# Omar Roth I work on things around operating systems, compilers, tooling, and infrastructure. This is a collection of my posts and notes. This is one page of public article previews, not the complete archive. Follow Next page to continue. Summaries are not the original full articles. ## The value of "AI" is mostly finite DevFeed: [The value of "AI" is mostly finite]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Omar Roth (blog@omar.yt) Published: 2026-05-10T15:57:01Z Content type: opinion Language: en Sources: [Omar Roth]() Topics: [Artificial Intelligence](), [Software](), [Tooling]() Tags: [ai](), [models](), [software](), [tooling](), [tools]() ### AI overview This opinion argues that most AI-generated software is low-value, that the amount of such software that can be produced is finite, and that use of these tools will slow after that supply has been created. ### Source excerpt The amount of hype around "AI" and software tooling is pretty exhausting at this point but most of the output of these models (specifically for software) is low-value, there is a finite amount of this low-value software that can be created using these tools, and usage of these tools will slow once that software has been produced. ## Wayland set the Linux Desktop back by 10 years DevFeed: [Wayland set the Linux Desktop back by 10 years]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Omar Roth (blog@omar.yt) Published: 2026-03-18T11:40:32Z Content type: opinion Language: en Sources: [Omar Roth]() Topics: [Wayland](), [Linux](), [Post Mortem]() Tags: [developer](), [linux](), [post-mortem](), [wayland]() ### AI overview An opinionated engineering post-mortem argues that Wayland misdirected developer effort and harmed Linux desktop users. It frames the discussion around the limitations of existing systems, why they may not be fixable, and the goals and expected timeline of a new project. ### Source excerpt Wayland has been a broad misdirection and misallocation of time and developer resources at the expense of users. If you're not familiar with this space, hopefully it will still be interesting as an engineering post-mortem on taking on new greenfield projects. Namely: What are the issues with what exists, why can they not be fixed, what do we hope to achieve with a new project, and how long do we expect it to take? ## nanotrace: A nanosecond-scale profiler using Intel PT DevFeed: [nanotrace: A nanosecond-scale profiler using Intel PT]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Omar Roth (blog@omar.yt) Published: 2026-02-14T23:09:04Z Content type: article Language: en Sources: [Omar Roth]() Topics: [intel](), [Tooling]() Tags: [intel](), [tooling]() ### AI overview The article presents nanotrace as a nanosecond-scale profiler using Intel PT and frames it as a way to understand performance when more than a billion instructions execute each second. ### Source excerpt How do you profile or understand performance when there are >billion instructions executing every second? ## Limits of Disassembler Performance DevFeed: [Limits of Disassembler Performance]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Omar Roth (blog@omar.yt) Published: 2026-01-04T12:57:58Z Content type: opinion Language: en Sources: [Omar Roth]() Topics: [Software](), [Tooling](), [Artificial Intelligence]() Tags: [ai](), [performance](), [software](), [tooling]() ### AI overview An opinion piece questioning the limits of disassembler performance and criticizing hype around AI and software tooling. It argues that much model-generated software is low-value and that demand for these tools may slow after such software has been produced. ### Source excerpt What are the limits of disassembler performance? ## Why Programmers' Websites Often Look Bad DevFeed: [Why Programmers' Websites Often Look Bad]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Omar Roth (blog@omar.yt) Published: 2025-11-23T19:09:47Z Content type: opinion Language: en Sources: [Omar Roth]() Topics: [Artificial Intelligence](), [Software](), [Tooling](), [Website]() Tags: [ai](), [software](), [tooling](), [website]() ### AI overview The commentary questions the hype surrounding AI and software tooling, arguing that much of the software produced by these models is low-value and that usage may slow after enough of it has been created. ### Source excerpt Why does every programmer's website look so bad? ## Stepping away from open source DevFeed: [Stepping away from open source]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Omar Roth (blog@omar.yt) Published: 2020-08-01T20:34:08Z Content type: opinion Language: en Sources: [Omar Roth]() Topics: [Open Source](), [Development](), [Tooling](), [Software](), [Artificial Intelligence]() Tags: [ai](), [development](), [open-source](), [software](), [tooling]() ### AI overview The author announces that the user-facing portion of invidio.us will shut down on September 1 and that they are stepping away from development. Users can export their data for migration to another instance or self-hosting. The author also criticizes the hype around AI and software tooling, arguing that much AI-generated software is low-value and that tool usage may slow after this software is produced. ### Source excerpt Starting September 1st, I'm shutting down the user-facing portion of invidio.us and stepping away from development. If you have an account on the site, you can export your data here, which will allow you to import everything to another instance or self-host. ## An introduction to syntax.cr DevFeed: [An introduction to syntax.cr]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Omar Roth (blog@omar.yt) Published: 2018-07-10T04:04:15Z Content type: tutorial Language: en Sources: [Omar Roth]() Topics: [Syntax Highlighting](), [Crystal](), [Tooling]() Tags: [crystal](), [ecosystem](), [format](), [highlighting](), [provides](), [syntax](), [syntax-highlighting](), [tool](), [with]() ### AI overview An introduction to syntax.cr, which enables Crystal developers to work with the .tmLanguage ecosystem used for syntax highlighting in popular editors. ### Source excerpt The .tmLanguage format is currently the most popular tool for adding syntax highlighting to popular editors. syntax.cr provides a way to work with that ecosystem from Crystal.