About

Hey, I'm Rich.

I like to understand how complex systems work. I've worked in software since the late 90s, which has been pretty ideal given my interest, but it is just one interest. I've been drawn to studying history, languages, music, and lots of other areas for more or less the same reason. Complex systems fascinate me because enormous complexity can emerge from very simple parts. Every human language is built from a relatively small number of sounds and some rules for combining them. All my favorite music is built from twelve notes and timing. If that doesn’t seem cool to you, maybe I’m not explaining it well.

I use this site as a place to explore ideas. The writing on this site is for me. I write publicly about topics that I want to think through deeply enough to articulate to others. It's a thinking tool.

Right now I am exploring AI and how it is changing the ways we work. I'm cautiously optimistic about what I've seen. Things are changing very fast, so I'm less interested in trying to predict what AI will eventually do than in paying attention to what happens when I use these tools in my work and personal life.

In recent years I’ve rediscovered the fun of being a beginner. I’ve been learning mandolin and Spanish. I took up the mandolin because of a long-standing love of live music, and I began learning Spanish after spending a year traveling through Central and South America. Being a beginner can be humbling, especially when you’re trying to communicate in a language you barely speak. But being bad at something also means you get to improve rapidly, which is a lot of fun.

You won't find me on social media. The things I build are on GitHub. You can also follow the RSS feed for this site.