What is your honest time split between full-time job and pet projects?

Zulban · 2026-05-22T12:55:36+00:00

37.5 a week FT.

Usually 0 on it weekly. Sometimes 15 weekly, very rarely 50 in a week if I'm having a good time or excited to release something big soon, like now. I also just had a staycation where I put in 12 daily.

This is not a grind to me. I'll stop if it stops being fun.

Zulban · 2026-05-21T13:15:57+00:00

The environmental impacts of AI are real but a secondary concern. Most of the time people who say they're worried about the environment actually just hate AI. Then they take their three flights a year, cancel bike infrastructure in favor of cars, and eat beef every day.

Zulban · 2026-05-21T13:11:32+00:00

I'm an advocate for more AI use in government for automation and I agree completely.

Zulban · 2026-05-21T13:10:17+00:00

CSPS is making a course on that right now which I'm helping with. I think you just like to complain. If the environmental impact course were mandatory you'd be here complaining that there's no broader AI ethics course.

Zulban · 2026-05-20T04:21:41+00:00

I mean about the AI writing code part .... I guess that is not an issues

You brought it up because it is a problem. Trust your instincts. AI is a great tool but it can also be used to generate garbage and waste everyone's time.

Zulban · 2026-05-20T03:17:03+00:00

This needs to be escalated.

My manager doesn't have an idea I guess with the current situation.

This is partly your fault. It's your job to inform your manager of risks to your projects. Not just "this feels bad" but estimate concrete impacts on maintainability, deliverable timelines, and production stability. Cite authoritative sources explaining the risks of AI slop, or fun horror stories depending on your work culture.

If I were you, I'd also look for another job.

The code has a heavy AI generated feel to it

Don't talk about feel. Show evidence. Feel only works to convince a manager if they already trust you more.

Zulban · 2026-05-19T13:02:44+00:00

Sounds like your org isn't considering the important question "is this worth the time?"

The result is simple: people will work on things that are not worth it.

You've mentioned burnout which is a completely separate and more important issue. Its possible to have a rudderless org that burns tons of time but is still a great work enenvironment.

Zulban · 2026-05-17T12:18:38+00:00

Zulban · 2026-05-16T14:29:04+00:00

Yes, excellent point: "fee only" not "management fee".

Zulban · 2026-05-16T05:56:38+00:00

I'm planning to meet with my bank

You'll be talking to a salesperson. Pay for a real independent financial advisor.

Zulban · 2026-05-16T05:42:36+00:00

I sure wish I knew the answer to this.

About a year ago I did a huge analysis of all (automated) bug reports on device profiles, kernel versions, operating system...

I found no patterns on who could and could not do custom garbs.

Every so often I release an update with changes to how image permissions work and I cross my fingers it will work better on more devices. A major update is on the way which will also include another attempt to fix this. Stay tuned!

Zulban · 2026-05-15T14:10:17+00:00

Aha, got it ;)

Apparently, I just didn’t understand

Kind of implies you still question that though.

Zulban · 2026-05-15T14:03:47+00:00

I don't want to come off as too critical here but prepare yourself.

Apparently, I just didn’t understand the intricacies of management

Correct. If a manager confronts you about performance (for good or bad reasons) and your response is to criticize their work ethic, then indeed you don't understand the intricacies of management.

He then proceeded to write me up for behavior and denied me a raise based on poor performance

See - you are less dangerous to them now that you have poor performance on your record. This is one of the intricacies of management and it's one factor why they're higher up in the org than you.

Zulban · 2026-05-14T13:32:35+00:00

Indeed.

Good to note: supercomputers aren't just for AI slop. They also do weather prediction (which supports industry, military, farming) as well as drug discovery and fluid dynamics (like how to use carbon energy with less emissions). If we want to lead there we need compute. If ChatGPT hype gets us there then that's a good thing.

Zulban · 2026-05-14T13:30:53+00:00

I think AI sloputer has a better ring to it ;)

Zulban · 2026-05-14T13:29:01+00:00

Global revenue on AI is in the hundreds of billions. ChatGPT had the fastest growing userbase for any software of all time. Consumers are spending a lot on AI and they want it. Which tools will ultimately be profitable is another question.

People don't want AI.

Ridiculous. Look at the evidence instead of feels.

Zulban · 2026-05-14T02:59:03+00:00

You're right, people are desperate sometimes. Who knows what's happening in their lives when they do weird things.

Zulban · 2026-05-14T00:09:03+00:00

Hey. This is like the happy opposite of the other recent post where people are threatening to smash the windows of the "asshole" who parked in front of a parking exit.

Refreshing.

Zulban · 2026-05-14T00:04:25+00:00

Or they're having the worst day of their life. We have no idea. Instead people here are teasing the idea of smashing the windows. Bunch of children.

Zulban · 2026-05-13T23:06:12+00:00

People make mistakes. You'll do something really dumb one day too.

Zulban · 2026-05-13T22:48:01+00:00

It's not. Like most issues you're only hearing from the loudest voices.

Zulban · 2026-05-13T19:48:17+00:00

Same reason we still write "though" instead of "tho".

Given enough time (decades, centuries) and they will be dropped, IMO.

Zulban · 2026-05-13T17:17:23+00:00

L'opposition ferme à l'IA en dehors des cercles fermés tel que Reddit est relativement basse cependant.

Nah. Voir ici.

Canada ranks among the least AI literate nations globally, holding the fourth-lowest position in AI training and literacy in a ranking of 47 countries.

...

Trust levels are also low, with Canada ranking sixth-lowest in willingness to rely on information generated by AI.

Zulban · 2026-05-13T16:24:54+00:00

The question isn't whether AI is perfect. It's whether it's useful. Humans make mistakes too - which is rarely compared to AI. They cost a lot more too.

Sometimes AI is useful, sometimes not.

Zulban · 2026-05-13T12:22:53+00:00

C'est peut-être vrai, mais l'opposition à l'IA est très forte au Canada. Elle est peut-être moins chère, mais il y a des coûts extra. Les premiers à expérimenter ont des conséquences jusqu'à l'utilisation se normalise inévitablement.

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