AI Frontier Site Management Guide

A comprehensive guide for managing your “Field Notes from the AI Frontier” Jekyll site.

🚀 Quick Start Commands

Start Local Development Server

bundle exec jekyll serve --livereload --port 4001

Site will be available at: http://localhost:4001
Auto-refreshes when you make changes

Build Site for Production

bundle exec jekyll build

Stop Jekyll Server

Press Ctrl+C in terminal, or:
```
pkill -f "jekyll serve"
```

📝 Creating Content

📰 New Blog Post

Field Notes (Research Paper Analysis)

# Create new file in _posts/
_posts/YYYY-MM-DD-title-of-post.md

Template:

---
layout: post
title: "Understanding GPT-4 Architecture: Key Insights"
description: >
  Analysis of the latest GPT-4 research paper and what it means for practitioners
  building AI systems.
categories: [field-notes]
tags: [research-log, llm, gpt, architecture]
author: author1
---

# Key Findings

## Background
Brief context about the research...

## Main Insights
1. **Architecture Changes**: What's different...
2. **Performance Improvements**: Quantified results...
3. **Practical Applications**: How to apply...

## Takeaways for Practitioners
- Actionable insight 1
- Actionable insight 2

## Related Work
- Links to related papers
- Previous analysis in your Field Notes

---

**Sources:**
- [Paper Title](link-to-paper)
- [Related Research](link)

Build Logs (Technical Projects)

---
layout: post
title: "Building a GPT-Powered Research Assistant"
description: >
  Complete walkthrough of creating an AI research assistant using Airtable, 
  Apify, and GPT integration.
categories: [build-logs]
tags: [project-log, gpt, airtable, apify, automation]
author: author1
---

# Project Overview

**Problem:** Manual research paper curation is time-consuming...
**Solution:** AI-powered system that...

## Tech Stack
- **AI**: OpenAI GPT-4
- **Database**: Airtable
- **Web Scraping**: Apify
- **Infrastructure**: Google Cloud Functions

## Implementation Steps

### Step 1: Setup Airtable Base
```javascript
// Code examples with explanations

Step 2: Configure Apify Scrapers

Details of scraper configuration…

Step 3: GPT Integration

How to connect and prompt engineering…

Lessons Learned

What worked well
What didn’t work
What I’d do differently

Next Iterations

Planned improvements
Additional features ```

Mental Models (Strategic Essays)

---
layout: post
title: "AI Agents vs. Automation: A Decision Framework"
description: >
  Strategic framework for understanding when to use AI agents versus 
  traditional automation in business processes.
categories: [mental-models]
tags: [mental-models, strategy, agents, automation]
author: author1
---

# The Core Question

When building intelligent systems, how do you decide between...

## Framework: The AGENT Matrix

### A - Autonomy Required
Does the task require independent decision-making?

### G - Generative Output  
Does it need to create new content/solutions?

### E - Environmental Adaptation
Must it adapt to changing conditions?

### N - Natural Language Processing
Does it involve complex language understanding?

### T - Task Complexity
How variable and complex are the inputs?

## Decision Tree
[Visual diagram or flowchart]

## Real-World Applications
- **Use Agents When**: Examples...
- **Use Automation When**: Examples...

## Implementation Guidelines
Practical steps for applying this framework...

Dispatches (Quick Updates)

---
layout: post
title: "Weekly Dispatches: January 15, 2025"
description: >
  This week's interesting AI developments, tools I'm testing, 
  and quick observations from the frontier.
categories: [dispatches]
tags: [dispatch, weekly, tools, observations]
author: author1
---

# This Week's Highlights

## 🔍 Research Radar
- **Paper of the week**: [Title](link) - Why it matters...
- **Emerging pattern**: Trend I'm tracking...

## 🔧 Tools I'm Testing
- **Tool Name**: What it does, first impressions
- **Another Tool**: Quick assessment

## 💭 Random Observations
- Insight about AI adoption...
- Thought about cognitive amplification...

## 📚 Worth Reading
- [Article Title](link) - Why it's valuable
- [Research Paper](link) - Key takeaway

## 🤔 Open Questions
- Question I'm pondering this week
- Area I want to explore further

🎯 Updating Content

📍 Update Now Page

File: now.md

Structure:

---
layout: page
title: Now
description: >
  What I'm actively working on, learning, and exploring at the AI frontier.
hide_description: false
---

# 📍 What I'm Doing Now

*Last updated: [CURRENT DATE]*

## 🎯 Current Sprint
**Focus:** [Current main focus]
**Timeline:** [Time period]

### Active Projects
- **Project 1** - Description
- **Project 2** - Description

## 📚 Learning Focus
### Technical Skills
- **AWS Certification** - Progress update
- **New Framework** - What you're learning

### Research Areas  
- **Topic 1** - Current exploration
- **Topic 2** - Questions you're investigating

## 🤔 Open Questions I'm Exploring
1. **Question 1:** What's the real difference...
2. **Question 2:** How can AI tools...

## 🔄 Current Experiments
- **Experiment 1:** Description
- **Experiment 2:** What you're testing

## 📈 What's Coming Next
### Short-term Goals
- Goal 1
- Goal 2

### Longer-term Vision  
- Vision point 1
- Vision point 2

📄 Update Resume

Data File: _data/resume.yml

Add New Work Experience

work:
  - company: "New Company"
    position: "Your Title" 
    website: "https://company.com"
    startDate: "2025-01-01"
    endDate: null  # null for current position
    summary: >
      Description of role and focus areas.
    highlights:
      - "Achievement 1 with metrics"
      - "Achievement 2 with impact"
      - "Achievement 3 with results"
  
  # Previous experience...
  - company: "Previous Company"
    # ... existing entries

Add New Skills

skills:
  - name: "New Skill Category"
    level: "Advanced"  # Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Master
    keywords:
      - "Specific Tool 1"
      - "Specific Tool 2"
      - "Framework/Method"

Add Education/Certifications

education:
  - institution: "Certification Body"
    area: "Specialty Area"
    studyType: "Certification"
    startDate: "2025-01-01"
    endDate: "2025-06-01"
    gpa: ""
    courses:
      - "Course 1"
      - "Course 2"

Add Publications

publications:
  - name: "Article/Post Title"
    publisher: "jasonleinart.com"
    releaseDate: "2025-01-01"
    website: "https://jasonleinart.com/link-to-post/"
    summary: "Brief description of the content and its value."

File: _config.yml

Find the profiles section in your resume data:

# In _data/resume.yml under basics:
profiles:
  - network: "GitHub" 
    username: "jasonleinart"
    url: "https://github.com/jasonleinart"
  - network: "LinkedIn"
    username: "Jason Leinart"
    url: "https://linkedin.com/in/jasonleinart"
  - network: "Twitter"  # Add new platform
    username: "@yourusername"
    url: "https://twitter.com/yourusername"

Update Contact Information

File: _data/resume.yml

basics:
  email: "jason@jasonleinart.com"
  phone: "(optional)"
  website: "https://jasonleinart.com"

🎨 Visual Updates

Replace Logo

Add new logo: Save to assets/img/new-logo.png
Update config: In _config.yml:
```
logo: /assets/img/new-logo.png
```

Replace Background Image

Add new background: Save to assets/img/new-background.jpg

Update config: In _config.yml:

accent_image: /assets/img/new-background.jpg

Use Solid Color Background (Alternative)

accent_image:
  background: rgb(25,55,71)  # Dark blue-gray
  overlay: false

Update Colors

accent_color: rgb(79,177,186)  # Teal accent
theme_color: rgb(25,55,71)     # Dark theme

📊 Site Configuration

Update Site Information

File: _config.yml

# Basic site info
title: Jason Leinart
description: >
  Field Notes from the AI Frontier. Exploring automation, intelligence, 
  and the systems that shape our future.
tagline: Field Notes from the AI Frontier

# Contact & feed info
feed:
  name: Jason Leinart
  email: jason@jasonleinart.com

# Copyright
copyright: © 2025 Jason Leinart. All rights reserved.

File: _config.yml

menu:
  - title: Field Notes
    url: /field-notes/
  - title: Build Logs  
    url: /build-logs/
  - title: Mental Models
    url: /mental-models/
  - title: Dispatches
    url: /dispatches/
  - title: Now
    url: /now/
  - title: Resume
    url: /resume/
  - title: About
    url: /about/
  # Add new item:
  - title: Projects
    url: /projects/

🏷️ Content Organization

Tag Strategy

Primary Categories (use in front matter):

field-notes - Research analysis
build-logs - Technical projects
mental-models - Strategic frameworks
dispatches - Quick updates

Thematic Tags:

research-log, project-log, mental-models, dispatch
career-shift, life-in-transition
automation, agents, llm, gpt
gcp, aws, cloud
notion, airtable, tools
research, papers
beginner-friendly, technical-deep-dive, strategic-overview

File Organization

_posts/
├── 2025-01-06-weekly-ai-dispatches.md          # Dispatch
├── 2025-01-07-agents-vs-automation.md          # Mental Model
├── 2025-01-08-gpt-research-assistant-build.md  # Build Log
└── 2025-01-09-scaling-laws-analysis.md         # Field Notes

🔧 Development Workflow

Content Creation Process

Start local server: bundle exec jekyll serve --livereload --port 4001
Create new post in _posts/ folder
Save and preview changes at http://localhost:4001
Refine content with live reload
Build for production: bundle exec jekyll build

Common File Locations

Posts: _posts/YYYY-MM-DD-title.md
Pages: Root directory (e.g., about.md, now.md)
Resume data: _data/resume.yml
Site config: _config.yml
Images: assets/img/
Content type pages: _featured_categories/

Front Matter Templates

Minimal Post:

---
layout: post
title: "Your Title"
description: >
  SEO description under 160 characters
categories: [field-notes]  # or build-logs, mental-models, dispatches
tags: [relevant, tags, here]
author: author1
---

Page:

---
layout: page
title: "Page Title"
description: >
  Page description for SEO
hide_description: false
---

🐛 Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Jekyll won’t start:

bundle install  # Install missing gems
bundle exec jekyll serve --trace  # See detailed errors

Changes not showing:

Check syntax in front matter (YAML)
Ensure proper file naming: YYYY-MM-DD-title.md
Restart Jekyll server

Broken links:

Check file paths are correct
Ensure URLs in _config.yml match your setup

Images not loading:

Verify image paths: /assets/img/filename.ext
Check file exists in assets/img/ folder
Ensure proper file extensions

Validation

YAML Front Matter: Use online YAML validator
Markdown: Preview in VS Code or similar
Site Build: Check terminal for error messages

📱 Going Live

Deployment Checklist

✅ All content reviewed and proofread
✅ Images optimized and properly linked
✅ Contact information updated
✅ Navigation working correctly
✅ Local build successful: bundle exec jekyll build
✅ Test all major pages and links
✅ Resume PDF updated (if applicable)

GitHub Repository

Commit changes with descriptive messages
Push to new repository for deployment
Configure GitHub Pages or deploy to preferred host

💡 Content Ideas & Planning

Content Calendar Template

Monday: Research review (Field Notes potential)
Wednesday: Project progress (Build Logs updates)
Friday: Weekly Dispatch (quick observations)
Monthly: Mental Models essay (strategic deep-dive)

Evergreen Content Ideas

AI tool comparisons and honest reviews
Research paper summaries with practical takeaways
Career transition insights and lessons learned
Systems thinking applied to AI/automation
Building in public project documentation

This guide covers the most common site management tasks. Keep this file updated as you discover new workflows and requirements.

🚀 Quick Start Commands

Start Local Development Server

Build Site for Production

Stop Jekyll Server

📝 Creating Content

📰 New Blog Post

Field Notes (Research Paper Analysis)

Build Logs (Technical Projects)

Step 2: Configure Apify Scrapers

Step 3: GPT Integration

Lessons Learned

Next Iterations

Mental Models (Strategic Essays)

Dispatches (Quick Updates)

🎯 Updating Content

📍 Update Now Page

📄 Update Resume

Add New Work Experience

Add New Skills

Add Education/Certifications

Add Publications

🔗 Social Links & Contact

Add Social Media Profile

Update Contact Information

🎨 Visual Updates

Replace Logo

Replace Background Image

Use Solid Color Background (Alternative)

Update Colors

📊 Site Configuration

Update Site Information

Add/Remove Navigation Items

🏷️ Content Organization

Tag Strategy

File Organization

🔧 Development Workflow

Content Creation Process

Common File Locations

Front Matter Templates

🐛 Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Validation

📱 Going Live

Deployment Checklist

GitHub Repository

💡 Content Ideas & Planning

Content Calendar Template

Evergreen Content Ideas

Templates (for web app):

Error