Phillip van der Merwe
@phillvdm.bsky.social
Working on and thinking about startups and tech. Denver, Brooklyn, Chicago, now Ann Arbor. Currently at @powersync.com.
www.vandermerwhatnow.com
www.vandermerwhatnow.com
How I get my local supabase setup to mirror my hosted project:
www.vandermerwhatnow.com/mirror-remot...
www.vandermerwhatnow.com/mirror-remot...
Vandermerwhatnow
www.vandermerwhatnow.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:58 AM
How I get my local supabase setup to mirror my hosted project:
www.vandermerwhatnow.com/mirror-remot...
www.vandermerwhatnow.com/mirror-remot...
Step 0: buy cooltechblogs[dot]com
Step 1: Build an RSS feed eater w/ Supabase edge functions and cron jobs
www.vandermerwhatnow.com/cool-tech-bl...
Step 1: Build an RSS feed eater w/ Supabase edge functions and cron jobs
www.vandermerwhatnow.com/cool-tech-bl...
Vandermerwhatnow
www.vandermerwhatnow.com
October 27, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Step 0: buy cooltechblogs[dot]com
Step 1: Build an RSS feed eater w/ Supabase edge functions and cron jobs
www.vandermerwhatnow.com/cool-tech-bl...
Step 1: Build an RSS feed eater w/ Supabase edge functions and cron jobs
www.vandermerwhatnow.com/cool-tech-bl...
DevRel is going through some fascinating changes. I wrote about this from a devtool startup perspective:
www.vandermerwhatnow.com/good-devrel-...
www.vandermerwhatnow.com/good-devrel-...
October 13, 2025 at 10:15 AM
DevRel is going through some fascinating changes. I wrote about this from a devtool startup perspective:
www.vandermerwhatnow.com/good-devrel-...
www.vandermerwhatnow.com/good-devrel-...
This is what I'm talking about!
March 12, 2025 at 3:05 PM
This is what I'm talking about!
I’ve been vastly underestimating how far smart LED bulbs have come.
January 21, 2025 at 2:02 AM
I’ve been vastly underestimating how far smart LED bulbs have come.
“Conquering by dividing is a technique of fascists. The executive order designating ‘classical’ architecture as the preferred style for federally funded construction seeks to divide and conquer architecture itself.”
Paraphrased from Thomas de Monchaux in NYRA
Paraphrased from Thomas de Monchaux in NYRA
January 20, 2025 at 12:42 AM
“Conquering by dividing is a technique of fascists. The executive order designating ‘classical’ architecture as the preferred style for federally funded construction seeks to divide and conquer architecture itself.”
Paraphrased from Thomas de Monchaux in NYRA
Paraphrased from Thomas de Monchaux in NYRA
Why does instagram so desperately want me to care about tennis?
January 19, 2025 at 3:46 AM
Why does instagram so desperately want me to care about tennis?
Google using Microsoft-level bundling tactics to boost the number of Gemini users by all gmail users, which would be almost 2 billion if rolled out to all.
January 16, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Google using Microsoft-level bundling tactics to boost the number of Gemini users by all gmail users, which would be almost 2 billion if rolled out to all.
Realizing that my mind now locks onto Neil Gaiman above Harvey Weinstein when I’m prompted to think about the most horrific cases of abuse.
January 15, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Realizing that my mind now locks onto Neil Gaiman above Harvey Weinstein when I’m prompted to think about the most horrific cases of abuse.
This is not only true for most games but markets too.
January 6, 2025 at 2:39 PM
This is not only true for most games but markets too.
The honey scam reveals an overlooked reason you should care about online privacy: to prevent corporations from strong-arming you
January 2, 2025 at 4:21 PM
The honey scam reveals an overlooked reason you should care about online privacy: to prevent corporations from strong-arming you
This christmas I’m grateful for my two gen z friends who repost tiktoks to instagram
December 26, 2024 at 7:44 PM
This christmas I’m grateful for my two gen z friends who repost tiktoks to instagram
Wtf is up with these grass cutouts we put in sushi trays?
December 20, 2024 at 5:11 PM
Wtf is up with these grass cutouts we put in sushi trays?
Starting to find more tech people on bluesky than I can on xitter
December 19, 2024 at 5:08 PM
Starting to find more tech people on bluesky than I can on xitter
Whoever said that modern life is Turing trap is so right
December 18, 2024 at 12:33 AM
Whoever said that modern life is Turing trap is so right
So delighted to see Manor Lords featured in the NY Review of Architecture.
December 13, 2024 at 6:30 PM
So delighted to see Manor Lords featured in the NY Review of Architecture.
Seeing people organically converge on shared understandings of complex new technology is so epic.
December 12, 2024 at 6:46 PM
Seeing people organically converge on shared understandings of complex new technology is so epic.
It’s absolutely wild how dialed in Xitter is with serving hits of dopamine. In contrast, Bluesky feels like a clearing in the forest to catch your breath.
December 11, 2024 at 3:17 PM
It’s absolutely wild how dialed in Xitter is with serving hits of dopamine. In contrast, Bluesky feels like a clearing in the forest to catch your breath.
Crazy how often “I wonder how Supabase did it” leads to an insight
December 10, 2024 at 12:04 AM
Crazy how often “I wonder how Supabase did it” leads to an insight
Pleased that my first Michigan winter is in the remote car defrosting era. EVs ftw.
December 5, 2024 at 5:45 PM
Pleased that my first Michigan winter is in the remote car defrosting era. EVs ftw.
Migrated from Buttondown to @ghost.org. UX is way ahead, still some room for improvement though.
December 3, 2024 at 6:53 PM
Migrated from Buttondown to @ghost.org. UX is way ahead, still some room for improvement though.
Nothing like some fizzy kimchi
December 2, 2024 at 5:35 PM
Nothing like some fizzy kimchi
Amenities catering to sexual desire are rarely covered in discussions on city planning. This piece from the NYCRA does a great job of showing why that’s regrettable.
A great question:
“What would a city built around desire require?”
A great question:
“What would a city built around desire require?”
Heartbreak Hotel
An ode to Liberty Inn, site of unseen, carnal pleasures
nyra.nyc
December 1, 2024 at 3:54 PM
Amenities catering to sexual desire are rarely covered in discussions on city planning. This piece from the NYCRA does a great job of showing why that’s regrettable.
A great question:
“What would a city built around desire require?”
A great question:
“What would a city built around desire require?”
There were so many crazy people shouting in that other town square.
November 30, 2024 at 2:30 PM
There were so many crazy people shouting in that other town square.