You've Been a Bad Agent

Thorsten Ball, a skilled software engineer and writer known for his work at Sourcegraph and Zed, shares his fascinating journey from music to programming. He humorously critiques the overuse of emojis in tech while emphasizing their cultural nuances, particularly the wink emoji in Germany. The conversation touches on the evolving role of AI in software development, highlighting the importance of structuring code effectively and the need for engineers to grasp business contexts. Thorsten also reflects on the unique training challenges in tech and the transformative impact of continuous learning.

Chapters00:00 Introduction and Context of the Podcast07:23 Updates on SimplePoll and AI Integration18:14 Telemetry and Continuous Improvement in Development24:30 Acquisitions and Industry Insights32:37 Discussion on GPT-5 and Future of AI Models39:13 Consumer Experience with AI Models48:29 The Future of AI Content Verification58:17 The Impact of AI on Content Creation01:05:39 Community Engagement and Trends

TDLR: 10 episodes in and we are going full uncut conversation with Danilo Leal. One of the magician Design Engineers working on the Zed code editor. “I'll be making a jingle”“We prototype everything in React before Rust”Danilo Leal represents a new breed of designer and engineer.The role of design is becoming more approachable with technology.AI is changing the landscape of coding and design.Prototyping in React allows for rapid iteration and testing.Debugging in Zed involves traditional methods and new tools.Collaboration is key in modern development environments.The future of coding may involve multiple agents working in parallel.AI can enhance workflows but requires careful context management.The editor's role is evolving with the integration of AI tools.Design processes are becoming more integrated with coding practices.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Setup02:38 Meeting Danilo Leal: Background and Career05:33 The Evolution of Design and Engineering08:17 Transitioning to Material UI11:13 The Role of AI in Design14:10 Prototyping and Development Process16:58 The Future of Design and Technology28:28 The Comfort of Familiarity in Development29:18 Debugging Strategies in Zed30:09 Building Tools and Prototyping in Zed33:13 The Evolution of GPUI and Design Process35:16 Future of GPUI and General Purpose Applications38:11 AI's Role in Enhancing Workflow40:44 Parallelization and Task Management in Development43:47 The Future of Editors and Asynchronous Tasks48:32 The Role of Code in the Age of AI54:28 Integrating Context and Knowledge in Codebases

TLDRMatt caught whitebait for dinner during his outdoor adventures.Wing foiling is a new sport gaining popularity.Sub agents are necessary for exploring context windows in AI.A2A and MCP servers are the future of AI integration.AI-assisted code review can streamline the development process.Prompting techniques are evolving and require careful consideration.Living in the future means adapting to rapid technological changes.Time zones can create unexpected challenges in programming.The importance of personalized AI tooling is growing.Understanding the intricacies of AI models is crucial for effective use.Chapters00:00 Cactus Conversations and Personal Anecdotes01:00 Fishing Adventures and Culinary Delights03:32 Water Sports and Outdoor Activities06:16 Exploring Sub-Agents and Context Management08:03 A2A Protocols and Future of Agent Interactions10:54 Challenges with Claude Code and Testing Workflows13:17 Sub-Agents: Benefits and Limitations17:59 Navigating Code Actions and Permissions20:21 Building Personalized AI Tools for Code Review24:05 Challenges in Prompt Writing and Feedback Loops30:11 Innovations in UI Rendering and Client-Server Interaction37:12 The Future of Advertising and Technology39:24 Living in the Future: Startup Ambitions40:36 Anticipating Future Needs in Technology42:57 The Role of Agents and Micro Payments45:25 The Art of Prompting AI49:34 The Future of Work and Communication51:47 Time Zones and Programming Challenges

NewsThe pod has twitter/x - https://x.com/badagentpodWil’s new brand - tritanclub.comLinksBoris Tane post on Cloudflare DOs + Drizzle - https://boristane.com/blog/durable-objects-database-per-user/Experience with Claude Code - https://sankalp.bearblog.dev/my-claude-code-experience-after-2-weeks-of-usage/Focus on inputs not outputs: https://john-rush.com/posts/ai-20250701.htmlEmmett Shear’s Tweet Thread on AI use and speed - https://x.com/eshear/status/1944867426635800865TLDRThe experience level of developers affects their efficiency with AI tools.Proficiency in using AI coding agents requires practice and skill.Co-locating tests with code can improve the development process.Strict linting rules are essential for maintaining code quality.Different coding tasks require different approaches to AI assistance.The evolution of coding practices is influenced by new technologies.Understanding the limitations of AI tools is crucial for effective use.Developers need to adapt to new tools and workflows continuously.The future of development will likely involve more AI integration. Claude Code/TUI offers flexibility for running various applications.The evolution of coding agents is crucial for developers.Metrics of success in AI should focus on efficiency and user satisfaction.AI models should balance between asking questions and executing tasks.Personal experiences shape our understanding of AI tools.Innovations in coding tools can significantly enhance productivity.The future of AI involves deeper human interaction and understanding.Celebrating milestones is important for motivation and growth.Development workflows are being transformed by AI capabilities.Continuous learning and adaptation are key in the tech industry.

“UI is so over”“If all humans were perfect robots”"I just got stoned and did open source.""I rewrote their entire CLI."Sunil Pai's Backstory and Career Journey from India to LondonThe Evolution of React and Sunil's ContributionsTransition to Cloudflare and the Concept of Durable ObjectsBuilding PartyKit and Its ImpactThe Role of AI Agents and Their IntegrationChallenges and Opportunities in the Tech LandscapeExploring Durable Objects in CloudflareChallenges of Real-Time ApplicationsLocal First Programming vs. Durable ObjectsThe Simplicity of Pull-Based ModelsAI and the Future of CodingAI's Impact on ProfessionsThe Future of AI and AGIInnovations in Cloudflare's SandboxThe Concept of Self-Building ApplicationsLLMs are a mirror of an operators skill - https://ghuntley.com/mirrors/Sunil's blog - https://sunilpai.dev/

"Bullish on claude code""I found Soham in our ATS""these things have been like RLHF to fuck"Vibe Tunnel - https://vibetunnel.sh/Armin Ronacher on Simon Willison’s blog - https://simonwillison.net/tags/armin-ronacher/Amp by Sourcegraph - https://ampcode.com/Matt is finalizing his event for AI Demo Days.Juliette completed a challenging marathon with significant elevation.The tech news cycle is currently nuanced and interesting.Soham's job application saga has sparked widespread discussion.Roenacher's insights on Claude Code are valuable for developers.Git work trees can be beneficial but have their challenges.Environment variables can complicate development processes.Context engineering is crucial for effective AI interactions.Talent poaching is rampant in the tech industry right now.The competitive landscape allows companies to attract top talent easily. Cursor is refining its features to improve user experience.The competition between AWS and Cloudflare shapes developer tools.Claude Code is designed to work closely with AI models.AI can enhance productivity but requires careful oversight.Vibe Tunnel offers a novel way to manage terminal sessions.MCP servers need to return appropriate data for voice agents.Quality checks are essential for AI-generated code.Developers should prioritize and start small when building tools.The integration of tools should be user-driven, not server-driven.The evolution of MCP servers reflects the changing landscape of AI development.

"Context window… kaboom""Am I gonna get cancelled for this""United is not a good airline""Just make more money."TakeawaysIntegrations bring people together in meaningful ways.Video podcasts are gaining popularity among Gen Z audiences.Editing podcasts can be time-consuming but rewarding.Family events can provide a refreshing break from work.Cloudflare Containers offer new possibilities for developers.Pricing strategies in cloud services can impact user choices.AI integrations can simplify complex API interactions.Work off-sites can enhance team bonding and productivity.Travel experiences can shape preferences for airlines and destinations.Effective communication is key in team dynamics.SummaryIn this conversation, Matt Carey and Wilhelm Klopp discuss various topics ranging from the importance of integrations in technology and podcasting trends to personal updates about family events and travel experiences. They delve into the technical aspects of Cloudflare Containers and the Claude Code SDK, exploring their implications for developers and AI integrations. The discussion also touches on the dynamics of work off-sites and the impact of travel on airline preferences, emphasizing the importance of effective communication and team bonding.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Admin Chit-Chat02:55 Exploring Integrations and Podcast Formats05:50 Cloudflare Containers and Their Use Cases08:43 Cold Starts and Performance Considerations11:41 Pricing and Competitive Landscape of Cloud Services14:41 Integrations and AI Tools Development17:38 Claude Code SDK and Future Developments26:10 Navigating API Challenges27:47 Customizing Tool Calls for Integration28:56 The Future of API Integration30:09 Harnessing the Power of Code SDKs33:49 The Importance of Harnesses in Development34:54 Building Better Tools with Specifications37:11 The Role of Type Safety in Code Generation40:14 Exploring the AISDK and Its Benefits42:16 Reflections on Work Off-Sites48:38 Travel Experiences and Airline Preferences

The discussion kicks off with a humorous take on 'Yellowstone' and the drama of ranching. Meta's acquisition of Scale AI raises questions about attracting talent in a competitive landscape. Exciting new tech tools like Claude Code and subagents are highlighted for their impact on coding efficiency. They delve into optimizing GitHub Actions for cost and performance. The conversation wraps up with a look at evolving web standards and innovative practices for structuring codebases, stressing the importance of documentation and collaboration.

"We're always live.""I think evals are so hard.""AI engineering is dead."Stag do experiences can lead to unexpected personal updates.Consumer behavior in Las Vegas highlights the allure of gambling despite its downsides.Podcasting can encompass news, guest interviews, and personal stories.Traveling to Peru offers breathtaking experiences like hiking Machu Picchu.AI model releases are frequent and can impact development workflows.AI agents face challenges in complex coding tasks.New tech gadgets like the Garmin Tactics watch enhance outdoor activities.Fitness apps often lack user-friendly features for multi-sport activities.Conferences provide valuable networking opportunities in the tech industry.Deep research can uncover useful programming techniques and tools.AI Engineering is Dead? - Louis from Bloop.aiShippie - autonomous code review and QAthinkynote.com - a word processor with AISimplePoll - the easiest way to do polls on SlackKolo - useful things with runtime data in python