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Unlocking Cursor: Features and Workflow Tips
Want to get a little more out of Cursor, the AI development environment? I walk through the major components with hints and tips on how to get the most out of vibe engineering with rules and agent modes.
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The Inevitable V3 Rewrite
Software rarely finds its feet until version three. Version one is an idealistic guess. Version two is a survival patch. Version three is the rewrite where you finally delete the noise and build what is actually needed. Real stability comes from subtraction, a lesson every architect learns the hard way.
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Double NAT, 40 Terabytes, and a Christmas Miracle
I spent my Christmas downtime replacing a fragile, port-forwarded network with a resilient Tailscale mesh. I managed to overcome double NAT headaches to sync Synology units peer-to-peer, fixed the inevitable MTU “black holes,” and automated the DSM 7 sandboxing hurdles to build a private, encrypted family network.
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“This ain’t no technological breakdown”
Honoring British rock legend Chris Rea, I recall 1989: a 16-year-old student in Paisley, wrestling with the guilt of spending my living grant on “The Road to Hell” vinyl. Purchased for £5.99 at Woolworths, it became the defining soundtrack of my university years. Thirty-five years later, the joy remains. RIP.
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The CTO’s Year-End Audit: Are You Building Your Vision or Just a Backlog?
December is the only quiet time you have. Don’t waste it clearing your inbox. Use this silence to audit your architecture against your Vision Document. Move beyond simple feature roadmaps and focus on building strategic capabilities. If your environment doesn’t support your 2026 goals, fix it now before the chaos returns.
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Morphing into James McAvoy
Playing with AI to transform a selfie into a stylistic portrait inspired by James McAvoy’s movie “Pose.” After describing the desired photo detail to Gemini Pro, they generated an impressive monochrome image. The process evolved into animating the image, showcasing a novel technique for creating unique personalized visuals.
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Change Management
As a CTO, effective change management is crucial for delivering solutions to users who may resist significant changes. Develop a detailed project plan outlining responsibilities, timelines, and success criteria. Communicate extensively with stakeholders, providing training on new systems to ensure users understand the changes. Over-communicate throughout the process for success.
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Only takes a minute
Navigating the rapidly changing technology landscape can be stressful. It’s essential to engage in regular, small learning increments, such as 15 minutes daily, to build knowledge over time. Embrace a self-learning model without pressure, prioritize your time effectively, and share your insights to reinforce understanding. Progress comes from consistent, bite-sized efforts.
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Quality
Quality is a multifaceted concept recognized through tangible attributes, such as performance, reliability, and aesthetics. In software, quality is critical, impacting user experience and operational safety. By adhering to quality dimensions and maintaining vigilance in development, teams ensure high standards, preventing failures and fostering client trust essential for business sustainability.
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Consistency
The importance of consistency in both bourbon production and software development. It emphasizes that, like distillers who maintain quality through careful processes, software developers must ensure strong quality control at every stage. By taking individual responsibility for output quality, producers can enhance consistency and overall effectiveness in their work.
the leg-end that is, Alan Williamson.
For over 20 years, I’ve shared my thoughts whenever the muse strikes. It’s unpredictable, honest, unedited, and occasionally witty. I’m living the best years of my life, working harder than ever, and enjoying every second.
Alan Williamson 