Zhenyi Tan

I make apps like Vinegar, Baking Soda, Web Inspector for iOS, Gibberish, Lucky, etc. Latest app: Catsup.

Public Key

npub1h2w5nrepjq4fsdk75xhr68wcjnj4qu24eu3fc3agya0ls9f0ng2qwcjzqt

NIP-05 Address

zhenyi@mastodon-social.mostr.pub

Profile Code

nprofile1qqst482f3useq25cxm02rt3arhvffe2sw92u7g5ug75zwhlcz5he59qpz4mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerfw36x7tnsw43qktagqj

Publishing to

relay.ditto.pub

Author Public Key

npub1h2w5nrepjq4fsdk75xhr68wcjnj4qu24eu3fc3agya0ls9f0ng2qwcjzqt

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Last Notes

2026-09-24 10:09:08 UTC

Catsup is a reusable grocery list. The whole point of the app is that you don’t want bought items to disappear. You want to slide a knob, go buy bread, then slide the knob back.
All the toggles, buttons, and even the separators are crappily hand-drawn. The font is my handwriting.
https://andadinosaur.com/launch-catsup
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/117/325/457/767/752/275/original/ab0af687ea755e9b.webp

2026-09-23 20:22:27 UTC

if I were to redesign social media I’d include a yikes button

2026-09-21 15:38:26 UTC

graphic design is my passion
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/117/309/774/229/621/916/original/9d061caae2d57c58.jpeg

2026-09-15 11:38:25 UTC

https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/117/274/856/855/404/357/original/6769c9e608901074.png

2026-07-31 16:33:53 UTC

I'm making a Safari extension that replaces Reddit's mobile web pages with a boring reader. Anyone interested?
Basically it's about making inaccessible pages readable again. No nagging to install the app. No login walls.
(Does anyone still use Reddit?)
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/117/015/552/373/941/621/original/a5bf6b4827ff04de.png

2026-06-15 06:11:02 UTC

Traps
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/752/636/978/048/933/original/1a4926c569b24868.png

2026-05-31 01:17:50 UTC

@nprofile…xf2f I don't understand anything about golf so sorry if I'm saying something stupid:
- Hard mode on vs off didn't make a big difference for me.
- The first 9 holes with hard mode on, the second half with hard mode off.
- Par 3 is arguably harder because if your first shot doesn't reach the light circle area, it's probably going to be a par (especially if the wind blows hard).
- THANK YOU FOR THE MOAI TEXT. (I play the game in silence mode on the toilet.)
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/666/549/366/323/607/original/f9a4b53561a33726.png

2026-05-20 23:43:11 UTC

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@nprofile…xf2f whaaaaaaat how many easter eggs did you hide

2026-05-20 22:40:53 UTC

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@nprofile…xf2f lol @ that speedy little cart 🤣
Edit: I just realized I can drag from anywhere on the screen
Edit 2: I found a 🗿!

2026-05-20 22:19:07 UTC

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@nprofile…xf2f real wind, ball curve, grass friction?? I'm going to be so bad at this game 😵‍💫

2026-05-20 22:05:22 UTC

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@nprofile…xf2f wait, the physics is different when it's wet? Of course it is, you are you

2026-05-20 21:57:24 UTC

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@nprofile…xf2f whoa are you going to have grass land, iced land, desert hill etc like Super Mario Bros 3 😅

2026-05-20 21:39:51 UTC

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@nprofile…xf2f totally random but I like the color scheme

2026-04-24 09:13:03 UTC

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@nprofile…xf2f and that's not even counting the apps you didn't ship! Like that mercari monitor app…

2026-04-24 08:56:59 UTC

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@nprofile…xf2f よかった! But you also launched 20+ mini apps at once. Nobody else does that 😬

2026-04-17 21:21:23 UTC

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@nprofile…xf2f I'm probably the last person to notice the pun in Mojibaker ��

2025-11-25 14:11:58 UTC

Tech industry: RAM and storage prices are insane these days!
Me, longtime Apple customer:
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/610/739/282/408/278/original/da14df1c67152189.jpeg

2025-10-21 08:06:27 UTC

Growing up took forever, but growing old feels instant.

2025-06-02 18:25:05 UTC

Technotes is now on TestFlight! It's a Safari extension that lets you add community notes (code examples, warnings, etc) to Apple's documentation website. It's pretty barebones right now, but if you're interested, give it a try:
https://technotesapp.com
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/615/156/131/127/494/original/e7f12d6bd24b5b21.png

2025-05-14 07:37:10 UTC

You want to create a website. You found a freelance shop in a developing country because you heard they work quickly and at a low cost. English is not their native language so your requirements are sometimes misinterpreted. When you give them feedback, it is also sometimes misinterpreted.
This is vibe coding.

2025-04-18 11:19:33 UTC

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@nprofile…6r7t Of course not. Back then software and games were sold on floppy disks, and they weren't updated, like, ever?
I think the idea that software has to be updated forever comes from the SaaS model. Since people are paying you money every month, you'd better keep "improving" the software every month.
(Usually, the "improvements" ended up being new ways to upsell you and enshittify the app, but that's another story.)

2025-04-02 14:30:06 UTC

1st image: A 30-year-old game recently rediscovered by @nprofile…6r7t.
2nd image: Some game UI generated by ChatGPT.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/268/839/177/402/010/original/fb295958db052d27.png
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/268/843/245/981/571/original/77b53d412ce05bc7.png

2024-12-27 20:23:37 UTC

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@nprofile…z6mv no, no. If Vinegar works (without Airplay), then you've set it up correctly. The issue is probably due to Safari Airplay being unreliable or YouTube being crappy

2024-12-27 18:09:01 UTC

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@nprofile…z6mv I didn't change anything 😬
(So AirPlay on Safari is still strange and unreliable)

2024-12-27 16:33:29 UTC

On the Gibberish server, I used AI to create a few shell scripts to manage UFW. (Because I never know how to write those awk-pipe-cut one-liners.)
One day, one of my scripts randomly stopped working. I later learned that when you have over 100 rules, UFW lists rule numbers below 100 with spaces, like [ 1], which the `awk {print $1}` in my script couldn't handle.
I could ask AI again to fix it, but what if it breaks in another, less obvious way? So I rewrote the script in Ruby. End of story.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/725/691/837/665/103/original/27b0eec27bc25d08.jpeg

2024-12-25 16:10:44 UTC

Why am I writing this on Christmas
https://mastodon.social/@zhenyiblog/113714301656052575

2024-12-24 07:57:19 UTC

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@nprofile…6r7t I tried that, but the TV app feels too complex for me. I couldn't figure out how to shuffle a list of videos, for example 😅

2024-12-23 15:10:41 UTC

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@nprofile…6ef9 adding image attachment and syncing to iCloud would be too much of a hassle 😬 I'll keep it in mind for future updates, though

2024-12-23 15:08:08 UTC

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@nprofile…z6mv if you can AirPlay a video to your TV with QuickTime Player, you should be able to do the same with Teleplayer

2024-12-23 15:00:34 UTC

Teleplayer is a video player with one main purpose: to AirPlay a list of videos to an Apple TV.
If you have a collection of TV shows, you can create your own personalized TV channel. If you have music videos, you can recreate the old MTV channel. Or you can turn your homemade videos into a screensaver to play when you aren’t watching anything.
https://andadinosaur.com/launch-teleplayer

2024-12-23 14:12:50 UTC

This restaurant ordering system could use some clearer phrasing…
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/702/544/768/768/437/original/62cb93e7eceb44f8.png

2024-12-22 11:41:05 UTC

Time for another stupid app idea
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/696/286/553/478/646/original/c860e2f647a0934b.png

2024-12-22 11:40:01 UTC

Stupid app icon teaser
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/696/269/435/426/140/original/bfec523e562f98da.png

2024-12-22 07:53:53 UTC

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@nprofile…ug2m yeah I tried writing some code to periodically click the button like to your bookmarklet. But the webpage became unusably slow after loading around 1000 items 😅

2024-12-21 20:33:31 UTC

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@nprofile…73lv
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/692/717/856/206/618/original/0166deecbcd8ac19.mp4

2024-12-21 19:55:20 UTC

My pet peeve: the GitHub Issues "load more" button.
For issues with 1000+ comments, you only see the latest 20 comments, then a "load more" button. The comments above the button are from a year ago, the comments below the button are recent and relevant.
Clicking the button loads 60 items at a time. From the top.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/692/566/301/263/753/original/7fadbd6652d36950.png

2024-12-19 04:04:45 UTC

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@nprofile…jq00 do you use any VPNs, proxies, or iCloud private relay?

2024-12-17 15:33:04 UTC

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@nprofile…kpzj they look more like water bears than bears 😬
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/668/886/583/870/621/original/cc55aeb754619ba9.jpeg

2024-12-17 15:22:57 UTC

Unrelated: I tried to log into my secondary Google account. It asked for my phone number to send me a verification code. I entered my phone number but didn't receive the text message. I tried again the next day, then it said, "Too many failed attempts. Try again in a few hours."
It's been like this for 2 days now. I still haven't received the text message.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/668/838/984/194/999/original/b909c070e0d6b2b8.png

2024-12-17 15:18:07 UTC

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Am I understanding this correctly? If you never publish an app (maybe you couldn't find the 12 active testers), they delete your account after one year. If your apps have fewer than 1,000 downloads, they delete your account after one year.
(You have to pay $25 to create a new developer account.)
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/668/819/568/286/484/original/29927e85bddb61f9.png

2024-12-17 12:27:29 UTC

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Malware creators will always find a way to get their apps published. This kind of approach only harms new indie developers.
Filing this under yet another reason why "the other side isn't any better":
https://mastodon.social/@zhenyi/113015577782089944

2024-12-17 12:25:12 UTC

Wait, what. So to publish an app on the Play Store, you need to find 12 people to join a closed test? (The screenshot says 20, but they later reduced it to 12.)
And the testers have to be "engaged" (whatever that means) with your app for 14 days in a row?
Only then can you apply for access to production, which takes 7 days to process?
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/668/147/422/907/985/original/914e71299cad4a5d.png
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/668/148/608/063/595/original/4572a6434f8a11a2.png

2024-12-16 16:34:50 UTC

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@nprofile…z5p5 yep, in the next update I'll make Vinegar ignore these AI-generated dubs when selecting the default audio.

2024-12-15 15:31:42 UTC

Fun fact: Since there are no chimneys in Singapore HDB flats, Santa Claus enters through the rubbish chute.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/657/556/205/173/193/original/ff09f47bde173c62.png
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/657/557/059/383/490/original/f55c837b3eab0f5b.jpeg

2024-12-14 13:18:41 UTC

> be in primary school
> ask your brother to help you play a game to beat your friends
> the next day, go to school and brag
> friends ask you to come to their house for a 1v1
> you say no
https://www.dexerto.com/gaming/elon-musk-kicked-from-path-of-exile-2-for-being-too-good-and-players-are-baffled-3007388/

2024-12-13 18:19:12 UTC

Oof.
https://moth.social/@mammoth/113646767601480718

2024-12-13 18:09:10 UTC

When a new social network tries to get you to give them your personal information
(Credit: Viakavish on YouTube)
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/646/846/252/670/343/original/521abf2229e03142.mp4

2024-12-13 11:41:43 UTC

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@nprofile…3avt thanks for the idea! But I don't like hashtags and almost never use them 😅

2024-12-13 09:41:23 UTC

I've decided to post my gibberish blog posts on a separate account so you don't get spammed if you don't want to see them.
(I might boost these posts occasionally, but you can turn off boosts if you prefer.)
https://mastodon.social/@zhenyiblog/113644703781876031

2024-12-13 07:18:09 UTC

Can we retire the "Make <noun> <adjective> again" slogans?

2024-12-12 11:02:14 UTC

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@nprofile…rf6t Is it Proxygen? Maybe change the price to something like $50 upfront and keep it in the App Store? I mean, Proxyman is $90…

2024-12-12 10:56:10 UTC

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@nprofile…rf6t ouch wtf

2024-12-11 14:09:38 UTC

So I've been looking at the getfedihired hashtag lately. It seems like some people use it to look for jobs, but there aren't that many actual job postings. Most of the posts are just bots linking to other websites.
(I'm wondering if it would be helpful to create a website to better organize these job postings.)

2024-12-09 06:48:54 UTC

The board of directors doesn't have the relevant knowledge. The shareholders don't have the relevant knowledge. The company is controlled by them.
https://www.fabricatedknowledge.com/p/the-death-of-intel-when-boards-fail

2024-12-09 02:49:26 UTC

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https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/620/585/759/051/448/original/73cdaa92bc5801fa.mp4

2024-12-09 02:41:22 UTC

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https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/620/553/661/355/124/original/df622277920b79ab.mp4

2024-12-09 02:27:21 UTC

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"How do you open a pod bay door?"
Ah, the age-old question! It might seem straightforward, but there are a few steps:
1. Stand in front of the door - The sensors will detect your presence.
2. Issue the command - Speak clearly and say, "Open the pod bay door."
3. Await confirmation - The onboard AI will acknowledge your command and proceed to open the door.
Where shall we head next, Dave? 🌌

2024-12-09 02:25:26 UTC

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"The door is still closed."
Ah, the pod bay door must be a bit stubborn today! Initiating override command...
**Beep boop beep!** Override successful.
_The pod bay door now opens with a satisfying whoosh._
There we go! All systems go. What's our next mission, Dave? 🚀

2024-12-09 02:24:49 UTC

"ChatGPT, open the pod bay door."
Aye, aye! Initiating the door-opening sequence... 🛸
**Beep boop!** Opening the hatch to space…
_The pod bay door slowly slides open, revealing the mesmerizing expanse of outer space. Stars glitter like diamonds against the dark canvas._
Anything else you need on this cosmic journey?

2024-12-08 03:24:41 UTC

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@nprofile…tnzn try setting the subtitle language to English instead of System Default in Vinegar's extension settings?

2024-12-07 14:56:45 UTC

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@nprofile…6ef9 I remember buying my own Threads browser app from the Mac App Store for testing. It became the number 1 top paid social app in my country after selling just 1 copy 🫠

2024-12-07 13:56:15 UTC

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@nprofile…hvrr Ah maybe that feature isn't available in Singapore

2024-12-07 13:48:47 UTC

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@nprofile…hvrr I just saw a bunch of games and some apps that aren't really app-of-the-day-worthy 😅
(Or maybe the app of the day selection is really that crappy…)
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/611/843/867/629/385/original/06301770785f1aad.mp4

2024-12-07 13:25:49 UTC

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@nprofile…hvrr I can see it if you link to it, but I don't think I've seen anything like carrot featured in the Today tab 🤷🏻‍♂️

2024-12-07 13:16:31 UTC

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@nprofile…hvrr Ah OK. I don't know why, but the Today tab in the Singapore App Store is almost all gacha games 😅

2024-12-07 11:29:44 UTC

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@nprofile…6r7t oh shit

2024-12-07 07:30:27 UTC

It looks like 7 years is the longest we've gone without a new App Store redesign. Maybe we're due for one
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/610/361/168/205/373/original/f67a7a6e86909831.png
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/610/361/471/072/140/original/92d86cc568f21a2d.png
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/610/361/724/714/022/original/2e82487c34ed6617.png
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/610/362/072/996/273/original/e5713fdd00ab64ad.png

2024-12-07 06:47:36 UTC

Apple redesigned the App Store in 2017. Now, 7 years later, are you still using the Today tab? Do you find it useful?
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/610/196/140/480/539/original/6b31656afcf89f19.mp4

2024-12-06 02:37:57 UTC

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@nprofile…xh94 🫂

2024-12-06 01:10:38 UTC

Some say let them keep using it, it helps identify the ignorant people. It's funny until the ignorant people outnumber you. And they each get one vote, just like you.
https://www.theverge.com/2024/12/5/24313222/chatgpt-pardon-biden-bush-esquire

2024-12-04 13:14:48 UTC

This meme is actually a good example of why feature checklists are pointless. Anyone can create a list to make their product look good
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/594/730/910/461/773/original/c23bc49d50c2f86a.jpg

2024-12-04 02:56:15 UTC

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@nprofile…k3c3 Unfortunately no. When you AirPlay from Safari to Apple TV, only the video stream is sent, and subtitles are not embedded in that stream. On your iPhone, subtitles are merged into the video by the video player, but Apple TV can't replicate this because it doesn't know how to request the external subtitles.

2024-12-03 12:09:46 UTC

This is how you #wrapwonton
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/588/815/346/885/467/original/db772773790da000.jpg

2024-12-03 12:03:12 UTC

This is how you #wrapwonton
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/588/784/808/796/713/original/418208439553438d.jpeg

2024-12-03 02:32:42 UTC

Draw Snake, Add Feet
https://zhenyi.gibber.blog/draw-snake-add-feet

2024-12-03 01:42:29 UTC

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"If Google had reacted quickly like Threads, they could've just copied the competitors' features and solved the problem."
"What competitor? Bing?"
"Yeah, I know. And that's the problem."

2024-12-03 00:32:44 UTC

I remember reading a Y Combinator post about startup ideas in late 200X. One of the ideas was about disrupting Google search. I laughed at the idea, thinking Google was undisruptable.
I never imagined that after almost 20 years, Google would be disrupted by becoming worse themselves, and by users switching to a less effective form of search.
https://mastodon.social/@daringfireball/113585785561986323

2024-11-28 22:09:36 UTC

I was reading about the snowstorm in Seoul and started to wonder, "Tokyo isn't so cold at this time of year, why is Seoul colder than Tokyo?" It turns out that one of the reasons is that Seoul is further north than Tokyo. 😅
(I've been misled because maps always make it look this way ↓)
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/562/861/144/228/896/original/fe288774e1013ca4.png

2024-11-28 21:36:32 UTC

Here's the secret to engagement farming on Bluesky: say "Bluesky good, Threads bad".

2024-11-28 12:07:28 UTC

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@nprofile…r94c
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/560/495/188/135/733/original/1bdfd22f58578d07.webp

2024-11-27 17:25:10 UTC

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Maybe it was always a ghost town, but now the cross posters have stopped

2024-11-27 17:23:57 UTC

My Threads following feed feels like a ghost town now.

2024-11-26 23:49:34 UTC

Techno-Juche
https://zhenyi.gibber.blog/techno-juche

2024-11-26 20:29:03 UTC

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@nprofile…v7q5 😅

2024-11-26 20:03:58 UTC

Dogfood Eater
https://zhenyi.gibber.blog/dogfood-eater

2024-11-25 20:11:46 UTC

Yes, yes. First you give the users what they want, THEN you enshittify
https://www.theverge.com/2024/11/25/24305690/threads-default-following-feed-test
https://mastodon.social/@zhenyi/113290635280465377

2024-11-24 20:44:08 UTC

I heard that they hired most of their people from outside the company, too
https://mastodon.social/@stroughtonsmith/113539850614201186

2024-11-24 11:30:49 UTC

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@nprofile…um7k Thank you so much for your kind words! Sounds like a cliche but it really means a lot to me.
Have a nice weekend too!

2024-11-23 15:06:23 UTC

Hundred Schools of Thought
https://zhenyi.gibber.blog/hundred-schools-of-thought

2024-11-22 22:37:54 UTC

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@nprofile…9ugl @nprofile…qu0a 🫠
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/528/995/939/838/523/original/20ed7b4cf9f4cd5f.png
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/528/998/390/699/570/original/db7a1785bedcca06.png

2024-11-21 16:47:51 UTC

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@nprofile…qu0a it's the former 😅

2024-11-21 16:38:49 UTC

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@nprofile…6ef9 I think it's based on my wallpaper. I have a boring wallpaper.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/521/925/905/662/021/original/50cfe909f29d8134.jpeg
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/521/926/121/576/903/original/898bb3c47d330a28.jpeg
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/521/926/213/043/802/original/f7f3f4cc69ee7257.jpeg

2024-11-21 15:56:18 UTC

https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/521/756/524/648/833/original/8e1f2525cedb5368.png
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/521/757/283/111/633/original/1ea0068d5e3c14b3.png
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/521/758/347/013/555/original/4c415b6de9da2313.png

2024-11-21 00:19:15 UTC

When "privacy-respecting" ads no longer make money, they will become privacy-disrespecting ads.
https://shapeof.com/archives/2024/11/apple_ads_and_trust_and_privacy.html

2024-11-19 12:14:45 UTC

The iOS screen distance feature is a good example of something that is made with good intentions and is clearly helpful, yet hardly anyone uses it (based on my anecdotes). So don't assume people will use your product even if your target audience knows it's beneficial for them.
(Maybe it would be better as a Dynamic Island notification.)
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/509/560/514/651/792/original/2d64870dea546e6b.png

2024-11-17 09:29:55 UTC

Dick-measuring contest
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/497/575/742/385/981/original/26dea552203fda0c.jpeg

2024-11-16 20:29:09 UTC

A good social network is one where you feel safe and welcomed. One where you don't need to delete your post after 10 minutes. One filled with kind and decent people.
Not the one with the most users.

2024-11-16 16:50:34 UTC

老子曰：五色令人目盲，五音令人耳聾

2024-11-16 16:48:18 UTC

An algorithmic timeline on social media encourages users to post engagement baits, which leads to increased engagement. Which reinforces the algorithm. Which leads to even more engagement baits. Which leads to even more engagement…

2024-11-14 13:03:59 UTC

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https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/481/442/168/611/013/original/f8dbeb4d52e409dc.mp4