Code

20 Years of Git. Still Weird, Still Wonderful.

,

Git celebrates 20 years as a dominant version control system, evolving from Linus Torvalds' initial project for tracking directory contents. It was created to address frustrations with existing systems in the Linux community and has since transformed software development. Scott Chacon shares his journey with Git, from using it in unique ways at a startup to co-founding GitHub and creating educational resources. Git's initial purpose as a content tracker persists, celebrating its quirky yet impactful legacy in developer collaboration and project history management.

https://blog.gitbutler.com/20-years-of-git/

The Best Programmers I Know

Summary: The best programmers possess traits such as deep knowledge of their tools, the ability to read and understand error messages, problem breakdown skills, a willingness to learn, and a commitment to helping others. They emphasize continual learning, maintain patience, avoid guessing, prefer simplicity in code, and value reputation-building. Great developers communicate effectively, manage relationships across all levels, remain curious, and respect the learning process for themselves and others. Overall, excellence in programming is about dedication, humility, and a desire to understand and help.

https://endler.dev/2025/best-programmers/

How I Wrote the Notes App of My Dreams (no Coding Required)

User crafted personalized note-taking app, “Doolee,” using AI tools (vibecoding) without coding skills. The app design mimics sticky notes, features task management, multi-device sync, and allows for continuous improvements. The process was engaging despite some AI limitations, and user invested around $300 for development. Experience highlighted inefficiencies in traditional productivity apps, emphasizing user-customized solutions as future possibilities.

https://www.fastcompany.com/91309330/vibecoding-replit

Hurl

,

Hurl is a command-line tool for running and testing HTTP requests using a plain text format. It supports chaining requests, capturing values, and evaluating queries across various API types (REST, SOAP, GraphQL) and formats (XML, JSON). Hurl is lightweight, efficient, and integrates well with CI/CD pipelines, offering features like response assertions, cookie management, and performance testing. It is built on Rust and powered by libcurl, ensuring fast and reliable HTTP operations.

https://hurl.dev/

How I Would Learn To Code (If I Could Start Over)

Egor Howell shares his coding journey and offers advice for learning programming. He emphasizes the value of coding, starting with a single language relevant to one's career goals, and warns against “tutorial hell.” Encouraging practical projects right after basic courses, he stresses the importance of mastering fundamentals without chasing trends. Documentation and sharing learning experiences online can enhance visibility to potential employers. Despite fears over AI impacting programming jobs, Howell reassures that coding skills remain essential and unlikely to be replaced by AI.

https://towardsdatascience.com/how-i-would-learn-to-code-if-i-could-start-over/

Augment Code

, ,

Augment Code is a top verified open-source AI agent for software engineers, featuring advanced integration with codebases, memory enhancements, and collaboration tools. It excels in code quality, outperforming competitors on the SWE-Bench leaderboard at 65.4%, and offers features like real-time context analysis, debugging tools, and seamless integration with various development environments. The platform includes efficient workflows for issue tracking, pull requests, and coding, emphasizing reliability and developer efficiency.

https://www.augmentcode.com/

Why I Stopped Using AI Code Editors

,

Stop using AI code editors due to loss of competence and over-reliance; manual engagement recommended. Started using AI in 2022, felt fast but grew dependent. Dropped AI in late 2024 to regain skills. Maintaining in-depth knowledge is crucial, as AI fails in complex contexts. Use AI wisely, but don't rely fully on it—stay engaged and curious to avoid becoming obsolete in programming. Enjoy coding for its own sake and keep practicing basics to remain capable.

https://lucianonooijen.com/blog/why-i-stopped-using-ai-code-editors/

What Is Local-first Web Development?

Local-first web development allows users complete control over their data and functionality, even offline, with automatic synchronization when online. Unlike traditional web apps, which rely heavily on backend servers, local-first apps prioritize user ownership, instant access, and device independence. Core principles include offline support, collaboration, security, and sustained access to user data. Applications fit for local-first environments are mostly productivity-based, while others like banking are less suitable. Local-first methods can face challenges such as data synchronization conflicts. Overall, this approach represents a shift towards more user-centric, resilient web applications.

https://alexop.dev/posts/what-is-local-first-web-development/

How Complex Systems Fail

TLDR: Complex systems (e.g., healthcare, transport) are inherently hazardous and protected by multiple layers of defenses against failure. Catastrophic failure requires multiple small failures to align, with latent issues always present. Human operators adapt to maintain safety, but assessments post-accident are often biased and incorrectly attribute failures to single causes. Safety is a dynamic characteristic of systems, shaped by human activities and experience with failure. Adaptations by practitioners are critical, but changing technologies can introduce new failure pathways.

https://how.complexsystems.fail/

E.W.Dijkstra Archive: On the Foolishness of “natural Language Programming”. (EWD 667)

Dijkstra criticizes “natural language programming,” asserting it complicates the man-machine interface rather than simplifying it. He highlights that formal programming languages, despite being perceived as burdensome, help eliminate nonsensical errors that natural language cannot. Historical examples show that reliance on verbal communication has hindered mathematical advancement. He suggests that formal symbols facilitate learning and precision. Dijkstra warns that the decline in language mastery (“The New Illiteracy”) undermines the feasibility of programming in natural languages. Ultimately, he believes creating and using such languages would be incredibly challenging.

https://www.cs.utexas.edu/~EWD/transcriptions/EWD06xx/EWD667.html

Devin, the Viral Coding AI Agent, Gets a New Pay-as-you-go Plan

,

Cognition has launched a low-cost pay-as-you-go plan for its viral AI coding tool, Devin, previously priced at $500/month. The new plan starts at $20 for about 9 computing credits, with usage potentially increasing costs. Although Devin 2.0 claims improved functionality, its effectiveness in complex coding remains questionable, with earlier evaluations showing it completed only 3 of 20 tasks successfully.

https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/03/devin-the-viral-coding-ai-agent-gets-a-new-pay-as-you-go-plan/

Senior Developer Skills in the AI Age: Leveraging Experience for Better Results • Manuel Kießling

Senior Developer Skills in AI: Leverage experience for productivity. Embrace AI tools for coding; they can elevate results. Senior developers hold the advantage due to their expertise in project management and architecture, aiding effective AI use. Successful AI coding requires well-structured requirements, tool-based guard rails, and file-based keyframing. Real-world examples show AI can handle coding tasks efficiently, transforming project execution. Essential practices like documentation and quality checks ensure high standards. Human experience remains crucial for optimal AI implementation in software development.

https://manuel.kiessling.net/2025/03/31/how-seasoned-developers-can-achieve-great-results-with-ai-coding-agents/

Zencoder’s ‘Coffee Mode’ Is the Future of Coding: Hit a Button and Let AI Write Your Unit Tests

,

Zencoder introduces ‘Coffee Mode,' allowing developers to use AI for unit tests and coding tasks while taking breaks. The AI, integrated into popular IDEs like Visual Studio Code and JetBrains, claims superior performance on industry benchmarks by analyzing entire codebases. Its unique “Repo Grokking” technology offers contextual insights, mitigating common AI coding tool issues. Zencoder positions itself against competitors like GitHub Copilot while enabling developers to maintain familiar workflows. The company aims for production-ready AI code with security checks, projecting transformative changes in software development by 2025.

https://venturebeat.com/ai/zencoders-coffee-mode-is-the-future-of-coding-hit-a-button-and-let-ai-write-your-unit-tests/

Scroll to Top