Published 2026-02-01
tag(s): #link-post #random-thoughts
Since my last "three links" post ended up being too thematically disjointed 👀 I decided to make the next ones focused on one topic. For today, we have tech. And one tech adjacent one.
In his post, Sal argues that being a manager in a company means there's lots of unseen and unappreciated work. Hard agree, from my short experience[1] doing that.
I know in many tech circles it is popular to shit on managers (or scrum masters, or project
managers, or whoever isn't a purely tech person I guess). Which is a shame.
And look, I know there's a lot of people in those roles that are better at selling themselves
than actually doing the job. But when you have a good manager, someone that cares,
they make such a big difference in your day to day.
I don't think I am suited for that kind of job long term myself, but having done it in the past has definitely improved my understanding with whoever had to manage the groups I was in since.
Wouter has a post on his experience with a NuPhy mechanical keyboard and how it compares with using his laptop's keyboard.
By chance, I am typing this on my laptop. Very unusual, as I tend to just go to the desk with
my Dygma Raise (v1) if I spend more than
just a few minutes writing. I am that used to it.
I find Wouter's post extra relatable in that back when I originally got the Raise, I thought
it was better to get a keyboard closer to the standard distribution rather than a columnar or
orthogonal one. I remember telling a friend I won't buy a Dygma Defy, it is too different.
But with a Raise, I can quickly switch between keyboards, no adjustment needed
.
How wrong I was. 👀 Just now I hit the space bar and then a letter, because I have a layer for
symbols that I trigger with my left thumb in the Raise.
I have no regrets with the board though. It is has great build, it is beautiful, and more
important, it helped me get rid of wrist pain. I also I feel I have achieved the perfect
customization, and it fits me like a glove now.
But if I knew I would get that used to my split keyboard...maybe I should
have gotten the Defy...
In Matt's post, he
shares he is tired of
everything now having a ton of ads, or being subscription based.
I agree, but a bit after reading the post and nodding in agreement, I realized there are a few
things to consider.
One is the fact that you need to pay to get your app published in some (all?) stores. So if you sell apps for a fixed price, after a while you will still need to pay the store to keep it published...while making less money over time, obviously. Less new users available.
Another fact, which I don't know if it comes from the idea of doing subscriptions, or if it
generated it, is that people expect regular updates to their apps these days.
Everything must add more and more features, until a new app is released that is lean and
simple. Users flock to the smaller app, and the cycle begins again.
It is not enough build a tool or client for some service, and let it be stable and have X
amount of features forever. Nothing is ever "done" in the world of modern software,
sadly (IMO).
I don't know what the solutions is.
Like I said above, I also don't like subscriptions, but I don't see how mobile devs can earn a
living if they have a small portfolio of "mature" apps. It makes more sense to sell
something that is continually updated, opening the door to subscriptions (or ads).
I do like that we have these conversations, because like Matt, I also like to pay for the
software I use. I would like for app developers to earn a sustainable living without resorting
to shady practices.