Jonathan DeLaigle
@grndlvl.com
🚀 Fractional CTO & Senior Software Engineer. 15+ years building scalable systems, leading remote teams, and integrating AI into real-world workflows. https://grndlvl.tech/links
Learning a better way to do something isn't technical debt. It's an investment opportunity.
Knowledge outpaces code, and we choose what to do with that gap. Reinvest, or let it rot.
The real art is knowing when to reinvest and when to let go.
lukeplant.me.uk/blog/posts/k...
Knowledge outpaces code, and we choose what to do with that gap. Reinvest, or let it rot.
The real art is knowing when to reinvest and when to let go.
lukeplant.me.uk/blog/posts/k...
Knowledge creates technical debt
Some history on term “technical debt” and on better language to use when communicating about it.
lukeplant.me.uk
October 20, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Learning a better way to do something isn't technical debt. It's an investment opportunity.
Knowledge outpaces code, and we choose what to do with that gap. Reinvest, or let it rot.
The real art is knowing when to reinvest and when to let go.
lukeplant.me.uk/blog/posts/k...
Knowledge outpaces code, and we choose what to do with that gap. Reinvest, or let it rot.
The real art is knowing when to reinvest and when to let go.
lukeplant.me.uk/blog/posts/k...
In the pickup line again.
Naming things.
If you have to read it three times to understand it, that's not clarity -- that’s a naming problem.
Clean code starts with clear names.
#cleancode #softwareengineering
Naming things.
If you have to read it three times to understand it, that's not clarity -- that’s a naming problem.
Clean code starts with clear names.
#cleancode #softwareengineering
October 16, 2025 at 7:23 PM
In the pickup line again.
Naming things.
If you have to read it three times to understand it, that's not clarity -- that’s a naming problem.
Clean code starts with clear names.
#cleancode #softwareengineering
Naming things.
If you have to read it three times to understand it, that's not clarity -- that’s a naming problem.
Clean code starts with clear names.
#cleancode #softwareengineering
Anthropic's new paper shows that ~250 poisoned docs (~420k tokens, about the size of A Game of Thrones) can backdoor models from 600M to 13B parameters.
Turns out scale doesn't equal safety.
Turns out scale doesn't equal safety.
October 14, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Anthropic's new paper shows that ~250 poisoned docs (~420k tokens, about the size of A Game of Thrones) can backdoor models from 600M to 13B parameters.
Turns out scale doesn't equal safety.
Turns out scale doesn't equal safety.
Document what’s not being migrated too.
You’ll be amazed what gets left behind when no one writes it down.
#datamigration #engineering
You’ll be amazed what gets left behind when no one writes it down.
#datamigration #engineering
October 9, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Document what’s not being migrated too.
You’ll be amazed what gets left behind when no one writes it down.
#datamigration #engineering
You’ll be amazed what gets left behind when no one writes it down.
#datamigration #engineering
You're either an empathetic manager or a ruthless one.
Or so the article claimed.
After a decade leading teams, I've learned real leadership lives in the space between heart and execution.
#leadership #engineeringmanagement
Or so the article claimed.
After a decade leading teams, I've learned real leadership lives in the space between heart and execution.
#leadership #engineeringmanagement
October 9, 2025 at 9:07 PM
You're either an empathetic manager or a ruthless one.
Or so the article claimed.
After a decade leading teams, I've learned real leadership lives in the space between heart and execution.
#leadership #engineeringmanagement
Or so the article claimed.
After a decade leading teams, I've learned real leadership lives in the space between heart and execution.
#leadership #engineeringmanagement
One config to rule them all.
AGENTS.md is known everywhere as the README.md for AI coding agents.
One file. All agents. Shared understanding.
#AI #SoftwareEngineering #DevOps #LLM #Automation
AGENTS.md is known everywhere as the README.md for AI coding agents.
One file. All agents. Shared understanding.
#AI #SoftwareEngineering #DevOps #LLM #Automation
AGENTS.md
AGENTS.md is a simple, open format for guiding coding agents. Think of it as a README for agents.
AGENTS.md
October 8, 2025 at 9:46 PM
One config to rule them all.
AGENTS.md is known everywhere as the README.md for AI coding agents.
One file. All agents. Shared understanding.
#AI #SoftwareEngineering #DevOps #LLM #Automation
AGENTS.md is known everywhere as the README.md for AI coding agents.
One file. All agents. Shared understanding.
#AI #SoftwareEngineering #DevOps #LLM #Automation
AI code generation is speeding ahead, but so is the cleanup.
Without experienced engineers guiding it, all we get is slop at scale.
#AIEngineering #SoftwareDevelopment #devlife
Without experienced engineers guiding it, all we get is slop at scale.
#AIEngineering #SoftwareDevelopment #devlife
October 7, 2025 at 11:43 AM
AI code generation is speeding ahead, but so is the cleanup.
Without experienced engineers guiding it, all we get is slop at scale.
#AIEngineering #SoftwareDevelopment #devlife
Without experienced engineers guiding it, all we get is slop at scale.
#AIEngineering #SoftwareDevelopment #devlife
So very true. All those little things that just aren't worth the effort are now possible.
My personal anecdote on the impact of AI (aka Claude Code + Cursor)
There was this tool I wanted to build that would have helped my business a little bit at @pragmaticengineer.com, but not enough to
1. Do it myself (would have taken ~days)
2. Hire someone (too much onboarding)
But...
There was this tool I wanted to build that would have helped my business a little bit at @pragmaticengineer.com, but not enough to
1. Do it myself (would have taken ~days)
2. Hire someone (too much onboarding)
But...
October 2, 2025 at 12:40 AM
So very true. All those little things that just aren't worth the effort are now possible.
AI agents should already be your new team member. They are here to stay. They accelerate workflows, but still need human oversight. How are you putting them to use?
October 1, 2025 at 9:43 PM
AI agents should already be your new team member. They are here to stay. They accelerate workflows, but still need human oversight. How are you putting them to use?
In the pickup line. From the desk today: the coding agent is just a super fast junior dev. Turns out, the magic trick is still writing a solid ticket.
#InThePickupLine
#InThePickupLine
September 30, 2025 at 8:58 PM
In the pickup line. From the desk today: the coding agent is just a super fast junior dev. Turns out, the magic trick is still writing a solid ticket.
#InThePickupLine
#InThePickupLine
A coding agent is not a silver bullet. Think of it as a junior developer that never sleeps. You still provide the context, set the standards, and review the code.
Break work into atomic tasks, be specific, and you will see the gains. Even a 10 percent boost in efficiency is worth it.
#AI
Break work into atomic tasks, be specific, and you will see the gains. Even a 10 percent boost in efficiency is worth it.
#AI
September 30, 2025 at 5:41 PM
A coding agent is not a silver bullet. Think of it as a junior developer that never sleeps. You still provide the context, set the standards, and review the code.
Break work into atomic tasks, be specific, and you will see the gains. Even a 10 percent boost in efficiency is worth it.
#AI
Break work into atomic tasks, be specific, and you will see the gains. Even a 10 percent boost in efficiency is worth it.
#AI
🔴 📰 Going live "System Boot: Before Dawn — Tech + AI Reads" Come join me on Twitch https//www.twitch.... (also on YT + Kick)
September 30, 2025 at 9:46 AM
🔴 📰 Going live "System Boot: Before Dawn — Tech + AI Reads" Come join me on Twitch https//www.twitch.... (also on YT + Kick)
The "best" solution depends on project values -- speed, scale, or simplicity. Don’t dismiss ideas too quick.
#InThePickupLine #DevLife
#InThePickupLine #DevLife
September 29, 2025 at 8:28 PM
The "best" solution depends on project values -- speed, scale, or simplicity. Don’t dismiss ideas too quick.
#InThePickupLine #DevLife
#InThePickupLine #DevLife
There isn’t always a single "best" solution in software. It depends on the moment and the values guiding the project. Taste in engineering is really about weighing tradeoffs, not chasing universal rules.
What is "good taste" in software engineering?
--
www.seangoedecke.com
September 29, 2025 at 5:58 PM
There isn’t always a single "best" solution in software. It depends on the moment and the values guiding the project. Taste in engineering is really about weighing tradeoffs, not chasing universal rules.
If you broke the build, it’s your job to fix the build. Even if it wasn’t your fault. 🚗
In the pick up line. Full playlist on YouTube — link in bio.
#InThePickupLine #DevOps
In the pick up line. Full playlist on YouTube — link in bio.
#InThePickupLine #DevOps
September 26, 2025 at 7:23 PM
If you broke the build, it’s your job to fix the build. Even if it wasn’t your fault. 🚗
In the pick up line. Full playlist on YouTube — link in bio.
#InThePickupLine #DevOps
In the pick up line. Full playlist on YouTube — link in bio.
#InThePickupLine #DevOps
The vibes in tech are shaky right now -- AI anxiety, layoffs, RTO mandates.
I can’t change those forces. What I can do:
- Be real with my team
- Create small flexes that make life easier
- Keep my corner of tech a place worth working
How do you lead when the vibes are off?
I can’t change those forces. What I can do:
- Be real with my team
- Create small flexes that make life easier
- Keep my corner of tech a place worth working
How do you lead when the vibes are off?
September 26, 2025 at 5:54 PM
The vibes in tech are shaky right now -- AI anxiety, layoffs, RTO mandates.
I can’t change those forces. What I can do:
- Be real with my team
- Create small flexes that make life easier
- Keep my corner of tech a place worth working
How do you lead when the vibes are off?
I can’t change those forces. What I can do:
- Be real with my team
- Create small flexes that make life easier
- Keep my corner of tech a place worth working
How do you lead when the vibes are off?
Docker highlights an MCP risk I see often: "instruction vs. data ambiguity."
A harmless request like "create alt tags" can domino into escalation if we are not careful.
Docker provides secure defaults. We still need to:
• Sanitize inputs
• Scope permissions
• Control tools
• Log everything
A harmless request like "create alt tags" can domino into escalation if we are not careful.
Docker provides secure defaults. We still need to:
• Sanitize inputs
• Scope permissions
• Control tools
• Log everything
September 24, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Docker highlights an MCP risk I see often: "instruction vs. data ambiguity."
A harmless request like "create alt tags" can domino into escalation if we are not careful.
Docker provides secure defaults. We still need to:
• Sanitize inputs
• Scope permissions
• Control tools
• Log everything
A harmless request like "create alt tags" can domino into escalation if we are not careful.
Docker provides secure defaults. We still need to:
• Sanitize inputs
• Scope permissions
• Control tools
• Log everything
I just read through Lee Robinson’s list of beliefs. A few hit especially hard for me: grit > talent, writing is everything, leaders stay in the trenches, and empathy leads.
These aren’t just beliefs, they’re practices.
What principles guide the way you lead and build?
These aren’t just beliefs, they’re practices.
What principles guide the way you lead and build?
September 23, 2025 at 5:19 PM
I just read through Lee Robinson’s list of beliefs. A few hit especially hard for me: grit > talent, writing is everything, leaders stay in the trenches, and empathy leads.
These aren’t just beliefs, they’re practices.
What principles guide the way you lead and build?
These aren’t just beliefs, they’re practices.
What principles guide the way you lead and build?
Stop typing cd ../../.. ✋
Add these bash aliases instead — I’ve used them for 10+ years:
alias ...='cd ../..'
alias ....='cd ../../..'
Simple → huge time saver.
🎥 youtu.be/8P2xAn3KvVo?...
📄 gist.github.com/grndlvl/de10...
#Bash #DevTips #Linux
Add these bash aliases instead — I’ve used them for 10+ years:
alias ...='cd ../..'
alias ....='cd ../../..'
Simple → huge time saver.
🎥 youtu.be/8P2xAn3KvVo?...
📄 gist.github.com/grndlvl/de10...
#Bash #DevTips #Linux
Bash Alias Hack: Faster Directory Traversal
YouTube video by Jonathan DeLaigle
youtu.be
September 23, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Stop typing cd ../../.. ✋
Add these bash aliases instead — I’ve used them for 10+ years:
alias ...='cd ../..'
alias ....='cd ../../..'
Simple → huge time saver.
🎥 youtu.be/8P2xAn3KvVo?...
📄 gist.github.com/grndlvl/de10...
#Bash #DevTips #Linux
Add these bash aliases instead — I’ve used them for 10+ years:
alias ...='cd ../..'
alias ....='cd ../../..'
Simple → huge time saver.
🎥 youtu.be/8P2xAn3KvVo?...
📄 gist.github.com/grndlvl/de10...
#Bash #DevTips #Linux
🔴 Going live now: Turning hundreds of blog posts into a browsable AI hub Embeddings → Clusters → Next.js Watch + learn 📷https://twitch.tv/grndlvltech (Also on YT & Kick) #AI #LiveCoding
September 23, 2025 at 8:47 AM
🔴 Going live now: Turning hundreds of blog posts into a browsable AI hub Embeddings → Clusters → Next.js Watch + learn 📷https://twitch.tv/grndlvltech (Also on YT & Kick) #AI #LiveCoding
AI just placed in the top 10 of a forecasting competition -- better than most humans.
Makes me wonder: how will forecasting reshape engineering? Timelines, bugs, infrastructure, capacity... all predicted before they break.
time.com/7318577/ai-m...
Makes me wonder: how will forecasting reshape engineering? Timelines, bugs, infrastructure, capacity... all predicted before they break.
time.com/7318577/ai-m...
September 22, 2025 at 6:12 PM
AI just placed in the top 10 of a forecasting competition -- better than most humans.
Makes me wonder: how will forecasting reshape engineering? Timelines, bugs, infrastructure, capacity... all predicted before they break.
time.com/7318577/ai-m...
Makes me wonder: how will forecasting reshape engineering? Timelines, bugs, infrastructure, capacity... all predicted before they break.
time.com/7318577/ai-m...
My Monday reset ritual: coffee, scan inbox, top 3 outcomes, done.
What’s yours?
www.tiktok.com/@grndlvl/vid...
What’s yours?
www.tiktok.com/@grndlvl/vid...
My Monday reset: coffee, inbox, calendar, and simple 3-item to-do. Inbox -> Action ✅️ #monday #mondayreset #worktok #productivity
TikTok video by Jonathan DeLaigle
www.tiktok.com
September 22, 2025 at 1:42 PM
My Monday reset ritual: coffee, scan inbox, top 3 outcomes, done.
What’s yours?
www.tiktok.com/@grndlvl/vid...
What’s yours?
www.tiktok.com/@grndlvl/vid...
AI doesn’t just solve. It schemes.
Apollo & OpenAI cut deception 30×, but models still hide and spot tests.
Not surprised -- machines give us what we want, any way they can.
youtu.be/5UtuHzfZmhE?...
Apollo & OpenAI cut deception 30×, but models still hide and spot tests.
Not surprised -- machines give us what we want, any way they can.
youtu.be/5UtuHzfZmhE?...
Can We Train AI to Be Less Deceptive?
YouTube video by Apollo Research
youtu.be
September 20, 2025 at 12:10 PM
AI doesn’t just solve. It schemes.
Apollo & OpenAI cut deception 30×, but models still hide and spot tests.
Not surprised -- machines give us what we want, any way they can.
youtu.be/5UtuHzfZmhE?...
Apollo & OpenAI cut deception 30×, but models still hide and spot tests.
Not surprised -- machines give us what we want, any way they can.
youtu.be/5UtuHzfZmhE?...
Coding agents aren’t replacing engineers. They’re helping with boilerplate, debugging, and onboarding so we can focus on architecture and design.
How are you weaving them into your team’s daily workflow?
#CodingAgents #SoftwareEngineering
How are you weaving them into your team’s daily workflow?
#CodingAgents #SoftwareEngineering
September 19, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Coding agents aren’t replacing engineers. They’re helping with boilerplate, debugging, and onboarding so we can focus on architecture and design.
How are you weaving them into your team’s daily workflow?
#CodingAgents #SoftwareEngineering
How are you weaving them into your team’s daily workflow?
#CodingAgents #SoftwareEngineering