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James Lyndsay

@workroomprds.com
181 followers 242 following 157 posts

Getting better at software testing. Singing in Bulgarian. Staying in. Going out. Listening. Talking. #workroomprds

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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 17/09/2026
Why I don't subscribe to LLMs www.workroom-productions.com/why-i-dont-s...
workroom-productions.com
Why I don't subscribe to LLMs
In Fences, not Sandboxes, Steve Yegge tells us he burns $120,000 in tokens every month but spends just $4000 on subscriptions... Bargain!! It's not a bargain: It looks like a confidence trick. It loo...
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 09/09/2026
Currently working on two public-facing things: «Support your Testing with LocalLLMs» agiletestingdays.com/2026/session... «Workroom PlayTime» www.workroom-productions.com/workroom-pla... (not necessarily weekly) tiny online hands-on testing fun.
agiletestingdays.com
Agile Testing Days | Europe’s Greatest Agile Software Testing Festival
Join Europe's leading software testing festival! Experience world-class keynotes, workshops & the unique Unicorn Spirit at Agile Testing Days in Potsdam.
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 07/09/2026
*maybe aargh
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 07/09/2026
Top of the page: "Fact-checked by Grok 7 months ago" And I'm sure that several, may be most, of the facts are indeed true. Cos checking a thing doesn't tell you if it's in an incoherent pile of things. So that's my current contribution to the tired checking / testing conversation.
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 07/09/2026
I don't use Grokipedia. I suggest you don't. And make sure your LLMs don't either. A comedy reason: an entry on the Atlantic Balloon Crossing starts off telling you about a balloon crossing the Atlantic. Halfway through it switches to telling you about the 1979 development and release of a game...
Text reads:
Beyond its technical breakthroughs, the Double Eagle II crossing captured global public imagination and marked a pivotal moment in aviation history, revitalizing ballooning as a symbol of human exploration. Landing in a French barley field after 137 hours aloft, the pilots were mobbed by cheering spectators who had tracked their progress by car, evoking the excitement of Charles Lindbergh's 1927 flight to the same airfield. The event garnered widespread media coverage, a personal telegram from President Jimmy Carter, and gold medals from the U.S. Congress in 1979, underscoring its status as a triumph of perseverance over 119 years of failures that had claimed at least seven lives. By positioning ballooning alongside powered flight in the annals of transoceanic adventure, it inspired subsequent feats like the 1981 Pacific crossing and elevated the sport's prestige, shifting perceptions from quaint novelty to elite test of endurance and ingenuity.[1][3][6]
Development

Programming and Design

Dean Powell served as the sole designer and programmer of Atlantic Balloon Crossing, creating the game single-handedly for the TRS-80 computer.[8] He developed it as a personal project beginning in early 1979, drawing direct inspiration from the Double Eagle II's historic transatlantic balloon crossing in August 1978.[9]
The game was implemented in BASIC, the TRS-80's primary programming language, with careful attention to the system's hardware constraints, including the standard 4 KB of RAM in the base Model I configuration.[10][11] Powell's design choices emphasized realistic simulation of ballooning physics to capture the essence of the event, incorporating elements such as variable wind currents that affect trajectory, altitude control through ballast and burner management, and resource tracking for fuel and supplies to heighten the challenge of a successful crossing.[8] These mechanics were optimized for the TRS-80's limited processing capabilities, ensuring smoo…
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Reposted by James Lyndsay
David Quantick @quantick.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
New slogan for AI: THIS MACHINE THRILLS FASCISTS.
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 04/09/2026
Pro tips for my mob
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 04/09/2026
Some info about data sources here: jamestindall.info/skeuomorphol...
The values shown for each area on the map are the percentage of PCR tests taken within that area —usually in hospitals— that are positive. This data is fetched both from the UKHSA data.gov.uk API and from the Public Health Scotland opendata.nhs.scot API. The data made available there is usually updated every Thursday.

It is not a perfect indicator of local prevalence but, in the absence of better data and testing, it is the most reliable indicator we have.
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 04/09/2026
If I was Stripe, and the web page for my dashboard did this if left open overnight, I'd be embarrassed.
Two open tabs, both from stripe, taking between them 5GB of memory.
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Ink & Switch @inkandswitch.com · 31/08/2026
Today we're officially sharing the "Introducing Patchwork-26" video from Lab Day at this year's @localfirstconf.com We bring you the first look at Patchwork-26, the latest in our ongoing effort to realize Malleable Software, Universal Version Control, and Local-First Software.
youtube.com
Introducing Patchwork-26
YouTube video by Ink & Switch
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 09/08/2026
So I needed to update MS's tools. The usual update route (i.e. from the app, as signposted in obscure MS support docs for 0x0 error) run without seeming to pick up the new updates. Silent fail. Updating via my MS account page works. MS bricked my tool. Did they bother to warn me or help? Nope.
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 08/08/2026
Fuck off, you nosy, wasteful, thirsty, awful goblin. And especially fuck off if you reckon this shite is a good use of LLMs.
A large language model offers to find 'what you want'
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 05/08/2026
Hey, #testing and #exploring people: How about sometime we get a gang together to explore Big Walk? It's a co-op environment with proximity chat – I reckon we can use it to talk testing as we wander about making sense of things. bigwalk.game
bigwalk.game
Big Walk by House House
Hang out with your friends and explore a wide-open world full of challenges, puzzles, and discoveries. A cooperative online walker-talker from the creators of Untitled Goose Game. Big Walk is availabl...
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 03/08/2026
Well, yes. Yes I shall.
Lyme Regis beach, from a cafe
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 30/07/2026
Come play together online: 9:30pm tonight, 9am Saturday, London time. www.workroom-productions.com/workroom-pla...
workroom-productions.com
Workroom PlayTime 062: Explore Puzzle 039
Let's explore BlackBox Puzzle 039
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 30/07/2026
New BlackBox Puzzle 039. www.workroom-productions.com/puzzle-039/
workroom-productions.com
Puzzle 39
Puzzle 39 – swift to explore. Probably.
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 27/07/2026
At Latitude?
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 26/07/2026
I can't access Excel. Here's the error: a confused axolotl. Context: I've got a forever license, not a subscription for Office. I can activate Word, not Excel. Word won't activate if behind a double-NAT network, and has needed two goes already this week. MS don't want me to work with their kit.
Excel activation error: "An unknown error has occurred. The error code is 0x0"
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 25/07/2026
I've kept most of what I relied on by shifting to kagi.com (paid search). Straightforward search works well: lowish false positives, tune-able, ad-free, slop-rejecting.
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 15/07/2026
Yaay for biking to the shops! I'm lucky and shuttle my shopping and kids around London – a good city to cycle. Love your view – here's mine.
View down a wide river through a city just after sunset. The Thames at Vauxhall Bridge.
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 14/07/2026
Always. And I live at the top of a hill. Regular bike: Pair of ortleibs and a spare bag for life (or two) over the handlebars. Bike via lift and stairs direct to door. Cargo bike: huge Tern panniers take a big bag for life each and some extras, seat takes more. Need to carry bags in from bikeshed.
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 04/07/2026
Go home, algorithm, you’re drunk.
Text: Movies we think you’ll like. 
Posters: creepy mask for movie Black Phone, glittery prancing girls for Barbie 12 Dancing Princesses
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 29/06/2026
I'm grateful to @gralefrit.bsky.social for introducing me to @500songspodcast.bsky.social , whose modern valediction hangs over my shoulder: “Word of mouth, more than any other form of promotion, is how creative works get noticed and sustain themselves.”
podcasts.apple.com
Song 183: “Pinball Wizard” by the Who, Part 2: “His Disciples Lead Him In”
Podcast Episode · A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs · 22 March · 2h 4m
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 29/06/2026
If you're not already met... Adrian, let me introduce you to @fakehistoryhunter.net , who is always a delight on this very topic.
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 23/06/2026
We are building stuff (toys, environments, ideas) for you to play with. LocalLLMs are helpful to testers (and private, and differently thirsty) Needs polishing, mind.
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 22/06/2026
Right now, it's pretty sultry. I understand it's getting ever-sultrier as the week goes on...
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 22/06/2026
But I see @doctordouglas.bsky.social got there before me.
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 22/06/2026
I'm looking and thinking «Just like every new Doctor gets a newly-styled box...»
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 20/06/2026
Also: someone asked me to review a legal doc a couple of weeks ago. 85 pages. They hadn't read it. I sent them a kind, but terse and actionable reply. Writers who don't «respect the reader’s time» don't seriously expect to be read. They imagine.
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 20/06/2026
Perhaps that's why I'm only regularly writing for me. For the rest of the world, I'm building experiences.
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 17/06/2026
Have a very excellent one!
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 10/06/2026
Keep an eye out, London — it’s stag beetle time.
Stag beetle on a wall
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 01/06/2026
I want to go. I can't. You might. Do it now.
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 25/05/2026
One for @simonwillison.net
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 11/05/2026
Sid James. Sean Connery. Ryan Reynolds.
A black and white film still with Sid James, Sean Connery, and probably not Ryan Reynolds. From Hell Drivers (1957).
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 11/05/2026
Time was we'd take our biggest jobs to our biggest machines, pare back to just the necessary processes, and run hot overnight. We'd watch memory and CPU and timestamps on files. Time was, I was on call for that. Running a local llm: I'm back there again.
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 02/05/2026
Every year, in early May #dawnChorusDay, in a 24-hour circumnavigation of the planet, people turns to broadcast the live, local, sound of dawn. It's on now: soundtent.org/reveil.html and extra.resonance.fm/episodes/rev...
soundtent.org
reveil
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Not That Rick Scott 🇨🇦 @shadowspar.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
great gift idea here on Amazon. who wouldn't love a "Since the images are completely black, I cannot fulfill the request. I am unable to generate a title based on a blank image. If you can provide a valid image, I am happy to create a title" www.amazon.ca/completely-f...
amazon.ca
Since the images are completely black, I cannot fulfill the request. I am unable to generate a title based on a blank image. If you can provide a valid image, I am happy to create a title. (Black
Add a touch of timeless charm to your space with this beautifully designed vintage poster. Featuring classic retro color palettes, nostalgic typography, and delicate distressed textures, it creates an inviting atmosphere that complements both modern and traditional interiors. Each piece is produced using high-quality fade-resistant inks on durable premium cardstock to ensure vibrant colors and lasting visual appeal. Ideal for decorating living rooms, bedrooms, offices, studios, cafés, or creative workspaces, this artwork adds character and warmth to any wall. Its nostalgic aesthetic makes it a thoughtful gift for art lovers, history enthusiasts, or anyone who appreciates distinctive home décor. Transform blank walls into a stylish focal point with this unique vintage-inspired poster that evokes the charm of bygone eras
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 21/04/2026
It is just about ten years since the UK Government published its Service Manual for Exploratory Testing. www.gov.uk/service-manu...
gov.uk
Exploratory testing
Explore a system as a user would - without a script or set of tasks - to find possible defects that other forms of testing may miss.
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 20/04/2026
FYI
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 15/04/2026
Lights out, headphones on, hold tight.
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 24/03/2026
So "Claude can directly control your browser, mouse, keyboard, and screen to complete tasks. It will scroll, click to open..." Please don't do this to yourselves today, people. claude.com/blog/dispatc...
claude.com
Put Claude to work on your computer | Claude
Claude now opens your apps, navigates your browser, and runs your dev tools to complete tasks. Assign from your phone with Dispatch. Research preview on macOS.
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 18/03/2026
Sounds like your instance has an entropy problem.
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 05/03/2026
Short chat with MiniMax-M2.5 Me: who are you? > I'm Claude Code [...] Me: Are you sure you're not MiniMax-M2.5? > [...] The system prompt identifies me as "MiniMax-M2.5" [..], but I've been introducing myself as "Claude Code". www.anthropic.com/news/detecti...
anthropic.com
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 01/03/2026
I’ve lived in London for years. I just saw directions to Nelson Square, North Southwark, and briefly felt myself slip into some alternate timeline…
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 26/02/2026
From @tldraw.com: Their tests are worthwhile (and we might yet take a look in an 'interesting testing' session). While this is tongue-in-cheek, it's also getting closer to a thing. Tests, like moulds, are valuable. github.com/tldraw/tldra...
github.com
Move tests to closed source repo · Issue #8082 · tldraw/tldraw
Move the test suite out of the open source tldraw/tldraw repo and into the closed source repo. Context The tldraw monorepo currently contains ~327 test files across unit, integration, and e2e tests...
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 26/02/2026
I've done that! Glad you've got the angels.
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 26/02/2026
Bullshit: sticky, nasty, grows roses. Batshit: all the above, but the zoonotic pathogens can really mess you up. LLM chats: more batshit than bullshit. journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
journals.plos.org
Metagenomic analysis of fecal and tissue samples from 18 endemic bat species in Switzerland revealed a diverse virus composition including potentially zoonotic viruses
Many recent disease outbreaks in humans had a zoonotic virus etiology. Bats in particular have been recognized as reservoirs to a large variety of viruses with the potential to cross-species transmiss...
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 12/02/2026
...now you're working as a Spaceteam. (spaceteam.ca)
spaceteam.ca
Spaceteam
Do you like pushing buttons and shouting at your friends? Do you like discharging Clip-jawed Fluxtrunions? If you answered yes, or no, then you might have what it takes to be on a Spaceteam!
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James Lyndsay @workroomprds.com · 09/02/2026
In Workroom PlayTime this week, we'll run Cutting to the Core – an activity to help testers with talks to find their core message. Online, hands-on, this Thursday. www.workroom-productions.com/workroom-pla...
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