Wrappers
Why software wrappers can create lasting value: better interfaces, documentation, and workflows make complex infrastructure easier to use.
Notes from the archives
Writing
Software, markets, and a few questions worth sitting with.
The Markdown Test
Can Markdown support help identify products built for technical users? A working investment thesis on developer tools, collaboration, and Slack.
Tools I Learned in 2019
Notes from learning Redis, Gatsby, Kubernetes, and Python power-law modeling in 2019, with experiments in software tools and venture portfolio analysis.
Unbundling AWS
Why startups can build valuable businesses by unbundling AWS: focused developer tools, better user experiences, and software that does one thing well.
What are you optimizing for?
What machine learning and AlphaGo reveal about choosing objectives, and why founders and investors should examine what they are really optimizing for.
Tools I Learned in 2018
Experiments with serverless functions, the JAMstack, Scheme, and machine learning in 2018, including lessons from AWS Lambda, Netlify, and Hugo.
A founder's guide to conversations with Midwestern VC firms
Practical advice for founders talking to Midwestern venture capital firms: explain the business clearly, know the investor, and build an honest relationship.
Skills Learned in 2017
Lessons from 2017 on reading the source, making thoughtful hires, facing hard decisions, and developing the soft skills that matter in investing.
Tools Learned in 2017
A look back at learning Python data analysis, Docker, and Django in 2017, and how hands-on experiments help an investor understand technical tools.
Abstracting Complexity
How layers of abstraction turn complex technology into everyday products, and why the tools programmers use today can hint at what comes next.