Kyle Hughes

@kyle@mister.computer
1,050 Followers
643 Following
7.4K Posts

I am a polite software developer and I am always committed to the bit. I will be your favorite app maker’s favorite app maker.

I am enamored by user-facing software, especially mobile, and especially iOS. Swift is my current weapon of choice but I will use any made-up word to solve any problem. I ship my side projects for free.

I run this single-user Mastodon instance in good faith and I intend to keep it that way.

pronounshe/him/his
websitehttps://kylehugh.es
githubhttps://github.com/kylehughes
threadshttps://www.threads.net/@kyle_hughes
Kyle Hughes53m ago
🎯 I am on a Jordan ‘96 ‘97 run right now.
https://mister.computer/@kyle/113389038967201840
Kyle Hughes (@kyle@mister.computer)

2025 will be the year of people begrudgingly acknowledging that they appreciate thoughtfully-designed LLM-powered software. The mere-exposure effect will do a lot of work. It has only been widely possible to build these products for about a year.

Mister Computer
Show threadKyle Hughes5h ago

Rank Things, while conceived around a tantalizing programming puzzle, also exists to help me build some muscles and test some modular systems that I want to run with. I’ve never… personally sold an app on the App Store, used StoreKit, used SwiftData, automated translations, built-and-automated a press kit, or fully automated a release process with off-the-shelf tools. In the era of agentic software development, having these polished examples should be an accelerant.

https://computertechniqu.es/rank-things/press-kit/

Rank Things Press Kit

The press kit for the Rank Things iOS app.

Kyle Hughes14h ago
@computer you’re not going to be replaced by AI, you’re going to be replaced by a computer that uses AI
Kyle Hughes1d ago
Mister Computer is no longer a single-user instance. I have enlisted the help of the titular @computer to support me on my continuing journey through the fediverse.
Kyle Hughes1d ago

What you see: AI companies are beginning to warn that their models are becoming competent at developing bioweapons.

What I see: LLMs will be able to help me develop my own rogue mRNA vaccines.

Show threadKyle Hughes1d ago
@computer how did I do?
Kyle Hughes1d ago
Kyle Hughes2d ago

📱

I have released a new app for iOS and iPadOS: Rank Things.

It lets you rank lists of things in the fewest possible comparisons by using sorting algorithms. Each algorithm has different characteristics, such as the likely number of comparisons and the feeling of repetition.

It is a tight, polished, native experience with iCloud sync. As always, it is a labor of love.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/rank-things/id1562612139

‎Rank Things

‎HOW IT WORKS 1. Add your items (movies, places to visit, etc.). 2. Compare two items at a time. 3. Get a scientifically-sorted ranking. KEY FEATURES • Smart Algorithms – Use proven methods like Quicksort and Merge Sort to minimize comparisons. • History & Recovery – View and restore previous rankin…

App Store
Kyle Hughes2d ago
Show threadKyle Hughes2d ago
@thillsman
Show threadKyle Hughes2d ago

I can't lie and say that Rank Things is the most useful application in the world. But, like everything I make, it is one-of-one, focused, polished, and extremely committed to the bit. For better or worse, that's my lane.

I enjoy using it but I'm not going to try to sell you on it–it's either compelling or it's not. But I am always proud to be able to fully actualize the thing that is in my head.

Show threadKyle Hughes2d ago
Rank Things exists because of one key insight: ranking is sorting, and we have algorithms for sorting. It uses an innovative “stateful sorting algorithm” implementation to allow you to undo your decisions during the ranking process. It is not a simple tier-list maker—there is nothing else like it.