Sergey Alexashenko prototypes AI projects and publishes the How the Hell newsletter. He previously cofounded Rostra and worked at Substack and Truebill; his projects include the browser game Sweep the Strait.[1][2]
Start with Sweep the Strait →
Owned GitHub account 
X · salexashenko Career
Contributions
Sweep the Strait adapts Minesweeper to the Strait of Hormuz. Its browser implementation tracks playable cells, neighboring mines, flags and elapsed time. Revealing an empty region opens adjacent cells; numbered cells guide the next move. The retro desktop interface includes a reset control and mine counter. The geographic board changes the presentation while retaining the deduction rules of the underlying puzzle.[5][6]
Ideas
In How The Hell Do We Keep Losing Psychic Wars, Alexashenko argues that institutions and useful inventions require continuing defense against decay and capture. He uses a tower-defense analogy: building a valuable system begins a continuing maintenance problem. His practical advice is to choose areas where small builders can move quickly, build something worthwhile, and then make it resilient while leaving room for successors.[7]
Tools, writing & talks
Apps
Start here
Sweep the Straitsweepthestrait.comA browser Minesweeper adaptation with a Strait of Hormuz board and a retro desktop interface.
Open the game, reveal a cell and use the adjacent-mine numbers to decide where to flag or clear next. It runs in the browser without an account; desktop pointer controls make the familiar Minesweeper interaction easiest to follow.
Creator[5][2]Original source
Writing, research & talks
- How The Hell Do We Keep Losing Psychic Warssergey.substack.com
An essay arguing that worthwhile institutions and inventions need continuing maintenance.
Author[7]