Learn to Ask Before You Build
Good AI work is less about magic prompts and more about context, checks, and honest follow-up questions.
LATEST
ADHD Diary #009: The Documentation Debt That Won't Pay Itself
I just opened a folder on my laptop and counted. 23 markdown files with titles that include some variant of "FINAL", "v2", "actually_final", "FINAL_USE_THIS_ONE", and one called "
Cable Lengths Get Lied About. Here's How to Catch It Before It Wastes a Week.
I have a spreadsheet I started in 2023 because I kept seeing the same problem. Pre-terminated fiber patch cords labeled with a length that didn't match the cord.
It Did Not Start With a Server. It Started With a Chat Window.
The first part of the series: how to start with AI without a computer science degree, without servers, and without pretending you already understand everything.
Single-Mode vs Multi-Mode in 2026 — The Long Argument, Decided
I worked through this debate three times in three different network organisations. The arguments were always the same. Multi-mode is cheaper. Multi-mode is good enough for short reach. Multi-mode is
Your Bend Radius Spec Is Wrong in Hot DC Aisles
The bend-radius spec printed on the jacket of every fiber patch cord is correct. It's also for cold conditions. The number was measured at 23 degrees Celsius in
Connector Contamination Is Still the #1 Optical Fault
I've stood next to a senior fiber technician at three in the morning, in a data hall at 32 degrees, watching them mate a patch cord without inspecting
The Hyperscaler Procurement Playbook, Reverse-Engineered from Public Filings
I get asked a version of this question several times a year. "How do the hyperscalers actually buy optical modules — what are they doing that we should be doing?
Open Line Systems Are Winning — Slowly, Reluctantly, Inevitably
Every major carrier I spoke with in 2020 told me Open Line Systems was a niche play. Maybe useful for greenfield builds, maybe a defensive negotiating tool, maybe interesting for
Lead Times Tell You More Than Vendor Roadmaps
When a module vendor sends you their roadmap slide for the next eighteen months, they're telling you what they want you to plan around. When the same vendor
// projects & tools
Magatama
Unified Security Platform — 6 pillars covering AppSec, Cloud, AI, Pentest, Runtime & Compliance.
magatama.dev →
PeerCortex
Network Intelligence Platform — RPKI, ASPA, BGP Health Reports for 70,000+ networks.
peercortex.org →
GitHub
Open source — PeerCortex, PaperCortex, ShieldX, Transceiver DB & more.
github.com/renefichtmueller →
fichtmueller.org
20+ years in optical networking, ISP infrastructure & peering. Social Networker.
fichtmueller.org →
NOGnet
Global NOG Support Program — empowering Network Operator Groups worldwide.
nognet.net →