GROW on Programmer.ie: Modern AI programming

Rework: Applying New Intelligence to Old Ideas

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 10:00:00 +0100

“Study the past if you would define the future.”

📘 Summary

This chapter introduces Rework the practice of using new tools to finish old ideas

You’ll learn how to:

Surface unfinished or incomplete sessions from your archive
Apply a new algorithm or prompting technique to see if it improves them
Use the ROW prompting technique to reason through new knowledge
Use the CRITIC prompting technique to analyze why a session stalled or never crystallized
Use the GROW prompting technique to make the final
Decide whether to rework, discard, or merge the session with newer work
Crystallize old ideas into something usable a blog post, a feature, a framework

More importantly, you’ll discover that:

Awareness: Reflecting on Your Process with AI

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 10:00:00 +0100

“The unexamined life is not worth living”

📘 Summary

This chapter is about staying present in your process and using the AI to enhance your performance.

We just work. We apply our process and move toward Amplified Creation.
The AI can take our session history, analyze it, and tell us how we’re getting on what’s working, what isn’t, and why.
We then use this information to adjust course if needed.

Freestyle Cognition Cheat Sheet

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 10:00:00 +0100

Appendix: The Freestyle Cognition Cheat Sheet

A practical guide for applying everything you’ve learned

    flowchart TD
    Start([🧠 Freestyle Cognition<br>Cheat Sheet]) --> A[I. Foundational<br>Principles]
    Start --> B[II. The Practice]
    Start --> C[III. Interaction<br>Modes]
    Start --> D[IV. Psychological<br>Shifts]
    Start --> E[V. Tools &<br>Frameworks]
    Start --> F[VI. Metaphors &<br>Messages]
    Start --> G[VII. Example<br>Use Cases]

    A --> A1[Core Idea: Think together]
    A --> A2[Mind as instrument]
    A --> A3[Bridging the intent gap]

    B --> B1[Core Process: Intent → Clarify → Summarize → Challenge → Loop]
    B --> B2[GROW & CRITIC loops]
    B --> B3[Meta-prompts: Ask AI to reflect]

    C --> C1[🧪 Research: Papers → Code]
    C --> C2[💻 Machine Coding: AI as IDE]
    C --> C3[🧍 Personal Reflection: AI as mirror]
    C --> C4[🌊 Freestyle: Explore & wander]

    D --> D1[Reflection is the engine]
    D --> D2[Partnership, not delegation]
    D --> D3[Voice unlocks rhythm]

    E --> E1[Modular prompts]
    E --> E2[Scoring & tracking]
    E --> E3[External tools: Notion, Git, pgvector]

    F --> F1[New rhythm: Intent → Reflection → Creation]
    F --> F2[Mirror: Know yourself, know AI]
    F --> F3[Guidance, not control]

    G --> G1[🧠 Learn Anything]
    G --> G2[🧬 Extend a Paper]
    G --> G3[📚 Write a Book]

    style Start fill:#e1f5fe,stroke:#333
    style A fill:#fff3e0,stroke:#333
    style B fill:#e8f5e9,stroke:#333
    style C fill:#fce4ec,stroke:#333
    style D fill:#f3e5f5,stroke:#333
    style E fill:#fff9c4,stroke:#333
    style F fill:#e0f7fa,stroke:#333
    style G fill:#c8e6c9,stroke:#333

From one section

Is Freestyle Cognition Legitimate?

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 10:00:00 +0100

Summary

Chapter 7 we did some research into this this is the actual session with ChatGPT for chapter 7

    flowchart TD
    Start([❓ Question: Is Freestyle Cognition<br>a legitimate method or a metaphor?]) --> A[🧠 STEP 1: ROW Framework]
    A --> A1[Reason<br>Analyze terms, assumptions, tensions]
    A --> A2[Organize<br>Outline structured argument]
    A --> A3[Write<br>Draft thoughtful answer]
    
    A3 --> B[🌱 STEP 2: GROW Reflection]
    B --> B1[Goal: What was I trying to prove?]
    B --> B2[Reality: Strengths & weaknesses]
    B --> B3[Options: What could I explore differently?]
    B --> B4[Way Forward: Next steps]
    
    B4 --> C[🔍 STEP 3: CRITIC Self-Edit]
    C --> C1[Challenge: What's flawed or missing?]
    C --> C2[Reflect: Why did that happen?]
    C --> C3[Iterate: Improve weak section]
    C --> C4[Test: Does it align with the goal?]
    C --> C5[Improve: Further enhancements]
    C --> C6[Crystallize: Final concise answer]
    
    C6 --> D([✅ Final Determination:<br>Legitimate methodology<br>with empirical potential])

    style Start fill:#e1f5fe,stroke:#333
    style A fill:#fff3e0,stroke:#333
    style B fill:#e8f5e9,stroke:#333
    style C fill:#fce4ec,stroke:#333
    style D fill:#c8e6c9,stroke:#333

You:

# Appendix: Useful Prompts

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 10:00:00 +0100

📌 Alignment Prompt with ALIGN Structure:

“Let’s begin by aligning. Review my recent work—sessions, chapters, or notes—and reflect back what you think I’m currently working on. Then use the ALIGN model to get into sync with my goals and style:”

A – Awareness: What is the context and overall direction of this work?

L – Listening: What voice or tone have I been using so far?

I – Intent: What do you believe my core intention is at this stage?

G – Goal: What specific outcome am I moving toward?

N – Narrative: How does this current piece fit into the broader narrative or system?

“Once you’ve done that, summarize it back to me and ask if I want to make any changes or clarifications before we begin.”