Where can you learn from the people you follow without paying? Brian Pfeil’s personal directory points to eight online resources from six creators, spanning software development, science, and independent product building. The list is a curated set of starting points, not a ranking: choose by subject and format, whether you prefer hands-on notes, documentation, essays, or long-form audio.
How to choose a resource
Start with the kind of learning you want. For practical software and web-development material, the list includes a developer’s weblog, command-line tool documentation, and web-pattern guides. For broader listening or reading, it includes podcasts, science-oriented content, engineering essays, and writing about independent products.
Pfeil marks two of the eight resources as his preferred starting points: Simon Willison’s Weblog and Patterns.dev. That star is his editorial recommendation, not an objective measure of quality or a promise of a particular result. The descriptions below reflect how the original directory presents each resource; they do not independently establish current access terms or evaluate the creators’ work.
Eight free resources from six creators
Simon Willison: software and AI
- Simon Willison’s Weblog (starred): Daily, hands-on notes about using large language models to build software. Pfeil recommends it as a way for engineers to keep up with AI. Visit Simon Willison’s Weblog.
- LLM: Willison’s command-line tool for talking to hosted or local models. The directory also describes its documentation as a tutorial, making it a practical entry point for readers who want to learn by exploring a tool. Explore LLM.
Long-form conversations and science-oriented content
- Lex Fridman Podcast: Long-form conversations with AI researchers, engineers, and scientists. The directory notes that full episodes and transcripts are available. Visit the Lex Fridman Podcast.
- Huberman Lab: Material about how the brain and body work, alongside science-based habits related to sleep, focus, and learning. Visit Huberman Lab.
Addy Osmani: web-development patterns and essays
- Patterns.dev (starred): Free material on design, rendering, and performance patterns for modern web applications. Pfeil’s description says it includes Addy Osmani’s JavaScript design patterns book. Explore Patterns.dev.
- AddyOsmani.com: Essays about AI-assisted coding, working with agents, and web performance. The original directory identifies Osmani as a Google engineering lead. Visit AddyOsmani.com.
Mitchell Hashimoto: systems and building with agents
- Mitchell Hashimoto’s Writing: Writing about building Ghostty, systems programming in Zig, and working with AI agents. Read Mitchell Hashimoto’s writing.
Pieter Levels: independent product building
- levels.io: Writing about building and running profitable products independently, including building in public, using a simple stack, and launching quickly. Visit levels.io.
What the list does—and does not—tell you
The eight links are grouped under six creators and mix several formats: written material, documentation, a command-line tool, and a podcast. That makes the directory useful for choosing a subject and a learning format, but it does not compare accuracy, completeness, or learner outcomes. Its central idea is personal curation: Pfeil describes the collection as “The builders and thinkers I read and listen to most, and where they teach for free.”
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#1 Best Overall
The directory presents its resources as free and says its links open without sign-in. Those are descriptions from the article, not a guarantee that every destination’s present access terms are unchanged. Check the individual destination for current availability and terms before relying on that access description. The page is also one part of a seven-part series of free learning paths.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 【LEARNING WHILE PLAYING】 This is a book helping toddlers to learning while playing.Parents can participate in children’s activities to help them understand thinking, perceive colors, and enhance logical knowledge. The busy book game is an excellent educational toy developed for children over 3 years old
- 【15 THEMES AND 14 DRAWING&WRITING PAGES】 This Busy Book covers 15 themes, including numbers, alphabet, Food & drink, fruits, animals, rainbow, colors, shapes, size discrimination, transportation, weather, week, seasons, holidays and planets. Each themes can enrich the child's knowledge base. There is also a 14-page drawing and writing page to meet the needs of children who love to write and paint, and is equipped with 8 colored pens
- 【DIVERSE LEARNING EXPERIENCE】 This preschool educational toy is multi-functional, allowing child to develop fine motor skills, communication, verbal and problem-solving skills, memory, logic, imagination and visual perception,etc
- 【SAFE TO PLAY】 The certification was passed (CPC,Children’s Product Certificate). This preschool educational toy are made with the highest quality safe material that will withstand through generations of learning. The edges of the flash cards are rounded to avoid any potential harm
- 【BEST GIFT】 Keeping the children busy and get a moment of silence for yourself when you need. So, this is great gift for our children,even for parents.Need to attach the Velcro by yourself
Rank #4
Rank #3
- Childrens Learn to Read Books Lot 60 - First Grade Set + Reading Strategies NEW
- 60 stapled booklets total. 15 titles each in levels A, B, C, and D
- Each 8-page reader is black and white as designed by a reading specialist to attract attention to the print
- Measures 4 1/2" by 5 1/2"
- This series of books is a Teachers' Choice award winning item as voted by Learning Magazine!
Rank #2
- TOUCH, HEAR & LEARN: Kids tap pictures to hear clear English words and phrases—no smart pen or screen needed—making this interactive book simple for ages 2-8 to explore independently
- 500 WORDS ACROSS 18 THEMES: This 500-word sound book covers letters, animals, food, travel, jobs, family, clothes, toys, transportation, household items, and more
- MORE THAN FIRST ENGLISH WORDS: Unlike basic sound books that focus only on nouns, it also covers common sentences, antonyms, verbs, numbers, colors, shapes, seasons, and real-life scenes
- SCREEN-FREE LEARNING ANYWHERE: For families seeking books that read aloud to kids, this rechargeable talking book supports listening and repetition at home, preschool, or on trips
- A GIFT THAT GROWS WITH THEM: Colorful illustrations, touch-activated sound, and varied topics make this interactive English sound book for kids ages 2-8 a thoughtful birthday or holiday gift
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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