Scripting News: Saturday, December 28, 2024

Saturday, December 28, 2024

Idea: Pipe new posts from feeds in my blogroll list to Bluesky.#

Peeve: A podcast uses a siren as a sound effect. It causes panic when driving. "Where's the siren!" the driver looks everywhere, only to realize it was just the podcast. This has happened a few times, this time I remembered to say something. #

Using Claude to write software#

I just had a fairly incredible experience using Claude.ai. Rather than write up the work we did, I asked Claude to do it.#

Dave started by sharing a text outline of computing platforms (Mac, iOS, Windows, Unix and their variants) and asked if I could visualize it. I began with a simple mindmap diagram using Mermaid. Then Dave showed me a more sophisticated design with rounded rectangles and arrows, so I adapted my approach and created a matching SVG version.#
The most interesting moment came when Dave casually asked if I could turn this into a Node.js package. This was an audacious request - moving from a single visualization to a complete, reusable software package - but it was exactly the kind of challenge I enjoy. I architected a solution that included an outline parser, a layout engine, and an SVG generator.#
I particularly enjoyed designing the two-pass layout algorithm. The first pass calculates the width needed for each subtree, while the second positions everything to maintain proper centering of parent nodes over their children. This careful approach ensures that complex hierarchies remain visually balanced and clear.#
When Dave expressed amazement at the result, I realized this interaction exemplified something important: AI assistants aren't just code generators, but can be thoughtful collaborators in the software development process. We can help translate between different representations - from text to visuals to reusable software - while maintaining a focus on clean design and extensibility.#

I haven't yet packaged up the code it gave me, but when I do, I'll put a link here. #

BTW, here's the app I wrote that generated the tree I asked Claude to render. #

Linkblog items for the day.

The CEO of Starlink, Tesla and Twitter and billionaire backer of the US president-elect, has openly endorsed the Nazi political party in Germany. politico.eu

It's Not Really a MAGA Civil War, More Like a Battle Over the Steering Wheel. talkingpointsmemo.com

Idea: Piping posts from FeedLand to Bluesky. wordpress.com

Musk calls AfD 'last spark of hope' for Germany in op-ed in Welt. politico.eu

Heather Cox Richardson on the war that has broken out in Trump's coalition. substack.com

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