🤔 The Worst Programmer I Know

Hey everybody!

From Google’s frantic race to catch up with OpenAI to Git tricks that'll save your sanity. We’re also talking "vibe coding" vs responsible AI dev, the worst programmer worth keeping, and more.

Let’s dive in!

Quick Links

🤔 The Worst Programmer I Know
Dan North's article flips the script on traditional views of developer productivity. He shares a story about "the worst programmer" he knew, and why he fought to keep him. This blog challenges shallow metrics and highlights the deeper value of collaboration, mentorship, and long-term team growth.

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💃 Not all AI-assisted programming is vibe coding
Simon Willison breaks down the hype around "vibe coding", a term for casually generating code with AI, and says it's being misunderstood. Not all AI-assisted coding is vibe coding, and lumping them together misses the point. In the end, he's all for non-devs being able to build small, low-stakes tools to make life easier, without needing a CS degree.

🥞 The New Three-Tier Application
This piece looks back at the rise of the three-tier architecture in the '90s, data, domain, and presentation layers, and why its modular design still matters today. It then sets the stage for a much bigger shift that’s happened more recently, especially in the domain/backend layer, over the last 15 years.

⏰ Unspoken git secrets that save you mountains of time as an engineer
This article skips the basic Git stuff and dives into lesser-known commands and configs that can seriously save you mountains of time. It covers things like jumping between branches fast, tracking down the origin of bugs, and following a function’s history over time, plus a bunch of handy bonus tips along the way.

🏃‍♂️ Google's race from behind against OpenAI has 'been like sprinting a marathon'
After ChatGPT’s explosive debut, Google reportedly gave its AI team 100 days to catch up, despite being early leaders in the space. Two years later, their Gemini models are now top contenders on platforms like Chatbot Arena. Google VP Sissie Hsiao summed it up best: "like sprinting a marathon.".

More Reading

• Improving Recommendation Systems & Search in the Age of LLMs.

• Don't Be Afraid Of Types.

• Next.js vs TanStack.

• Building an Authorized RAG Chatbot with Oso Cloud.

• What It Really Means to be a Manager, Director, or VP.

• How We Made our Rich Text Editor Load Faster.

• How Long Should Functions Be?

Your Network is your Money

Navigating today's challenging job market can feel overwhelming for junior developers.

I made this video last year, and I still think it’s really relevant. Strategic networking can be your secret weapon in transforming uncertainty into opportunity.

In this video, I reveal 5 powerful networking principles that will help you build professional connections, boost your confidence, and create a safety net of potential opportunities.

Until next week,

Travis.