This post introduces BUT. Honestly as a space where code, creativity, and leadership come together. It gives a clear look at how Nicola Mustone uses practical deep learning examples, thoughtful AI assisted writing, and people first leadership to support modern work; especially for developers, writers, and managers.

This blog post introduces BUT. Honestly, a personal publication by Nicola Mustone that delves into the intersections of technology, human behavior, and creative work. It covers practical applications of AI for blogs, hands-on CNN examples in programming, and strategies for fostering psychological safety in teams, all grounded in real-world experiences from leadership and development.

Readers will find overviews of the blog’s core themes, including code walkthroughs for building neural networks, workflows for integrating AI into writing without losing authenticity, and leadership techniques that prioritize empathy and clarity. The post draws from Mustone’s essays to highlight how these topics help developers, writers, and managers navigate modern challenges with honesty and practicality.

About BUT. Honestly and Its Author

Nicola Mustone, known as Nico, leads a support team at WordPress.com, where he guides distributed teams through technical and human complexities. Based in Europe, he writes for a global audience of developers, leaders, and creators seeking straightforward insights amid digital noise. BUT. Honestly serves as his long-form notebook, offering essays on leadership, programming, and the overlap between humans and machines. The blog emphasizes clarity without comfort, avoiding buzzwords or superficial hacks in favor of grounded reflections and actionable advice.

Mustone’s writing stems from years of debugging systems, both code-based and interpersonal. He experiments with machine learning, builds tools, and shares lessons on what truly matters in work. The publication sends one to three emails monthly, with free access to all essays on the site. Subscriptions deliver new pieces directly, and Mustone welcomes collaborations or discussions via social channels.

Hands-On CNN Examples for Deep Learning Beginners

In his programming-focused content, Mustone provides practical CNN examples that beginners can run and modify. Rather than abstract theories, he guides readers through building convolutional neural networks using TensorFlow for tasks like MNIST handwritten digit classification. The approach breaks down each component, from environment setup with Jupyter notebooks to data preprocessing steps such as normalizing pixel values and one-hot encoding labels.

Building and Optimizing CNN Models

Mustone’s walkthroughs feature a modular SimpleCNN class, incorporating convolutional blocks with layers like Conv2D for feature detection, BatchNorm for training stability, ReLU activations for non-linearity, and MaxPooling for dimensionality reduction. Dense blocks follow, with dropout to prevent overfitting. He explains compiling models with categorical crossentropy loss and accuracy metrics, supporting multi-GPU setups for efficiency.

Practical tips include using constants for reproducibility, inspecting model summaries, and monitoring training curves to spot overfitting. Mustone demonstrates Bayesian optimization with Keras Tuner to fine-tune hyperparameters like filter counts, regularization, and learning rates. A baseline model trains quickly, achieving high accuracy, while optimized versions reach around 99 percent on test sets. Evaluations cover confusion matrices and classification reports, noting potential digit confusions. He encourages extensions to datasets like CIFAR-10, sharing insights from his own failed experiments to underscore data quality’s role.

Integrating AI for Blogs While Preserving Authenticity

Mustone addresses AI for blogs from a craftsman’s viewpoint, advocating for AI as a collaborator rather than a replacement. He introduces “vibe writing,” where AI aids in capturing tone and rhythm, much like vibe coding in development. The key is maintaining human intention, as AI excels at patterns but lacks true purpose or empathy.

Workflows and Ethical Considerations

His workflows involve AI for brainstorming outlines, suggesting sections, and debating arguments, such as flows from coding to writing. For editing, AI helps trim repetition and refine phrasing, but Mustone stresses vetting suggestions through personal beliefs to avoid generic tones. Examples include using ChatGPT to generate structures or research terms, then rewriting for authenticity. AI boosts productivity by sparking ideas and challenging reasoning, but over-reliance risks inauthentic output that disconnects from readers.

Tips focus on prioritizing meaning, disagreeing with AI outputs, and filtering through questions like what the piece stands for. Mustone emphasizes treating readers as people, not SEO targets, fostering emotional connections over algorithmic gains.

Fostering Psychological Safety in Teams Through Leadership

Mustone’s leadership essays emphasize psychological safety in teams, defined as an environment where members feel safe to take risks, speak up, or admit errors. Drawing from his remote team experiences, he shares people-first strategies that build trust through empathy and transparency.

Practical Techniques and Real Stories

Techniques include giving space in meetings for all voices, listening fully before decisions, and explaining the “why” behind choices. Mustone recounts rebranding his team to Horizon, involving everyone in naming and design to ease restructuring anxieties. Co-creating a handbook during meetups outlined values, communication norms, and collaboration principles, turning abstracts into shared commitments.

Everyday habits like asking questions over directives, sharing personal updates via informal channels, and using tools like CliftonStrengths to celebrate differences reinforce safety. In tough times, such as 2024 restructures, empathetic handling and handbook updates maintained trust. Mustone models vulnerability by discussing his ADHD, encouraging openness. These practices, inspired by Google’s Project Aristotle, transform safety into a habit, boosting collaboration and innovation.

Who Benefits from BUT. Honestly

The blog appeals to those at the crossroads of code, content, and leadership, such as developers diving into machine learning, writers blending AI with craft, or managers nurturing remote teams. Mustone’s honest style offers clarity for navigating complexities, making it a resource for anyone seeking practical wisdom over hype.

Summary

BUT. Honestly brings together three closely connected threads; learning complex technical topics through practical examples, using AI to support rather than replace human voice, and leading teams through trust, empathy, and clear communication. Whether you write, code, or manage people, Mustone’s essays keep the focus on what feels real in day to day work; curiosity, integrity, and care for the humans behind the tools.