Jon Wire

Hi.

My name is Jon. I've been writing code and publishing things on the internet for 25+ years. I have finally decided start writing under my own name (my own domain name, specifically). I will continue to publish under other names when it makes sense.

On this site, in addition to my portfolio (eventually), I will primarily be posting content that applies the mindset of a Computer Scientist, Software Engineer, and General Nerd to the leisurely exploration of things with no immediate economic gain. Topically, I will explore almost anything. By approach, I will often use code, diagrams, and graphs.

To be clear, this doesn't mean nothing economic will ever come from these explorations. It also doesn't mean I won't establish paywalls as-needed. It just means that these are secondary. Primary is the pursuit of leisurely enjoyment of the fruits of creation using the tools and lenses I have been given.

In contrast...

At the time of this writing, I am a Senior Software Engineer at Amazon. I do some pretty neat things for my job. I am reasonably proud of them. And, very often, they're actually quite fun to work on. (If you want example, find me on LinkedIn.) But, the work is also very intense, stressful, "critical", and driven by concrete business needs. The goal is making the business money so that I can make money. It's all goals and deadlines. I think deeply, perform designs, review designs, mentor, and write code around focused business purposes and with an intense desire to stay employed.

Compounding the stress, we don't always build the right things. We talk to customers who tell us what they want. We have Product Managers who research the market and tell us what the right things are. But still, we have products and features that just seem to flop. They land wrong. Maybe we didn't quite index on the right aspects of a problem. In any case, customers don't even care. Or worse, they actively hate what we've done.

That's all fine and expected. (I guess.) We ship fast. We see what sticks. We try again, hopefully better each time.

I could go on. And on. And on. (I've actually cut about a dozen paragraphs worth of going on and on and on already. So, this is the short version.)

The point is this: I like my work, and it can be rewarding. But, it's all serious business. People's careers are on the line. The success of the team is on the line. In some cases, our customers' businesses are on the line. We're learning and working and a vigorous pace for economic purposes. And, while this isn't inherently bad, fueling the economy and getting your next paycheck is not the final purpose of a human. We don't work solely for the privilege of being invited back to work. (Though, this may frankly be an element of our final purpose.)

We all return to dust, after all. All our work will eventually be forgotten.

...

I'll defer trying to concretely define the purpose of humanity for now. For now, let's just say, it is highly important and dignified to explore the fruits of creation and ponder our final purpose freely. It seems to be what our minds are made for. The economic and material engines exists, in my estimation, to fuel the mind of universe — your mind and my mind, not to mention the mind of God — in reflecting on itself and delighting in its creatures.

Some of my content will touch on "professional" things. As I just said, the professional things fuel the engine that allows us to do the important work of knowing ourselves. To that end, they can also be important topics in the pursuit of purpose. But, by and large, I'm here to poke around at neat things, share what I've done, why I think the things are neat, and encourage my readers to do the same.

Let's be professional and productive when we need to be. Then, God-willing, let's take ours crafts (and hobbies) and use them to enjoy creation.