#software engineer

[computer-nerd-girl]

[la-principessa-nuova]

I made a support request with a vendor asking if there’s a way to leverage the logic they already have for determining what counts as a business day (it is very critical that this is done exactly correctly and that it never breaks in the future if nobody is maintaining it) when using their API since I didn’t want to have to maintain a separate source of truth for it, and in their response they said:

it is not too hard to do date/timestamp arithmetic

which any developer who has done date/time arithmetic knows is the understatement of the century

Famously everyone thinks so until they take down an important system by forgetting about DST, or leap years, or that leap years don’t happen every 100 years, or that they do happen every 400 years, or not considering implications of people using different calendar systems, even if they’re just slightly different like having weeks start on a different day, or they consider whether the first week of the month is the first full week or the partial week before that, or they format it in a different order.

Then when they finally think, “OK, but I know about that,” then they learn about the leap second, or the negative leap second.

So yes, date math is “too hard”.

[heart-ghost-studyblr]

I found myself surrounded by companions daring to tackle a real software architecture challenge. We shared a good wine and cheese to conquer it together! (Unfortunately, there’s always something waiting to be dealt with on Monday.)

The glow of my Neovim terminal in Monokai theme reflects my rhythm — a guy who doesn’t stop on weekends but knows that balance isn’t about being all-in, all day.

The setup screams character: a seamless fusion of productivity and comfort. Lazygit commands at my fingertips, a Ghibli-esque avatar paired with Neofetch adding a touch of Tumblr aesthetic, and a playlist of Korean indie OSTs playing in the background to add depth to every keystroke.

This is how I drive — in code, creativity, and moments that are unapologetically mine.

[gentlewareblooming]

I've been having a hard time with programming lately. Considering that it is my job i kind of need to get it together.

My plan is to start learning stuff that isn't just the only thing I need for my current project. Try to find things about programming and computer science that interest me and maybe talk about it on this blog. I think I need to expand my curiosity about the subject.

I have all these hang ups about feeling stupid and incompetent and how hard everything is, but I need to reframe it. Yes, it doesn't come as easily to me as to others, but that's ok because I'm capable and I can put in the effort to do and learn the hard thing. And I know that at the end it will be totally worth it.

[fullstackonion]

It’s the tail end of the workday. The rain taps gently against the windows, and I’ve wrapped up everything I needed to accomplish—at least for today. With nothing left but time, I find myself drifting. My mind, ever restless, reaches for something softer, something outside the strict grids of corporate life.

Lately, I’ve been training an AI of my own making. It’s still learning—still clumsy with its lines and slow with its renderings—but it manages. It’s not the most accurate, and certainly not the fastest out there, but it feels personal. It’s mine.

This image is one of its early outputs.

But the story behind it? That’s not AI-generated. That comes from the noisy corners of my own mind—my unquiet mind—looking for meaning, creativity, and a moment of stillness just fifteen minutes before I step out the door.

Sometimes, this is how I unwind. And maybe, just maybe, this is how I begin to breathe again.

"Orange Peel Theory"

It begins as a habit. A rhythm.

After the conclave, life within the Vatican resumes its deliberate pace. The halls quiet again, the thunder of election giving way to the hush of governance. Vincent, now Pope, presides with calm resolve. And at his side are the trusted few: Aldo Bellini, still Secretary of State; Goffredo Tedesco, still the Patriarch of Venice; Thomas Lawrence; Giulio Sabbadin; Raymond O'Malley—all orbiting in their appointed places.

Goffredo’s place is always beside Aldo.

Not by rule. Just… always.

It starts with simple things.

An extra coffee left on Aldo’s desk just before morning session—one sugar, no cream, just the way he drinks it, though Aldo never asks for it. A coat quietly laid on the back of his chair before a chill evening meeting. Notes discreetly rearranged in his folder so that the report he’ll most likely need is on top. A seat saved without a word in crowded halls.

Nothing romantic. Nothing declared. But steady. Thoughtful. Like a hand placed softly on the small of your back, guiding, never pushing.

Aldo never acknowledges them.

But the others do.

Raymond sees the coat. Giulio notices the coffee. Thomas watches the way Goffredo hovers for a second longer when Aldo stands to speak, eyes briefly lingering.

Then comes the orange.

It is a long meeting in the Papal apartments. Rain flicks the high windows like impatient fingers. The Cardinals, the Holy Father, the inner circle—they’re all there. The table is heavy with old papers and heavier politics.

At the corner of the room, quietly, Goffredo peels an orange. His fingers move methodically, slicing the rind in a single winding coil. The scent lifts, soft and sweet.

He places a wedge of the fruit on Aldo’s open notebook, without a word, and continues peeling.

Aldo glances down once. Then, without interrupting his own sentence, picks up the slice and eats it. Calmly. Thoughtlessly. Like it had always been there.

Across the table, Vincent pauses in the middle of stirring his tea. His eyes slide toward Goffredo.

Goffredo doesn’t look up. He’s still peeling.

Raymond blinks. Giulio leans toward Thomas with a tiny smirk. No one says a thing.

Later, as the room clears and the meeting ends, Vincent lingers.

“You’ve chosen a peculiar form of diplomacy, Patriarch,” he says as he walks past Goffredo.

Goffredo only raises an eyebrow. “I don’t know what you mean, Holiness.”

Vincent smiles. “Of course not.”

Weeks pass. The orange becomes a ritual. So do the quiet kindnesses. Still no reaction from Aldo—no thanks, no glances, no changes in tone.

Until Goffredo misses a morning.

He is late—held up by a call from Venice. When he finally walks in, slightly breathless, the meeting is already underway.

Aldo, seated, does not turn. But there, resting beside his papers, is an orange. Half-peeled. Spiral cut. One wedge already eaten.

Goffredo stops in the doorway.

Thomas sees it. Giulio catches Goffredo’s expression and gently kicks Raymond under the table.

The Patriarch moves to his seat slowly.

Aldo doesn’t look at him. But as he turns the page in his file, his hand brushes lightly—just once—against Goffredo’s.

And for the first time in a very long while, Goffredo forgets how to breathe.

[agent-z-coding]

I HAVE FINALLY SUCCEEDED

IT WORKS!!! IT WORKS!!!!!

[4, 5, 4.3] -> add BECOMES 13.3!!!!!!!!!!

YOU PEOPLE I HAVE DONE IT

source code will be coming soon (as soon as i get more helper functions working.

For now, PLEASE contribute if you can. Even as little as suggesting some helper functions could help me a ton.

Contribute below:

Open a PR, An issue, Anything, Just mention what the language lacks and you don't even need to implement it yourself, I'll add it to the To-Do list and get working on it ASAP.

Join the discord server, I will be posting updates and asking for suggestions and providing beta builds: https://discord.gg/JxnKn9jd

[soapdispensersalesman]

Still the wildest find at the computer science section of the library:

same energy as this:

Computer science people fascinate me so much, what kind of things are going on inside the terminal?

(side note: this made me super excited about the next update of my saturation plugin)

The "software engineer to living off the grid in a cabin far away from society" pipeline needs to be studied:

What was the name of that former Gameloft employee again who now makes Instagram videos in a cabin in the middle of the woods?

[dreamdolldeveloper]

[yourdailyqueer]

Melanie Anne Phillips

Gender: Transgender woman

Sexuality: N/A

DOB: Born 1956  

Ethnicity: White - American

Occupation: Writer, software engineer, director, editor, screenwriter, producer

Note: Set up the first transgender community support site, produced VHS voice training tapes that focus on resonance rather than pitch, and became one of the most cited advisors on how to develop a female voice. 

[computer-nerd-girl]

[la-principessa-nuova]

Every high-performing software development team needs that one token neurotypical to do the boring tasks that have a high demand on executive function. 

[heart-ghost-studyblr]

"He is back and he is seeking revenge!!" That’s what one of my teammates said after we wrapped up a big performance upgrade on a server that was�� let’s say, not performing its best. Highs and lows, right? Complex, data-heavy, fast, reliable, and done for the best 'top dogs' in the game (me included).

And then another kind of thing... I was talking with a friend who’s been struggling to find a job in his field (he's studying management, which is a solid and common path). So, why not help a little bit? (That is what is in the image, do not call me a click baiter*)

I strongly believe that if you're struggling to get into any area, a nice way to present yourself is by having a page—it can be pure HTML/CSS or a cloned repo with some kind of "personal website template" using all the NodeJS you want.

Then, turn it into a DNS like "yourname-myprofession.com" so you can show a clean, well-designed QR Code with your avatar during interviews. It’s a cleanest way possible to present your résumé and experience. Tech skills are like magic, especially for those who haven't seen it before.

[higherentity]

[fullstackonion]

It's Definitely Love

**☀️ An Afternoon Ramble — End-of-Day Edition**

**One More Trip Around the Sun, and Still Rambling**

It’s been a good day. A fun one, actually.

There was cake (always a win), places were visited, memories were made, and time—somehow—kept ticking in the softest, kindest way. I aged a little today. Just a tiny plus-one in the grand adventure around the sun. And I got to spend it with people I love, and yes—my cats, too, who seemed particularly generous with their affection this morning. (Suspicious. But welcome.)

And now, before the day folds itself into quiet, as promised… I’m posting this final installment. The last little piece of the arc. A sort of *epilogue*, if you will.

I love that I can just post what I like here. That this space, in all its softness, lets me be honest. Lets me *breathe*. Lets me tuck my thoughts in among all the noise of the internet and say, “Hey, this made me feel something. Maybe it will for you, too.”

Maybe you don’t *really* care about what happened in my day—and that’s fair! But thank you for putting up with me anyway. For letting me ramble. For giving me room to be light and a little sentimental and maybe even a bit poetic when I’m feeling brave enough to let it show.

Anyway. Rambling. Sorry. (I warned you.)

This last post… it’s a quiet one. A winding-down kind of post. I found a bunch of cutie little pictures that felt just *right*—not perfect, but almost enough to match the feeling I was chasing while writing. Almost like the story wrapped itself around the pictures. Funny how that happens sometimes.

So here it is.

The final part.

I hope you like it as much as I enjoyed making it.

As always—thank you.

For reading. For being here. For letting me share.

Take what you want, if it speaks to you. I don’t mind.

All my love,

—T. 🤍

---

The Light We Carry

The apartment was quiet, save for the soft drip of coffee and the hush of morning rain against the Roman windowpanes. Aldo stood barefoot in the kitchen, sleeves rolled up, stirring a pot with one hand and holding a chipped espresso cup in the other.

It still didn’t feel real.

The night before played again in flashes—his hand on the doorknob, the way Goffredo looked at him, the way neither of them had to say anything before everything changed.

They had kissed. Again. And again. Until words folded under breath and the apartment, for the first time in years, felt like it had been built to house two.

Aldo smiled to himself, shaking his head.

The door buzzer broke the reverie.

He set down his cup, padded to the intercom, and pressed the button. “Come in.”

Moments later, the front door creaked open and Giulio’s voice rang through the apartment like a trumpet.

“You didn’t lock it. Bold.”

Raymond followed behind, carrying a bakery bag. “Don’t act surprised. He’s domesticated now.”

Giulio smirked as he stepped inside, scanning the space with casual mischief. “Smells like fresh coffee and sin. What did we miss?”

Before Aldo could answer, a door creaked down the hall.

And there he was—Goffredo Tedesco, emerging from the bedroom in rumpled black pajamas and bare feet, blinking against the light. His glasses were slightly crooked. Hair even more unruly than usual.

He said nothing.

Just crossed the room, straight to Aldo, and without a word, wrapped his arms around him.

“Wait—” Aldo whispered under his breath, eyes flicking nervously toward the door. “We have company—Goffredo—wait—”

But Goffredo wasn’t listening. He pressed a kiss to Aldo’s cheek, then his neck, then his shoulder—slow, deliberate, affectionate—half-asleep and entirely unconcerned.

“Buongiorno,” he murmured into Aldo’s collar.

A loud, deliberate ahem cut through the moment.

They both turned—

Just in time to see Goffredo freeze, lips still near Aldo’s collar.

“I told you,” Aldo whispered, barely containing his laughter. “We have company.”

Giulio stood with one eyebrow raised. “Don’t let us interrupt.”

Goffredo blinked. “I didn’t know you were here.”

Raymond was already pouring coffee. “Clearly.”

Aldo, red to the tips of his ears, gently untangled himself, though not without brushing his fingers against Goffredo’s hand before letting go.

Goffredo, now slightly more awake, straightened his glasses and muttered, “I thought I had more time before the teasing started.”

Giulio flopped onto the couch. “No, you’re just in love.”

Raymond handed him a mug. “Give him a break. They’re still in the honeymoon phase.”

Goffredo took the mug with a quiet laugh, then looked around at the cozy mess of breakfast prep, the open windows, the soft hum of a city waking up.

“Is this like... a thing?” he asked, gesturing vaguely—he meant the weekly breakfast at Aldo’s place.

Giulio leaned back. “It is now.”

Raymond added, “It always was, kind of.”

Thomas arrived just then, slightly breathless and juggling a paper bag and his phone. “Sorry—overslept. The rain—” He stopped short, sniffing the air. “Wait. Is that actual food?”

Giulio looked at him sideways, teasing. “So… spent the night at Vincent’s then?”

Thomas, distracted and typing something on his phone, barely looked up. “Yeah—he said it was too late to walk back in the rain, and honestly, I was already halfway asleep.”

Silence.

His fingers froze mid-text. He blinked. Looked up. “Wait—what?”

Giulio didn’t even flinch. “Because of the rain,” he said smoothly. “Seemed like a long walk back.”

Thomas hesitated. “He… insisted I stay. Said it was late.”

Aldo’s head turned slowly. “Vincent?”

Goffredo, sipping his coffee, lifted a brow. “Vincenzo?”

Thomas opened his mouth, closed it again, then finally sighed as a blush crept to his ears. “It’s... recent. I didn’t think anyone had noticed.”

“Oh, we noticed,” Giulio said smugly.

Raymond patted Thomas on the back, grinning. “Don’t worry. You're in good company.”

Aldo raised an eyebrow, still in amused disbelief. “Is everyone dating someone in the Curia?”

Thomas mumbled, “Apparently.”

Aldo shook his head, laughing. “I need stronger coffee.”

They all laughed—easy, warm, the kind that fills a room from the inside out.

Across the street, the bells of Santa Maria in Trastevere began to chime.
The day had only just begun.

[jujuthewulfpup]

I now know the devastating feelings of being laid off of work.

Mind racing.

Am I reasonably competitive in the current Software Engineer job market? Don’t think about that yet.

Oh noes, I’ll have to study for coding interviews *again*. No stop, wait until Monday. Do ANYTHING ELSE.

Cuddle stuffed animal. Hug husband. Call mom, dad, sister. Join their vacation coming up. Stick to good news. Play Minecraft. Fold laundry. Play Overwatch. Plan house decorations. Rewatch Spider-verse. Little things.

[drones-and-acid-rain]

thinking about going back to school (cheap online school like snhu that my educational benefit credit at work would fully cover)

looking for something that could easily allow me to pivot careers if necessary since the swe job market is so bad rn

masters in accounting is looking like my top choice right now because i would only need the accounting/business credits to be eligible to sit for the cpa exam in my state, and apparently there’s a huge shortage of cpas rn so i could maybe make bank?? plus im good with numbers and excel already

idk i just really miss studying

anybody have any other grad degree ideas? i have a bs in computer science and applied math already