What Actually Belongs in My AI Dev Stack in 2026

TL;DR A single AI tool cannot handle everything - a proper AI dev stack in 2026 needs distinct layers for spec writing, fast editing, heavy agentic work, cheap model tasks, review, research, and capture Spec-driven development is the most underused part: writing requirements and acceptance criteria before generation dramatically improves AI output and reduces wasted iterations Tools like Cursor AI handle fast, in-flow editing while Claude Code or Cline are better suited to multi-file refactors and autonomous implementation from specs Letting the same model that generated code also review it is a weak loop - a separate review pass with a different model or explicitly critical prompt is essential The real shift is treating AI not as a bolt-on assistant but as part of the workflow architecture itself, with each tool assigned a clear, specific responsibility There is a big difference between using AI for development and having an actual AI development stack. ...

April 5, 2026 · 9 min · James M

Mac Applications & Utilities

This is the working set of Mac applications I actually use, grouped by the job they do rather than by category of app. Most of these I have paid for at some point - the investment has usually been justified within a week. A handful are free and just happen to be best-in-class. For command-line tooling installed through Homebrew, see the companion Mac Homebrew Packages page. Legend: 🆓 Free - 💰 Paid or Freemium ...

April 4, 2026 · 3 min · James M

From BASIC in 1981 to Claude Code in 2026: What Programming Has Always Been About

I’m sitting at a desk with two machines. One is a 1981 ZX Spectrum, 16KB of RAM, sitting on a desk in my garage. The other is a 2026 MacBook running Claude Code. Between them lie 45 years of computing history. And here’s the thing that struck me recently: I’m still doing the same thing. On the Spectrum, I’m typing: 10 PRINT "HELLO WORLD" 20 INPUT A$ 30 IF A$ = "YES" THEN GOTO 50 40 GOTO 10 50 PRINT "YOU SAID YES" On Claude Code, I’m typing: ...

April 2, 2026 · 9 min · James M

Cursor AI, Spec-Driven Magic, and Why My Entire Development Workflow Just Leveled Up 🤯

TL;DR Cursor AI is an AI-native editor that reads your repo with architectural awareness, reasons across files, and turns complex refactors into simple conversations Integrating GitHub Spec Kit (spec.md, constitution.md, acceptance criteria) gives Cursor a structured foundation it treats as living, authoritative constraints The combined workflow creates a tight loop: refine the spec, ask Cursor to implement, update the spec, generate more code - documentation and code feed each other in real time Key benefits include automatic consistency between spec and code, safer large-scale refactors, and faster onboarding for new contributors These tools don’t replace developers - they eliminate friction between thought and execution, letting you think at a higher level Every so often a tool appears that doesn’t just streamline your workflow - it rewires the way you think about building software. Cursor AI has done exactly that. After years of bouncing between editors, IDEs, extensions, and automation layers, nothing has delivered the same sense of “this is the future of development” as Cursor. ...

December 3, 2025 · 3 min · James M

Polkadot News 2024

2024 Polkadot Ecosystem Developments Key announcements and updates from Polkadot’s 2024 roadmap, including the rollout of Polkadot 2.0 features, ecosystem expansion, and developer initiatives. This year marks a critical period for the network as it transitions from foundational infrastructure to mature ecosystem deployment, with major technical implementations and educational initiatives driving adoption. March 2024 Empowering Next-Level Insights: Dune Brings Polkadot and Kusama Analytics into Focus (March 19) Read on Polkadot Blog Polkadot Blockchain Academy Adds Remote Option for Select Students (March 18) ...

March 19, 2024 · 1 min · James M

Polkadot News 2023

2023 Polkadot Ecosystem Highlights A comprehensive collection of major Polkadot developments, announcements, and insights from 2023, highlighting the network’s evolution toward Polkadot 1.0 and enhanced ecosystem maturity. 2023 was transformative for the network, establishing core technical foundations for scalability and introducing governance improvements that would shape the platform’s direction into 2024 and beyond. December 2023 Polkadot 2023 Roundup (December 24) Read on Medium Polkadot Community Call | December 2023 (December 11) ...

December 24, 2023 · 2 min · James M