Clean GA4 for TanStack Router
A tiny, type-safe Google Analytics integration for TanStack Router and TanStack Start with automatic page views, typed GA4 helpers, and clean SSR-friendly setup.
Ben Houston • March 17, 2026
Posts tagged: ai
Zstdify: Pure TypeScript Zstd
Today, I built a pure-TypeScript Zstandard implementation (library + CLI + dictionary training + interop tests) in just 4 hours using OpenAI Codex 5.3.
Ben Houston • February 20, 2026
Origins of Exocortex
The story of how I coined the term "exocortex" in 1999 to describe a synthetic cognitive regulator - a technological layer that participates in the brain's regulatory hierarchy rather than merely extending its output.
Ben Houston • November 28, 2025
From Agents to Intent
AI coding agents are great at greenfield tasks -- but struggle to maintain or modify existing systems. The problem isn’t the model. It’s the paradigm. This essay makes the case for intent-based programming: a shift from task-driven implementation to declarative specification, powered by systems like Declary.
Ben Houston • May 5, 2025
Generic Builder
The Generic Builder is a configurable meta‑builder that creates specialized builders on demand, solving the chicken‑and‑egg problem of intent‑based toolkits. This essay explains its design, the router agent, and a chat‑driven workflow that bridges conversational intent with structured files.
Ben Houston • May 5, 2025
Recursive Intent
Recursive generation allows intent-based programming toolkits to ingest their own outputs and build entire applications from minimal specifications. This essay explores how recursive intent turns code generation into a compiler-like pipeline that scales small prompts into structured systems.
Ben Houston • May 1, 2025
Sufficient Specifications
Traditional specifications failed because they required exhaustive detail. With LLMs, we can now embrace "Sufficient Specification" - providing just enough intent to guide generation without drowning in details. Learn how iterative specification specificity and generator patterns make intent-based programming practical for the first time.
Ben Houston • May 1, 2025
Crafting READMEs for AI
Optimize your README.md files to empower both human developers and AI coding assistants alike.
Ben Houston • March 28, 2025
The Rise of "Test Theater"
AI coding assistants are excellent at generating tests with high coverage. But there is often a critical problem: they are testing that code behaves as written, not as intended. This "Test Theater" creates a dangerous illusion of quality while providing almost no real protection against bugs.
Ben Houston • March 25, 2025
Minimal Agentic Coder
Exploring the simplest possible implementation of an agentic coder using just 200 lines of TypeScript, demonstrating foundational concepts clearly and concisely.
Ben Houston • March 21, 2025
Building an Agentic Coder
How to build an autonomous agentic coder that leverages advanced LLMs to transform software development. A talk given at the Ottawa Forward JS meet-up.
Ben Houston • March 20, 2025
Software as Ephemeral
As AI dramatically reduces software development costs, we need to rethink our approach to code. Software is becoming ephemeral - easily replaced rather than maintained. This paradigm shift means optimizing for current needs instead of hypothetical futures.
Ben Houston • March 17, 2025
Automating Agentic Coders
AI agents are moving beyond IDEs into full automation of coding workflows. Discover how integrating agentic coding into GitHub Actions can streamline software development -- turning issues into PRs and automating documentation, tests, and even code reviews, all through simple GitHub comments.
Ben Houston • March 13, 2025
GitHub Mode for Agentic Coding
Adding GitHub Mode to MyCoder has radically improved my productivity, making my agentic coder feel like a true team member. By leveraging GitHub for task tracking, pull requests, and CI/CD feedback, I’ve seen a 3x to 5x boost in development efficiency.
Ben Houston • March 7, 2025
Agentic Mistakes Improve Code
Adapting your codebase to match AI coder assumptions doesn't just help AI -- it uncovers hidden complexity, ultimately benefiting human developers.
Ben Houston • March 6, 2025
Agentic Coding Best Practices
As AI coding agents become increasingly capable, we need to rethink our code organization and documentation practices. Here's why traditional "human-first" coding approaches are becoming obsolete and how to structure your projects for optimal AI compatibility.
Ben Houston • March 5, 2025