Building dev tools for AI coding.

Focused on developer tools that improve how we build with AI. Working on making AI-generated code more reliable and the development experience more intuitive. Building MCP servers for Node.js debugging and tree-sitter interfaces, iOS testing tools, and publishing platforms.

Left Meta to explore what’s possible with AI.

While still at Meta, started experimenting with LLMs outside of work hours and built Earlyworm, a language learning iOS app. Left Meta in 2024 to explore what was possible with AI full-time. Created an open-source AI coding agent and built an AI-native ERP extension for building materials distributors.

Did independent research on ARC-AGI exploring diffusion models. Built a Node.js autonomous coding agent, a drag/drop website builder with AI function wiring, an AI-powered frontend component builder, and an ecommerce ad generator.

Newsfeed ads, then Rayban Meta.

Shipped a newsfeed ads project that had been stuck in data science for years, using a lightweight architecture that avoided a full backend rebuild. Then moved to the Rayban Meta team, where I focused on operational excellence and early LLM tooling.

Building an OS and researching user experience.

Left DayDayCook in 2018 to join Meta and work on a new operating system for AR/VR devices. Worked on the UI framework and app model, and did user experience research. Interesting challenges around running apps across multiple processes for security and performance, and building rich applications where their entire interface with the system is via IPC.

Shipping to millions across Asia.

Worked on DayDayCook’s iOS app. We made Apple’s top 10 app list in Hong Kong in 2016 and were featured in the WWDC 2017 video. It was my first time seeing something I worked on reach that many people, and understanding what it takes to ship software that holds up at scale.

Moved to China, learned to code.

Moved to Nanjing to study Chinese, then Shanghai to work. Shanghai was where I really learned to program. The city had an energy that made you want to build things, and the combination of being in a new place and having something concrete to work on every day was formative.

Nelson County and UVA.

Grew up in Nelson County, a small county with less than 15,000 people and 600 in my high school. Valedictorian, all-district golf, basketball state champion. Also played guitar and saxophone in the jazz band.

Went to University of Virginia and studied international relations and Chinese language. Wrote research papers in Chinese on energy security, currency policy, and other IR topics.