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Practical, Straightforward AI Coding Tips Without the Hype and Noise

👋🏻 I'm Rob Conery and I spent the last few years at Microsoft building amazing tools and helping internal engineers become more efficient with Copilot. It was a thrilling time, and I'm bringing that experience to this site.

I absolutely hate AI marketing hype because it dilutes the power of this tool that is here to stay. It's something you must learn, and I'm here to help you do just that.

AI Is Changing How We Code. This Is a Good Thing.

 

AI-assisted development isn’t about pushing buttons and watching the magic happen. It’s about learning how to leverage context, guide the machine, and stay in control of your workflow. It’s pair programming on steroids if you know how to use it.

This is your unfair advantage: while the noise focuses on quick wins, you’ll be building faster, thinking deeper, and staying ahead. You’ll learn to prompt with clarity, refactor with precision, and automate the boring stuff so you can get back to building the things that matter.

What You'll Find Here

 

I've built a reputation for creating hype-free content that solves a problem for my audience. I have learned a lot during my time at Microsoft, and I'm bringing it all here for you.

No Fluff Posts Get You Up To Speed Quickly

I love writing and diving deep on singular topics. My goal: something actionable and relevant, at least once a week.

Polished Videos For Deeper Concepts

I have been creating video content since 2004, and started one of the very first online training sites for programmers: Tekpub (acquired by Pluralsight). I've built a reputation for both quality and focused content.

Entertaining and Informative Workshops

I built Copilot presentations and workshops for internal engineering teams at Microsoft, both virtually and in-person, and I can do the same for your company too.

Latest Posts

 

I try to post semi-weekly. Sometimes more, sometimes less. Opinions are, of course, my own. They're also plentiful and, hopefully, useful.

How To Write a Prompt

How To Write a Prompt

AI is a simple tool that our code editors are mangling into an over-engineered mess. Underneath all of the confusion is a simple way of thinking which I'll get into here.

Opinion

Using Gemini CLI to Learn Something New

Using Gemini CLI to Learn Something New

Another week, another groovy tool to play with. This time it's Gemini CLI from Google, and it's impressive.

Gemini
Review
Video

Initial Thoughts: Claude Code 2025

Initial Thoughts: Claude Code 2025

I've been using Claude Code for a solid 2 weeks now, completely replacing all tasks that I used to do in Copilot. I love this thing, but there are a few changes I don't love.

Review
Claude
Copilot

Using Claude Code to Learn Something New

Using Claude Code to Learn Something New

Using an LLM to learn something new is a fun process that comes with a few caveats, such as "how can I trust what I'm seeing isn't complete crap?" I'll address all of this in today's video.

Claude
Investigation
Video

Turning a Markdown Spec Into a Database - With Test Data!

Turning a Markdown Spec Into a Database - With Test Data!

Working with AI coding tools takes repetition, and sometimes have a simple task to perform will unlock the process in your mind, and you'll start seeing patterns you never thought possible. Here's a fun task that will hopefully do just that.

Video
Copilot

How To Not Lose Your Job to AI Tools

How To Not Lose Your Job to AI Tools

The people who are complaining loudly about AI are the same ones who are quickly and silently learning it behind the scenes. Our industry is changing, like it does, just be sure you're changing too.

Opinion
Copilot

Stay in the Loop. Build What’s Next.

 

AI is changing how we write software, but not everything worth knowing is on Twitter, YouTube, or in a launch thread.

The Newsletter is a semi-weekly email for developers who want to keep their edge while building with clarity and purpose.

Every issue includes:

  • One actionable task or concept that you can try immediately.
  • Lengthy exploration of topics with the goal of learning what's new.
  • Zero spam. Zero hype. Zero sales-y nonsense. Just the good stuff.