Building, and
Applying Craft

Chartered Mechanical Engineer transitioning to Applied AI. Combining technical depth, systems thinking, and proven leadership to deliver on the promise of AI.

Featured Projects

Recent work showcasing code, design, and applied learning

MAR 2026
Idea to Launchable Product

Idea to Launchable Product

What is the best way to plan a Scottish golfing trip

FEB 2026
Augmented Reality

Augmented Reality

AR Time Capsule Scavenger Hunt

90s Arcade

90s Arcade

Harnessing Claude Code to Develop a Classic Arcade Game

Gift Genie | AI Chatbot

Gift Genie | AI Chatbot

Fullstack app that uses Anthropic's API to recommend gifts.

Fullstack App

Fullstack App

A game of Fullstack App to demonstrate the core components of fullstack development.

Monarch Links Functional Demo

Monarch Links Functional Demo

A sandpit environment to validate core functionality and workflows

Monarch Links Landing Page

Monarch Links Landing Page

A landing page to test the hypothesis that a more dedicated digital platform for Scottish golf is needed.

JAN 2026
Personal Portfolio Website

Personal Portfolio Website

This website you're viewing! Built with Next.js, Tailwind CSS, and deployed on Vercel. Features a custom design system and reading streak gamification.

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Latest Posts

Ramblings on AI, engineering, learning, and building in public

·3 min read

Human Centred Design

Why the A320 is the pinnacle of Human Centred Design.

·7 min read

Harness Engineering

How to lead the world's best junior programmer.

·9 min read

0 → 1 in one week by one person

Can I take an idea to launch ready in one week?

·14 min read

Glossary of AI Terms

A good starting point if you want to understand the basics.

·2 min read

How to Measure Success.

The AI Application Nobody Measures Is Worse Than the One Nobody Builds

·7 min read

Embeddings, Vector Databases ad Semantic Search

Practical examples where vector embeddings have led to step change improvements

·3 min read

Model Context Protocol

The USB-C of the AI World

·3 min read

Temperature

The wildcard dial

·4 min read

Building Gift Genie

Making an AI Chatbot That Actually Feels Good to Use

·4 min read

Summary of Core AI Concepts that I will be Covering

Please check this out as a teaser for what is to come!

·6 min read

Forward Deployed Engineer

Are FDEs the Zeitgeist of the Practical Application of AI

·2 min read

Context Engineering Visual Analogy

The most important concept to deliver value to your customer

·3 min read

What are Claude Skills and Why they matter for AI Agents

How to get the best out of your coding agents

·12 min read

Unstructured Comms

How to get the best out of unstructured communication

·2 min read

Why don't we trust AI

AI is comparative to a competent new employee

·1 min read

Why AI?

My motivation to learn about AI

·2 min read

What is Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG)?

An idiot's guide to RAG

·3 min read

What are LLMs

An idiot's guide to LLMs

·2 min read

Hallucinations

An idiot's guide to Hallucinations

·3 min read

ClaudeCode the Best Agent

I walk through how I was assisted with ClaudeCode to generate this page

·2 min read

Getting Started with Applied AI

My journey from aerospace engineering to Applied AI, and what I've learned along the way.

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Erik Cavan

Let's build something together

Whether you have a project in mind or just want to connect, I'm always open to discussing new opportunities.