ben
@concourse-codes.bsky.social
Hey! Mostly sharing updates on web dev, but my passions meet at the concourse of culture, cities, climate, coding & conversation. I also make music: @stoicdapoet
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ben
@concourse-codes.bsky.social
· Jun 13
Concourse Codes
www.concourse.codes
Hey! I'm Ben. Check out my website to learn a bit more about me: www.concourse.codes
went offgrid for a week last month and have since lost most desire to "be active" online.. feels wonderful (a little lonely?)
October 8, 2025 at 7:36 PM
went offgrid for a week last month and have since lost most desire to "be active" online.. feels wonderful (a little lonely?)
despite the doomerism in my last post, having fun working with the Gemini and OpenAI api to build user flows.
anybody find any fun ways to utilize these APIs themselves?
#webdev #softwaredev #dev
anybody find any fun ways to utilize these APIs themselves?
#webdev #softwaredev #dev
September 23, 2025 at 7:12 PM
despite the doomerism in my last post, having fun working with the Gemini and OpenAI api to build user flows.
anybody find any fun ways to utilize these APIs themselves?
#webdev #softwaredev #dev
anybody find any fun ways to utilize these APIs themselves?
#webdev #softwaredev #dev
i tend to think the AI hype is sliiightly overblown by execs but honestly y'all software devs are completely cooked:
openai.com/index/introd...
#webdev #ai #chatgpt
openai.com/index/introd...
#webdev #ai #chatgpt
September 19, 2025 at 5:24 PM
i tend to think the AI hype is sliiightly overblown by execs but honestly y'all software devs are completely cooked:
openai.com/index/introd...
#webdev #ai #chatgpt
openai.com/index/introd...
#webdev #ai #chatgpt
still searching for a good spot to reflect on recent learnings, ponderings, and development udpates. Trying out DEV (dot) to. A bit of a lazy first post but felt good to get the juices flowing about a creative topic.
dev.to/concourseben...
dev.to/concourseben...
TIL: Color Analysis
It's how these things go on teams, budgets, and companies large and small - you set out with one goal...
dev.to
September 18, 2025 at 7:33 PM
still searching for a good spot to reflect on recent learnings, ponderings, and development udpates. Trying out DEV (dot) to. A bit of a lazy first post but felt good to get the juices flowing about a creative topic.
dev.to/concourseben...
dev.to/concourseben...
some more simple updates to improve the general smoothness & quickness of this rebuilt table in braindump.
I can't tell if I feel dumb / wasting time by doing this stuff or it it's slightly rewarding & satisfying to built out some basic features myself
#webdev #softwaredevelopment
I can't tell if I feel dumb / wasting time by doing this stuff or it it's slightly rewarding & satisfying to built out some basic features myself
#webdev #softwaredevelopment
August 27, 2025 at 7:08 PM
some more simple updates to improve the general smoothness & quickness of this rebuilt table in braindump.
I can't tell if I feel dumb / wasting time by doing this stuff or it it's slightly rewarding & satisfying to built out some basic features myself
#webdev #softwaredevelopment
I can't tell if I feel dumb / wasting time by doing this stuff or it it's slightly rewarding & satisfying to built out some basic features myself
#webdev #softwaredevelopment
Realized my recent "MVP" is a joke because it's too slow. I was trying to build a table from scratch just for practice & refresh, but now feel like I tried to invent the wheel for no reason lol.
Trying out Tanstack Table for React, feels a bit faster already.
#webdev #softwaredevelopment
Trying out Tanstack Table for React, feels a bit faster already.
#webdev #softwaredevelopment
August 25, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Realized my recent "MVP" is a joke because it's too slow. I was trying to build a table from scratch just for practice & refresh, but now feel like I tried to invent the wheel for no reason lol.
Trying out Tanstack Table for React, feels a bit faster already.
#webdev #softwaredevelopment
Trying out Tanstack Table for React, feels a bit faster already.
#webdev #softwaredevelopment
okay, actually stopping myself mid-session before going way down the rabbit hole lol.
how do people like Tanstack Table? i custom-built my table for braindump just for kicks but at this point it feels unnecessary, thinking to use something proven. thoughts?
#webdev #softwaredevelopment
how do people like Tanstack Table? i custom-built my table for braindump just for kicks but at this point it feels unnecessary, thinking to use something proven. thoughts?
#webdev #softwaredevelopment
August 20, 2025 at 4:38 PM
okay, actually stopping myself mid-session before going way down the rabbit hole lol.
how do people like Tanstack Table? i custom-built my table for braindump just for kicks but at this point it feels unnecessary, thinking to use something proven. thoughts?
#webdev #softwaredevelopment
how do people like Tanstack Table? i custom-built my table for braindump just for kicks but at this point it feels unnecessary, thinking to use something proven. thoughts?
#webdev #softwaredevelopment
Someone roast my awful UI for picking the color based on a track?
I consider myself a generally creative person but UI is apparently definitely not my strong suit LOL.
#webdev #ui #ux #softwaredev
I consider myself a generally creative person but UI is apparently definitely not my strong suit LOL.
#webdev #ui #ux #softwaredev
August 13, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Someone roast my awful UI for picking the color based on a track?
I consider myself a generally creative person but UI is apparently definitely not my strong suit LOL.
#webdev #ui #ux #softwaredev
I consider myself a generally creative person but UI is apparently definitely not my strong suit LOL.
#webdev #ui #ux #softwaredev
at what point do you look at a side project and say, "I need to start fresh " versus, "I need to push thru to solve this"?
I'm super far into a project that I'm realizing could have been done better on several fronts, but I've put a lot of effort in.
#webdev #softwaredevelopers
I'm super far into a project that I'm realizing could have been done better on several fronts, but I've put a lot of effort in.
#webdev #softwaredevelopers
August 7, 2025 at 7:30 PM
at what point do you look at a side project and say, "I need to start fresh " versus, "I need to push thru to solve this"?
I'm super far into a project that I'm realizing could have been done better on several fronts, but I've put a lot of effort in.
#webdev #softwaredevelopers
I'm super far into a project that I'm realizing could have been done better on several fronts, but I've put a lot of effort in.
#webdev #softwaredevelopers
what's your go-to morning drink, if any?
ik some of y'all get real fancy lol. im over here with my cafe bustelo, only the most authentic all-natural instant coffee😆
#webdev #softwaredevelopers #tech
ik some of y'all get real fancy lol. im over here with my cafe bustelo, only the most authentic all-natural instant coffee😆
#webdev #softwaredevelopers #tech
August 5, 2025 at 1:43 PM
what's your go-to morning drink, if any?
ik some of y'all get real fancy lol. im over here with my cafe bustelo, only the most authentic all-natural instant coffee😆
#webdev #softwaredevelopers #tech
ik some of y'all get real fancy lol. im over here with my cafe bustelo, only the most authentic all-natural instant coffee😆
#webdev #softwaredevelopers #tech
what was the first website that ever made you stop and say "dang! this is cool"??
#webdev #internet #softwaredevelopers
#webdev #internet #softwaredevelopers
August 3, 2025 at 12:03 AM
what was the first website that ever made you stop and say "dang! this is cool"??
#webdev #internet #softwaredevelopers
#webdev #internet #softwaredevelopers
I'm merging The Concourse with my shortlived music-focused creative newsletter from last year. If you're curious, come on in to The Concourse!
The Concourse Meets: Sto's Universe
concourse.beehiiv.com/p/theconcour...
The Concourse Meets: Sto's Universe
concourse.beehiiv.com/p/theconcour...
The Concourse Meets: Sto's Universe
A galactic merger beckons 💫
concourse.beehiiv.com
August 2, 2025 at 4:02 AM
I'm merging The Concourse with my shortlived music-focused creative newsletter from last year. If you're curious, come on in to The Concourse!
The Concourse Meets: Sto's Universe
concourse.beehiiv.com/p/theconcour...
The Concourse Meets: Sto's Universe
concourse.beehiiv.com/p/theconcour...
I don't LOVE working for a massive corporation but it is def interesting to see what large scale enterprises are trying to do with AI stuff from the inside, I'll give em that. Some interesting stuff.
#softwaredev #webdev #ai
#softwaredev #webdev #ai
July 28, 2025 at 9:56 PM
I don't LOVE working for a massive corporation but it is def interesting to see what large scale enterprises are trying to do with AI stuff from the inside, I'll give em that. Some interesting stuff.
#softwaredev #webdev #ai
#softwaredev #webdev #ai
read an article on ppl using ChatGPT for therapy, dubiously.
felt a lil overwhelmed today, dumped out some thoughts.
results?
...
honestly really helpful, actually 😳
#chatgpt #webdev #mentalhealth
felt a lil overwhelmed today, dumped out some thoughts.
results?
...
honestly really helpful, actually 😳
#chatgpt #webdev #mentalhealth
July 25, 2025 at 3:41 AM
read an article on ppl using ChatGPT for therapy, dubiously.
felt a lil overwhelmed today, dumped out some thoughts.
results?
...
honestly really helpful, actually 😳
#chatgpt #webdev #mentalhealth
felt a lil overwhelmed today, dumped out some thoughts.
results?
...
honestly really helpful, actually 😳
#chatgpt #webdev #mentalhealth
I've dug myself into a "new & shiny" feature hole... how do I get out of this?
(my passion proj app has a bunch of half-working "neat" features)
I'm overwhelmed. Any suggestions?
#webdevelopment #softwaredev #dev
(my passion proj app has a bunch of half-working "neat" features)
I'm overwhelmed. Any suggestions?
#webdevelopment #softwaredev #dev
July 22, 2025 at 4:11 PM
I've dug myself into a "new & shiny" feature hole... how do I get out of this?
(my passion proj app has a bunch of half-working "neat" features)
I'm overwhelmed. Any suggestions?
#webdevelopment #softwaredev #dev
(my passion proj app has a bunch of half-working "neat" features)
I'm overwhelmed. Any suggestions?
#webdevelopment #softwaredev #dev
The Perks of Living in a Simulation - some playful thought & ideas in another issue of The Concourse.
A brief ode to simulation games - their usefulness in real-world skill building, involuntary escapism, and endless possibilities
#newsletter
A brief ode to simulation games - their usefulness in real-world skill building, involuntary escapism, and endless possibilities
#newsletter
The Concourse Vol. 4
The perks of living in a simulation
concourse.beehiiv.com
July 11, 2025 at 5:46 PM
The Perks of Living in a Simulation - some playful thought & ideas in another issue of The Concourse.
A brief ode to simulation games - their usefulness in real-world skill building, involuntary escapism, and endless possibilities
#newsletter
A brief ode to simulation games - their usefulness in real-world skill building, involuntary escapism, and endless possibilities
#newsletter
*laughs in short bursts of highly stimulated productivity*
July 10, 2025 at 7:49 PM
*laughs in short bursts of highly stimulated productivity*
constantly reminding myself that it's okay to take a vacation even when I feel like I ought to be doing more in my career...
... doesn't always work
... doesn't always work
July 9, 2025 at 4:55 PM
constantly reminding myself that it's okay to take a vacation even when I feel like I ought to be doing more in my career...
... doesn't always work
... doesn't always work
The second installation of The Concourse newsletter has arrived! A weekly update on all things going on within my universe - mostly a focus on culture, climate, cities, coding, creativity, and conversation.
Interested? Come on in, there's plenty of room :)
concourse.beehiiv.com/p/concourse-...
Interested? Come on in, there's plenty of room :)
concourse.beehiiv.com/p/concourse-...
Concourse Vol. 2
Pondering contentedness & purpose
concourse.beehiiv.com
June 20, 2025 at 9:48 PM
The second installation of The Concourse newsletter has arrived! A weekly update on all things going on within my universe - mostly a focus on culture, climate, cities, coding, creativity, and conversation.
Interested? Come on in, there's plenty of room :)
concourse.beehiiv.com/p/concourse-...
Interested? Come on in, there's plenty of room :)
concourse.beehiiv.com/p/concourse-...
In a repellent response to #boston going on 14(!) consecutive rainy weekends + an attempt to play with MCP servers, I added a "sunny_weekend" tool to the mcp quickstart weather service tool :D
Check it out here: github.com/aronsonben/m...
#MCP #weather #mcpservers s/o @nws.noaa.gov !
Check it out here: github.com/aronsonben/m...
#MCP #weather #mcpservers s/o @nws.noaa.gov !
June 18, 2025 at 7:46 PM
In a repellent response to #boston going on 14(!) consecutive rainy weekends + an attempt to play with MCP servers, I added a "sunny_weekend" tool to the mcp quickstart weather service tool :D
Check it out here: github.com/aronsonben/m...
#MCP #weather #mcpservers s/o @nws.noaa.gov !
Check it out here: github.com/aronsonben/m...
#MCP #weather #mcpservers s/o @nws.noaa.gov !
I got a referral to a job description for a company that says it is a "very profitable" early stage startup. I'm new to the realm of startups. How do you actually know? What is there to assure me that this isn't overconfidence or something?
#webdevelopment #softwareengineers #webdev #developers
#webdevelopment #softwareengineers #webdev #developers
June 17, 2025 at 7:59 PM
I got a referral to a job description for a company that says it is a "very profitable" early stage startup. I'm new to the realm of startups. How do you actually know? What is there to assure me that this isn't overconfidence or something?
#webdevelopment #softwareengineers #webdev #developers
#webdevelopment #softwareengineers #webdev #developers
Hey! I'm Ben. Check out my website to learn a bit more about me: www.concourse.codes
Concourse Codes
www.concourse.codes
June 13, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Hey! I'm Ben. Check out my website to learn a bit more about me: www.concourse.codes
I'd love to "release now, iterate later" with this lil app I'm working on but I can't figure out where an MVP ends and the wide open road of future dev ideas begins.
(cont.)
#webdev
(cont.)
#webdev
May 28, 2025 at 6:23 PM
I'd love to "release now, iterate later" with this lil app I'm working on but I can't figure out where an MVP ends and the wide open road of future dev ideas begins.
(cont.)
#webdev
(cont.)
#webdev
Some code updates on braindump:
- Added ability to edit priorities, including inline text & color editing
- Added inline task title editing
- Fixed bug with backlog tasks not appearing
- Removed any hardcoded priorities mentions
- Generally improved flexibility of priorities using db table
#webdev
- Added ability to edit priorities, including inline text & color editing
- Added inline task title editing
- Fixed bug with backlog tasks not appearing
- Removed any hardcoded priorities mentions
- Generally improved flexibility of priorities using db table
#webdev
May 19, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Some code updates on braindump:
- Added ability to edit priorities, including inline text & color editing
- Added inline task title editing
- Fixed bug with backlog tasks not appearing
- Removed any hardcoded priorities mentions
- Generally improved flexibility of priorities using db table
#webdev
- Added ability to edit priorities, including inline text & color editing
- Added inline task title editing
- Fixed bug with backlog tasks not appearing
- Removed any hardcoded priorities mentions
- Generally improved flexibility of priorities using db table
#webdev