programming languages
I Fight For The Users
If you haven't been able to keep up with my blistering pace of one blog post per year, I don't blame you. There's a lot going on right now. It's a busy time. But let's pause and take a moment
cars
Electric Geek Transportation Systems
I've never thought of myself as a "car person". The last new car I bought (and in fact, now that I think about it, the first new car I ever bought) was the quirky 1998 Ford Contour SVT [https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2018/04/
programming languages
To Serve Man, with Software
I didn't choose to be a programmer. Somehow, it seemed, the computers chose me [https://blog.codinghorror.com/if-loving-computers-is-wrong-i-dont-want-to-be-right/]. For a long time, that was fine, that was enough; that was all I needed. But along the way I never felt that being a programmer was this unambiguously
video games
The Existential Terror of Battle Royale
It's been a while since I wrote a blog post, I guess in general, but also a blog post about video games. Video games are probably the single thing most attributable to my career as a programmer [https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Ablog.codinghorror.com+%22video+
security
Hacker, Hack Thyself
We've read so many sad stories about communities that were fatally compromised or destroyed due to security exploits. We took that lesson to heart when we founded the Discourse [https://discourse.org] project; we endeavor to build open source software that is secure and safe for communities by
passwords
Password Rules Are Bullshit
Of the many, many, many bad things about passwords [https://blog.codinghorror.com/the-dirty-truth-about-web-passwords/], you know what the worst is? Password rules. > If we don't solve the password problem for users in my lifetime I am gonna haunt you from beyond the grave as a ghost pic.
pinball
Your Digital Pinball Machine
I've had something of an obsession with digital pinball for years now. That recently culminated in me buying a Virtuapin Mini. OK, yes, it's an extravagance. There's no question. But in my defense, it is a minor extravagance relative to a real pinball machine.
technology trends
They Have To Be Monsters
Since I started working on Discourse, I spend a lot of time thinking about how software can encourage and nudge people to be more empathetic online. That's why it's troubling to read articles like this one [https://medium.com/@stephaniewittelswachs/the-end-of-empathy-5d8383b066d3]: > My brother’s 32nd
programming languages
Our Programs Are Fun To Use
These two imaginary guys [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beagle_Bros] influenced me heavily as a programmer. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beagle_Bros] Instead of guaranteeing fancy features or compatibility or error free operation, Beagle Bros software promised something else altogether: fun. Playing with the Beagle Bros quirky Apple
eink
The Evolution of eInk
Sure, smartphones and tablets get all the press, and deservedly so. But if you place the original mainstream eInk device from 2007, the Amazon Kindle [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Kindle#First_generation], side by side with today's model, the evolution of eInk devices is just as
user experience
Because Reading is Fundamental
Most discussions show a bit of information next to each user: What message does this send? * The only number you can control printed next to your name is post count. * Everyone who reads this will see your current post count. * The more you post, the bigger that number next to
user experience
The "Just In Time" Theory of User Behavior
I've long believed that the design of your software has a profound impact on how users behave within your software. But there are two sides to this story: * Encouraging the "right" things by making those things intentionally easy to do. * Discouraging the "wrong" things