Reposted by Laura KalbagMary Branscombe @marypcbuk.bsky.social · 02/10/2026People like dhh don’t come from nowhere; they come from a culture where most men in tech expect to have their bad behaviour forgiven and far fewer are ready to apologise or hold each other to account. Enormous appreciation for those few 1155
Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 01/10/2026I’ve been struggling to put my finger on this, but @rachelandrew.co.uk has totally nailed why AI tutorial/educational content just isn’t the same (or as good!) as a human writer. (I’m not saying my writing isn’t flawed, but relevant context and framing is something I really work hard at!) 030
Reposted by Laura KalbagRachel Andrew @rachelandrew.co.uk · 30/09/2026More than words While I've done a lot of reference documentation writing, my favourite type of work is writing tutorials and "how to" content. I enjoy the challenge of understanding a technology and... rachelandrew.co.uk/archives/2026/09…rachelandrew.co.ukMore than wordsWhile I've done a lot of reference documentation writing, my favourite type of work is writing tutorials and "how to" content. I enjoy the challenge of understanding a technology and an audience, then explaining the technology to that audience. AI seems to be particularly bad at creating this kind of content. When people try, they... 0247
Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 30/09/2026My instructor always made me drive to the lake car park so he could have a coffee and a ciggy. 030
Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 30/09/2026Penpot pals! Now I’m upright again, it’s time to plan another hands-on livestream. We’re returning to layouts… is there anything layout-related you want to learn in Penpot? Anything you struggle with? Something you want to see created from start to finish? 010
Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 16/09/2026This plugin works really well if you want to import HTML web pages to redesign. (Also pulls in CSS) 031
Reposted by Laura KalbagPiccalilli @piccalil.li · 15/09/2026@bell.bz co-authored Every Layout with @heydonworks.com back in 2019. It transformed how developers approach layout in CSS and in this free lesson of Complete CSS, Andy gives even more detail in how skeletal layouts are the way to get a solid UI piccalilli.link/cc-free-less... 1123
Reposted by Laura KalbagPenpot @penpot.app · 15/09/2026Background grids or grid layouts? They might look similar, but they work very differently. 📐 Background grids guide your alignment ⚡ Grid layouts automate it with responsive, CSS-based rules Learn when to use each in Penpot penpot.app/blog/backgro...penpot.appBackground grids vs grid layouts: what’s the difference?Background grids are guides you use to help you manually position design elements by eye. Grid layouts automate layouts (often responsively) based on the design rules you provide. 011
Reposted by Laura KalbagPenpot @penpot.app · 15/09/2026Penpot 2.18 is here, and it's a big one: strokes can now become fully editable paths, and we're introducing the first version of Penpot Enterprise🎉 youtu.be/LC6UieFMNE4?...youtu.bePenpot 2.18: Stroke to path + EnterpriseYouTube video by Penpot 042
Reposted by Laura Kalbagandy @myfunnyandy.bsky.social · 14/09/2026New @penpot.app version is out in the wild 💜 community.penpot.app/t/penpot-2-1...community.penpot.appPenpot 2.18 release: Born this wayPenpot 2.18 introduces Penpot Enterprise, our new paid plan, shipping alongside the most requested Outline stroke (stroke to path) and a fresh batch of features and fixes. Penpot stays free, unlimited... 261
Reposted by Laura KalbagPiccalilli @piccalil.li · 09/09/2026The summer is over and the autumn (or fall, for our American friends) is here, so we're offering a huge 35% discount on all courses if you use the coupon code PRICEFALL at checkout. piccalil.li/links/pricef...piccalil.liSave 35% on all courses for two weeks onlyThe summer is over and the autumn (or fall, for our American friends) is here, so we're offering a huge 35% discount on all courses if you use the coupon code PRICEFALL at checkout. 036
Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 08/09/2026Context is the same issue I often think about. Maybe it’s because I’m most often sharing images that provide additional context to the text they accompany. Screenshots and diagrams are not the same kind of alt text as stock imagery. 010
Reposted by Laura KalbagPenpot @penpot.app · 08/09/2026Designers, devs, open source advocates...this is a safe space! What’s that one thing in your day-to-day workflow that makes you want to cry? A painful handoff? Endless tasks? Tell us your pain. Big, small, weirdly specific… we want to hear it🥲 Drop your tears below💧 241
Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 04/09/2026Who needs AI to write when I can be longwinded all by myself. 191
Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 04/09/2026This ended up being longer than I intended, but hopefully there’s lots of useful info in there if you’re new to grids in design, grids in @penpot.app, and the difference between background grids and grid layouts #penpot penpot.app/blog/backgro...penpot.appBackground grids vs grid layouts: what’s the difference?Background grids are guides you use to help you manually position design elements by eye. Grid layouts automate layouts (often responsively) based on the design rules you provide. 0172
Reposted by Laura KalbagRachel Andrew @rachelandrew.co.uk · 04/09/2026I'm relaunching CSS Layout News on Offprint.rachelandrew.co.ukCSS Layout News in the ATmosphereIn 2015 I started my CSS Layout News newsletter mostly to have my own venue to go on about CSS grid, at the time unavailable in any stable browser. I got to 2023 and 343 issues and it fizzled out. Partly because I got busy, but mostly because the newsletter signup form on the platform... 35510
Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 28/08/2026Your illustrations are SO good. Your use of colour is just sublime 010
Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 27/08/2026Search is bad *and* AI slop has poisoned search results. 020
Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 21/08/2026I have this vestibular issue too! I don’t work with any walkers, but if someone is holding their device in their hand while walking around, 🤢. 140
Reposted by Laura KalbagEriol Fox @erioldoesdesign.bsky.social · 17/08/2026Come along and be part of the conversation about open source, decentralised tech and design! luma.com/17sotawb?tk=... #decentralised #oss #designluma.comFolk Tech Connection Call - August 2026 - Open Source & Decent Design with Eileen Wagner and Eriol Fox! · Zoom · LumaFolk Tech is a solidarity-based movement among designers, developers, and people in communities who want digital technology that supports their daily life and… 175
Reposted by Laura KalbagLéonie Watson @tink.uk · 14/07/2026#AccessibilityIsResistance tink.uk/accessibility-is-resistance 32310
Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 24/06/2026It was just like you said! Felt miraculous to wake up without that pain. 010
Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 24/06/2026One week since my surgery and I’m so happy. The nerve pain was gone the second I woke up. Today I took an 8 minute walk, no pain, for the first time in 6 months. The hardest part now is restraining myself so I can recover properly! 1200
Reposted by Laura KalbagLarge Heydon Collider @heydonworks.com · 22/06/2026The HTML cat is out of the Web Audio bag. I've finally released HYPERBLAM. It’s my system for sampling, processing, and sequencing sound and music directly in HTML. hyperblam.howhyperblam.howHyperblam Docs HomeDocumentation for HyperBlam. Make HTML make music. 720260
Reposted by Laura KalbagDave Letorey @letorey.co.uk · 12/06/2026Please sign this petition and share with your networks: Launch a public inquiry into the impact of Section 28 on LGBTQ people petition.parliament.uk/petitions/76...petition.parliament.ukPetition: Launch a public inquiry into the impact of Section 28 on LGBTQ peopleWe call on the Government to launch a public inquiry into the impact of Section 28 of the Local Government Act (1988) which specified that Local Authorities could not intentionally promote, through ma... 142
Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 11/06/2026Thank you! It is so awful. I think I could manage the back pain but the nerve pain is something else. And I’ve been told I have a high tolerance. I really hope mine goes away as quickly as yours! 000
Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 11/06/2026Not tmi, I appreciate you sharing the detail! Sorry you had to go through all that. I’m hoping that next Wednesday will come around quickly and then I only have the recovery to worry about. (I can’t wait for the nerve pain to go away!) 110
Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 11/06/2026My relief position is lying on the floor with my legs at ~ a 90 degree angle (45 isn’t enough!) with the monitor mounted above my head 😂 000
Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 11/06/2026Woah. It sounds really fortunate that you were with the physio when it happened. I’ve been thoroughly drilled on all the warning signs! That’s so reassuring and I’m so glad you’re doing ok. 110
Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 11/06/2026Sciatica is *the worst* (I am currently lying in a very strange position!) Wishing you a speedy recovery right back. I swear nobody understands the brutality of nerve pain until they experience it. I’m pretending it’s a mere coincidence that this has turned up in my 40th year… 😭 110
Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 11/06/2026Yikes, yeah I’m having the surgery to hopefully avoid that! It sounds really scary. Did the surgery help you? 100
Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 11/06/2026(Yes, it turns out the disc was the cause of the back pain and awful sciatica!) 100
Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 11/06/2026Anyone here had a lumbar discectomy? I’m having the surgery in 6 days and I’m a bit nervous! Not so much about the surgery itself or general anaesthetic, but the stay in hospital and what the recovery will involve. I’d appreciate any insight or advice from people with experience! 310
Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 08/06/2026Same! Like I’d love to have time to do more tech-related side projects but my non-tech life is sooo much more important to my mental health. 030
Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 29/05/2026I don’t know if you’ve tried out Threadloop yet, but it is the best when you’re looking for the ideal pattern threadloop.appthreadloop.appThreadloop - A better way to organize your sewingPlan your projects, organize your fabric stash, and discover inspiring patterns while connecting with a community of sewists. 120
Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 20/05/2026Hahahaha. I blast music on my headphones while sewing, but then again my heavy duty machines make such a racket whether they’re behaving or not. (I will pause music for intense activities like topstitching.) 120
Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 20/05/2026A love for the status quo combined with zero critical thinking. Unfortunately these are not qualities unique to the tech industry, but they are certainly amplified by the speed at which we can deploy terrible decisions. 190
Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 20/05/2026💜 Frustratingly, the three most common reasons for doing anything in tech are “it’s what everybody else does, so it must be right”, “a big tech company does it, so it must be right,” and “Google makes it easy to embed this in our org for free.” 5498
Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 20/05/2026I say this as someone who has been banging that drum for probably fifteen years… 🫠 1130
Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 19/05/2026My mum stencilled these all over our 1920s era house when I was young 110
Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 13/05/2026I hate how I nodded along to the familiarity of all this. 092