Niko Heikkilä 🦋
@nikoheikkila.fosstodon.org.ap.brid.gy
Software Craftsman and Extreme Programmer. Ambassador in all things Agile and DevOps. Working in the intersection of people and tech. Prominent in solving […]
🌉 bridged from https://fosstodon.org/@nikoheikkila on the fediverse by https://fed.brid.gy/
🌉 bridged from https://fosstodon.org/@nikoheikkila on the fediverse by https://fed.brid.gy/
I'm concluding my GitHub Actions blog post series with a thorough look on building and releasing them in a delivery pipeline.
Once you've grasped the design and testing aspects, this is exactly as essential in delivering quality work to the hands of users […]
Once you've grasped the design and testing aspects, this is exactly as essential in delivering quality work to the hands of users […]
Original post on fosstodon.org
fosstodon.org
January 12, 2026 at 2:18 PM
I'm concluding my GitHub Actions blog post series with a thorough look on building and releasing them in a delivery pipeline.
Once you've grasped the design and testing aspects, this is exactly as essential in delivering quality work to the hands of users […]
Once you've grasped the design and testing aspects, this is exactly as essential in delivering quality work to the hands of users […]
Sick of push and pray? Try the DevOps way.
That is, shift the testing of your GitHub Actions as left as possible. I'll tell you how in my latest blog post where you learn about property-based testing and mutation testing […]
That is, shift the testing of your GitHub Actions as left as possible. I'll tell you how in my latest blog post where you learn about property-based testing and mutation testing […]
Original post on fosstodon.org
fosstodon.org
December 12, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Sick of push and pray? Try the DevOps way.
That is, shift the testing of your GitHub Actions as left as possible. I'll tell you how in my latest blog post where you learn about property-based testing and mutation testing […]
That is, shift the testing of your GitHub Actions as left as possible. I'll tell you how in my latest blog post where you learn about property-based testing and mutation testing […]
As the influx of new (agentic) text editing tools shows no signs of slowing down, one should remain calm and remind themselves of the following three laws of tools:
1. A tool is only as effective as its user, and never wiser
2. Understanding fundamental principles trumps all tools
3. If you […]
1. A tool is only as effective as its user, and never wiser
2. Understanding fundamental principles trumps all tools
3. If you […]
Original post on fosstodon.org
fosstodon.org
December 9, 2025 at 6:01 PM
As the influx of new (agentic) text editing tools shows no signs of slowing down, one should remain calm and remind themselves of the following three laws of tools:
1. A tool is only as effective as its user, and never wiser
2. Understanding fundamental principles trumps all tools
3. If you […]
1. A tool is only as effective as its user, and never wiser
2. Understanding fundamental principles trumps all tools
3. If you […]
Next in my GitHub Actions series, I focus on turning testability smells to testability aids with a simple trick.
If you're accustomed to copying code examples from tutorials (or accepting LLM outputs at face value) and pondering how to test them, this post is for you […]
If you're accustomed to copying code examples from tutorials (or accepting LLM outputs at face value) and pondering how to test them, this post is for you […]
Original post on fosstodon.org
fosstodon.org
December 5, 2025 at 7:21 AM
Next in my GitHub Actions series, I focus on turning testability smells to testability aids with a simple trick.
If you're accustomed to copying code examples from tutorials (or accepting LLM outputs at face value) and pondering how to test them, this post is for you […]
If you're accustomed to copying code examples from tutorials (or accepting LLM outputs at face value) and pondering how to test them, this post is for you […]
I'm starting a three-part blog series over at Polar Squad about designing, building, and releasing Typescript-based GitHub Actions with high quality.
Here's a teaser that'll make you itch, the first post about critical design considerations is out soon […]
Here's a teaser that'll make you itch, the first post about critical design considerations is out soon […]
Original post on fosstodon.org
fosstodon.org
December 4, 2025 at 6:15 AM
I'm starting a three-part blog series over at Polar Squad about designing, building, and releasing Typescript-based GitHub Actions with high quality.
Here's a teaser that'll make you itch, the first post about critical design considerations is out soon […]
Here's a teaser that'll make you itch, the first post about critical design considerations is out soon […]
Do trivial problems in software require modular solutions, or are we overengineering?
Recently, I had a task of transforming a composite GitHub Action — essentially a shell script — to a complete TypeScript action even though it only interacted with the GitHub REST API using a single endpoint […]
Recently, I had a task of transforming a composite GitHub Action — essentially a shell script — to a complete TypeScript action even though it only interacted with the GitHub REST API using a single endpoint […]
Original post on fosstodon.org
fosstodon.org
November 26, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Do trivial problems in software require modular solutions, or are we overengineering?
Recently, I had a task of transforming a composite GitHub Action — essentially a shell script — to a complete TypeScript action even though it only interacted with the GitHub REST API using a single endpoint […]
Recently, I had a task of transforming a composite GitHub Action — essentially a shell script — to a complete TypeScript action even though it only interacted with the GitHub REST API using a single endpoint […]
Discussing with several software developers over the past few months has led me to believe that crafting high-quality designs is not as easy as it seems. Thus, I wrote a blog post attempting to tap into this specific challenge and how to overcome it.
In essence, it's yet another take on […]
In essence, it's yet another take on […]
Original post on fosstodon.org
fosstodon.org
November 25, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Discussing with several software developers over the past few months has led me to believe that crafting high-quality designs is not as easy as it seems. Thus, I wrote a blog post attempting to tap into this specific challenge and how to overcome it.
In essence, it's yet another take on […]
In essence, it's yet another take on […]
The upside of hosting one's DNS and web projects in CloudFlare is that when they go down, everyone barely notices a couple of sites missing because half of the Internet is also down.
November 18, 2025 at 3:35 PM
The upside of hosting one's DNS and web projects in CloudFlare is that when they go down, everyone barely notices a couple of sites missing because half of the Internet is also down.
We ordered books for our office book club from Amazon.
Purchase made in the Amazon storefront, sold by World of Books, delivered by Mail Handling International, delivery outsourced to DPD, and further outsourced to Postnord.
This is why I almost exclusively purchase ebooks. Logistics is a joke.
Purchase made in the Amazon storefront, sold by World of Books, delivered by Mail Handling International, delivery outsourced to DPD, and further outsourced to Postnord.
This is why I almost exclusively purchase ebooks. Logistics is a joke.
September 22, 2025 at 9:57 AM
We ordered books for our office book club from Amazon.
Purchase made in the Amazon storefront, sold by World of Books, delivered by Mail Handling International, delivery outsourced to DPD, and further outsourced to Postnord.
This is why I almost exclusively purchase ebooks. Logistics is a joke.
Purchase made in the Amazon storefront, sold by World of Books, delivered by Mail Handling International, delivery outsourced to DPD, and further outsourced to Postnord.
This is why I almost exclusively purchase ebooks. Logistics is a joke.
"Parse, don't validate" rule applied to command-line applications makes sense because the input is external to the system.
You don't allow external input wandering around in the system unchecked.
https://hackers.pub/@hongminhee/2025/stop-writing-cli-validation-parse-it-right-the-first-time
You don't allow external input wandering around in the system unchecked.
https://hackers.pub/@hongminhee/2025/stop-writing-cli-validation-parse-it-right-the-first-time
Stop writing CLI validation. Parse it right the first time
Comments
hackers.pub
September 7, 2025 at 2:02 PM
"Parse, don't validate" rule applied to command-line applications makes sense because the input is external to the system.
You don't allow external input wandering around in the system unchecked.
https://hackers.pub/@hongminhee/2025/stop-writing-cli-validation-parse-it-right-the-first-time
You don't allow external input wandering around in the system unchecked.
https://hackers.pub/@hongminhee/2025/stop-writing-cli-validation-parse-it-right-the-first-time
I bought a new pair of Sennheiser HD 560S headphones and have been testing them plugged directly into a MacBook Pro M3 and through the Procaster DAC. I can barely hear a difference.
Apple does a solid job with their hardware, excluding the weird misadventures with laptop keyboards, of course.
Apple does a solid job with their hardware, excluding the weird misadventures with laptop keyboards, of course.
September 6, 2025 at 9:38 AM
I bought a new pair of Sennheiser HD 560S headphones and have been testing them plugged directly into a MacBook Pro M3 and through the Procaster DAC. I can barely hear a difference.
Apple does a solid job with their hardware, excluding the weird misadventures with laptop keyboards, of course.
Apple does a solid job with their hardware, excluding the weird misadventures with laptop keyboards, of course.
It's been a tough week following the passing of childhood icons. At least for Hulk Hogan, nothing will be missed. It's deserved when you micturate on your legacy the way Hulkster did.
July 24, 2025 at 4:56 PM
It's been a tough week following the passing of childhood icons. At least for Hulk Hogan, nothing will be missed. It's deserved when you micturate on your legacy the way Hulkster did.
The year is 2025. In this dystopian future, it has become nearly impossible to buy a decent-quality electric toothbrush without so-called "AI" features.
I'd protest with regular brushes weren't they so helplessly ineffective.
I'd protest with regular brushes weren't they so helplessly ineffective.
July 21, 2025 at 12:33 PM
The year is 2025. In this dystopian future, it has become nearly impossible to buy a decent-quality electric toothbrush without so-called "AI" features.
I'd protest with regular brushes weren't they so helplessly ineffective.
I'd protest with regular brushes weren't they so helplessly ineffective.
This is a timely reminder of how rules for LLMs are but a mirage of control. You don't control genies; you send hopes and prayers to them in return for desirable outcomes. Be wiser.
https://xcancel.com/jasonlk/status/1946069562723897802
https://xcancel.com/jasonlk/status/1946069562723897802
Jason ✨👾SaaStr.Ai✨ Lemkin (@jasonlk)
.@Replit goes rogue during a code freeze and shutdown and deletes our entire database
xcancel.com
July 20, 2025 at 4:03 PM
This is a timely reminder of how rules for LLMs are but a mirage of control. You don't control genies; you send hopes and prayers to them in return for desirable outcomes. Be wiser.
https://xcancel.com/jasonlk/status/1946069562723897802
https://xcancel.com/jasonlk/status/1946069562723897802
In an ideal world, no tech bros and giant corporations would exist. Alas, that opportunity has sailed on. Hence, the next most important task is to tax the hell out of them.
Sign the Digital Services Tax petition.
https://act.greens-efa.eu/make-them-pay
Sign the Digital Services Tax petition.
https://act.greens-efa.eu/make-them-pay
July 17, 2025 at 8:18 AM
In an ideal world, no tech bros and giant corporations would exist. Alas, that opportunity has sailed on. Hence, the next most important task is to tax the hell out of them.
Sign the Digital Services Tax petition.
https://act.greens-efa.eu/make-them-pay
Sign the Digital Services Tax petition.
https://act.greens-efa.eu/make-them-pay
Crossing off from my bucket list that I've now eaten a hamburger in Hamburg.
Smashkönig earns a warm recommendation. Try their signature burger if you're around.
Smashkönig earns a warm recommendation. Try their signature burger if you're around.
July 9, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Crossing off from my bucket list that I've now eaten a hamburger in Hamburg.
Smashkönig earns a warm recommendation. Try their signature burger if you're around.
Smashkönig earns a warm recommendation. Try their signature burger if you're around.
Software engineers earning a few extra bucks cleaning up AI mess will play a key role in the coming years.
In some companies, where the CEO has eagerly vibed an app and put it into production, it's already a reality. Contracting will most likely be all right […]
In some companies, where the CEO has eagerly vibed an app and put it into production, it's already a reality. Contracting will most likely be all right […]
Original post on fosstodon.org
fosstodon.org
July 5, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Software engineers earning a few extra bucks cleaning up AI mess will play a key role in the coming years.
In some companies, where the CEO has eagerly vibed an app and put it into production, it's already a reality. Contracting will most likely be all right […]
In some companies, where the CEO has eagerly vibed an app and put it into production, it's already a reality. Contracting will most likely be all right […]
Today, I had an issue with Typescript and Vitest where a custom expectation matcher was not recognized as a valid type.
I didn't immediately know how to fix it so I chose the 2025 path: let the Copilot agents solve this!
After around dozen attempts to add `*.d.ts` files everywhere in the […]
I didn't immediately know how to fix it so I chose the 2025 path: let the Copilot agents solve this!
After around dozen attempts to add `*.d.ts` files everywhere in the […]
Original post on fosstodon.org
fosstodon.org
July 3, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Today, I had an issue with Typescript and Vitest where a custom expectation matcher was not recognized as a valid type.
I didn't immediately know how to fix it so I chose the 2025 path: let the Copilot agents solve this!
After around dozen attempts to add `*.d.ts` files everywhere in the […]
I didn't immediately know how to fix it so I chose the 2025 path: let the Copilot agents solve this!
After around dozen attempts to add `*.d.ts` files everywhere in the […]
Apple Watch is again complaining about low battery. Of course, I don't carry a magnetic charger with me, but my desk is full of USB-C cables, which don't help me now.
It took years to get Apple to accept USB-C as a viable data and power delivery mechanism, so they proceeded to enshittify […]
It took years to get Apple to accept USB-C as a viable data and power delivery mechanism, so they proceeded to enshittify […]
Original post on fosstodon.org
fosstodon.org
July 3, 2025 at 7:15 AM
Apple Watch is again complaining about low battery. Of course, I don't carry a magnetic charger with me, but my desk is full of USB-C cables, which don't help me now.
It took years to get Apple to accept USB-C as a viable data and power delivery mechanism, so they proceeded to enshittify […]
It took years to get Apple to accept USB-C as a viable data and power delivery mechanism, so they proceeded to enshittify […]
Software engineering until 2025: "Let's apply the empirical knowledge from past decades to design maintainable and testable solutions to satisfy our users."
Software engineering in 2025: "Hey, I found this magical oil lamp from the desert. Can you tell me how to rub it correctly so the genie […]
Software engineering in 2025: "Hey, I found this magical oil lamp from the desert. Can you tell me how to rub it correctly so the genie […]
Original post on fosstodon.org
fosstodon.org
June 29, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Software engineering until 2025: "Let's apply the empirical knowledge from past decades to design maintainable and testable solutions to satisfy our users."
Software engineering in 2025: "Hey, I found this magical oil lamp from the desert. Can you tell me how to rub it correctly so the genie […]
Software engineering in 2025: "Hey, I found this magical oil lamp from the desert. Can you tell me how to rub it correctly so the genie […]
Golf-clapping recommendations to Stick on Apple TV+.
Naturally, it cannot compete with Ted Lasso on heartfelt sports dramas, but I wish I had Owen Wilson calmly speaking to my ear and telling me it will be all right in my moments of anxiety.
Naturally, it cannot compete with Ted Lasso on heartfelt sports dramas, but I wish I had Owen Wilson calmly speaking to my ear and telling me it will be all right in my moments of anxiety.
June 26, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Golf-clapping recommendations to Stick on Apple TV+.
Naturally, it cannot compete with Ted Lasso on heartfelt sports dramas, but I wish I had Owen Wilson calmly speaking to my ear and telling me it will be all right in my moments of anxiety.
Naturally, it cannot compete with Ted Lasso on heartfelt sports dramas, but I wish I had Owen Wilson calmly speaking to my ear and telling me it will be all right in my moments of anxiety.
I tried the Zen browser, and it feels nice enough. However, Arc seems to still get Chromium updates regularly, so I'm not in a hurry to migrate. That's a good thing, as it allows Zen to mature until the time is due.
June 26, 2025 at 2:03 PM
I tried the Zen browser, and it feels nice enough. However, Arc seems to still get Chromium updates regularly, so I'm not in a hurry to migrate. That's a good thing, as it allows Zen to mature until the time is due.
I've seen massive amounts of grievance coming from proof-of-concept experiments iterated too far and ultimately "productised".
They often represent a minimal understanding of the problem: rushed tools forced to be as flexible as possible in an organisation suffering from high WIP and pressure […]
They often represent a minimal understanding of the problem: rushed tools forced to be as flexible as possible in an organisation suffering from high WIP and pressure […]
Original post on fosstodon.org
fosstodon.org
June 18, 2025 at 5:03 PM
I've seen massive amounts of grievance coming from proof-of-concept experiments iterated too far and ultimately "productised".
They often represent a minimal understanding of the problem: rushed tools forced to be as flexible as possible in an organisation suffering from high WIP and pressure […]
They often represent a minimal understanding of the problem: rushed tools forced to be as flexible as possible in an organisation suffering from high WIP and pressure […]
The latest @elk production release was in January (v0.16.0). I'd like to get the fix for thread composer layout (issue #2834), which is already deployed to canary.
I'm not the one usually asking for estimates, but is there any information as to when elk.zone would be deployed again?
I'm not the one usually asking for estimates, but is there any information as to when elk.zone would be deployed again?
June 17, 2025 at 6:08 PM
The latest @elk production release was in January (v0.16.0). I'd like to get the fix for thread composer layout (issue #2834), which is already deployed to canary.
I'm not the one usually asking for estimates, but is there any information as to when elk.zone would be deployed again?
I'm not the one usually asking for estimates, but is there any information as to when elk.zone would be deployed again?
I wrote my thoughts on agentic programming including a reply to a provocation that made unnecessarily many rounds in my network.
https://nikoheikkila.fi/blog/my-ai-agents-are-all-nuts/
https://nikoheikkila.fi/blog/my-ai-agents-are-all-nuts/
My AI Agents Are All Nuts
A heartfelt defense to a provocation about AI-assisted programming.
nikoheikkila.fi
June 10, 2025 at 2:51 PM
I wrote my thoughts on agentic programming including a reply to a provocation that made unnecessarily many rounds in my network.
https://nikoheikkila.fi/blog/my-ai-agents-are-all-nuts/
https://nikoheikkila.fi/blog/my-ai-agents-are-all-nuts/