Ben Delarre

Wrangler of web app technology. Maker of things both physical and digital.

Last Notes

2026-03-02 15:39:53 UTC

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yup 100% this. The biggest danger to engineering careers right now isn't AI, it's business leaders who think AI can eliminate engineering.
The difference between unguided random production and the output from an experienced engineer with an LLM is stark. But what we're going to see in the short to mid term is many exec leaderships pushing to eliminate engineering orgs and that'll work kinda if average or below average output is sufficient which for many it might be?

2026-01-12 20:06:33 UTC

Just saw this from a friend and now I can't unsee it:
"I just had a weird thought. (LLM type) AI is a lot like torture, in that you'll get an answer that sounds plausible, but might not be true because the victim/AI will give whatever answer it thinks you want.
From now on I'm going to think of asking AI stuff like you're waterboarding a nerdy seven year old."
Stop the AI waterboarding!

2025-09-29 05:44:50 UTC

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I'm shocked and dismayed.
When I was a kid I joined a primary school that had 29 kids in its entire cohort. My parents were thanked for increasing the population by 10% when my two brothers followed.
That school wasn't equipped to teach all its pupils. Especially a precocious tech obsessed 8yr old like me. Between the solitary BBC Micro and the small library I gave myself an education beyond any they could have provided me.
Libraries are the 1st thing any school should have.

2025-09-26 16:38:45 UTC

Barely a week goes by without me using a device that requires WebUSB or WebSerial to use a web based flashing or configuration tool.
I am literally not exaggerating. Apple and Mozilla need to wake up and get on board. The privacy and security arguments against implementing these APIs are complete bullshit when you consider the alternative right now is installing a random executable native app from a small hardware vendor that likely doesn't even have signed binaries.

2025-09-02 20:20:48 UTC

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we have definitely seen performance impact of what I like to call "ShadowDOM Abuse" where folks make custom elements and associated shadow roots just for the sake of componentizing a pattern
People coming from React-land can have a hard time reasoning about the difference between a custom element and a template render function and when best to use each
This abuse of the component system can indeed lead to a massive explosion in nodes on a page and the performance tanks because of that

2025-09-02 15:11:31 UTC

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always teach fundamentals. Start framework less, teach html and css, move up to web components, sprinkle on libraries then discuss frameworks.
When you understand the basics, all frameworks are is conveniences. If you skip the foundational understanding of html and css and the browsers own component and scoping mechanisms you haven't taught your students to fish.

2025-08-19 00:31:41 UTC

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this is sadly not uncommon in my experience.
You basically can't get medical care in the US now without agreeing to binding arbitration.
It's bloody ridiculous, but then so is everything about the US healthcare system!

2025-07-04 13:04:33 UTC

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what needs to happen now is a general strike.
Maybe those of us benefiting from the tax cuts should be putting that money into a fund to keep those of us who aren't afloat when going through such a strike?
Of course such worker solidarity in the USA is unlikely to occur unfortunately.

2025-01-13 05:17:22 UTC

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ah I see, so the problem isn't web components as such, it's just that there's a lot of bad code out there and choosing pieces of it is hard. The lack of a good web components catalog continues to be a drawback for the community.
Not sure your specific requirements but there are plenty of other options that might be more suited:
https://image-compare-component.netlify.app/
Just drop elements into the slots as you see fit.

2025-01-10 19:50:20 UTC

I find myself looking for a new job.
I helped put Photoshop on the web, I built UI to fly the SpaceX Dragon capsule, and started the Spectrum Web Components project at Adobe which now powers a good chunk of Adobe web apps.
I focus on high performance, deep session web experiences, but am a strong Web Components and 'use the platform' advocate.
I've always said you can build any experience on the web platform and have spent my career proving that true.
What do you want help bringing to life?

2025-01-03 23:29:56 UTC

You know 2025 is off to a great start when you find out your general contractor hasn't been paying his sub contractors and your house is still unlivable, and he has taken most of the money for your job and apparently has 150k+ in outstanding debts with a number of other subcontractors and they all say they won't work with him again....
Can I just give up already?

2024-12-07 03:55:00 UTC

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The harder one to replace will be the Google photos integration on my android devices. Any recommendations for that?

2024-12-07 03:51:20 UTC

#google are tricking folks into leaving grandfathered Google One plans by offering free 7 day trials of their new AI tools and then refusing to allow users to revert to their previous plans even if they had months of active time left on their subscriptions, with no refunds.
Apparently this is fine because contract terms allow it. This is some #shadyshit and is the final straw for myself and my family.
Who's got good recommendations for email hosts?