Most popular coding languages, I tested free AI coding tools, and the hot new Bambu H3C

Plus, a super-tiny KVM, how life probably didn’t originate, Meta’s “pervert” glasses, Claude Code’s new threads, and 3D printing model trains

Nov 09, 2026

I’m David Gewirtz. Welcome to this week’s Advanced Geekery newsletter. It’s been an exciting week. Let’s dive in.

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My latest video

This is the video I’ve been teasing for the past month or so. The H3C pushes the boundaries of what’s possible with FDM printers, with nine tool changers and expanded multicolor capabilities. Check out my no-holds-barred in-depth launch day review.

My articles

Here’s a quick recap of the articles I published in the last week on ZDNET.

The most popular programming languages in 2026 - and some good news on developer job growth: Nine industry surveys and surprising job posting data offer an unexpected look at where software development is heading.

I tried replacing Claude Code with a local AI stack that’s completely free - how it went: I used Qwen, Ollama, and OpenCode to build a screenshot renamer and a PDF organizer, all to see if free local AI could really replace Claude Code.

Is Claude Code truly faster with message threads? I did the math on my logs: Claude Code’s update could save you time during demanding, hours-long coding sessions at no extra cost. But by how much? Here are my real-world results.

Must-watch YouTube

Moving on, let’s queue up some interesting YouTube videos for your entertainment and edification.

Julie Nolke rose to popularity for her cutting skits about the pandemic. In this one, she brutally roasts Meta glasses, calling them “pervert glasses.” She’s not wrong.
Back when I was a kid, I had a model railroad. I had some difficulty keeping the trains on the track, although that could have been more about my racing them at top speed into the curves to see if I could make them fly than it was about my track-laying skill. In any case, the hobby has changed a lot. This video shows how 3D printing has had a huge impact.
This woman has some Excel tricks I didn’t know about. Very cool.

Gadget of the week

What you’re looking at here is a ridiculously tiny Ethernet KVM. If you don’t want the back of your gear to take too much space, this little box might work for you. It’s much more of a dongle than a piece of networking gear, yet it has all of the necessary ports to remotely connect into your favorite machine.

You can even go smaller, if all you want is just the circuit board and you’re willing to build your own case (or build it into an otherwise non-networked device).

Note: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Interesting reads

And now, some good stuff from around the Internet, well worth checking out.

Some scientists no longer think that comets seeded Earth with the building blocks of life, because the impact would have destroyed the life-goo.
Virologists are worried that the US might spark an H5N1 contagion. Lovely.
ZDNET’s Kyle Kucharski took the new touchscreen MacBook Pro through its paces. The verdict: he likes it, but the touchscreen isn’t its most compelling feature.

Send in your projects

I’d like to regularly spotlight a reader project or two here. Your project doesn’t have to be a big Kickstarter launch. If you’ve built something cool, it has some pretty pictures, and you’re proud of it, I might be able to share it here.

If you have a photogenic reader project, send an email to me at david@zatz.com with the subject “READER PROJECT,” a few pictures, and a short one-paragraph description. If you have a social media link or a link to the project, include that, too.