Research, field notes, the build log.
Everything we publish, in one place. Research on habit science and what actually drives long-term adherence. Field notes on the routines we’re building, the hardware we’re designing, and the voices we’re reading. No corporate voice, no schedule.
Routines vs Habits: A Working Framework
People use these words interchangeably. They shouldn't. The distinction actually matters for what you build, what you track, and what you expect.
The Surface Hypothesis: Why the Same Routine Runs Differently on Different Devices
A working theory on why adherence to routines depends as much on the surface the routine runs on as on the routine itself — and what that implies for software, hardware, and everyday practice.
Why Surface Matters — And How to Get the Most Out of Routines on Your Phone
Phones are great at a lot. They're tough on the quiet rituals — the mornings, the shutdowns, the wind-downs. Here's why that matters, and how to run routines well on one anyway.
The Execution Gap: Why Tracking Habits Doesn't Work
The problem with habit trackers isn't the tracking. It's that they measure the wrong half of the loop.
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An inside view of what’s being built. New writing, hardware updates, voices we’re listening to, and occasional polls on what to ship next. No schedule, just signal.
A note on the writing: we believe in transparency. Routine OS is a passion project, shipped in the margins of busy days. AI helps with research, synthesis, and drafting so the thinking reaches you; the ideas, editorial direction, and final voice stay human.