Webtagr - Technology News Summarizer

Node.js EPUB Library @smoores/epub Released

2024-12-13

A new Node.js library, @smoores/epub, has been released. It allows developers to inspect, modify, and create EPUB 3 publications. The library offers high-level APIs that simplify interaction with the EPUB specification, such as setting the title and retrieving author information. Lower-level APIs provide granular control over the EPUB structure, enabling tasks like adding chapters and metadata. Built upon fast-xml-parser, @smoores/epub provides robust XML parsing and manipulation capabilities, facilitating efficient handling of EPUB file XML content.

(www.npmjs.com)

Development Library

Scheduled Reboots: A Preventative Approach

2024-12-13

A university research team faced a challenging sysadmin problem: their servers had been running for too long and needed rebooting, but frequent reboots disrupt user experience. Their default was to avoid reboots, but a recent large-scale reboot due to prolonged uptime forced a change. To prevent similar issues, they've decided on a yearly reboot schedule—at least three times a year, aligning with the university's teaching schedule—balancing preventative maintenance with user experience.

(utcc.utoronto.ca)

Development server maintenance system administration scheduled reboots

Microsoft Open-Sources MarkItDown: A File-to-Markdown Conversion Tool

2024-12-13

Microsoft has open-sourced MarkItDown, a Python tool that converts various files (including PDF, PowerPoint, Word, Excel, images, audio, and HTML) into Markdown format. The tool boasts a simple API, supports a wide range of file types, and incorporates OCR and speech transcription for enhanced functionality, making it ideal for text analysis or indexing. Contributions are welcome, and the project adheres to the Microsoft Open Source Code of Conduct.

(github.com)

Development Markdown conversion file conversion Python tool

Concurrent Cycle Collection: Garbage-Collected Smart Pointers in Rust for Scheme

2024-12-13

This article details the implementation of a concurrent cycle collector in Rust for garbage-collected smart pointers (Gc) within a Scheme interpreter. Gc functions similarly to Arc>, supporting interior mutability, cloning, and sending across threads. The article thoroughly explains the implementation of Gc, including thread-safe interior mutability using semaphores and read/write locks, and the implementation details of concurrent cycle collection based on the Bacon and Rajan algorithm. This includes the Trace trait, cycle detection, and mechanisms for handling concurrent modifications.

(maplant.com)

Development Garbage Collection Concurrency

HyperDX Hiring Full-Stack, Frontend, and Backend Engineers

2024-12-13

Y Combinator-backed HyperDX is hiring Full-Stack, Frontend, and Backend Engineers. HyperDX builds an open-source, developer-friendly observability platform, aiming to replace tools like Datadog and New Relic, helping engineers pinpoint production issues faster. They offer competitive salaries and remote work options, targeting experienced engineers.

(www.ycombinator.com)

Development Engineers Observability

Maker Builds Laser Shooting Game: From Legoland Ride to ESP32-Powered Halloween Fun

2024-12-13

Inspired by a Legoland Egyptian adventure ride, the author decided to create a similar shooting game. Using inexpensive ESP32 microprocessors, infrared laser guns, and homemade targets, he successfully built a Halloween-themed shooting game. Along the way, he learned Arduino and MicroPython programming, overcoming challenges in hardware connections, power supply, and communication. The game was a hit at school and home events. Future plans include improving target design, lighting effects, and circuit boards to enhance the gaming experience.

(blog.langworth.com)

Development Maker

New Hash Functions Rain Hashes: Speed and Security Combined

2024-12-13

DOSAYGO Research has released Rain Hashes, a new family of hash functions featuring Rainbow and Rainstorm algorithms. Rainbow boasts exceptional speed, making it ideal for general-purpose hashing. Its C++ implementation has passed all SMHasher3 tests and is characterized by its concise and efficient code. Rainstorm prioritizes security; while not formally audited, its design incorporates elements from cryptographic hash functions and offers output sizes from 64 to 512 bits. The project provides C++, WASM, and Node.js implementations, along with a command-line tool and benchmark tests for easy evaluation and usage.

(github.com)

Development hash function

Web Origami: A New Programming Language for Simplified Website Building

2024-12-13

Web Origami is a new programming language designed to simplify the creation of small- to medium-sized websites. Using a concise syntax that complements HTML and CSS, users can describe website structure using formulas similar to spreadsheets, transforming data and files into HTML and other website resources through simple programs. Even without JavaScript knowledge, features like full-text search and RSS feeds can be created. Origami provides a command-line interface, built-in functions, and an async-tree library, with support for JavaScript extensions. Its core concept is to abstract website building as data transformation, making site creation and deployment efficient, low-cost, and easy to understand.

(weborigami.org)

Development programming language website development

Security Vulnerabilities Stemming from Dart/Flutter's Weak PRNG

2024-12-13

Zellic's research uncovered multiple security vulnerabilities caused by a weak pseudorandom number generator (PRNG) in Dart/Flutter. A flaw in the initialization of the `Random()` function within the Dart SDK resulted in insufficient entropy in generated keys, making them susceptible to brute-force attacks. This allowed attackers to easily gain access to the Dart Tooling Daemon, enabling them to read or write workspace files and even execute arbitrary code. Furthermore, Proton Wallet and SelfPrivacy projects were also affected by this weak PRNG, experiencing encryption vulnerabilities and predictable password issues, respectively. While the vulnerability has been patched, developers are urged to exercise caution when using the `Random()` function and utilize `Random.secure()` when cryptographically secure random numbers are required.

(www.zellic.io)

Development Security Vulnerability

Revolutionary Idea: Applying Magit Principles to the jj Version Control System

2024-12-13

The author proposes a novel approach: applying the Magit version control interface from Emacs (which uses text files as its UI) to the nascent jj version control ecosystem. The article points out that Magit's text-based UI offers efficiency and portability. By leveraging the LSP protocol, a Magit-like experience can be implemented in various editors, avoiding redundant development. The author envisions generating specific text files (such as .jj/status.jj) and utilizing LSP features like semantic tokens, folding ranges, and goto definition to achieve Magit-like version control operations. The ultimate goal is to create a cross-platform, efficient user interface for jj version control.

(matklad.github.io)

Development

Eventual Consistency: Challenges and Patterns in Distributed Systems

2024-12-13

Eventual consistency is unavoidable in distributed systems. This article explores four common patterns for handling eventual consistency: event-based eventual consistency, background sync eventual consistency, saga-based eventual consistency, and CQRS-based eventual consistency. Each pattern has its advantages and disadvantages. For example, the event-based pattern emphasizes loose coupling and scalability, but consistency takes time; while the saga-based pattern is suitable for complex, long-running transactions, ensuring consistency through compensating transactions. The choice of pattern depends on the specific needs and trade-offs of the system.

(newsletter.systemdesigncodex.com)

Development eventual consistency distributed systems architectural patterns

Mastering Ruby Debugging: From puts to Professional Tools

2024-12-13

This JetBrains RubyMine blog post delves into various approaches to debugging Ruby code, ranging from basic `puts` statements to interactive consoles (IRB and Pry) and powerful debuggers (byebug, debug, and the RubyMine debugger). Using a real-world bug example, it highlights the strengths and weaknesses of each tool, guiding developers in selecting the most appropriate debugger for improved efficiency. The article emphasizes that effective debugging isn't just about fixing errors; it's about gaining a fundamental understanding of the code to write more robust Ruby applications.

(blog.jetbrains.com)

Development Ruby debugging debugging tools

Rust Compiler: A Query-Based Incremental Compilation Architecture

2024-12-13

To address the efficiency issues of traditional pipeline-based compilation, the Rust compiler employs a query-based incremental compilation architecture. This architecture breaks down the compilation process into a series of interdependent queries, utilizing a compilation database to cache intermediate results. This allows recompilation only of necessary code sections. Similar to a build system's dependency management, this significantly improves compilation speed, especially beneficial in scenarios like IDE integration. While introducing complexity, this approach offers a more stable and efficient incremental compilation experience for Rust compared to gradual improvements to traditional methods, now default for development builds.

(lwn.net)

3

Development Compiler Incremental Compilation

Refactoring in C++: Top Techniques and Best Practices

2024-12-13

This article explores common refactoring techniques in C++ and best practices for improving code quality. Refactoring, the process of restructuring existing code without changing functionality, enhances readability, efficiency, and maintainability. The article covers techniques like renaming variables and functions, extracting functions, simplifying conditional statements, optimizing loops, and removing code duplication. It emphasizes the importance of using IDEs with auto-refactoring capabilities and highlights best practices such as refactoring in small steps, using version control, and automated testing to minimize technical debt and improve overall code quality.

(blog.jetbrains.com)

3

Development refactoring software development

Git Project Deadlocked Over Rust Integration

2024-12-13

The Git project is embroiled in a heated debate over the integration of the Rust programming language. Proponents argue that Rust's memory safety and ease of refactoring would enhance Git's security and developer experience. However, opponents express concerns that Rust integration could compromise support for niche platforms like NonStop, potentially hindering Git's long-term viability. NonStop's prevalence in the financial sector, its reliance on Git, and the lack of a Rust compiler for the platform complicate the issue. The discussion ultimately reached no resolution, leaving the Git project grappling with a critical decision between maintaining broad platform support and improving security and developer experience.

(lwn.net)

Development Platform Support

Trinity Desktop Environment R14.1.3 Released: Lightweight, Efficient, and Ideal for Older Hardware

2024-12-13

The Trinity Desktop Environment (TDE) project team has released version R14.1.3, a lightweight, free desktop environment designed for users who prefer a lean and efficient experience. This release supports various Linux distributions, BSD, and DilOS, boasts low system requirements, making it ideal for older hardware. R14.1.3 includes numerous improvements, such as XDG Desktop Portal API integration, a new touchpad settings module, new themes and color schemes, and support for various applications and programming languages like Python 3.13. The project encourages donations to support its continued development.

(www.trinitydesktop.org)

Development Trinity Desktop Environment Lightweight Desktop Environment

Elixir/Erlang Hot Code Swapping: Zero-Downtime Deployments

2024-12-13

This article delves into Elixir/Erlang's hot code swapping capabilities, enabling the loading and unloading of code at runtime without requiring system restarts for application upgrades. A simple KV module example demonstrates manual hot swapping, while iex's c/1 and r/1 commands, and the Relups tool, are introduced for easier application and release upgrade management. The article explains Erlang applications, releases, appups, and relups, detailing the use of the Distillery tool to generate application releases and upgrade releases, ultimately achieving zero-downtime deployments and preventing service interruptions.

(kennyballou.com)

Development hot code swapping

Taming LLMs: A Practical Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls

2024-12-12

This book, "Taming LLMs," delves into the key limitations and implementation pitfalls encountered by engineers and technical product managers when building LLM-powered applications. Instead of focusing solely on capabilities, it tackles practical challenges such as handling unstructured output, managing context windows, and cost optimization. With reproducible Python code examples and battle-tested open-source tools, it provides a practical guide to navigating these challenges, allowing readers to harness the power of LLMs while sidestepping their inherent limitations.

(www.souzatharsis.com)

Development Large Language Models Open Source Software LLM Application Development

Stripe Investigates Unexpected DNS Error Spike: A Tale of Complex Network Troubleshooting

2024-12-12

Stripe recently experienced an unexpected spike in DNS errors. This post details how they used tools like Unbound, tcpdump, and iptables to track down the root cause. The investigation revealed that a Hadoop job analyzing network logs was performing numerous reverse DNS lookups (PTR records), leading to traffic amplification due to retries exceeding the AWS VPC resolver's limits. Stripe resolved the issue by adjusting Unbound forwarding configurations to distribute the load across individual Hadoop hosts. The case highlights the importance of robust monitoring, multi-faceted troubleshooting, and strategies for handling traffic surges in high-availability systems.

(stripe.com)

Development Network Monitoring Troubleshooting

The Humble For Loop in Rust: Performance and Readability

2024-12-12

This article explores the trade-offs between the humble `for` loop and functional programming approaches like `map` and `fold` in Rust, considering both performance and readability. Through benchmarks comparing different methods on vector and nested vector operations, the author finds that `map` often outperforms `for` loops in simple transformations, offering better declarative style. However, for more complex scenarios such as flattening nested vectors or handling errors, `for` loops demonstrate a significant performance advantage and maintain greater code clarity. The author advocates for a pragmatic approach, choosing the best tool for the job rather than blindly favoring functional programming.

(blog.startifact.com)

Development performance for loop

WordPress Battles Private Equity: A Fight for the Future of Open Source

2024-12-12

WordPress, the world's leading content management system, is locked in a battle with private equity firm Silver Lake and its investment, WP Engine. After receiving massive investment, WP Engine, a for-profit company built on WordPress, has aggressively exploited the WordPress trademark while contributing minimally back to the open-source community. After repeated attempts at communication failed, Automattic CEO and WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg took action, restricting WP Engine's access to WordPress.org resources to defend the open-source community and the future of WordPress. This conflict highlights the fundamental conflict between open-source communities and profit-maximizing private equity firms, serving as a cautionary tale about the long-term health of open-source projects.

(automattic.com)

Development Private Equity

Unexpected Keyboard: A Lightweight Virtual Keyboard for Android

2024-12-12

Unexpected Keyboard is a lightweight Android virtual keyboard designed for developers. Its key feature is the ability to input more characters by swiping towards the corners of keys. Originally designed for Termux users, it's now suitable for everyday use. The app is ad-free, makes no network requests, and is open-source. Users can access special symbols by swiping to the corners of keys; for example, swiping to the bottom-left corner opens settings. Similar apps include Calculator++.

(github.com)

Development android keyboard virtual keyboard

Unspoken Rules of Terminal Programs: A 20-Year Retrospective

2024-12-12

This article summarizes the author's 20 years of experience with terminal programs, distilling common, albeit unofficial, 'rules' of behavior. These rules cover program responses to Ctrl-C, Ctrl-D, and the 'q' key, color usage, readline keybinding support, and pipe output. The author notes that while not mandatory standards, understanding these rules helps predict terminal program behavior and reduces the learning curve. The article uses examples to analyze the applicability and exceptions to these rules, emphasizing the importance of distinguishing between a program's own responsibility and default OS behavior.

(jvns.ca)

Development terminal programs command line programming tips

Engineer Implements Reversible 1D Cellular Automata Using Bitwise Operations

2024-12-12

Richard Palethorpe, an engineer, created a demo using the GFXPrim library showcasing a one-dimensional binary cellular automaton and its reversible counterpart. The automaton evolves based on rules where each cell's state is determined by its own state and those of its left and right neighbors. The article details bitwise operation optimizations, such as parallel processing of multiple cells using 64-bit integers and bit rotation to simulate neighbor interaction. Reversible implementation is achieved by XORing with the previous state. The author explores compiler optimization and vectorization impacts on performance and ultimately implements an efficient rendering method.

(richiejp.com)

Development cellular automata bitwise operations reversible computing

The Rise and Fall of Ashton-Tate: The dBASE Saga

2024-12-12

Ashton-Tate, a prominent player in the 1980s personal computer revolution, rose to fame with its database software, dBASE. Initially conceived by Wayne Ratliff as Vulcan, the program quickly became a standard for CP/M systems and later flourished with the IBM PC's ascendancy. Its user-friendly interface and powerful features propelled Ashton-Tate to an IPO and significant success. However, the company's later struggles with dBASE III's development, escalating competition, and internal issues ultimately led to its acquisition by Borland. This story details the dBASE legacy, Ashton-Tate's rise and fall, offering valuable insights into the software industry's dynamics.

(www.abortretry.fail)

Development database software

GitHub Extension Summarizes Hacker News Articles with LLMs

2024-12-12

The `hn-tldr-extension` GitHub project offers a browser extension that uses OpenAI and Anthropic's Large Language Models (LLMs) to quickly summarize Hacker News articles. Users provide their own API keys to enable a 'summarize' button on HN pages, providing concise article summaries. The extension's code is open-source and supports browsers like Firefox.

(github.com)

Development browser extension large language model

High-Performance Concurrent Iteration Library lfi Launched

2024-12-12

lfi is a lightweight functional programming library focused on synchronous, asynchronous, and concurrent iteration. It significantly outperforms libraries like p-map and p-filter in concurrent iteration by processing each item independently, resulting in substantial performance gains. lfi also features lazy evaluation, performing operations only when needed to save memory, and boasts a small size, making it easily tree-shakeable. Its clean API design, combined with the pipe function, leads to more readable and maintainable code.

(lfi.dev)

Development functional programming concurrent iteration performance optimization

Kubernetes Spec v1.32 Released: Comprehensive Resource Reference Guide

2024-12-12

kubespec.dev has released a reference guide and documentation for Kubernetes Spec v1.32, providing comprehensive documentation for all built-in resources, properties, types, and examples. The guide covers workloads, cluster, networking, configuration, storage, administration, and access control, enabling users to quickly find and understand Kubernetes functionalities. The project is open-source and accepts contributions.

(kubespec.dev)

Development Documentation

Programming Language Memory Models: Challenges and Solutions in Concurrent Programming

2024-12-12

This article delves into programming language memory models, specifically the behavior of shared memory in multithreaded programs. Using a simple C-like program as an example, it illustrates how compiler optimizations can lead to unexpected results, such as race conditions between threads. To address this, modern languages introduce atomic variables and atomic operations to ensure thread synchronization and avoid data races. The article compares the memory models of Java, C++, Rust, and other languages, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses and evolution, and points out the remaining challenges in formally defining memory models.

(research.swtch.com)

Development memory model multithreading concurrent programming

Hanami Core Team Member Peter Solnica Announces Retirement

2024-12-12

Peter Solnica, a core developer of the Hanami framework, recently announced his retirement from the core team. After two years of reflection, he decided to dedicate more time to his family and pursue a better work-life balance. Solnica expressed gratitude to numerous individuals and organizations that significantly impacted his career, including Lunar Logic, the DataMapper team, and Hanami team members. He stated that while no longer a core team member, he will continue to support Hanami's development and maintain contact with the community. Solnica's retirement doesn't reflect a loss of faith in Hanami, but rather a personal adjustment in time management and life priorities, shifting his focus to family and Elixir development.

(solnic.dev)

Development Open Source Retirement

Category: Development