urn:einarwh-no:feed2026-02-02T13:45:00+01:00einarwhAsk yourself if they could already know2026-02-02T13:45:00+01:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2026%2F02%2Fask-yourself%2F<div><div><p>I propose a radical new heuristic to be applied before replying to things online: ask yourself if the original poster could already know.</p>
</div><p><a href="/blog/2026/02/ask-yourself/">Read blog post</a></p></div>The problem of the pages2025-10-13T19:30:00+02:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2025%2F10%2F13%2Fthe-problem-of-the-pages%2F<div><div><p>Book clubs are great in theory, but they’re hard to do in practice. The reason is simple: they don’t make the problem of having to read the book go away.</p>
</div><p><a href="/blog/2025/10/13/the-problem-of-the-pages/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Nullable vs nullable in C#2025-08-25T19:30:00+02:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2025%2F08%2F25%2Fnullable-vs-nullable%2F<div><div><p>In C#, nullable means something very different for reference types and value types, but the syntax is the same for both. That’s bound to lead to problems.</p>
</div><p><a href="/blog/2025/08/25/nullable-vs-nullable/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Disentangling intertwingled magicks in ASP.NET Core Web APIs2025-08-15T21:00:00+02:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2025%2F08%2F15%2Fdisentangling-magicks%2F<div><div><p>The typical ASP.NET Core Web API relies heavily on at least two kinds of “magick”: model binding and generation of OpenAPI documents. They are joined at the hip through C# type declarations, which are the sources of OpenAPI schemas and the targets of model binding. In this blog post, I take a look at the gotchas and caveats and shortcomings of this arrangement.</p>
</div><p><a href="/blog/2025/08/15/disentangling-magicks/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Book heuristics2025-06-20T21:00:00+02:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2025%2F06%2F20%2Fbook-heuristics%2F<div><div><p>You can’t read every book. Which ones can you safely ignore? This blog post contains a handful of heuristics for dodging boring books and finding something interesting to read.</p>
</div><p><a href="/blog/2025/06/20/book-heuristics/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Socio-technical is a big word2025-06-16T21:00:00+02:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2025%2F06%2F16%2Fsociotechnical-is-a-big-word%2F<div><div><p>When someone uses a big word like socio-technical, you would think it would be a starting point for discussing interconnectedness, adaptivity, non-linearity and emergence in those systems. Alas,</p>
</div><p><a href="/blog/2025/06/16/sociotechnical-is-a-big-word/">Read blog post</a></p></div>What's a tomato?2025-05-11T21:00:00+02:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2025%2F05%2F11%2Fwhats-a-tomato%2F<div><div><p>Sometimes a tomato is just a tomato. Most times even. When is a tomato not just a tomato? Almost never.</p>
</div><p><a href="/blog/2025/05/11/whats-a-tomato/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Socio-technical API patterns2025-04-28T16:17:00+02:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2025%2F04%2F28%2Fsociotechnical-api-patterns%2F<div><div><p>When we connect software systems through APIs, we also connect the people who work on those systems. Socio-technical forces tend to favor certain patterns of relationships between provider and consumer. This blog post describes four patterns that I have observed many times in my career: The Millstone, The Mountain (or the Volcano), The Rapids (with or without Beaver Dams) and The Sock Puppet.</p>
</div><p><a href="/blog/2025/04/28/sociotechnical-api-patterns/">Read blog post</a></p></div>The banana test for AI-generated artifacts2024-10-03T12:33:00+02:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2024%2F10%2F03%2Fthe-banana-test-for-ai-generated-artifacts%2F<div><div><p>The banana test is a simple heuristic to distinguish gimmicks from lasting value.</p>
</div><p><a href="/blog/2024/10/03/the-banana-test-for-ai-generated-artifacts/">Read blog post</a></p></div>The AI puppet dance2024-01-12T17:08:00+01:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2024%2F01%2F12%2Fthe-ai-puppet-dance%2F<div><div><p>What’s the opportunity cost of being swept up in hype?</p>
</div><p><a href="/blog/2024/01/12/the-ai-puppet-dance/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Inspirational math2023-05-20T11:09:00+02:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2023%2F05%2F20%2Finspirational-math%2F<div><div><p>A few words about self-help math.</p>
</div><p><a href="/blog/2023/05/20/inspirational-math/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Drift into debt2023-04-25T17:01:00+02:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2023%2F04%2F25%2Fdrift-into-debt%2F<div><div><p>The passing of time is the greatest unsolved problem in software. Technical debt is not an option, it is the inevitable by-product of change and inertia. Over time, we will drift into debt.</p>
</div><p><a href="/blog/2023/04/25/drift-into-debt/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Don't settle for a playground2023-03-29T18:39:00+02:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2023%2F03%2F29%2Fdont-settle-for-a-playground%2F<div><div><p>What is autonomy for a software team? What do we want it for? Do we really want it?</p>
</div><p><a href="/blog/2023/03/29/dont-settle-for-a-playground/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Dragging a dead priest: programs and programmers in time2023-02-05T10:39:00+01:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2023%2F02%2F05%2Fdragging-a-dead-priest-programs-and-programmers-in-time%2F<div><div><p>Code, alas, is dead. It falls upon the poor programmers to make it appear to be alive.</p>
</div><p><a href="/blog/2023/02/05/dragging-a-dead-priest-programs-and-programmers-in-time/">Read blog post</a></p></div>NO! Programming as other2021-04-18T19:45:00+02:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2021%2F04%2F18%2Fno-programming-as-other%2F<div><div><p>Let’s never discuss if programming is art or science again.</p>
</div><p><a href="/blog/2021/04/18/no-programming-as-other/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Programmer vs developer2021-02-11T15:31:00+01:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2021%2F02%2F11%2Fprogrammer-vs-developer%2F<div><div><p>I am coming to terms with being a programmer.</p>
</div><p><a href="/blog/2021/02/11/programmer-vs-developer/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Multiselfing2020-11-25T12:00:00+01:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2020%2F11%2F25%2Fmultiselfing%2F<div><div><p>On identity and context-switching during the pandemic.</p>
</div><p><a href="/blog/2020/11/25/multiselfing/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Conway's mob2020-09-05T16:57:00+02:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2020%2F09%2F15%2Fconways-mob%2F<div><div><p>How and why intra-team mobs can help fight the rigidity of many software organizations and their code.</p>
</div><p><a href="/blog/2020/09/15/conways-mob/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Into the tar pit2020-05-19T22:30:00+02:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2020%2F05%2F19%2Finto-the-tar-pit%2F<div><div><p>A critique of “Out of the Tar Pit”.</p>
</div><p><a href="/blog/2020/05/19/into-the-tar-pit/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Proper JSON and property bags2020-05-13T17:50:00+02:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2020%2F05%2F13%2Fproper-json-and-property-bags%2F<div><div><p>JSON data can be represented in many different ways in a .NET application (e.g. explicit JSON model, JSON-friendly DTOs and plain old dictionaries). Each representation has their own characteristics in terms of flexibility, readability and verbosity. In this blog post I look at the trade-offs involved and make some recommendations.</p>
</div><p><a href="/blog/2020/05/13/proper-json-and-property-bags/">Read blog post</a></p></div>On the complexity of JSON serialization2020-05-08T16:04:00+02:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2020%2F05%2F08%2Fon-the-complexity-of-json-serialization%2F<div><div><p>We’ve messed up JSON serialization in .NET. In an effort to make it easy and magical, we have turned something simple into something complicated and error-prone. To fix it, we must get rid of accidental complexity and let the serialization process be as simple and stupid as possible.</p>
</div><p><a href="/blog/2020/05/08/on-the-complexity-of-json-serialization/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Death of a craftsman2020-04-05T11:24:00+02:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2020%2F04%2F05%2Fdeath-of-a-craftsman%2F<div><div><p>A description of my identity crisis as a programmer, why I’ve rejected craftsmanship and crafting, and what I think we should do instead.</p>
</div><p><a href="/blog/2020/04/05/death-of-a-craftsman/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Function application in la-la land2017-10-11T21:06:00+02:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2017%2F10%2F11%2Ffunction-application-in-la-la-land%2F<div><div><p>The world of programming contains realms of strange values for things that may happen or may have happened, collections of things, things that may or may not be things, and so forth. How do you work with such values in a uniform way?</p>
</div><p><a href="/blog/2017/10/11/function-application-in-la-la-land/">Read blog post</a></p></div>How to reduce bunches of things2017-10-05T23:01:00+02:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2017%2F10%2F05%2Fhow-to-reduce-bunches-of-things%2F<div><div><p>What does adding or multiplying integers, concatenating strings, appending lists and composing functions have in common?</p>
</div><p><a href="/blog/2017/10/05/how-to-reduce-bunches-of-things/">Read blog post</a></p></div>LINQ to Nullable2017-09-27T22:38:00+02:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2017%2F09%2F27%2Flinq-to-nullable%2F<div><div><p>What does it take to enable LINQ syntax for Nullable? I consult the C# specification and write some unusual code.</p>
</div><p><a href="/blog/2017/09/27/linq-to-nullable/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Picture combinators and recursive fish2017-07-22T07:24:00+02:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2017%2F07%2F22%2Fpicture-combinators-and-recursive-fish%2F<div><div><p>An implementation of Peter Henderson’s Functional Geometry in F#, with a step-by-step guide to make an SVG reproduction of Escher’s Square Limit.</p>
</div><p><a href="/blog/2017/07/22/picture-combinators-and-recursive-fish/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Donkey code2017-01-21T11:12:00+01:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2017%2F01%2F21%2Fdonkey-code%2F<div><div><p>A fable about how code quickly can deteriorate under new requirements if we don’t have a conceptual model with the right abstractions to express both new and old requirements.</p>
</div><p><a href="/blog/2017/01/21/donkey-code/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Something for nothing2017-01-17T21:35:00+01:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2017%2F01%2F17%2Fsomething-for-nothing%2F<div><div><p>The problem with null.</p>
</div><p><a href="/blog/2017/01/17/something-for-nothing/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Pragmatism is poison2016-03-16T07:14:00+01:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2016%2F03%2F10%2Fpragmatism-is-poison%2F<div><div><p>Appeal to pragmatism is a logical fallacy. We should make better arguments.</p>
</div><p><a href="/blog/2016/03/10/pragmatism-is-poison/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Strings with assumptions2016-01-29T23:23:00+01:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2016%2F01%2F29%2Fstrings-with-assumptions%2F<div><div><p>A string in a program is never just a string. There are always assumptions about what kind of string it’s going to be.</p>
</div><p><a href="/blog/2016/01/29/strings-with-assumptions/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Technical debt isn't technical2015-12-05T22:29:00+01:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2015%2F12%2F05%2Ftechnical-debt-isnt-technical%2F<div><div><p>Technical debt is a symptom.</p>
</div><p><a href="/blog/2015/12/05/technical-debt-isnt-technical/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Thinging names2015-05-10T21:09:00+02:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2015%2F05%2F10%2Fthinging-names%2F<div><div><p>We’ve got it backwards when we say that “naming things is hard”. The problem isn’t naming, the problem is in coming up with the right things to name.</p>
</div><p><a href="/blog/2015/05/10/thinging-names/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Diamond mirrors2015-02-10T22:13:00+01:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2015%2F02%2F10%2Fdiamond-mirrors%2F<div><div><p>An implementation of the Diamond code kata in F#.</p>
</div><p><a href="/blog/2015/02/10/diamond-mirrors/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Aspects without aspects2014-07-05T09:51:00+02:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2014%2F07%2F05%2Faspects-without-aspects%2F<div><div><p>Using extension methods in C# to implement a poor man’s version of aspect-oriented programming.</p>
</div><p><a href="/blog/2014/07/05/aspects-without-aspects/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Rethrow recoil2014-06-30T15:48:00+02:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2014%2F06%2F30%2Frethrow-recoil%2F<div><div><p>Fixing an issue with rethrows in the approach described in the previous blog post.</p>
</div><p><a href="/blog/2014/06/30/rethrow-recoil/">Read blog post</a></p></div>LINQ to Exceptions2014-06-28T20:04:00+02:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2014%2F06%2F28%2Flinq-to-exceptions%2F<div><div><p>A way to attach and compose exception handling blocks to Funcs using extension methods.</p>
</div><p><a href="/blog/2014/06/28/linq-to-exceptions/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Another wild tail chase2013-12-19T08:42:00+01:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2013%2F12%2F19%2Fanother-wild-tail-chase%2F<div><div></div><p><a href="/blog/2013/12/19/another-wild-tail-chase/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Chasing your tail with bytecode manipulation2013-11-05T17:12:00+01:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2013%2F11%2F05%2Fchasing-your-tail-with-bytecode-manipulation%2F<div><div></div><p><a href="/blog/2013/11/05/chasing-your-tail-with-bytecode-manipulation/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Shrink-wrapped Mkay2013-03-05T20:45:00+01:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2013%2F03%2F05%2Fshrink-wrapped-mkay%2F<div><div></div><p><a href="/blog/2013/03/05/shrink-wrapped-mkay/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Self-referential validation in Mkay2013-02-22T21:16:00+01:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2013%2F02%2F22%2Fself-referential-validation-in-mkay%2F<div><div></div><p><a href="/blog/2013/02/22/self-referential-validation-in-mkay/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Mkay: One validation attribute to rule them all2013-02-15T12:07:00+01:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2013%2F02%2F15%2Fmkay-one-validation-attribute-to-rule-them-all%2F<div><div></div><p><a href="/blog/2013/02/15/mkay-one-validation-attribute-to-rule-them-all/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Yes, it's an animated Hama bead Larry2012-11-01T12:35:00+01:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2012%2F11%2F01%2Fyes-its-an-animated-hama-bead-larry%2F<div><div></div><p><a href="/blog/2012/11/01/yes-its-an-animated-hama-bead-larry/">Read blog post</a></p></div>The hawk and the tower2012-08-24T16:44:00+02:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2012%2F08%2F24%2Fthe-hawk-and-the-tower%2F<div><div></div><p><a href="/blog/2012/08/24/the-hawk-and-the-tower/">Read blog post</a></p></div>To Knuth or not to Knuth2012-07-08T22:44:00+02:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2012%2F07%2F08%2Fto-knuth-or-not-to-knuth%2F<div><div></div><p><a href="/blog/2012/07/08/to-knuth-or-not-to-knuth/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Strings dressed in nested tags2012-06-20T20:53:00+02:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2012%2F06%2F20%2Fstrings-dressed-in-nested-tags%2F<div><div></div><p><a href="/blog/2012/06/20/strings-dressed-in-nested-tags/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Strings dressed in tags2012-06-20T15:43:00+02:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2012%2F06%2F20%2Fstrings-dressed-in-tags%2F<div><div></div><p><a href="/blog/2012/06/20/strings-dressed-in-tags/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Introducing μnit2012-06-15T08:14:00+02:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2012%2F06%2F15%2Fintroducing-mjunit%2F<div><div></div><p><a href="/blog/2012/06/15/introducing-mjunit/">Read blog post</a></p></div>A property with a view2012-05-01T21:29:00+02:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2012%2F05%2F01%2Fa-property-with-a-view%2F<div><div></div><p><a href="/blog/2012/05/01/a-property-with-a-view/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Recursion for kids2012-01-19T14:15:00+01:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2012%2F01%2F19%2Frecursion-for-kids%2F<div><div></div><p><a href="/blog/2012/01/19/recursion-for-kids/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Pix-it curling2011-11-07T21:36:00+01:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2011%2F11%2F07%2Fpix-it-curling%2F<div><div></div><p><a href="/blog/2011/11/07/pix-it-curling/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Bix-it: pix-it in the browser2011-11-06T20:12:00+01:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2011%2F11%2F06%2Fbix-it-pix-it-in-the-browser%2F<div><div></div><p><a href="/blog/2011/11/06/bix-it-pix-it-in-the-browser/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Pix-it war!2011-11-04T21:27:00+01:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2011%2F11%2F04%2Fpix-it-war%2F<div><div></div><p><a href="/blog/2011/11/04/pix-it-war/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Optimus Prime2011-10-05T23:00:00+02:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2011%2F10%2F05%2Foptimus-prime%2F<div><div></div><p><a href="/blog/2011/10/05/optimus-prime/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Launch as admin2011-09-27T17:17:00+02:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2011%2F09%2F27%2Flaunch-as-admin%2F<div><div></div><p><a href="/blog/2011/09/27/launch-as-admin/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Telepathic computer control with Launchy2011-09-25T22:32:00+02:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2011%2F09%2F25%2Ftelepathic-computer-control-with-launchy%2F<div><div></div><p><a href="/blog/2011/09/25/telepathic-computer-control-with-launchy/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Dry data2011-06-20T19:17:00+02:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2011%2F06%2F20%2Fdry-data%2F<div><div></div><p><a href="/blog/2011/06/20/dry-data/">Read blog post</a></p></div>UTC now!2011-05-26T19:22:00+02:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2011%2F05%2F26%2Futc-now%2F<div><div></div><p><a href="/blog/2011/05/26/utc-now/">Read blog post</a></p></div>The indispensable IDisposable2011-05-12T21:46:00+02:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2011%2F05%2F12%2Fthe-indispensible-idisposable%2F<div><div></div><p><a href="/blog/2011/05/12/the-indispensible-idisposable/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Enumerating enumerables2011-05-07T17:09:00+02:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2011%2F05%2F07%2Fenumerating-enumerables%2F<div><div></div><p><a href="/blog/2011/05/07/enumerating-enumerables/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Patching polymorphic pain at runtime2011-04-28T17:40:00+02:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2011%2F04%2F28%2Fpatching-polymorphic-pain-at-runtime%2F<div><div></div><p><a href="/blog/2011/04/28/patching-polymorphic-pain-at-runtime/">Read blog post</a></p></div>Polymorphic pain in ASP.NET data binding2011-04-17T17:48:00+02:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2011%2F04%2F17%2Fpolymorphic-pain-in-aspnet-data-binding%2F<div><div></div><p><a href="/blog/2011/04/17/polymorphic-pain-in-aspnet-data-binding/">Read blog post</a></p></div>A simple LRU cache2011-04-13T21:08:00+02:00Einar W. Høsturn:einarwh-no:feed:post:%2Fblog%2F2011%2F04%2F13%2Fa-simple-lru-cache%2F<div><div></div><p><a href="/blog/2011/04/13/a-simple-lru-cache/">Read blog post</a></p></div>