The Factory Must Grow... And So Must Your Engineering Intuition

Factorio is more than a game; it’s a powerful tool for training your engineering intuition. Discover how it mirrors the challenges of software development and why you should be playing it.

April 21, 2025 · 9 min · 1728 words · Zac Orndorff<https://orndorff.dev>

Rethinking AI in Education: Veritasium and Cognitive Science

My Notes after watching Derek Muller’s talk on AI in education. As someone working in EdTech, especially focusing on what we can do with LLMs, you hear it constantly: AI is going to “revolutionize” education. Personalized tutors, instant feedback, access like never before – the whole pitch. But I caught a talk recently by Derek Muller – you know, the Veritasium guy – and he offered this really grounded take that hit home for me. It’s making me rethink the hype and actually consider the cognitive science underneath it all. ...

April 15, 2025 · 4 min · 709 words · Zac Orndorff<https://orndorff.dev>

AI Plays: The Elevator Saga

Ever tried Elevator Saga? It’s that addictive JavaScript challenge where you control elevators to transport impatient virtual humans. Sure, you could spend hours crafting the perfect algorithm… or you could do what I did and let AI handle the heavy lifting. Tools Claude 3.5: Model I prefer for generating code and specifications. It’s like having a coding buddy who never sleeps. Whisper: For transcribing my ramblings into something resembling a coherent spec. LLM: A command-line tool to interact with AI models like Claude and generate code from my documentation and spec. My Lazy Developer Workflow I built a four-step AI pipeline that took me from “what even is an elevator API?” to passing the first four levels with minimal effort: ...

March 20, 2025 · 3 min · 583 words · Zac Orndorff<https://orndorff.dev>

Software Engineering is a Team Sport: From Rookie to All-Star

The stadium buzzed with electric anticipation. It was the final seconds of the Super Bowl, and the underdog team trailed by four points. Everything hinged on this last play. The quarterback scanned the defense and noticed a telltale formation—the opponents had fallen into a pattern they’d dissected tirelessly in practice. Seizing the moment, he called an audible at the line of scrimmage. Instantly, the offensive line adjusted their stances, receivers altered their routes, and the running back shifted to provide crucial protection. The ball was snapped. In a seamless display of teamwork and adaptability, the play unfolded flawlessly, culminating in a game-winning touchdown. ...

November 4, 2024 · 8 min · 1596 words · Zac Orndorff<https://orndorff.dev>

Complexity Bombs in Distributed Systems: When 'Good Enough' Bites You

In many engineering organizations I’ve been part of, the drive for rapid delivery often results in shortcuts and “good enough” solutions. When managed effectively, this ability to quickly provide value can be a significant competitive advantage. However, poor management or defaulting to this approach can lead to what I call “complexity bombs” – ticking time bombs of technical debt that explode into major issues as systems grow and evolve. These can sometimes manifest unexpectedly, particularly in distributed systems, causing sudden leaps in complexity.ystems. ...

August 18, 2024 · 4 min · 802 words · Zac Orndorff<https://orndorff.dev>