Bob Roberts

Senior Software Engineer building with Rails & React

Hi, I’m Bob Roberts

I’m a Senior Software Engineer in Madison, Wisconsin. For 15+ years I’ve built web applications with Ruby on Rails for startups and established brands, remote and in-house. I like small, accountable teams, clear outcomes, and shipping iteratively.

What you’ll find here

• Practical Rails patterns you can copy and extend
• Notes on product decisions, trade-offs, and the business side of features
• Mentoring, leadership, and teamwork lessons from the field

Latest Posts

Vibe Coding vs AI-Assisted Coding: Understanding the Difference and Why It Matters

Vibe coding and AI-assisted coding aren't just different words for the same thing. They represent fundamentally different approaches to building software, with real implications for skill development, code quality, and...

Read more →

What's New in Claude OS v2.3: Skills Library, Session Insights, and 100+ Stars

Two months ago we launched Claude OS. Now we're at 100+ stars with a skills library, session insights, and a real community. Here's what's new.

Read more →

Why we built Claude OS (and what it actually is)

After the hundredth time explaining the same architecture to Claude, I finally admitted the obvious: we needed AI with actual memory. Here's what we built and why it matters.

Read more →

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Recent Posts

Vibe Coding vs AI-Assisted Coding: Understanding the Difference and Why It Matters

Vibe coding and AI-assisted coding aren't just different words for the same thing. They represent fundamentally different approaches to building software, with real implications for skill development, code quality, and...

aicodingdevelopment-toolsproductivity

Read more →

What's New in Claude OS v2.3: Skills Library, Session Insights, and 100+ Stars

Two months ago we launched Claude OS. Now we're at 100+ stars with a skills library, session insights, and a real community. Here's what's new.

claudeaidevelopment-toolsragsqliteproductivityskills

Read more →

Why we built Claude OS (and what it actually is)

After the hundredth time explaining the same architecture to Claude, I finally admitted the obvious: we needed AI with actual memory. Here's what we built and why it matters.

claudeaidevelopment-toolsragsqliteproductivity

Read more →

The Future of Rails: Bridging the Generation Gap

Rails has lived through multiple generations. The gap between them is real, but it doesn't have to be a divide. How we bridge these generations will shape Rails' next chapter....

railscommunitymentorshipfutureculture

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Mentorship in Rails: From One-on-One to At-Scale

How Rails mentorship evolved from intimate one-on-one relationships to scaled approaches. What we kept, what we lost, and what we're still figuring out.

railsmentorshipbootcampscareerteaching

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From Mailing Lists to Slack: How Rails Culture Shifted

The way Rails developers find help has changed completely. What we gained and lost in the shift from mailing lists to instant answers.

railsmentorshipcommunityculturecommunication

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