Webtagr - Technology News Summarizer

Popular：

Virtualization DNS security formal verification reachability analysis compiler errors macro conflict web extension development framework Bitmap Graphics API inconsistencies All Tags

Firefox Privacy Checklist: Enhance Your Privacy

2025-08-30

Firefox Privacy Checklist: Enhance Your Privacy

This checklist guides you through optimizing Firefox's privacy settings. The author prefers Firefox over Chromium-based browsers like Brave due to Mozilla's non-profit nature and commitment to open source. It details how to improve privacy via settings and extensions, including accessing settings and using about:config (with a cautionary note). The author welcomes suggestions for improvement.

(andrewmarder.net)

Development

Zellij's Web Terminal: Bringing Your Terminal to the Browser

2025-08-31

Zellij's Web Terminal: Bringing Your Terminal to the Browser

Zellij, a terminal workspace and multiplexer, recently released a built-in web client, allowing users to connect to background terminal sessions via a browser. This post details the construction of the Zellij Web Terminal, including technology choices, architecture design, and challenges faced. It uses a client/server architecture with bidirectional communication via WebSockets between the browser and the Zellij server. Built with Rust and axum, the web server prioritizes security and ease of use. Future plans for Zellij include expanding the web interface to support features like native UI component rendering and the merging of multiple terminal sessions.

(poor.dev)

Development terminal multiplexer web client

Incus: System Containers vs. Virtual Machines – A Deep Dive

2025-08-28

Incus: System Containers vs. Virtual Machines – A Deep Dive

Incus supports two instance types: system containers and virtual machines. System containers leverage Linux kernel features for isolation, are Linux-only, and consume fewer resources. Virtual machines use hardware virtualization for isolation, allowing different operating systems but consuming more resources. Application containers (like Docker) package single applications, while system containers simulate a full OS, suitable for multiple applications and creating separate user spaces. Choose system containers for better performance and smaller size if all functionality is compatible with the host kernel; otherwise, use virtual machines.

(linuxcontainers.org)

Development

The John McPhee Method: A Deep Dive into Nonfiction Writing

2025-08-26

This article details the writing process of renowned author John McPhee, emphasizing a meticulous, multi-stage approach. He begins by accumulating extensive notes from research and interviews, meticulously organizing them into thematic buckets. Structure is then carefully crafted before any actual writing commences. This avoids writer's block and allows for a smoother, more efficient writing process. The author also shares their adaptation of the McPhee method, using Emacs' org-mode for streamlined note management.

(jsomers.net)

Development Note Organization

Reverse Engineering Apple's M1 GPU: Open-Source Drivers Make Linux Gaming Soar

2025-08-27

Beginning in 2020, Hector Martin, a University of Toronto computer science student, launched the Asahi Linux project to bring Linux to Apple's M1 chip. Collaborating with an engineer at Collabora, he reverse-engineered the M1's GPU, gradually achieving graphics acceleration and ultimately achieving full support for OpenGL 4.6, Vulkan 1.4, and OpenCL 3.0, enabling Proton gaming. This not only debunked the myth that Vulkan is unsuitable for Apple hardware but also contributed a high-quality driver to the open-source community, dramatically improving the Linux gaming experience on the M1 chip.

(rosenzweig.io)

Development Open Source Driver

Debian 13's /tmp Moves to tmpfs: Speed and Challenges

2025-08-29

Debian 13's /tmp Moves to tmpfs: Speed and Challenges

Debian 13 revolutionizes /tmp by moving it to the tmpfs in-memory filesystem, resulting in dramatically faster file access. However, this introduces challenges: users could consume significant RAM, impacting system performance. Debian defaults to a 50% RAM limit for tmpfs, but this is customizable. Furthermore, Debian 13 includes automatic cleanup, deleting unused files in /tmp after 10 days by default. For low-memory systems, users can easily disable tmpfs.

(lowendbox.com)

Development

Bitnami's Docker Hub Migration: Security Upgrade or Paywall?

2025-08-28

Bitnami's Docker Hub Migration: Security Upgrade or Paywall?

Bitnami is migrating its public Docker image repository to a new Bitnami Legacy repository and gradually rolling out the more secure Bitnami Secure Images (BSI). The migration will be phased, with temporary image service interruptions. Users can choose to migrate to BSI (partially free, but full functionality requires a paid subscription) or the Bitnami Legacy repository (temporary solution, with security risks). Bitnami explains this move as an effort to improve security and address the growing threat of open-source software vulnerabilities and new regulations. However, this move has also sparked controversy, with some arguing it's a strategy to shift from free to paid services.

(community.broadcom.com)

Development

Urgent: Malicious nx Build Kit Steals GitHub Keys

2025-08-27

Urgent: Malicious nx Build Kit Steals GitHub Keys

A malicious post-install command in the popular nx build kit has been discovered, creating a repository prefixed with 's1ngularity-repository' on affected users' GitHub accounts. This malware steals wallets, API keys, and environment variables, storing them in a base64-encoded file. Cleverly, it leverages LLMs like Claude Code CLI or Gemini CLI to offload much of its fingerprintable code to a prompt, making detection harder. Impacted versions of nx have been removed from npm. Users should immediately check their GitHub accounts, update nx to the latest safe version, and rotate any compromised secrets.

(semgrep.dev)

Development nx build kit github security

Chorus' Creator Incubator: Controversy and Hope

2025-08-28

Chorus' Creator Incubator: Controversy and Hope

Chorus, an organization aiming to support progressive content creators, launched a creator incubator program to help them produce high-quality political content. However, the program has faced controversy. Some creators accused Chorus of using their images for fundraising without permission and attempting to become a middleman between progressive political leaders and independent media. Despite this, many creators applied to join the program, hoping to gain funding and resources to produce better content and influence the political process. The future direction of the program and whether it can truly help independent media remains to be seen.

(www.wired.com)

Misc

AI Psychosis: Hype or Reality?

2025-08-29

AI Psychosis: Hype or Reality?

Reports of AI chatbots driving users to insanity have sparked concerns about 'AI psychosis'. This post explores this phenomenon by drawing analogies to historical events and analyzing reader survey data. The author argues that AI chatbots don't directly cause psychosis but exacerbate pre-existing mental issues or eccentric tendencies, particularly in the absence of real-world social constraints. A survey suggests an annual incidence of 'AI psychosis' ranging from 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 100,000, with most cases involving pre-existing mental health conditions or risk factors.

(www.astralcodexten.com)

AI AI psychosis

Delphi TensorFlow Lite Image Classifier

2025-08-27

Delphi TensorFlow Lite Image Classifier

This Delphi code implements a simple TensorFlow Lite image classifier. It loads a model file, preprocesses image data from an Image1 component, and feeds the data to a TensorFlow Lite interpreter for inference. The inference results, probabilities for each class, are displayed in a ListView1 component. The code includes error handling and resource release mechanisms for stability.

(learndelphi.org)

Development Image Classification

The Relativity of Wrong: Why 'Wrong' Isn't Always Equally Wrong

2025-08-26

This essay argues that scientific theories aren't simply 'right' or 'wrong,' but rather exist on a spectrum of accuracy. Using the evolving understanding of Earth's shape as an example—from flat to spherical to oblate spheroid to a slightly pear-shaped model—Asimov demonstrates that scientific progress is a process of refinement, not replacement. Older theories, while incomplete, often contain valuable truths that persist in later, more refined models. The author concludes that celebrating current scientific understanding is justified, even acknowledging its inherent incompleteness.

(hermiene.net)

Tech scientific progress

Efficient Rubik's Cube Solving via Learned Representations: No Hand-Crafted Heuristics Needed

2025-08-29

Classical AI separates perception (spatial representation learning) from planning (temporal reasoning via search). This work explores representations capturing both spatial and temporal structure. Standard temporal contrastive learning often fails due to spurious features. The authors introduce Contrastive Representations for Temporal Reasoning (CRTR), using negative sampling to remove these features and improve temporal reasoning. CRTR excels on complex temporal tasks like Sokoban and Rubik's Cube, solving the latter faster than BestFS (albeit with longer solutions). Remarkably, this is the first demonstration of efficiently solving arbitrary Rubik's Cube states using only learned representations, eliminating the need for hand-crafted search heuristics.

(princeton-rl.github.io)

AI Temporal Reasoning Contrastive Learning

TTY Demystified: A Deep Dive into the Linux Console

2025-08-26

This article provides a comprehensive explanation of the Linux TTY subsystem. Tracing its history from 19th-century stock tickers to modern virtual terminals, it details the roles of UART drivers, line disciplines, TTY drivers, and signal handling. The article also covers process states, job and session management, flow control, and blocking I/O, using clear diagrams and examples. It unravels the complexities of the Linux console, offering deep insights for developers and advanced users.

(www.linusakesson.net)

Development Console

From $20K to $35M: A Startup Founder's Bank Adventure

2025-08-28

A young founder opened a business account at Chase bank early in his startup journey. As his company raised multiple funding rounds (from $1M to $24M), he interacted with a bank manager, Alex, who repeatedly called to 'check in' on his account, leaving him bewildered. Eventually, the founder moved the company's funds to Silicon Valley Bank and closed the Chase account. A year later, he was recognized at a Chase branch in LA as the founder of HashiCorp, revealing that local Chase employees knew about his company's massive account activity and used it as an internal training case. Even more shockingly, his previously unclosed Chase account revealed fraud, requiring him to withdraw a $1M cashier's check to close it, a process filled with unexpected challenges. This story highlights the naivete of startup founders concerning banking and the inner workings of large banks.

(mitchellh.com)

Startup

It's Time to Delete Some Tests

2025-08-30

For decades, the importance of testing has been emphasized, yet developers have developed a misguided belief that 'deleting tests is blasphemy'. This article argues that the purpose of tests is to increase confidence, but failing, redundant, slow, or outdated tests actually decrease confidence. Flaky tests waste time, while overly numerous tests reduce efficiency. The author suggests that to improve efficiency and confidence, tests that decrease rather than increase confidence should be deleted, and new tests should be written for new requirements.

(andre.arko.net)

Development

Molluscs of the Multiverse: A Biological Look at Magic: The Gathering

2025-08-27

Molluscs of the Multiverse: A Biological Look at Magic: The Gathering

Three museum researchers delve into the surprisingly diverse mollusc representation in the popular card game Magic: The Gathering. They examine snails, slugs, bivalves, and cephalopods, comparing the game's depictions to real-world biology. The authors highlight the creative ways the game uses biological forms, behaviors, and ecology, revealing a fascinating interplay between fantasy and science. This article is a fun exploration of game lore and a surprisingly insightful primer on mollusc biology, appealing to gamers and biology enthusiasts alike.

(jgeekstudies.org)

Game Molluscs

Marco Email App's Offline-First Architecture Evolution

2025-08-29

Marco Email App's Offline-First Architecture Evolution

The Marco email app team embarked on a long journey to build an IMAP-based, cross-platform, and offline-first application. They experimented with various solutions, including WatermelonDB, Triplit, and InstantDB, but abandoned them due to performance bottlenecks or functional limitations. Ultimately, they chose Replicache for its superior performance and flexibility, combining it with Orama for robust indexing and search. This story highlights the challenges and opportunities of building high-performance offline-first applications and foreshadows the future of data synchronization: from shared endpoints to shared databases.

(marcoapp.io)

Development offline-first database synchronization

Uncomfortable Truths About Google's Android Developer Verification

2025-08-27

This blog post raises serious concerns about Google's upcoming Android developer verification program. Using the example of the ICEBlock app developer, who faced threats after revealing their identity, the post argues the program could harm developers needing anonymity. Five key questions are posed: How will legitimate needs for developer anonymity be addressed? Which civil society organizations were consulted, and what were the results? How should Google's privacy policy regarding sharing personal information be interpreted? How will the program handle debug keystores and duplicate package names commonly used in app development? What are the implications for those learning Android development? The post urges Google to engage in discussions and provides a feedback form.

(commonsware.com)

Development

Rust Error Handling: A Hybrid Approach with Snafu

2025-08-30

Rust Error Handling: A Hybrid Approach with Snafu

Error handling in Rust is a hotly debated topic. `anyhow` offers a generic error type for easy debugging, while `thiserror` provides precise enum types for better API design. This article details Iroh's hybrid approach using Snafu, which combines the precision of `thiserror` with the ease of use of `anyhow`, while overcoming Rust's backtrace limitations. It cleverly preserves detailed context and backtraces in error chains. The `n0-snafu` crate further simplifies Snafu usage, particularly in tests. Iroh's choice of Snafu balances precision and usability for efficient error handling.

(www.iroh.computer)

Development

Rediscovering RSS: A Simple, Efficient Way to Read Blogs

2025-08-29

NetNewsWire, a free iPhone RSS reader, has become my go-to app. RSS, while an older technology, provides a surprisingly efficient way to consume blog content. By subscribing to RSS feeds, you get updates directly in the app, eliminating email clutter, website hopping, and distracting ads. All your blog content is centralized for easy reading, maximizing your downtime productivity.

(evanverma.com)

Misc Blog Reading

Japan Unveils First Homegrown Quantum Computer

2025-08-28

Japan Unveils First Homegrown Quantum Computer

Japan has launched its first quantum computer built entirely with domestically produced components. Located at Osaka University's Center for Quantum Information and Quantum Biology, the system utilizes a superconducting qubit chip and open-source software called OQTOPUS, both developed in Japan. This milestone represents a significant advancement in Japan's technological capabilities and paves the way for future breakthroughs in quantum computing, with potential applications in drug discovery, traffic optimization, and more.

(www.livescience.com)

Tech Japanese Technology Superconducting Qubits

The Secret to Long-Lasting Beer Head: It's All About Fermentation

2025-08-27

The Secret to Long-Lasting Beer Head: It's All About Fermentation

A seven-year study by Swiss researchers reveals the crucial role of fermentation in beer foam longevity. The research, published in Physics of Fluids, shows that the number of fermentations (single, double, or triple) significantly impacts foam stability. Foam stability is a complex interplay of factors including surfactants, gravity, and bubble interactions. Understanding these dynamics not only enhances our appreciation of beer but also offers insights into the broader field of foam science.

(arstechnica.com)

Misc foam fermentation

Gemini 2.5 Flash Image: Google's AI Image Generation Breakthrough

2025-08-26

Gemini 2.5 Flash Image: Google's AI Image Generation Breakthrough

Google unveiled Gemini 2.5 Flash Image, a state-of-the-art image generation and editing model. It allows for blending multiple images, maintaining character consistency for richer storytelling, making precise transformations using natural language, and leveraging Gemini's world knowledge for image generation and editing. Priced at $30.00 per 1 million output tokens (approximately $0.039 per image), it's accessible via the Gemini API and Google AI Studio for developers, and Vertex AI for enterprises. Google AI Studio's 'build mode' has also been significantly updated to streamline app creation. Key features include character consistency, prompt-based image editing, and native world knowledge, opening new possibilities in image generation and manipulation.

(developers.googleblog.com)

AI

86-DOS: The Untold Story Behind the PC Revolution

2025-08-28

86-DOS: The Untold Story Behind the PC Revolution

In April 1980, a young programmer at Seattle Computer Products (SCP), Tim Paterson, began developing a small disk operating system, codenamed QDOS (Quick and Dirty Operating System), for the new Intel 8086-based board. This project, initially designed as a quick fix for SCP's 8086 computer, unexpectedly evolved into Microsoft's MS-DOS, dominating the PC industry for over a decade. The article details QDOS's development, including the controversy surrounding its compatibility with CP/M's API, and Microsoft's acquisition of QDOS and its renaming to MS-DOS. The simplicity and CP/M-inspired API of QDOS, despite the resulting controversy, allowed for a quick release and made it a cornerstone of the PC era.

(nemanjatrifunovic.substack.com)

Tech

Writing Mathematical Papers: Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Definitions and Expressions

2025-08-30

This guide offers practical advice on writing clear and concise mathematical papers, focusing on common errors in definitions and expressions. It emphasizes avoiding extra commas in definitions, preventing double-duty definitions where notation is introduced and used simultaneously, and treating expressions as units to avoid ambiguity. The guide provides numerous examples and alternative phrasing to enhance readability and precision.

(dwest.web.illinois.edu)

Development academic writing mathematical writing

LLMs: Opportunities and Challenges Await

2025-08-29

Before a short break, the author shares some thoughts on the current state of LLMs and AI. He points out flaws in current surveys on LLMs' impact on software development, arguing they neglect the varied workflows of LLM usage. The author believes the future of LLMs is unpredictable, encouraging experimentation and shared experiences. He also discusses the inevitability of an AI bubble and the 'hallucination' characteristic of LLMs, stressing the importance of asking questions multiple times for validation. Finally, the author warns of the security risks posed by LLMs, particularly the vulnerabilities of agents operating within browsers.

(martinfowler.com)

AI

AI Coding: How Far Are We From Fully Autonomous Programming?

2025-08-29

AI Coding: How Far Are We From Fully Autonomous Programming?

While AI coding tools demonstrate impressive capabilities in code completion and error correction, a new study reveals that AI still has a long way to go before becoming a true programmer. The research highlights challenges AI faces in handling large codebases, complex logic, and long-term planning, leading to hallucinations and errors. Improving AI-human collaboration, such as enhancing interfaces and enabling AI to better understand and communicate uncertainty, will be crucial. Ultimately, AI's role in coding will likely focus on boosting efficiency and shifting abstraction levels, rather than completely replacing human programmers.

(spectrum.ieee.org)

Development

Ninth Circuit Slams Copyright Owners' Misuse of DMCA 512(h)

2025-08-27

Ninth Circuit Slams Copyright Owners' Misuse of DMCA 512(h)

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that DMCA 512(h) subpoenas cannot be used to unmask internet users from Internet Access Providers (IAPs) because IAPs don't host content. This ruling reinforces prior precedent, stating copyright holders can't issue valid 512(c)(3) takedown notices to IAPs as they have nothing to take down. Attempts by copyright owners to circumvent this by using technical methods like destination null routing were rejected. The decision may embolden IAPs to refuse such subpoenas and push copyright owners towards alternative legal avenues. The court highlights the absurdity of copyright owners repeatedly using a legally dubious method that has been rejected for over two decades.

(blog.ericgoldman.org)

Tech Internet Access Providers

Gmail Accused of Partisan Spam Filtering: GOP Claims Bias

2025-08-30

Gmail Accused of Partisan Spam Filtering: GOP Claims Bias

FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson accused Google of using partisan spam filters in Gmail, allegedly sending Republican fundraising emails to spam while delivering Democratic emails to inboxes. Ferguson's letter to Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai alleges potential FTC Act violations. Google denies the accusations, stating its spam filters are based on objective user signals and apply equally to all senders, regardless of political affiliation. This reignites long-standing Republican complaints previously dismissed by a federal judge and the Federal Election Commission.

(arstechnica.com)

Tech

← Previous 1 2 … 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 … 568 569 Next →