Catherine
@whitequark.org
catgirl shaped object
"A cat is valued for companionship and its ability to kill vermin."
"A cat is valued for companionship and its ability to kill vermin."
Pinned
Catherine
@whitequark.org
· 20d
this question is coming up a lot so i'll pin it
- replacement for github: codeberg.org
- replacement for github pages: grebedoc.dev
- easy ci runners for codeberg: codeberg.org/whitequark/n...
- replacement for github: codeberg.org
- replacement for github pages: grebedoc.dev
- easy ci runners for codeberg: codeberg.org/whitequark/n...
Reposted by Catherine
also, separately from the two issues above, i've banned LLM use in some of my OSS on the grounds of "it is disrespectful to the very limited reviewer bandwidth that exists". however this can be managed (the Rust Embedded WG has examples of how) and it is not an inherently LLM-specific problem anyhow
January 11, 2026 at 10:06 PM
also, separately from the two issues above, i've banned LLM use in some of my OSS on the grounds of "it is disrespectful to the very limited reviewer bandwidth that exists". however this can be managed (the Rust Embedded WG has examples of how) and it is not an inherently LLM-specific problem anyhow
Reposted by Catherine
the issue (2) is actually what makes me so unhappy about the Oxide situation. i have considered working there (i went with a different company for unrelated personal reasons). i no longer do because i think it'll make me a worse engineer.
January 11, 2026 at 10:02 PM
the issue (2) is actually what makes me so unhappy about the Oxide situation. i have considered working there (i went with a different company for unrelated personal reasons). i no longer do because i think it'll make me a worse engineer.
Reposted by Catherine
the broader ethical consequences to me are a sub-issue of (1): if we (tech workers, for a broad definition of "tech") had any sort of organization between us, we'd be able to mitigate the rest, and conversely without it we'll collectively keep making it worse (someone's building the LLMs!)
January 11, 2026 at 10:02 PM
the broader ethical consequences to me are a sub-issue of (1): if we (tech workers, for a broad definition of "tech") had any sort of organization between us, we'd be able to mitigate the rest, and conversely without it we'll collectively keep making it worse (someone's building the LLMs!)
Reposted by Catherine
my two primary issues with LLMs are:
1. they are currently one of the most aggressively deployed anti-labor tools, up there with "misclassifying employees as contractors" that uber and co do.
2. using LLMs appears to give craftspeople a kind of brainrot similar to what lootboxes do in games
1. they are currently one of the most aggressively deployed anti-labor tools, up there with "misclassifying employees as contractors" that uber and co do.
2. using LLMs appears to give craftspeople a kind of brainrot similar to what lootboxes do in games
January 11, 2026 at 10:02 PM
my two primary issues with LLMs are:
1. they are currently one of the most aggressively deployed anti-labor tools, up there with "misclassifying employees as contractors" that uber and co do.
2. using LLMs appears to give craftspeople a kind of brainrot similar to what lootboxes do in games
1. they are currently one of the most aggressively deployed anti-labor tools, up there with "misclassifying employees as contractors" that uber and co do.
2. using LLMs appears to give craftspeople a kind of brainrot similar to what lootboxes do in games
the oxide situation shows that not even hiring "best of the best" saves you from getting high on your own supply
January 11, 2026 at 8:46 PM
the oxide situation shows that not even hiring "best of the best" saves you from getting high on your own supply
Reposted by Catherine
Reposting my caustics thread again because I’m so proud I finally understand how this shit works. I can now explain “coffee cup caustics.”
January 11, 2026 at 1:50 AM
Reposting my caustics thread again because I’m so proud I finally understand how this shit works. I can now explain “coffee cup caustics.”
Reposted by Catherine
having seen this play out to the bitter end, my conclusions remain the same
also if you're interested in what "clarity of purpose" means for me, i explained it in https://mastodon.social/@whitequark/115865543652394819
also if you're interested in what "clarity of purpose" means for me, i explained it in https://mastodon.social/@whitequark/115865543652394819
mastodon.social
January 10, 2026 at 10:10 AM
having seen this play out to the bitter end, my conclusions remain the same
also if you're interested in what "clarity of purpose" means for me, i explained it in https://mastodon.social/@whitequark/115865543652394819
also if you're interested in what "clarity of purpose" means for me, i explained it in https://mastodon.social/@whitequark/115865543652394819
Reposted by Catherine
so, the list.
while i do not think that "making a list" is inherently wrong, doing something like that requires a clarity of purpose and a specific, achievable objective.
i do not think this particular list fits the requirements
while i do not think that "making a list" is inherently wrong, doing something like that requires a clarity of purpose and a specific, achievable objective.
i do not think this particular list fits the requirements
January 9, 2026 at 12:36 PM
so, the list.
while i do not think that "making a list" is inherently wrong, doing something like that requires a clarity of purpose and a specific, achievable objective.
i do not think this particular list fits the requirements
while i do not think that "making a list" is inherently wrong, doing something like that requires a clarity of purpose and a specific, achievable objective.
i do not think this particular list fits the requirements
OH: "the ANC on my headphones is so good i just missed a drone strike fully"
January 9, 2026 at 9:09 PM
OH: "the ANC on my headphones is so good i just missed a drone strike fully"
i have bad news about "AI agents" bsky.app/profile/faew...
January 9, 2026 at 9:07 PM
i have bad news about "AI agents" bsky.app/profile/faew...
Reposted by Catherine
interviewer: what's this gap in your resume
jana: it's like the space between two intertwined hands
interviewer: that's very romantic, but—
jana: or the negative space between tree roots
interviewer: I mean, what were you—
jana: or the way she doesn't look at you anymore
interviewer: [weeping]
jana: it's like the space between two intertwined hands
interviewer: that's very romantic, but—
jana: or the negative space between tree roots
interviewer: I mean, what were you—
jana: or the way she doesn't look at you anymore
interviewer: [weeping]
October 30, 2025 at 10:11 PM
interviewer: what's this gap in your resume
jana: it's like the space between two intertwined hands
interviewer: that's very romantic, but—
jana: or the negative space between tree roots
interviewer: I mean, what were you—
jana: or the way she doesn't look at you anymore
interviewer: [weeping]
jana: it's like the space between two intertwined hands
interviewer: that's very romantic, but—
jana: or the negative space between tree roots
interviewer: I mean, what were you—
jana: or the way she doesn't look at you anymore
interviewer: [weeping]
Reposted by Catherine
The US lost an entire uranium secondary for a thermonuclear bomb in the Greenland ice. They just need to go find it and reforge it.
January 9, 2026 at 6:08 PM
The US lost an entire uranium secondary for a thermonuclear bomb in the Greenland ice. They just need to go find it and reforge it.
easy solution to the current political situation: give greenland a nuclear submarine
January 9, 2026 at 12:04 PM
easy solution to the current political situation: give greenland a nuclear submarine
Reposted by Catherine
oh shit dude youre bleeding. here let me just lick that wound for you. bro its not gay just let me- let me lick the blood off your forearm
January 6, 2026 at 6:15 PM
oh shit dude youre bleeding. here let me just lick that wound for you. bro its not gay just let me- let me lick the blood off your forearm
this is a service i'm willing to provide bsky.app/profile/swif...
At this point, I'm going beyond telling you to touch grass. You need to eat it.
And then throw up on the carpet.
And then throw up on the carpet.
January 6, 2026 at 11:21 PM
this is a service i'm willing to provide bsky.app/profile/swif...
Reposted by Catherine
paralyzed grub gf
January 5, 2026 at 4:07 PM
paralyzed grub gf
you know, i had to physically get the stalker out of my house, but even after that there's some _choice_ feelings to be had when someone forwards you the stalker sending them the pictures from inside your home
January 6, 2026 at 5:36 PM
you know, i had to physically get the stalker out of my house, but even after that there's some _choice_ feelings to be had when someone forwards you the stalker sending them the pictures from inside your home
Reposted by Catherine
everyone just while this guy's gibbering and lunging against his harness. a thirteen second jump, swear to god
January 6, 2026 at 4:33 AM
everyone just while this guy's gibbering and lunging against his harness. a thirteen second jump, swear to god
so, i have something important to say. on 9th of December 2025, i woke up to someone who stalked me for eight years being inside my home, finding my address through means that are still not fully clear.
January 5, 2026 at 8:32 AM
so, i have something important to say. on 9th of December 2025, i woke up to someone who stalked me for eight years being inside my home, finding my address through means that are still not fully clear.
Reposted by Catherine
see also: engineers writing buggy code because they simply do not think about error cases or how things could break
and it's all i see when i see "here's exactly one positive outcome! therefore all outcomes will be positive! please ignore every counter example! do not talk about social problems!"
and it's all i see when i see "here's exactly one positive outcome! therefore all outcomes will be positive! please ignore every counter example! do not talk about social problems!"
January 4, 2026 at 7:55 AM
see also: engineers writing buggy code because they simply do not think about error cases or how things could break
and it's all i see when i see "here's exactly one positive outcome! therefore all outcomes will be positive! please ignore every counter example! do not talk about social problems!"
and it's all i see when i see "here's exactly one positive outcome! therefore all outcomes will be positive! please ignore every counter example! do not talk about social problems!"
Reposted by Catherine
i'm still not sure which part of generating yaml or copy pasting example code from github at speed requires ddosing the internet, or extended roleplay sessions with a markov chain, or tacitly ignoring the deaths of vulnerable teenagers, but as ever, i guess i am simply too european for this
January 4, 2026 at 7:50 AM
i'm still not sure which part of generating yaml or copy pasting example code from github at speed requires ddosing the internet, or extended roleplay sessions with a markov chain, or tacitly ignoring the deaths of vulnerable teenagers, but as ever, i guess i am simply too european for this
Reposted by Catherine
i've just seen someone earnestly explain "we spent a year working out what we needed to do, it took time, discussions, talking with stakeholders, and actually testing things out.
once we did all that, we outsourced an implementation from the exact spec, and it was super fast? what gives?"
once we did all that, we outsourced an implementation from the exact spec, and it was super fast? what gives?"
January 4, 2026 at 7:45 AM
i've just seen someone earnestly explain "we spent a year working out what we needed to do, it took time, discussions, talking with stakeholders, and actually testing things out.
once we did all that, we outsourced an implementation from the exact spec, and it was super fast? what gives?"
once we did all that, we outsourced an implementation from the exact spec, and it was super fast? what gives?"
Reposted by Catherine
we have found new ways to write worse software, slowly, and at great cost.
alas there is but one flaw: a human must write the code first before a computer can reproduce it
alas there is but one flaw: a human must write the code first before a computer can reproduce it
January 4, 2026 at 7:39 AM
we have found new ways to write worse software, slowly, and at great cost.
alas there is but one flaw: a human must write the code first before a computer can reproduce it
alas there is but one flaw: a human must write the code first before a computer can reproduce it
been like this since _at least_ 1920s, if you don't believe me, ask one of the only double medal of honor recipients en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Is_... bsky.app/profile/leya...
this is your mission. our pedophile president needs you to jump out of a helicopter to kidnap a head of state and his wife so some oil ceos can make a lot of money. we’ll be watching from a resort in florida that still serves wedge salad and checking how many retweets we get. good luck soldier
January 4, 2026 at 2:08 AM
been like this since _at least_ 1920s, if you don't believe me, ask one of the only double medal of honor recipients en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Is_... bsky.app/profile/leya...
Reposted by Catherine
January 2, 2026 at 5:28 PM