Microblog

I know someone who is interested in making apps. Right now, she only has experience with a service that essentially uses AI to build an app for you. She's planning on finishing college, but she's looking for resources right now to help her go beyond this vibe-apping.

She has an interest in UI, how apps work, and seems to have a good eye for when they are nice and smooth vs janky. She's not sure at the moment if she's interested more in code or design or project management. So I'm trying to think of resources I can send her to give her a taste of everything.

I think she has an admirable amount of hustle, but really just doesn't know where to start.

All of that said, does anyone have any recommendations of things I can send her? What I've got so far is Khan Academy's Hour of Code and FreeCodeCamp's responsive web design course.

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Wizards probably think they deserve their own saving throw, the self-important bastards.

Fonts used:

Dragönsteel and Clauthbound by @simplebits

@fontawesome Classic Solid

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Showing all opened windows on macOS will always be "Exposé" to me.

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Sometime within the last couple of years or so, I became totally burnt out (heh) on cool colors. I've started using color schemes and themes (in different apps that support them) that employ warm, earthy colors instead.

I recently found this one and one of the things I like about its theme for VS Codeht variant does as well, ensuring that all text meets WCAG AAA contrast standards.

It's rare to find a good light theme with solid contrast. Even more so to find a good one paired with a good dark one as well. I haven't been tempted to override any of the colors yet, which is saying something.

#linkblog

https://warmburnout.com/

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I switched over to Numbers Creator Studio. It wrecked the alignment of a bunch of my tables in a file I've been using for years. I tried to fix it, but I finally got frustrated and moved it over to a Google Sheet. SAD!

I would love to just manage it as a CSV file, but I have a few niceties baked in that require a real spreadsheet app.

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When I wrote HTML for People, I envisioned non-tech people learning it because knowing HTML is a generally useful skill in information work.

But AI kinda ruins that. Less non-tech people want to learn any HTML.

But it seems to have found a niche audience among people who still want to learn HTML despite having access to AI. That makes me feel better about it.

I’m glad I wrote it when I did because I’m not sure I could have stayed motivated to write it in 2026 with the proliferation of AI options—whether for writing HTML or for learning it.

https://htmlforpeople.com

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I am once again asking for your VS Code light theme recommendations.

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I did a little writeup of the new stuff in Minimal Character Sheet.

https://blakewatson.com/journal/dice-rolling-and-more-on-minimal-character-sheet/

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Does anyone else wish there was a setting in macOS that would give you a plain white or light gray menu bar (without reducing transparency everywhere)?

I always thought the menu bar was part of the iconic Mac look. Not really a fan of the current iteration that tries to blend itself away.

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If you are skilled with Python and Go and want to work on projects for NASA, we've got some openings at MRI.

https://mricompany.applicantpro.com/jobs/4055316

Check the full list of openings for security and cloud operations.

#FediHire #Jobs

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Minimal Character Sheet experienced an unfortunate security event yesterday. About a week or two ago, I inadvertently exposed my Postmark API key. Someone got a hold of it and sent a bunch of spam emails.

Fortunately, Postmark caught it really early and shut it down. I was able to cycle and secure the key. And we're back up and running again.

I feel really dumb for letting that happen.

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NEW FEATURE for Minimal Character Sheet 🎉

You can now roll dice directly from your character sheet! And this isn't just Math.random—you're getting true random numbers based on atmospheric noise, thanks to random.org.

https://minimalcharactersheet.com

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Somehow, I've never heard of this and I can tell I'm about to go down a deep rabbit hole. I'm sure all you cool people on the Fedi already know all about demoscene but if not, check out this post by @runawaydevil.

https://pablo.space/articles/2026/04/13/demoscene-the-hidden-art-of/

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I have *got* to let go of some domain names. I will sit there and fret about whether to subscribe to an app or service, but then grab a pointless domain name like SIGN ME UP, TAKE MY MONEY.

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I'm a multi-browser user, but for my personal daily driver I use Firefox. I've been using vertical tabs ever since they came to Firefox and... I might be permanently converted.

I hear Chrome is getting them/got them so I may be using them there soon too.

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RE: https://nileane.fr/@nileane/116319373644067043

I recently shared Tuna for Mac, which is an app launcher inspired by Quicksilver. Well here is another, even simpler, launcher (and emoji picker!) that looks great and also has an affordable pay-once license.

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The excitement—and, frankly, sheer giddiness—with which this developer introduces his new app is the most wholesome thing I’ve seen this week.

From the minute when I started watching it, I was thinking that the last thing I needed was an app launcher, having had a Powerpack license for Alfred for… checks notes… nearly 14 years!

But the more I watched, the more I was intrigued. Before I could even get done with the video, I had the app and the Pro license.

Yes, I am aware I have a problem.

(Yes, I know Raycast can do everything. If you like it, cool.) #linkblog

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkm-ZFlivyI

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Wondering if Artemis 2 is going to launch this time...

bw.status.lol/69cd30426ab12

Watch this if you need a pick-me-up and want to see a bunch of people fail their charisma saving throws.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XyCT6q35GI

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