Robert Smallshire
@robert.smallshire.no
Founding Tubetrain 🚀. Building Demonstrable® at Sixty North. Director for lithium explorer Transition Elements. "utterly competent". Geoscience PhD. 330 ppm CO₂. Caver. 🇳🇴🇬🇧
Fractal yak shaving status: Annotating the disassembly of an operating system at well past my bedtime.
November 5, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Fractal yak shaving status: Annotating the disassembly of an operating system at well past my bedtime.
"I apologize - I made a mistake. When I did git stash drop, I permanently deleted your uncommitted changes."
Thanks, Claude. 🤦
Thanks, Claude. 🤦
October 28, 2025 at 1:29 PM
"I apologize - I made a mistake. When I did git stash drop, I permanently deleted your uncommitted changes."
Thanks, Claude. 🤦
Thanks, Claude. 🤦
Convinced the crisis of app UX is a result of a generation of designers who have never experienced computers being used (and needed!) for serious work.
A fucking avalanche of triviality.
A fucking avalanche of triviality.
October 24, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Convinced the crisis of app UX is a result of a generation of designers who have never experienced computers being used (and needed!) for serious work.
A fucking avalanche of triviality.
A fucking avalanche of triviality.
A new personal best.
October 17, 2025 at 12:16 PM
A new personal best.
Friday morning, 8½ hours of work lined up for the coding servant. The weekend starts here?
October 3, 2025 at 7:12 AM
Friday morning, 8½ hours of work lined up for the coding servant. The weekend starts here?
On decibels: ”The bel is named in the honor of Alexander Bell; this is in the same tradition that prompted us to name the “wat” in honor of James Watt.“
October 1, 2025 at 3:03 PM
On decibels: ”The bel is named in the honor of Alexander Bell; this is in the same tradition that prompted us to name the “wat” in honor of James Watt.“
I’d like to be able to claim this this is my 15 year old daughter’s first international independent travel experience 🇳🇴 ✈️ 🇬🇧 , but she’s already had a day out in Göteborg 🇸🇪 without asking.
September 26, 2025 at 4:36 PM
I’d like to be able to claim this this is my 15 year old daughter’s first international independent travel experience 🇳🇴 ✈️ 🇬🇧 , but she’s already had a day out in Göteborg 🇸🇪 without asking.
Go Trump!
[Not really]
[Not really]
A proposed stake comes as the Canadian mining company negotiates terms for a multibillion-dollar loan with the Trump administration.
Lithium Americas Shares Surge 90% As Trump Requests Stake
A proposed stake comes as the Canadian mining company negotiates terms for a multibillion-dollar loan with the Trump administration.
www.forbes.com
September 24, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Go Trump!
[Not really]
[Not really]
There are two rational responses to AI-assisted programming:
1) Do the same work in (much) less time. Work less. Enjoy life.
2) Manage multiple agents concurrently, and work just as much as before.
At an individual level many would prefer 1.
At a population level we'll all be driven to option 2.
1) Do the same work in (much) less time. Work less. Enjoy life.
2) Manage multiple agents concurrently, and work just as much as before.
At an individual level many would prefer 1.
At a population level we'll all be driven to option 2.
Until now, programming was a "single-threaded" activity. As a dev, I'd get "in the zone" and get it done.
AI agents change this: you can now kick off parallel coding tasks.
I see more devs do this... and this feels like brand new territory. We'll need to learn. A lot!
AI agents change this: you can now kick off parallel coding tasks.
I see more devs do this... and this feels like brand new territory. We'll need to learn. A lot!
September 23, 2025 at 7:49 PM
There are two rational responses to AI-assisted programming:
1) Do the same work in (much) less time. Work less. Enjoy life.
2) Manage multiple agents concurrently, and work just as much as before.
At an individual level many would prefer 1.
At a population level we'll all be driven to option 2.
1) Do the same work in (much) less time. Work less. Enjoy life.
2) Manage multiple agents concurrently, and work just as much as before.
At an individual level many would prefer 1.
At a population level we'll all be driven to option 2.
Reposted by Robert Smallshire
Workers have completed the main excavation of the Brenner Base Tunnel between Austria and Italy, set to become the world’s longest underground rail link. The project is a key part of the EU’s push to shift freight from road to rail, cutting pollution and boosting European trade.
September 22, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Workers have completed the main excavation of the Brenner Base Tunnel between Austria and Italy, set to become the world’s longest underground rail link. The project is a key part of the EU’s push to shift freight from road to rail, cutting pollution and boosting European trade.
A short tale illustrating the need for sovereign European AI:
Claude:
label. isHidden = true
label.wantsLayer = true
label. layer?. isHidden = true // Belt and suspenders
Me:
I'm British. Belt and *braces*. Suspenders are what ladies use to hold up their stockings.
Claude:
label. isHidden = true
label.wantsLayer = true
label. layer?. isHidden = true // Belt and suspenders
Me:
I'm British. Belt and *braces*. Suspenders are what ladies use to hold up their stockings.
September 22, 2025 at 6:45 AM
A short tale illustrating the need for sovereign European AI:
Claude:
label. isHidden = true
label.wantsLayer = true
label. layer?. isHidden = true // Belt and suspenders
Me:
I'm British. Belt and *braces*. Suspenders are what ladies use to hold up their stockings.
Claude:
label. isHidden = true
label.wantsLayer = true
label. layer?. isHidden = true // Belt and suspenders
Me:
I'm British. Belt and *braces*. Suspenders are what ladies use to hold up their stockings.
No wonder the rear brakes on my touring bike were protesting for the last day or so of cycling from Oslo to Monaco. No brake lining left at all. Still, they got me down four mountain ranges and around 30000 metres of descent, with a heavily laden bike. 🚲
September 21, 2025 at 1:32 PM
No wonder the rear brakes on my touring bike were protesting for the last day or so of cycling from Oslo to Monaco. No brake lining left at all. Still, they got me down four mountain ranges and around 30000 metres of descent, with a heavily laden bike. 🚲
Too long since I made any truly whimsical software, so last night I added Apple Touch Bar support to the Mac version of the BeebEm BBC Micro Emulator to give important missing function keys f0-f9 in iconic red-orange, a copy key in somewhat less iconic olive-brown and, a Break key in desiato black.
September 15, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Too long since I made any truly whimsical software, so last night I added Apple Touch Bar support to the Mac version of the BeebEm BBC Micro Emulator to give important missing function keys f0-f9 in iconic red-orange, a copy key in somewhat less iconic olive-brown and, a Break key in desiato black.
🎵
Too many agents on the go...
It's a nightmare scenario...
🎶
Too many agents on the go...
It's a nightmare scenario...
🎶
September 11, 2025 at 11:15 AM
🎵
Too many agents on the go...
It's a nightmare scenario...
🎶
Too many agents on the go...
It's a nightmare scenario...
🎶
Very LinkedIn Agile Consultant: What really matters is continuous improvement. Tiny wins. Every sprint. 🚀
Dev: I used <favourite-coding-agent>. Code’s better now. Not perfect.
Very LinkedIn Agile Consultant: NOT PERFECT?! AI SLOP!!
Dev: I used <favourite-coding-agent>. Code’s better now. Not perfect.
Very LinkedIn Agile Consultant: NOT PERFECT?! AI SLOP!!
September 6, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Very LinkedIn Agile Consultant: What really matters is continuous improvement. Tiny wins. Every sprint. 🚀
Dev: I used <favourite-coding-agent>. Code’s better now. Not perfect.
Very LinkedIn Agile Consultant: NOT PERFECT?! AI SLOP!!
Dev: I used <favourite-coding-agent>. Code’s better now. Not perfect.
Very LinkedIn Agile Consultant: NOT PERFECT?! AI SLOP!!
Good numbers today! 25 km/h over 130 km. 🚴♂️ In Norway, not Norfolk, too.
August 24, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Good numbers today! 25 km/h over 130 km. 🚴♂️ In Norway, not Norfolk, too.
Reposted by Robert Smallshire
It's time I found a new contract, so...
If you’re looking for a backend dev (C#/C++), need a hand with build/test/deployment automation, or getting to grips with TDD/agile ways of working, etc. then I might be of use. London, Cambridgeshire, or remote.
www.linkedin.com/in/chrisoldw...
If you’re looking for a backend dev (C#/C++), need a hand with build/test/deployment automation, or getting to grips with TDD/agile ways of working, etc. then I might be of use. London, Cambridgeshire, or remote.
www.linkedin.com/in/chrisoldw...
Chris Oldwood - Symmetry Investments | LinkedIn
An experienced developer (30+ years), who has worked on front-office, back-office, and… · Experience: Symmetry Investments · Location: Huntingdon · 298 connections on LinkedIn. View Chris Oldwood’s p...
www.linkedin.com
August 20, 2025 at 10:25 AM
It's time I found a new contract, so...
If you’re looking for a backend dev (C#/C++), need a hand with build/test/deployment automation, or getting to grips with TDD/agile ways of working, etc. then I might be of use. London, Cambridgeshire, or remote.
www.linkedin.com/in/chrisoldw...
If you’re looking for a backend dev (C#/C++), need a hand with build/test/deployment automation, or getting to grips with TDD/agile ways of working, etc. then I might be of use. London, Cambridgeshire, or remote.
www.linkedin.com/in/chrisoldw...
Perhaps the quietest place I have ever been. So peaceful.
August 17, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Perhaps the quietest place I have ever been. So peaceful.
Another step towards me giving up on the UK completely.
August 14, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Another step towards me giving up on the UK completely.
Day 5 of returning from a 3270 km cycle tour from Oslo 🇳🇴 to Monte Carlo 🇲🇨.
Boat is by far the best way to arrive in Oslo. As I pass by home, it’s still one of the more beautiful places I’ve been on my travels. 🇳🇴 ❤️
Boat is by far the best way to arrive in Oslo. As I pass by home, it’s still one of the more beautiful places I’ve been on my travels. 🇳🇴 ❤️
August 10, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Day 5 of returning from a 3270 km cycle tour from Oslo 🇳🇴 to Monte Carlo 🇲🇨.
Boat is by far the best way to arrive in Oslo. As I pass by home, it’s still one of the more beautiful places I’ve been on my travels. 🇳🇴 ❤️
Boat is by far the best way to arrive in Oslo. As I pass by home, it’s still one of the more beautiful places I’ve been on my travels. 🇳🇴 ❤️
When OpenAI say “Legitimate Ph.D. level expert” they don’t tell you that a Ph.D. is a pre-academic early career trainee research student, mostly figuring out how to do research, rather than being particularly expert in anything.
August 9, 2025 at 11:26 AM
When OpenAI say “Legitimate Ph.D. level expert” they don’t tell you that a Ph.D. is a pre-academic early career trainee research student, mostly figuring out how to do research, rather than being particularly expert in anything.
Day 4 of returning from a 3270 km cycle tour from Oslo 🇳🇴 to Monte Carlo 🇲🇨 “by train”.
Cycled from the campsite the remaining 30 km to Kiel, in lieu of Deutschebahn’s comprehensive failure to operated the railway yesterday.
Now on board the Color Line ferry from Kiel to Oslo.
Cycled from the campsite the remaining 30 km to Kiel, in lieu of Deutschebahn’s comprehensive failure to operated the railway yesterday.
Now on board the Color Line ferry from Kiel to Oslo.
August 9, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Day 4 of returning from a 3270 km cycle tour from Oslo 🇳🇴 to Monte Carlo 🇲🇨 “by train”.
Cycled from the campsite the remaining 30 km to Kiel, in lieu of Deutschebahn’s comprehensive failure to operated the railway yesterday.
Now on board the Color Line ferry from Kiel to Oslo.
Cycled from the campsite the remaining 30 km to Kiel, in lieu of Deutschebahn’s comprehensive failure to operated the railway yesterday.
Now on board the Color Line ferry from Kiel to Oslo.
Day 3 of returning from a 3270 km cycle tour from Oslo 🇳🇴 to Monte Carlo 🇲🇨 by train.
IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOLLOWS
Don’t on any account consider taking your bike on a train in Germany.
IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOLLOWS
Don’t on any account consider taking your bike on a train in Germany.
August 8, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Day 3 of returning from a 3270 km cycle tour from Oslo 🇳🇴 to Monte Carlo 🇲🇨 by train.
IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOLLOWS
Don’t on any account consider taking your bike on a train in Germany.
IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOLLOWS
Don’t on any account consider taking your bike on a train in Germany.
Day 2 of returning from a 3270 km cycle tour from Oslo 🇳🇴 to Monte Carlo 🇲🇨 by train: The crux – Germany 🇩🇪.
This morning I start in Zurich🇨🇭. Let’s see how far north I can get having patched together a bizarre and somewhat fragile route with extremely scarce cycle reservation slots at short notice.
This morning I start in Zurich🇨🇭. Let’s see how far north I can get having patched together a bizarre and somewhat fragile route with extremely scarce cycle reservation slots at short notice.
August 7, 2025 at 6:14 AM
Day 2 of returning from a 3270 km cycle tour from Oslo 🇳🇴 to Monte Carlo 🇲🇨 by train: The crux – Germany 🇩🇪.
This morning I start in Zurich🇨🇭. Let’s see how far north I can get having patched together a bizarre and somewhat fragile route with extremely scarce cycle reservation slots at short notice.
This morning I start in Zurich🇨🇭. Let’s see how far north I can get having patched together a bizarre and somewhat fragile route with extremely scarce cycle reservation slots at short notice.
Having cycled from Oslo 🇳🇴 to Monte Carlo 🇲🇨, I now need to get home. Rather than disassemble the bike and fly from Nice 🇫🇷, I’ll take the train. Much like the cycling I don’t have a detailed plan, just a vision to head home, which means North.
August 6, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Having cycled from Oslo 🇳🇴 to Monte Carlo 🇲🇨, I now need to get home. Rather than disassemble the bike and fly from Nice 🇫🇷, I’ll take the train. Much like the cycling I don’t have a detailed plan, just a vision to head home, which means North.