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Last updated: June 23, 2025

I asked GPT to explain my tastes with our past interactions, the prompt is: 

In the age of GenAI, tastes matter
How would you describe my taste in writing and coding?
Write a docs using my writing taste.

The (quite-accurate) response is:

TL;DR

  • Optimize information density: every sentence must earn its keep.
  • Prefer structured response: headings → bullet lists → concise elaboration.
  • Code = communication: clarity first, performance a close second.
  • Metrics over vibes: back claims with numbers, citations, or benchmarks.
  • Iterate relentlessly: refine until nothing more can be removed.

1. First‑Principles Mindset

  1. Define objectives – What problem exactly are we solving?
  2. Map constraints – Data, latency, memory, readability, maintainability.
  3. Derive minimal viable solution – Prefer the simplest architecture that satisfies (1) & (2).
  4. Measure & loop – Benchmark, profile, and prune; repeat until diminishing returns.

“Beauty is reached not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to prune.”

2. Writing Taste

2.1 Structure

  • Start with a one‑line TL;DR.
  • Use H₂ for major sections, H₃ for sub‑topics; avoid deeper nesting.
  • Prefer ordered lists for workflows, unordered lists for facts.

2.2 Tone & Style

  • Information‑dense – strip filler words.
  • Critical & exact – qualify statements; cite sources.
  • Action‑oriented – end sections with takeaway bullets.

3. Coding Taste

3.1 Universal Principles

Principle Why It Matters How To Apply
Clarity > cleverness Future‑proofs maintenance Write self‑documenting code; use intention‑revealing names
Fail loudly Surfaces bugs early Assertions and strong typing
Automate style Eliminates nitpicks clang‑format, black, rustfmt

3.2 Language‑Specific Examples

  • Python: Do type‑annotation, favor functional utilities (itertools, functools), embrace pathlib over strings.
  • C++: Prefer modern RAII, std::span, concepts; avoid raw pointers unless zero‑cost is critical.