Jonathan Barrett

A thought: one of the “killer apps” for coding agents is that anyone can build any app that they need. But that was never the capital-H Hard part. That’s building a single app that enough people will pay for. That’s still hard and still valid, for the same reason most people will never use Linux.

I’m seeing a split between coders who get their buzz from inspiring users, and coders who get their buzz from inspiring coders

The sports bar. www.relativesanity.com/articles/the...

“Hang around a group of engineers for any amount of time, and eventually one will tell you how hard it is to name things.” www.relativesanity.com/articles/con...

You know, back in the day I used to have more fun with computers. I don't think it's just nostalgia though, I think it's something worth digging up again. www.relativesanity.com/articles/gold/

Plans are great, but sometimes they only arrive after the first attempt. www.relativesanity.com/articles/no-...

2025 ended up having quite the story to tell me: www.relativesanity.com/articles/jus...

Imagine if we invented the largest, most complete, up to date, and accessible store of human knowledge in history, and our preferred interface was… a casino? www.relativesanity.com/articles/the...

I went to see Andy Goldsworthy's retrospective in Edinburgh recently, and have been trying to put the experience into words ever since. Here's where I ended up. www.relativesanity.com/articles/gol...

The guisers (and Guys) may be done, but we're still definitely in orange-leaves-and-decorative-gourds season in Scotland. Take a break from the grind with some dangerously tasty (and just plain dangerous, frankly) hot chocolate. www.relativesanity.com/articles/hot...

As we stare down yet another Monday, struggling to wrap our heads around why it's dark at 5pm, what if there was some magic spell we could intone to reframe things a little more positively? Or, in other words, How are you doing today? www.relativesanity.com/articles/pos...

I get asked about how I used to do lists and task managers to stay organised. I could never answer well as things kept changing. Things still keep changing, but I have found an answer: I've stopped trying to stay organised; I'm getting more done than ever. www.relativesanity.com/articles/sys...

The "AI Browser" is the current generation's Internet Fridge. Both these things are useful! That doesn't mean combining them will be more useful!

A swift one for everyone who's working remotely this Friday afternoon, and maybe decided to get out for a change of scene. www.relativesanity.com/articles/wai...

Sometimes, mornings are things you just need to let happen. Especially when they're armed and have that look in their eye. www.relativesanity.com/articles/mor...

Here's a nice Sunday read: an article in defence of processes www.relativesanity.com/articles/pro...

The irony of my longest article in ages tackling the subject of nobody having "enough time" is not lost on me. It might even be part of the point, especially as I eventually propose a solution :) www.relativesanity.com/articles/no-...

Curious: I have a bunch of things I’m keen to write about, but wonder what people would be most interested in hearing my take on?

Saying it now: I like iOS 26 in general but THE BEST feature is call screening. Absolutely changes my relationship with phone calls.

Disappearing back down the notemaking app rabbit hole. Again. Obsidian is such a power tool, but mobile sync is just too hit and miss. Giving @bearnotesapp.bsky.social another shot. It really is the prettiest app, and like Things, it may be that simplicity beats options every time.

Being caught in a recent round of redundancies is a rollercoaster. But I'm fine, honestly. (no seriously, I'm fine) www.relativesanity.com/articles/fix...

Back to BrewDog on Lothian Road for this evening’s Shore Leave! Join me between around 6pm and 8pm if you fancy a chat and catchup.

So this week's Shore Leave is back in Edinburgh, and will likely(*) be in Brew Dog, Lothian Road. I'll be there from about 6pm with my book and a pint. Come chat! (*) assuming it's not too busy and I can score a table. Any change of venue, I'll post here as soon as I can with an update :)

"Don't call it a podcast!" Seriously, it's not a podcast(*), but I figured I'd try something new with today's article 🎧 www.relativesanity.com/articles/hel... (*) … yet :)

Some quick thoughts on what turns out to be my "hundredth" article on my blog. www.relativesanity.com/articles/aul...

Been playing about with kindavim.app for the last couple of weeks. I think I like it? Still struggling to get it under my fingers, but when I remember to use it it’s pretty awesome…

I used to do this thing called "office hours" where I'd be in a predictable pub at a predictable time once a week. It was a great way to keep up with folk who were about. I'm relaunching this and rebranding to "Shore Leave"! ⛵️⚓️🍻 First one's tomorrow from about 6pm, Blackbird, Edinburgh

I was literally thinking about getting back into the trackball game (loved mine back in 2005), and ZSA drops this in my email inbox. Are these guys watching my Amazon search history or what? www.zsa.io/voyager/navi...

"This one weird trick can boost your productivity!" But what even is "productivity", and how can we make sure it's actually helpful? I have thoughts. www.relativesanity.com/articles/mea...

Damn. My school was all Macs, but I remember the physics department had a Windows PC, and Eno’s startup chime gave me chills. Still does. Utterly perfect sound design.

Oh my. www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XGe...

I've written before about the power of just saying nothing, but I love having this story to share from my early days as an engineering manager. Ten years sure flies by when you're having fun! www.relativesanity.com/articles/sil...

Some thoughts on tools, effort, and (yes, again), AI www.relativesanity.com/articles/eff...

You know, my opinions on LLMs change almost as often as my socks, but this feels like it captures where I’m at right now. Who knows how long I’ll stay there! www.relativesanity.com/articles/ai-...

I’m also definitely excited for Liquid Glass, but as someone who’s homescreen literally looks like this right now, it’s going to be a jolt… #wwdc

I recently bailed on the iPad to double down on the Mac. While I'm excited for the advanced iPadOS features announced at #wwdc, in many ways they reinforce my decision. I was excited about a new way of computing via a tablet, but the new way increasingly looks like the old way. And maybe that's ok?

Productivity can come from finding good tools and learning how to use them well, but is there anything more? I reckon so: www.relativesanity.com/articles/unp...

For various reasons, maximising my ability to concentrate and focus has been on my mind a lot lately. So, does that mean I'm going to start rocking a Nokia brick and revert to notebook and pen? Not quite yet: www.relativesanity.com/articles/eve...

Edinburgh folks: I have a couple of iPad Pro keyboards looking for a new home (white for M2 11”, black for M4 13”). If interested, drop me a reply or DM me an offer

REGENT TERRACE:—Fond farewell outside No. 3. #Edinburgh #hyperlocal #news

Thoroughly enjoying these radio shows/curated playlists from Brian Eno on Apple Music music.apple.com/gb/curator/a...

This this this. So much this! For most of human history the only way to ingest stories (fact or fiction) was to have someone tell them to you.

@gruber.foo that Aperture 3 site is wild. Craziest thing I’d forgotten? Flickr button right there in the toolbar.

You know, I’m not sure who found the time machine back to 2010, but I sure am glad the folks at @bsky.app managed to channel its energy into this place.