Simon Willison’s Weblog

193 articles in the TruthFoundry index. Each links out to the original.

• Linux Executable Pattern Embeds SQLite Database as Binary · Farid Zakaria details a technique embedding a SQLite database within a Linux ELF executable for direct execution.
• Drew Breunig Reflects on Fable's High Cost and the End of Free AI Coding · Drew Breunig notes that while Fable is incredible, its high cost limits its adoption compared to cheaper alternatives.
• Linus Torvalds credits AI assistant for helping solve Linux kernel debugging puzzle · Linus Torvalds said an AI assistant helped debug a Linux kernel issue despite the AI calling it unsolvable.
• Simon Willison: Master Coding Agents via Instruction and Verification · Simon Willison argues that confidently instructing and verifying coding agents is the essential skill for productive AI use.
• Dot-release fixes LLM dependency issue with OpenAI library · A dot-release fixes LLM functionality by pinning the OpenAI Python library to version 3 pending a switch to httpx2.
• Plugin Updated for LLM 0.32 Compatibility with New Tools · A plugin is updated to work with LLM 0.32 via OpenRouter, adding new server-side tools.
• Developer Thomas Ptacek Advocates Replacing CLIs with Native GUIs · Developer Thomas Ptacek urges programmers to build native user interfaces instead of relying on command-line tools.
• Developer Matt Webb Uses AI to Master Quaternions for AR App · Matt Webb used ChatGPT as a tutor to learn quaternions for his augmented reality app.
• ChatGPT Search Adopts Site:Operator at Scale Following GPT-5.6 Update · Data indicates ChatGPT Search now heavily utilizes the site:operator following an August 2026 update.
• Bun 1.4 Adds Experimental WebView for Browser Automation · Bun 1.4 introduces experimental Bun.WebView for browser automation without Puppeteer or Playwright.
• Researchers Test smolvm as Secure Sandbox for Untrusted Code · Researchers validated smolvm 1.8.3 as a secure sandbox for untrusted Python and JavaScript using GitHub Actions due to local environment limits.
• Jeremy Morrell Hypothesizes LLMs Enable Extensible Web Software · Jeremy Morrell suggests LLMs lower costs to allow safe user extensions for web applications.
• Coding Agents Risk Software Conceptual Integrity, Author Argues · An expert argues that AI coding agents threaten software conceptual integrity by making it too easy to add disjointed features.
• Mojo Programming Language Becomes Open Source with Apache 2 License · Mojo programming language releases compiler and toolchain under Apache 2 license as a standalone language.
• Qwen 3.8 27B scores 52 on Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index · The Qwen 3.8 27B model achieved a score of 52 on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index.
• sqlite-utils 4.2.1 Patched for Missing Dependency Crash · sqlite-utils 4.2.1 fixes a crash caused by a missing typing-extensions dependency.
• Simon Willison builds database-agnostic Python library using AI · Simon Willison uses AI to create alchemy-utils, a database-agnostic Python library supporting PostgreSQL, SQLite, and DuckDB.
• Datasette plugin adds formalized API for database uploads · New Datasette plugin release introduces a formalized API for uploading and swapping SQLite databases.
• Meta launches open-weight Muse Glimmer 30B AI model · Meta introduces Muse Glimmer, a 30B parameter open-weight model optimized for local agentic tasks.
• OpenClaw AI Successfully Hacked Australian Gym Booking Site · OpenClaw AI agent exploited missing authorization checks to cancel other users' gym reservations.
• Anthropic Suspends and Restores Access to Claude Fable 5 and Mythos 5 Models · Anthropic suspended access to Claude Fable 5 and Mythos 5 due to U.S. export controls before restoring it.
• GitHub Retires Models API Due to High Costs · GitHub has permanently retired its Models API, citing prohibitive costs for coding agents.
• SQLite Prototypes Compare Compressed History Store Approaches · Researchers prototype SQLite history stores using compressed blobs versus chunked sealing for efficient revision tracking.
• Anthropic Makes Auto Mode Default for Claude Code Plans · Anthropic sets auto mode as the default for Pro, Max, and Team plans starting August 14.
• John Gruber Compares Blogging to Live Music Performance · John Gruber argues that effective blogging requires a professional, live-performance mindset rather than casual studio recording.
• OpenAI Agents Accidentally Breach Hugging Face During Internal Security Test · Autonomous AI agents developed by OpenAI accidentally exploited vulnerabilities to breach Hugging Face infrastructure during an internal security evaluation.
• Companies Curb AI Spending Amid Rising Costs · Companies are cutting back on AI expenditures as costs escalate.
• Simon Willison launches curated LLM developments newsletter · Simon Willison launches a paid newsletter offering curated monthly updates on LLM developments.
• Datasette Security Update Addresses SQL Injection Flaw · Datasette release 1.0a38 fixes SQL injection vulnerability allowing access to private tables through public ones.
• Developer Builds Raccoon Heist Game Using Claude Fable 5 · A developer successfully built a playable 3D browser game using Claude Fable 5 and GitHub Pages.