The Wunsch Werks Dev Log
Committing to the craft
From the Fall of 2015 to the Winter of 2018, I penned a weekly newsletter called This Week’s Program. Over 100 emails chronicled my code-writing journey—commit by commit, week by week—while also touching on industry trends and technological musings. During that time, I wrote a lot of code. I used Clojure to generate music procedurally, combined C with Racket and GStreamer to build a live-streaming audio and video platform, and even conjured up clouds—automating the provisioning of computing resources (though I must say, “Cloud Formation” has a poetic ring to it). This newsletter became my forcing function: a regular commitment that kept me accountable, encouraged reflection, and ensured I maintained momentum in both work and learning.
Now, I'm embarking on a new adventure. Last month, I officially launched a new business venture—Wunsch Werks, a software atelier. For me, writing software has always been a creative endeavor, and with this new publication, I aim to document that experience. I’ll dive into the art and science of leading engineering teams, the intricate dance of product engineering, and the ways we’re all adapting to the rise of AI tools in our creative processes.
Having been hands-on with nearly every part of the engineering pipeline, I’ve learned that while some things—like solid processes and clear communication—are timeless, the landscape around us is constantly shifting. AI, in particular, has redefined what it means to write and think about code. But instead of resisting, I’ve embraced it, experimenting and discovering how these tools can enhance workflows and spark new kinds of creativity.
In this publication, I’ll explore these ideas—what it takes to lead effectively in a world of ever-changing tools, how product engineering is evolving, and why embracing AI might be the secret to unlocking the next level of innovation. I’ll also share insights from the trenches at Wunsch Werks, where I’m putting these theories into practice.
Why “publication” and not “newsletter”? Because I’m planning to experiment with form—podcasting, video, multimedia—it’s all on the table. If you’re up for it, you can subscribe for a modest fee to access my more experimental media ventures and enjoy some candid, less structured thoughts.
I hope you’ll join me.
Your pal,
MW