Modeling state in linear programs
Modeling state in linear programs There’s a neat way to model decision making as an (integer) linear program for managing a collection of resources. In my...
Tracking the progress of a distribution
Tracking the progress of a distribution I've been super busy lately, with work, a baby, and house hunting. Fun projects will have to take a back seat for...
Ideas for a "Production Cafe"
Ever since I wrote What’s in Production? I’ve grown steadily more obsessed with it. The act of writing these thoughts down focused the discordant, nagging...
What math is waiting for the world to catch up to?
Last week Tai-Danae Bradley invited me to give an Alphabet-wide math talk, in part advertising a series of internal courses she's teaching on pure math for...
Little Annoyances, Big Decisions
Little annoyances, big decisions A story I think software engineers, myself included, are influenced heavily by annoyances, and those annoyances drive major...
What's not to like about LaTeX?
Apologies for the delays in this newsletter. With the baby and the coup, the newsletter took a momentary backseat. I also wrote a few drafts (not about...
I wanted to care about software estimation
I wanted to care about software estimation I'm the kind of person who hears about a good idea and immediately wants to try it. So when I read about reference...
The value of math is at the margins
The value of math is at the margins I used to work at a Bitcoin startup. It ended up being a waste of my time, but I was lured there with promises of working...
The Spiritual Nature of Software Tools
The Spiritual Nature of Software Tools At the risk of waxing philosophical and boring you, I want to discuss one other aspect of Simone Weil's "The Need for...
Some book ideas
Future book ideas My first book, A Programmer's Introduction to Mathematics (PIM), was, in my view, a success. Self-publishing provided enough royalties to...
Mathematical community and the needs of the soul
The Needs of the Soul Last issue I waxed poetic about some informal communities I was involved in. I've been reading a few books about what makes a good...
What makes a community?
What makes a community? Recently I've been thinking a lot about community and culture. I've participated in many communities over time, centered around a...
What's in production?
What is Actually Used? Everyone wants their work to be useful. Being useful to others is a fundamental need of the human soul. That often manifests as the...