Replying to the HN news that Codex includes a headless copy of Libreoffice - was just deciding the same issue the other day - how can our agent work with MS Office files? Ended up using Apache POI directly on the JVM instead. Much simpler and smaller.
Jetbrains’ AIR alpha plugin might be the best AI feature they have released since flailing wildly upon the release of coding agents. They still have the best code analysis in the business that could provide incredible context, if actually used.
Java for an AI startup
My first startup was Haskell, my second Python; we’re now using Java 26 to build an agent platform. Here’s why.
FYI - this blog uses the micro.blog blogging platform to post long and short form content (like this post!). Enjoying it thus far - it uses Hugo under the hood as the SSG, with the minimal Mythos Theme.
It’s based on ideas around POSSE: Publish on your Own Site, Syndicate Elsewhere - as per this HN discussion.
Looking up
Hey all, I’m Mandeep. For the past two years I’ve mostly seen the Bay Area from the outside, despite living here. I moved here from London with my family to build Pump Up alongside my cofounder, and we did what you’re supposed to do at that stage: put our heads down and built.
Heads-down was the right call - classic PG advice. It’s also a habit that quietly becomes a dangerous default, putting everything else on hold and focussing on shipping regardless. However, we’re in the middle of the most interesting industry shift either of us can remember, in the city where most of it is happening, and consuming it all from the sidelines feels limiting. So, time to start writing.