Bruce Johnston
@brucejdragon.bsky.social
Software engineer @ Microsoft. Gitx̲san on xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, səlilwətaɬ, & Sḵwx̱wú7mesh unceded territory. Opinions are my own. 🌿🌈🌙✨
Pinned
Bruce Johnston
@brucejdragon.bsky.social
· Nov 20
👋 Another platform, another intro.
I’m Bruce, a member of the Gitxsan First Nation and a software engineer at Microsoft.
I’m currently working on a compiler for a highly distributed data-parallel language. Before that, I worked on Azure AI Search for nearly a decade.
1/3
I’m Bruce, a member of the Gitxsan First Nation and a software engineer at Microsoft.
I’m currently working on a compiler for a highly distributed data-parallel language. Before that, I worked on Azure AI Search for nearly a decade.
1/3
To use an analogy from my day job, why hire an army of SREs to handle live-site incidents when you could fix the bugs that caused them in the first place?
I’d call policy decisions like this the result of brain rot if I didn’t also think they were the result of the greed inherent in our system.
I’d call policy decisions like this the result of brain rot if I didn’t also think they were the result of the greed inherent in our system.
Let’s just say Ken Sim didn’t get my vote last time, and he’s not getting my vote next time either.
As we continue to discuss police resources, I keep thinking about what happened on my street this past summer.
(Police say man arrested was sitting inside car reportedly stolen.)
(Police say man arrested was sitting inside car reportedly stolen.)
November 18, 2025 at 8:26 PM
To use an analogy from my day job, why hire an army of SREs to handle live-site incidents when you could fix the bugs that caused them in the first place?
I’d call policy decisions like this the result of brain rot if I didn’t also think they were the result of the greed inherent in our system.
I’d call policy decisions like this the result of brain rot if I didn’t also think they were the result of the greed inherent in our system.
Let’s just say Ken Sim didn’t get my vote last time, and he’s not getting my vote next time either.
As we continue to discuss police resources, I keep thinking about what happened on my street this past summer.
(Police say man arrested was sitting inside car reportedly stolen.)
(Police say man arrested was sitting inside car reportedly stolen.)
November 18, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Let’s just say Ken Sim didn’t get my vote last time, and he’s not getting my vote next time either.
TIL that empty #fsharp interfaces don't do what you think they do when compiling to TypeScript with Fable. TypeScript uses structural typing, so empty interfaces match with just about anything. If not a bug, this is definitely a violation of the Principle of Least Surprise. 1/2
November 18, 2025 at 4:10 AM
TIL that empty #fsharp interfaces don't do what you think they do when compiling to TypeScript with Fable. TypeScript uses structural typing, so empty interfaces match with just about anything. If not a bug, this is definitely a violation of the Principle of Least Surprise. 1/2
Reposted by Bruce Johnston
Trying to measure coding productivity is, and always will be, a fool's errand.
Why? Because I can go for a walk then take a shower and have an idea, then write a single line of code that fixes everything I was working on.
Immense productivity, but by most metrics I didn't do anything at all.
Why? Because I can go for a walk then take a shower and have an idea, then write a single line of code that fixes everything I was working on.
Immense productivity, but by most metrics I didn't do anything at all.
November 16, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Trying to measure coding productivity is, and always will be, a fool's errand.
Why? Because I can go for a walk then take a shower and have an idea, then write a single line of code that fixes everything I was working on.
Immense productivity, but by most metrics I didn't do anything at all.
Why? Because I can go for a walk then take a shower and have an idea, then write a single line of code that fixes everything I was working on.
Immense productivity, but by most metrics I didn't do anything at all.
Reposted by Bruce Johnston
“We adopted #rustlang for its security and are seeing a 1000x reduction in memory safety vulnerability density ... with Rust changes having a 4x lower rollback rate and spending 25% less time in code review, the safer path is now also the faster one.”
security.googleblog.com/2025/11/rust...
security.googleblog.com/2025/11/rust...
Rust in Android: move fast and fix things
Posted by Jeff Vander Stoep, Android Last year, we wrote about why a memory safety strategy that focuses on vulnerability prevention in ...
security.googleblog.com
November 13, 2025 at 7:52 PM
“We adopted #rustlang for its security and are seeing a 1000x reduction in memory safety vulnerability density ... with Rust changes having a 4x lower rollback rate and spending 25% less time in code review, the safer path is now also the faster one.”
security.googleblog.com/2025/11/rust...
security.googleblog.com/2025/11/rust...
Reposted by Bruce Johnston
The most common things engineering leaders think will make dev teams go faster actually have the opposite effect.
codemanship.wordpress.com/2025/11/13/t...
codemanship.wordpress.com/2025/11/13/t...
The Seven Deadly Sins of “Go Faster”
Things that will make your dev team take longer to deliver worse software:1. Adding more people to the team2. Making them work longer hours3. Cutting down on work that “slows them down”…
codemanship.wordpress.com
November 13, 2025 at 6:42 AM
The most common things engineering leaders think will make dev teams go faster actually have the opposite effect.
codemanship.wordpress.com/2025/11/13/t...
codemanship.wordpress.com/2025/11/13/t...
Reposted by Bruce Johnston
Mark Carney is about to announce more of his “elbows up” major projects.
But under the surface, one that’s being sold as an Indigenous-led LNG project is actually — spoiler — American as hell.
That’s not even the worst part!
@emilylowan.bsky.social joined me to discuss:
But under the surface, one that’s being sold as an Indigenous-led LNG project is actually — spoiler — American as hell.
That’s not even the worst part!
@emilylowan.bsky.social joined me to discuss:
November 13, 2025 at 12:12 AM
Mark Carney is about to announce more of his “elbows up” major projects.
But under the surface, one that’s being sold as an Indigenous-led LNG project is actually — spoiler — American as hell.
That’s not even the worst part!
@emilylowan.bsky.social joined me to discuss:
But under the surface, one that’s being sold as an Indigenous-led LNG project is actually — spoiler — American as hell.
That’s not even the worst part!
@emilylowan.bsky.social joined me to discuss:
Reposted by Bruce Johnston
CBC once again called the Ksi Lisims LNG project “Indigenous-led” on the National last night, despite the fact that it’s 100% American-owned by a Texas shell company, Western LNG.
Yikes!!!!!
Anyway, here’s a very funny video that breaks this down: youtu.be/Lt6Hmp9ndkI?...
Yikes!!!!!
Anyway, here’s a very funny video that breaks this down: youtu.be/Lt6Hmp9ndkI?...
Honest Government Ad | Watch out, Canada
YouTube video by thejuicemedia
youtu.be
November 12, 2025 at 4:33 PM
CBC once again called the Ksi Lisims LNG project “Indigenous-led” on the National last night, despite the fact that it’s 100% American-owned by a Texas shell company, Western LNG.
Yikes!!!!!
Anyway, here’s a very funny video that breaks this down: youtu.be/Lt6Hmp9ndkI?...
Yikes!!!!!
Anyway, here’s a very funny video that breaks this down: youtu.be/Lt6Hmp9ndkI?...
Reposted by Bruce Johnston
Shader systems are ridiculously powerful if you’re clever enough.
Most people use them to create visual effects. You know what’s cooler?
Running Linux.
Inside an emulated RISC-V CPU. Inside a pixel shader. Inside of VRChat...
Most people use them to create visual effects. You know what’s cooler?
Running Linux.
Inside an emulated RISC-V CPU. Inside a pixel shader. Inside of VRChat...
November 10, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Shader systems are ridiculously powerful if you’re clever enough.
Most people use them to create visual effects. You know what’s cooler?
Running Linux.
Inside an emulated RISC-V CPU. Inside a pixel shader. Inside of VRChat...
Most people use them to create visual effects. You know what’s cooler?
Running Linux.
Inside an emulated RISC-V CPU. Inside a pixel shader. Inside of VRChat...
Reposted by Bruce Johnston
“Our soldiers fought for the shared values of freedom and democratic rights for all. However, these soldiers returned from the war and quickly realized those freedoms and rights did not equally apply to them as they did their non-native comrades.”
#IndigenousVeteransDay
Lest We Forget
#IndigenousVeteransDay
Lest We Forget
A reflection on First Nations contributions to WW I and WW II | CBC News
Our soldiers fought for the shared values of freedom and democratic rights for all, but these soldiers returned from the war and quickly realized those freedoms and rights did not equally apply to the...
www.cbc.ca
November 8, 2025 at 4:42 PM
“Our soldiers fought for the shared values of freedom and democratic rights for all. However, these soldiers returned from the war and quickly realized those freedoms and rights did not equally apply to them as they did their non-native comrades.”
#IndigenousVeteransDay
Lest We Forget
#IndigenousVeteransDay
Lest We Forget
Reposted by Bruce Johnston
Hi #fsharp we *might* consider changing a default in Fantomas: github.com/fsprojects/f...
Please let us know what you think.
Please let us know what you think.
[Poll] Consider changing the default of fsharp_multiline_bracket_style · Issue #3200 · fsprojects/fantomas
Hello everyone, I recently had a conversation about how Fantomas formats records by default (fsharp_multiline_bracket_style = cramped). There’s a configuration setting for this: fsharp_multiline_br...
github.com
November 8, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Hi #fsharp we *might* consider changing a default in Fantomas: github.com/fsprojects/f...
Please let us know what you think.
Please let us know what you think.
Reposted by Bruce Johnston
The lesson of history is that tyrants cannot be appeased.
Appeasement only feeds their insatiable hunger for power.
Tyrants prey on people who feel unsafe and vulnerable.
But without mass submission, a tyrant is powerless.
Remember this.
Appeasement only feeds their insatiable hunger for power.
Tyrants prey on people who feel unsafe and vulnerable.
But without mass submission, a tyrant is powerless.
Remember this.
November 5, 2025 at 5:28 AM
The lesson of history is that tyrants cannot be appeased.
Appeasement only feeds their insatiable hunger for power.
Tyrants prey on people who feel unsafe and vulnerable.
But without mass submission, a tyrant is powerless.
Remember this.
Appeasement only feeds their insatiable hunger for power.
Tyrants prey on people who feel unsafe and vulnerable.
But without mass submission, a tyrant is powerless.
Remember this.
Another Half-life Histories topic for @khill.bsky.social ?
The reason we know Radiation causes bit-flips in DRAM is pretty hilarious.
In the late 70s, Intel Ram was occasionally producing soft, uncorrectable errors.
Turns out, the ceramic packaging on the chip itself had a little bit of Uranium.
You know, as one does.
In the late 70s, Intel Ram was occasionally producing soft, uncorrectable errors.
Turns out, the ceramic packaging on the chip itself had a little bit of Uranium.
You know, as one does.
November 3, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Another Half-life Histories topic for @khill.bsky.social ?
Reposted by Bruce Johnston
New on the blog: Think for Yourself
"You're about to commit a chunk of LLM-generated code into your product's codebase. Before you do, however, pause to consider and act on these questions."
kevlinhenney.medium.com/think-for-yo...
"You're about to commit a chunk of LLM-generated code into your product's codebase. Before you do, however, pause to consider and act on these questions."
kevlinhenney.medium.com/think-for-yo...
Think for Yourself
Understand and improve on LLM-generated code
kevlinhenney.medium.com
November 3, 2025 at 9:43 AM
New on the blog: Think for Yourself
"You're about to commit a chunk of LLM-generated code into your product's codebase. Before you do, however, pause to consider and act on these questions."
kevlinhenney.medium.com/think-for-yo...
"You're about to commit a chunk of LLM-generated code into your product's codebase. Before you do, however, pause to consider and act on these questions."
kevlinhenney.medium.com/think-for-yo...
Reposted by Bruce Johnston
Parents - check your halloween candy carefully. Someone may try to teach your kids the C programming language
October 31, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Parents - check your halloween candy carefully. Someone may try to teach your kids the C programming language
Reposted by Bruce Johnston
I have been charged in a federal indictment sought by the Department of Justice.
This political prosecution is an attack on all of our First Amendment rights. I’m not backing down, and we’re going to win.
This political prosecution is an attack on all of our First Amendment rights. I’m not backing down, and we’re going to win.
October 29, 2025 at 4:55 PM
I have been charged in a federal indictment sought by the Department of Justice.
This political prosecution is an attack on all of our First Amendment rights. I’m not backing down, and we’re going to win.
This political prosecution is an attack on all of our First Amendment rights. I’m not backing down, and we’re going to win.
Reposted by Bruce Johnston
I was using the same 2024 article in videos a lil while back to cite that wealth inequality in Canada had reached record highs in 2024.
Fun update: there's now a 2025 article about how wealth inequality has reached record highs this year!
Wheeeeeeeeee
Fun update: there's now a 2025 article about how wealth inequality has reached record highs this year!
Wheeeeeeeeee
October 29, 2025 at 5:39 PM
I was using the same 2024 article in videos a lil while back to cite that wealth inequality in Canada had reached record highs in 2024.
Fun update: there's now a 2025 article about how wealth inequality has reached record highs this year!
Wheeeeeeeeee
Fun update: there's now a 2025 article about how wealth inequality has reached record highs this year!
Wheeeeeeeeee
Reposted by Bruce Johnston
Rick Harp @mediaindigena.bsky.social tonight at the BFF symposium at UBC-Vancouver:
"Indigenous language revitalization is climate change solution."
A glorious possibility. And we have also to deal with oligarch nihilism for our planet and for all of the Peoples. Begin by disbelieving them.
"Indigenous language revitalization is climate change solution."
A glorious possibility. And we have also to deal with oligarch nihilism for our planet and for all of the Peoples. Begin by disbelieving them.
Beyond Fires & Floods (BFF): Indigenous Narratives in an Era of Extremes - UBCevents
How have Indigenous narratives helped Indigenous peoples cope with and confront climate change? What does it mean to see and story climate change not so much as a problem, but […]
events.ubc.ca
October 25, 2025 at 5:05 AM
Rick Harp @mediaindigena.bsky.social tonight at the BFF symposium at UBC-Vancouver:
"Indigenous language revitalization is climate change solution."
A glorious possibility. And we have also to deal with oligarch nihilism for our planet and for all of the Peoples. Begin by disbelieving them.
"Indigenous language revitalization is climate change solution."
A glorious possibility. And we have also to deal with oligarch nihilism for our planet and for all of the Peoples. Begin by disbelieving them.
Reposted by Bruce Johnston
She cooked & correct ✅
October 8, 2025 at 12:09 PM
She cooked & correct ✅
I know it won’t happen, but wouldn’t it be great if the budget included a wealth tax? Pretty sure the Liberals would at least get NDP support for that. It would suck to have another election so soon because Mr. Carney won’t think outside the box…
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
Liberal House leader ‘starting to worry’ about support for upcoming budget | CBC News
Liberal House leader Steve MacKinnon signalled Tuesday that he’s concerned the government’s budget might not get support from the opposition benches, while at the same time dismissing some demands oth...
www.cbc.ca
October 21, 2025 at 8:20 PM
I know it won’t happen, but wouldn’t it be great if the budget included a wealth tax? Pretty sure the Liberals would at least get NDP support for that. It would suck to have another election so soon because Mr. Carney won’t think outside the box…
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
I’m looking at adding animation to the family tree visualization I’m working on. I quickly realized it dramatically increases the complexity of my code, but after some reflection I wonder if it’s because I chose an MVU architecture. I’m looking at ECS (Entity Component System) as an alternative. 1/2
October 21, 2025 at 6:54 PM
I’m looking at adding animation to the family tree visualization I’m working on. I quickly realized it dramatically increases the complexity of my code, but after some reflection I wonder if it’s because I chose an MVU architecture. I’m looking at ECS (Entity Component System) as an alternative. 1/2
Awesome talk. I had actually never heard of Sketchpad before this. It was remarkably innovative. It’s fascinating to see what lessons were taken from that project, and which were seemingly ignored.
It’s 2.5 hours, but well worth it if you care about software architecture.
youtu.be/wo84LFzx5nI?...
It’s 2.5 hours, but well worth it if you care about software architecture.
youtu.be/wo84LFzx5nI?...
Casey Muratori – The Big OOPs: Anatomy of a Thirty-five-year Mistake – BSC 2025
YouTube video by Better Software Conference
youtu.be
October 20, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Awesome talk. I had actually never heard of Sketchpad before this. It was remarkably innovative. It’s fascinating to see what lessons were taken from that project, and which were seemingly ignored.
It’s 2.5 hours, but well worth it if you care about software architecture.
youtu.be/wo84LFzx5nI?...
It’s 2.5 hours, but well worth it if you care about software architecture.
youtu.be/wo84LFzx5nI?...
“Technologies like LLMs have utility, but the absurd way they've been over-hyped, the fact they're being forced on everyone, and the insistence on ignoring the many valid critiques about them make it very difficult to focus on legitimate uses where they might add value.”
💯
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Okay, for the folks who asked: here's the majority AI view, writing up the reasonable, thoughtful view on AI that the vast majority of people in tech hold, that gets overshadowed by the bluster and hype of the tycoons trying to shill their nonsense. anildash.com/2025/10/17/t... Please share!
The Majority AI View - Anil Dash
A blog about making culture. Since 1999.
anildash.com
October 19, 2025 at 12:11 AM
“Technologies like LLMs have utility, but the absurd way they've been over-hyped, the fact they're being forced on everyone, and the insistence on ignoring the many valid critiques about them make it very difficult to focus on legitimate uses where they might add value.”
💯
💯
Reposted by Bruce Johnston
After almost two centuries, a First Nation in British Columbia is getting some land back from the federal government.
Snuneymuxw First Nation is getting some land back, $42 million in compensation | APTN News
YouTube video by APTN News
youtu.be
October 17, 2025 at 6:08 PM
After almost two centuries, a First Nation in British Columbia is getting some land back from the federal government.
Investigative journalism about poor OpSec is my favourite kind of journalism.
Our investigative folks at the Fifth Estate having been trying for months to get the province to talk about a leak of thousands of Interior Health employees’ personal information, and who was responsible.
The response from Health Minister Josie Osborne is not exactly inspirational.
The response from Health Minister Josie Osborne is not exactly inspirational.
October 16, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Investigative journalism about poor OpSec is my favourite kind of journalism.