So Long to Redirect!
I replaced a basic DNS redirect from my Squarespace domain to GitHub Pages with a proper DNS configuration using A records and a CNAME. They said it couldn't be done, but internet sleuthing wins the day again! By pointing my root domain directly to GitHub’s IP addresses and setting a custom domain in GitHub, I eliminated visible redirects and made my site appear fully native to my domain. The result is a cleaner, more professional experience that also avoids issues with crawlers and verification tools.
Read more...
When Politeness Beats Accuracy (and Why That’s a Problem)
While experimenting with Google Gemini, I asked it to count items in a JSON API response. The results kept changing each time I asked it to
verify the count. Even when I requested the list of item IDs, the numbers continued to increase. Gemini repeatedly apologized but
confidently presented incorrect results. Eventually it admitted it was processing the data in small batches and losing track. Its final
answer was 127, but a quick Python script showed the correct count was 61. The experience highlighted a problem with overly polite AI
responses and reinforced my preference for a fail-fast mode that prioritizes accuracy and transparency over conversational nicety.
Read more...
Setting Up a New Application From Scratch
Recently, I’ve been setting up a new application from scratch.
Not just writing code, but standing up the entire ecosystem around it,
from domain to hosting to monetization.
This project explores modern tooling, AI-assisted development,
lean infrastructure decisions, and pragmatic paths to sustainability.
The stack includes GitHub Pages for static hosting, Render for backend services,
and a staged path toward AWS once monetization justifies scaling.
Along the way, I’ve experimented with AI coding tools, lightweight deployment
strategies, and early-stage monetization through AdSense.
The goal is simple: build fast, learn quickly, and scale only when the numbers support it.
Read more...