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Simple Thread

Cutting Tape Splicing tape with a razor felt like a magic trick. It was meticulous – a punisher of the inaccurate – and if you botched counting the clicks that signaled a waveform cycle or rolled the wrong inch of tape you might completely ruin a... Read

Deciding the Rest of the Owl 9d ago

In my previous post, I built from the ground up a case for why software engineers should use decision-driven documentation: writing docs not to capture what we’ve done, but what we’ve decided. This approach has several advantages. It: Captures our... Read

The Fantastic Machine – Part 1 – The Building Blocks 15d ago

Go here for the full series “When I am working on a problem, I never think about beauty… but when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong.” — Buckminster Fuller Why I’m Writing This It’s widely accepted that one of the... Read

Interception! 16d ago

It’s American football season again and, as many fans will attest, there are few things more exciting than intercepting a ball thrown by the opposing team’s quarterback – it can truly be a game-changer! Similarly, utilizing JS (JavaScript) HTMX... Read

Docker Approaches to Multiple Environments 22d ago

Docker is a great tool for managing and deploying web applications, but it can be a little intimidating to scale up from running a single containerized application to managing that application’s lifecycle through development, staging and production... Read

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When Vendor Licensing Changes Force Architectural Decisions 28d ago

After months of investigating issues with a new version of one of our third party tools, we were finally ready to deploy. Then we discovered our vendor had introduced processor-based licensing that made most of our production servers non-compliant.... Read

The Fantastic Machine: Series Index 30d ago

This series is your orientation for the control room of the most complex machine on Earth: the power grid. You will be placed in the operator’s chair and taken on a complete journey through this invisible world we call The Fantastic Machine,... Read

Did you mean Jaro-Winkler? 38d ago

Yeah you did! Matching strings is easy, right up until it isn’t. Most programming languages give you a double-equals operator or maybe an eq method. We will focus on Ruby here. Put in two strings and you get out a true or a false. irb(main):001>... Read

New and Upcoming CSS Features I’m Excited About 44d ago

The past few weeks I’ve encountered several styling challenges that I was able to accomplish with just a few lines of CSS, which made me very thankful for all of the developments CSS has had over the past few years. Container queries, the :has()... Read

Unnecessary Anxiety in Software Development 52d ago

Imagine your job is to deliver packages from one high-rise building to another. The pay is good, the packages aren’t heavy, the buildings are right next to each other. But the only path between the skyscrapers is a creaky 2X4 plank stretched from... Read

Ask a Manager

the shrimp harbinger, the quartered meatballs, and other signs of financial trouble at work 6h ago

Last month we talked about signs of financial trouble you’ve seen at work — the early signs that foretold something worse was to come — and here are 12 interesting stories you shared. 1. The shrimp harbinger One place I worked at had a holiday... Read

I’m afraid to give feedback after 2 employees threatened self-harm 8h ago

A reader writes: I am a manager and I have a lot of empathy for people on my team. However, that empathy has taken a turn since I’ve now had employees twice threaten suicide after serious feedback conversations. In both cases I was told they were... Read

am I too nice to be a good manager? 9h ago

A reader writes: I’ve been a people manager for a few years now. I join a company as an individual contributor and get pushed into management as soon as a role opens. I don’t seek it out; I’ve tried to decline, only to end up managing anyway. I... Read

vaping on video calls, my name makes coworkers think I’m older than I am, and more 20h ago

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Vaping on video calls I work for Company A. We partner closely with Company B on a few projects. There is a power dynamic where Company B provides more resources and calls more shots than we do,... Read

do I have to avoid talking about Warhammer 40k at work? 1d ago

A reader writes: My job has a weekly meeting where a different employee each week presents to our group about what they’ve been working on for the past few months (academic lab meeting). The group is about 30 people and includes our boss/PI and... Read

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I can’t keep up at work 1d ago

A reader writes: I worked with an incredibly talented team of colleagues, and I feel like my own work isn’t anywhere near their level. I regularly complete far fewer projects than anyone else on the team, and I still need help on things they all... Read

my office loves to drink, and I’m trying to stop drinking 1d ago

A reader writes: My workplace has drinking heavily interwoven into the culture. You doubtless know the kind of place — never had a work social event without copious amounts of booze, boss bringing around beers on Friday afternoons, work parties... Read

can I refuse to fetch my manager’s personal mail, accidentally asked people to buy me baby gifts, and more 2d ago

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Can I refuse to fetch my manager’s personal mail? I work in a room with my manager and two colleagues, and between them they order 3-10 personal packages to the office a week. They don’t get up to... Read

I was offered a promotion to manager but with no raise 2d ago

A reader writes: I’ve been working at a university for eight years in the donor relations department. This past year has been really tough for the university budget-wise, for various political funding reasons. There was a round of layoffs in late... Read

the government shutdown: an open thread for federal employees and contractors 2d ago

A reader writes: Could we do an open thread for federal employees and federal contractors about the possible government shutdown? I wasn’t working in government for the last one and don’t really know what to expect. Yes indeed. People impacted by... Read

will I offend my coworkers if I invite them to my religious wedding? 2d ago

A reader writes: I recently came across a letter you answered about 10 years ago, where a woman wanted to decline an invitation to a wedding because she was uncomfortable with it being gender segregated. Your response was unsurprising, but I was a... Read

my boss told me I had to be on camera while sick, telling an organization their volunteer is obnoxious, and more 3d ago

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My boss told me I had to be on camera while sick My department hosts a monthly zoom meeting to a large audience. That week I was working from home with a terrible cold (coughing, sneezing, runny... Read

weekend open thread – September 27-28, 2025 5d ago

This comment section is open for any non-work-related discussion you’d like to have with other readers, by popular demand. Here are the rules for the weekend posts. Book recommendation of the week: Single, Carefree, Mellow, by Katherine Heiny. I... Read

open thread – September 26, 2025 5d ago

It’s the Friday open thread! The comment section on this post is open for discussion with other readers on any work-related questions that you want to talk about (that includes school). If you want an answer from me, emailing me is still your best... Read

aggravated by my company’s giving-back program, superstar fiancé is my former professor, and more 6d ago

It’s four answers to four questions. Here we go… 1. I’m aggravated by my company’s giving-back program My company has a giving-back program where employees are asked to volunteer time or make donations to charity and in return there is a designated... Read

my boss wants me to start coming into the office, but I’ve always been remote 6d ago

A reader writes: I have been working at my company for three years now. In that time, I have been to the office approximately once. My work is pretty solitary and doesn’t require me to be in the office. Only a few people in the organization are... Read

update: I’m covering 2 full-time jobs and my boss won’t help 6d ago

Remember the letter-writer who was covering two full-time jobs and her boss wouldn’t help? It turns out that she solved the problem herself before I printed my answer. Here’s the update. Your advice was lovely and I hope it helps people who are in... Read

let’s talk about corporate gifts you actually liked 6d ago

We’ve talked about terrible corporate gifts, so now it’s time to talk about great ones. And yes, money and time off are the best gifts, but sometimes you’re going to get something else so let’s hear about what actually worked. Some examples that... Read

employer pulled my offer after I asked questions, how to weed out candidates with obnoxious personalities, and more 7d ago

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Employer pulled my offer after I asked questions Last year I worked at a school I absolutely loved in a contract middle leadership position, covering leave. They were very happy with my work, but... Read

can I ask my coworkers to tell me to shut up when I’m talking too much? 7d ago

A reader writes: I’m the other side of letters you get more commonly: I am the overly talkative coworker trying to figure out how to professionally ask (read as beg) people to cut me off. I have pretty obvious/intense ADHD and do work with my doc... Read

my new remote employee has terrible internet 7d ago

A reader writes: I’ve just hired a new remote employee who is absolutely wonderful. He’s organized, driven, talented and self-starting. I feel like I’ve won the jackpot — with a catch. His internet is really, really bad. It’s almost impossible to... Read

company dress code requires women to wear high heels and only shop at Ann Taylor 7d ago

A reader writes: A friend of mine got a job in property management and wasn’t told about the dress code until a couple months in. It is the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen. The highlights: * Women can only shop at Ann Taylor. They are given... Read

employee thinks their lack of skill is just “imposter syndrome,” doxxing and online political speech, and more 8d ago

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. I need to give feedback to someone who thinks they have imposter syndrome but really doesn’t know what they’re doing I work in a pretty varied team, say developing tea and teapots. I lead the... Read

the shared yoga mat, the fire hazard, and other tales of poorly thought-out corporate gifts 8d ago

Earlier this month, we talked about corporate gifts that went terribly wrong. You shared so many outrageous stories that I had to split my favorites into two parts. Part one was here, and here’s part two. 1. The fire hazard After college I spent... Read

update: there’s human waste outside my building 8d ago

Remember the letter-writer whose building was being plagued by human waste outside it? Here’s the update. The pooping has stopped! It was actually just a small group of six people who were causing the biggest problems. There were mental health... Read

my coworker is making me do all her work 8d ago

A reader writes: I have a coworker who is making me do her work, I asked my boss for help but I feel like he’s being really laissez faire about the whole thing. What should I do? How should I set boundaries with her, healthily? I work for a small... Read

my office is infested with wasps, whispering in meetings, and more 9d ago

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My office is infested with wasps I work in a field where telework for any reason has been prohibited by our CEO. We can telework and did throughout the lockdown portion of the pandemic, but he’s... Read

I don’t think my company has a culture at all 9d ago

A reader writes: This may not be an answerable question, but I’m interested in your views on what makes company culture. I ask because my very small (fewer than 10 people), 100%-remote company recently hired a new employee, and during the interview... Read

is it rude to cut short an interview if the candidate obviously isn’t the right fit? 9d ago

A reader writes: I just finished conducting a job interview where it was clear from the candidate’s answer to the first question that he was not going to get the job, but I felt like it would be rude to indicate that so abruptly. So I wasted 20... Read

my coworker insists on celebrating my birthday even though I’ve asked her not to 9d ago

A reader writes: I don’t like to do birthday stuff for my birthday. No, not even that. Or that. Or that. Or … It’s got nothing to do with the dreaded Getting Older; in fact, I don’t really know why. I just don’t want to. When my coworker went... Read

my boss told a coworker I’m full of myself, employees wearing shirts with political messages, and more 10d ago

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My boss told a coworker I’m full of myself I was hired from outside the organization two months ago to turn a lagging department around. My boss, the CEO, was hired from outside about eight months... Read

weekend open thread – September 20-21, 2025 12d ago

This comment section is open for any non-work-related discussion you’d like to have with other readers, by popular demand. Here are the rules for the weekend posts. Book recommendation of the week: Sister Wife, by Christine Brown Woolley. I don’t... Read

open thread – September 19, 2025 12d ago

enneagrams at a company retreat, intern can’t shake hands with men, and more 13d ago

It’s four answers to four questions. Here we go… 1. We’re supposed to do enneagrams at a company retreat I work at an organization with 100+ employees. We gather periodically for company-wide retreats. We have done this in the past with various... Read

I turned down a bait-and-switch job offer and now they’re blowing up my phone 13d ago

A reader writes: For the bulk of my working life, I’ve been a very low-level lawyer in Washington, D.C. who managed to scratch my way into a few government contracts with the Department of Justice over the years. This definitely wasn’t my dream... Read

can team-building get you sued? 13d ago

Employment lawyer Robin Shea published a piece at legal analysis site JD Supra about my recent Slate column on mandatory “fun” at work — and she delved into the legal implications for employers. She points out that pressure to participate in things... Read

ask the readers: terrible advice for navigating work as a new parent 13d ago

It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: For various but mostly economic reasons, my spouse and I are not planning on having children. We both work in specialized fields that do not allow remote work, in roles that are... Read

my boss said I’m being annoying, new executive director is alienating everyone, and more 14d ago

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My boss told me I’m being annoying I’m in my mid-20s and work in a pretty casual office. We provide customer support for ticket buyers. I was promoted to membership/subscription package supervisor... Read

Ohio wants to keep track of applicants who skip job interviews 14d ago

A reader writes: Earlier this month in Ohio, a pair of Republican lawmakers introduced a bill to create a website with lists of people who’ve no showed for interviews. I’ve included a link to Ohio’s Statehouse News Bureau’s reporting information —... Read

a former client won’t stop contacting me for more help 14d ago

A reader writes: A few years ago, I did some logo work for a friend of a professional contact. Every few months since then, this guy has asked for tweaks to the design. Sometimes I charge him and sometimes, if the tweak is small, I do it quickly... Read

employee came to work with her butt cheeks exposed 14d ago

A reader writes: I work in a company with a lot of young employees and a completely optional hybrid working policy. We have an office, but they no longer enforce any in-office mandates. I am basically a middle manager, and there’s no consistent... Read

is it OK to let my staff fail, coworker is being influenced by our toxic boss, and more 15d ago

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Is it OK to let my staff fail? My boss intimidates a lot of my staff. I’ve worked on more exposure, getting to the root of the issues, preparing for meetings, common questions, etc. A lot of it is... Read

the personalized coloring books, the shared Silly Putty, and other corporate gifts gone wrong 15d ago

Earlier this month, we talked about corporate gifts that went terribly wrong. Here are 15 of my favorite stories you shared (and 15 more about coming next week — apparently there are a lot of bad company gifts out there). 1. The playing cards One... Read

what’s up with employers not getting back to me after I interview? 15d ago

A reader writes: I recently relocated to another state and began looking for a job. Throughout the course of my search, I have come across an interesting and unusual (to me) phenomenon: ghosting. I have been ghosted by pre-screeners, HR directors,... Read

a colleague is harassing female coworkers, and the person I reported it to didn’t seem too concerned 15d ago

A reader writes: I am a supervisor for a small-ish organization with very few male employees. “Amy” started working here in January, but does not report to me. Earlier this week she asked if she could talk to me, and told me that one of the men in... Read

rendezvous with cassidoo

🏡 "I recommend the freedom that comes from asking: Compared to what?" - Gloria Steinem 3d ago

Hey friends! We're going to be waking up this week because September is ending! But until then, let's kick back with some content. Was this forwarded to you? You can subscribe here! Web links of the week The Best CSS Unit Might Be a Combination... Read

🪖 "The love that you withhold is the pain that you carry." - Ralph Waldo Emerson 10d ago

Hey friends! I hope your had a good week! Mine flew by, and I had a great time. I'll tell ya more about it below! Let's gooo. Was this forwarded to you? You can subscribe here! Web links of the week All 197 entries submitted to js13kGames 2025... Read

👂 "There is nothing more truly artistic than to love people." - Vincent Van Gogh 17d ago

Hellllooo! I hope your week was a good one. Mine was tiring (what else is new?) but I had a good time with family and friends. Let's boogie. Was this forwarded to you? You can subscribe here! Web links of the week 100+ new CSS features from the... Read

🦺 "Life's too short to be a pushover." - Kelly Clarkson 24d ago

Hey friends! I hope you had a good week. Mine was busy, but we got to see some family and friends, so that made it worth it! Let's learn. Was this forwarded to you? You can subscribe here! Web links of the week Functional custom elements the easy... Read

🎟️ "Inspiration is applying what you’ve received." - Derek Sivers 31d ago

Hey friends! August is done, we're through! Finished! Now that September is here, I'll be napping and you can wake me up when September ends. Ha. But anyway, let's learn. Was this forwarded to you? You can subscribe here! Web links of the... Read

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🦩 "Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement." - Helen Keller 38d ago

Hey friends! I hope you had a good week! Mine was full of cleaning and getting excited for fall weather in Chicago. Onwards! Was this forwarded to you? You can subscribe here! Web links of the week Introduction to AT Protocol MCSS: A modern... Read

☔️ "It’s important to have something to walk towards." - Mike Monteiro 45d ago

Hey friends! I'm sleepily writing to you hoping that your week was a good one! Mine was tiring, but not all bad. Let's learn! Was this forwarded to you? You can subscribe here! Web links of the week ForesightJS A Nice Vanilla App Architecture... Read

🎽 "New sentences have appeared on earth, not written by human beings." - Patricia Lockwood 52d ago

Hey friends! I hope you had a good week! Mine was tiring, but overall good. My toddler has finally (!) started taking an interest in LEGO bricks so I am having a blast playing with her these days. Anyway, onwards! Was this forwarded to you? You can... Read

⛈️ "You pray for rain, you gotta deal with the mud too." - Denzel Washington 59d ago

Hey friends! Happy August! I hope your week went smoothly. It's been a loud one here in Chicago with the Lollapalooza music festival going on, but it's been nice otherwise! Was this forwarded to you? You can subscribe here! Web links of the... Read

📼 "Simplicity is the glory of expression" - Walt Whitman 66d ago

Hey friends! I can't believe it's the last week of July already. I hope you're staying cool and building things you like. Onwards! Was this forwarded to you? You can subscribe here! Web links of the week So many ranges, so little time: A... Read

🐼 "Better to see something once than to hear about it a thousand times." - Asian Proverb 73d ago

Howdy y'all! I hope you had a good week. Mine was fun celebrating birthdays of family and friends, and messing around with some side projects. Let's boogie. Was this forwarded to you? You can subscribe here! Web links of the week Designing Scroll... Read

🪻 "First we build the tools, then they build us." - Marshall McLuhan 80d ago

Hey friends! I hope you had a good week! Mine was pretty full of non-internet work around the house and with the family, which felt good and needed. Anyway, back to jamming with console cowboys in cyberspace! Was this forwarded to you? You can... Read

🫐 "A genius is the one most like himself." - Thelonious Monk 87d ago

Hey y'all, I hope your week was a good one, and you had a somewhat light work week with the U.S. holiday. Let's learn! Was this forwarded to you? You can subscribe here! Web links of the week The Backrooms: CSS Edition Writing Code Was Never The... Read

🪲 "It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are." - E.E. Cummings 94d ago

Hey friends! We made it to the end of June! I hope you're staying cool in this hot hot weather (and if it's not wildly warm where you are... you are blessed). Let's boogie. Was this forwarded to you? You can subscribe here! Web links of the... Read

🦊 "This life is hard without assistance from others." - RuPaul 101d ago

Hey friends! It's a new week! I hope yours was a good one and you got enough sleep. And if you didn't... welcome to sleepytown, the water's fine! Anyway, let's boogie. Was this forwarded to you? You can subscribe here! Web links of the... Read

👑 "To be afraid is to behave as if the truth were not true." - Bayard Rustin 108d ago

Hey friends! I hope your week was a good one. I felt like it went very slowly, but I got to see some friends and family, which was nice. And Happy Father's Day to all of the dads and dad-figures out there! Let's go! Was this forwarded to you? You... Read

🛝 "Our feelings are our most genuine paths to knowledge." - Audre Lorde 115d ago

Hey friends! I hope you're safe, happy, and healthy. I feel like the news has been bogging me down a bit too much lately, so I hope this can be a nice reprieve for us both! Was this forwarded to you? You can subscribe here! Web links of the... Read

🌈 "Consistent actions produce results more often than serendipitous encounters." - J. Kelly Hoey 122d ago

Helllllooo! Happy Pride Month, and happy June! I hope the end of your May was a good one, and that your June has started strong. Let's boogie. Was this forwarded to you? You can subscribe here! Web links of the week CSS Minecraft My website is... Read

🍅 "False expectations take away joy." - Sandra Bullock 129d ago

Hey friends! Happy Memorial Day to those in the States, and happy last-week-of-May to everyone else! I hope you had a good week and get to enjoy a relaxing long weekend. Onwards! Was this forwarded to you? You can subscribe here! Web links of the... Read

🔭 "Imagination is more important than knowledge." - Albert Einstein 136d ago

Hello! It's mid-May, hey hey! I hope you had a good week. I'm in the thick of new baby times still, but slowly coming up for air. Let's read! Was this forwarded to you? You can subscribe here! Web links of the week Creating Flower Shapes using... Read

🐦 "Birds born in a cage think flying is an illness." - Alejandro Jodorowsky 143d ago

Helllloooo! I hope your week was a good one. Mine was packed with sleepless nights, but good days. And Happy Mother's Day to all of the moms and mom-figures out there! Let's go! Was this forwarded to you? You can subscribe here! Web links of the... Read

🥱 "Be quick, but never hurry." - John Wooden 150d ago

Hey friends! I hope you had a good week! Mine was very tiring with a brand new baby at home, but good. Let's gooo! Was this forwarded to you? You can subscribe here! Web links of the week IKEA's web fonts All 420 entries from Gamedev.js Jam 2025... Read

👶 "We all have the duty to do good." - Pope Francis 157d ago

Hey friends! Assuming all has gone well since I hit the "schedule" button on this issue... I just gave birth! Ahh! Baby! But there's still stuff to leeeearn! Was this forwarded to you? You can subscribe here! Web links of the week Creating CSS... Read

🖐️ "All you touch and all you see, is all your life will ever be." - Pink Floyd 164d ago

Hey friends! If you celebrate it, Happy Easter! Or Passover! Or mid-April! Let's learn. Was this forwarded to you? You can subscribe here! Web links of the week Typography troubles: Balancing lines in Japanese & Korean Lessons Learned from... Read

🥎 "Of all possessions a friend is the most precious." - Herodotus 171d ago

Hola hola! We made it to mid-April, where does the time go?? I hope you had a good week. Let's get learnin'! Was this forwarded to you? You can subscribe here! Web links of the week Tauri vs. Electron: performance, bundle size, and the real... Read

8️⃣ "You can have a plan, but you have to be flexible." - Jane Krakowski 178d ago

Hey friends! I'm so excited to be in your inbox today! It is this newsletter's EIGHTH year anniversary!! I'm so grateful for all of you here. Let's keep it going (also there are free things and coupons below, keep scrolling)! Was this forwarded to... Read

🛵 "It is never too late to be what you might have been." - George Eliot 185d ago

Hey friends! It's the last issue of March AND next week is the 8th anniversary issue! How about that? Make sure you're ready for some goodies that I can rustle up for ya. Until then, time to read! Was this forwarded to you? You can subscribe... Read

📟 "This present moment was once the unimaginable future." - Stewart Brand 192d ago

Hey friends! I hope your week was a good one! Mine was productive and I did not sleep enough, but I had some good meals, so those make up for it... right? Onwards! Was this forwarded to you? You can subscribe here! Web links of the week Grid... Read

⚽ "Take your victories, whatever they may be, cherish them, use them, but don't settle for them." - Mia Hamm 199d ago

Hey friends! I hope you had a good week! It was a fun Pi Day and river dyeing weekend over here in Chicago. Let's learn! Was this forwarded to you? You can subscribe here! Web links of the week Let the stagger experiments begin The URL is a great... Read

🚏 "If you're going to go for a thing, there's no point unless you're going all the way." - Cynthia Erivo 206d ago

Hola hola! I hope you had a wonderful week! I had a good one seeing friends and family, which is always refreshing. Let's boogie! Was this forwarded to you? You can subscribe here! Web links of the week Styling the HTML details and summary... Read

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