Stefan Hodges-Kluck
@stefanhodgeskluck.com
Dad, cyclist, software engineer, recovering academic.
Pinned
What it's like to work with AI: a 🧵
I know some of this may sound a little exaggerated. But it also reflects a lot of how AI has contributed to my own burnout the past year.
Thanks for listening. 14/14
Thanks for listening. 14/14
February 9, 2026 at 4:54 PM
I know some of this may sound a little exaggerated. But it also reflects a lot of how AI has contributed to my own burnout the past year.
Thanks for listening. 14/14
Thanks for listening. 14/14
The only real advantage you can see to your new employee is that they're cheap. And you can't help but feel a little frustrated that you're now shouldered with all these expectations, all so those above you can save a few bucks. 13/14
February 9, 2026 at 4:54 PM
The only real advantage you can see to your new employee is that they're cheap. And you can't help but feel a little frustrated that you're now shouldered with all these expectations, all so those above you can save a few bucks. 13/14
But you can't. You are forced to take classes on how to train your employee better, and that takes up even more of your time. 12/14
February 9, 2026 at 4:54 PM
But you can't. You are forced to take classes on how to train your employee better, and that takes up even more of your time. 12/14
But it's hard. It's hard constantly feeling like you need to both do your own job and handhold this employee through doing their job. You often wish you could just do your job the way you used to. 11/14
February 9, 2026 at 4:54 PM
But it's hard. It's hard constantly feeling like you need to both do your own job and handhold this employee through doing their job. You often wish you could just do your job the way you used to. 11/14
You start to question yourself. Maybe I am just a stick-in-the-mud Luddite, you wonder. Maybe I just need to commit myself fully to working with this new colleague. 10/14
February 9, 2026 at 4:54 PM
You start to question yourself. Maybe I am just a stick-in-the-mud Luddite, you wonder. Maybe I just need to commit myself fully to working with this new colleague. 10/14
Meanwhile, your boss doubles down that this employee is the future. They expect 10 times the output from you, and if they don't get it, the blame lies entirely on your back. 9/14
February 9, 2026 at 4:54 PM
Meanwhile, your boss doubles down that this employee is the future. They expect 10 times the output from you, and if they don't get it, the blame lies entirely on your back. 9/14
The employee, meanwhile, has no redeeming qualities that a human junior colleague might have. There's no satisfaction through interacting with them on pair calls/work sessions. No friendships made, no interpersonal connection whatsoever. 8/14
February 9, 2026 at 4:54 PM
The employee, meanwhile, has no redeeming qualities that a human junior colleague might have. There's no satisfaction through interacting with them on pair calls/work sessions. No friendships made, no interpersonal connection whatsoever. 8/14
Where before your job involved periods of discovery and creativity, now all you do is handhold your new employee and police their work. You don't get to do the things about your job that inspired you, and it drains you out. 7/14
February 9, 2026 at 4:54 PM
Where before your job involved periods of discovery and creativity, now all you do is handhold your new employee and police their work. You don't get to do the things about your job that inspired you, and it drains you out. 7/14
And on top of this, you can still never really trust this employee. You have to carefully review every single thing they output with a fine-tooth comb to ensure they don't go back to their old ways of confidently lying about things that are blatantly false. 6/14
February 9, 2026 at 4:54 PM
And on top of this, you can still never really trust this employee. You have to carefully review every single thing they output with a fine-tooth comb to ensure they don't go back to their old ways of confidently lying about things that are blatantly false. 6/14
You can store some commonly used information in a database so that the employee can re-access it in the future, and some tasks, the employee does alright, but you still spend the bulk of your time handholding, especially when something new comes along. 5/14
February 9, 2026 at 4:54 PM
You can store some commonly used information in a database so that the employee can re-access it in the future, and some tasks, the employee does alright, but you still spend the bulk of your time handholding, especially when something new comes along. 5/14
What's more, the employee needs step-by-step handholding through EVERY step of what they do: you need to provide every single document, link, and instruction. So now you're spending all of your time spending this employee how to do something you could finish in 5 minutes. 4/14
February 9, 2026 at 4:54 PM
What's more, the employee needs step-by-step handholding through EVERY step of what they do: you need to provide every single document, link, and instruction. So now you're spending all of your time spending this employee how to do something you could finish in 5 minutes. 4/14
So, you tell your boss that the new employee isn't working very well. Your boss tells you that it's your fault the employee is lying, and you need to specifically tell them to be truthful. 3/14
February 9, 2026 at 4:54 PM
So, you tell your boss that the new employee isn't working very well. Your boss tells you that it's your fault the employee is lying, and you need to specifically tell them to be truthful. 3/14
This employee completes tasks phenomenally quickly, but does so by making frequent errors, fabrications, and omissions, all the while passing them off as fact. 2/14
February 9, 2026 at 4:54 PM
This employee completes tasks phenomenally quickly, but does so by making frequent errors, fabrications, and omissions, all the while passing them off as fact. 2/14
Imagine you come in to work and your boss introduces a new employee, telling you that this employee will make your job 10 times easier. 1/14
February 9, 2026 at 4:54 PM
Imagine you come in to work and your boss introduces a new employee, telling you that this employee will make your job 10 times easier. 1/14
What it's like to work with AI: a 🧵
February 9, 2026 at 4:54 PM
What it's like to work with AI: a 🧵
It's going to be below my normal threshold, and possibly snowing (but hopefully not...we don't need more snow). But I'm planning on bundling up and getting out for this.
The @bikepackingcom.bsky.social folks put together a map of all the Alex Pretti memorial rides happening this weekend. Find one near you!
@bikesky.social
@bikesky.social
This Weekend, We Ride in Remembrance of Alex Pretti (+ Event Map)
Bike shops and groups across the United States are hosting memorial rides this weekend for slain bikepacker Alex Pretti...
bikepacking.com
January 30, 2026 at 2:39 AM
It's going to be below my normal threshold, and possibly snowing (but hopefully not...we don't need more snow). But I'm planning on bundling up and getting out for this.
So I didn't need another reason to hate Sam Altman, but here's one all the same.
Sent this to a friend. He immediately canceled his ChatGPT account and convinced another to do so as well.
January 29, 2026 at 2:33 AM
So I didn't need another reason to hate Sam Altman, but here's one all the same.
Haha well I'm still terrified of the compiler 😂 but I will say that unlike in some languages, Rust's compiler error messages are actually quite helpful.
The path isn't always simple, but there at least usually tends to be a good map.
The path isn't always simple, but there at least usually tends to be a good map.
January 28, 2026 at 3:01 AM
Haha well I'm still terrified of the compiler 😂 but I will say that unlike in some languages, Rust's compiler error messages are actually quite helpful.
The path isn't always simple, but there at least usually tends to be a good map.
The path isn't always simple, but there at least usually tends to be a good map.
@thisweekinrust.bsky.social , I just wrote a blog post detailing my impressions after working through Luca Palmieri's Zero to Production in Rust.
www.stefanhodgeskluck.com/blogs/lesson...
www.stefanhodgeskluck.com/blogs/lesson...
Lessons Learned from Building a Server In Rust
What working on my Rust project has taught me about being a programmer.
www.stefanhodgeskluck.com
January 27, 2026 at 9:26 PM
@thisweekinrust.bsky.social , I just wrote a blog post detailing my impressions after working through Luca Palmieri's Zero to Production in Rust.
www.stefanhodgeskluck.com/blogs/lesson...
www.stefanhodgeskluck.com/blogs/lesson...
This kid is just about Ian's age.
I don't have the words to say how vile these monsters are.
I don't have the words to say how vile these monsters are.
January 22, 2026 at 1:51 AM
This kid is just about Ian's age.
I don't have the words to say how vile these monsters are.
I don't have the words to say how vile these monsters are.
You can now sign up for email updates on my new blog posts!
(lmk if you enter your email and it doesn't work for some reason)
www.stefanhodgeskluck.com/blogs/new-bl...
(lmk if you enter your email and it doesn't work for some reason)
www.stefanhodgeskluck.com/blogs/new-bl...
New Blog Feature: Email Newsletter!
I’m excited to say that you can now get my blog posts delivered directly to your inbox!
www.stefanhodgeskluck.com
January 19, 2026 at 2:23 PM
You can now sign up for email updates on my new blog posts!
(lmk if you enter your email and it doesn't work for some reason)
www.stefanhodgeskluck.com/blogs/new-bl...
(lmk if you enter your email and it doesn't work for some reason)
www.stefanhodgeskluck.com/blogs/new-bl...
Well, normally when you win the turnover margin by +4 the game isn't that close, but...at least the @denver-broncos.bsky.social wonN
January 18, 2026 at 1:59 AM
Well, normally when you win the turnover margin by +4 the game isn't that close, but...at least the @denver-broncos.bsky.social wonN
Reposted by Stefan Hodges-Kluck
200 ICE agents arrived in Richmond to celebrate our Democrat Gov's inauguration.
They were going door to door in Church Hill yesterday. Familiarize yourself now with the DOs and DONTs
immigrantjustice.org/for-immigran...
They were going door to door in Church Hill yesterday. Familiarize yourself now with the DOs and DONTs
immigrantjustice.org/for-immigran...
Know Your Rights: If You Encounter ICE - National Immigrant Justice Center
All individuals in the United States have rights, regardless of immigration status. The following information can help you protect yourself and your
immigrantjustice.org
January 17, 2026 at 11:44 AM
200 ICE agents arrived in Richmond to celebrate our Democrat Gov's inauguration.
They were going door to door in Church Hill yesterday. Familiarize yourself now with the DOs and DONTs
immigrantjustice.org/for-immigran...
They were going door to door in Church Hill yesterday. Familiarize yourself now with the DOs and DONTs
immigrantjustice.org/for-immigran...
I still can't believe Sarah is gone. She was such an amazing professor, organizer, mother, and friend. This is a great cause if you have a little bit to give in her honor.
Looking for something good to do today? Consider a donation (& share this post) to help create an endowed graduate student scholarship at the Univ. of Tennessee in memory of my dear friend Sarah Eldridge, who died of cancer on January 2.
Details in link.
docs.google.com/document/u/0...
Details in link.
docs.google.com/document/u/0...
Sarah Eldridge Memorial Fund
Sarah Vandegrift Eldridge Memorial Fund The family and friends of Sarah Vandegrift Eldridge would like to invite you to give to a memorial fund that will be used to create a scholarship in the memory...
docs.google.com
January 10, 2026 at 1:12 AM
I still can't believe Sarah is gone. She was such an amazing professor, organizer, mother, and friend. This is a great cause if you have a little bit to give in her honor.
Not sure I've ever experienced anything less in all the calls this past year. Glad there's a Dem running against him this fall.
Called my rep, John McGuire today, and spoke to a remarkably disinterested and condescending staffer. I'll keep calling.
January 8, 2026 at 1:29 AM
Not sure I've ever experienced anything less in all the calls this past year. Glad there's a Dem running against him this fall.