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2025

The Real Reason AI Is Going Back to the Terminal

Illustration: a laptop showing a terminal window, with the Anthropic, Google and OpenAI logos above it

In the space of six months in 2025, four major AI vendors shipped coding agents that run in the terminal: Anthropic's Claude Code (24 February), OpenAI's Codex CLI (16 April), Google's Gemini CLI (25 June) and Cursor's CLI (7 August, in beta). The tool that looked like a step backwards — a prompt in a shell instead of a chat window — is where these companies put their agentic coding effort. This post looks at what they actually shipped, what the terminal is used for in the design, and which parts of the "return to the terminal" story are documented rather than assumed.

The Line: a 170-km City Announced, a 2.4-km First Phase Planned

Illustration: the mirrored facade of a linear city in the desert, with a long colonnade visible in the reflection In 2022 Neom presented a city 170 kilometres long, 200 metres wide and 500 metres high. It was called The Line. Nine million people were supposed to live inside it, without cars or roads, on renewable power, at an official cost of around $500 billion.

The first phase now on the internal plans is 1.5 miles. At least $50 billion has already been spent, and the desert it stands in is marked by piling and deep trenches.

This post sets an architectural analysis of that design against the reporting on what has been built and paid for since. The analysis is Daniel Titchener's, from August 2025.

We're reclaiming Iceland's Deserts - here's how

A gravel plain with young shrubs and lupines in front of a glacier in Iceland

Embark on a fascinating journey to Iceland, where Mossy Earth is tackling the monumental task of reclaiming the island's vast deserts. This video delves into a crucial rewilding project focused on restoring Iceland's native birchwoods, a vital part of its ecological heritage. Once covering a significant portion of the landscape, these resilient woodlands, offering shelter, food for biodiversity, and crucial soil stabilization, have dwindled to a mere 1% of their former glory. Join us as we explore the challenges and innovative approaches to bringing these essential ecosystems back to life.

Deep Dive Into Cleaning With Dry Ice

Illustration: a pressure washer cleaning a grimy engine block, one half clean and one half still covered in dirt

Ever wondered how to achieve an exceptionally deep clean, making surfaces look brand new without harsh chemicals or abrasive scrubbing? This video takes a fascinating "Deep Dive Into Cleaning With Dry Ice," exploring the powerful and efficient world of dry ice blasting using Kärcher and Dry Ice Energy machines. Whether you're a seasoned professional in automotive detailing or industrial cleaning, or simply curious about advanced cleaning techniques, this guide provides a comprehensive overview of everything you need to know.

An AI Research Assistant Promises Citation-Backed Drafts. A Study Counted Fabricated References.

Illustration: a researcher at a desk looking at a floating holographic panel of documents and citation graphs

Of 636 citations in 84 AI-generated literature reviews, 55 percent of the GPT-3.5 ones pointed at papers that do not exist. That is the number to hold next to a sales pitch.

In a webinar on the AnswerThis channel, co-founder and CMO Ryan McCarroll shows an AI research assistant that searches the literature, drafts citation-backed text and summarises papers. The pitch is speed: literature work that took weeks, in minutes. The claim comes from the vendor. This post sets it against the studies and the rules that followed.

What if sailing had no rules?

Illustration: a racing sailboat at speed with debris flying behind it

Ever wondered what happens when you push the boundaries of sailing, throwing conventional rules out the window? This fascinating journey delves deep into the exhilarating world of marine engineering, exploring how sailors and engineers have continuously strived to conquer the waves, often against the very laws of physics. From the basic concept of "hull speed" to the cutting-edge designs of modern racing yachts, this video reveals the relentless pursuit of speed on water.

Why Tech Platforms Intentionally Work Worse, The Enshittification Phenomenon

Illustration: a monitor with floating social-media app icons and notification cards, while a hand reaches towards the screen Ever wondered why your favorite tech platforms, once sleek and user-friendly, now feel bogged down with an endless stream of ads and questionable content? You're not alone! This VPRO Tegenlicht documentary dives deep into a phenomenon aptly termed "Enshittification" by American activist and writer Cory Doctorow. It explains how platforms like Google, Instagram, and YouTube are deliberately degrading their services, filling search results with ads and scams, and prioritizing revenue over user experience.

Huizenmarkt op slot: 'iemand moet de prijs betalen' | Jona van Loenen

Illustratie: twee jongeren op een dak met bankbiljetten in hun handen, terwijl achter de gebouwen een veel groter figuur in pak oprijst In aflevering #2010 van De Nieuwe Wereld praat econoom en columnist Jona van Loenen met Jelle van Baardewijk over de Nederlandse woningmarkt. Zijn stelling is dat het tekort aan huizen de prijzen niet opdrijft, maar de hoeveelheid geld die een koper kan lenen of meeneemt. Die bewering staat naast het beleidsmotto van het afgelopen decennium, bouwen, bouwen, bouwen, en ze gaat gepaard met voorstellen die de kosten naar woningbezitters verschuiven.

C4 models as code, Simon Brown, NDC Oslo 2023

UML class diagram example

The Agony of Outdated Architecture Diagrams

We've all been there. You're trying to understand a complex system, and you finally hunt down the architecture diagrams, only to be hit with a soul-crushing realization: they haven't been updated since the project's kickoff. The diagrams show a pristine monolith, but you know for a fact that the reality is a sprawling jungle of microservices, serverless functions, and cryptic third-party integrations. The documentation lies, and the "source of truth" is now just a source of confusion.

Minimum Viable Architecture, Randy Shoup, YOW! 2022

Diagram: a monolith on the left evolving into a small Minimum Viable Architecture core with many services connected to it

In the world of software engineering, there's a tempting desire to build the perfect, infinitely scalable architecture from day one. However, as veteran architect Randy Shoup explains in his talk at YOW! 2022, this is often a path to failure. The key takeaway is that architecture is not a static blueprint; it's an evolutionary journey that must align with the changing needs of the business. There is no one-size-fits-all solution.