Sunday Letters

Sunday Letters explores the intersections of programming, personal growth, and communication. It emphasizes the importance of iterative learning, effective communication, leadership humility, adaptability, and balancing creativity with practicality. This Substack encourages readers to continually learn, improve, and embrace diverse perspectives and skills for long-term success.

Programming Personal Growth Communication Leadership Adaptability Creativity Technology

The hottest Substack posts of Sunday Letters

And their main takeaways

A crisis in epistemology

59 implied HN points • 20 Nov 23
🚌 Education Curriculum Epistemology AI Impact Critical Thinking Learning methods
  1. We need to rethink what to teach as AI becomes more capable. It's important to understand the basics of how things work, not just rely on AI to do it for us.
  2. Trust is becoming harder in our knowledge sources. With the rise of fake evidence and statistics, we must be careful where we get our information.
  3. The future of learning should focus on teaching people how to learn effectively. This includes critical thinking skills, understanding biases, and the scientific method.

AI isn't a feature of your product

139 implied HN points • 25 Feb 23
💼 Business Tech Integration Product Development AI Strategy Innovation Market Trends
  1. AI should be seen as a platform, not just a feature of your product. Treating AI as a foundation can lead to more innovative and valuable solutions.
  2. The real potential of AI comes from creating products that can't function without it. This approach can lead to significant advancements and new possibilities.
  3. Ask 'what if' questions to explore the full potential of AI. This mindset can help you think creatively about building solutions for the future.

Not wrong isn't the same as right

119 implied HN points • 09 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Software AI Innovation Web Development
  1. Just because something isn't wrong doesn't mean it's the best choice. It's important to look for the truly right solutions rather than settling for what works okay.
  2. In the current wave of AI, many solutions are improving parts of existing applications but not really changing things in a big way. We need to think bigger and bolder about innovation.
  3. During big changes, like the internet boom or AI growth, it can be tempting to stick with familiar ideas. However, that might lead us to miss out on new, better opportunities.

Planning for 35 years

199 implied HN points • 16 Oct 22
🕹 Technology Software Development AI Trends Personal Development
  1. Career paths are unpredictable, and it's hard to plan them out for the long run. It’s more about being adaptable to the changes that come your way.
  2. Focus on learning how to learn and keep building your skillset over time. Don’t worry too much about picking the perfect skill at first.
  3. Find what you enjoy doing and where your natural talents lie. Those things can lead you to unexpected career opportunities that you might undervalue but are actually valuable.

A new kind of coding

139 implied HN points • 06 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Software Development Artificial Intelligence Programming Web Development Machine Learning
  1. Coding with LLMs combines precise programming with flexible models. It's about using the strengths of both to build effective programs.
  2. When creating complex documents, breaking down tasks into smaller pieces is key. This helps models manage and generate content smoothly.
  3. As AI technology grows, we need to be open and experiment. Learning new patterns will help us understand how to best use these models in the future.
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Eschew Obfuscation

79 implied HN points • 09 Jul 23
🚌 Education Teaching Learning Writing Communication Critical Thinking
  1. Using complicated terms can create barriers in conversations and make others feel excluded. It's important to communicate in a way that everyone can understand.
  2. If you can't explain something simply, it might mean you don't fully understand it yourself. Writing things out can help clarify your thoughts.
  3. Taking time to explain clearly is more valuable than using jargon. It's better to focus on clear communication than to impress others with 'smart' language.

Learning by Doing

59 implied HN points • 15 Oct 23
🚌 Education Learning Teaching Career Experiments Mindset
  1. Doing is often better than just thinking. If you want to learn a skill, just start practicing it a lot.
  2. Trying many things and being okay with failure helps you learn faster. When you're not focused on being perfect, you can improve more easily.
  3. Having a 'beginner's mind' can lead to better results. Beginners often do well because they aren't held back by too much prior knowledge or self-doubt.

Prompt engineering is spaghetti code

59 implied HN points • 08 Oct 23
🕹 Technology AI Software Programming Computing Optimization
  1. Prompt engineering is not a lasting software discipline; it may fade away as technology improves. It's a reaction to a lack of computing resources, trying to make every use of AI efficient.
  2. Using AI tools should be approached like programming: break tasks into smaller pieces to handle them better. This is more effective than creating complex prompts that are hard to manage.
  3. It's better to focus on making something work well before worrying about cost or optimization. Don't stress about minimizing resource use until the solution is working reliably.

An unanswerable question

119 implied HN points • 12 Mar 23
🎶 Music Education Performance Practice Skills Personal journey
  1. It's common to feel stuck in the middle of learning a skill, as there's a lot of unclear paths between beginner and expert.
  2. Asking for clear guidance on your personal journey can be tough because everyone's path is unique.
  3. You can learn a lot by observing others, even if you can't get a complete roadmap for your own journey.

Something fun...

219 implied HN points • 18 Jul 22
🕹 Technology AI Tools Illustration Storytelling Innovation
  1. Using DALL-E as a creative tool can really enhance storytelling. It helps generate images from ideas in a fun and quick way.
  2. Iterating on images rather than expecting a perfect result on the first try is key. It allows for creativity and collaboration between the user and the AI.
  3. Continuity in style matters when creating a series of images. Curation and refining outputs can help achieve a more consistent look.

Self-fufilling worry

159 implied HN points • 07 Nov 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Personal Growth Self-help Emotional Wellbeing Life Skills
  1. Impostor syndrome makes us feel like we're not good enough, but it's common and can happen to anyone. Many people worry about being exposed as a fraud, affecting their confidence and performance.
  2. Worrying too much about our flaws can actually make us perform worse. Instead of focusing on what we can't do, we should put our energy into improving and celebrating our successes.
  3. By just doing our best and being kind to ourselves, we can overcome impostor syndrome. This mindset helps us grow personally and positively impacts the groups we belong to.

The right amount of bullshit

139 implied HN points • 12 Dec 22
🕹 Technology AI Engineering Innovation Entrepreneurship Imagination
  1. Finding a balance between creativity and practicality is important. You need to let your imagination run wild while also being careful with details.
  2. Too much confidence without evidence can lead to failures, like in the case of Theranos. But sometimes a little bold thinking can lead to great innovations, like SpaceX.
  3. It's crucial to be in the gray area between being overly cautious and overly confident. This is where the most exciting and new ideas often come from.

Be a centaur

39 implied HN points • 04 Dec 23
🕹 Technology AI Innovation Modeling Interfaces User Experience
  1. Technology is changing fast, and it's important to keep learning and adapting. It's easy to think things have settled down, but we're still on an upward curve.
  2. As AI models improve, they will be more useful in specific areas. It's crucial to understand how to use these models effectively to stay competitive.
  3. To stay relevant, we need to focus on asking the right questions instead of just knowing the answers. Learning how to work with AI tools can give you an edge.

Moving the goal posts

79 implied HN points • 29 May 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics Logic Language Metaphysics Ontology Epistemology
  1. People often change the rules of a debate when they don't like the outcome. This is called 'moving the goalposts' and it can be tricky.
  2. Arguments about concepts like 'understanding' or 'identity' can become confusing if everyone doesn't agree on what those terms mean.
  3. Instead of arguing over vague definitions, it's better to focus on how we use those terms in real situations and have clear discussions when definitions are necessary.

Build unreasonable things

119 implied HN points • 30 Jan 23
🕹 Technology AI Innovation Startups Digital Transformation Future Trends
  1. We are entering a new tech era, especially with AI, which opens up many exciting possibilities. It's important to not just focus on small improvements, but aim for bigger ideas instead.
  2. Thinking big might sound crazy to others, but history shows that ambitious ideas can turn into reality, like Amazon or Google. Don't be afraid to dream and build something that seems impossible today.
  3. As technology improves, we should imagine what we could create when things are faster and cheaper. It's crucial to think ahead and aim for the future, even if it's a challenge.

How do you go so fast?

119 implied HN points • 17 Jan 23
💼 Business Management Productivity Team Dynamics Innovation Leadership
  1. In bigger companies, things can slow down because there are many people involved and a lot of requirements. It's easy to get used to this slow pace, but it's important to push for speed when working on new projects.
  2. People often mistake being busy with actually making progress. Sitting in meetings and creating documents doesn’t always mean you are building something valuable for users.
  3. Moving quickly can be challenging because you have to adapt and learn while you go. It requires a different mindset and the willingness to take risks while focusing on what matters most.

Asking versus telling

179 implied HN points • 14 Aug 22
🕹 Technology Software Development Team Dynamics Communication Problem Solving
  1. It's important to ask questions instead of just telling people they're wrong. This helps avoid defensiveness and opens up communication.
  2. When you ask questions, be genuine and curious about the other person's perspective. It’s not just about getting your point across.
  3. Understanding someone’s reasoning and context can help change their mind. Telling them they're wrong often just makes them defensive.

Sunday Letter - let's leave the typewriter behind

59 implied HN points • 23 Jul 23
🕹 Technology AI Applications Documents Collaboration User Experience
  1. Documents have changed a lot, but they still feel stuck in the past, like from the typewriter days. We need to rethink how we create and interact with documents to make them more useful and dynamic.
  2. AI can help us create smarter, more interactive documents that understand our needs. Instead of just being static text, documents could be live conversations that adapt to what we want.
  3. It's time to move beyond old ideas of fixed applications. We should expect software to understand us better and respond to our needs in a more flexible way, just like we would have a conversation.

The power of yes

179 implied HN points • 07 Aug 22
💼 Business Leadership Negotiation Teamwork Collaboration Communication
  1. Saying 'yes, and...' helps create better conversations and collaboration. It opens up more possibilities instead of shutting them down.
  2. In negotiations, aiming for a quick agreement might seem good, but exploring deeper can lead to greater benefits for both sides.
  3. A 'yes' mindset encourages listening and empathy, helping everyone involved to find better solutions together.

Don't panic

139 implied HN points • 14 Nov 22
🕹 Technology AI Software Startups Innovation Job Market
  1. Tech industries go through cycles of success and downturns, and it's normal for this to happen over time. Don't get too worried; things will recover again.
  2. Even though there are doubts about new technologies like AI, they can lead to significant advancements and solve real problems for people. Focus on what can be created, not just the challenges.
  3. Downturns can help companies become better and more disciplined. When money is tight, it encourages innovation and addressing genuine needs rather than just quick gains.

Don't wait until it's not messy

99 implied HN points • 21 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Innovation Web Development Cloud Computing Software Engineering Emerging Tech
  1. Don't wait for things to be perfect before starting something new. It's better to jump in while things are a bit messy.
  2. As an engineer or creator, focusing on solutions is key. Look for interesting problems to solve instead of getting stuck on why things are hard.
  3. If everyone only started when it was easy, no one would ever innovate. Embrace the challenges and start building!

Syntax vs Semantics

99 implied HN points • 13 Feb 23
🕹 Technology AI Software Innovation Digital Product Development
  1. There's a shift from focusing on strict rules in programming (syntax) to understanding meaning and context (semantics) with new AI models. This could change how we build software.
  2. Using language involves a lot of knowledge about the world, which helps AI understand context and meaning, not just following patterns.
  3. Just like the early internet, companies that don't adapt to new AI technologies and methods may soon seem irrelevant or 'invisible' in the digital space.

Intent and Iteration are the new Click and Drag

79 implied HN points • 02 Apr 23
🕹 Technology AI UX Design Software User Experience Human-computer interaction
  1. Understanding intent is more powerful than following a strict process. It's like asking for milk instead of giving detailed steps on how to walk to the kitchen.
  2. We need to iterate when designing user experiences as language and meaning can change over time. It's like adjusting your conversation when something doesn’t make sense.
  3. Future software will focus on talking to computers in more natural ways, using various methods like voice, images, and gestures instead of just clicking buttons. This makes interactions more flexible and user-friendly.

How to work with the best people

39 implied HN points • 22 Oct 23
💼 Business Management Collaboration Skills Development Networking Performance
  1. Working with skilled people helps you learn and grow because they can show you what you don't know. It's important to surround yourself with those who excel in their field.
  2. To attract top talent, you need to bring something valuable to the table. Just asking to work with them isn't enough; you have to offer something they want.
  3. Understanding the needs of others is key. Whether it's in a jam session or a workplace, showing that you can add value makes you a desirable collaborator.

Fast versus Right

79 implied HN points • 26 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Programming Networking Systems Adoption Disruption
  1. Simplicity often beats complexity when it comes to technology. A simple solution that works now can be more effective than a complex one that may take longer to perfect.
  2. In the tech world, being first is crucial. The first company to launch a new idea or product often wins, especially if it benefits from network effects.
  3. It's important to focus on what can be quickly addressed. Don't get stuck on minor issues when bigger, more impactful problems need immediate attention.

The value of iteration

159 implied HN points • 17 Jul 22
🕹 Technology Software Development User Experience Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning
  1. Software development has changed from a strict step-by-step approach to a more flexible, iterative process. This means developers now focus on making small, incremental improvements based on user feedback.
  2. Many current applications still operate like the old method with rigid tasks. They don't allow users to interact freely, making the experience less enjoyable.
  3. Emerging technologies, like large language models, have the potential to make software more adaptable. This could lead to personalized experiences that evolve based on individual user needs.

Bad communication is always your fault

199 implied HN points • 03 Apr 22
🚌 Education Communication Leadership Teamwork Problem Solving Personal Development
  1. Effective communication is a shared responsibility. If someone doesn't understand you, it's worth examining how you can express your thoughts more clearly.
  2. People generally want to understand each other. If communication fails, it's important to explore what might be blocking the other person from grasping your message.
  3. Assuming good intent can help improve communication. If you treat every miscommunication as your responsibility, it can lead to better conversations.

Building Applications with LLMs

79 implied HN points • 19 Mar 23
🕹 Technology AI Software Development Engineering Open Source
  1. GPT-4 can do amazing things, but it has limitations because it mainly rearranges data. That makes it hard to create complex programs with just one function.
  2. The Semantic Kernel was developed to add more features like memory and procedural control, allowing for better application building with LLMs.
  3. There's a focus on creating a library of common skills and connectors for tools, which can help developers build richer experiences using familiar services.

Pixels are free now

39 implied HN points • 24 Sep 23
🕹 Technology AI Digital Media Software Data Economics
  1. The internet has made it much cheaper to share and create digital content, like images and music. This means more people can make and distribute their work easily.
  2. AI is reducing the time and effort needed for tasks like data analysis or creative work. What used to take weeks can now be done in hours, making things more efficient.
  3. As technology continues to evolve, we will likely rely on simple conversations with AI to create documents or applications. If it can't talk to other tools, it may soon seem outdated or 'broken'.

AI and the end of integration testing

39 implied HN points • 17 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Software AI Development Testing Engineering
  1. AI will change how we build software, making traditional integration testing much harder or even impossible. This is because the possibilities for what software can do will become nearly infinite.
  2. Without effective integration testing, we will rely more on monitoring and telemetry to ensure software is working well in real time. Companies will need to focus on creating systems that check themselves while they run.
  3. New challenges will arise, like how to assess things like 'helpfulness' or 'safety' in software. We may need to create new measures and standards to evaluate these more complex qualities.

Intelligence and combinatorial complexity

39 implied HN points • 27 Aug 23
🕹 Technology AI Research Machine Learning Cognitive Science Computational Theory Human-computer interaction
  1. More agents working together can create better intelligence than a single agent. This is surprising because we might think one advanced model is enough, but collaboration can enhance performance.
  2. Human-like patterns help improve AI performance. Just as we can review our work for errors, AI systems can use different modes to refine their outputs.
  3. Complex systems come with challenges like errors and biases. As AI gets more complicated, these issues tend to increase, similar to problems found in complex biological systems.

Why won't they give us the resources?

159 implied HN points • 12 Jun 22
💼 Business Management Finance Strategy Product Development Market Analysis
  1. Deciding when to invest in new projects is tricky for companies because they need to balance costs and benefits. Too much spending too quickly can lead to financial problems.
  2. Finance teams focus on overall company health, like cash flow and profit margins. If a new project risks the company's profitability, they might hesitate to fund it.
  3. To get funding for new ideas, it's helpful to understand the financial risks and show how the project can improve profit margins. Developing strategies to lower risks can increase chances of approval.

Why do you want to convince them?

99 implied HN points • 05 Dec 22
🎭️ Culture Communication Mindset Persuasion Cooperation Conflict resolution
  1. Changing someone's mind can be tough because people often feel defensive about their ideas. It's important to be aware of this defensiveness when having discussions.
  2. Understanding your own reasons for wanting to convince someone can help create a more open conversation. When you express genuine concerns, it makes the other person less defensive.
  3. By being honest about your intentions, you can work together with the other person instead of against them. This way, you're both focused on finding a solution rather than arguing.

Is the team for you or are you for the team?

119 implied HN points • 18 Sep 22
💼 Business Leadership Management Teamwork Organizational Design Human Resources
  1. Think of leadership like an upside-down org chart. The people doing the work should be at the top, and the manager is there to support them. It shows that the team's work is what truly matters.
  2. Managers shouldn't push team members into roles they aren't excited about. Instead, they should place people where their skills fit best, benefiting the team.
  3. The team exists to achieve goals together, not to serve the manager's needs. As a manager, your job is to help the team solve their problems, not the other way around.

A few more thoughts on the future of documents

39 implied HN points • 13 Aug 23
🕹 Technology AI Documents Data Software Innovation
  1. Documents are changing from fixed structures to more flexible, interactive ideas. They should represent complex topics in a way that you can explore various aspects of them easily.
  2. AI can help us create better models for understanding and interacting with information. It's like upgrading from simple numbers to more advanced ways of thinking.
  3. In the future, documents will need to allow for meaningful interactions, not just static content. It'll feel outdated if you can't engage with documents in a dynamic way.

Humility in leadership

179 implied HN points • 07 Mar 22
💼 Business Leadership Management Teamwork Ego Trust
  1. Leadership is more about humility than ego. Good leaders focus on building teams and serving others rather than seeking personal glory.
  2. Delegating tasks shows trust and humility. When leaders do everything themselves, it can lead to team disengagement and increased pressure.
  3. Healthy leaders help their teams shine. They prioritize the success of their team over their own needs or recognition.

Finding the way in

59 implied HN points • 23 Apr 23
🕹 Technology AI Startups Consumer Product Development Innovation
  1. Building products means you will make mistakes, but listening to users helps you learn what works. If a product isn't useful, people won't care about it.
  2. Incumbent companies can be tough competition for startups. Sometimes, it's better to target smaller, underserved groups that bigger companies ignore.
  3. Being a startup has its own strengths. You can focus on specific needs and spaces that might grow into a big opportunity over time.

In praise of glorious messes

139 implied HN points • 19 Jun 22
🎭️ Culture Music Learning Art Creativity Personal Growth
  1. Learning something new, like playing music or coding, starts small and takes time. It's okay to be a beginner and learn one step at a time.
  2. Making mistakes is part of the learning process. Embracing those messy moments helps you improve and grow in any skill.
  3. Staying open to learning keeps your mind fresh. Allowing yourself to struggle a bit can lead to wonderful discoveries.

Managing..up?

119 implied HN points • 21 Aug 22
💼 Business Management Career Leadership Workplace Professional development
  1. It's important to understand what your manager wants and not just tell them what they want to hear. Building trust is key for a strong team.
  2. Think about the problems your boss faces and help find solutions. This shows initiative and helps you prepare for future roles.
  3. Instead of overloading your manager with details, focus on providing clear and concise information. They appreciate when you streamline their workload.

Fit then optimize

159 implied HN points • 10 Apr 22
🕹 Technology Software Optimization Project management Engineering Product Development
  1. Always focus on finding the right fit for your project before trying to optimize it. It’s easier to make improvements once you know what works.
  2. Watch out for a messy situation where too many things need fixing. Start cleaning up gradually once you see your project gaining traction.
  3. Avoid creating overly complex systems before you understand the problem you're solving. Keep things simple and relevant to ensure usefulness.