Overview

December 2025 was a transformative month marked by deep exploration of AI-powered automation, experimentation with new development tools, and thoughtful reflection on the evolving tech landscape. The posts reveal a journey from testing AI models and MCP connections to building custom web applications, while maintaining critical perspectives on AI adoption, Apple’s direction, and the sustainability of emerging technologies.

🤖 1. Artificial Intelligence & Model Exploration

This month saw extensive experimentation with different AI models and their capabilities. The exploration began with testing Claude as an alternative to ChatGPT, driven by interest in MCP (Model Context Protocol) connections. While Claude’s pricing is comparable to ChatGPT, the user found Claude’s presentation and interface more appealing—warmer and friendlier without the false intimacy of trying to present itself as a human friend.

A significant discovery involved comparing Claude Sonnet 4.5 and Opus 4.5 models. The Opus model proved substantially more effective at working through MCP connections to Craft, though at a considerable cost in credits. This led to important reflections on the expense of consuming AI services, particularly when combining interactive subscriptions with API-based consumption. The user also experimented with using ChatGPT and Claude in group conversations to address health-related concerns, finding AI assistance more helpful than traditional web searches.

By month’s end, the user had hit their Claude AI credits allotment while exploring n8n MCP endpoints and API connections, demonstrating the rapid consumption of credits during active experimentation.

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🍎 2. Apple, Design Leadership & Innovation

Apple dominated the conversation this month, particularly following leadership changes. The departure of Jony Ive’s successor and the appointment of Steve Lemay as design lead sparked considerable discussion about the company’s future direction. The user expressed belief in talent renewal and new dynamics, viewing the leadership transition as an opportunity for fresh perspectives, though acknowledging that major changes may take time to materialize.

The broader concern centered on Apple’s apparent loss of innovation momentum. Several posts questioned whether Apple could regain its position as an innovator, particularly as talented engineers departed to companies like OpenAI. The user noted that recent departures suggest these engineers are seeking opportunities to “innovate for real” at companies working on new device classes.

Critical attention was also paid to Apple Intelligence and Siri, with questions about why Apple hasn’t updated its Foundation Model as frequently as competitors update their models. The user expressed skepticism about Apple’s ability to deliver on promised improvements, noting that while Apple remains the underdog, a bug-fix focus rather than feature-rushing would be more beneficial.

Additionally, the user documented issues with Apple’s Liquid Glass implementation affecting user experience and explored the potential of Tony Fadell as a CEO candidate, weighing nostalgia against the need for design-centered innovation in a changed world.

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🛠️ 3. Automation & Workflow Development

December marked a significant shift toward hands-on automation experimentation. The user created a workflow to assist with year-in-review article writing, documented in a Craft document and submitted to a Craft Winter Challenge (ultimately winning third place and a $500 prize). This project represented the first real use case for MCP connections.

The exploration of n8n (a self-hosted automation platform) became a major focus. Initially considering moving from IFTTT to n8n on DigitalOcean, the user successfully deployed an n8n instance and began systematic experimentation. Rather than building complex workflows immediately, the approach was methodical: individual integration tests with services like Craft, Micro.blog, Ghost, and Inoreader, building blocks for larger automations.

A breakthrough came with the creation of an n8n automation that generates a Craft Daily note with daily topics automatically. The user appreciated the programmatic approach over templates, as it enables more powerful content creation through API consumption. By month’s end, the user had enabled both n8n MCP endpoints and API endpoints, allowing interaction with n8n from Claude via multiple connection methods.

The biggest challenge identified was data manipulation (arrays, JSON, data extraction), though the user found the process rewarding when successful.

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💻 4. Web Development & Vercel Experimentation

A new area of exploration emerged with Vercel, a platform for deploying web applications. The user built two web apps entirely with Claude AI assistance: a form for posting to Scribbles.page and a Micro.blog poster web app. The latter received particular attention, as it provided a cleaner UI with title and category fields shown by default—addressing a gap in Micro.blog’s native interface.

The Micro.blog poster app generated unexpected interest and positive reactions from the community. While some requested the code be open-sourced, the user respectfully declined, preferring to encourage others to follow the same experimental path rather than take on support obligations. The user noted that building with Claude and Vercel diminished the earlier desire to expand Apple Shortcuts knowledge, as the web development approach proved more satisfying.

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🔍 5. Critical Perspectives on Technology & AI Adoption

The user maintained a critical stance on several technology trends. A significant post titled “Think Different” cautioned against the overflow of AI enthusiasm, particularly the systematic transfer of AI excitement across all employment categories. The argument emphasized that contexts differ greatly, professions are diverse, and small variations in requirements can reduce AI applicability to nearly zero. The user warned against the potential bubble forming around AI hype.

Another critical perspective addressed the contradiction between defending web openness while using centralized platforms like X (formerly Twitter). The user argued that sharing on X in 2025 represents “an act of contribution toward fascism” rather than openness, urging people to leave the platform.

Regarding Apple Shortcuts, the user expressed skepticism about “vibe coding” for complex systems and maintenance, while wishing Apple would provide a textual representation (like AppleScript) for Shortcuts, potentially with Apple Intelligence integration.

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📚 6. Learning & Professional Development

The user reflected on learning approaches in the age of AI. A post titled “Learning in the Age of AI” contrasted the challenging, self-directed learning required to develop iPhone apps (2009-2013) with current n8n automation projects. The key difference: AI assistance provides reassurance and support for learning challenges that would have required extensive Stack Overflow searches in the past. Without AI, the user acknowledged they probably wouldn’t pursue the current automation project.

The learning approach for n8n was deliberately methodical: building individual integration tests rather than attempting complex workflows immediately, mirroring the bottom-up approach used when learning Objective-C and Interface Builder for iPhone development.

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🌐 7. Web Services, Analytics & Infrastructure

The user explored various web services and infrastructure decisions. A post titled “Saved 50 Minutes” highlighted using YouTube’s AI feature to quickly answer specific questions about video content without watching the full video—raising questions about engagement metrics and Google’s strategic intentions.

Web analytics received critical attention, with the user comparing three different analytics platforms (Ghost Analytics, Plausible Analytics, and Tinylytics) for the same period. The results showed significant discrepancies: Plausible appeared conservative with about half the unique visitors of Ghost, while Tinylytics seemed to overestimate. The patterns barely aligned, raising the question: “Who’s right?”

Infrastructure decisions included exploring Synology NAS backup options (finding Synology C2 as the cheapest but still expensive option) and considering RAM upgrades to enable n8n container installation on a Synology DS720+.

The user also officially shut down their IFTTT account after over five years of use, citing that IFTTT had fallen behind competitive offerings like Zapier, Make, and n8n, and lacked user-friendly debugging features.

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🎯 8. Craft & Inoreader: 2025 Highlights

A dedicated post celebrated two apps that received meaningful updates in 2025: Craft and Inoreader. Craft added long-awaited tag support, along with APIs and MCP support—features the user considers transformative and likely to bring new users to the platform. The user positioned Craft as central to their creative journey and noted they’re barely scratching the surface of Craft’s API capabilities.

Inoreader also received significant updates focused on AI-based empowerment: article summaries, podcast and video transcriptions, and tag suggestions. The user described Inoreader as an essential part of their digital toolset.

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🔮 9. Looking Ahead: 2026 Priorities & Concerns

The user outlined key areas to monitor in 2026, including Ghost.org’s Fediverse integration, Plausible Analytics' API exposure, Craft’s continued evolution, Apple’s delivery on Intelligence and Siri promises, Micro.blog feature additions, the sustainability of Anthropic and OpenAI offerings, Inoreader’s steady evolution, and whether Things to-do manager will reach version 4.

A critical concern centered on potential “enshittification” of AI offerings by Anthropic and OpenAI, with the user expressing greater trust in Anthropic maintaining quality longer than OpenAI. The user also published a separate piece on “AI in 2026: It’s About Connecting the Dots,” though noted they forgot to mention enshittification risks in that article.

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📋 Mentioned Apps, Products & Services

AI & Automation:

  • Claude (Anthropic)
  • ChatGPT (OpenAI)
  • n8n (self-hosted automation platform)
  • Vercel (web application deployment)

Content & Publishing:

  • Craft (document/note-taking with APIs and MCP)
  • Ghost (blogging platform)
  • Micro.blog (microblogging platform)
  • Scribbles.page (publishing service)
  • Inoreader (RSS reader with AI features)

Analytics & Monitoring:

  • Ghost Analytics
  • Plausible Analytics
  • Tinylytics
  • Kagi Search (with Article Summarizer)

Infrastructure & Hosting:

  • DigitalOcean (cloud hosting)
  • Synology (NAS devices: DS720+)
  • Synology C2 (cloud backup)
  • UniFi Travel Router

Productivity & Development:

  • Apple Shortcuts
  • Apple Keynote
  • Apple Freeform
  • Discord
  • Things (to-do manager)
  • Day One (journaling app)

Web & Design Tools:

  • WordPress
  • Elements (CMS by Realmac Software)
  • Photomator
  • Pixelmator

Automation & Integration (Legacy):

  • IFTTT (discontinued by user)
  • Zapier
  • Make

Other Services:

  • YouTube (AI video summarization feature)
  • Tinylytics (website monitoring with webhook support)
  • Apple Intelligence
  • Apple Foundation Model