Matthew Lang avatar

Matthew Lang

Family guy and web developer

Learning Log

What I'm trying, what I've come to rely on, and what I've let go of. Each entry keeps its own history, so you can see how things move over time.

Recent moves

  1. Dropped VS Code

    Zed replaced it for my own projects.

  2. Dropped Three.js

    A good framework, but I'm going to explore alternatives to see what's different.

  3. Dropped GitLens

    Now that I'm using Zed at home, I no longer use the plugin.

  4. Dropped Conventional Commits

    A good format, but overkill for individual use. I'd rather write loose commit messages.

  5. Started trying Hanami

  6. Started using GitLab

    Moved from SourceHut.

Full change log

  1. Dropped SourceHut

    SourceHut updated its terms to say LLMs weren't to be used in repositories. Unsure how that would affect my projects, I switched to GitLab.

  2. Started using QuickReads

    Replaced Instapaper.

  3. Dropped Instapaper

    Replaced by QuickReads, as I wanted to support an indie developer.

  4. Started using LLM wiki pattern

  5. Moved Fastmail to Using

    Fully moved over.

  6. Dropped Todoist

    I became frustrated with it and moved to bullet journaling.

  7. Dropped Reeder

    Replaced by NetNewsWire.

  8. Started using NetNewsWire

    Replaced Reeder.

  9. Dropped Hey

    Moved my email to Fastmail.

  10. Started trying Fastmail

    Started moving my email over from Hey.

  11. Dropped Bear

    Moved fully to Obsidian and the LLM wiki pattern.

  12. Started using Kobo Clara BW

  13. Dropped Kindle Paperwhite

    Moving out of the Amazon ecosystem.

  14. Started using SourceHut

    Moved from GitHub.

  15. Dropped GitHub

    I wanted a different forge from GitHub, which led me to SourceHut.

  16. Moved Zed to Using

    Became my main editor.

  17. Started trying Zed

    A good alternative to VS Code.

  18. Started using VS Code

  19. Started trying Three.js

  20. Started using Test-driven development

  21. Started using Shape Up

  22. Started using Ruby VIPS

  23. Started using Hatchbox

  24. Started trying GitLens

  25. Started using Ghostty

  26. Started using Docker

  27. Started trying Conventional Commits

  28. Started using Claude Code

  29. Started using AWS

  30. Dropped Pocket Casts

    Went back to Overcast.

  31. Went back to Overcast

    Overcast is the better podcast player in my eyes.

  32. Started using Bullet journaling

  33. Started using Obsidian

  34. Started using AI pair coding

  35. Started using Tailwind CSS

  36. Started using Dash/Plus logging

  37. Started using Pocket Casts

    Switched from Overcast.

  38. Dropped Overcast

    Switched to Pocket Casts.

  39. Started using Bear

  40. Started using Hey

  41. Started using DigitalOcean

  42. Started using Jekyll

  43. Started using Reeder

  44. Started using Todoist

  45. Started using Overcast

  46. Started using Ruby

  47. Started using Ruby on Rails

  48. Started using Instapaper

  49. Started using Kindle Paperwhite

  50. Started using GitHub

Trying

Things I'm actively learning or testing on real work. Aiming for 3 at most.

Using

The 4 latest of the 25 things I use day to day.

  • GitLab Since Sep 2026

    My code forge.

    Tools

  • QuickReads Since Jul 2026

    My read-it-later app, made by an indie developer I wanted to support.

    Tools

  • LLM wiki pattern Since Jan 2026

    Karpathy's wiki pattern has transformed how I manage notes. The LLM handles organisation, indexing and summaries; I just provide the information.

    Techniques

  • Fastmail Since Jan 2026

    My email, after leaving Hey.

    History
    1. Started trying. Started moving my email over from Hey.
    2. Moved to Using. Fully moved over.

    Tools

See everything I use →

Dropped

The 4 most recent of the 13 things I've tried or relied on and moved on from, and why.

  • VS Code 2025–2026

    Zed replaced it for my own projects.

    Tools

  • Three.js 2025–2026

    A good framework, but I'm going to explore alternatives to see what's different.

    Languages

  • GitLens 2025–2026

    Now that I'm using Zed at home, I no longer use the plugin.

    Tools

  • Conventional Commits 2025–2026

    A good format, but overkill for individual use. I'd rather write loose commit messages.

    Techniques

Show 9 more
  • SourceHut 2025–2026

    SourceHut updated its terms to say LLMs weren't to be used in repositories. Unsure how that would affect my projects, I switched to GitLab.

    Tools

  • Instapaper 2014–2026

    Replaced by QuickReads, as I wanted to support an indie developer.

    Tools

  • Todoist 2014–2025

    I became frustrated with it and moved to bullet journaling.

    Tools

  • Reeder 2015–2025

    Replaced by NetNewsWire.

    Tools

  • Hey 2020–2025

    Moved my email to Fastmail.

    Tools

  • Bear 2022–2025

    Moved fully to Obsidian and the LLM wiki pattern.

    Tools

  • Kindle Paperwhite 2012–2025

    Moving out of the Amazon ecosystem.

    Tools

  • GitHub 2008–2025

    I wanted a different forge from GitHub, which led me to SourceHut.

    Tools

  • Pocket Casts 2022–2024

    Went back to Overcast.

    Tools