William Pittman
@wspittman.bsky.social
Staff+ Software Engineer
I like to scale up those startups
LLMs | Seattle | Kids | D&D
I like to scale up those startups
LLMs | Seattle | Kids | D&D
The basic idea:
1. Private Equity (PE) buys up all the software providers
2. PE jacks up the price on one and shuts down the others
3. Fire Department (FD) has only one expensive option left
This is terrible for the FDs and the people they serve. But in theory it is straightforward to stop.
1/
1. Private Equity (PE) buys up all the software providers
2. PE jacks up the price on one and shuts down the others
3. Fire Department (FD) has only one expensive option left
This is terrible for the FDs and the people they serve. But in theory it is straightforward to stop.
1/
Private equity has found a new source of profit: volunteer fire departments.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/14/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/14/u...
Private Equity Finds a New Source of Profit: Volunteer Fire Departments
www.nytimes.com
December 14, 2025 at 9:24 PM
The basic idea:
1. Private Equity (PE) buys up all the software providers
2. PE jacks up the price on one and shuts down the others
3. Fire Department (FD) has only one expensive option left
This is terrible for the FDs and the people they serve. But in theory it is straightforward to stop.
1/
1. Private Equity (PE) buys up all the software providers
2. PE jacks up the price on one and shuts down the others
3. Fire Department (FD) has only one expensive option left
This is terrible for the FDs and the people they serve. But in theory it is straightforward to stop.
1/
TIL npm update has a `--before` argument to ignore versions that are too recent, ie. for supply chain attack mitigation.
Not quite as ergonomic as a cooldown argument as it requires a date rather than "7 days ago". But it fits my existing workflow and I will take it!
docs.npmjs.com/cli/v11/comm...
Not quite as ergonomic as a cooldown argument as it requires a date rather than "7 days ago". But it fits my existing workflow and I will take it!
docs.npmjs.com/cli/v11/comm...
npm-update | npm Docs
Update packages
docs.npmjs.com
December 11, 2025 at 5:50 PM
TIL npm update has a `--before` argument to ignore versions that are too recent, ie. for supply chain attack mitigation.
Not quite as ergonomic as a cooldown argument as it requires a date rather than "7 days ago". But it fits my existing workflow and I will take it!
docs.npmjs.com/cli/v11/comm...
Not quite as ergonomic as a cooldown argument as it requires a date rather than "7 days ago". But it fits my existing workflow and I will take it!
docs.npmjs.com/cli/v11/comm...
"The leaders of [group where your family's doctors are] have informed [your health insurance provider] of their intent to end their contract for commercial lines of business effective Jan. 1, 2026, unless a new agreement can be reached on what we pay them to provide care to members."
Boo to that.
Boo to that.
December 10, 2025 at 5:54 PM
"The leaders of [group where your family's doctors are] have informed [your health insurance provider] of their intent to end their contract for commercial lines of business effective Jan. 1, 2026, unless a new agreement can be reached on what we pay them to provide care to members."
Boo to that.
Boo to that.
LOL As MS Word continues to evolve into a more complicated AI-/Cloud-first thing, MS Notepad is starting to evolve to become early MS Word.
December 10, 2025 at 5:03 PM
LOL As MS Word continues to evolve into a more complicated AI-/Cloud-first thing, MS Notepad is starting to evolve to become early MS Word.
Gross, I just noticed that Chrome creates a "Shopping list" bookmarks folder whenever I save a page that it thinks is, well, I dunno - it is surprisingly inconsistent about when this happens.
As someone with well defined workflows this is super jarring.
No way to disable from what I can tell.
As someone with well defined workflows this is super jarring.
No way to disable from what I can tell.
December 6, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Gross, I just noticed that Chrome creates a "Shopping list" bookmarks folder whenever I save a page that it thinks is, well, I dunno - it is surprisingly inconsistent about when this happens.
As someone with well defined workflows this is super jarring.
No way to disable from what I can tell.
As someone with well defined workflows this is super jarring.
No way to disable from what I can tell.
Well that seems like an unusual way to do it.
November 16, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Well that seems like an unusual way to do it.
I've made an agreement with myself not to apply to any jobs right now, but sometimes I see one that is very tempting.
AI Full Stack Engineer at Runway
A Series D startup building AI-powered video creation and collaboration tools.
Remote, $240,000
job-boards.greenhouse.io/runwayml/job...
AI Full Stack Engineer at Runway
A Series D startup building AI-powered video creation and collaboration tools.
Remote, $240,000
job-boards.greenhouse.io/runwayml/job...
AI Full Stack Engineer
Remote
job-boards.greenhouse.io
November 15, 2025 at 4:26 PM
I've made an agreement with myself not to apply to any jobs right now, but sometimes I see one that is very tempting.
AI Full Stack Engineer at Runway
A Series D startup building AI-powered video creation and collaboration tools.
Remote, $240,000
job-boards.greenhouse.io/runwayml/job...
AI Full Stack Engineer at Runway
A Series D startup building AI-powered video creation and collaboration tools.
Remote, $240,000
job-boards.greenhouse.io/runwayml/job...
Strange job board find:
There is a company, Speechify, with ~14 open roles, all remote.
But! In Greenhouse they have 1460 job listings. For each of their remote roles, they have created many duplicate listings whose sole difference seems to be a different location in the JD metadata.
1/
There is a company, Speechify, with ~14 open roles, all remote.
But! In Greenhouse they have 1460 job listings. For each of their remote roles, they have created many duplicate listings whose sole difference seems to be a different location in the JD metadata.
1/
November 13, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Strange job board find:
There is a company, Speechify, with ~14 open roles, all remote.
But! In Greenhouse they have 1460 job listings. For each of their remote roles, they have created many duplicate listings whose sole difference seems to be a different location in the JD metadata.
1/
There is a company, Speechify, with ~14 open roles, all remote.
But! In Greenhouse they have 1460 job listings. For each of their remote roles, they have created many duplicate listings whose sole difference seems to be a different location in the JD metadata.
1/
Chrome reminder: If you get tired of websites asking to see your location, you turn if off for all sites in the settings at
chrome://settings/content/location
chrome://settings/content/location
November 12, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Chrome reminder: If you get tired of websites asking to see your location, you turn if off for all sites in the settings at
chrome://settings/content/location
chrome://settings/content/location
TIL The sad history of SoftKey and how they ruined the companies that made some of my favorite childhood computer games.
Companies like:
The Learning Company: Reader Rabbit, Ancient Empires, Treasure Mountain, Student Writing Center
Mecc: Oregon Trail, Number Munchers
Broderbund: Myst
1/
Companies like:
The Learning Company: Reader Rabbit, Ancient Empires, Treasure Mountain, Student Writing Center
Mecc: Oregon Trail, Number Munchers
Broderbund: Myst
1/
November 9, 2025 at 10:22 PM
TIL The sad history of SoftKey and how they ruined the companies that made some of my favorite childhood computer games.
Companies like:
The Learning Company: Reader Rabbit, Ancient Empires, Treasure Mountain, Student Writing Center
Mecc: Oregon Trail, Number Munchers
Broderbund: Myst
1/
Companies like:
The Learning Company: Reader Rabbit, Ancient Empires, Treasure Mountain, Student Writing Center
Mecc: Oregon Trail, Number Munchers
Broderbund: Myst
1/
Voting day. For voting.
Unless you live in Washington where maybe you voted like a week or two ago.
But if you haven't, today is voting day.
Unless you live in Washington where maybe you voted like a week or two ago.
But if you haven't, today is voting day.
November 4, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Voting day. For voting.
Unless you live in Washington where maybe you voted like a week or two ago.
But if you haven't, today is voting day.
Unless you live in Washington where maybe you voted like a week or two ago.
But if you haven't, today is voting day.
TIL about PACER and RECAP.
$0.10 per page for public domain legal docs? From a monopolized source? Charge is unknown until after a search?
I know we got other things to worry about at the federal level right now, but it seems we've let this one fester for 20 years.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PACER_(...
$0.10 per page for public domain legal docs? From a monopolized source? Charge is unknown until after a search?
I know we got other things to worry about at the federal level right now, but it seems we've let this one fester for 20 years.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PACER_(...
PACER (law) - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 1, 2025 at 3:27 PM
TIL about PACER and RECAP.
$0.10 per page for public domain legal docs? From a monopolized source? Charge is unknown until after a search?
I know we got other things to worry about at the federal level right now, but it seems we've let this one fester for 20 years.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PACER_(...
$0.10 per page for public domain legal docs? From a monopolized source? Charge is unknown until after a search?
I know we got other things to worry about at the federal level right now, but it seems we've let this one fester for 20 years.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PACER_(...
TIL (or maybe relearned) about timing attacks and crypto.timingSafeEqual() in Node
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timing_...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timing_...
Timing attack - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
October 28, 2025 at 5:21 PM
TIL (or maybe relearned) about timing attacks and crypto.timingSafeEqual() in Node
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timing_...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timing_...
#NoKings Seattle was delightful. Inspiring.
So many different people united in a common cause.
So many different viewpoints and priorities. Some of these folks you couldn't get in a room together during more placid times.
There they were, marching together, united in that one message: No Kings.
So many different people united in a common cause.
So many different viewpoints and priorities. Some of these folks you couldn't get in a room together during more placid times.
There they were, marching together, united in that one message: No Kings.
October 19, 2025 at 3:59 AM
#NoKings Seattle was delightful. Inspiring.
So many different people united in a common cause.
So many different viewpoints and priorities. Some of these folks you couldn't get in a room together during more placid times.
There they were, marching together, united in that one message: No Kings.
So many different people united in a common cause.
So many different viewpoints and priorities. Some of these folks you couldn't get in a room together during more placid times.
There they were, marching together, united in that one message: No Kings.
Samuel on the subject of #NoKings
[Samuel] said, "This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. ...
1/4
[Samuel] said, "This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. ...
1/4
October 18, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Samuel on the subject of #NoKings
[Samuel] said, "This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. ...
1/4
[Samuel] said, "This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. ...
1/4
I'm going to No Kings.
I will probably be dressed wrong and look out of place. I will disagree about many things with many other people at the protest.
But I am going.
The American values that unite us are stronger than our differences.
I will probably be dressed wrong and look out of place. I will disagree about many things with many other people at the protest.
But I am going.
The American values that unite us are stronger than our differences.
Find a No Kings protest Saturday and go!
Don't worry that you've never been to a protest before. Don't worry about being dressed wrong or looking out of place. Don't worry that you don't agree about everything -- or even about much -- with lots of people at the protest.
/1
Don't worry that you've never been to a protest before. Don't worry about being dressed wrong or looking out of place. Don't worry that you don't agree about everything -- or even about much -- with lots of people at the protest.
/1
October 17, 2025 at 4:36 PM
I'm going to No Kings.
I will probably be dressed wrong and look out of place. I will disagree about many things with many other people at the protest.
But I am going.
The American values that unite us are stronger than our differences.
I will probably be dressed wrong and look out of place. I will disagree about many things with many other people at the protest.
But I am going.
The American values that unite us are stronger than our differences.
October 17, 2025 at 4:10 PM
I'll be at the Seattle No Kings rally on Saturday.
Seattle No Kings- Oct 18 - Seattle Indivisible
Seattle No Kings March and Rally. Oct. 18th. The largest demonstration in Seattle's history. 12:00 Assemble at the Seattle Center. March through downtown Seattle
seattleindivisible.com
October 16, 2025 at 4:41 PM
I'll be at the Seattle No Kings rally on Saturday.
TIL about CSS clamp() and now I need way fewer @media blocks
"The clamp() CSS function clamps a value within a range of values between a defined minimum bound and a maximum bound."
developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/W...
"The clamp() CSS function clamps a value within a range of values between a defined minimum bound and a maximum bound."
developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/W...
October 13, 2025 at 10:39 PM
TIL about CSS clamp() and now I need way fewer @media blocks
"The clamp() CSS function clamps a value within a range of values between a defined minimum bound and a maximum bound."
developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/W...
"The clamp() CSS function clamps a value within a range of values between a defined minimum bound and a maximum bound."
developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/W...
Reposted by William Pittman
Worth a friendly reminder that the next set of nation-wide No Kings protests are set for October 18th.
There's probably one in your area.
I am not generally a crowds or protests sort of person, but there's one in my town and I'll be at it on the 18th.
www.nokings.org
There's probably one in your area.
I am not generally a crowds or protests sort of person, but there's one in my town and I'll be at it on the 18th.
www.nokings.org
No Kings
As the president escalates his authoritarian power grab, the NO KINGS non-violent movement continues to rise stronger. We are united once again to remind the world: America has No Kings and the power ...
www.nokings.org
October 10, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Worth a friendly reminder that the next set of nation-wide No Kings protests are set for October 18th.
There's probably one in your area.
I am not generally a crowds or protests sort of person, but there's one in my town and I'll be at it on the 18th.
www.nokings.org
There's probably one in your area.
I am not generally a crowds or protests sort of person, but there's one in my town and I'll be at it on the 18th.
www.nokings.org
Reposted by William Pittman
“One of the chants that has become ubiquitous at these protests at Broadview is, ‘Love your neighbor, love your God, save your soul and quit your job,’” said Black, who pastors at the First Presbyterian Church of Chicago. “Everybody chants that.”
The pastors’ efforts are part of rising faith-based pushback to the Trump administration as the president seeks to implement plans for mass deportation of immigrants.
religionnews.com/2025/10/07/i...
religionnews.com/2025/10/07/i...
Religious protesters say ICE threatens religious freedom in Chicago
(RNS) — Despite potential danger, religious leaders and faith activists have been a visible presence at Chicago-area ICE protests, some waving signs with slogans such as ‘Love thy neighbor’ and ‘Who…
religionnews.com
October 9, 2025 at 5:19 PM
“One of the chants that has become ubiquitous at these protests at Broadview is, ‘Love your neighbor, love your God, save your soul and quit your job,’” said Black, who pastors at the First Presbyterian Church of Chicago. “Everybody chants that.”
I can't tell if this headline is intentional or not. 🤨
I definitely was, uh, expecting a different article when I stopped scrolling my feed reader.
www.geekwire.com/2025/deliver...
I definitely was, uh, expecting a different article when I stopped scrolling my feed reader.
www.geekwire.com/2025/deliver...
Delivery drivers in diapers? Amazon starts ’em young with toy van for kids in new holiday catalog
The $46 rideable blue van with the Prime logo on the side includes little packages inside.
www.geekwire.com
October 7, 2025 at 3:18 PM
I can't tell if this headline is intentional or not. 🤨
I definitely was, uh, expecting a different article when I stopped scrolling my feed reader.
www.geekwire.com/2025/deliver...
I definitely was, uh, expecting a different article when I stopped scrolling my feed reader.
www.geekwire.com/2025/deliver...
When I typed in my Seattle address this field was autocompleted.
What is this I don't even.
What is this I don't even.
October 6, 2025 at 5:07 PM
When I typed in my Seattle address this field was autocompleted.
What is this I don't even.
What is this I don't even.
Wow Anduril has nearly 1,000 open roles in their system.
I didn't realize how big they'd gotten.
I didn't realize how big they'd gotten.
October 4, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Wow Anduril has nearly 1,000 open roles in their system.
I didn't realize how big they'd gotten.
I didn't realize how big they'd gotten.
OpenAI's structured outputs allow for nulls, but the models are really bad at using them. I switched from asking for null to asking for "" or -1 and hallucinated properties dropped like a rock.
October 2, 2025 at 5:22 PM
OpenAI's structured outputs allow for nulls, but the models are really bad at using them. I switched from asking for null to asking for "" or -1 and hallucinated properties dropped like a rock.