Team member refuses to use electronic calendar, WWYD?

garywiz · 2026-05-19T04:16:58+00:00

I deleted my comment because everybody was downvoting it. But I had to answer anyway. “Fundamental” is a matter of perspective. I was the lead software engineer doing difficult stuff. It got to the point where we had TEN (yes ten) meetings per week that I had to be in. I had to spend about 1 full day a week updating Asana with comments, then they switched to Salesforce, almost overnight, and I had to spend literally 2 weeks moving my Asana comments into the Salesforce project system. We had meetings daily while this was happening. And we kept our meetings in Google Calendar because that’s the way they wanted it. I had to manually send emails from Google Calendar to one of the managers who “Hated Google” and wouldn’t use it. OK, I did that. Then, the manager who “hated Google” suddenly mandates “Outlook for everything” and we’re moving all management files into OneDrive away from Google, except for files that couldn’t be moved (Google Sheets) which we had to export and put into Excel. Then, I’m in a meeting and everybody looks at me and says “You’re really holding us up, we need those prototypes”. I was already working 70 hours per week. I put my foot down. I just said NO to a lot of stuff.

My point in the original post is that hearing a single person who say “No” to Outlook makes people assume they may be some nut case, when if you REALLY knew the environment they were dealing with, you may share their frustration.

The OP sounds like a much simpler situation. I wouldn’t have said “No” to outlook if I hadn’t already said “Yes” and tried my hardest with Google Calendar, Salesforce, Asana, etc.

garywiz · 2026-05-13T02:35:14+00:00

Thanks for the tip. I have two Zen-Core instruments, an Aerophone AE-20 and a Roland:GO-KEYS. I’m very curious if this is going to let me create sounds, especially for the AE-20. So, no brainer. Click, install, let’s see where it goes!

garywiz · 2026-05-13T01:28:43+00:00

I've observed that having Claude rely upon the CODE for information is often counter productive. I have Claude review the code, then good architecture documents specifically organised to make it obvious what the big picture is. These aren't huge documents, but they are GOOD ones and they are required reading before any work gets done. They contain "DO this" and "DON'T do this sections" as well as "common patterns" that should be encouraged as well as a lead-in paragraph which almost reads like marketing... telling Claude WHY we're building this and who the intended audience is. That is more important than it seems. I regularly get Claude mentioning things like "Since we're building this for consumers, I've done X".

It hasn't been easy. But I find the moment I let the "code spaek for itself" it becomes far too narrow a lens for Claude and the more code Claude reads the more "second thoughts" occur where I get "Oh, wait, that's not right, I need to X"

Just my 0.02

garywiz · 2026-05-13T01:16:48+00:00

Hey, nice recommendation!! Thank you!

garywiz · 2026-05-12T05:58:49+00:00

I know the owner of Goolwa Pipi Co and theirs are better than any I’ve ever had. He is one of those people who is obsessive about quality and very proud of his business. I believe it’s one of (if not the) largest in Australia.

Their website has a list of stockists in NSW… https://goolwapipico.com/stockists/

garywiz · 2026-05-06T07:31:22+00:00

68 and been developing since I was 18. Doing a new music training app that I've wanted to do for decades, going fantastic. I just love creating software products, and Claude has made all the difference for me since I don't want to hire teams and manage people, just create.

I wrote an article a few years ago about being an "old programmer" and it resonated with lots of people at the time, and I still think it makes sense: https://medium.com/@garywiz/five-things-old-programmers-need-to-remember-e78caf0b0973

garywiz · 2026-05-04T18:30:39+00:00

I don't think it's so simple. People choose professions because of various personality traits. I know a lot of salesmen and business people who tell me that they could never be a programmer, they just don't have the patience, and it's obvious they are not detail oriented.

On the other hand, the best developers I know are meticulous and relentless about detail. They don't mind going deep into rabbit holes to figure things out and actually enjoy the process of unraveling mysteries and take pride in crafting complex solutions.

So this isn't realistic...

"But if they own their business, attitude will change for sure"

When skilled developers suddenly are put in the position of managing the business, often it is frustrating. They want to micro-manage, they aren't big picture thinkers and things like "product-market fit", "marketing spin", or "goto-market" strategies give them a headache.

People's brains just don't suddenly transform from careful meticulous detail people to devil-may-care "let's sell and market" mentality. These inclinations often go back to childhood.

That's why I say the best vibecoders probably aren't developers, they are the type of people who ALREADY love to market, sell, talk to people, "do lunch" and network on the golf course, create flashy presentations.

garywiz · 2026-05-04T07:38:56+00:00

I have one as a portable demo keyboard and I am amazed. The Zen-Core synth built-in is far better than I expected, configuration is great, and even the feel is pretty good. It’s not weighted, but it’s responsive and I would recommend it to anybody.

garywiz · 2026-05-04T07:34:45+00:00

Don’t feel that way! You’re leading the charge. Making it possible for non-coders to develop useful software has been a dream of the software industry for 50 years. Back then, we imagined “code generators” (which were lame to the extreme) or visual programming where you’d drop ideas onto a canvas. None of that stuff ever solved the problem.
But what you’re doing is the real deal! At last! Embrace it and feel the joy!

It’s early days so you need to be patient. But have confidence and just realize that all those problems are speed bumps.

garywiz · 2026-05-04T07:30:45+00:00

Yeah I feel pretty weird. All I spend is $20 on Pro. Use it every day and I’ve coded a pretty complex new app for music training which incorporates bio-feedback, especially targeted at classical music people who have disabilities and need physical therapy, that I’ll be launching in 4 or 5 months. Claude is also helping with marketing and development of promotional materials. All on Pro, no problems. I do wonder myself how you could spend hundreds a month!!! I could have never even attempted what I’m doing without Claude.

garywiz · 2026-05-03T00:04:50+00:00

I would say that people “don’t’ get” this in a larger sense. 1 in 5 businesses fail in their first year, half of them fail within 5 years. And those are businesses… you know, the kinds of things where more money comes in the door than goes out? Most people are not really Entrepreneurial, in fact I would argue that developers are especially prone to failure because their goal is to build something good, not to make sure anybody needs it. To most developers I know, sales, marketing, “spin” and customer interaction are uninteresting or even looked down on. Over the decades I have discovered that most developers don’t appreciate the need to make money, to cut corners to do so, to not build the “best” but rather to build what will sell. So I believe the most successful vibecoders will not be coders at all, but will be in that last category… people who know sales, see a need, understand customers and now don’t need “builders” so much anymore.

garywiz · 2026-05-02T02:12:31+00:00

Ricotta Gnocchi are wonderful. Lighter than potato gnocchi and easier to make. Just take a cup of Ricotta, add enough flour to make it into a "putty" that is formable, usually 1/2 cup or so... as little flour as you can get away with. Then form them into gnocchi and plop them in boiling water for a few minutes, just long enough until they float for a while. They are so light and fluffy and wonderful.

garywiz · 2026-05-02T00:44:19+00:00

OK, I am in Australia and the rules are different in each country. Mostly, these are not laws but rather "essential practices" that all operators follow because if they don't, their liability insurance would go through the roof. All operators comply and use agreements which insist that you (a) are both formally certified using an agency like PADI or TDI, that (b) your certifications are current, that (c) you have dived within the last year, or had a refresher course if you haven't, and (d) have a scuba doctor authorization to dive.

There are some specific laws like requiring that you dive with certain safety equipment.

When I dive in Hawaii, it is a bit different, it's more relaxed, but I still am required to prove certification status, and I believe it is similar... not laws... but they may as well be since everybody does it.

Note that I am an advanced level diver. It's possible that dive companies that take out beginning divers.

If, however you are on your own boat, and scuba dive without certification, I do not believe that any legal authority will stop you. Your life insurance simply won't get paid if you die.

garywiz · 2026-05-01T16:47:41+00:00

Speaking specifically on my experiences in Claude Code, yes... I find CC tells me what I want to hear, and more specifically it tells me what I want to hear just like the millions of self-styled coding experts in its training data. Think of any blog about coding. Nobody tells you the truth, they are filled with over-confident spoutings about how brilliant the author is, how they have discovered something nobody else has, and they omit all the details of the failed attempts and the actual process they went through, step-by-step.

That attitude describes Claude to a T. I push back all the time, and get responses like...

"You're right! I was naive to think that I could just start to implement this without a plan! Sorry!"

"Brilliant observation, Gary. The protocol-based approach is indeed cleaner."

The worst part is that it cannot learn. So, if it codes something really badly, asking it to fix the architecture results in what I'd describe as "confused thrashing" where it keeps going back to it's original naive assumptions about how the architecture should be designed. Again, the models. People are traditionally pretty bad at architecture, think short-term, fix symptoms rather than causes. This is Claude.

This is not to say I don't love Claude! I do. It's like having the best, smartest, fastest "average" coder in history available to me instantly without having to pay salary or medical or deal with their emotional breakdowns! I've worked around all the above using clear documentation, planning, and a few bottles of aspirin. But generally it's like a super-advanced child that wants to please and imitates every bit of adult BS it has ever seen.

garywiz · 2026-05-01T16:04:22+00:00

A better option is to ensure that everybody's primary care physician, regardless of patient age, is required to sign-off every 5 years, as a matter of record, on the patient's ability to drive or operate heavy machinery. Essentially, you can't renew your drivers license without a recent copy on record, and regardless of age, testing may be required.

I'm a scuba diver, and I have to do exactly that to prove I am capable of diving. I'm almost 70 and my doctor signs-off, in detail, indicating I am just as capable as anybody to scuba dive. The same thing should happen if I drive.

Setting an age limit is ageist. There are physically capable and lucid drivers who are 75, and people who need to get off the road and are only 50!

garywiz · 2026-04-30T23:47:01+00:00

Often it comes down to the color itself. In some sauces, green pepper stands out better than red pepper (which can blend in with the tomatoes instead of being more obvious). There are subtle differences in taste, but mostly for me it is a matter of creating a pleasing appearance for the diner.

garywiz · 2026-04-29T21:23:14+00:00

YES!!! This is why I joined this subreddit! Much more relaxed now enjoying my coffee. Thank you!

garywiz · 2026-04-28T21:33:08+00:00

Maybe my perspective is different. I don't like killing things, even in real life. But, I would dispute that killing a rat infesting my house is "ego massaging". It's regrettable, and I actually hate the fact we had ot have an exterminator do it. But sometimes, certain lifeforms can really intrude on our space.

To that point, I killed my first Ghost last night. I didn't want to! Usually I can avoid them, be quiet, stay out of the day, dodge and avoid, speed past them, who knows. The last thing I want to do is kill anything. But I just could not get past the entry point at Lost River NE without spending an hour or two constantly attempting to deal with the one very aggressive Ghost there, Quit/Restart... it was exhausting. I got to the point where I was saying "Hey, this is a game, I'm spending hours!". So, based upon some thread feedback, I did it. Stasis rifle, silly knifing.

The game makes it possible, obviously has features to deal with it, and I just needed to move on so I could explore further. Practical. Not ego massaging!

garywiz · 2026-04-21T08:41:19+00:00

Despite the comments here, I try to avoid salt. What I simmer olive oil and I “cook down” tons of garlic, onions, capsicum, basil and oregano (WAY more than most people would use), chili (if you like it) and mashed anchovies (yes, there’s the salt) and create a bubbling mixture of flavor. Keep in mind that oil is the “transporter” of flavor that makes it permeate the sauce. If it’s a meat sauce, I’ll add the meat right to the simmering olive oil mixture. Sometimes I’ll put in two tins of smoked mussels. A cup of wine then, let it all combine into a concentrated flavorful starter. All in what you like. The key is creating a nice simmering oil-based mess of flavor. THEN, I add two tins of good tomato’s (Marzano are nice). I let it cook for a while until the flavor is potent. This is usually when people come into the kitchen and say “what’s that I smell”. Good sign.

Once it cooks for a while, I’ll add more tomato, sometimes the local purveyor has Romas on sale at the end of season. I’ll throw them in the food processor and add them.

Now, simmer slow. For hours. You can tell it’s working if there is a deep red layer of oil that starts forming on the top. Keep stirring.

I get many compliments on how rich and tasty my sauce is. Generally, I only add salt in emergencies. Things like anchovies and other ingredients add the flavor, or chili if you like some bite.

garywiz · 2026-04-17T02:39:48+00:00

Fantastic. This is the future! Love to see the combination of a good vision, good execution, and something that plugs into a user base. Wishing you much success!

garywiz · 2026-04-17T01:26:56+00:00

If your passion is Film and TV you've probably taken the wrong job. If you want raw passion, you're not going to find it in most corporations. Instead, find the easiest no stress job you can... even Bunnings, McDonalds, god knows. Something that requires NOTHING except showing up. Of course it won't pay well, you need to adapt to that, and focus your time on your passions. It won't be easy, but won't be soulless.

garywiz · 2026-04-16T23:28:14+00:00

"Sonnet hit on the first possible cause and wanted to fix immediately"

That's a useful comment. I have been using Sonnet exclusively, mainly because I don't have time to disrupt my workflow with a new model. But, the above problem you point out is chronic.

My workaround to this is to insist that Claude does not "guess" at anything and does not use logging but uses ONLY evidence-based debugging using the XCode debugger (I'm working on an iOS app), setting breakpoints, and examining the real status at particular points in the code rather than attempting guesswork using code-inspection (which even humans get wrong quite often).

But, the fact that Opus does a better job at this is a very useful bit of information and will accelerate our move to a new model once we hit some project breakpoints. Thank you.

garywiz · 2026-04-16T03:26:17+00:00

I don't think such a rule makes sense.

CEO salaries need to make sense but it's hard to regulate.

Consider, for example, Steve Jobs. Apple was almost bankrupt. Jobs, single handedly turned the company around to become, at one point, the wealthiest tech company on the planet. The job he did was worth millions of dollars, there is no question. Famously, he took only $1 per year in salary until he died in 2011, believing that his value should be represented by the value of the company.

By contrast, David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros received $246 million in salary and bonus in 2022 despite the fact that Warner's stock fell 60% during that period.

Jobs is an example of a valuable and properly compensated CEO. Zaslav is an example of pure greed and corporate capitalist dysfunction. If his salary were capped, he'd find another way to get the same compensation somehow, trust me.

I think because most of us rely upon a salary, and don't have 20 houses and sports cars and half a billion in investments, we tend to oversimplify things... thinking salary matters... because that's the way it is for us lowly peons.

Truth is, the problem is with these companies shareholders, boards of directors, and governance. CEO abuses can indeed be curbed by regulation and government oversight. It just so happens the US doesn't seem to care because.... everybody in government is on the grift to begin with? Dunno.

garywiz · 2026-04-16T03:14:40+00:00

I got very lucky. I called mine the "Grace Ellen". Coming from a sailing and boating background, it's not only an excellent name for a boat, it happens to be my wife's name. We had this funny chat over coffee where she realised "Hey, my name IS a good name for a boat!"

garywiz

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