Glen O'Donnell mechanic × builder

Perth, Western Australia

Ideas into useful software.

I use prompts, new models and AI-assisted development to turn rough ideas into practical applications, experiments and websites.

view projects get in touch

From the workshop to the web.

ls projects/

On the bench.

Working software, open investigations and a record of what I learn along the way.

Also on the bench

Ongoing investigations — a place for questions, prototypes and field notes as the work develops.

investigationongoing

prompt-systems

Clearer instructions, better results. Testing ways to make prompts more deliberate, repeatable and easier to evaluate.

  • prompt engineering
  • evaluation
investigationactive

application-building

Ideas made tangible. Using AI-assisted development to move quickly from a rough thought to a working interface.

  • rapid prototyping
  • working software
investigationrecurring

model-field-notes

A practical record of change. Keeping track of what improves, what breaks and what becomes possible as new tools arrive.

  • observations
  • release notes for reality

cat about.txt

Mechanic × builder.

I'm a dual trade-qualified light and heavy vehicle mechanic.

By day, I work as a Heavy Diesel Mechanic with BHP at Mount Whaleback. Maintaining CAT haul truck fleets in a large-scale mining environment, with a focus on advanced diagnostics, reliability and safe return to service.

Off the tools, I build. I use prompts, new models and AI-assisted development to turn rough ideas into working applications, experiments and websites — including the one you're reading.

Same instinct in both: understand the system, find the fault, make it work, leave a record.

# Learning by making, one iteration at a time.

away from the keyboard
Glen O'Donnell smiling while holding a rooster among tropical plants
Unexpected co-star.
Currently
Heavy Diesel Mechanic · BHP
Based in
Perth, Western Australia
Focus
prompt engineering · AI-assisted building
Exploring
agents · harnesses · models

cat approach.md

Ideas into working things.

Understand the real problem, make a useful version early, test what changes and keep a clear record of what I learn.

Understand first

Clarify the problem, the constraints and the desired result before reaching for tools.

Make it real early

A working version reveals more than a perfect plan. Build, test and refine from evidence.

Leave a useful record

Good work should be understandable by the next person — and by your future self.

history --work

Working life.

Hands-on work, complex machines, real responsibility. A career across light vehicles, heavy mobile equipment and mining maintenance.

march 2025 — present

Heavy Diesel Mechanic

Maintaining CAT haul truck fleets in a large-scale mining environment, with a focus on advanced diagnostics, reliability and safe return to service.

BHP

may 2023 — october 2024

Heavy Diesel Mechanic

Completed Mader's Trade Upgrade Program and maintained Komatsu 930E electric-drive haul trucks across Pilbara operations.

Mader Group

october 2020 — april 2023

Automotive Technician

Delivered servicing, diagnostics and repair work across a broad range of light vehicles in an independent workshop.

AutoplusWA

september 2019 — october 2020

Apprentice Automotive Technician

Built the practical foundation of my light-vehicle trade through dealership-based training, servicing and repair work.

Subaru Osborne Park

Qualifications, trade certificates, licences and training.
read the full career record →

ping glen

Have an idea worth testing?

I'm always interested in thoughtful tools, unusual problems and conversations about where AI becomes genuinely useful.

Perth, Western Australia · happy to talk

message me on LinkedIn

A little look around.

An optional browser terminal. Try help.

guest@glenodonnell.com — browser shell
Welcome. Type help for available commands.

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glen homePerth, Western AustraliaAWST