Agent Patterns: Memory, Tools, Scheduling
The capabilities of an agent have stopped moving. The models are, of course, still improving, but the arrangement of a useful agent has settled. A …
Introduction
I work as the CTO at Giant; managing software engineering teams, leading product development, creating resilient systems, and operating internet infrastructure. I’ve been doing this for the last 20-or-so years.
In my professional life, I primarily work at the intersection of the processes, psychology and culture of software teams. Outside of that, I’m interested in UNIX, open source, and digital history.
This website doesn’t represent the views of Giant, but there’s probably a lot of overlap.
I have profiles on Github and LinkedIn.
Right now
Like many people in technology, I’m trying to figure out what AI means for our industry, and the people who work in it. I’ve written about AI’s utility and how it’s different from other bubbles, and the impact AI might have on companies like mine. While using LLMs to write code, I’ve been thinking about how human practice can help code agents, verification of AI-generated code, and a few articles about tools and services; but these articles are probably outdated by the time you read this.
Articles
The anti-AI position has an information problem
Some scenarios.
A game ships. Someone digs through the credits, finds an AI tool listed, and the review-bombing begins. A few weeks later a different …
The Hypocrisy of Agentic Coding Critics
Every week I read another post arguing that LLM coding agents are fundamentally untrustworthy. The code is buggy. The output needs reviewing. The …
Nobody buys software from Intel
When did you last care which chip was in your laptop? Not which laptop, or which operating system, but which actual silicon processor was doing the …
Developing Good Engineering Taste
I was talking with a group recently about LLM-assisted engineering. I was asked how to cross the capability gap: how to feel in control with LLMs …
Contact
If you need to contact me:
- email me at jon@jonatkinson.co.uk, or
- message me on Bluesky, where I am jon-atkinson.bsky.social
Don’t assume I will reply quickly.