WrongoDB Blogging

Overview

Create blog post plans and drafts for the WrongoDB series without re-reading or re-deriving the series structure. Use the canonical prompts embedded below and the image generator script in this repo.

Workflow (plan -> write -> images)

1) Planning a post

• Read the "Planning prompt (canonical)" section below and follow it exactly.
• Before locking the topic, grab inspiration from recent work:
  • Scan git history beyond the last 20 commits and pinpoint the relevant change:
    • git log --oneline --reverse --since="2025-12-01" (widen/narrow dates as needed)
    • git log --oneline -- src/blockfile.rs src/leaf_page.rs src/btree.rs docs/decisions.md (file-focused)
    • git log -S "BlockFile" -S "FULLFSYNC" -S "checkpoint" -S "slot" --oneline (string-focused)
  • Cross-check PLAN.md, docs/decisions.md, blog/SERIES.md
  • Codex session logs for narrative hooks: ~/.codex/sessions and ~/.codex/history.jsonl (use rg for keywords like blockfile, fs_usage, BTree, checkpoint)
• Do not reread or re-discover prior posts; the prompt already encodes the structure and voice.
• Produce a plan with the required sections (Title + hook, scope, 7 beats, decisions, artifact, images, verification).
• If details are uncertain, tag as TO VERIFY.
• Outline clarity guidelines (apply when the user asks for simpler language or stronger pedagogy):
  • Reduce jargon and define any unavoidable terms in plain language.
  • Add a one-sentence definition for the core concept (e.g., “A B+tree is…”).
  • Deepen the “Why” beyond the immediate symptom (e.g., not just “page full,” but why the structure is a standard DB building block).
  • Keep each beat short and explanation-forward (one or two sentences max).
• Aha-moment mining (when planning or revising posts):
  • Scan ~/.codex/sessions and ~/.codex/history.jsonl for the exact questions/confusions you had (e.g., “what the hell is a slot,” “when do we compact?”).
  • Extract 2–4 of those questions and answer them in the post as short, teachable inserts.
• Image planning lessons:
  • Each image prompt must state the story purpose (e.g., “show the durability boundary” or “map trace lines to meaning”), not just the subject.
  • Prefer narrative structures (before/after, timelines, mappings) over generic box-and-arrow diagrams.
  • Specify labels and icons that reinforce the story (e.g., crash bolt, shield, timeline bands).
  • After generation, validate files are real images (file blog/<post-dir>/images/*.png); if invalid or dull, revise prompts and regenerate.
• Story/structure lessons:
  • After any significant change anywhere, re-check that the arc still flows.
  • Introduce new concepts inline before using jargon; keep definitions direct (no metaphors).
  • Use sections for readability; include explicit transitions or “lightbulb” moments where they help.
  • Diagrams must be narrated in the text and placed near the concept they illustrate.
  • Include a brief “how I ran the tool” line in the post when a tool is central; mention other options you did not use.
• Keep series continuity: add a short recap/link to the previous post when relevant; ensure numbering/order is updated.

2) Writing a post

• Read the "Writing prompt (canonical)" section below and follow it exactly.
• Use the plan as the single source of truth; do not add new slices.
• Keep the voice candid, playful, learning-first, “wrong on purpose.”
• Keep the body tight (5–10 minute read).
• Include the images specified in the plan.

3) Generating images

• For each image prompt, run: python blog/generate_image.py "<prompt>" --post <post-dir> --out blog/<post-dir>/images/<NN-short-name>.png
• Prefer sizes/aspects by intent:
  • Hero: --aspect 16:9 --size 2K
  • Diagrams: --aspect 4:3 --size 1K or --aspect 1:1 --size 1K
• Filenames must be prefixed with the order they appear in the post: 01-, 02-, 03-, ...
• If an image prompt is unclear, revise the prompt text first (do not guess).

QA checklist

• Keep TO VERIFY tags until verified against code or notes.
• Confirm the plan matches the thin-slice scope.
• Ensure images were generated with blog/generate_image.py, stored under blog/<post-dir>/images/, and filenames match the post markdown.

Planning prompt (canonical)

Blog Post Planning Prompt (WrongoDB series)

Use this prompt to plan a new post in the WrongoDB devlog series.

Goal

Produce a tight, publish-ready plan for a single new post (5–10 minute read) that advances the series by one thin slice.

Known series DNA (do NOT re-derive)

• Voice: candid, playful, learning-first
• Structure rhythm: hook → context → mental model → one key decision → concrete artifact → why it matters → what’s next.
• Teaching moves: rhetorical questions, crisp definitions, zoom from concept to bytes, explicit layer separation.
• Visual rhythm: 2–4 images per post
• Scope: one slice only, no roadmap dumps.

Planning rules

• Plan the next post using the structure above
• Pick one core concept and one key decision to explain, if not provided by the user.
• Include one concrete artifact to anchor the explanation (code, struct, layout, file header, algorithm step, etc.).
• Prefer examples that can be verified against the repo if needed.
• If details are uncertain, mark as TO VERIFY (do not invent).

Output format

Return a plan with the following sections, in order:

1) Title + Subtitle + One-line hook

• Proposed title
• A meaningful subtitle that sharpens the focus (not a generic label)
• A single-sentence hook that sounds like the existing voice

2) Thin-slice scope

• One sentence: “This post explains … and stops before …”

3) Outline (7 beats)

Use exactly these beats:

1. Hook
2. Context / Why this exists
3. Mental model (diagram candidate)
4. Key decision (trade-off + rationale)
5. Concrete artifact (code/struct/layout)
6. Why it matters (behavior + invariants)
7. What’s next (2–3 bullets)

4) Key decisions

• Decision: …
• Alternatives considered: … (2–3 options max)
• Trade-offs: …

5) Concrete artifact

• Name the artifact and where it lives (file path or conceptual object)
• Bullet list of the 2–4 elements you will show or explain

6) Images

• 2–4 image prompts (short, literal)
• Include the intended filename for each image with an ordered prefix (e.g., 01-..., 02-...)

7) Verification checklist

• 3–6 bullets of facts to verify against code/notes
• If anything is speculative, tag it TO VERIFY

Style constraints for the plan

• Keep each section short; avoid narrative prose.
• Prefer plain language; avoid jargon unless defined.
• If the topic is concept-heavy, include a one-sentence definition in the plan.

Example: acceptable brevity (mini)

• “Key decision: explicit allocation vs implicit append; trade-off: clarity vs convenience.”

Writing prompt (canonical)

Blog Post Writing Prompt (WrongoDB series)

Use this prompt to write a full post from an existing outline created with the planning prompt above. Do not reread or re-discover the existing posts. The structure and voice are already known and summarized here.

Inputs

You will be given a plan that follows the 7-beat outline and includes:

• Title + One-line hook
• Thin-slice scope
• Outline beats
• Key decisions
• Concrete artifact
• Images
• Verification checklist

Goal

Produce a complete markdown post that follows the plan exactly, in the established voice and structure, and is ready to drop into blog/NN-title.md.

Known series DNA (do NOT re-derive)

• Voice: candid, playful, learning-first, “wrong on purpose.”
• Structure rhythm: hook → context → mental model → one key decision → concrete artifact → why it matters → what’s next.
• Teaching moves: rhetorical questions, crisp definitions, zoom from concept to bytes, explicit layer separation.
• Visual rhythm: 2–4 images per post.
• Scope: one slice only, no roadmap dumps.

Writing rules

• Follow the plan’s 7 beats in order.
• Do not add new topics or extra slices.
• Include 2–4 inline images as markdown: ![Alt](images/<NN-filename>.png).
• Image filenames must be prefixed in order of appearance: 01-, 02-, 03-, ...
• Generate images by running python blog/generate_image.py "<prompt>" --post <post-dir> --out blog/<post-dir>/images/<NN-short-name>.png.
• If a fact is uncertain, mark it inline as TO VERIFY and keep going.
• Do not invent code details; only reference file paths or structs if the plan says they exist.
• Avoid markdown links unless the plan explicitly provides them.

Output format

Return a single markdown document with:

1. # Title
2. ## Subtitle
3. Optional hero image (if the plan calls for it)
4. Body sections in a natural flow (no numbered headings required)
5. “What’s next” as a bullet list

Style constraints

• Tight paragraphs (3–6 lines each)
• Occasional rhetorical questions
• Definitions in short, punchy sentences
• Avoid marketing language

Post template (skeleton)