These are just my notes.
Hey, I'm Jeff.
I'm an architectural lighting designer. I work at a large international architecture and engineering firm. My projects are mostly commercial and civic buildings, as well as parks, bridges, & environmental studies.
I'm 30. I've been doing this for almost 10 years now, including internships. I currently live in Las Vegas. I mostly work from home these days.
About 2 years ago, I started experimenting with building software.
Not in the traditional sense. I can't really write code. But with the help of Anthropic and others, I've been able to build things that previously would've been out of reach for someone like me.
The first thing I made was a web-based tool for luminance analysis on photography and physics-based renders — something actually useful but extremely niche in my day job. I didn't write a single line of code myself.
"Vibe-coding," as it were.
It wasn't smooth. Claude wasn’t nearly as good back then. But it was still magic.
Since then, the tools have gotten much better, and I've kept building and experimenting.
At first, it was mostly just small tools, internal workflows, automation for tedious steps. Nothing revolutionary. A lot of unglamorous glue that saves time and lets me focus on the parts of my work that require taste and judgment.
This website is just one of many experiments. And I’ve reimagined and rebuilt it many times.
Now, some experiments are growing into larger endeavors. I will post works in progress when possible.
It's strange how uneven it all feels. Individually, I can prototype a wild idea in one weekend. Institutionally, that same idea takes months (years) to review with the relevant teams.
The gap between what I can do on my own and what my role allows is wide, and I don't know what to do about that yet.
These experiments and prototypes have completely changed the way I think. I approach everything differently now.
I question the friction in processes that I used to accept. I think in terms of systems, larger and more nebulous than the building engineering systems that I typically work on.
I'm learning a lot about software development. Simultaneously, I feel like I know less than ever before. It is exhilarating and exhausting at the same time.
So, why this site?
-
This feels like a strange and consequential time. The tools and capabilities are moving faster than roles, rules, and shared understanding. I can feel an era ending and a new one starting, and I don't trust my memory to hold onto what this transition actually feels like.
-
Maybe it's just because I can now. A couple of years ago, I would dream about being able to build websites and custom software. But I didn’t have the time or energy to learn all of that from the ground up. Now, I build sites for fun and rebuild them regularly.
-
My wife and I are expecting our first baby any day now. And I guess I’ve just been feeling like I need to write some things down. That’s how I’ve always processed excitement and stress.
I'd like to post about the things I'm building, the things I'm learning, and whatever else is on my mind.
I'd like to post occasionally and honestly, not schedule-based or performative. I am not an influencer.
I don't have a clue where this all goes. The tech is evolving rapidly, and these tools might outrun me. I expect that some things will get easier while others get weirder.
What I do know is that this moment feels worth documenting. Not to explain the past, present, or future — just to share what it feels like while we watch it all change.
These are just my notes.