Working Notes on Agent Systems/Brad Zhang

@teach_fireworks / X longform

Really, what I feel now is that I can't stop and think seriously. Every day there are n...

Really, what I feel now is that I can't stop and think seriously. Every day there are new things, techniques and interesting open source projects. I am no longer a simple engine...

July 13, 2026 · 1 min read

Really, what I feel now is that I can't stop and think seriously.

Every day there are new things, techniques and interesting open source projects.

I am no longer a simple engineer or architect.

I have to deal with information sources, reading, summarizing, outputting, verification, open source projects, community maintenance, and publicity and promotion.

Even if you find that something you made last week may be outdated a few days later, you will feel excited and helpless, just like riding a roller coaster.

The experience is crazy, you can't stop, you are tired, and you are looking forward to the next day.

It’s been a long time since I opened a book I bought at home.

Whenever I plan to read a chapter, I subconsciously ask Codex to give me a summary, and then I stop reading.

I have to find a way to slow down.

I always subconsciously feel that something is wrong, but I really can’t help myself, Shet.

When I typed this text on my phone, it felt like I was doing a classical ritual.

I still typed with both hands.

There are still seven or eight parallel tasks running on the screen for a day, so keep grinding...

Visual summary

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Generated from the post's content graph

FORMATTOPICCAPABILITYMARKETcoverssignalsFORMATlongform noteTOPICagentic devtoolsMARKETopen-source builders
Mermaid outline
flowchart LR
  format-long_post["longform note"]
  topic-agentic-devtools["agentic devtools"]
  market-open-source-builders["open-source builders"]
  format-long_post -->|covers| topic-agentic-devtools
  format-long_post -->|signals| market-open-source-builders

Visual structure

Essay structure map

Built from summary and key paragraph positions

Really, what I feel now is that I can't stop and think seriously. Every day there are...THESISReally, what I feelnow is that I can'tstop and thinkseriously. Every daySIGNALReally, what I feelnow is that I can'tstop and thinkseriously.OPERATORIt’s been a long timesince I opened a bookI bought at home.IMPLICATIONThere are still sevenor eight paralleltasks running on thescreen for a day, so
Mermaid outline
flowchart LR
  thesis["Really, what I feel now is that I can't stop and think seriously. Every day there are new things, technique..."]
  signal["Really, what I feel now is that I can't stop and think seriously."]
  operator["It’s been a long time since I opened a book I bought at home."]
  implication["There are still seven or eight parallel tasks running on the screen for a day, so keep grinding..."]
  thesis -->|frames| signal
  signal -->|develops| operator
  operator -->|lands in| implication

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