2025 in Review

2025 was an exciting year for me.

Events §

Launched my blog

Starting a blog/personal website has been something that I have wanted to do for a long time. Books, blogs and podcasts have always been an intellectual escape. So, it feels natural for me to join those ranks. Writing has been more arduous than I would like to admit. I am still trying to find my voice. I haven't had a lot of time to develop my technical taste. It changes how I think about my audience. In that line of thought, writing is more for myself now than it is for others.

Started my second job

I started my second job as a software engineer. For non-technical people I work in industrial food automation and quality control. For software people, I work on embedded systems/robots that use computer vision to remove foreign material as well as grade and size food productss.

It's been a firehose, but I have leveled up as an engineer as a result. It's an ideal second job. Cutting my teeth on web dev for two years gave me a strong foundation in software tools and learning the environment. There are just some lessons you can't learn as a new software engineer This job feels like a natural progression in my growth.

Changed master's programs

One of the biggest changes was switching master's programs. I started a Masters of Computer Science at UVU last year. The biggest upside of the program was it being in-person. In fact, I connected with a classmate which directly led to me getting my current job. However, being in-person turned out to be exhausting. It was a huge pain balancing work and school. I ended up starting an online masters at Georgia Tech.

Georgia Tech has been a kick in the ass (it hasn't kicked my ass...yet). I am on the computing systems track and took Graduate Introduction to Operating Systems this Fall. It was a much needed injection of enthusiasm for my career. Surprisingly, it has been a very hands on course , which is my favorite way to learn.

Books Read §

Efficient Linux at the Command Line

I loved this book. You can read more about it here.

Unix: A History and a Memoir

I am a Brian Kernighan stan! This book was such a fun read. Brian is an original. His book is exemplary of a deeply fulfilling career. The man was on the groundfloor of some history and had the wherewithal to document it as it happened.

Software of Philosophy Design

This is a book that I think I will come back to a lot over my career. There is a lifetime of lessons here. In an industry where "it depends" kneecaps decision-making, John Ousterhout takes an opinionated approach to software design. My biggest takeway was to write code that requires the least mental overhead to understand.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep

This title is awesome! The book was the inspiration for Blade Runner. It follows a detective, Rick Deckard, who lives in a post-apocalyptic United States. In the ruins of San Francisco the most prized posssession you can have is a real life sheep instead of the ordinary electric ones.

Deckard's job is hunting replicants hiding in plain sight after escaping from Mars. His job is to track them down, test them on their emotional IQ (which is a replicant's tell) and then blow their brains out if they fail. It makes for some mind bending dialogue when Deckard begins to lose his grip. It's particularly prescient for our hazy AI reality. What really constitutes consciousness?

What's next §

This year was full of big changes! I am looking forward to a little more stability and knuckling down on school. I would say I rediscovered my love of reading this year. My wife got me a Kindle for my birthday which has been a game changer. That paired with the Libby app has made reading so convenient. I am pleased with what I have been able to contribute to my blog and there is much more in the pipeline for the coming year.