man, I wish I could listen to Travis and @gen.co talk about indoor air quality for an hour and seventeen minutes", then boy howdy do I have good news!
share.transistor.fm/s/c2f1ca5e
share.transistor.fm/s/c2f1ca5e
6: Christian Genco | Everything is Interesting | Episode 6
share.transistor.fm
December 18, 2024 at 10:14 PM
If you were just now thinking "man, I wish I could listen to Travis and @gen.co talk about indoor air quality for an hour and seventeen minutes", then boy howdy do I have good news!
share.transistor.fm/s/c2f1ca5e
share.transistor.fm/s/c2f1ca5e
babe wake up, new Ciechanowski post just dropped
(for anyone who isn't familiar, Bartosz Ciechanowski puts together *INCREDIBLE* articles that are well worth your time)
(for anyone who isn't familiar, Bartosz Ciechanowski puts together *INCREDIBLE* articles that are well worth your time)
December 17, 2024 at 7:29 PM
babe wake up, new Ciechanowski post just dropped
(for anyone who isn't familiar, Bartosz Ciechanowski puts together *INCREDIBLE* articles that are well worth your time)
(for anyone who isn't familiar, Bartosz Ciechanowski puts together *INCREDIBLE* articles that are well worth your time)
Annals of nominative determinism: an artist with the last name Sketch
December 15, 2024 at 11:41 PM
Annals of nominative determinism: an artist with the last name Sketch
Make more of what you want to see in the world
Which inspires others who want the same to make more of it
🔁
Which inspires others who want the same to make more of it
🔁
I firmly believe that not liking my experience on socials is my responsibility to address. Invite in more of what I like and what inspires me and what is beautiful
December 14, 2024 at 4:49 PM
Make more of what you want to see in the world
Which inspires others who want the same to make more of it
🔁
Which inspires others who want the same to make more of it
🔁
It’s gross and weirds me out to see people celebrating murder.
I think doing so is bad and leads to bad things.
I think doing so is bad and leads to bad things.
December 13, 2024 at 11:02 PM
It’s gross and weirds me out to see people celebrating murder.
I think doing so is bad and leads to bad things.
I think doing so is bad and leads to bad things.