Alex Johnson

Notes on life, code, and the occasional good photograph.

What I've been reading lately

A mix of technical papers and fiction this month. I finally finished a book on distributed systems I'd been putting off for two years. Turns out it was excellent — highly recommended if you care about how data moves across networks.

Winter light and a new lens

Picked up a 35mm prime last autumn and have barely put it down. Winter mornings offer this particular flat, diffused light that makes even ordinary street scenes feel considered. A few favorites below — taken on my walk to the coffee shop.

Thoughts on quiet tools

The best software I use has one thing in common: it stays out of the way. No notifications, no growth metrics, no engagement loops. Just something that does its job and closes. I've been thinking about what it would take to build more things like that.