John Gruber — Writer, developer, and creator of Markdown, known for building influential tools and utilities for writers and developers, and for shaping modern web writing, typography, and developer workflows through elegant, minimal software.
69 articles from this blog
Analysis of the metaverse hype cycle, debunking it as snake oil for isolation during the pandemic.
A satirical article defining 'dickover' as annoying modal panels that obstruct web content, criticizing cookie consent and newsletter popups.
Analysis of typography choices across U.S. federal courts, comparing fonts like Times New Roman, Palatino, and Century Schoolbook.
Analysis of AI as a foundational technology rather than a standalone product, critiquing industry hype and Apple's product-first approach.
Review of Nextpad++, a Mac port of Notepad++ built using AI vibe-coding, discussing its alien feel on macOS.
Analysis of software quality bifurcation, contrasting independent developers' obsession with quality against big companies' declining UI design.
Analysis of Y Combinator's stake in OpenAI and its implications for Sam Altman's trustworthiness.
Analysis of Bloomberg's 2024 report on John Ternus as Tim Cook's likely successor at Apple, with commentary on CEO transition claims.
Analysis of Tim Cook's transition to Apple chairman and John Ternus becoming CEO, reflecting on Apple's current success and future direction.
Analysis of why App Store star ratings are flawed, suggesting a thumbs-up/down system and removal of review prompts.
Analysis of potential names for Apple's foldable iPhone, discussing 'iPhone Ultra' and 'iPhone Duo' as alternatives to 'iPhone Fold'.
A tutorial on creating an AppleScript to save MarsEdit blog drafts as text files, enhancing a blogger's workflow.
A critique of modern web design, arguing that user frustration is an intentional product of ad-driven metrics and hostile UX.
Analysis of Tim Cook's interview and CNBC's misleading headline about his retirement rumors and Apple's executive departures.
Explains why the MacBook Neo's on-screen camera indicator is as secure as a hardware light, due to Apple's secure enclave architecture.
Analysis of Apple's inconsistent naming for the 'Web Kit' framework, debating 'Web Kit' vs. 'WebKit' spelling.
Explains the correct order for listing modifier keys (Fn, Control, Option, Shift, Command) in Mac keyboard shortcuts, per Apple's style guide.
Analysis of Apple's MacBook Neo, a $600 laptop using the iPhone's A18 Pro chip, and its performance compared to Intel-based Macs and the Apple Silicon transition.
A review of the iPhone 17e, focusing on its 'speed bump' hardware updates and the significant addition of MagSafe compared to its predecessor.
Review of HazeOver, a Mac utility that dims background windows to highlight the active one, solving a macOS UI problem.
