As a senior developer, I’ve found AI incredibly useful for boosting productivity and handling a lot of tasks. It’s like having the Internet on my computer and it can speak to me, it’s really awesome. But, it can be infuriating when it doesn’t quite get what you need, especially with more complex stuff. It feels like working with an amateur developer who keeps missing the mark over and over, needing constant guidance and re-instruction.

For me, this has led to something I’d call “AI burnout.” The frustration builds to the point where I just want to give up trying to use it. It’s annoying, exhausting, and frankly, not worth the energy. I begin to distrust it and lose confidence in its ability to help, to the point where I’d rather push it aside and I often start to continue working on my own.

I wonder if other developers feel the same way—when does the help stop feeling helpful?

Yes, when you hover over the very edge of the Safari (any in many other apps) window, the sidebar will trigger for you!

Now for many years I have had this issue. It became more prominent in my ChatGPT.app where the sidebar would somehow get triggered automatically. I thought it was a bug, but it’s actually a feature. Usually I slide my cursor to the edge of the screen out of the way and apparently I was hovering over this area since I maximize most of my apps.

Not only that you can even drag the sidebar into not existing anymore by simply dragging it towards the edge of the window and it will go away! 

Go ahead, hide a sidebar in an app (try Finder) and hover near the edge of the window. 

It’s a feature!

I’ll be returning the AirPods 4 tomorrow—not because they’re bad (they’re actually really impressive) but because of one key reason: comfort.

I guess I’ve grown used to the fit of my AirPods Pro 2, especially after switching away from silicone to foam tips. That change made them fit so much better, and I never worry about them coming loose. I fee like I could get into a boxing match and they would stay in! With the AirPods 4, however, I constantly feel like they could easily get knocked out of my ears—they are so light!—especially the right one, which often feels loose after extended use. They’re so lightweight that, after long periods, I also feel like they’re falling out, and I find myself trying to push them back in repeatedly. I also noticed some ear strain after wearing them for a while due to that.

That said, the ANC on the AirPods 4 is surprisingly good—probably about 75% as effective as the AirPods Pro 2 IMO. Sitting in a loud coffee shop, I had no complaints. My AirPods Pro 2 still have an edge, both in ANC performance and sound quality, but I was fine to put my AirPods Pro 2 away for the AirPods 4 w/ ANC. For sound, I’d compare the AirPods Pro 2 to HDR video—vibrant, rich, and deep—whereas the AirPods 4 feel more like a great display without HDR. They’re clear and balanced, but they lack the same depth and bass response. Still, they’re about 80% of the way there IMO, which is impressive.

One thing I did appreciate about the AirPods 4 is how much cleaner they stay compared to the AirPods Pro 2, which tend to get dirtier due to the in-ear tips. This is one reason I bought them, and wished I could have kept them for this. But bottom line—if you don’t like the in-ear fit of the AirPods Pro 2, the AirPods 4 with ANC are a fantastic alternative. But for me, the fit of the AirPods Pro 2 make them the better choice.

I’m a perfectionist, and I know it. Ask anyone I know, and they’ll agree. But honestly, I’m not really that way. The thing about perfection is that it frustrates me. It’s a struggle, and it’s obsessive for me. That’s not healthy. However, I’ve heard many people, especially those I’ve worked with, tell me that “good is better than perfect.” I think that’s wrong, and that saying has always rubbed me the wrong way. While I think pursuing perfection is unhealthy, settling for just “good enough” also isn’t right.

Instead, I try to aim for something between good and perfect. After doing some word research, I was pleased to find that the word “excellence” is the right word for the place I am always aiming for.

Not good, not perfect, but excellent!