Will Chen
I build the layer other work runs on. Language design and compilers first, then developer tooling, now agent systems and the software I run my own work on.
The core thesis: computation is the universal language for describing mechanisms; like category theory for mathematics, but for mental models and thought. Not metaphor, but fundamental substrate. If a system transforms inputs to outputs through rules, we have access to the entire toolkit: decomposition, abstraction, state management, resource allocation. These principles apply whether the system is silicon, neurons, organizations, or your own behavior.
Now
Running Idyllic Labs: an independent research lab for programmable intelligence. We design composable primitives and legible representations for malleable AI systems.
Updated August 25, 2026
Theses
Core ideas I keep returning to:
- Computation as Core Language: Why computational thinking applies to everything from physics to personal behavior
- Ladder of Agency: How agency climbs through demonstrated mastery, not granted permission
- Moralizing vs Mechanistic: Why "lazy" is debugging failure, not character flaw
- Signal Boosting: The fundamental algorithm: generate → evaluate → select
Projects
Active
Personal
Background
- Head of DevX @ Terra
- Terran One WASM Research Lab (founder)
- Compilers, smart contracts, developer tools
Elsewhere
If any of this resonates with you, I'd love to hear from you and learn more about what you're working on. The best way to reach me is through Twitter DM or will@wcdc.io.