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Like features, tokens can create little piles of technical debt.

(From: Every token is a feature - daverupert.com)

The value of component libraries that have accessibility ‘built in’ is both immense and often overstated. Two sides of the same coin: yes they're good, but yes it's also risky to say they are some sort of one size fits all solution. They're a blessing and a curse.

Michael Matthews at A11y Quest explains:

merely using an accessible library or framework doesn’t mean your team has somehow outsourced all its accessibility responsibilities

(From: The Myth of 'Accessible Components and Done' | A11y Quest)

He goes on to say in addition to maybe benefitting from an accessible component library, you need to make informed decisions, test with users and ensure expertise within your team. Amen to that!

Today, OpenAI is announcing that its technology will be deployed directly on the battlefield.

(From: OpenAI's new defense contract completes its military pivot | MIT Technology Review)

They weren't going to, but now they are…

Big tech doesn't seem against building technology to aid deportation:

The Intercept posed the same question to each company, and requested a yes or no response: Would your company provide the Trump administration with data or other technical services to help facilitate mass deportation operations, either voluntarily, in response to a legal request, or via a paid contract?

(From: These Tech Firms Won’t Tell Us If They Will Help Trump Deport Immigrants)

Keith Cirkel:

I recently made my 100th patch to browser engines, which I consider somewhat of a milestone.

(From: 100 patches to 5 browsers in 18 months - Keith Cirkel)

Yeah, wow, that is a milestone and very impressive read. Interesting to learn more about what it involves.

culture change is creating the conditions that make it easier to choose to do the right thing, to close the gap between your enacted values and your stated values

(From: the values of work | The Roof is on Phire)

Kilian explains that you usually want to avoid autofocus:

there's a place where autofocus shines: On single-purpose pages containing forms.

(From: Starting off right: Where autofocus shines - HTMHell)

I’m a fan of the Bluesky leadership and engineering team. With the VC money as fuel, I expect their next 12 months or so to be golden, with lots of groovy features and mind-blowing growth. But that’s not what I’ll be watching.

I’ll be looking for ecosystem growth in directions that enable survival independent of the company. In the way that email is independent of any technology provider or network operator.

(From: ongoing by Tim Bray · Why Not Bluesky)

Love this new series by Tetralogical, who photographed and chatted with people with disabilities about what they do and how they use the web.

Meet Steve, a photographer from London who is deaf and low vision. He is an ex-civil servant who then went on to do freelance technology journalism and travelled the world.

(From: Meet Steve: a photographer who is deaf and low vision - TetraLogical)

Writer Joanna Maciejewska on Threads (29 March 2024):

You know what the biggest problem with pushing all-things-AI is? Wrong direction. I want AI to do my laundry and dishes so that I can do art and writing, not for AI to do my art and writing so that I can do my laundry and dishes.

(From: Threads)