Workhorse is a CLI set of scripts / tools that turns an old laptop into a headless SSH compute/storage node that my main machine offloads to.
Main components are:
- a router script (onpro) that probes the box and runs the command there, falling back to local automatically if it's asleep or unplugged.
- a PreToolUse hook in my AI coding setup intercepts the heavy commands like builds, test suites, ffmpeg, OCR, big pandas jobs. Forces them onto the workhorse instead of melting my MacBook Air.
The agent decides what to run, and a deterministic layer guarantees the heavy stuff lands on the right machine.
Testing Workhorse a bit more before sharing.
Also https://motate.app/ was an attempt to make math writing easier for me (as I recently needed to hold my newborn through most of my LinAlg refresher course) but I've since started trying to figure out how to make it useful for broader science/math writing and education.
Word of caution: A few versions ago of the models (and myself), I learned a hard lesson about generating reference guides. My physics exam performance paid the price. So this is not without risk as with anything AI, and your prompt mileage may vary.
As noted in my own parent comment: I loved reading this (it's too well written it could not be AI despite the emdashes), and especially appreciate any mention of "The Whispering Earring", which is one of my spinning tops to remind me to remain vigilant of my cognitive health despite my almost complete embrace of AI.
I'm a current student, who also happens to be a full-time professional who is "all in on AI", and I think most are missing the true opportunities AI opens up for education.
Because my student path is non-linear (vs just following a life script), I may be a bit weird / not the average student, but it's especially true for me that I'm very intentional about actually learning the things I sign up for classes to learn.
My point is that I'm not taking classes just for the motions or to create slop. With that context, here is how AI helped me very specifically in a recent linear algebra course:
1. I was able to prompt very specific questions, usually audits of my work, in ways that provided responses that were more like a socratic tutor and not a cheating parter. In this way I did not need to bother my professor as much or seek out a tutor, when I was stuck. But I also didnt shortcut my way to answers. I was intentionally limiting the AI assistance to finding small errors or jogging my memory about steps missed or next steps.
2. I vibe coded a note taking web application (started as a chrome plugin for notion) so that I could shortcode and pick math symbols while my other arm was full holding my newborn (yes I'm a dad too). This has since evolved into a full-on science writing platform that I love whether or not anyone else ever uses it (though I am trying to turn it into a business). Maybe I actually ended up adding more work to my math class but it added a layer to the learning (what math symbols are needed, what are typical patterns for this subject, etc) that I think helped with my overall absorbtion of the subject.
I dont know if #2 is transposable to other students or to other subjects but I imagine there is some version of a double major yet to be created that is Core Subject + "how to properly use AI to learn (including vibe coding tools to help yourself and other students)".
There are many other smaller ways AI can be used to help learning (flash cards, generated quizzes, etc) that are oft mentioned but that articles like this gloss over.
Having said that, I loved reading this (so well written it could not be AI despite the emdashes), and especially appreciate any mention of "The Whispering Earring", which is one of my spinning tops to remind me to remain vigilant of my cognitive health despite my almost complete embrace of AI.
Pilling on to say well done on the interactivity and visuals / design overall. I'm working to make producing posts like this universally accessible (http://motate.app/) and posts like yours are an inspiration.
Agree that there will be and should be more scientific writing. I’m building https://motate.app/ to help writing and sharing papers more easy including enhancing with interactive visuals. Also good for math note taking. Not perfect yet but you can use trust and I’ll share on Show HN soon.