Make complex ideas clearer in words

Writing

Technology and working life, examined slowly enough to become clear and useful.

01

Work & Career

A System Design Workshop Without a Single Slide

Many of my friends know that I've recently run several in-person System Design workshops. The original motivation for creating this workshop was Syste…

11 MIN
02

Australian Trades

How Big Is the Tradie World, Really?

This article is based on my own observations and experiences, so there are bound to be inaccuracies. Feedback and corrections are welcome.

10 MIN
03

Australian Trades

When IT Engineers Start Researching Waterproofing Courses

Recently, thanks to the popularity of Openclaw crayfish 🦞, basically every IT group has become very lively.

9 MIN
04

Notes & Observations

Algorithms Are Not Gender-Neutral: When AI Defaults Thought to 'His' Creation

Today, I asked an AI to critique one of my articles.

5 MIN
05

Work & Career

Finding a Slogan for Yourself Is More Practical Than Chasing a Side Hustle

When I first entered the workforce, my big boss often said: "My role is to improve your productivity."

4 MIN
06

Work & Career

One More Item off the Bucket List: My First Conference Talk in English

The venue that day started off a bit chaotic. Our reserved room had been double booked.

6 MIN
07

Work & Career

Confidence Comes from Action, Not Feeling

Recently, I've been helping a few friends prepare for interviews. They're all excellent, with solid projects under their belts. But when I read the st…

6 MIN
08

Work & Career

Trust Is Like Air: The Zero-Tolerance Habit Tech Professionals Can Least Afford to Relax

Trust in the workplace is like air. You don't notice it most of the time, but the moment it's sucked away, everyone holds their breath.

4 MIN
09

Work & Career

Start Treating AI as Your First Reader

That legacy code still sticks with me. All the functions were crammed into one file, hundreds of lines of logic rolling from top to bottom, nested if/…

7 MIN
10

Work & Career

Behind "For Your Own Good": Whose Good Is It?

At the retrospective meeting that day, my manager called me out in front of everyone. His tone was gentle, his smile perfectly appropriate. "I know yo…

6 MIN
11

Work & Career

Why Do People Who Raise Questions End Up Taking the Blame?

"I don't dare raise questions anymore. Every time I do, my boss throws it back at me: 'Then you go fix it.' If I can't, it becomes my fault."

5 MIN
12

Work & Career

Don't Overlook Small Talk—It's the Glue That Holds a Team Together

Lunchtime, everyone gathered in the break room. Colleagues chatted about the AFL grand final, the latest reality show, weekend family BBQs. I could un…

5 MIN
13

Work & Career

My Pleasures Are Never Guilty

Tuesday evening I attended a dinner hosted by Her Tech Circle. The venue was softly arranged, light falling on the tables, the atmosphere relaxed yet…

4 MIN
14

Work & Career

A Good Team Helps You Grow

This Monday, I heard that the tech lead from my previous team had also resigned.

4 MIN
15

Work & Career

Stop Grinding Through Docs: The Right Way for Newcomers to Get Up to Speed

I remember in my first two jobs, during those initial weeks after onboarding, I spent almost all my free time grinding through documentation. I opened…

6 MIN
16

Work & Career

You're Not Lacking Effort—You're on the Wrong Track: Reinvent Yourself to Become Irreplaceable

Lately, side hustles have become an almost unavoidable topic whenever I catch up with friends. One person says they're helping others polish resumes,…

6 MIN
17

Illustrated Ideas

Productive Impatience: A Mindset for Career Growth

I often save good articles I come across, thinking to myself—this one I need to share when the time is right. Today I want to talk about an article I…

4 MIN
18

Notes & Observations

A 4,000-Yuan Writing Bootcamp Lost to AI: The Truth Behind My 100 Days of Daily Writing

When did I realize I was being taken for a ride?

7 MIN
19

Work & Career

The New Philosophy of Lying Flat: Don't Take On Work, Don't Empathize, Break the Deadlock with a Cold Eye

Many people think that lying flat in the workplace means doing less work and just getting by. But the true master of lying flat is not lazy; they are…

6 MIN
20

Work & Career

Workplace Criticism Is Not Swinging a Hammer, but Offering a Ladder

At a weekly meeting, my manager suddenly looked at me and said: "Your report wasn't prepared thoroughly enough, so we had to schedule an extra meeting…

6 MIN