I have done so many things in the last two weeks that I have never done before.
Things I have done before that I did again
Things I learnt about
Concepts I learnt about
Things I need to look up
I’ve found that I have significantly better results when I ask the llm to create a plan in an .md file than to use the plan mode. For one, it’s much easier for me to go in and edit the file than get the llm to understand exactly what change I want. Then, I can keep clearing context while holding important state in the file.
It’s also been easier to do TDD if I describe the feature, spec the file, THEN write the test and implement the feature (rather than the other way around).
I went in to the office all week, after about 5 years of no physical space. I really enjoy the energy I get from building from the same space as other people. The face time, the quiet understanding you build with your team over shared fruit etc is unparalleled. I just wish I didn’t… have to be there physically.
My biggest issue with the office has been ergonomics. Some of this is fixable: I took in my monitor, I’m getting a desk converter next week, I might have to buy a new (higher) chair. But my biggest issue has been movement. I gave up on spending chunks of time in the gym a few months ago because it just didn’t fit with my lifestyle, but I still get in lots of movement during the day. This is because I am a fundamentally active person - I move a lot every day, I do chores that require bending and effort, I work when standing, and when I feel like it I move! All my friends’ living rooms have footmarks from my handstands. I will break out into a down dog if my body needs it. Except now I work in an office filled with people in finance, with completely transparent walls, and I feel horrible about even stretching! The desks are small too - 1.5x3 as opposed to the 2x5 that I’m used to at home. And this means that I feel conscious of myself even when I’m standing and rotating my shoulders. I feel awkward about taking up the space I need to fold my body. I hope that as I get more familiar with my colleagues, and my workmates, I will feel better about taking up the space my body needs.
The result of the last week on my brain has been incredible. I am not very thrilled about my speed (even though I did so much!!!!), but that’s a micro adjustment I will make in the course of knowing my client and their priorities better (and being able to decipher better what they say vs what they want) but physically I am exhausted. Apart from the minimum eight hours I am spending in office, I am spending two hours in commute, and at least two hours pre-and-post commute. The kittens are BIG MAD, and they have every right to be!
My life feels very full, and there’s barely any time for anything else I want to do outside of work. But it doesn’t feel hectic. It doesn’t feel overwhelming. This is what I signed up for, and it’s glorious.
Outside of work? Mum had a birthday, and it was nice to spend time with her. I haven’t been able to head back to RC Tuesdays (and I don’t think I will anytime in the next month or two, big sads) but Tuesday evening dinners with the subset of RC folks has still happened this week and I’m grateful. Despite the packed schedule I’ve been able to have a conversation or three with friends. I continue to slowly make changes to the home. I still haven’t potted the plants I made naked ten days ago but it feels like I have a handle on the house.
My only media consumption has been albums listened to in the office or via commute.