http://thingrex.com/ ThingRex Hugo -- gohugo.ioenThu, 14 May 2026 13:07:03 +0200 http://thingrex.com/local_ai_enterprise_solutions/ Thu, 14 May 2026 13:07:03 +0200 LMtx http://thingrex.com/local_ai_enterprise_solutions/ That is the common belief I see on the internet. I do not agree with that and have a process to prove otherwise. Currently, open-source models that can run on affordable hardware are not as capable as commercial AI models running in huge data centers. Everyone knows it, and I do not argue with that. My point is that it is perfectly possible to use open-source models running on local hardware to generate enterprise-class solutions that directly impact business operations and provide tangible business results.]]> http://thingrex.com/local_ai_enterprise_grade_code/ Sat, 09 May 2026 11:53:36 +0200 LMtx http://thingrex.com/local_ai_enterprise_grade_code/ I use local AI agents to build enterprise-grade software, not fancy demos. After testing all major models that can run on affordable local hardware, I am convinced that the Qwen3-Coder-Next is the best option. It might not be the “most fancy” model, it might not design “most outstanding” websites, but (typically) it does deliver enterprise-grade outcomes. Yes, I am aware Qwen3-Coder-Next is not as good as II from OpenAI or Anthropic.]]> http://thingrex.com/factory_floor_lessons/ Thu, 16 Apr 2026 13:12:33 +0200 LMtx http://thingrex.com/factory_floor_lessons/ I interviewed Hans Stam about practical lessons from building hardware in China versus Europe and why “hardware is hard” but becomes manageable when you understand the process. Hans explains how Chinese factory ecosystems move from prototype to mass production. The conversation covers pitfalls in Europe’s decision-by-committee culture, critical-path project planning, choosing certification partners, selecting Chinese factories, CapEx vs. OpEx trade-offs, component shortages, and many other topics. 👉 Let me know if those topics are relevant to your business.]]> http://thingrex.com/missing_context_for_ai_agents/ Fri, 20 Mar 2026 09:38:54 +0100 LMtx http://thingrex.com/missing_context_for_ai_agents/ Intro Vanilla coding agents are optimized for shipping web apps fast, and they are great at building SaaS products. But if you’re connecting sensors, managing edge deployments, or orchestrating hardware fleets, the default agents get completely lost. Connected infrastructure has constraints that generic AI has never encountered during training. Missing training data Hardware-specific protocols MQTT, Modbus, BACnet, LoRaWAN, Zigbee — these aren’t in the training data at scale. An agent that’s great at React components will hallucinate when building solutions using those technologies.]]> http://thingrex.com/hire_for_attitude/ Wed, 18 Mar 2026 09:42:25 +0100 LMtx http://thingrex.com/hire_for_attitude/ Every day we read about mass layoffs by huge companies. But on the flip side, how do you hire a good technical engineer in the age of AI? I was involved in candidates’ interviews while working at AWS. I helped numerous founders to screen and hire candidates for different technical and management roles. Later on, I worked with those new hires and saw firsthand if those people were a good fit for roles, for teams, for tasks we had envisioned with the founders when we prepared for the hiring process.]]> http://thingrex.com/mqtt_ai_agent/ Mon, 09 Mar 2026 16:03:23 +0100 LMtx http://thingrex.com/mqtt_ai_agent/ I have been experimenting with various AI agentic workflows over the past months, testing different architectural patterns and seeing where they deliver real value. Suddenly, I realized this technology is a perfect fit for IoT workloads that use MQTT (the primary protocol for managing devices). I have worked with MQTT for years, but I had not connected it to AI agents until recently. MQTT’s pub/sub architecture creates something unique: a continuous data stream that agents can subscribe to without impacting the environment.]]> http://thingrex.com/smb_architecture_myth/ Sun, 08 Mar 2026 17:25:03 +0100 LMtx http://thingrex.com/smb_architecture_myth/ The overall solution design is a challenging topic in the world of Small and Medium Businesses. I prefer working with those companies as they are very agile (in the day-to-day reality, not only on the powerpoint deck). On the same token, that agility makes it nearly impossible to properly design a solution (when we are halfway through the design/implementation process, the business conditions change, the owner adjusts, and I have to introduce small/medium/major updates).]]> http://thingrex.com/vendor_trap/ Thu, 05 Mar 2026 12:24:16 +0100 LMtx http://thingrex.com/vendor_trap/ Typical scenario You hired a vendor to build your platform. They delivered on time, on budget, and it works. Then your investor/board asks: “What happens if this vendor disappears tomorrow?" You don’t know. Your team doesn’t know. The vendor knows - but they’re not telling. This is the Vendor Trap. And way more founders fall into it than would like to admit. What You Think You Bought When you hire a vendor, you think you’re buying:]]> http://thingrex.com/ai_agents_mistakes/ Wed, 04 Mar 2026 10:50:47 +0100 LMtx http://thingrex.com/ai_agents_mistakes/ Today, an AWS infrastructure management agent went down the wrong path. When I realized that, I was about to jump in and terminate the execution. Before I managed to smash the 'Esc' button, the Reviewer Agent caught it and course-corrected his AI colleague. The fix happened automatically. My team of agents self-corrected without my intervention. The root cause? My initial prompt wasn’t precise enough. I was in a hurry, and I assumed they’d read between the lines and fill in the details I neglected to describe.]]> http://thingrex.com/testing/ Mon, 02 Mar 2026 05:48:48 +0100 LMtx http://thingrex.com/testing/ Let me break it down for you. “Make sure it works.” - That’s what most teams hear when someone mentions testing. So they test the case where everything goes right. Then production happens. And suddenly the “edge cases” aren’t edge cases anymore - they’re Friday eventing. The Happy Path Trap Your tests pass. Green checkmarks everywhere. You ship with confidence. This is what you have neglected to test: The API that times out after 30 seconds The null value that shouldn’t exist but does The concurrent requests that race for the same resource The user clicks “submit” three times because the button didn’t respond The request from someone who shouldn’t have access but found a way Result: You tested the wrong thing, not the actual system.]]>