The pragmatic power mac: a modern Primeagen-inspired workflow for Macintosh

Unknown — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

It is truly the year of the Linux desktop; LLMs have made troubleshooting Linux a breeze, DHH has brought the common man beautiful Linux with Omarchy, and popular content creators such as PewDiePie, ThePrimeagen, and Linus Tech Tips have made the case for an operating system you control whether for fun or practicality. Furthermore, the Asahi project has come leaps and bounds such that you can daily drive Linux on your Apple Silicon Mac.

But not everyone can make the switch. Many of us require Mac OS despite its many flaws, whether that is for security, because it is your work laptop and you are required to use Mac or Windows, or because there is certain software that is not available or optimal on Linux. I for one develop for the iPhone and need Mac OS to build.

Certain aspects of Mac OS are horrible. The most egregious to me is the operating system attempting to prevent you from running software that Apple has not approved of. Unfortunately, I have no solution for this, for now it is inescapable.

But other aspects are subvertible. I believe it is a common misconception that the operating system is not appropriate for keyboard centric power users. Actually, with a great deal of effort, and thanks to advances in FOSS software such as Aerospace, one can use Mac OS much like The Primeagen uses Arch, or how Omarchy ships with hotkey desktop switching.

This blog post is a record of my developer workflow on Mac in 2026. I hope it proves useful to those who are looking to make Mac OS their own, inspired by the developments in the Linux community. It is the result of a large amount of trial and error, particularly in finding optimal key bindings in order to retain the Mac system keybindings (for copy and pasting, opening browser tabs etc.), allow for i3-like desktop switching, and doing so with optimal ergonomics by not contorting the hand while limited to the magic keyboard.

Elements I present in this workflow include:

Optimal ergonomic keybindings</li>
FOSS software for Primeagen-like / i3-like / Omarchy-like desktop and program switching</li>
Workflow for managing code editors with aerospace / tmux / vim.</li>

Certain other software that I use and think is excellent</li> </ul>

It is:

Pragmatic: uses system defaults wherever possible. Tries to be as simple as possible. Is designed for normal Mac use in addition to the terminal e.g. you probably need to use a web browser, maybe the Mac mail client, and Zotero for managing your research. There is no assumption that everything you do must be an edgy CLI. The aim is to retain the benefits of normal Mac OS. Keybindings are consistent between programs where possible e.g. using Vim keybindings wherever appropriate.</li>

Powerful: customises the defaults for an efficiency pay-off. Learning this workflow will take some time, but will pay back by saving you time in the long run as you zip around your operating system. It's up to you whether the initial investment is worth it.</li> </ul>

The workflow is heavily inspired by The Primeagen, favouring dedicated desktops and everything available with keyboard shortcuts where possible. Preferring switching multiple programs on one monitor rather than having multiple monitors with a program open on each etc.

This workflow is my own, and I do not present it as the optimal solution. I do however, think it is excellent, simple, and with time will bring a power user an extreme speed-up in navigating the operating system compared to the defaults.

I write this as I say goodbye to the Apple eco-system for now, moving from iOS to Lineage, and Mac OS to Asahi full-time.

Keyboard remap</h3>
System rebinds</h4>
The CMD</code> key was my biggest problem when moving from Windows and was something I wanted to remedy immediately. Having the CMD</code> key is quite a nice feature of Mac OS in my opinion because things like CTRL-C</code> to exit a terminal program are separated from CMD+C</code> to copy text at a system level. However, it also presented a huge ergonomic problem for me as a home row touch typer, how on earth do I contort my hand in order to hit CMD+[KEY]</code> from resting with my fingers on the home row? I still remember distinctly the day I first switched from Windows to Mac being confounded by this issue and developing pain in my thumb within days. I simply could not believe that most Mac users lived with this, and did not find any consensus on how to overcome it. On Windows you have one fewer modifier key, but the CTRL</code> key is easily reachable with your pinky finger. I guess one way around this is to use the right command key as much as the left one, but this has some problems, for example it's really nice to be able to use the trackpad to select text with your right hand, and simultaneously copy and paste using shortcuts with your left hand. Doing so comfortably is not possible for me using the defaults.
Fortunately, there is a completely spare key on the keyboard just waiting to be rebound, in arguably the most ergonomic position anywhere on the keyboard for a modifier key: caps lock</code>.
Rebind: CAPS_LOCK -> CMD when *held*. </code></pre> If you take only one thing from this workflow let it be this. This rebind alone alleviated my thumb pain, sped me up, and made use of a completely unutilised key (note we can separate what CAPS_LOCK</code> does when pressed alone from what it does when held down and used as a modifier e.g. pressing CAPS_LOCK</code> could still perform case change, and holding CAPS_LOCK</code> and pressing another key acts as CMD</code>). We will in fact rebind pressing CAPS_LOCK</code> alone in a moment. CAPS_LOCK</code> is huge and just millimetres away from your pinky finger. Try resting your pinky finger over the CAPS_LOCK</code> key and then notice how every single other key on the keyboard is instantly available without a stretch. You can CMD+T</code>, CMD+W</code>, CMD+TAB</code> your way around the system like a breeze. But we will not stop there. This rebind is the gateway drug from which we will go on an optimisation spree. The next system rebind I will argue for is to make typing faster by addressing system wide text editing and text navigation. One of the best pieces of advice I have heard for increasing your typing speed is to avoid pressing the backspace</code> key more than once. Imagine you try to type the word dexterity</code> but you type dxterity</code>. You have a few options: Hit the backspace</code> key 7 times then retype the word.</li> Hit the left arrow</code> 7 times and insert e.</li> Move to the start of the previous word, then move right once, then insert e.</li> Delete the entire previous word and retype it.</li> </ol> My preference is strongly for option 4. maybe option 3 and never the other two. It's much faster to delete an entire word and retype it than to carefully count the number of keypresses in order to correct it. But how can we delete the previous word on Mac OS? And how could we move the cursor between words? Well again on Windows the defaults are more ergonomic because CTRL+backspace</code> deletes a word, and CTRL+arrows</code> navigates between words. On Mac the default is option</code> and again I find option+backspace</code> difficult if I use my pinky and uncomfortable if I bend my thumb. On Mac CMD+backspace/option</code> deletes an entire line or moves to the start or end of a line. Fortunately CAPS_LOCK</code>'s untapped potential can be exploited again using the following rebind: Swap CMD and option when held with arrows or backspace </code></pre> This solves word navigation and deletion because CAPS_LOCK</code> is performing CMD</code>, so this swap makes CAPS_LOCK+backspace</code> delete the previous word, CAPS_LOCK+arrows</code> navigates between words, CAPS_LOCK+SHIFT+arrows</code> selects text, and function + CAPS_LOCK + backspace</code> deletes the next word. If we want to delete whole lines or navigate to the start of a line we can do that with option</code>, but I do not do this nearly as often. With less preamble here are a few more rebinds (note that I use Karabiner-Elements</a> for all of these rebinds, and I have included my full karabiner file</a> so if you have any questions I'd start by reading that or pasting it into an LLM) Rebind: RETURN -> CTRL when held </code></pre> I like to have two CTRL</code> modifiers available, one for my left and one for my right hand. I hit CTRL+C</code> and CTRL+B</code> a lot (in tmux) so having a CTRL</code> modifier for my right hand is more comfortable. I have this setup so pressing return alone still works normally. One catch worth knowing about: this rebind has to ignore CMD</code>. Because CAPS_LOCK</code> is now performing CMD</code>, a naive RETURN -> CTRL</code> rebind will swallow CMD+RETURN</code>, which plenty of apps use to send. Another one for my vimmers Rebind: CAPS_LOCK -> ESCAPE when pressed </code></pre> This one makes leaving insert mode in vim fast. It also means we are free to rebind the escape</code> key: Rebind ESCAPE -> switch desktop when pressed </code></pre> If we actually want to perform CAPS_LOCK</code> then I use: Rebind shift + shift -> CAPS_LOCK </code></pre> I do this rarely but it is useful from time to time. We will introduce desktops in a moment but for now I'll just say that switching between them with the escape</code> key is fast, it's easy to hit, and even though it's a bit of a stretch, that's okay because you don't do it mid-sentence / as part of a vim command sequence. There's something quite satisfying about punching escape</code> to snap between desktops. Aerospace</h3> Aerospace</a> is a FOSS i3-like window manager for Mac OS. It is fully configured with dotfiles, and can do most of what I want from a window manager. My workflow is to have numbered workspaces for projects and lettered workspaces for singleton programs. The whole thing relies on two keybinds: Keybind: CMD + [key] to switch to a desktop associated with [key] Keybind: CMD + shift + [key] to send a program to desktop associated with [key] </code></pre> Note: CMD is my Aerospace leader key </code></pre> We got rid of all of the other uses of the left and right CMD keys so they are now free to be rebound for this purpose. I have a desktop called browser</code> that's where my browser lives, and I can hit CMD+b</code> to switch to that desktop. I always have a terminal open on a desktop called terminal</code> and likewise I can switch to that with CMD+t</code>. My projects vary from day to day. If I am working on a data science project and want to have a browser open to view a code notebook in a split view with the code on the left, then I can switch to browser</code> with CMD+b</code> then open a new window with CMD+n</code> then send that new window to desktop 1</code> with CMD+shift+1</code>. I can then switch to the terminal with CMD+t</code>, open a new terminal window with CMD+n</code> and then send that to project 1</code> with CMD+shift+1</code>. This sounds complicated but you quite quickly get the hang of it, and I generally do not find myself opening and closing programs that often, I will set up a project desktop and more or less keep them there until I restart the laptop. There are ways to make aerospace automatically start and assign programs but I had some problems with a very slow system start and some flakiness. Aerospace will auto-snap my windows to be full screen or split pane if I hit CMD+f</code> to toggle between floating and tiling mode. I have three different keys for switching between the current desktop and the most recent other desktop: pressing escape</code>, or pressing either CMD</code> key. The redundancy is there because I had no other use for pressing the CMD</code> key and sometimes it's nice e.g. if you hit CMD+[key]</code> to change desktop but regret it you can always go back by hitting CMD</code>. There are some things I have not ironed out with this setup, the biggest is that I cannot get program focus switching to work. I really want to be able to hit CMD+arrows</code> to focus programs within a desktop but this did not work for me initially and I have since created other habits, it may already be fixed in an update. Here is my full aerospace config: # https://nikitabobko.github.io/AeroSpace/guide#default-config start-at-login = true [mode.main.binding] # Switch workspace with ctrl+alt+number ctrl-alt-1 = "workspace 1" ctrl-alt-2 = "workspace 2" ctrl-alt-3 = "workspace 3" ctrl-alt-4 = "workspace 4" ctrl-alt-5 = "workspace 5" ctrl-alt-6 = "workspace 6" ctrl-alt-7 = "workspace 7" ctrl-alt-8 = "workspace 8" ctrl-alt-9 = "workspace 9" ctrl-alt-0 = "workspace 0" # Move workspace with ctrl+alt+shift+number ctrl-alt-shift-1 = "move-node-to-workspace 1" ctrl-alt-shift-2 = "move-node-to-workspace 2" ctrl-alt-shift-3 = "move-node-to-workspace 3" ctrl-alt-shift-4 = "move-node-to-workspace 4" ctrl-alt-shift-5 = "move-node-to-workspace 5" ctrl-alt-shift-6 = "move-node-to-workspace 6" ctrl-alt-shift-7 = "move-node-to-workspace 7" ctrl-alt-shift-8 = "move-node-to-workspace 8" ctrl-alt-shift-9 = "move-node-to-workspace 9" ctrl-alt-shift-0 = "move-node-to-workspace 0" # Switch to app-specific workspace. ctrl-alt-a = "workspace ai" # e.g. Claude or a browser with an AI site open ctrl-alt-b = "workspace browser" ctrl-alt-c = "workspace calendar" ctrl-alt-g = "workspace google" ctrl-alt-m = "workspace mail" ctrl-alt-o = "workspace obsidian" ctrl-alt-p = "workspace pdf-reader" # these days I just use my browser as a pdf reader ctrl-alt-r = "workspace repitition(anki)" ctrl-alt-s = "workspace spotify" ctrl-alt-t = "workspace terminal" ctrl-alt-w = "workspace whatsapp" ctrl-alt-z = "workspace zotero" # Move app to app-specific workspace. ctrl-alt-shift-a = "move-node-to-workspace ai" ctrl-alt-shift-b = "move-node-to-workspace browser" ctrl-alt-shift-c = "move-node-to-workspace calendar" ctrl-alt-shift-g = "move-node-to-workspace google" # Google account sandboxed browser ctrl-alt-shift-m = "move-node-to-workspace mail" ctrl-alt-shift-o = "move-node-to-workspace obsidian" ctrl-alt-shift-p = "move-node-to-workspace pdf-reader" ctrl-alt-shift-r = "move-node-to-workspace repitition(anki)" ctrl-alt-shift-s = "move-node-to-workspace spotify" ctrl-alt-shift-t = "move-node-to-workspace terminal" ctrl-alt-shift-w = "move-node-to-workspace whatsapp" ctrl-alt-shift-z = "move-node-to-workspace zotero" # Focus finder (e for file explorer) ctrl-alt-e = "exec-and-forget open -a Finder" # Move focus between windows. # This isn't working :( using hjkl works but not for ghostty which eats those keys. ctrl-alt-left = 'focus left' ctrl-alt-down = 'focus down' ctrl-alt-up = 'focus up' ctrl-alt-right = 'focus right' alt-tab = "workspace-back-and-forth" # Toggle floating window. ctrl-alt-f = "layout floating tiling" # Workaround: Ghostty must be started in tiling mode in order to not experience # bug whereby opening a terminal tab makes aerospace think you've opened a new window. [[on-window-detected]] if.app-id = "com.mitchellh.ghostty" run = ["layout floating"] # Floating by default. [[on-window-detected]] check-further-callbacks = true run = 'layout floating' </code></pre> Tmux, code editors, AI</h1> Sometimes I code and interact with Claude Code on my terminal</code> desktop and switch between this and say, a web app which would be running on the browser</code> desktop. Or if I am purely in the terminal then I could do all that on terminal</code>. Other things have their own desktop. Regardless I almost always use a custom command aliased tmuxd</code> which starts tmux in the current directory and creates 4 tabs with vim opened in the first, command line in the second and claude code in the third. These are numbered 1-4 so I can easily switch to them with CTRL-b + [number]</code> or switch between a pair of them with CTRL + ;</code>, or cycle through them with vim style motions: CTRL+l</code> to move up a number, CTRL+h</code> to move down a number. Tips:</h1> Create a config folder where you symlink all of your dotfiles inc. karabiner, aerospace etc. and use git to track changes.</li> Use LLMs to remember keybindings whether the defaults or your own ones.</li> If you notice an inefficient part of the system, see if there is a keybinding for this, consider registering your own custom keybinding.</li> Keybindings are everywhere, often they are vim-like e.g. hit CMD+L to focus the URL bar in Helium/Chromium/Google Chrome then CTRL+N CTRL+P to move up and down the suggestions.</li> </ul> I might come back to this and expand on it another day, now onto Asahi!

Textures of Santa Teresa Unknown — Mon, 25 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 LinkedIntention Unknown — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Hides the LinkedIn home feed behind a 'Show Feed' button so you choose when to scroll. Overnight Temperature Atlas USA Unknown — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Shows average nightly low temperatures across the USA in an interactive map. Userbar Gif Maker Unknown — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 A Windows 95-style userbar generator, scraped and then indexed. Feira de Laranjeiras Unknown — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 with LivUserbar gif maker Unknown — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 I made a Windows 95 themed userbar search engine and gif maker: userbar-gif-maker.pages.dev</a>. The userbars are as found on tiptopglobe.com/userbars-free-forum--web</a>, but not indexed there. This also lets you create your own combos. Two new web apps Unknown — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 I've launched a couple of small web apps recently. mailmelater.net</a> lets you schedule an email reminder to yourself for any future date. I built it because I wanted to remember to cancel a subscription and I'm currently between calendar apps, trying to de-Apple and move to something self-hosted and open source. There are plenty of sites that already do this but I trust mine more. I tried to make it look professional and trustworthy, and built it on durable infra (I think lol). Overnight Temperature Atlas USA</a> is a map of average overnight minimum temperatures across US climate divisions, broken down by month, using NOAA data. I'm planning a short road trip in America and wanted to figure out whether it's warm enough anywhere to sleep in my car. Userbars Unknown — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 A user on the 32 bit cafe shared this site which hosts hundreds of retro userbars. They go extremely hard imo. tiptopglobe.com/free-forum-userbars</a>. New Neighbours Unknown — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Fujifilm X30 review Unknown — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 X30 in Mumbai</figcaption> </figure> Quick facts</h2> Released 2014</li> f/2.0-f/2.8, 28-112mm lens</li> Tiny smartphone-sized sensor</li> Extremely good EVF, similar to that in the X-T1 but smaller, large for a compact camera</li> Film simulations (but requires fiddling compared to later cameras)</li> Range-focussing guide</li> I paid £400 for used with 6-month warranty in 2025, good condition</li> Popup flash</li> </ul> Review</h2> The Fujifilm X30 is an excellent compact camera that's been my trusty travel camera on multiple trips around the world. It has a unique vintage-futuristic look, and a 'metal where it matters' construction that makes it satisfying to handle. Its bright variable lens makes it extremely versatile, and it packs an entire shooting setup in a camera that fits in my small camera bag with plenty of room left for my kindle. The sensor is approximately the size of a modern smartphone and is the camera's biggest quirk. With custom film simulations from Fuji X Weekly</a>, I consistently get pleasing muted filmic shots that look good printed postcard-sized. However, the sensor struggles in low light and has low dynamic range; thus getting a good shot requires working with the light, keeping an eye on your settings (or embracing auto mode), or using flash. The camera's EVF is exceptional for a camera of its size and age, and is almost exclusively how I shoot. With the LCD disabled, the battery life is pretty good. That said, when I'm out shooting I switch the camera off if I haven't shot for a few minutes. The camera turns on and off by manually zooming the lens. This quirk is an exceptionally well-thought-out design choice — it means there's no flimsy electronic zoom motor that's slow and can break, and I always want to set the zoom when I turn the camera on anyway, so it's really intuitive. The camera also has all the settings you would want from an enthusiast/pro camera, including a range focusing</a> guide. I briefly owned a Ricoh GR III, which I replaced with this camera, and I'm much happier with the X30, though they're very different beasts. I don't think the X30 is for everyone, but if you want a good cheap(ish) enthusiast travel camera with film simulations, a pop-up flash, and you like the X30's sensor, then this is hard to beat. Tips</h2> Hold the preview button to view photos without switching on the camera.</li> I shoot RAW + jpeg in case the recipe gives a weird result, plus sometimes the RAW helps with dynamic range issues.</li> Switch to manual focus mode using the toggle on the front of the camera to range focus.</li> The photo transfer app on iPhone does work, but requires patience and repeatedly restarting the app, turning Wifi transfer off and on, etc., in order to connect. After finding the knack, I found I can do this in around 10 seconds, but it took some practice to figure out.</li> </ul> Some photos</h2> Koh Lanta</figcaption> </figure> Mexico City</figcaption> </figure> Lucknow, India</figcaption> </figure> Annapurna, Nepal</figcaption> </figure> </div> What's next?</h2> After a year of shooting with the X30 I've bought my second Fujifilm camera, the X-T2. It has an APS-C sensor that does much better in low light, significantly higher dynamic range, as well as a water resistant body which I can take outside on rainy English days. It's a relatively small camera but much larger than the X30, which will take some getting used to. The main reason I bought it is to shoot with a more capable sensor. It's often said that shooting with constraints improves your creativity, and I think that's probably true. However, I'm looking forward to increasing the amount of situations I can shoot in. Joel Meyerowitz Unknown — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Joel painted beautiful compositions from life as he witnessed it. His documentary work serves both as fine art and historical documentation. While the previous photo is charged and dramatic, many of his best photos document mundane moments with a plain authenticity that intimately connects the viewer to the past. He does this without making the viewer feel as though they're intruding; the camera is never overly close, always within earshot at the edge of the scene. Some of Joel's vivid colour street photography is reminiscent of one of my favourite photographers, Martin Parr, who died late last year and who apparently credited Joel as one of his inspirations. Economics: A Very Short Introduction Unknown — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 GDP growth and population growth are opposing forces in growth of GDP per capita (by definition) -> rapid population growth is a problem if not matched by accumulation of capital.</li> </ul> Journaling with the AlphaSmart Neo (Review) Unknown — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 The AlphaSmart Neo is a digital typewriter that was manufactured between 2004 and 2013. Along with the Neo 2, it's the last in a line of products that started with the original AlphaSmart in 1993, with the aim to "deliver affordable, lightweight, rugged portable computing devices that are expandable, easy to use and manage, and provide exceptional battery life" for classrooms. Over three decades later, the Neo still delivers on that promise and offers something newly compelling for most users, myself included: a minimalist, distraction-free writing experience. Specs: 33 MHz DragonBall VZ processor</li> 2 MB of RAM</li> 0 storage (all text saved to RAM, but can be exported to a computer via USB)</li> Battery lasts months depending on usage (~700 hours of use).</li> Requires _ x AA batteries and 1 x CR2032 battery (used to keep data in RAM when main batteries removed).</li> Up to 8 documents simultaneously, up to 50,000 words each.</li> </ul> The AlphaSmart has a full sized keyboard which is satisfying to type on, and even supports a few shortcuts for navigating between, selecting and deleting words and lines at a time.1</a> The device turns on almost instantly, can be locked with a password2</a> (though I suspect there's nothing preventing the files being accessed via usb), and the battery lasts for months - I haven't had to change batteries since I got it at the start of the year. It's features are minimal, providing nothing beyond writing txt files, and sending them to your computer. I've been using the AlphaSmart to write a daily journal. I've started the habit of beginning each day by brain dumping 750 words on it. In the past I've journaled on paper about what happened at the end of each day, partly with the intention of keeping a permanent record of my life. With the AlphaSmart I'm doing the opposite, I'm using it as a tool for self-reflection and try to focus on writing about how I'm feeling, with no intention of looking back on what I wrote. In fact, each morning when I write the next one I overwrite the previous file. I find that because I can type much faster on the Neo than I can write by hand, and because its sole focus is on output, I'm able to get into a kind of flow state where I get down whatever is on my mind. I've found it to be quite therapeutic and a good way to start the day, by becoming intentional about the day ahead. The screen is tiny but that's actually helpful in focussing on writing rather than editing your work, and while the functions are basic you can perform a word count (press CTRL + w) and spellcheck. In addition to finding brain dump journaling cathartic, it also addresses a pain point I have with regular journaling. When I'm journaling normally, not only do I find myself drawn to writing about factual events in chronological order rather than what I'm feeling, or more open ended trains of thought, I find writing about those things embarrassing when I look back on the journal with other people around and I don't usually let people just leaf through my journals, nor do I write anything I would be really embarrassed for others to see. That's a bit of a shame because the journals are full of good memories involving my friends and family. The brain dump lets me decouple the stuff I want to keep private and get down as an exercise separate from what I want to remember and share. I'm actually planning on trying a different form of documentation this year where I scrapbook with printed photographs I've taken, quotes, stories etc. and maybe print written excerpts from the AlphaSmart. I highly recommend the AlphaSmart to anyone looking for a distraction-free digital typewriter. I bought mine for £70 in good second-hand condition on eBay, which is much cheaper and in my opinion better than the modern alternatives</a>. ^{1 Pressing option + left or right arrow will move the cursor one word at a time, command + left or right will move to the beginning or end of the line, and holding down the shift key while doing either of those will select the text as well, which can then be deleted by pressing the backspace key. </div> ^{2 You may be asked for the system password, for my device that was "tommy" which is apparently the default, you can then set your own file password. </div>}} Trent Parke Unknown — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000 interview</a> Trent's photography challenges the idea that photographers capture reality. He constructs surreal worlds of light and shadow from his imagination. "Subconciously, without you knowing it, [...] the things that have influenced your life while you're growing up, they come through [in your work]" </blockquote> "I am absolutely competetive with myself, in pushing myself, I never stop [...] trying to be the best I can be [...] it's always about pushing yourself to the next level" </blockquote> Adali Scheli Unknown — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000 "I am becoming much more interested in photographing what I already know." </blockquote> "it's becoming more about composition and more about form, less about strangers" </blockquote> on Colleen Combs: "I didn't know that photos could feel that way [...] so real, and so honest, and photographing what she knew [...] that inspired me to turn to my friends, to turn to my life" </blockquote> "I hate to make anyone uncomfortable, that's why I essentially quit street photography [...] it's a dance, it's less gotcha, it's more theatrical." </blockquote> Martha Cooper Unknown — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Martha Cooper is best known for introducing the world to New York's graffiti scene in the 70s and 80s, but I'm particularly drawn to her work documenting children at play. "I was on vacation from the post and I saw these kids making cars from tin cans [...] and when I came back I thought well let me see if I can find that in New York." </blockquote> On discovering graffiti: "one day [a boy] showed me his notebook with drawings [...] he explained to me that he was practicing to put his name on a wall on a train. Before that I didn't understand what I was seeing on the streets. It was like a code, like the Rosseta stone. I was able to decipher the letters I had been seeing" </blockquote> "he said I can introduce you to a king, and of course I wanted that. [he introduced me to] Dondi, one of the greatest of all the graffiti kings" </blockquote> Essaouira Unknown — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000 One month of dumbdroid Unknown — Sun, 01 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000 My pocket devices: dumbdroid and xteink x4.</figcaption> Today I powered on my iPhone for the first time in just under a month. Since the start of the year I've been using my dumbdroid</a> as my full time phone. I've set up the phone pretty much as it comes out of the box, apart from the addition of WhatsApp, and I have disabled the app store and browser. It came with an open source maps application called Organic Maps, which I have been using just fine to get around London. I plan on making a more thorough review, but here are my thoughts for now: Why?</h3> People find the phone extremely interesting and almost everyone who sees it during a conversation will bring it up. While most people think it's a crazy idea at first, around half of everyone I've spoken to has been very curious and ends up saying they will think about getting one. It's been eye opening to me to see how many people want to improve their 'digital health' and instantly resonate with a desire to get some space from their phone. In almost every conversation about my phone I am asked "why am I doing it?". My reasons are varied, and I'm finding that 'the point' is revealing itself to me through time, but here are a few reasons: It's an experiment. Getting a smartphone was an experiment, getting rid of one is another. It's already been interesting to see how life changes when you reshape your digital life. That alone is worth exploring for me.</li> My iPhone is too powerful. Pocket technology is a wonder, and at times it is indispensable, but at other times it weighs me down. I have that found simply going for a walk with and without my phone feels significantly different. It's hard to explain, but I recommend you try it and see if you agree.</li> Why not just leave your phone at home then? Phones are essential for some things like navigation and calls/messaging + I do not want to miss urgent calls e.g. in a family emergency.</li> It has lots of buttons. My measly iPhone only has like 3 buttons. The dumbdroid has like 20! Huge upgrade.</li> I have negative feelings towards big American tech and the attention economy.</li> I grew up through the digital revolution of the 2000s, and while I am a digital native, I also remember what life was like before this global transition. Lots of people in my generation miss what we left behind and are curious about whether it's even possible to go back.</li> The creators of the phone seem like awesome people</a>. It's a tiny European company run by two chaps who quickly replied to my emails when I had a question about the phone.</li> </ul> App controls</h3> The creators of the phone point out that given how small the screen is, and the relatively awkward keyboard, you might not need to put any additional restrictions on the phone to improve your screen time etc. I wanted to go a step further and actually lock the phone down so it's a true brick phone. Currently the only way that seems to be supported is by typing in a pin code, but if you know the pin code then that kind of defeats the point. You could have a friend do it, but instead, I pasted in a sequence of numbers I had not memorised and now the phone requires reinstallation in order to change the app controls. My current setup: No browser</li> WhatsApp installed</li> No app store</li> Default maps app</li> </ul> I like that this is super minimalist but if I were to do it again I would consider installing: Google maps.</li> Banking (this is the only reason I occasionally use my iPhone now).</li> ChatGPT. It's quite a good way to get some access to the internet without the full monty. Currently if I really need to know something e.g. opening times of a museum, then I use WhatsApp's AI.</li> </ul> Paying for stuff</h3> I used to almost exclusively use Apple Pay, but have gone back to using bank cards and cash. I have had zero problems with that so far. Some more thoughts</h3> My right pocket used to be for my iPhone, it's now for my dumbdroid and a tiny ereader called the xteink x4. If I reach for something to pass the time when I'm out and about I now only have the options of contacting friends or reading a book. I really like that choice. I find these devices go very well together. I have also been experimenting with keeping my laptop in a locker in my office, which means when I go home I have zero internet connected devices. This has introduced some challenges, including an extremely tedious weekend in which I wanted to do some admin but was locked out of the office, leading to unplanned mini digital detox. Overall I find this a really nice way to check out after work and make doom scrolling of any kind impossible. It happens to work well at the moment because I have this separate working space, such that I do not need to do any work at home, and I'm not sure how one could achieve this otherwise. I will absolutely be keeping my iPhone 11, despite rarely using it. Until I reinstall my dumbdroid and add my banking apps, it's my only way of doing internet banking. I will also certainly use my iPhone in certain situations like managing digital forms at airports, and might even start using it in the office as a 'mini-iPad' but not putting it in my pocket or bringing it away from my desk. Tips</h3> Even though the phone has a USB-C port, my version of the phone only charges using a USB-A to USB-C cable, so if you have problems charging it try using a cable like that.</li> Get a screen protector. I have not used a screen protector and the screen has picked up lots of little scratches in my pocket, despite me being pretty careful with it. You can buy custom cut-to-size screen protectors that should do the trick.</li> To lock down the phone without relying on a friend to type in the PIN code: type a sequence of numbers into e.g. the browser or settings search bar without memorising them, copy the sequence to the clipboard, and then paste that into the PIN code settings in order to lock down the phone.</li> </ul> Vintage gif search engine Unknown — Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 You can find authentic vintage gifs like this by browsing archives of geocities</a> (which was shut down in 2009), or the awesome reboot project: neocities.org</a>. There is also gifcities.org</a>, a purpose built search engine for archived geocities gifs run by the Internet Archive. It's great! Convert YouTube channels to RSS feeds (web tool) Unknown — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000 There are a bunch of websites that offer YouTube channel to RSS conversion but require a login. RSS links used to be very visible on YouTube. That's since changed, but the links still exist</a>. I vibe coded a tiny API</a> to convert YouTube channel links to RSS links, which you can interact with using the HTML form below.

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Paying for stuff</h3> I used to almost exclusively use Apple Pay, but have gone back to using bank cards and cash. I have had zero problems with that so far.</p>

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Convert YouTube channels to RSS feeds (web tool)

Paying for stuff</h3>
I used to almost exclusively use Apple Pay, but have gone back to using bank cards and cash. I have had zero problems with that so far.</p>