OBSERVABILITY Signal 51
Dave Task Manager author ships AI-built versions for Windows, Mac, and Linux
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Dave Plummer, the original author of Windows Task Manager, has released new versions for Windows, Mac, and Linux using AI to test whether vibe coding can produce useful software.
This is a real-world test of AI-assisted development on a well-known utility, showing that a detailed specification and AI-generated code can yield a functional, efficient tool. It also highlights the trade-offs of native cross-platform UI versus Electron, and the importance of testing and instrumentation in AI-generated code.
Written by elseif from the cluster below · every claim links back to a sourceThe three things worth knowing
The new versions are native cross-platform apps using Swift, Direct2D/DirectComposition, and Qt instead of Electron.
The Windows version is roughly half the size and uses half the RAM of Microsoft's Task Manager.
The code is proprietary for now, with a paid Pro version planned and a price not yet set.
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