Contrarian Tech Wisdom: Where Unix Philosophy Meets Modern Web
I've spent 18 years documenting why simple solutions beat complex frameworks. This site proves it with real examples, working code, and battle-tested strategies that save 90% of development costs.
📍 Start Here: The Contrarian Path
If you believe modern web development is broken, start with these paradigm-shifting reads:
1. Why We Rejected Unix's Foundation (And Pay The Price)
15 min2. WordPress vs. Modern Frameworks: The Velocity Gap
12 min3. Information Management Without Complex Tools
10 minNewer Writing
Recent essays and notes on AI, software and learning, on my AskRobots profile.
Make Me a Page: Talking to Software That Builds Itself
Jul 19, 2026The Missing Buckets: What Software Destroyed and Never Replaced
Jul 19, 2026Ask an AI about Dan's work · an AI assistant answering from my public writing, not me.
Just Published
Building DBBasic Framework
October 2025 • 18 min read
Ten published modules, real-world validation, and a philosophy that teaches while you build. The milestone and what's next.
Read article →Web Development's Greatest Tragedy
September 2025 • 15 min read
The $500K, 5-month approach vs. Unix's $5K, 5-day philosophy. Why we chose wrong.
Read article →The Broken Discovery Machine
May 2025 • 12 min read
Search engines and social media failed us. Here's why RSS and direct subscriptions are winning again.
Read article →Essential Resources
📸 Image Gallery
50+ images including accounting animals, architecture diagrams, and technical illustrations.
View Gallery📊 Information Management
Complete system for managing information overload using GTD principles.
Learn System🦫 Accounting Animals
Revolutionary visual approach to understanding accounting through nature.
ExploreRelated Projects
AskRobots.com
One terminal. 10+ AI models. Natural language interface for OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, Groq, and Mistral.
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Secure marketplace with smart escrow, reputation tracking, and "Code as Law" dispute resolution.
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Live stablecoin prices, peg watch, and regulatory news. Track the market and what the GENIUS Act means for it.
Visit SiteDBBasic
Small Python libraries for building sites on plain files: TSV storage, content, video, and pipes. This site runs on dbbasic-tsv.
View on GitHubConnection Directory
People whose work and thinking I value:
Dave Winer
Pioneer Blogger & RSS Creator
Father of blogging, RSS, podcasting, and outlining software. Continuously pushing the boundaries of open web publishing.
Scripting NewsDHH (David Heinemeier Hansson)
Creator of Ruby on Rails
Framework creator focusing on programmer happiness and sustainable development. Strong opinions on tech, business, and society.
HEY WorldTantek Çelik
IndieWeb & Microformats Co-founder
Web standards advocate, pioneering work on microformats and IndieWeb principles for personal data ownership.
tantek.comTom MacWright
Developer & Technical Writer
Thoughtful explorations of software development, mapping, and web technology with clarity and depth.
macwright.comRich Harris
Creator of Svelte
Rethinking reactive UI frameworks with compiler-driven approaches. Insightful perspectives on web development's future.
@Rich_HarrisRobin Sloan
Author & Media Inventor
Thoughtful explorations at the intersection of technology and humanities, experimenting with novel forms of digital media.
robinsloan.com