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

Which derivative are you?

59 implied HN points • 10 Jul 22
🕹 Technology Software Engineering Productivity Mathematics Management
  1. Derivatives help us understand how things change over time. The first derivative tells us how fast something is changing, while the second shows how that rate of change is changing.
  2. In conversations about technical issues, we often focus on the current situation. Instead, we should look at how we can improve that situation over time.
  3. Thinking about changes as derivatives can help us tackle complex problems. By considering not just the current state but how to change it over time, we can better manage projects.

Don't lie to the computer

79 implied HN points • 21 Feb 22
🕹 Technology Software Programming Design Algorithms Engineering
  1. Lying to computers can lead to big problems. Computers take everything at face value and won't understand when you're not being honest.
  2. This can happen in many areas, like bug reporting or software design. For example, making up a fake bug level instead of addressing real issues is misleading.
  3. It's easy to want to cut corners to save time, but being dishonest can cause issues down the line. Just like in personal relationships, honesty is usually the best policy.

Useful skepticism

79 implied HN points • 14 Feb 22
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Investing Innovation Skepticism Problem Solving
  1. Being skeptical is common because it's easier to see what could go wrong than what could go right. However, just being critical isn't enough; you also need to find solutions and create value.
  2. Instead of only questioning ideas, it's helpful to ask how they could succeed. This positive approach can lead to discovering new possibilities and innovations.
  3. While skepticism is a valuable tool, it can also lead to biases. It's important to balance it with open-mindedness and exploration to avoid closing off good opportunities.

From Heuristics to Precision

19 implied HN points • 02 Jul 23
🕹 Technology AI Networking Data Hiring
  1. Networking is really important because personal connections help match jobs with the right people. Good networks can filter out the best candidates easier than sifting through tons of data.
  2. Large language models (LLMs) can help improve hiring by analyzing resumes with more depth and precision. This could lead to better and fairer hiring processes.
  3. We are seeing a new kind of precision in handling data that will change how we think and work. While it can improve job fits, it might also raise concerns about privacy and control in other areas.

Understanding, explaining and simplicity

79 implied HN points • 31 Jan 22
🕹 Technology Design User Interface Code Understanding
  1. Explaining something to someone else helps you see how well you really understand it. If you can break it down clearly, then you know it well.
  2. Simplicity is important in design and communication. To simplify, you need to break things down to their basic parts and only keep what is essential.
  3. Before adding more to a design or an idea, try taking things away first. This helps in understanding the core of the problem and making things simpler.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Fear and metrics

59 implied HN points • 30 May 22
🕹 Technology Growth Strategies Team Dynamics Long-term Planning
  1. Balancing short-term and long-term thinking is crucial for success. It's important to choose wisely between quick fixes and sustainable solutions.
  2. When measuring growth, it's easy to manipulate numbers to tell a comfortable story. Understanding both absolute growth and market share provides a clearer picture.
  3. Choosing comfort in metrics can lead to problems later, just like quick hacks can create tech debt. It's essential to prioritize long-term health over short-term ease.

No smooth discontinuities

59 implied HN points • 22 May 22
🕹 Technology Software Development Innovation Engineering Disruption Progress
  1. It's tough to make a big change in software if you're only trying to improve things a little at a time. Sometimes you need to take a big leap to really disrupt the norm.
  2. Incremental progress can help lead to new inventions, but after a big jump, you still have to do a lot of smaller work to make it successful.
  3. Embrace some chaos and messiness in your work. Sometimes these messy moments can lead to amazing results and breakthroughs.

How to Make Your Organization Run Like a Well-Oiled Machine

39 implied HN points • 31 Oct 22
💼 Business Management Organization Workflow Productivity Collaboration
  1. Assign roles based on individual strengths to help team members excel. For example, creative people can focus on brainstorming, while organized individuals can handle project management.
  2. Encourage open communication and collaboration by holding regular meetings where everyone can share their ideas. This helps everyone feel valued and can improve overall productivity.
  3. Use the Pareto principle, which says that 80% of results come from 20% of efforts. Identify those key activities and focus on them to boost efficiency in your organization.

Goal versus Process

39 implied HN points • 02 Oct 22
💼 Business Management Strategy Product Design Development User Experience
  1. Focusing on goals helps teams and users create better outcomes. It's important to understand what problem we're solving instead of just following a strict process.
  2. Being adaptable is key. Just like driving, we can make adjustments along the way, which leads to a more effective journey toward our goals.
  3. Users care more about reaching their goals quickly than about the steps involved. Designing with their goals in mind makes them happier and more productive.

Descriptivism

39 implied HN points • 25 Sep 22
📖 Philosophy Language Communication Argumentation Cognition Complexity
  1. Language is complex and can't be boiled down to strict rules. People use language in many different ways, and that's okay.
  2. Binary thinking often simplifies complicated issues, making it hard to have productive discussions. It's important to recognize that many problems aren't just black and white.
  3. Embracing complexity opens up better conversations. Instead of forcing a win/lose situation, focusing on the nuances can lead to understanding and progress.

Salvation is only a half step away

19 implied HN points • 30 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Music Innovation Creativity Art Philosophy
  1. Playing music can teach you that mistakes might not be as bad as you think. Often, no one really notices your mistakes while jamming.
  2. In music and ideas, being too cautious can stifle your creativity. It's better to keep moving forward with your ideas than to freeze up waiting for a perfect one.
  3. Even if you make a 'bad' choice, like playing the wrong note, you can often turn it into something interesting by just moving to the next step. There's always a way to make it work.

Bonus post - Noisy Monitors

59 implied HN points • 07 Feb 22
🕹 Technology Engineering Software Team Management Product Development Signal Processing
  1. Noisy monitors can create problems for engineering teams. They get too many alerts that can drown out the important signals, making it hard to focus on real issues.
  2. Accumulating unresolved bugs and warnings can lead to confusion. Teams might ignore older and less critical issues, which can mask newer problems that need attention.
  3. It's important to maintain discipline and organization in monitoring systems. Just like a chef cleans his kitchen daily, teams should regularly tidy up their alerts and processes to stay effective.

Trust is a design issue

59 implied HN points • 06 Dec 21
🕹 Technology Software User Experience Design Privacy Performance
  1. When creating software, you're making promises to users about reliability and performance. If users can't trust your software to work well, they feel let down.
  2. Over time, adding too many features can slow down software and make it complicated. It's important for teams to keep user experience and performance in mind as they grow.
  3. Strong teams think carefully about the promises they make with each new feature. They aim to keep users happy and avoid feeling like they've broken that trust.

Worse is better

59 implied HN points • 31 Oct 21
🕹 Technology Software Design Engineering User Experience Simplicity Innovation
  1. Simplicity in software design is really important. When software is simple, it’s often easier for users to understand and use.
  2. Many engineers feel pressure to add more features, which can make software more complex. This push for complexity can lead to better options for users who prefer easier solutions.
  3. Sometimes, simpler software can outperform more complex systems. Users appreciate clear and easy-to-use options, leading to the idea that 'worse is better'.

Context matters

59 implied HN points • 24 Oct 21
🕹 Technology Software Development Product Management Design principles Engineering Practices
  1. Finding the right balance between short-term and long-term focus is important in building complex software. You need to address immediate issues without losing sight of broader goals.
  2. Metrics should reflect real business goals, not just vanity numbers. It's better to watch user engagement than just sales figures.
  3. Being able to switch between different contexts and focus on what's most important is a key skill for engineers and business people. Understanding where to concentrate your efforts can greatly impact success.

VCs sell money

19 implied HN points • 20 Nov 22
💼 Business Venture Capital Investing Startups Economics Finance
  1. Venture capitalists (VCs) primarily sell money to companies, and their main goal is to find good companies to invest in. It's a sales role, and they often have to compete to get the best opportunities.
  2. Most VC returns come from a few big successes, while many investments may only give back what was initially put in or fail completely. This means that if your startup doesn't do well, it's a bigger deal for you than for the VC.
  3. Understanding the different motivations and incentives between you and your VC is crucial. Even if both of you want the company to succeed, you may want success for different reasons and might make different decisions along the way.

Beware programmer traps!

39 implied HN points • 21 Nov 21
🕹 Technology Software Development User Experience Programming Web Development Product Design
  1. It's hard for people in tech to explain ideas to non-technical folks. What seems clear to a programmer can be confusing to others.
  2. Designing products based on complex models can lead to failure if they don’t connect with everyday users. Sometimes, simpler products that reflect real user needs work better.
  3. Being aware of different perspectives is key. User testing helps ensure ideas make sense to everyone, not just those with technical backgrounds.

New Paradigms Need New Tools

0 implied HN points • 21 May 23
🕹 Technology Programming AI Software Engineering Systems
  1. We have seen major shifts in programming history, from mainframes to mobile devices, and now we're moving toward AI. Each shift brought unique challenges that needed new ways of thinking and new tools.
  2. As we develop applications using AI, we need to focus on tasks like monitoring meaning, managing data securely, and optimizing performance. This includes understanding new problems, like where to run AI tasks effectively.
  3. The transition to AI will take time and may have bumps along the way. It's important to keep an open mind about new tools and approaches, learning from each attempt rather than dismissing them too quickly.

Coming soon

0 implied HN points • 29 Sep 21
🕹 Technology Programming Personal Development Letters
  1. There's a newsletter called Sunday Letters that focuses on how to think like a programmer. It's all about improving your problem-solving skills.
  2. The newsletter also shares personal letters to the author's younger self. This can give insight into learning and growth over time.
  3. System thinking is another key topic discussed. It's about understanding how different parts connect in a bigger picture.

Coordination Efforts

0 implied HN points • 07 May 23
🕹 Technology AI Software Communication Innovation Teamwork
  1. Adding more people to a team can actually slow things down, because of too much communication. It's often better to have one person in charge to make decisions quickly.
  2. AI could help improve team coordination by remembering details and directing tasks efficiently. It might serve as a neutral leader, easing social pressures.
  3. Using AI in programming teams might change how decisions are made, allowing for faster consensus without putting pressure on individual members. This could make teamwork smoother overall.

What I learned about products from making tacos

0 implied HN points • 25 Aug 24
💼 Business Product Design User Experience AI Products Marketing Engineering
  1. People appreciate good design, even in simple products like tacos. Small changes can make a big difference in user experience.
  2. Users want products that help them complete tasks easily, without unnecessary complications. If it's difficult to use, they'll likely abandon it.
  3. It's important to test your product with real users who aren't familiar with it. Their feedback can reveal issues you might miss when you only think about what you've built.

LLMs can only generate

0 implied HN points • 14 Jul 24
🕹 Technology AI Machine Learning Software Development Data science Digital Transformation
  1. Generative models like LLMs can only create new content from scratch. They can't just fix mistakes in the specific part we want; they'll regenerate everything instead.
  2. Reliability is key for these systems to be useful. Unlike humans, who can iterate and refine work step by step, generative models don't have that ability to just modify a piece.
  3. When using generative models, it's important to clearly scope the work. You should restrict what you want the model to generate to avoid unexpected changes, using coding to help manage the tasks.

Melody, harmony, coding with AI

0 implied HN points • 07 Jul 24
🕹 Technology AI Programming Software Development Engineering
  1. We're entering a new era in programming that mixes old ways with new AI techniques. Just like how the internet changed things, now we have to adapt to using AI models in our coding.
  2. This new programming will be a mix of structured coding and creative AI output. Think of it like music where the code is the essential framework and the AI adds creative touches around it.
  3. As we explore this new landscape, it's important to experiment and learn from our experiences. Don’t get stuck in outdated methods, but be open to finding better solutions with AI.