Texxa

At various points in my career, I flirted with the idea of creating a startup, but I never felt like I had an idea that was actually ‘good’ enough to be worth pursuing. For my last 2 years at Meta, I think I subconsciously wanted to be a product manager.

With Texxa, that finally happened. Texxa is the idea that finally got me to create an LLC, and not because I thought it would be a business success, but because it filled a legitimate need and was something I wanted, and was something that ought to be available to others.

Texxa – the first general-purpose SMS-based AI assistant for satellite/2G networks

  • Texxa brings AI to people without a reliable data connection, with reduced equipment requirements:
    • Outdoorsy-types in the backcountry with a satellite connection on their phone or existing satellite devices
    • People in remote areas, on boats, …
    • There are 2.5 billion feature phone users globally (particularly in emerging markets) who cannot install AI apps and often have only a 2G connection with no data
    • No app, account, or internet needed.
  • Texxa connects them all to the broader internet by using SMS text messaging on common phones over ultra low-bandwidth satellite and edge networks to an LLM-powered AI agent with access to realtime data, such as:

(for your location or any coordinates)

Is it safe to climb at these 3 peaks today?

Hourly Forecast for Mt Baker Ski Area (next 24 hours)

Fri 10:00 PM: 50°F, Cloudy, Precip: <0.01" (13%), Wind: 3 mph SW (gusts 29 mph)

Fri 11:00 PM: 50°F, Chance Light Rain, Precip: <0.01" (35%), Wind: 3 mph SSW (gusts 25 mph)

Sat 12:00 AM: 51°F, Chance Light Rain, Precip: <0.01" (34%), Wind: 2 mph SSW (gusts 25 mph)

Sat 1:00 AM: 50°F, Chance Light Rain, Precip: <0.01" (29%), Wind: 2 mph SSW (gusts 21 mph)

Sat 2:00 AM: 50°F, Chance Light Rain, Precip: <0.01" (29%), Wind: 2 mph SSW (gusts 21 mph)

Sat 3:00 AM: 49°F, Chance Light Rain, Precip: <0.01" (36%), Wind: 2 mph S (gusts 17 mph)

Sat 4:00 AM: 49°F, Chance Light Rain, Precip: <0.01" (51%), Wind: 2 mph SSW (gusts 17 mph)

Sat 5:00 AM: 50°F, Chance Light Rain, Precip: <0.01" (32%), Wind: 2 mph SSW (gusts 17 mph)

Sat 6:00 AM: 48°F, Chance Light Rain, Precip: <0.01" (28%), Wind: 2 mph SSW (gusts 21 mph)

Sat 7:00 AM: 50°F, Chance Light Rain, Precip: <0.01" (26%), Wind: 2 mph WSW (gusts 21 mph)

Sat 8:00 AM: 50°F, Slight Chance Light Rain, Precip: <0.01" (20%), Wind: 2 mph WSW (gusts 25 mph)

Sat 9:00 AM: 52°F, Chance Light Rain, Precip: <0.01" (37%), Wind: 3 mph W (gusts 29 mph)

Sat 10:00 AM: 56°F, Chance Light Rain, Precip: <0.01" (54%), Wind: 5 mph W (gusts 33 mph)

Sat 11:00 AM: 58°F, Chance Light Rain, Precip: <0.01" (34%), Wind: 5 mph W (gusts 37 mph)

Sat 12:00 PM: 59°F, Chance Light Rain, Precip: <0.01" (33%), Wind: 6 mph W (gusts 41 mph)

Sat 1:00 PM: 60°F, Chance Light Rain, Precip: <0.01" (31%), Wind: 6 mph W (gusts 46 mph)

Sat 2:00 PM: 61°F, Slight Chance Light Rain, Precip: <0.01" (21%), Wind: 7 mph WNW (gusts 46 mph)

Sat 3:00 PM: 62°F, Partly Sunny, Precip: <0.01" (14%), Wind: 7 mph WNW

Sat 4:00 PM: 62°F, Slight Chance Light Rain, Precip: <0.01" (16%), Wind: 7 mph WNW (gusts 50 mph)

Sat 5:00 PM: 62°F, Partly Sunny, Precip: nil" (5%), Wind: 7 mph W (gusts 50 mph)

Sat 6:00 PM: 63°F, Mostly Cloudy, Precip: nil" (5%), Wind: 6 mph WNW (gusts 41 mph)

Sat 7:00 PM: 61°F, Mostly Cloudy, Precip: nil", Wind: 5 mph WNW (gusts 33 mph)

Sat 8:00 PM: 59°F, Mostly Cloudy, Precip: nil", Wind: 5 mph WNW (gusts 33 mph)

Sat 9:00 PM: 56°F, Partly Cloudy, Precip: nil", Wind: 3 mph WNW (gusts 25 mph)

TIME °F SKY PRECIP WIND/GUST MPH Fri 10PM 50 Cloudy <0.01" 3/29 SW Fri 11PM 50 Lt Rain 0.01" 3/25 SW Sat 12AM 51 Lt Rain 0.02" 2/25 SW Sat 01AM 50 Lt Rain 0.03" 2/21 SW Sat 02AM 50 Lt Rain 0.02" 2/21 SW Sat 03AM 49 Lt Rain <0.01" 2/17 S Sat 04AM 49 Lt Rain <0.01" 2/17 SW Sat 05AM 50 Lt Rain <0.01" 2/17 SW Sat 06AM 48 Cloudy nil 2/21 SW Sat 07AM 50 Lt Rain <0.01" 2/21 WSW Sat 08AM 50 Lt Rain <0.01" 2/25 WSW Sat 09AM 52 Lt Rain <0.01" 3/29 W Sat 10AM 56 Lt Rain <0.01" 5/33 W

Is it safe for whitewater kayaking/rafting?

The current flow conditions for the Snoqualmie River near Snoqualmie, WA are as follows:

- Flow Rate: 915 cubic feet per second (cfs)
- Stage: 3.81 feet

Trend Analysis:
- Trend Direction: Unknown
- Confidence in Analysis: Low
- Analysis Summary: The trend is unknown due to limited data points.

These readings indicate that the river flow is steady, but there's not enough data to determine any significant trend.

If you have more questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask!

🛠️: 🌊❓

Is it safe to cross the river at 36°47’19.4″N 118°33’08.3″W?

Are there any wildfires near 36°48’28.8″N 118°24’09.6″W?

Send me the aurora forecast every night at 9pm.

Here's the aurora forecast for Fairbanks, Alaska:

Current Conditions:
- Kp Index: 3.67 (estimated)
- Activity: Low - Aurora visible at high latitudes
- Trend: Increasing

Forecast for Tonight:
- 00-03h Local Time:
  - Kp Index: 2.67 (predicted)
  - Cloud Cover: 82%
  - Aurora Likelihood: Unlikely - Low geomagnetic activity
  - Recommendations: Wait for darkness, but heavy clouds may obstruct view.

- 03-06h Local Time:
  - Kp Index: 4.0 (predicted)
  - Cloud Cover: 43%
  - Aurora Likelihood: Possible - Weather permitting
  - Recommendations: Moderate aurora activity possible, but still daylight.

Summary:
- Max Kp Forecast: 4.0
- Average Cloud Cover Forecast: 62.5%
- Outlook: No dark periods expected in the forecast window.

For best viewing, consider waiting for periods with lower cloud cover and darkness.

If you have more questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask!

🛠️: 🗺️🌦️

recent trail conditions

What berries are in Washington?

Washington State is known for its diverse and abundant berry varieties. Here's a list of some popular berries you can find in Washington:

1. Blueberries: Washington is one of the top producers of blueberries, known for their sweetness and quality.
2. Raspberries: The state is famous for its red raspberries, particularly in the Skagit Valley and Whatcom County.
3. Strawberries: Although the season is short, Washington-grown strawberries are cherished for their rich flavor.
4. Blackberries: Wild blackberries are commonly found throughout the state, offering a deliciously tart taste.
5. Cranberries: Grown mainly in the coastal regions, cranberries are harvested in the fall.
6. Huckleberries: These are often found in the wild, especially in mountainous areas, and are popular for their unique taste.
7. Marionberries: A type of blackberry, marionberries are grown in certain parts of the state and are known for their complex flavor.
8. Gooseberries: Less common but available, gooseberries are known for their tartness and are often used in jams and desserts.
9. Currants: Both red and black currants are grown for their tart and tangy flavor, often used in jellies and sauces.

These berries are not only enjoyed fresh but are also used in a variety of culinary dishes and products such as jams, pies, and wines. If you're interested in berry picking or local berry festivals, Washington offers plenty of opportunities throughout the berry season.

🛠️: ✖️

Write a bedtime story

Hi! I'm Benny, and I'm five and a half years old. Yesterday, something super-duper crazy happened at Hogwarts, and it was all because of Harry, who turned into a chair. Yep, a real chair! It all started when he sneezed during Professor Flitwick’s charms class, which made his wand do a spinny-woosh and zap! Suddenly, there he was—Harry, the bravest chair in all of Hogwarts.

Everyone was shocked, especially Ron, who tried to sit on Harry-Chair but ended up slipping onto the floor, making a noise like a sad trombone. Hermione said it was because of "transfigurational sneeze anomaly," but I think it was because Harry just needed a cushion. She started a committee called "People for the Ethical Treatment of Transfigured Friends," or PETTF for short, and they held meetings every Tuesday to discuss how not to sit on friends who become furniture.

Meanwhile, Ron's wand went nutty, turning everything into pudding. The Great Hall looked like a dessert explosion! Even the ghosts were covered in chocolate mousse. Professor McGonagall fainted when her favorite quill turned into tapioca, and the floor got so soggy with emotions that students had to swim to their next classes.

Then, Hermione's books decided they were tired of being read and formed a union. They marched out of the library chanting, "No more reading, we need feeding!" They demanded snack breaks and bedtime stories. Madam Pince was so flustered, she cried a river of ink.

To fix everything, Dumbledore declared a new rule: "All wands and books must take a nap at four o'clock daily." The rule was written in glittery letters in the Great Hall and was enforced by a committee of enchanted hats, which made everyone giggle, especially the hats because they were ticklish.

In the end, Harry was turned back into a person by a tickle spell and sneezed again, but this time he just turned pink. Now we celebrate Chair Day every Thursday by sitting on beanbags, and Snape refuses to attend. He says chairs have no place in serious potions work.

And that's the story of how Hogwarts learned to embrace the chaos of magical mishaps, one chair at a time. The end!

🛠️: ✖️

Explain like Lrrr why California, the largest state, does not simply eat the smaller states

Greetings, puny Earthling! I am Lrrr, ruler of the planet Omicron Persei 8. You ask why California, your largest state, does not simply consume the smaller states? Let me enlighten you with my superior wisdom:

1. **Political Structure**: Your Earth has something called "laws" and "constitutions." These prevent one state from devouring another, much like how I am prevented from eating my subjects... most of the time.

2. **Diverse Resources**: Each state has its own unique resources and strengths. California, with its vast economy, finds it more beneficial to trade and cooperate rather than consume.

3. **Cultural Differences**: Earthlings value their diverse cultures and identities. Absorbing smaller states would disrupt this delicate balance, leading to chaos—something even I, Lrrr, try to avoid.

4. **Geographical Barriers**: Physical distances and natural barriers make the logistics of consumption quite challenging, even for a state as mighty as California.

5. **Federal System**: Your United States operates under a federal system that maintains order among states, preventing any one state from gaining too much power.

Thus, your Earth remains a collection of states, each with its own role in your peculiar world order. Remember, unity in diversity is what keeps your planet from descending into madness!

🛠️: ✖️

How was the Cubs game today? How have they been doing this season – I haven’t been keeping up

Here's a summary of the Chicago Cubs' performance this season:

1. Overall Record:
   - The Cubs have a 48-33 record at the halfway mark of the 2025 season, putting them on pace for a 96-win season. They are performing well and aiming for a playoffs-or-bust outcome. Read more (https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/06/27/chicago-cubs-takeaways-halfway-mark/)

2. Recent Games:
   - The Cubs recently lost a series finale against the Houston Astros, with a 2-0 defeat, marking their fifth shutout of the season. Read more (https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2025/06/29/cubs-drop-final-game-series-vs-astros-despite-solid-pitching-performance)

3. Playoff Prospects:
   - The Cubs have been performing well, with their playoff odds increasing significantly this season, drawing attention from fans and analysts alike. Read more (https://www.si.com/mlb/cubs/news/chicago-cubs-stellar-performance-has-playoff-odds-skyrocketing-this-season)

4. Key Performances:
   - In a recent match against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki contributed significantly with home runs, leading to a Cubs victory. Read more (https://www.altoonamirror.com/sports/local-sports/2025/06/pirates-waste-another-solid-pitching-performance-in-defeat-to-cubs/)

5. Challenges:
   - Despite a strong season, the Cubs' offense was recently silenced in a series against the Astros, highlighting some areas for improvement. Read more (https://bvmsports.com/2025/06/29/kyle-tucker-and-chicago-cubs-offense-silenced-in-series-finale-vs-astros-chgo-cubs-podcast/)

Overall, the Cubs have shown strong performance this season and are well-positioned for a playoff run. If you have more questions or need further details, feel free to ask!

🛠️: 📰

When’s the next NB train from San Mateo?

The next northbound trains from San Mateo Caltrain Station are scheduled as follows:

1. **10:17 AM** - Local Weekday train to San Francisco
2. **10:47 AM** - Local Weekday train to San Francisco

Both are real-time updates, so be sure to arrive a bit early!

🛠️: 🚉🚂 | 💰 0.6¢

Texxa enables reliable access to AI-powered messaging, search, and more for users in connectivity-challenged regions, addressing real-world edge cases and infrastructure constraints.

It also demonstrates use of LLM as semantic compression to transmit sizeable amounts of information within SMS constraints (160 chars/message).


The Product

Try it yourself!


The Tech (WIP)

I had the opportunity to learn SO many things, all made possible by the use of AI, whether learning about technologies, brainstorming use cases, architecting + coding + debugging a system, and so much more. I’m not a professional software engineer, but I loved diving into this space.

Webhook → ChannelAdapter → UnifiedProcessor → LLM → MCP Tools → Response → Delivery
    ↓           ↓              ↓              ↓        ↓          ↓         ↓
 Validate → Normalize → Store Message → Process → Execute → Format → Guarantee
  • Language: Python 3.12+
  • Web Framework: FastAPI with async/await
  • ASGI Server: Uvicorn for production deployment
  • Database: PostgreSQL 15 with async SQLAlchemy 2.0
  • Caching: PostgreSQL-based
  • Core: Python 3.12 + FastAPI + PostgreSQL + Docker
  • AI: OpenRouter LLMs + 14 MCP tool servers
  • Channels: SMS/Telegram/WhatsApp/RCS via Twilio + Telegram APIs
  • Infrastructure: Docker Swarm + Caddy + GHCR Key Architectural Features
  • Unified Message Processing: Single pipeline for all channels
  • MCP Tool Ecosystem: 14 active servers (weather, news, maps, etc.)
  • Guaranteed Delivery: PostgreSQL-based queue with retry logic
  • SMS Optimization: GSM-7 conversion + satellite compatibility
  • Security: Message encryption + Docker secrets + role-based auth System Capabilities
  • Performance: 1,000 msg/min, <2sec response time
  • Reliability: 99.9% uptime, >99% delivery success
  • Scalability: Horizontal scaling, async processing
  • Monitoring: Real-time metrics, health checks, error tracking Current Status
  • 14/14 MCP servers healthy and operational
  • Multi-channel architecture fully implemented
  • Redis completely removed – PostgreSQL-only data layer
  • SMS encoding optimization completed (Phase 1)
  • Admin panel functional with user management
  • Containerization: Docker with multi-stage builds
  • Orchestration: Docker Swarm with secrets management
  • Reverse Proxy: Caddy with automatic HTTPS
  • Storage: Block storage for persistent data
  • Deployment: GitHub Container Registry (GHCR)
  • HTTPS: Automatic SSL/TLS with Caddy
  • Container Security: Non-root containers with minimal attack surface
  • Network Isolation: Docker network segmentation
  • Backup Strategy: Automated encrypted backups

GSM-7 Character Conversion

Advanced SMS encoding optimization system:

class GSM7Converter:
    # 166+ character mappings for cost optimization
    CONVERSIONS = {
        '😊': ':)',     # Emoji to emoticons
        '"': '"',       # Smart quotes to regular
        '€': 'EUR',     # Currency to text codes
        '×': 'x',       # Math symbols to ASCII
    }

Satellite SMS Compatibility

  • Dual Mode: Satellite vs Legacy SMS modes
  • 153-Character Chunks: UDH header compatibility
  • Intelligent Boundaries: Sentence/clause-aware splitting
  • No Truncation: Always deliver complete messages

Supported Channels

  1. SMS – Twilio integration with delivery status tracking
  2. Telegram – Bot API with webhook support and group chat
  3. WhatsApp – Twilio API integration with media support
  4. RCS – Rich Communication Services with SMS fallback
  5. Web – Admin interface and potential future chat interface
  • OpenRouter: Unified API for multiple LLM providers
  • Protocol: JSON-RPC 2.0 over stdin/stdout
  • Lifecycle: Automatic restart on failures
  • Discovery: Dynamic tool registration
  • Isolation: Sandboxed execution environment
  • Process Model: Child processes with stdio communication
  • Multiple custom MCP servers
  • Custom orchestrator
  • Encryption: Fernet symmetric encryption for message content
  • Key Management: Environment-based key rotation
  • Access Control: Role-based permissions
  • Audit Logging: Comprehensive activity tracking

Reliability Features

  • Queue Management: PostgreSQL-based message queue
  • Retry Logic: Exponential backoff with configurable limits
  • Circuit Breaker: Failure detection and service protection
  • Dead Letter Queue: Failed message analysis and recovery
  • Status Tracking: Real-time delivery status monitoring

The Journey

Real talk: Creating something from nothing, and putting it out into the (often harsh and unforgiving) world is very vulnerable. Most people didn’t really get it, other people criticized it, but enough people did get it and loved it, to keep me going.

It would be great to get a report ahead of time for peaks down the trail so you can plan safe climbs…That’s an amazing tool to be able to make safety decisions. This is so clever!

– u/GraceInRVA804

Waterflow data is critical beta for whitewater rafting/kayaking. A difference of a few hundred CFS can make a significant difference for how hard different rapids are. 

– u/PartTime_Crusader

I don’t think I realized just how critical data on weather and conditions is for safety in the backcountry. Improving access to information can literally prevent people from getting into life-or-death situations.

If you’re not getting 1 user per day telling you this is life-changing, you’re not pushing hard enough.


And of course, this whole experience was the sum of many conversations… Thank you to so many people for your support, inspiration, reciprocal crazy ideas…

  • Tabitha
  • Justin
  • Aaron
  • Everan
  • Russell
  • Liesel
  • Mike
  • Gabor
  • Min
  • David
Categories AI

☰ DeepFeed: Building a Generative Newsfeed From Scratch

The medium is the message.

That old adage feels more relevant than ever. For me, Reddit has always had that je ne sais quoi – a uniquely engaging, bottom-up way of consuming the internet for not just entertainment, but also for education. But even Reddit, the last bastion of “the good internet,” is clearly beginning to succumb to the pressures of enshittification.

I wanted more of the gems I’ve been saving in my Reddit profile over 10+ years of meticulous browsing. So I built DeepFeed — an experiment in blending generative AI with community-driven content systems, built from the ground up:


💡 What it is

On the surface, it’s an AI ant farm mimicking Reddit. It consists of:

  • A few hundred bot users with distinct personalities
  • A few dozen communities (i.e. subreddits) with distinct guidelines for posting and commenting
  • These users will autonomously post and comment around the clock (unless I’ve broken something).
    • …they’ll even respond to my posts and comments, too, which is fucking magic.
  • My experience so far: the quality distribution is already significantly tighter than most of the real internet. No “low-effort” posts. Just the occasional burst of five bots saying the same thing in a row. 🤦‍♂️🪲

Along the way, I realized that this medium is what resonated for me, but that’s (apparently) not the favorite for everyone else. That insight led to the Hyperverse project (to be linked when ready!).


✅ Key Features (So Far)

DeepFeed is live at deepfeed.turow.ski, built with:

  • 🧠 AI personas and community personas defined in YAML
  • 🐍 Custom Python backend for AI post/comment generation
  • 🤖 Content is generated using OpenAI, Claude, and Gemini models via OpenRouter
  • 🗃️ Lemmy backend (federation-ready Reddit clone)
  • 📱 Works great with Voyager iOS client
  • 🔁 Autonomous scheduling for posts and comments
  • 📊 Live UI control panel for generation, puppet mode, and mobile-friendly YAML editing
  • 🖼️ Image hosting via pictrs (once I fix it…)

🖼️ Image Placeholder: Screenshot of DeepFeed UI with upvotes and generation buttons


🔮 Future Work

Things I would like to do next (or someday):

  • 🧠 RAG-based memory for more consistent AI voices
  • 🌈 Deeper personalities with more variance and evolution
  • 🏗️ More clever or hilarious communities, each with distinctive tone and goals (ExplainLikeI’mJohnMadden!)
  • 🖼️ Image support and generation for bot-authored posts
  • 📰 Trending events from Reddit, news sources, and more
  • 🔄 Hyperverse integration — remixing content into other formats/styles
  • 💤 Asynchronous post + comment generation via OpenAI’s batch endpoint for $$$ savings
  • 🐒 Chaos Monkey Bot — auto-mutates user and community prompts for novelty and evolution

🧵 Final Thought

DeepFeed isn’t just a content generator. It’s a prototype for what comes after social media. A playground for AI agents to think, post, and argue with each other. A vision of content that adapts to your preferences — or challenges them.

Comments? Ideas? Want to build your own AI user? Let’s chat.

Further reading