filter

Florian's Filter — W43 2026

The gap between a theoretical model and a functional tool is where the most interesting engineering happens. Whether it is applying LLMs to particle physics or structuring data for a global streaming service, the focus is shifting toward utility and precision. These examples highlight a broader trend of moving away from general-purpose hype toward specialized, rigorous implementation. This week's book recommendation shines a light on what this does with the people whose jobs are fundamentally changed by that. And somehow, even street photography fits that theme this week!

Articles

CERN and Mistral join forces to accelerate AI for science
Mistral is doubling down on the applied side of AI, extending its B2B focus into scientific endeavors. This partnership with CERN aims to accelerate the use of AI in fundamental research.
HN discussion on "Ontology-Driven Observability: Building an End-to-End Knowledge Graph at Netflix"
The community discussion on HN surrounding this post is as valuable as the content itself. The original piece examines how the Netflix engineering team utilizes ontologies to manage complex data structures.

Books

We Are Not Machines: The Fight for the Future of Work
I am currently reading this, and already in the first chapters, I find a lot of my own experiences, and the experiences of people in my client environment (Telco & Technology). Sarah O'Connor does a commendable job of being timely, being opinionated, and at the same time trying her best to avoid clichés or overly generalizing her points.

Videos

Alexander Schönberg - Hamburg's Best Fine-Art Street Photographer
This is just ten minutes of amazing street photography of my hometown. I can't vouch for the "Best" - but apparently, Alexander Schönberg is very, very good at what he does, capturing a serene feeling. If you have ever been to Hamburg, you'll love this. If you have never been, this will make you want to visit on a foggy, hazy winter day (!).

New on floho.com

Twenty-three years with the same text editor
A look at why I have relied on BBEdit for over two decades as the lightweight alternative to heavy development environments.

Twenty-three years with the same text editor

BBEditbarebones.com ↗ I've had a Bare Bones editor on every Mac I've owned since 2003. It was TextWrangler for the first fourteen years — their free one — and when they retired it in 2017 and pointed everyone at BBEdit, I went along and have been there since.

Florian's Filter — W42 2026

The gap between theoretical capability and physical reality is often where the most interesting insights live. Whether it is the surprising shift in how models handle time-series data or the grueling material science required to move light through glass, progress is rarely a straight line. Same goes for commercial

The sheet of paper that's always there

Bearbear.app ↗ I've been on a Mac for over twenty years, and for most of them I was a serial notes-app migrant. If it existed between roughly 2003 and 2016, I probably tried it, moved everything into it, and then moved everything out again. That whole era

Florian's Filter — W41 2026

Efficiency is often mistaken for effectiveness. When we automate the production of a deliverable, we frequently ignore the bottlenecks that exist before and after the act of creation. The following collection looks at the gap between generating more content and actually solving problems. This week, there is again some bias