Michael Jolley
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baldbeardedbuilder.com
Michael Jolley
@baldbeardedbuilder.com
Bringing smiles to the syntax — because laughter is the best error handler.

✝️ Husband. Dad x 3
If you’re using != and == for null checking in C# you’re walking a slippery slope.

There’s a better, safer way and we cover why, how, and when in this video.

youtu.be/U3u4PEkW33E
Stop Using == null: The Safer C# Pattern You Need Today!
YouTube video by Bald. Bearded. Builder.
youtu.be
September 8, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Still using .ToLower() for string comparisons in .NET? You need to stop!

New YouTube video drop explaining why and what you should do instead.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNzA...
September 2, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Okay, I've narrowed it down to 3 choices. If you have experience with any of them, I'd love to hear it.

- Amazon Scribe
- reMarkable 2
- Supernote Nomad
Anyone using an digital notebook that they'd recommend? My dreams:

- Take notes & upload to cloud (preferably multiple services without lock-in)
- Ideally, not have to take a picture with an app to get it to cloud
- Different page "templates" (e.g. notes, planner, etc.)
August 17, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Anyone using an digital notebook that they'd recommend? My dreams:

- Take notes & upload to cloud (preferably multiple services without lock-in)
- Ideally, not have to take a picture with an app to get it to cloud
- Different page "templates" (e.g. notes, planner, etc.)
August 14, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Ever had a side project that was so fun you spent all your free time working on it?

Feeling very lucky tonight that my fun "side project" is my work project. Also, grids are coming in hot to Command Palette in Microsoft PowerToys.

Feedback? Suggestions? Let me know in my PR. Link in thread.
July 27, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Did you know that nearly every day I live stream building Command Palette for Microsoft PowerToys on Twitch? Heck, some of the UI design & features have come straight from viewers.

This week we're working on extensible filtering.
Still a WIP, but we're close.

bbb.dev/twitch
July 18, 2025 at 1:10 AM
The ability to pin apps to the top level of Command Palette?

Yes, please.

Coming soon. ™

Got other ideas for Command Palette?
Check out the repo at github.com/microsoft/po...
July 11, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Love working on open-sourced projects and being able to livestream it all. This viewer learned about PowerToys on Monday, found the repository today, and submitted their first OSS PR for a bugfix this afternoon. 🤲🔥

www.twitch.tv/baldbeardedb...
BaldBeardedBuilder - New PowerToys contributor!
Watch BaldBeardedBuilder's clip titled
www.twitch.tv
July 10, 2025 at 3:07 AM
✅ Microsoft PowerToys
✅ Dad Jokes
✅ Lofi beats

Looks like we're ready to build in public. Join the stream on twitch.tv/baldbeardedbuilder
July 1, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Yup. We're live on Twitch building Command Palette in Microsoft PowerToys.

Bring suggestions and coffee.

bbb.dev/twitch
June 26, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Microsoft PowerToys is open source. So, letting you watch me work on the Command Palette is totally cool. Come hang out and give me feedback about what you'd like to see it do.

bbb.dev/twitch
June 18, 2025 at 6:05 PM
I’ve been an avid iPhone user since the first iPhone. But after using iOS 26 for a few days, it may be what pushes me to something else.

Good time for a Windows Phone return?
June 15, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Doing some real *vibe* coding on Twitch today and every day. bbb.dev/twitch
June 11, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Shipped off two daughters on mission's trips this week. They're headed in different directions, so we've got Jolley Ranchers all around the globe this summer.

Proud of what they'll be doing and can't wait to see them again in August.
June 4, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Nate (9yo) asked me “if a cyclops has two heads is it still a cyclops” and I’m ashamed at how much time I’ve spent pondering that question today.
June 1, 2025 at 11:24 PM
After months of clearing, loads of rain, and only getting the truck stuck once, we now have a road and 4-5 cleared acres to start building our homestead.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=nA-H...
We Finally Built Our Driveway and Cleared Land for the Homestead!
YouTube video by Jolley Ranch
www.youtube.com
May 28, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Reposted by Michael Jolley
Microsoft’s Command Palette is a powerful launcher for apps, search, and more. This latest PowerToy is designed for Windows developers and power users. Details here: www.theverge.com/news/668719/...
May 16, 2025 at 6:55 PM
No more watering my raised beds by hand. Drip irrigation is installed and crushing it.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzLH...
May 5, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Me and 16 making #gains. I don’t know how motivated I’m going to be this summer when she’s gone to Asia on a mission trip.
April 29, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Preparing soil might be the most important step in gardening. Funny how it might be the most important part of most things we do…

www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4tR...
April 12, 2025 at 3:15 PM
That's right. New BBB YouTube video drop tomorrow.

bbb.dev/youtube
April 9, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Will I ever use the Task Manager in Windows again? Maybe not.

www.youtube.com/shorts/fOcr9...
Closing FROZEN APPS On Windows 11 Is Now SUPER EASY
YouTube video by Windows Developer
www.youtube.com
April 1, 2025 at 2:18 PM
I'm just sitting here waiting for the vibe napping trend to drop. I'm going to own that space.
a dog is wrapped in a blanket with the caption " its nap time viralhog "
ALT: a dog is wrapped in a blanket with the caption " its nap time viralhog "
media.tenor.com
April 1, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Ctrl+Alt+AI is back! And we're explaining retrieval augmented generation (RAG) in under 8 minutes.

🚀 Hold on to your seat!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUCW...
March 26, 2025 at 4:50 PM