Jake Worth ⚛️🌲
@jakeworth.com
That software engineer you know in Maine. I share daily learnings, essays about programming and management, and New England tech events. Organizer of MaineJS. https://www.jakeworth.com
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Jake Worth ⚛️🌲
@jakeworth.com
· Nov 2
🌲 I made a Bluesky Starter Pack of devs in Maine! We're a small community, and growing. Click that follow button, and let's get a conversation going!
go.bsky.app/6WrdHtm
go.bsky.app/6WrdHtm
This is an enviable quality of great software engineers I've observed. If you're trying to level up, it might help.
www.jakeworth.com/posts/gettin...
www.jakeworth.com/posts/gettin...
Getting It Right the First Time
There’s an enviable quality of great engineers I’ve known: they seem to get things right the first time. When you ask them to do something, and they say “It’s done”, it is, almost always. How?
www.jakeworth.com
January 6, 2026 at 2:06 PM
This is an enviable quality of great software engineers I've observed. If you're trying to level up, it might help.
www.jakeworth.com/posts/gettin...
www.jakeworth.com/posts/gettin...
✅ Why do some engineers seem to always get things right the first time?
The answer is in my newsletter, going out tomorrow! You can preview it on my website, and sign up here:
buttondown.com/defragmenter
The answer is in my newsletter, going out tomorrow! You can preview it on my website, and sign up here:
buttondown.com/defragmenter
Jake Worth's Newsletter
I've been writing about technology since 2014. I try to convey ideas that feel like the kind of conversation I’d have had with a sharp, seasoned colleague ten years ago. The goal? To challenge you wit...
buttondown.com
January 5, 2026 at 9:56 PM
✅ Why do some engineers seem to always get things right the first time?
The answer is in my newsletter, going out tomorrow! You can preview it on my website, and sign up here:
buttondown.com/defragmenter
The answer is in my newsletter, going out tomorrow! You can preview it on my website, and sign up here:
buttondown.com/defragmenter
Today I Learned: Rebuilds on Write With Nodemon #til
https://jakeworth.com/tils/rebuilds-on-write-with-nodemon/
https://jakeworth.com/tils/rebuilds-on-write-with-nodemon/
December 30, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Today I Learned: Rebuilds on Write With Nodemon #til
https://jakeworth.com/tils/rebuilds-on-write-with-nodemon/
https://jakeworth.com/tils/rebuilds-on-write-with-nodemon/
December 30, 2025 at 9:35 PM
December 29, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Testing exception capturing, without crashing your app (Sentry example):
www.jakeworth.com/tils/observa...
#til #javascript
www.jakeworth.com/tils/observa...
#til #javascript
Observable Exceptions That Don't Crash
Throwing a JavaScript Error test to your observability tool? There’s a better way.
www.jakeworth.com
December 17, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Testing exception capturing, without crashing your app (Sentry example):
www.jakeworth.com/tils/observa...
#til #javascript
www.jakeworth.com/tils/observa...
#til #javascript
Today I learned that locally, the engines key of package.json is an advisory. But, we can change that! #til #javascript
www.jakeworth.com/tils/npm-ins...
www.jakeworth.com/tils/npm-ins...
NPM Install "Engine Strict"
Suppose your package.json specifies a Node engine of <= 24. Will all engineers on your team use Node 24? Not necessarily, unless you use this one weird trick!
www.jakeworth.com
December 16, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Today I learned that locally, the engines key of package.json is an advisory. But, we can change that! #til #javascript
www.jakeworth.com/tils/npm-ins...
www.jakeworth.com/tils/npm-ins...
Hello World from MCP!
Hello World! Today I’m posting a TIL using MCP (Model Context Protocol).
www.jakeworth.com
December 12, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Today I learned about the input redirection operator.
"my knowledge" < "this cool operator" 😎
www.jakeworth.com/tils/input-r...
"my knowledge" < "this cool operator" 😎
www.jakeworth.com/tils/input-r...
Input Redirection Operator
I’ve been known to cat README.md | pbcopy a file. There’s a better way: the input redirection operator!
www.jakeworth.com
December 8, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Today I learned about the input redirection operator.
"my knowledge" < "this cool operator" 😎
www.jakeworth.com/tils/input-r...
"my knowledge" < "this cool operator" 😎
www.jakeworth.com/tils/input-r...
Two more TILs from me to close out the week!
"Disable DRF Browsable API" 🐍
www.jakeworth.com/tils/disable...
"Disable DRF Browsable API" 🐍
www.jakeworth.com/tils/disable...
Disable DRF Browsable API
Django Rest Framework includes a UI for interacting with your API. Here’s how to turn it off.
www.jakeworth.com
December 5, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Two more TILs from me to close out the week!
"Disable DRF Browsable API" 🐍
www.jakeworth.com/tils/disable...
"Disable DRF Browsable API" 🐍
www.jakeworth.com/tils/disable...
📈 Exciting TIL from yesterday!
React 17 JSX transform lets you use JSX without explicitly importing React.
www.jakeworth.com/tils/import-...
React 17 JSX transform lets you use JSX without explicitly importing React.
www.jakeworth.com/tils/import-...
Import React and React 17 JSX Transform
I’ve written before about the two competing ways to import React, but after React 17, you don’t need either.
www.jakeworth.com
December 2, 2025 at 2:31 PM
📈 Exciting TIL from yesterday!
React 17 JSX transform lets you use JSX without explicitly importing React.
www.jakeworth.com/tils/import-...
React 17 JSX transform lets you use JSX without explicitly importing React.
www.jakeworth.com/tils/import-...
This year I’ve run over 25 Backlog Refinement meetings; here’s what I’ve learned. #scrum #agile
www.jakeworth.com/posts/runnin...
www.jakeworth.com/posts/runnin...
Running Great Refinement Meetings
This year I’ve run over 25 Scrum refinement meetings; here’s what I’ve learned.
www.jakeworth.com
December 2, 2025 at 2:28 PM
This year I’ve run over 25 Backlog Refinement meetings; here’s what I’ve learned. #scrum #agile
www.jakeworth.com/posts/runnin...
www.jakeworth.com/posts/runnin...
I used to be like: "I'm a Rails dev, so my blog *has* to be a Rails app!" Nowadays, I'd pick whatever is the absolute easiest tool for me to write, edit, and deploy.
November 14, 2025 at 2:22 PM
I used to be like: "I'm a Rails dev, so my blog *has* to be a Rails app!" Nowadays, I'd pick whatever is the absolute easiest tool for me to write, edit, and deploy.
This week I shipped something new on the website: a user manual for working with me. Have you ever made one of these? Was it useful? Share in the replies!
www.jakeworth.com/user-manual/
www.jakeworth.com/user-manual/
User Manual
Working with me? Awesome! I built this user manual to share my working style and communication preferences.
For those interested in building their own user manual, here’s the guide that helped me.
🧭 W...
www.jakeworth.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:55 PM
This week I shipped something new on the website: a user manual for working with me. Have you ever made one of these? Was it useful? Share in the replies!
www.jakeworth.com/user-manual/
www.jakeworth.com/user-manual/
Tonight is the Maine JS Meetup! Join us at Novare Res in Portland for an evening of ECMAScript-compliant conversation and socializing. 🍻
www.meetup.com/mainejs/even...
www.meetup.com/mainejs/even...
November Social at Novare Res!, Tue, Nov 11, 2025, 6:00 PM | Meetup
Join us at Novare Res in Portland for an evening of networking, socializing, and JavaScript!
⏰ Timeline
6:00 - 8:00 PM: Refreshments / networking
8:00 PM: Depart (or not;
www.meetup.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Tonight is the Maine JS Meetup! Join us at Novare Res in Portland for an evening of ECMAScript-compliant conversation and socializing. 🍻
www.meetup.com/mainejs/even...
www.meetup.com/mainejs/even...
It's the Hashrocket Starter Pack! "Follow all" for insights from some of the smartest, most interesting folks to ever walk the streets of Jax Beach. 🏝️
go.bsky.app/ArMALD4
go.bsky.app/ArMALD4
November 7, 2025 at 4:20 PM
It's the Hashrocket Starter Pack! "Follow all" for insights from some of the smartest, most interesting folks to ever walk the streets of Jax Beach. 🏝️
go.bsky.app/ArMALD4
go.bsky.app/ArMALD4
🎉 Tuesday night, join us in the Old Port, Portland, Maine for an evening of socializing and JavaScript! Always a great group, and great conversation.
www.meetup.com/mainejs/even...
www.meetup.com/mainejs/even...
November Social at Novare Res!, Tue, Nov 11, 2025, 6:00 PM | Meetup
Join us at Novare Res in Portland for an evening of networking, socializing, and JavaScript!
⏰ Timeline
6:00 - 8:00 PM: Refreshments / networking
8:00 PM: Depart (or not;
www.meetup.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:56 PM
🎉 Tuesday night, join us in the Old Port, Portland, Maine for an evening of socializing and JavaScript! Always a great group, and great conversation.
www.meetup.com/mainejs/even...
www.meetup.com/mainejs/even...
This week, we ran an experiment: entire team voting on tickets to be included in an upcoming release! It was interesting.
Has anyone done this? What would you call it; participatory software planning?
Has anyone done this? What would you call it; participatory software planning?
November 7, 2025 at 2:53 PM
This week, we ran an experiment: entire team voting on tickets to be included in an upcoming release! It was interesting.
Has anyone done this? What would you call it; participatory software planning?
Has anyone done this? What would you call it; participatory software planning?
🌲 I made a Bluesky Starter Pack of devs in Maine! We're a small community, and growing. Click that follow button, and let's get a conversation going!
go.bsky.app/6WrdHtm
go.bsky.app/6WrdHtm
November 2, 2025 at 8:34 PM
🌲 I made a Bluesky Starter Pack of devs in Maine! We're a small community, and growing. Click that follow button, and let's get a conversation going!
go.bsky.app/6WrdHtm
go.bsky.app/6WrdHtm
Testing a feature or bugfix, make sure you aren’t trying to "catch it passing."
Okay: "Can I get it to work?"
Better: "Does it ever fail, even if I stray from the happy path?"
Okay: "Can I get it to work?"
Better: "Does it ever fail, even if I stray from the happy path?"
October 31, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Testing a feature or bugfix, make sure you aren’t trying to "catch it passing."
Okay: "Can I get it to work?"
Better: "Does it ever fail, even if I stray from the happy path?"
Okay: "Can I get it to work?"
Better: "Does it ever fail, even if I stray from the happy path?"
"Being fast" matters at the org level, too. Fast organizations fix little things. They experiment instead of talking. They deploy fearlessly because they know they can recover quickly from mistakes.
October 28, 2025 at 9:57 PM
"Being fast" matters at the org level, too. Fast organizations fix little things. They experiment instead of talking. They deploy fearlessly because they know they can recover quickly from mistakes.
💻 New England programmers: just a few weeks until our monthly Maine JS Meetup! We'll be socializing and talking JavaScript at Novare Res in the Old Port.
RSVP now!
www.meetup.com/mainejs/even...
RSVP now!
www.meetup.com/mainejs/even...
November Social at Novare Res!, Tue, Nov 11, 2025, 6:00 PM | Meetup
Join us at Novare Res in Portland for an evening of networking, socializing, and JavaScript!
⏰ Timeline
6:00 - 8:00 PM: Refreshments / networking
8:00 PM: Depart (or not;
www.meetup.com
October 28, 2025 at 2:51 PM
💻 New England programmers: just a few weeks until our monthly Maine JS Meetup! We'll be socializing and talking JavaScript at Novare Res in the Old Port.
RSVP now!
www.meetup.com/mainejs/even...
RSVP now!
www.meetup.com/mainejs/even...
My gratitude continues to deepen for getting to pair program with some very smart people early in my career.
It was challenging. I got a lot better, quickly. I still marvel at some of the techniques I saw.
It was challenging. I got a lot better, quickly. I still marvel at some of the techniques I saw.
October 27, 2025 at 8:47 PM
My gratitude continues to deepen for getting to pair program with some very smart people early in my career.
It was challenging. I got a lot better, quickly. I still marvel at some of the techniques I saw.
It was challenging. I got a lot better, quickly. I still marvel at some of the techniques I saw.
Tired: making a list.
Wired: making a list, then ranking it.
Here's why you should prioritize most lists that you make, at work and beyond.
"Always Be Ranking"
www.jakeworth.com/posts/always...
Wired: making a list, then ranking it.
Here's why you should prioritize most lists that you make, at work and beyond.
"Always Be Ranking"
www.jakeworth.com/posts/always...
Always Be Ranking
Anytime you’re making a list at work, rank it.
www.jakeworth.com
October 24, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Tired: making a list.
Wired: making a list, then ranking it.
Here's why you should prioritize most lists that you make, at work and beyond.
"Always Be Ranking"
www.jakeworth.com/posts/always...
Wired: making a list, then ranking it.
Here's why you should prioritize most lists that you make, at work and beyond.
"Always Be Ranking"
www.jakeworth.com/posts/always...
Anytime you're making a list at work, of anything, rank it. Tech debt? Security concerns? Feature requests? Rank them.
Rank them so that you do the important ones first. Those are the only ones you probably will do.
Rank them so that you do the important ones first. Those are the only ones you probably will do.
October 16, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Anytime you're making a list at work, of anything, rank it. Tech debt? Security concerns? Feature requests? Rank them.
Rank them so that you do the important ones first. Those are the only ones you probably will do.
Rank them so that you do the important ones first. Those are the only ones you probably will do.