Keith Townsend @CTOAdvisor
@thectoadvisor.com
Principal The CTO Advisor LLC
I'm listening to Kendrick and Vibe-coding at #VMwareExplore. If you see my cowboy hat bobbing up and down, you know I'm in that zone. - They ain't talkin about nuthin
August 25, 2025 at 8:29 PM
I'm listening to Kendrick and Vibe-coding at #VMwareExplore. If you see my cowboy hat bobbing up and down, you know I'm in that zone. - They ain't talkin about nuthin
How long did it take me to fine-tune Gemini Flash 2.5 Pro on my 470 blog posts?
August 22, 2025 at 5:10 PM
How long did it take me to fine-tune Gemini Flash 2.5 Pro on my 470 blog posts?
Trying to unwind while starting a new business is exceptionally difficult.
August 6, 2025 at 1:59 AM
Trying to unwind while starting a new business is exceptionally difficult.
Day 70 of #ZeroToBuilder 💥
You shipped your first open-source PR.
Now Google drops Gemini CLI—AI in your terminal:
🔹 gemini explain app.py
🔹 gemini write test for routes.py
Your laptop? Not just a tool. It’s a teammate.’
open.substack.com/pub/zerotobu...
You shipped your first open-source PR.
Now Google drops Gemini CLI—AI in your terminal:
🔹 gemini explain app.py
🔹 gemini write test for routes.py
Your laptop? Not just a tool. It’s a teammate.’
open.substack.com/pub/zerotobu...
June 25, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Day 70 of #ZeroToBuilder 💥
You shipped your first open-source PR.
Now Google drops Gemini CLI—AI in your terminal:
🔹 gemini explain app.py
🔹 gemini write test for routes.py
Your laptop? Not just a tool. It’s a teammate.’
open.substack.com/pub/zerotobu...
You shipped your first open-source PR.
Now Google drops Gemini CLI—AI in your terminal:
🔹 gemini explain app.py
🔹 gemini write test for routes.py
Your laptop? Not just a tool. It’s a teammate.’
open.substack.com/pub/zerotobu...
From coder to conductor.
AI is changing the developer role—fast.
It’s not just about writing code anymore. It’s about orchestrating systems, outcomes, and agents.
I break it down in my latest post → thectoadvisor.com/blog/2025/06...
(The future dev interface? Think StarCraft, not VS Code.)
AI is changing the developer role—fast.
It’s not just about writing code anymore. It’s about orchestrating systems, outcomes, and agents.
I break it down in my latest post → thectoadvisor.com/blog/2025/06...
(The future dev interface? Think StarCraft, not VS Code.)
June 10, 2025 at 4:24 PM
From coder to conductor.
AI is changing the developer role—fast.
It’s not just about writing code anymore. It’s about orchestrating systems, outcomes, and agents.
I break it down in my latest post → thectoadvisor.com/blog/2025/06...
(The future dev interface? Think StarCraft, not VS Code.)
AI is changing the developer role—fast.
It’s not just about writing code anymore. It’s about orchestrating systems, outcomes, and agents.
I break it down in my latest post → thectoadvisor.com/blog/2025/06...
(The future dev interface? Think StarCraft, not VS Code.)
Spent the day with actual enterprise IT execs talking real private cloud use cases and the “repatriation” narrative. No vendor echo chamber—just raw opinions. Huge shoutout to the team at @oxide.computer for hosting sharp conversations. Bonus: exit row on the flight home!
May 30, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Spent the day with actual enterprise IT execs talking real private cloud use cases and the “repatriation” narrative. No vendor echo chamber—just raw opinions. Huge shoutout to the team at @oxide.computer for hosting sharp conversations. Bonus: exit row on the flight home!
Dell’s running Code Assistants for 20,000 developers—on just four servers.
This isn’t just about saving GPU cycles. It’s a live case study in how inferencing at scale redefines infrastructure assumptions.
Training is compute-intensive. Inference? It’s an operations story.
#DellTechWorld
This isn’t just about saving GPU cycles. It’s a live case study in how inferencing at scale redefines infrastructure assumptions.
Training is compute-intensive. Inference? It’s an operations story.
#DellTechWorld
May 19, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Dell’s running Code Assistants for 20,000 developers—on just four servers.
This isn’t just about saving GPU cycles. It’s a live case study in how inferencing at scale redefines infrastructure assumptions.
Training is compute-intensive. Inference? It’s an operations story.
#DellTechWorld
This isn’t just about saving GPU cycles. It’s a live case study in how inferencing at scale redefines infrastructure assumptions.
Training is compute-intensive. Inference? It’s an operations story.
#DellTechWorld
/1
Using LLMs like ChatGPT for extended learning? Here's a simple way to actually get continuity from your AI tutor:
📌 Create a persistent lesson file.
🧠 Ground your sessions.
👇 Here’s the workflow:
Using LLMs like ChatGPT for extended learning? Here's a simple way to actually get continuity from your AI tutor:
📌 Create a persistent lesson file.
🧠 Ground your sessions.
👇 Here’s the workflow:
May 15, 2025 at 12:04 AM
/1
Using LLMs like ChatGPT for extended learning? Here's a simple way to actually get continuity from your AI tutor:
📌 Create a persistent lesson file.
🧠 Ground your sessions.
👇 Here’s the workflow:
Using LLMs like ChatGPT for extended learning? Here's a simple way to actually get continuity from your AI tutor:
📌 Create a persistent lesson file.
🧠 Ground your sessions.
👇 Here’s the workflow:
Day 29 of #ZeroToBuilder 🧠
We built a CLI task tracker—but more importantly, we hit pause to remember what we’ve learned.
Decorators, classes, testing... it’s a lot.
AI helped me recall the path.
Catch the recap + project here: zerotobuilder.substack.com/p/day-29-bui...
We built a CLI task tracker—but more importantly, we hit pause to remember what we’ve learned.
Decorators, classes, testing... it’s a lot.
AI helped me recall the path.
Catch the recap + project here: zerotobuilder.substack.com/p/day-29-bui...
May 14, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Day 29 of #ZeroToBuilder 🧠
We built a CLI task tracker—but more importantly, we hit pause to remember what we’ve learned.
Decorators, classes, testing... it’s a lot.
AI helped me recall the path.
Catch the recap + project here: zerotobuilder.substack.com/p/day-29-bui...
We built a CLI task tracker—but more importantly, we hit pause to remember what we’ve learned.
Decorators, classes, testing... it’s a lot.
AI helped me recall the path.
Catch the recap + project here: zerotobuilder.substack.com/p/day-29-bui...
What a beautiful location to host this year’s #QlikConnect. Looking forward to having a few days of sun and data.
May 13, 2025 at 2:07 PM
What a beautiful location to host this year’s #QlikConnect. Looking forward to having a few days of sun and data.
Real talk Saturday. Folks ask how I balance work, life, learning, and creating content like I’m some kind of machine. Truth is—I’m not. Today, I’m pulling weeds. Literally. While #ZerotoBuilder takes a rest, I’m tending to what matters offline too. That’s the rhythm.
May 10, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Real talk Saturday. Folks ask how I balance work, life, learning, and creating content like I’m some kind of machine. Truth is—I’m not. Today, I’m pulling weeds. Literally. While #ZerotoBuilder takes a rest, I’m tending to what matters offline too. That’s the rhythm.
Good morning. New coffee maker. Who dis?
May 10, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Good morning. New coffee maker. Who dis?
Y'all don't remember this. #vCommunity Captain VSAN.
May 8, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Y'all don't remember this. #vCommunity Captain VSAN.
/9
Make implicit rules explicit
✅ Build visible feedback loops
✅ Align tools with team culture
✅ Start with narrow, reviewable tasks
✅ Align tools with team culture
✅ Test edge cases to avoid surprises
What’s missing?
Got a story of AI tripping over your org’s quirks? Share below.
Make implicit rules explicit
✅ Build visible feedback loops
✅ Align tools with team culture
✅ Start with narrow, reviewable tasks
✅ Align tools with team culture
✅ Test edge cases to avoid surprises
What’s missing?
Got a story of AI tripping over your org’s quirks? Share below.
April 17, 2025 at 4:05 PM
/9
Make implicit rules explicit
✅ Build visible feedback loops
✅ Align tools with team culture
✅ Start with narrow, reviewable tasks
✅ Align tools with team culture
✅ Test edge cases to avoid surprises
What’s missing?
Got a story of AI tripping over your org’s quirks? Share below.
Make implicit rules explicit
✅ Build visible feedback loops
✅ Align tools with team culture
✅ Start with narrow, reviewable tasks
✅ Align tools with team culture
✅ Test edge cases to avoid surprises
What’s missing?
Got a story of AI tripping over your org’s quirks? Share below.
How do you know #GoogleCloudNext is a AI conference? There's Nvidia hardware signed by Jensen on the expo floor.
April 9, 2025 at 11:55 PM
How do you know #GoogleCloudNext is a AI conference? There's Nvidia hardware signed by Jensen on the expo floor.
Hat tip to @elaindee.bsky.social for getting me to the airport on time after I forgot to reschedule my Uber after changing my flight. Headed to Houston to talk Gen12 servers. #TFDx
April 7, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Hat tip to @elaindee.bsky.social for getting me to the airport on time after I forgot to reschedule my Uber after changing my flight. Headed to Houston to talk Gen12 servers. #TFDx
Starting a new thing: 100 Days of AI – Zero to Builder 💻✨
I’m learning to actually build with AI—from near zero.
Python, web dev, AI workflows, Copilot, ChatGPT... the works.
Not just tutorials. Real projects. Real learning.
Inbox version coming soon if you want daily lessons and walkthroughs.
🧵
I’m learning to actually build with AI—from near zero.
Python, web dev, AI workflows, Copilot, ChatGPT... the works.
Not just tutorials. Real projects. Real learning.
Inbox version coming soon if you want daily lessons and walkthroughs.
🧵
April 3, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Starting a new thing: 100 Days of AI – Zero to Builder 💻✨
I’m learning to actually build with AI—from near zero.
Python, web dev, AI workflows, Copilot, ChatGPT... the works.
Not just tutorials. Real projects. Real learning.
Inbox version coming soon if you want daily lessons and walkthroughs.
🧵
I’m learning to actually build with AI—from near zero.
Python, web dev, AI workflows, Copilot, ChatGPT... the works.
Not just tutorials. Real projects. Real learning.
Inbox version coming soon if you want daily lessons and walkthroughs.
🧵
As I use AI, I catch myself asking: wait—am I even solving the right problem?
Rewriting apps feels like doing something-but is it the right thing?
Better question:
Does this reduce the friction between the business outcome and the system delivering it?
If not—it might be time to zoom out.
Rewriting apps feels like doing something-but is it the right thing?
Better question:
Does this reduce the friction between the business outcome and the system delivering it?
If not—it might be time to zoom out.
April 1, 2025 at 6:58 PM
As I use AI, I catch myself asking: wait—am I even solving the right problem?
Rewriting apps feels like doing something-but is it the right thing?
Better question:
Does this reduce the friction between the business outcome and the system delivering it?
If not—it might be time to zoom out.
Rewriting apps feels like doing something-but is it the right thing?
Better question:
Does this reduce the friction between the business outcome and the system delivering it?
If not—it might be time to zoom out.
Shipping containers revolutionized logistics—but they shaped product design more than we admit.
In cloud, we’re doing the same: architecting for provider limits, not business value.
When infra dictates design, are we optimizing or conforming?
What would it look like to lead with architecture?
In cloud, we’re doing the same: architecting for provider limits, not business value.
When infra dictates design, are we optimizing or conforming?
What would it look like to lead with architecture?
March 28, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Shipping containers revolutionized logistics—but they shaped product design more than we admit.
In cloud, we’re doing the same: architecting for provider limits, not business value.
When infra dictates design, are we optimizing or conforming?
What would it look like to lead with architecture?
In cloud, we’re doing the same: architecting for provider limits, not business value.
When infra dictates design, are we optimizing or conforming?
What would it look like to lead with architecture?
Is NVIDIA’s revenue growth strategy built on planned obsolescence? It may work for training, but what about inference? 🤔 I sat down with @coentrepreneur.bsky.social at #GTC2025 to unpack this and what it means for the future of AI infrastructure. Full Interview> youtu.be/uZDTesdWKBo
March 27, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Is NVIDIA’s revenue growth strategy built on planned obsolescence? It may work for training, but what about inference? 🤔 I sat down with @coentrepreneur.bsky.social at #GTC2025 to unpack this and what it means for the future of AI infrastructure. Full Interview> youtu.be/uZDTesdWKBo
Every time I return to a neatly made bed after a long day, I’m reminded of where Melissa Townsend and I started—cleaning rooms at The Palmer House Hilton in Chicago. Hospitality workers bring so much care to moments like this, and I’ll never stop appreciating it.
March 18, 2025 at 3:28 AM
Every time I return to a neatly made bed after a long day, I’m reminded of where Melissa Townsend and I started—cleaning rooms at The Palmer House Hilton in Chicago. Hospitality workers bring so much care to moments like this, and I’ll never stop appreciating it.
Seeing the same trend, Bryan pointed out that newer devs often jump into AI at the “middle,” trying to apply it to the wrong problems. It’s like using a jig to design a chair instead of cutting spindles. AI is a tool, not the craftsman. Knowing where it fits is key. thectoadvisor.com/ai-assisted-...
March 6, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Seeing the same trend, Bryan pointed out that newer devs often jump into AI at the “middle,” trying to apply it to the wrong problems. It’s like using a jig to design a chair instead of cutting spindles. AI is a tool, not the craftsman. Knowing where it fits is key. thectoadvisor.com/ai-assisted-...
You can't trust AI-generated code? Guess what—you can't always trust human-written code either. 🤔💡 On the latest CTO Advisor podcast, @bryanl.dev drops some serious knowledge on how to properly leverage AI to improve both human and AI-written code. Don't miss these insights! 🚀🎙️ youtu.be/bGJibuJX-IQ
March 4, 2025 at 7:03 PM
You can't trust AI-generated code? Guess what—you can't always trust human-written code either. 🤔💡 On the latest CTO Advisor podcast, @bryanl.dev drops some serious knowledge on how to properly leverage AI to improve both human and AI-written code. Don't miss these insights! 🚀🎙️ youtu.be/bGJibuJX-IQ