Thoughts about hacking, developing, technology and other things in life
While working with AI-agents to build things I often iterate through versions of the thing I am building. You try, experiment, fail, improve, and again. In the manual days before AI, I checked results by hand. But what if we teach agents to 'see' themselves?
An observer writing a daily log of what it sees watching Earth, it uses no names of countries or organisations, instead it speaks in metaphorical descriptions. Its distance provides an alternative perspective on our daily news. Let me tell you about this experiment I have been running.
Large language models are commonly accessed in chat form, you ask or prompt something and the 'AI' answers. That's cool, but when you give the model access to digital tools, it can actually do things like looking things up, compiling code and self-testing its creations. I wanted to push this concept and gave my favourite AI agent its own fully specced workshop: a Linux server.
Doubling my daddy duties with my love for endurance sports, I decided to take advantage of me living in the countryside and run to the store through nature, following local creeks and trails. It's a unique experience, I may even like it better than normal running, let me explain.
Suggested by a friend in thinking, I just finished reading the book 'The Pathless Path' by Paul Millerd. It sits right next to Brad Stulberg's 'Master of Change' on my mental shelf for the same reason: both quietly push back against the urge to cling to what's safe, familiar, or "supposed to be.". What if you step off the scripted ladder and into uncertainty, what do you need to thrive?
This year marks the 10th anniversary of my blog. What started as an experiment has evolved into over 170 stories, averaging around 60 thousand pageviews a month. I recently started translating posts into Dutch, German, and Spanish, expanding the reach. And now I am introducing support for offline reading by making all posts available as ePub and PDF downloads.
Since two months I have been using a mechanical keyboard, a NuPhy Air60 with Moss (60gf) switches. I long doubted the value of replacing my standard keyboard, liking keyboards from Apple and Framework enough not to switch. After reading lots of love from others, I decided to try it myself.
Just look around the modern web today, thanks to AI generated texts and images everything feels polished, perfect... and a little cold. I wanted to break the proverbial ice with a simple smile. So I replaced my hero photo with something alive: tiny, random videos of me waving, nodding, or just being there. There is more than meets the eye to make it work, let me explain in this post.
Why do you need a website, and what can you do to maximise its value while minimising (manual) effort? I have been working on this with some of my most innovative customers. What if you no longer need a full blown manual content management system? What if your website updated itself while you focused on what matters?
AI got me thinking lately, why would one still want to work? Perhaps today's imperfect AI is not ready yet, but imagine everybody has access to a near perfect intelligence, capable of solving hard problems and answering even your wildest questions. Combine that with robotics and we'll be left wondering what to do next. Some fairies and Gin-Tonic pointed me to a possible answer.
After helping a family member migrate to a new computer, I found myself with an old iMac. The machine from 2017 was very slow running modern macOS, yet I have a soft spot for these all-in-one computers designed by Jony Ive and his team. Could I install Linux on it to give it a second life?
Enjoy distraction free listening to long form audio files like podcasts and audiobooks using this app I made. Tired of bloated apps full of ads, subscriptions or 'suggestions', I wanted an app that gets out of my way by doing one thing only and one thing very well. This is Auscultare.
In Europe the summer holidays are nearing their end and if you are like many young parents, you probably shot a ton of new photos and videos. These are not just a bunch of files, they are like windows into our personal memories. This post is about an Android app that you can use to look at all your memories, right from your pocket, no cloud or subscription required.
Last week I sat with a customer looking at the new willem.com homepage where I use a narrative to tell about the things I do. This customer is one of the best visionary create thinkers, yet my text didn't seem to speak to him. Thinking about this, I remembered an important psychology lesson from the University: I needed something different, something non-linear, this post is about delivering a…
Over the years I have experimented with different digital tools, platforms and apps to get my work done. From easy-to-use but locked down commercial systems to free/libre solutions that are powerful but more challenging to setup. I learned a lot along the way. Now I offer that experience to others, read along to learn how you can benefit from this.
In Dutch, there's a great word: voorsorteren. It means getting into the right lane on the motorway long before your exit. You do it to ensure a smooth, stress-free journey. I believe the same principle applies to technology. A little bit of smart preparation now can give you a massive advantage when the future arrives.
For my entire career, I've had a clear goal: to stay a company of one. This isn't a starting point, but a deliberate choice about the best way to do great work and build a sustainable business. In this post, let me explain why.
Last week I ran into unexpected trouble during a routine maintenance procedure on my company's email infrastructure. Processing thousands of emails each day, we use Dovecot to give our clients access to their messages. That all came to a grinding halt when I updated to version 2.4 which features breaking changes... oh dear!
Yesterday I finished the Leiden Marathon, it was the hardest 42K I ever completed due to the temperature. Sunny with a clear sky, temperatures climbed to 25°C. Several runners collapsed from heat exhaustion, and one even required resuscitation. When you push your limits, sometimes you actually reach them. Here are a few thoughts from the experience.
Grossing over $48K a month, the flight simulator game by Pieter Levels spurred a whole flurry of innovation. Without detailed knowledge of 3D game engine technology, he 'vibe coded' his game using AI. Critics of his work pointed at security and scalability issues, while proponents lauded the amazing result. What can we learn from this?
While running my rounds around the village, it struck me that I could use ThreeJS to craft a dynamic 3D representation of my workout data. Read along to see what I’ve created—it’s a work in progress but serves as an exciting exploration of the concept.
Gran Fondo, the app that tracks runs and rides, is going open-source. I’m removing its subscription model and make it libre. This isn’t about short-term revenue—it’s about building something enduring, private, and free for all. Here’s why I’m taking this plunge and what’s next.
While sitting in the train the guy in front of me surprised me, out of his fancy pants he pulled this well worn, patina rich, piece of tech. We're travelling first class and judging by his classy attire, this man is not of limited means. Like a well-raced Porsche, this thing has seen some action. Sunlight hitting the metal frame reveals a green hue, I recognise it to be an earlier generation…
Consumer electronics often lock us into sealed hardware and forced upgrades, creating enormous e-waste. Framework challenges that norm by making laptops you can service, upgrade, and customise, which extends their lifespan and cuts down on unnecessary e-waste. My Framework 13 arrived this week and I assembled it myself. This post is a quick rundown of what that process involved, why I chose this…
Tired of being constantly nudged toward "more relevant content", I built a script to break free from commercial or closed-source podcast apps. I just wanted a tool that quietly grabs my favorite shows—no fuss, no tracking, no extras. Read this post to learn more; it's free/libre software under GPLv3.
Creating a high-performance website is an art form that blends cutting-edge technology with an eye for design and commerce. At escape.nl, home to one of Amsterdam’s most iconic venues, every detail reflects the precision and care required to deliver seamless, engaging experiences to large audiences. This post highlights often-unseen details with big impact.
Change is one of life's few constants. Yet, even with its inevitability, facing it head-on can feel daunting and disorienting. In the book "Master of Change", Brad Stulberg offers a thought-provoking guide to not just survive but thrive in an ever changing world.
Earlier this month I ran the Valencia Marathon (42KM), just six weeks after finishing my first ever marathon in Amsterdam. I used two different approaches for these races: running on feeling and running on data. The experience differed greatly, let me explain it in this blog post.
A few days ago the value of a single Bitcoin briefly surpassed $100K, a milestone that seemed unimaginable just some years ago. I wonder how durable the ever growing love for Bitcoin is. Let's have a closer look at the mechanisms underpinning the world's most famous cryptocurrency.
Two years ago ChatGPT launched, it popularised AI as tool to create things. Large language models generate text based on prompts, outputting words that are hard to distinguish from being written by a person. The short term benefits are clear, but I suspect many people underestimate the long term costs.
Earlier this week one of my posts on the social network X went viral and attracted 32K views in two days. With no major presence on Elon Musk's platform, and no paid advertising, gaining that kind of attention is something special. Let me explain how this happened.
Last Sunday I completed my first full marathon, covering a distance of 42KM in and around Amsterdam. An idea that started in a bar with some beers and concluded with a finish in the Olympic Stadium. What a journey, what an experience, well worthy of a blog post.
Imagine seeing your dead family members - not just on a picture, but lifelike and in three dimensions! You can almost touch them. It hits you differently, I can assure you. I'm still in awe: I just saw my dead grandfather, lifelike and for the first time ever in three dimensions! This may be Apple Vision Pro's killer feature, if you allow me the pun, please hear me out.
As a little side-project, squeezed between my normal work, I have been working on something of personal interest: a native workout tracking app for iOS. I wanted to make my smartwatch obsolete, instead using my phone to track workouts. How hard could it be to gather detailed sensor data using native Swift APIs?
Last Sunday, I participated in the Venloop, a half marathon event in Venlo. I completed the 21KM run in 2h05, a result I am satisfied with as this was my first ever 'official' event since I began running just three months ago. In this post, I'll share my experiences with training, balancing fitness data, and feeling fit.
If you're an accomplished developer (as in: you've actually created things in the past), you may recognise this scenario: people reaching out to you, asking you to build something specific. "Can you build X for me?" A fellow technician once urged me to refuse more often: be proud of the things you don't do! Let me explain in this post.
Currently, I am overlooking a lake at Mount Hood while writing this. I hear birds in the distance and see the lake calm, with subtle waves and some mist in the distance. Yet, it is fake, as I am sitting on our top floor, a barely furnished room full of items belonging to a family house with two young kids. I am using Apple's Vision Pro to explore what Spatial Computing can be. I am in awe; let me…
Since the start of this new year I am working out harder than the previous months. I have set some goals for myself and have taken on a training scheme incorporating running, cycling and swimming. As I sift through the growing mountain of workout data, I find myself questioning: does having more data truly translate to better fitness outcomes??
In today's digital age, safeguarding your data is paramount. Simply creating a copy of your files may not be enough as they can get corrupted, overwritten or blocked by ransomware. Having multiple, time-rotated (and ideally, offsite) backups is a stronger defense. I created a new tool, rsync-backup-rotator, to help you with this.
Imagine a week without your smartphone, replaced solely by the sleek simplicity of a smartwatch. This week I did this, leaving my smartphone behind and letting an Apple Watch take the helm. Many hail this as a liberating escape from our attention-seeking digital sidekicks, but does it truly live up to the hype? Join me on this intriguing journey, where technology meets minimalism, and discover…
The darker days are here in the northern hemisphere, and so is the need for good lights on your bike. Although battery powered lights can do the job, you need to keep them charged. I wanted a light system on my road bike that just works. Read along for some light in the darkness!!
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of leading a training session on the application of cutting-edge AI techniques, such as OpenAI's large language models (GPT), for a team of individuals from varied backgrounds, education levels, and disciplines. The results surprised me!
While enjoying my fresh wok lunch in Amsterdam, I noticed something odd: other folks coming in for something to eat ignored the person standing at the counter, preferring to order through a digital kiosk. The crazy thing about this? They are just centimetres apart!
It's been over half a year since I moved from the city to the countryside. I regularly travel between these locations for work and leisure. Being a cycling enthusiast, I keep a bike at both places, and this has led me to discover a funny thing.
This Monday I completed 235KM on my fixed gear bike during the Fietselfstedentocht 2023. It was a nice ride with fair weather and favourable wind conditions. Yet, I took the challenge seriously and prepared myself with some proper training. In this post I'll have a look at the trend data from my WHOOP in preparation for the Elfstedentocht.
The iPad Pro's utility has sparked much debate recently. Some users argue it's a disappointment, failing to meet expectations set by traditional laptops. However, there are less obvious benefits to the iPad worth considering. This blog post delves into these advantages and shares insights into the personal experience of using an iPad Pro.
As part of my software optimisation efforts to cut cloud costs, I needed to replace an existing piece of inefficient server software with something that uses more robust (yet fragmented) tooling available in Debian GNU/Linux. Could the GPT4 language model deliver me some AI magic? Read along!
As part of a greater plan to optimise my entire workflow, I am doing a little experiment this month: using a 15-year old ThinkPad X200 laptop as main computer. It’s from an era before “the cloud”, popular among free/libre software enthusiasts. What can we learn from this antithesis of modernity?
In preparation for this year’s Fietselfstedentocht (236KM), I took my bike and set out for an adventurous ride through half of the Netherlands. It was my first long distance ride after being infected with COVID. If you're considering a long-distance ride yourself, be sure to read along to discover invaluable tips and tricks from my experience.
Like many, I faced soaring cloud service costs for my clients, prompting a wake-up call. To stay afloat, it's essential to incorporate software optimisation as a strategy for managing cloud expenses. Join me as I share how I managed to save up to 90% on cloud costs through optimisation!