David Alan Hjelle
@dahjelle.bsky.social
Christ-follower; husband; father; avid reader; geek; and programmer at Icon Systems, Inc. (http://iconcmo.com)
https://thehjellejar.com
https://thehjellejar.com
I sure agree learning — in all forms — is high-leverage; it pays off in oft-unexpected ways.
On one hand, “productivity” is overrated in our culture, sure. On the other: I agreed to be paid by my employer for a job; it is *our* decision more than *my* decision what things are worth paying for.
On one hand, “productivity” is overrated in our culture, sure. On the other: I agreed to be paid by my employer for a job; it is *our* decision more than *my* decision what things are worth paying for.
December 22, 2025 at 2:19 AM
I sure agree learning — in all forms — is high-leverage; it pays off in oft-unexpected ways.
On one hand, “productivity” is overrated in our culture, sure. On the other: I agreed to be paid by my employer for a job; it is *our* decision more than *my* decision what things are worth paying for.
On one hand, “productivity” is overrated in our culture, sure. On the other: I agreed to be paid by my employer for a job; it is *our* decision more than *my* decision what things are worth paying for.
I’m skeptical, but trying to be open-minded, of productivity gains in many uses of LLMs. Hard to figure out where the truth actually is given so many claims. (With my own likes and dislikes also getting thrown in the mix.)
December 18, 2025 at 4:02 PM
I’m skeptical, but trying to be open-minded, of productivity gains in many uses of LLMs. Hard to figure out where the truth actually is given so many claims. (With my own likes and dislikes also getting thrown in the mix.)
This is one of my struggles, too. I’ve been trying to figure out — both in the _programming_ part and also in the detective-like _debugging_ part. I wish I knew how to measure productivity, though: my job is to accomplish a task, and have fun if I can. How far can I justify my preferred way?
December 18, 2025 at 4:00 PM
This is one of my struggles, too. I’ve been trying to figure out — both in the _programming_ part and also in the detective-like _debugging_ part. I wish I knew how to measure productivity, though: my job is to accomplish a task, and have fun if I can. How far can I justify my preferred way?
My bedstand books represent an aspiration. I would like to have read them. Most I haven’t started. Hairshirt, yes.
I also have _How to Think_ and _Don’t Overthink It_ next to each other, whatever that says.
Pardon me…I have a detective story to finish reading…
I also have _How to Think_ and _Don’t Overthink It_ next to each other, whatever that says.
Pardon me…I have a detective story to finish reading…
December 12, 2025 at 9:44 PM
My bedstand books represent an aspiration. I would like to have read them. Most I haven’t started. Hairshirt, yes.
I also have _How to Think_ and _Don’t Overthink It_ next to each other, whatever that says.
Pardon me…I have a detective story to finish reading…
I also have _How to Think_ and _Don’t Overthink It_ next to each other, whatever that says.
Pardon me…I have a detective story to finish reading…
As long as it is subsidiary to Parnas’s “what is going to change?” (paraphrased a bit…)
December 2, 2025 at 5:23 PM
As long as it is subsidiary to Parnas’s “what is going to change?” (paraphrased a bit…)
Heavily reinforced in the human part of the training? And all the vendors use the same, cheapest, vendors?
(I actually have no idea.)
(I actually have no idea.)
November 7, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Heavily reinforced in the human part of the training? And all the vendors use the same, cheapest, vendors?
(I actually have no idea.)
(I actually have no idea.)
I tried hard to expand my musical tastes so I could enjoy music with my kids, no matter their interests. I did *not* account for Baby Shark.
You have my deepest condolences.
You have my deepest condolences.
October 29, 2025 at 11:18 AM
I tried hard to expand my musical tastes so I could enjoy music with my kids, no matter their interests. I did *not* account for Baby Shark.
You have my deepest condolences.
You have my deepest condolences.
I don’t think it has to be that way. But good interfaces that respect their human users are hard in the best of scenarios, and much harder when we don’t fully understand the underlying technology.
September 22, 2025 at 1:58 AM
I don’t think it has to be that way. But good interfaces that respect their human users are hard in the best of scenarios, and much harder when we don’t fully understand the underlying technology.
…and sometimes due to almost incidental UI decisions. For instance, we worry about people making “friends” with LLMs…but the chat interface we give them is mimicking the same chat interface they talk to humans with.
I get utility out of LLMs! But we have given them such misleading interfaces.
I get utility out of LLMs! But we have given them such misleading interfaces.
September 22, 2025 at 1:56 AM
…and sometimes due to almost incidental UI decisions. For instance, we worry about people making “friends” with LLMs…but the chat interface we give them is mimicking the same chat interface they talk to humans with.
I get utility out of LLMs! But we have given them such misleading interfaces.
I get utility out of LLMs! But we have given them such misleading interfaces.
Yeah! I think this is my biggest frustrations with LLMs as we have them (after setting aside the hype-train): the language and interfaces we use to present these tools to people are actively misleading. Sometimes due to language (as previously discussed or as in, for instance, ChatGPT’s UI)…
September 22, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Yeah! I think this is my biggest frustrations with LLMs as we have them (after setting aside the hype-train): the language and interfaces we use to present these tools to people are actively misleading. Sometimes due to language (as previously discussed or as in, for instance, ChatGPT’s UI)…
I totally agree — I’ve been doing the same. It’s sometimes frustratingly difficult to not anthropomorphize these tools, but LLM is at least a start!
September 22, 2025 at 12:42 AM
I totally agree — I’ve been doing the same. It’s sometimes frustratingly difficult to not anthropomorphize these tools, but LLM is at least a start!
What features are you looking for? Chart of Accounts, check writing, credit cards, reconciliation? AR or AP? Payroll? Other?
August 19, 2025 at 6:45 PM
What features are you looking for? Chart of Accounts, check writing, credit cards, reconciliation? AR or AP? Payroll? Other?
If you ever come to Minnesota, there is an installation of his trolls in Detroit Lakes!
August 9, 2025 at 8:41 PM
If you ever come to Minnesota, there is an installation of his trolls in Detroit Lakes!
Have you found thoughtful Christian resources on the topic? Or do you find the topic uninteresting and unuseful?
July 21, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Have you found thoughtful Christian resources on the topic? Or do you find the topic uninteresting and unuseful?
Fair! Though I sure didn’t mean to sound complacent. Even though there is nothing new under the sun, I’m trying to figure out my dent to make, so to speak.
Do you have some links to the environment and human displacement issues? I haven’t dug into those as deeply as I probably should…
Do you have some links to the environment and human displacement issues? I haven’t dug into those as deeply as I probably should…
June 5, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Fair! Though I sure didn’t mean to sound complacent. Even though there is nothing new under the sun, I’m trying to figure out my dent to make, so to speak.
Do you have some links to the environment and human displacement issues? I haven’t dug into those as deeply as I probably should…
Do you have some links to the environment and human displacement issues? I haven’t dug into those as deeply as I probably should…
Not that it excuses anything! Just observing that it’s a problem not specific to AI, I think.
June 4, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Not that it excuses anything! Just observing that it’s a problem not specific to AI, I think.
Seems pretty par for the course for humanity for millennia, unfortunately. :-( We want what we do not have, so we do anything to get it.
June 4, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Seems pretty par for the course for humanity for millennia, unfortunately. :-( We want what we do not have, so we do anything to get it.
Humanity has a long history of adopting new technologies (defined broadly) without thinking through the implications.
What side effects do you have in mind? Stuff like futurism.com/amazon-progr... ?
What side effects do you have in mind? Stuff like futurism.com/amazon-progr... ?
Amazon Programmers Say What Happened After Turn to AI Was Dark
Amazon engineers saying they're being forced to use AI while being told to do more work on even tighter deadlines.
futurism.com
June 4, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Humanity has a long history of adopting new technologies (defined broadly) without thinking through the implications.
What side effects do you have in mind? Stuff like futurism.com/amazon-progr... ?
What side effects do you have in mind? Stuff like futurism.com/amazon-progr... ?