Is Your llms.txt Already Stale?
In which I build a freshness check for llms.txt and discover that my tools were the problem.
32
Posts
documentation
Vibes are Out, Data is In
In which I explain why a vibes-based approach to AI and docs ain't cutting it.
How to Measure Agent Web Traffic
In which I lurk in server logs and try to make sense of what I see.
Make Your Hugo Site Agent-Friendly
In which I show you how I made multiple Hugo sites agent-friendly.
Case Study - 'upgrade-stripe' Agent Skill
In which I deep dive on a Stripe Skill, and what it means for the industry.
LLMs vs. Agents as Docs Consumers
In which I discuss how model training and agents need different docs access patterns.
Upskilling in the AI Age
In which I answer someone who asked me how to get started with AI.
Agent Web Fetch Spelunking
In which I ask an agent to help me explore Web Fetch with docs pages - and get a surprise.
Agent-Friendly Docs
In which I ask an agent to view hundreds of docs pages - and feel sad.
Agent Skill Analysis
In which I build a validator and analyze popular Agent Skills.
Inside the Code Example Comparison APIs
In which I deep dive into the problem domain to discuss the problems we had to solve.
Code Example Testing Redux - Designing Cross-Language Testing Infrastructure at Scale
In which I design systems to scale code example testing across the org.
Audit - Conclusions
In which we report what we learned through the code example audit.
Audit - Slicing Code Example Data
In which we explore different ways to break down audit data.
Audit - Modeling Code Example Metadata
In which we decide what information to store, and how.
Audit - AI-Assisted Classification
In which we have an LLM help us assign categories to code examples.
Audit - How can we access the data?
In which we explore the best way to get content and work with audit data.
Audit - What should we track?
In which we dive deeper into what we actually want to know.
Audit - What is a Code Example?
In which we decide what to count, and how.
Audit - Overview
In which we try to make sense of our code examples, and track them.
Docs Consolidation Project - Month Two Check-In
In which I explore lessons learned in the second month of a project to consolidate 9 docs sets.
Docs Consolidation Project - One Month Check-In
In which I explore lessons learned in the first month of a project to consolidate 9 docs sets.
What to Test In Docs Code Examples
In which I explore WHAT to test in docs code examples.
How to Test Docs Code Examples
In which I explore HOW to test docs code examples.
Hackathon Part 3 - Charts, Charts, Charts!
In which I make a whole lotta Charts.
Hackathon Part 2 - Modeling Documentation Metadata
In which I decide how I want to structure my documentation metadata.
Hackathon Part 1 - Out of Google Sheets and Into Atlas
In which I free my data from Google Sheets.
Benefits of Docs Writing Code Examples
In which I discuss the benefits of having a documentation team writing the code examples.
Knowing When Docs Need Updates
In which I discuss the strategies for knowing when docs need updates.
Test Docs Code Examples
In which I explore why you really need to test docs code examples.
Docs Readability Scoring
In which I automate readability scoring for documentation.
Docs-as-code workflow: the missing link; a collaboration tool
In which I wax poetic about the value of previewing a docs-as-code site.
29
Posts
coding
Agent Skill Mega Repo Woes
In which I validate a 23.7k-star skill mega repo and discover problems the star count won't tell you.
Agent-Friendly Docs
In which I ask an agent to view hundreds of docs pages - and feel sad.
Agent Skill Analysis
In which I build a validator and analyze popular Agent Skills.
Inside the Code Example Comparison APIs
In which I deep dive into the problem domain to discuss the problems we had to solve.
Code Example Testing Redux - Designing Cross-Language Testing Infrastructure at Scale
In which I design systems to scale code example testing across the org.
Diff Algorithm Spelunking
In which I fall down a semantic diffing rabbit hole and emerge two libraries later.
Audit - Conclusions
In which we report what we learned through the code example audit.
Audit - Slicing Code Example Data
In which we explore different ways to break down audit data.
Audit - Modeling Code Example Metadata
In which we decide what information to store, and how.
Audit - AI-Assisted Classification
In which we have an LLM help us assign categories to code examples.
Audit - How can we access the data?
In which we explore the best way to get content and work with audit data.
Audit - What should we track?
In which we dive deeper into what we actually want to know.
Audit - What is a Code Example?
In which we decide what to count, and how.
I wrote a macOS app!
In which I write a macOS app to track important pull requests.
What to Test In Docs Code Examples
In which I explore WHAT to test in docs code examples.
How to Test Docs Code Examples
In which I explore HOW to test docs code examples.
Hackathon Part 3 - Charts, Charts, Charts!
In which I make a whole lotta Charts.
Hackathon Part 2 - Modeling Documentation Metadata
In which I decide how I want to structure my documentation metadata.
Hackathon Part 1 - Out of Google Sheets and Into Atlas
In which I free my data from Google Sheets.
Benefits of Docs Writing Code Examples
In which I discuss the benefits of having a documentation team writing the code examples.
Knowing When Docs Need Updates
In which I discuss the strategies for knowing when docs need updates.
Test Docs Code Examples
In which I explore why you really need to test docs code examples.
Docs Readability Scoring
In which I automate readability scoring for documentation.
I wrote a… best-selling iOS app?
I which I am amazed to wake up and see my app leading sales in its category.
I wrote an iOS app!
In which I write an iOS app to track RPG playthrough details.
CLI tool version complications
In which I attempt to debug a CLI thing and find out I made an assumption.
Learning to code: redux
In which I complete a beginner programming class - in Python!
Investing in good equipment
In which I recognize how important it is to have good equipment, and do something about it.
Learning to code
In which I finally decide to start my coding journey.
12
Posts
ai
Is Your llms.txt Already Stale?
In which I build a freshness check for llms.txt and discover that my tools were the problem.
Agent Skill Mega Repo Woes
In which I validate a 23.7k-star skill mega repo and discover problems the star count won't tell you.
Vibes are Out, Data is In
In which I explain why a vibes-based approach to AI and docs ain't cutting it.
How to Measure Agent Web Traffic
In which I lurk in server logs and try to make sense of what I see.
An Agent is More Than Its Brain
In which I talk about what's inside a coding agent.
Make Your Hugo Site Agent-Friendly
In which I show you how I made multiple Hugo sites agent-friendly.
Case Study - 'upgrade-stripe' Agent Skill
In which I deep dive on a Stripe Skill, and what it means for the industry.
LLMs vs. Agents as Docs Consumers
In which I discuss how model training and agents need different docs access patterns.
Upskilling in the AI Age
In which I answer someone who asked me how to get started with AI.
Agent Web Fetch Spelunking
In which I ask an agent to help me explore Web Fetch with docs pages - and get a surprise.
Agent-Friendly Docs
In which I ask an agent to view hundreds of docs pages - and feel sad.
Agent Skill Analysis
In which I build a validator and analyze popular Agent Skills.
12
Posts
personal
Farewell, Critical Role
In which I abandon one of my favorite franchises due to enshittification.
Welcome to my new, new home.
In which I migrate from WordPress to Hugo.
What does coffee taste like?
In which I ramble about why I love good coffee, and how you can learn to love it, too.
My social media withdrawal experiment
In which I talk about why I took a hiatus from social media, and how awesome it is.
How home automation has made me a more productive remote employee
In which I dive into how home automation helps us move through our days.
My vacation rafting misadventure
In which I accidentally body-surfed a Class V rapid and things looked real grim.
Investing in good equipment
In which I recognize how important it is to have good equipment, and do something about it.
Learning to code
In which I finally decide to start my coding journey.
Looking for a new (meaningful) writing gig
In which I part ways with a long-term client and want to do something meaningful.
Unnecessarily gendered language
In which I explore why unnecessarily gendered language can be hurtful.
My strange caffeine detox journey
In which I give up my beloved caffeine. Oh dear.
Some days are harder than others
In which I reflect on what it means to be a writer.
12
Posts
writing
Docs Consolidation Project - Month Two Check-In
In which I explore lessons learned in the second month of a project to consolidate 9 docs sets.
Docs Consolidation Project - One Month Check-In
In which I explore lessons learned in the first month of a project to consolidate 9 docs sets.
What to Test In Docs Code Examples
In which I explore WHAT to test in docs code examples.
How to Test Docs Code Examples
In which I explore HOW to test docs code examples.
Benefits of Docs Writing Code Examples
In which I discuss the benefits of having a documentation team writing the code examples.
Knowing When Docs Need Updates
In which I discuss the strategies for knowing when docs need updates.
Test Docs Code Examples
In which I explore why you really need to test docs code examples.
Docs Readability Scoring
In which I automate readability scoring for documentation.
Docs-as-code workflow: the missing link; a collaboration tool
In which I wax poetic about the value of previewing a docs-as-code site.
Investing in good equipment
In which I recognize how important it is to have good equipment, and do something about it.
Choosing the best writing tool
In which I lay out a generalist approach to choosing writing tools.
Real talk: freelance/contract writing
In which I talk about the pros and cons of being a freelance technical writer.
8
Posts
business
How home automation has made me a more productive remote employee
In which I dive into how home automation helps us move through our days.
Investing in good equipment
In which I recognize how important it is to have good equipment, and do something about it.
Choosing the best writing tool
In which I lay out a generalist approach to choosing writing tools.
Real talk: freelance/contract writing
In which I talk about the pros and cons of being a freelance technical writer.
The downside of works-for-hire, NDAs and dead links
In which I lament the vagaries of showing a portfolio as a freelancer.
Looking for a new (meaningful) writing gig
In which I part ways with a long-term client and want to do something meaningful.
To business card, or not to business card
In which I don't have business cards - and may regret it?
Protecting your digital empire
In which I explore the value of protecting your digital assets.
4
Posts
lifestyle
What does coffee taste like?
In which I ramble about why I love good coffee, and how you can learn to love it, too.
My social media withdrawal experiment
In which I talk about why I took a hiatus from social media, and how awesome it is.
Investing in good equipment
In which I recognize how important it is to have good equipment, and do something about it.
My strange caffeine detox journey
In which I give up my beloved caffeine. Oh dear.
3
Posts
hackathon
Hackathon Part 3 - Charts, Charts, Charts!
In which I make a whole lotta Charts.
Hackathon Part 2 - Modeling Documentation Metadata
In which I decide how I want to structure my documentation metadata.
Hackathon Part 1 - Out of Google Sheets and Into Atlas
In which I free my data from Google Sheets.
1
Post
review
Beauty and the Beast: Why We Don’t Mess with a Classic
In which I take issue with the Hollywood treatment of this classic fairy tale.
1
Post
travel
My vacation rafting misadventure
In which I accidentally body-surfed a Class V rapid and things looked real grim.