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productivity

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The Greenhouse and the Lens: Two Modes of Agentic AI Work
2 months ago
- Agentic AI can be understood through two contrasting modes: greenhouse (diffuse growth) and lens (focused ignition), both powered by 'sunlight' or AI capabilities.
- Greenhouse mode is ideal for exploration when goals are unclear, allowing many tools or ideas to grow simultaneously, with low cost enabling experimentation and post-hoc evaluation.
- Lens mode involves concentrating effort on a well-defined target, discarding non-essential proposals, and is useful for precise execution when 'done' is clear.
- Neither mode is inherently superior; they serve different purposes, and mismatching mode to task causes frustration with agentic AI.
- Advanced expertise includes recognizing which mode a task demands, staying in that mode, and correcting drift (e.g., accidental feature creep or over-polishing during exploration).
- Domain expertise acts as an 'oracle' in both modes: sifting promising results in greenhouse and rejecting plausible-but-wrong outputs in lens mode, while also detecting mode drift.
Show HN: What should the GUI for AI agents look like?
2 months ago
- MarbleOS provides a workspace where files, tools, tasks, and outputs are visible.
- It avoids burying these elements in chat threads.
- Offers onboarding, beta download, and more demos.
The Religion of Speed
2 months ago
- Moving fast has become a moral position, not just a practical concern, and is treated as proof of seriousness.
- Speed often protects bad work because it's fast, not because it's good or well-thought-out, creating a cult of motion over progress.
- Real speed arises from understanding, clear constraints, and clean decisions, while most 'speed' is impatience leading to vague requirements and failures.
- Rushing through understanding causes ten times more cleanup, rework, and confusion, making systems untrustworthy and processes opaque.
- Slowing down means refusing to skip foundational questions about the work, which removes the dopamine hit of motion but leads to better outcomes.
- The difference between urgency (appropriate when time is real) and haste (emotional relief without clarity) is often ignored.
- The author values work that holds up and creates fewer problems, advocating for understanding first, then deciding, then moving.
- The 'Religion of Speed' uses excuses like fast-changing markets to justify skipping thought, but reality eventually collects its due.
They Stole Your Attention
2 months ago
- The average human attention span on a screen has dropped from ~150 seconds in 2004 to 47 seconds by 2016, and remained at 47 seconds as of 2025.
- After a screen switch or interruption, it takes an average of 25 minutes and 26 seconds to fully re-immerse in the original task.
- Microsoft 365 telemetry from 2025 shows that the most interrupted workers face an interruption every 2 minutes during core hours, totaling 275 interruptions per day.
- Meta's ad revenue per user in the US and Canada reached $57.03 worldwide in 2025, an all-time high, highlighting the monetization of attention.
- The article recommends keeping your phone in another room, removing feeds from work machines, and maintaining blocks of hours that no notifications can interrupt.
I'm 38 and I Can't Support Myself Anymore
2 months ago
- The author, 38 and disabled, feels shame after asking their mother for money, reflecting a culture that equates productivity with worth.
- The Protestant work ethic has shaped modern capitalism, where work is seen as a moral virtue, making unemployment feel like personal failure.
- Disabled people face systemic poverty and a 'benefits cliff' where earning too much can strip vital support, forcing them into permanent poverty.
- Invisible illness leads to social suspicion, requiring disabled individuals to constantly prove their suffering is real.
- Capitalism relies on the myth of self-sufficiency, but everyone depends on care labor, which is undervalued.
- The author struggles to separate self-worth from economic output, but tries to believe humans have value beyond productivity.
- Disabled people are forced to confront human fragility, challenging the capitalist fantasy of endless optimization.
Windows 11 after two decades of macOS: okay, but also awful
2 months ago
- The author's experiment switching from Mac to Windows PC was somewhat productive but overall painful, citing keyboard bindings and app availability as major issues, and ultimately they returned to using a used M1 MacBook Air.
- Windows 11 has strengths like a better file explorer (Windows Explorer), package manager (Winget), customizability, good window management, gaming support, and WSL for Linux integration, but these are overshadowed by many bugs and poor design choices.
- Key Windows pain points include forced Microsoft account login during installation, messy keyboard layout management, inconsistent UI with multiple old frameworks, display scaling and brightness problems, and font rendering issues.
- macOS is not perfect either, with problems like wireless mouse stuttering, sleep issues, SMB share reliability, Time Machine failures, Finder delays, and the disliked Tahoe design, but the author still prefers it due to superior keyboard shortcuts and apps like Things 3.
- The author's attempt to remap Windows keyboard shortcuts to match macOS was finicky and ultimately unsuccessful, leading to wasted time tinkering instead of being productive.
Granola for Apple Watch
2 months ago
- Granola launches a new version built specifically for Apple Watch, designed for note-taking during meetings away from laptops like whiteboard sessions or walking 1:1s.
- Users start and stop recording with a tap on their wrist, accompanied by a green screen and sound; notes sync instantly to iPhone and computer.
- The app integrates with calendar reminders and can be added as a watch face complication for quick access to ad-hoc notes.
- Granola emphasizes using the Apple Watch users already own, and internal testing found it natural to keep laptops closed while recording.
- Notes sync automatically across devices and can be used as context in AI tools via Granola MCP.
- A limited-edition handwoven Apple Watch strap by London weaver Nowshin Prenon is available to mark the launch.
- The app is free and available today for watchOS 11 or later, with feedback requested via email.
Escapism
2 months ago
- The author describes being stuck in a 'freeze-state' despite business growth and family stability.
- They feel an urgent need to work but cannot start, leading to addictive dopamine-seeking behaviors like checking apps.
- They used to achieve hyper-focus easily but now struggle with productivity, which has damaged their identity as a founder.
- They attribute their condition to autistic burnout, which has erased their mental engine and left them dysfunctional.
- They escape into screens and planning for tomorrow, but cannot execute tasks even with family or work.
- They feel trapped in a cycle of burnout and recovery, like recharging a battery that dies quickly each day.
Key, in sight
2 months ago
- Keyboard customization bridges hardware and software for efficiency and enjoyment.
- Start by adding extra keys (e.g., macro pads) for a conflict-free space to experiment.
- Use software like Keyboard Maestro to assign personalized shortcuts across apps.
- Unify inconsistent shortcuts and remove frustrating ones to support motor memory.
- Leverage fun additions like big arcade buttons for satisfying, practical actions.
- Explore advanced features like macros, clipboard history, and smart home control.
- Key customization layers include firmware, USB-side apps, and app-level tools.
- Choose actions that are physically enjoyable and spatially logical.
- Automation should be fun and tailored, not overly complex.
- Summarize tips: don’t overthink, break rules, listen to fingers, and have fun.
The Curve is Bending
2 months ago
- AI models have reached an inflection point where their output is worth more than the cost for real development work, leading to increased inference spending.
- The author's annual AI inference spend grew from $100 in 2023 to $5000 in 2025, reflecting growing utility.
- o1-pro was the first model consistently useful for professional coding, capable of debugging large files and saving hours per week.
- AI tools like Claude Code and prompt libraries in Zed Editor dramatically reduce task times (e.g., from 20 minutes to 2 minutes for boilerplate functions).
- The author built multiple features and a full website backend using Claude Code, estimating 100 hours of manual work reduced to under 10 hours.
- Current AI tools save the author about 10% of work time, with potential for 2-3x acceleration by end of 2026.
- Models like o3 are expected to significantly outperform o1-pro, but initial costs will be high (e.g., $10-20 per debugging session via API).
- Senior dev taste (software architecture judgment) remains a challenge for AI, as synthetic data for high-quality design is hard to generate.
- Junior developers may be replaced faster than seniors because their tasks are easier to automate; juniors are advised to develop senior dev taste quickly.
- Inference spend is expected to jump to thousands or tens of thousands of dollars per year per developer, following Jevons paradox: cheaper AI leads to more usage.
- Context size is a current bottleneck; future cost drops will enable expensive but valuable codebase-wide scans.
Testing AI For C Programming
2 months ago
- The author, a 25-year programming veteran, was initially skeptical of AI coding tools but tested new AI code agents (Opus 4.5, gpt-5.2-codex) to see if they could save time.
- In a controlled experiment using Claude Code, AI assistance reduced a tedious 4-hour task (writing UTF16 conversions and auditing string usage) to 30 minutes, and even when AI made mistakes, reviewing its code helped the author understand the problem faster.
- AI code agents are best used like an intern or paralegal—handling tedious, specific tasks under human guidance, while the programmer handles planning and review.
- The agents can handle feedback well (e.g., rewriting an O(n²) algorithm to O(n) when asked), but still require a skilled programmer to identify and correct issues.
- AI is useful for debugging analysis; in one case, it identified a degenerate hash function and a recent code change causing a freeze, saving hours of manual investigation.
- Using AI agents helped overcome procrastination on tasks like creating a Linux sysroot, and running multiple agents in the background felt like a superpower.
- The author addresses common criticisms: reviewing AI code prevents loss of codebase understanding; AI replaces typing, not thinking; programming is more than typing; and productivity gains may not be visible as new products but can enable smaller teams to achieve more.
Could Excel agents unlock $1T in economic value?
2 months ago
- Excel agents can automate complex spreadsheet tasks, significantly reducing manual work and errors.
- Many critical business processes run on Excel, yet these 'systems' often lack proper version control, testing, or validation.
- Agent workflows improve over prior methods by reading only necessary data, running in real Excel instances, and debugging iteratively.
- Features like AGENTS.md files and use of scripts (Python, bash) enable faster, more reliable Excel automation for non-technical users.
- Approximately 38% of knowledge worker time is spent in Excel, representing about $2.4 trillion in annual U.S. labor costs for spreadsheet work.
- Even a 50% productivity gain from Excel agents could unlock at least $1 trillion in economic value across the economy.
A quick guide for productive development
2 months ago
- Working hard doesn't guarantee productivity; it's important to focus on the right work aligned with stakeholder values.
- Avoid perfectionism by prioritizing tasks based on value rather than complexity, and address only critical requirements for initial versions.
- Use a cyclic workflow: estimate tasks, order them by value, execute, reassess mid-cycle, and ensure effort goes to highest-value items.
- Complexity of a task doesn't always correlate with value; skill sets and context should influence time allocation.
- Value should be measured at a team level, requiring cross-functional collaboration and coordination, not just individual prioritization.
Offline knowledge, buses, and note-taking
2 months ago
- Knowledge stored only in memory is risky because humans are forgetful, while computers excel at remembering.
- Documentation reduces the 'bus factor' by ensuring multiple people can perform tasks, spreading critical knowledge.
- A personal documentation system should capture tasks quickly, show immediate priorities, and be always accessible.
- Effective note-taking frees mental space for creative problem-solving rather than remembering tasks.
Things that work (for me)
2 months ago
- The author believes in continually improving tools, but lists those that work so well they are considered solved problems, adopting a minimalistic approach to purchases.
- Digital tools: Tuta Mail for privacy-respecting email, Apple Notes for simple synced notes and tasks, Visual Studio Code as the preferred code editor, Trello for project tracking, and Bear Blog as a personal blogging platform.
- Physical tools: Apple Airpods Pro for noise cancelling and audio quality, New Balance 574 shoes for comfort and durability, CeraVe Moisturising Lotion for skin health, Eucerin sunscreen for daily non-oily use, Salt of the Earth deodorant for odor neutrality, and a felted wool hat for thermoregulation.
- Under consideration: Lululemon ABC pants (comfortable but stain-prone) and merino wool t-shirts (non-smelly, soft, but durability concerns).
- The author emphasizes intentional purchasing, replacing old items with new ones, and keeping both digital and physical possessions minimal to avoid clutter.
Underused Techniques for Effective Emails
2 months ago
- Effective emails are clear, relevant, efficient, and succinct.
- Deliver the most important information first using bottom-line, up front (BLUF) or inverted pyramid style.
- Use the Markdown Here browser extension to format emails with Markdown.
- Write complete replies to minimize email thread length instead of quick replies.
- Split threads and curate recipients when scope changes, updating subject line and recipients.
- Create structure with headings and paragraph breaks for long emails.
Under-prepared Meetings - Bert Hubert's writings
2 months ago
- Meetings remain a common but costly practice, often exceeding €1000 for a ten-person meeting.
- Poorly prepared meetings waste time by requiring attendees to catch up on context, leading to underinformed decisions.
- Sending a detailed agenda in advance saves time, improves decision quality, and allows better attendee selection.
- Writing an agenda itself clarifies the problem, akin to 'Rubber Duck Debugging'.
- Post-meeting notes should be shared with absentees who might contribute insights.
Code like a surgeon
2 months ago
- The author argues against the view that AI will turn everyone into managers or editors, instead advocating for a 'surgeon' approach where humans focus on high-impact work.
- AI is currently effective for handling secondary tasks like writing codebase guides, spiking big changes, fixing TypeScript errors, and writing documentation, often running asynchronously in the background.
- There is a distinction between using AI for primary versus secondary tasks: primary tasks require careful, hands-on control with fast feedback (e.g., Cursor tab-complete), while secondary tasks can be loosely delegated to agents like Claude Code or Codex CLI.
- Delegating grunt work to AI solves status hierarchy concerns, as it removes the need to assign menial tasks to junior team members and allows for 24/7 availability without ethical issues.
- At Notion, the author finds value in working at a company bullish on AI coding tools and sees it as a product that enables 'working like a surgeon' for knowledge workers.
- The ultimate goal is not to delegate core work but to identify and offload secondary grunt tasks, allowing focus on the main work that matters.
how i use my terminal
2 months ago
- The author demonstrates a terminal workflow using Windows Terminal, SSH, tmux, zsh, zoxide, ripgrep, and nvim for efficient file navigation and editing.
- They switched from VSCode and Zed due to lag, keybind conflicts, and difficulty scripting, building their own solution with tmux to replicate VSCode's ctrl-click file opening.
- Tmux is configured to search scrollback for filenames using a complex regex, and to open selected files in a new pane or existing nvim instance via shell scripts.
- The author plans to switch to kitty terminal for session persistence while keeping the same scripts, and notes that terminals are powerful but require significant setup.
- Alternatives are recommended: fish + zoxide + fzf, editor built-in features, qf, e, and editor-specific remote clients (vim --remote, code, emacsclient).
- The overall lesson is that terminal scripting enables powerful workflows but is not recommended for everyone due to fragility and effort.
What Business Can Learn from Open Source
2 months ago
- Open source software has prevented Microsoft from extending its monopoly to servers, with 52% of companies replacing Windows servers with Linux.
- People work harder on projects they love, and amateurs often surpass professionals, as seen in open source and blogging.
- Traditional office environments are unproductive; working from home or informal spaces can boost productivity.
- Bottom-up idea generation and quality enforcement, like in open source and blogging, often works better than top-down management.
- The employer-employee relationship is outdated and can be improved by treating workers as investors or founders of their own projects.
- Startups enable people to work on their own projects, leading to higher productivity and satisfaction, even if they fail.

firstprev0next

productivity

The Greenhouse and the Lens: Two Modes of Agentic AI Work

Show HN: What should the GUI for AI agents look like?

The Religion of Speed

They Stole Your Attention

I'm 38 and I Can't Support Myself Anymore

Windows 11 after two decades of macOS: okay, but also awful

Granola for Apple Watch

Escapism

Key, in sight

The Curve is Bending

Testing AI For C Programming

Could Excel agents unlock $1T in economic value?

A quick guide for productive development

Offline knowledge, buses, and note-taking

Things that work (for me)

Underused Techniques for Effective Emails

Under-prepared Meetings - Bert Hubert's writings

Code like a surgeon

how i use my terminal

What Business Can Learn from Open Source