Since about two years I'm working on a new systems programming language [1] that is supposed to be nearly as fast as C, memory safe, and as concise and easy to learn as Python. Right now I'm trying to integrate Perceus, the ref-count optimization of Keka.

[1] https://github.com/thomasmueller/bau-lang

I've had a flurry of activity working with emacs, breaking out some things that were previously "Steve stuff" inside my local configuration into real packages.

One thing that I've been very happy with has been "org-people", now on MELPA, which allows contact-management within Emacs via org-mode blocks and properties. It works so well with the native facilities that it's a joy to work on.

I've been learning a lot of new things while I've been expanding it now it has a bigger audience (e.g. "cl-defstruct" was a pleasant surprise).

https://github.com/skx/org-people/

When GPT-4.5 came out, I used it to write a couple of novels for my son. I had some free API credits, and used a naive workflow:

while word_count < x: write_next_chapter(outline, summary_so_far, previous_chapter_text)

It worked well enough that the novels were better than the median novel aimed at my son's age group, but I'm pretty sure we can do better.

There are web-based tools to help fiction authors to keep their stories straight: they use some data structures to store details about the world, the characters, the plot, the subplots etc., and how they change during each chapter.

I am trying to make an agent skill that has two parts:

- the SKILL.md that defines the goal (what criteria the novel must satisfy to be complete and good) and the general method

- some other md files that describe different roles (planner, author, editor, lore keeper, plot consistency checker etc.)

- a python file which the agent uses as the interface into the data structure (I want it to have a strong structure, and I don't like the idea of the agent just editing a bunch of json files directly)

For the first few iterations, I'm using cheap models (Gemini Flash ones) to generate the stories, and Opus 4.6 to provide feedback. Once I think the skill is described sufficiently well, I'll use a more powerful model for generation and read the resulting novel myself.

I live in an old house.

The front bump out leaks when we get driving rain. I installed some flashing but that wasn't enough, it's still leaking. So I'm working on that so I can close up the big hole in the ceiling some day.

The prior owners filled in the old coal chute with literal bags of cement sort of artistically placed in the hole in the brick foundation. So I'm trying to figure out what masonry tools and skills I'll need to close it up proper.

I'd like to build my kids a playhouse of some sort, sketching out some designs for that.

Working on a software trial automation infra.

While working on another project, I needed a very simple service I could setup in a few clicks, which would take my docker compose and manage the spin up and tear down of ephemeral VM automatically when triggered by a signup on my landing page.

I couldn't find anything real simple, so I decided to build it. Currently working on it.

https://trialbox.io

Any feedback will be much appreciated.

* Reconstructing `$HOME/git` after an unfortunate `rclone sync` wiped it. It was not fun discovering that my backup was on the wrong `git` directory and also that I'd not committed some stuff for ... years. Lesson learned, etc. * Implementing three new bot ideas. * Trying desperately to stay out of the "we must vibecode!" juggernaut's path at work. * Wasting hours having to manually download Every. Single. Model. from my MyMiniFactory library because they don't provide an API, a bulk download, or a sync to something like Dropbox. (1500 down, about 4000 to go!)

I'm still having a lot of fun releasing daily puzzles for my game Tiled Words: https://tiledwords.com

It just won an award! It was awarded Players' Choice out of 700 daily web games at the Playlin awards: https://playlin.io/news/announcing-the-2025-playlin-awards-w...

Right now around 3,500 people play every day which kind of blows my mind!

It's free, web-based, and responsive. It was inspired by board games and crosswords.

I've been troubleshooting some iOS performance issues, working on user accounts, and getting ready to launch player-submitted puzzles. It's slow going though because I have limited free time and making the puzzles is time consuming!

Here's an article with more info about the award: https://cogconnected.com/2026/03/tiled-words-crowned-the-pla...

https://finbodhi.com — It's an app for your financial journey. It helps you track, understand, benchmark and plan your finances - with double-entry accounting. You own your financial data. It’s local-first, syncs across devices, and everything’s encrypted in transit (we do have your email for subscription tracking and analytics).

Supports multiple-accounts (track as a family or even as an advisor), multi-currency, a custom sheet/calculator to operate on your accounts (calculate taxes etc) and much more. Most recently, we added support for benchmarking (create custom dashboards tracking nav and value chart of subsets of your portfolio) and US stocks, etfs etc.

We also write about like:

How fund performance explain part of returns, rest is explained by timing. And ways to tease those out: https://finbodhi.com/docs/blog/benchmark-scenarios

Or, understanding double entry account: https://finbodhi.com/docs/understanding-double-entry

Working on Book Reading Habit: https://bookreadinghabit.com

Built it because I wanted to read more, but most reading apps either feel too passive or turn everything into social noise. What worked better for me was making reading easy to start: short 5–10 min sessions, pick up where you left off, minimal friction.

So the app is basically centered around habit formation, with stuff like notes, progress tracking, session extension, shelves, and simple organization.

I care a lot about keeping it quiet: no ads, no feed, no unnecessary clutter.

Still early. Mostly trying to understand what actually helps people read more consistently.

Currently only available for iOS, but might release an android version in the future.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/book-reading-habit/id674291326...

Building wireless (LTE-based) sensors for most major horticultural sensing needs. Measurements include:

- CO2. Side note: I was surprised to find that most (all?) CO2 sensors used in closed plant production setups are not meant to operate below 400 ppm.

- Air temperature, pressure, relative humidity

- Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR)

- Addons like: wind speed, wind direction, soil moisture and Electrical Conductivity (EC)

- The coolest and most challenging: pH, EC, and flow rate

The hardest part has been running everything on battery while maintaining accuracy and using LTE (2–4G) and not common LPWAN options like LoRa. I'm primarily a software guy, so the learning curve has been huge.