Alex Chan
@alexwlchan.net
Reposted by Alex Chan
Can you take an ox to Oxford? alexwlchan.net/2025/ox-in-o...
I decided to work out exactly when you need to pay Oxford’s new congestion charge.
I decided to work out exactly when you need to pay Oxford’s new congestion charge.
Can you take an ox to Oxford?
Let's work out exactly when you need to pay Oxford's new congestion charge.
alexwlchan.net
November 21, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Can you take an ox to Oxford? alexwlchan.net/2025/ox-in-o...
I decided to work out exactly when you need to pay Oxford’s new congestion charge.
I decided to work out exactly when you need to pay Oxford’s new congestion charge.
@oldenoughtosay.com i found more things to procrastinate on
Can you take an ox to Oxford? alexwlchan.net/2025/ox-in-o...
I decided to work out exactly when you need to pay Oxford’s new congestion charge.
I decided to work out exactly when you need to pay Oxford’s new congestion charge.
Can you take an ox to Oxford?
Let's work out exactly when you need to pay Oxford's new congestion charge.
alexwlchan.net
November 21, 2025 at 12:07 AM
@oldenoughtosay.com i found more things to procrastinate on
Can you take an ox to Oxford? alexwlchan.net/2025/ox-in-o...
I decided to work out exactly when you need to pay Oxford’s new congestion charge.
I decided to work out exactly when you need to pay Oxford’s new congestion charge.
Can you take an ox to Oxford?
Let's work out exactly when you need to pay Oxford's new congestion charge.
alexwlchan.net
November 21, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Can you take an ox to Oxford? alexwlchan.net/2025/ox-in-o...
I decided to work out exactly when you need to pay Oxford’s new congestion charge.
I decided to work out exactly when you need to pay Oxford’s new congestion charge.
Reposted by Alex Chan
Cleaning up messy dates in JSON: alexwlchan.net/2025/messy-d...
I’ve been cleaning up some messy data, and it includes timestamps written by a variety of humans and machines, which don’t use a consistent format.
I wrote a Python script to help me clean things up.
I’ve been cleaning up some messy data, and it includes timestamps written by a variety of humans and machines, which don’t use a consistent format.
I wrote a Python script to help me clean things up.
November 17, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Cleaning up messy dates in JSON: alexwlchan.net/2025/messy-d...
I’ve been cleaning up some messy data, and it includes timestamps written by a variety of humans and machines, which don’t use a consistent format.
I wrote a Python script to help me clean things up.
I’ve been cleaning up some messy data, and it includes timestamps written by a variety of humans and machines, which don’t use a consistent format.
I wrote a Python script to help me clean things up.
Cleaning up messy dates in JSON: alexwlchan.net/2025/messy-d...
I’ve been cleaning up some messy data, and it includes timestamps written by a variety of humans and machines, which don’t use a consistent format.
I wrote a Python script to help me clean things up.
I’ve been cleaning up some messy data, and it includes timestamps written by a variety of humans and machines, which don’t use a consistent format.
I wrote a Python script to help me clean things up.
November 17, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Cleaning up messy dates in JSON: alexwlchan.net/2025/messy-d...
I’ve been cleaning up some messy data, and it includes timestamps written by a variety of humans and machines, which don’t use a consistent format.
I wrote a Python script to help me clean things up.
I’ve been cleaning up some messy data, and it includes timestamps written by a variety of humans and machines, which don’t use a consistent format.
I wrote a Python script to help me clean things up.
Detecting AV1-encoded videos with Python: alexwlchan.net/2025/detecti...
I wrote a Python test to find videos that are encoded with AV1, so I can convert them to a codec my iPhone can play.
I wrote a Python test to find videos that are encoded with AV1, so I can convert them to a codec my iPhone can play.
November 8, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Detecting AV1-encoded videos with Python: alexwlchan.net/2025/detecti...
I wrote a Python test to find videos that are encoded with AV1, so I can convert them to a codec my iPhone can play.
I wrote a Python test to find videos that are encoded with AV1, so I can convert them to a codec my iPhone can play.
Why can’t my iPhone play that video? alexwlchan.net/2025/av1-on-...
I wrote about a recent issue playing a video on my iPhone, the AV1 codec that caused the problem, and some web APIs I learnt while debugging.
I wrote about a recent issue playing a video on my iPhone, the AV1 codec that caused the problem, and some web APIs I learnt while debugging.
Why can’t my iPhone play that video?
The answer involves the AV1 video codec, Apple's chips, and several new web APIs I learnt along the way.
alexwlchan.net
October 28, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Why can’t my iPhone play that video? alexwlchan.net/2025/av1-on-...
I wrote about a recent issue playing a video on my iPhone, the AV1 codec that caused the problem, and some web APIs I learnt while debugging.
I wrote about a recent issue playing a video on my iPhone, the AV1 codec that caused the problem, and some web APIs I learnt while debugging.
Doing my own syntax highlighting (finally): alexwlchan.net/2025/syntax-...
I’ve redesigned the syntax highlighting on my blog to use a smaller colour palette, so I wrote a bit about what I’ve changed, how it works, and why I think it’s better.
I’ve redesigned the syntax highlighting on my blog to use a smaller colour palette, so I wrote a bit about what I’ve changed, how it works, and why I think it’s better.
Doing my own syntax highlighting (finally)
I've redesigned my syntax highlighting scheme to use a smaller colour palette. Here's what I've changed, how it works, and why I think it's better.
alexwlchan.net
October 22, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Doing my own syntax highlighting (finally): alexwlchan.net/2025/syntax-...
I’ve redesigned the syntax highlighting on my blog to use a smaller colour palette, so I wrote a bit about what I’ve changed, how it works, and why I think it’s better.
I’ve redesigned the syntax highlighting on my blog to use a smaller colour palette, so I wrote a bit about what I’ve changed, how it works, and why I think it’s better.
Creating a personal wrapper around yt-dlp: alexwlchan.net/2025/yt-dlp-...
I’ve written a new script which calls yt-dlp with my preferred options, so I don’t have to copy my configuration across different projects.
I’ve written a new script which calls yt-dlp with my preferred options, so I don’t have to copy my configuration across different projects.
October 7, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Creating a personal wrapper around yt-dlp: alexwlchan.net/2025/yt-dlp-...
I’ve written a new script which calls yt-dlp with my preferred options, so I don’t have to copy my configuration across different projects.
I’ve written a new script which calls yt-dlp with my preferred options, so I don’t have to copy my configuration across different projects.
@jonnelledge.bsky.social Spotted in St Pancras Waterstones 👀
October 3, 2025 at 5:23 PM
@jonnelledge.bsky.social Spotted in St Pancras Waterstones 👀
@anildash.com I thought of you as I read this article; it’s a UK version of an idea I know you’ve had: takes.jamesomalley.co.uk/p/starmer-co...
(Unless I’m misremembering, in which case sorry!)
(Unless I’m misremembering, in which case sorry!)
Starmer shouldn't give a conference speech – he should give an Apple-style keynote
The format is tired and it is time to think different.
takes.jamesomalley.co.uk
October 3, 2025 at 3:57 PM
@anildash.com I thought of you as I read this article; it’s a UK version of an idea I know you’ve had: takes.jamesomalley.co.uk/p/starmer-co...
(Unless I’m misremembering, in which case sorry!)
(Unless I’m misremembering, in which case sorry!)
Linking to text fragments with a bookmarklet: alexwlchan.net/2025/text-fr...
I’ve written a bookmarklet that lets me link to specific text on a web page.
I’ve written a bookmarklet that lets me link to specific text on a web page.
September 15, 2025 at 5:49 AM
Linking to text fragments with a bookmarklet: alexwlchan.net/2025/text-fr...
I’ve written a bookmarklet that lets me link to specific text on a web page.
I’ve written a bookmarklet that lets me link to specific text on a web page.
@garius.bsky.social I vaguely remember reading one of your threads where you said somebody like “so-and-so had no experience, and by the end of the night, nobody who witnessed their actions would believe it” – but I’m struggling to find it.
Any chance you remember what I’m talking about?
Any chance you remember what I’m talking about?
September 10, 2025 at 3:33 PM
@garius.bsky.social I vaguely remember reading one of your threads where you said somebody like “so-and-so had no experience, and by the end of the night, nobody who witnessed their actions would believe it” – but I’m struggling to find it.
Any chance you remember what I’m talking about?
Any chance you remember what I’m talking about?
Reposted by Alex Chan
Resizing images in Rust – now with EXIF orientation support: alexwlchan.net/2025/create-...
I wrote about a new version of Rust’s image crate, which adds support for EXIF orientation. Now I can resize images without mangling their rotation. 🥳
I wrote about a new version of Rust’s image crate, which adds support for EXIF orientation. Now I can resize images without mangling their rotation. 🥳
Resizing images in Rust – now with EXIF orientation support
A new version of Rust's image crate has support for EXIF orientation, which allows me to resize images without mangling their rotation.
alexwlchan.net
September 8, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Resizing images in Rust – now with EXIF orientation support: alexwlchan.net/2025/create-...
I wrote about a new version of Rust’s image crate, which adds support for EXIF orientation. Now I can resize images without mangling their rotation. 🥳
I wrote about a new version of Rust’s image crate, which adds support for EXIF orientation. Now I can resize images without mangling their rotation. 🥳
Resizing images in Rust – now with EXIF orientation support: alexwlchan.net/2025/create-...
I wrote about a new version of Rust’s image crate, which adds support for EXIF orientation. Now I can resize images without mangling their rotation. 🥳
I wrote about a new version of Rust’s image crate, which adds support for EXIF orientation. Now I can resize images without mangling their rotation. 🥳
Resizing images in Rust – now with EXIF orientation support
A new version of Rust's image crate has support for EXIF orientation, which allows me to resize images without mangling their rotation.
alexwlchan.net
September 8, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Resizing images in Rust – now with EXIF orientation support: alexwlchan.net/2025/create-...
I wrote about a new version of Rust’s image crate, which adds support for EXIF orientation. Now I can resize images without mangling their rotation. 🥳
I wrote about a new version of Rust’s image crate, which adds support for EXIF orientation. Now I can resize images without mangling their rotation. 🥳
On a lighter note, I did some digging around the history of Morse code: alexwlchan.net/til/2025/aro...
* The @ symbol was added in 2004
* It’s probably the first symbol since WWII
* It has a delightful name in French
* Punctuation in Morse code has some surprising other omissions
* The @ symbol was added in 2004
* It’s probably the first symbol since WWII
* It has a delightful name in French
* Punctuation in Morse code has some surprising other omissions
August 28, 2025 at 10:28 PM
On a lighter note, I did some digging around the history of Morse code: alexwlchan.net/til/2025/aro...
* The @ symbol was added in 2004
* It’s probably the first symbol since WWII
* It has a delightful name in French
* Punctuation in Morse code has some surprising other omissions
* The @ symbol was added in 2004
* It’s probably the first symbol since WWII
* It has a delightful name in French
* Punctuation in Morse code has some surprising other omissions
Using vcrpy to test HTTP interactions in Python: alexwlchan.net/2025/testing...
How I record HTTP requests to get fast, reliable, and consistent tests, and the patterns I use in a production codebase. 📼
How I record HTTP requests to get fast, reliable, and consistent tests, and the patterns I use in a production codebase. 📼
Using vcrpy to test HTTP interactions in Python
How I record HTTP requests to get fast, reliable, and consistent tests, and the patterns I use in a production codebase.
alexwlchan.net
August 28, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Using vcrpy to test HTTP interactions in Python: alexwlchan.net/2025/testing...
How I record HTTP requests to get fast, reliable, and consistent tests, and the patterns I use in a production codebase. 📼
How I record HTTP requests to get fast, reliable, and consistent tests, and the patterns I use in a production codebase. 📼
Reposted by Alex Chan
Create space-saving clones on macOS with Python: alexwlchan.net/2025/cloning...
I talk a bit about what space-saving clones are, and why they’re important, then describe two ways to create them in Python:
1. Shelling out to `cp` with subprocess, or
2. Making a syscall using `ctypes`
I talk a bit about what space-saving clones are, and why they’re important, then describe two ways to create them in Python:
1. Shelling out to `cp` with subprocess, or
2. Making a syscall using `ctypes`
Create space-saving clones on macOS with Python
You can shell out to `cp -c` using `subprocess`, or you can make a `clonefile()` syscall using the `ctypes` library.
alexwlchan.net
August 3, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Create space-saving clones on macOS with Python: alexwlchan.net/2025/cloning...
I talk a bit about what space-saving clones are, and why they’re important, then describe two ways to create them in Python:
1. Shelling out to `cp` with subprocess, or
2. Making a syscall using `ctypes`
I talk a bit about what space-saving clones are, and why they’re important, then describe two ways to create them in Python:
1. Shelling out to `cp` with subprocess, or
2. Making a syscall using `ctypes`
Create space-saving clones on macOS with Python: alexwlchan.net/2025/cloning...
I talk a bit about what space-saving clones are, and why they’re important, then describe two ways to create them in Python:
1. Shelling out to `cp` with subprocess, or
2. Making a syscall using `ctypes`
I talk a bit about what space-saving clones are, and why they’re important, then describe two ways to create them in Python:
1. Shelling out to `cp` with subprocess, or
2. Making a syscall using `ctypes`
Create space-saving clones on macOS with Python
You can shell out to `cp -c` using `subprocess`, or you can make a `clonefile()` syscall using the `ctypes` library.
alexwlchan.net
August 3, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Create space-saving clones on macOS with Python: alexwlchan.net/2025/cloning...
I talk a bit about what space-saving clones are, and why they’re important, then describe two ways to create them in Python:
1. Shelling out to `cp` with subprocess, or
2. Making a syscall using `ctypes`
I talk a bit about what space-saving clones are, and why they’re important, then describe two ways to create them in Python:
1. Shelling out to `cp` with subprocess, or
2. Making a syscall using `ctypes`
Slipstitch, Queer Craft, and community spaces: alexwlchan.net/2025/slipsti...
I wrote about the closing of my favourite yarn shop, what the fortnightly crafting meet-up meant to me, and why I’m a bit sad at how many spaces like this are disappearing.
I wrote about the closing of my favourite yarn shop, what the fortnightly crafting meet-up meant to me, and why I’m a bit sad at how many spaces like this are disappearing.
Slipstitch, Queer Craft, and community spaces
Remembering Slipstitch, a queer-friendly yarn shop and the fortnightly crafting meet-ups that were a highlight of my week.
alexwlchan.net
July 30, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Slipstitch, Queer Craft, and community spaces: alexwlchan.net/2025/slipsti...
I wrote about the closing of my favourite yarn shop, what the fortnightly crafting meet-up meant to me, and why I’m a bit sad at how many spaces like this are disappearing.
I wrote about the closing of my favourite yarn shop, what the fortnightly crafting meet-up meant to me, and why I’m a bit sad at how many spaces like this are disappearing.
A bit of personal news: today was my last day at the Flickr Foundation. I’m very proud of what I did there, but now it’s time for something new – with a break first!
More here: alexwlchan.net/2025/leaving...
More here: alexwlchan.net/2025/leaving...
July 25, 2025 at 8:18 PM
A bit of personal news: today was my last day at the Flickr Foundation. I’m very proud of what I did there, but now it’s time for something new – with a break first!
More here: alexwlchan.net/2025/leaving...
More here: alexwlchan.net/2025/leaving...
I was unpacking new laundry pods this evening, and I saw a scary warning:
“If swallowed immediately contact a POISON CENTER/doctor.”
which led me down a rather interesting (if morbid!) rabbit hole about poison centres, something I’ve not come across in the UK: alexwlchan.net/til/2025/poi...
“If swallowed immediately contact a POISON CENTER/doctor.”
which led me down a rather interesting (if morbid!) rabbit hole about poison centres, something I’ve not come across in the UK: alexwlchan.net/til/2025/poi...
July 5, 2025 at 12:00 AM
I was unpacking new laundry pods this evening, and I saw a scary warning:
“If swallowed immediately contact a POISON CENTER/doctor.”
which led me down a rather interesting (if morbid!) rabbit hole about poison centres, something I’ve not come across in the UK: alexwlchan.net/til/2025/poi...
“If swallowed immediately contact a POISON CENTER/doctor.”
which led me down a rather interesting (if morbid!) rabbit hole about poison centres, something I’ve not come across in the UK: alexwlchan.net/til/2025/poi...
Reposted by Alex Chan
Recreating a bird animation: alexwlchan.net/2025/swift-b...
I learnt a bunch about animation on the web by reading the Swift.org source code, like:
✨ Using a dash pattern to draw partial paths
✨ HTML5 Canvas and globalCompositeOperation
✨ Anime.js
✨ MutationObserver
✨ prefers-reduce-motion: reduce
I learnt a bunch about animation on the web by reading the Swift.org source code, like:
✨ Using a dash pattern to draw partial paths
✨ HTML5 Canvas and globalCompositeOperation
✨ Anime.js
✨ MutationObserver
✨ prefers-reduce-motion: reduce
June 11, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Recreating a bird animation: alexwlchan.net/2025/swift-b...
I learnt a bunch about animation on the web by reading the Swift.org source code, like:
✨ Using a dash pattern to draw partial paths
✨ HTML5 Canvas and globalCompositeOperation
✨ Anime.js
✨ MutationObserver
✨ prefers-reduce-motion: reduce
I learnt a bunch about animation on the web by reading the Swift.org source code, like:
✨ Using a dash pattern to draw partial paths
✨ HTML5 Canvas and globalCompositeOperation
✨ Anime.js
✨ MutationObserver
✨ prefers-reduce-motion: reduce
Recreating a bird animation: alexwlchan.net/2025/swift-b...
I learnt a bunch about animation on the web by reading the Swift.org source code, like:
✨ Using a dash pattern to draw partial paths
✨ HTML5 Canvas and globalCompositeOperation
✨ Anime.js
✨ MutationObserver
✨ prefers-reduce-motion: reduce
I learnt a bunch about animation on the web by reading the Swift.org source code, like:
✨ Using a dash pattern to draw partial paths
✨ HTML5 Canvas and globalCompositeOperation
✨ Anime.js
✨ MutationObserver
✨ prefers-reduce-motion: reduce
June 11, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Recreating a bird animation: alexwlchan.net/2025/swift-b...
I learnt a bunch about animation on the web by reading the Swift.org source code, like:
✨ Using a dash pattern to draw partial paths
✨ HTML5 Canvas and globalCompositeOperation
✨ Anime.js
✨ MutationObserver
✨ prefers-reduce-motion: reduce
I learnt a bunch about animation on the web by reading the Swift.org source code, like:
✨ Using a dash pattern to draw partial paths
✨ HTML5 Canvas and globalCompositeOperation
✨ Anime.js
✨ MutationObserver
✨ prefers-reduce-motion: reduce
@anildash.com Since you keep talking about “better AI critique”, you might like this article by Chelsea Troy: chelseatroy.com/2025/05/14/t...
It felt like a really thoughtful approach to helping students understand the limitations of genAI, better than a blanket ban or unconditional acceptance.
It felt like a really thoughtful approach to helping students understand the limitations of genAI, better than a blanket ban or unconditional acceptance.
The Homework is the Cheat Code: GenAI Policy in my Computer Science Graduate Classroom
I started teaching at the University of Chicago six years ago. Back then, in the spring of 2019, students had not undergone the trauma of a centennial pandemic. They had so far learned in person; I…
chelseatroy.com
June 3, 2025 at 5:43 AM
@anildash.com Since you keep talking about “better AI critique”, you might like this article by Chelsea Troy: chelseatroy.com/2025/05/14/t...
It felt like a really thoughtful approach to helping students understand the limitations of genAI, better than a blanket ban or unconditional acceptance.
It felt like a really thoughtful approach to helping students understand the limitations of genAI, better than a blanket ban or unconditional acceptance.