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Programming insights to Storytelling, it's all here.

Ibrahim Diallo

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2025

February

AGI is an Interface Problem

AGI is an Interface Problem

After deploying an AI customer service agent for a large client, the first thing I’d do was wait for customer feedback. Most customers never leave a review, or a Customer Satisfaction Score (CSAT), as it’s commonly known in the industry. But for a large enough client, it was only a matter of minutes before the first responses would roll in. Like clockwork, the initial feedback appeared.

Why Enterprise Software Sucks

Why Enterprise Software Sucks

Enterprise software exists in its own strange, dystopian economy. A parallel universe where the laws of quality, efficiency, and common sense are entirely optional. It’s not just about the software itself; it’s about the bizarre rituals and absurd pricing models that come with it. Let me walk you through the madness.

Step aside: Let AI do the talking

Step aside: Let AI do the talking

On Android, the takeover of SMS is almost complete. For the longest time, I resisted letting Google manage my messages. I don’t recall exactly when I gave in. Maybe it was during one of those countless pop-ups interrupting my conversations, prompting me to agree just so I could continue texting. Now, I get slick animations when someone “likes” a message, see real-time indicators when people are typing, and enjoy the perks of using the internet to send messages. Along with that, however, I get auto-generated replies.

Freedom after 25 years of hard work

Freedom after 25 years of hard work

One day, I was looking for my manager in the Luxury furniture store I used to work at. I needed help resolving an issue with an order. I found her in the office, both hands covering her face and shaking. I hesitated for a moment while her shoulders danced up and down. When I finally knocked on the opened door, she didn't even react. I walked a couple steps and she was startled. She grabbed a tissue from her desk and wiped her eyes and nose. Her eyes were still blood red and dark. She had been crying. Before I could ask anything related to the help I needed, she said. "I'm leaving."

I downloaded 23MB on dial-up

I downloaded 23MB on dial-up

Before hopping on the computer, I went to see my mother with a well rehearsed speech. She was in the living room, talking on the wall phone balancing it on a shoulder while watching TV. I sat down beside her, rehearsing my speech in my head while waiting for her call to end. She noticed me fidgeting.

The book that didn’t change my life

The book that didn’t change my life

When I was a kid, my sister came home with a book she claimed could give you superpowers. People said that after reading it, they could levitate. I had no idea what that meant, but I was sold. The book was Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins.

Tell Me Why Your Method Is Better

Tell Me Why Your Method Is Better

As a manager, if I propose a solution and someone on the team has a better way, all they need to do is defend their method, and we’ll use it.

What's the Point of Playing?

What's the Point of Playing?

When the pandemic was in full force, my kids were at the perfect age to love the playground. Other parents stood at a distance, armed with Lysol wipes and full COVID gear, watching and waiting for their turn. I, on the other hand, hovered protectively over my kids like a human bubble. The unspoken rule was clear: the sight of another parent approaching the playground was our cue to leave. Looking back, my kids barely got to enjoy the playground during those years.

Seniority

Seniority

In some jobs, your superior is the person who knows how to do your job better than you do. They’ve spent years honing their skills, mastering the nuances of the work, and rising through the ranks. Eventually, they are promoted to leadership roles, where their expertise guides the rest of the team to perform at their best. This model of seniority, where experience and skill in the task itself are paramount, is common and highly effective in many professions.

January

How Much Do I Need to Know to Answer Your Question?

How Much Do I Need to Know to Answer Your Question?

After reading thousands of Stack Overflow questions, I've come to a conclusion: people don't provide the necessary details to get their questions answered effectively. This is a recurring problem, not just on forums but in any situation where someone seeks help. To get a useful answer, you need to include all the relevant variables, and just as importantly, filter out the irrelevant ones.

JS Tip of the day

Using a progress bar to load assets

It's inevitable. Images take a longer time to load then anything else on your page. If you are trying to load an image gallery for example, you have to give the…

Photography