Don't Panic Labs

06/09/2026

The same LLM feature. The same workload. Three different call structures: $82/month, $45/month, $13/month.

Chad Michel breaks down the math behind that spread and shows how structural choices about how you call a model matter as much as which model you choose.

Chad breaks down how LLM token pricing actually works and shares the short checklist he uses before any features go to production.

06/05/2026

Today is the last day to submit a speaker proposal for AgentCon Lincoln.

If you've built, researched, or experimented with AI agents, the AgentCon team wants to hear from you. The call for speakers closes tonight.

The June 22 event at UNL's Kiewit Hall includes 45-minute technical sessions and 90-minute hands-on workshops. The audience spans developers, engineers, solution architects, and students who are serious about building with AI.

First-time speakers are welcome.

Submit before midnight: https://sessionize.com/agentcon-Lincoln

06/02/2026

Blank-page paralysis is one of the biggest momentum killers in early development work.

In Part 7 of his GitHub Copilot SDK series, Chad Michel walks through the UX Design Tool he shipped in What is Done, a split-view environment with a file-aware agent, live preview, and Mock Service Worker baked in.

The latest What is Done update ships a UX Design Tool with a live preview, a file-aware agent, and MSW baked in. Part 7 of the GitHub Copilot SDK series.

06/01/2026

AgentCon Lincoln is a free, full-day event on June 22, organized by the Kansas City Developer Conference team and brought to Lincoln in partnership with the Global AI Community.

The schedule is built around practical AI applications and development strategies - the kind of content you can actually use.

Registration is open, and space is limited.

Register at https://globalai.community/chapters/lincoln/events/agentcon-lincoln/

06/01/2026

Because of your generosity, we collected 1,186 towels (including donations!) to support those being served by 's City Mission.

This wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible help from our collection site partners.

Want to host a collection barrel at your business next year? We’d love to have you on board. Reach out at [email protected].

05/27/2026

Four participants walked into the Pathways Program from different backgrounds. All four are leaving as software engineers. Chad Michel wrote about what that takes and the organizations that made it possible.

Four participants. Different backgrounds. One outcome: software engineers. A look at what it takes to finish the Pathways Program and the people who make it possible.

05/25/2026

Every May 25th, fans of Douglas Adams (author of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, the book from which we get our name) honor his memory. This day was the inspiration for our two-week towel collection drive for People's City Mission .

So if you’re a fan of the book, the man, the Mission, or want to make sure those in need have a towel (that most massively useful thing), consider donating today.

Visit https://dontpaniclabs.com/towelday/ for information on how to get involved.

05/22/2026

Time's almost up. Our Towel Day collection drive for People's City Mission runs through Monday.

Visit https://dontpaniclabs.com/towelday/ for a full list of public collection sites or donate online.

05/20/2026

Thank you Ameritas, Horizons Community Church, Air National Guard, Army National Guard, and Standing Bear High School for serving as a towel collection site for your employees, members, airmen, soldiers, and students.

Visit https://dontpaniclabs.com/towelday/ for information on how you can help us collect towels for People's City Mission.

05/19/2026

Yes, you can donate a towel regardless of its condition. If it’s in really bad shape, People's City Mission has a program that recycles these textiles – keeping them out of our landfill.

Visit dontpaniclabs.com/towelday for a list of public collection sites to drop off your donations.