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Process Monitor for Linux (Preview) Released

2025-09-01

Process Monitor for Linux (Preview) Released

Microsoft has released a Linux version of Process Monitor (Procmon), a powerful system call tracing tool similar to the Procmon in the Sysinternals suite for Windows. It allows developers to conveniently trace syscall activity on Linux systems. The tool supports command-line options to monitor specific processes and syscalls, with the option to save results to a database file. Developers can also contribute to the project on GitHub, fixing bugs and adding new features.

(github.com)

Development

India's E-Waste Crisis: A Tale of Two Recycling Industries

2025-09-01

India's E-Waste Crisis: A Tale of Two Recycling Industries

India's booming electronics sector has fueled a $1.5 billion e-waste recycling industry, but 95% of its workforce consists of informal laborers facing dangerous and toxic conditions for meager pay. The article highlights Khatta, a Delhi dumpsite where a complex informal network operates, controlled by powerful families like the Maliks. While formal companies like Recyclekaro showcase a modern, regulated approach, the informal sector persists due to its profitability and resistance from large tech firms challenging new regulations. The story underscores the stark contrast between the formal and informal e-waste recycling industries in India, highlighting the environmental and social inequalities at play.

(restofworld.org)

Tech environmental crisis

CocoaPods Trunk Going Read-Only in December 2026

2025-09-01

The CocoaPods team announced plans to make the CocoaPods Trunk repository read-only on December 2nd, 2026, ceasing acceptance of new Podspecs. This move aims to enhance security and simplify maintenance. A phased notification process will be implemented, with a test run scheduled for November 2026. Existing builds will remain unaffected, but developers relying on CocoaPods Trunk for updates will need to adapt.

(blog.cocoapods.org)

Development read-only

Headless Saints and the French State's Neglect of its Churches

2025-09-01

Headless Saints and the French State's Neglect of its Churches

Many French churches feature a disturbing number of decapitated statues, a legacy of the French Revolution's anti-clerical sentiment. While nearly 250 years have passed, these heads remain absent, highlighting the French state's complex relationship with the Catholic Church. The state owns most churches built before 1905, yet their upkeep is often neglected, leaving many in disrepair. The article contrasts the decaying state of rural churches with the architectural marvel of Vézelay's Basilica of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine, showcasing the enduring beauty of medieval religious architecture against the backdrop of secularization and state indifference.

(thecatholicherald.com)

Misc Religious Heritage Secularization

C++20's Strongly Happens Before: Untangling the Memory Model

2025-09-01

This article delves into C++20's newly introduced "strongly happens before" relationship, which solves a tricky problem within the C++ memory model. Using a simple multithreaded program example, the author progressively explains how modification order, coherence ordering, and the "strongly happens before" relationship constrain the order of concurrent execution. The article also analyzes why certain executions seemingly violating the C++ memory model are allowed on Power architectures and explains how "strongly happens before" fixes these inconsistencies, ultimately guaranteeing a single total order for all `memory_order::seq_cst` operations.

(nekrozqliphort.github.io)

Development

Beyond Text-to-SQL: Building an AI Data Analyst

2025-09-01

This article explores the challenges and solutions in building an AI data analyst. The author argues that simple text-to-SQL is insufficient for real-world user questions, requiring multi-step plans, external tools (like Python), and external context. Their team built a generative BI platform using a semantic layer powered by Malloy, a modeling language that explicitly defines business logic. This, combined with a multi-agent system, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), and strategic model selection, achieves high-quality, low-latency data analysis. The platform generates SQL, writes Python for complex calculations, and integrates external data sources. The article stresses context engineering, retrieval system optimization, and model selection, while sharing solutions for common failure modes.

(www.pedronasc.com)

AI AI Data Analyst Semantic Layer

Ordered Concurrency in Go: Achieving Speed Without Sacrificing Order

2025-09-01

Ordered Concurrency in Go: Achieving Speed Without Sacrificing Order

Go's concurrency is a powerful feature, but it can disrupt the natural order of data processing. This article explores three approaches to building a high-performance ordered concurrent map in Go. The author presents three methods: a reply-to channel approach, a sync.Cond based turn-taking approach, and a permission-passing chain approach. Benchmarks reveal the permission-passing chain, especially when combined with a channel pool to eliminate allocations, as the clear winner in terms of performance and memory efficiency. This method cleverly uses channels for efficient point-to-point signaling, avoiding the 'thundering herd' problem and achieving a balance between concurrency and order.

(destel.dev)

Development Go Concurrency Ordered Map

Bayes, Bits & Brains: A Probability and Information Theory Adventure

2025-09-01

This website delves into probability and information theory, explaining how they illuminate machine learning and the world around us. Intriguing riddles, such as predicting the next letter in Wikipedia snippets and comparing your performance to neural networks, lead to explorations of information content, KL divergence, entropy, cross-entropy, and more. The course will cover maximum likelihood estimation, the maximum entropy principle, logits, softmax, Gaussian functions, and setting up loss functions, ultimately revealing connections between compression algorithms and large language models. Ready to dive down the rabbit hole?

(bayesbitsbrains.github.io)

AI

Swift 6's Puzzling `@isolated(any)`: What You Need to Know

2025-09-01

Swift 6 introduces the `@isolated(any)` attribute, which describes the isolation of asynchronous functions, initially appearing confusing. It always requires an argument, but this argument cannot vary. The article explains its introduction: to solve the problem of lost isolation information during asynchronous function scheduling. `@isolated(any)` provides access to a function's isolation property, enabling more intelligent scheduling, especially when handling `Task` and `TaskGroup`, ensuring the execution order of tasks on the MainActor. While it can mostly be ignored, understanding `@isolated(any)` is crucial for writing efficient and reliable concurrent code when dealing with asynchronous function isolation and scheduling.

(nshipster.com)

Development Asynchronous Functions

The Bloody Cane: Gutta-Percha, the Transatlantic Cable, and Environmental Destruction

2025-09-01

The Bloody Cane: Gutta-Percha, the Transatlantic Cable, and Environmental Destruction

The 1856 caning of Senator Charles Sumner by Representative Preston Brooks is a notorious event highlighting the fractured political climate before the American Civil War. Less known is the story of the cane itself, crafted from gutta-percha, a natural rubber from Southeast Asia. This seemingly innocuous material proved crucial to the 19th-century communications revolution, enabling the transatlantic telegraph cable. However, the insatiable demand led to widespread deforestation and environmental devastation, ultimately replaced by synthetic plastics. The story serves as a cautionary tale about the unforeseen consequences of technological advancement and the need for sustainable practices.

(worldhistory.substack.com)

Misc

Waymo's Mysterious Parking Habits: AI Preference or Algorithmic Glitch?

2025-09-01

Waymo's Mysterious Parking Habits: AI Preference or Algorithmic Glitch?

In Los Angeles, Waymo self-driving taxis are frequently parking in specific locations in residential areas, sparking curiosity and concern among residents. Some families have even noticed Waymos repeatedly stopping in front of their homes, sometimes for hours. Waymo explains this as an AI algorithm balancing energy consumption, reducing traffic congestion, and meeting demand, but cannot explain the choice of such specific locations. Experts speculate this may be the result of a machine learning algorithm. While Waymo doesn't confirm, this lack of transparency raises concerns about the explainability of AI decisions and reflects the challenges of autonomous driving technology in real-world applications.

(www.theverge.com)

Tech AI algorithm

20 Rules for Efficient Knowledge Formulation in Learning

2025-09-01

20 Rules for Efficient Knowledge Formulation in Learning

This article by Piotr Wozniak outlines 20 rules for efficient knowledge acquisition, emphasizing the importance of understanding before memorization. It advocates for building a holistic picture before focusing on details, adhering to the minimum information principle, and utilizing imagery, mnemonic techniques, and avoiding sets and enumerations. The article uses numerous examples to illustrate how to transform complex knowledge into easily digestible formats, stressing the avoidance of interference, optimization of wording, personalized learning, leveraging emotional states, providing contextual cues, and the benefits of knowledge redundancy. Finally, it recommends providing sources, date stamping, and prioritization to ensure learning efficiency and long-term knowledge retention.

(www.supermemo.com)

Development

Revolutionizing Kernel Programming with eBPF: A Hands-on Tutorial

2025-08-31

Revolutionizing Kernel Programming with eBPF: A Hands-on Tutorial

eBPF is a revolutionary technology that lets you run sandboxed programs within the Linux kernel without modifying the kernel source code. This tutorial uses a simple firewall example to demonstrate how to monitor and block traffic from a specific IP address using eBPF. The guide includes Python and C code examples, showing how to leverage eBPF's efficiency and capabilities for network monitoring and security. Learn how to build a packet counter and firewall using eBPF today!

(journal.hexmos.com)

Development kernel programming

Microsoft Engineer's Death Sparks Debate on Tech Industry Overwork

2025-08-31

The death of 35-year-old Microsoft engineer Pratik Pandey after working late at the office has sparked outrage and calls for change within the tech industry. Pandey's relatives say he was under immense pressure, juggling multiple projects, before suffering a fatal heart attack. While the official cause of death was a heart attack, his family believes his grueling work schedule contributed significantly. This tragic event highlights the need for tech companies to prioritize employee well-being and address the pervasive issue of overwork.

(padailypost.com)

Tech tech industry pressure

Spotilyrics: Code with Synced Spotify Lyrics in VS Code

2025-09-01

Spotilyrics: Code with Synced Spotify Lyrics in VS Code

Tired of juggling coding and remembering lyrics? Spotilyrics, a VS Code extension, seamlessly syncs your Spotify lyrics right into your editor. Color-themed from your album art, the lyrics appear in a smooth side panel, letting you code on one side and enjoy the music on the other. A simple one-time login with your Spotify Client ID is all it takes. Boost your coding vibe and productivity—install it now!

(github.com)

Development

AI: The Next Logical Step in Computing's Evolution

2025-08-31

AI: The Next Logical Step in Computing's Evolution

From punch cards to GUIs, and now AI, the history of computing has been a steady march towards more intuitive human-computer interaction. AI isn't a radical departure from this trajectory—it's the natural next step in making computers more accessible and useful to humanity. It allows computers to understand and act on human goals rather than just explicit instructions, shifting the cognitive burden from humans to machines. This lets users focus on what they want to achieve, not how to instruct a machine to do it. The future will likely see human-computer interaction as a collaboration, blurring the lines between instruction and goal-setting, extending rather than replacing human intelligence.

(www.vincirufus.com)

AI

Blizzard's Diablo Team Unions, Citing Layoffs and AI Concerns

2025-09-01

Blizzard's Diablo Team Unions, Citing Layoffs and AI Concerns

Over 450 Blizzard developers on the Diablo team have successfully unionized with the Communications Workers of America (CWA), following a wave of layoffs at Microsoft. The unionization, fueled by concerns about job security and the increasing use of AI in game development, aims to secure better pay equity, address ethical AI concerns, ensure proper crediting, and advocate for remote work options. The Diablo team joins thousands of other unionized Microsoft game studio workers, highlighting a growing trend of worker organization within the gaming industry in response to corporate restructuring and technological advancements.

(aftermath.site)

Game Game Industry Microsoft Layoffs

Escaping Google Authenticator: Generating TOTP Codes on the Command Line

2025-09-01

Escaping Google Authenticator: Generating TOTP Codes on the Command Line

In an effort to reduce reliance on Google services, the author streamlined their Android phone to use only Google Maps and Authenticator for TOTP codes. To generate TOTP codes from the command line, they used oathtool, but the migration process proved complex. The article details migrating codes from Google Authenticator: exporting a QR code, decoding it with qrtool, extracting secrets using a Python script (otpauth_migrate), and finally generating TOTP codes with oathtool. A Bash script simplifies the process. Security concerns around storing secret keys are also addressed.

(imrannazar.com)

Development

Ultrassembler: A Blazingly Fast RISC-V Assembler Library

2025-08-31

Ultrassembler is a super-fast RISC-V assembler library, achieving speeds over 10 times faster than GNU as and 20 times faster than llvm-mc. This incredible performance is due to a combination of optimizations: leveraging C++ exceptions (zero-overhead in ideal cases), employing efficient data structures, using pre-allocated memory pools to eliminate syscalls, and implementing value speculation, clever search algorithms, compile-time templates, and code generation. These optimizations not only improve user experience but also open possibilities for low-cost RISC-V scripting in applications like games or JIT compilers.

(jghuff.com)

Development

Archaeologists Use Lewis & Clark's Laxatives to Find Lost Campsites

2025-09-01

The Lewis and Clark expedition's 600 giant laxative pills, nicknamed "thunder-clappers," contained mercury, a stable compound. Traces of these pills are helping archaeologists pinpoint the expedition's campsites. High mercury levels in soil indicate old latrine pits, and military manuals help reconstruct the camp layouts. This discovery highlights the limitations of early 19th-century medical practices, where "heroic medicine", while sometimes effective, often did more harm than good.

(offbeatoregon.com)

Tech

Re-examining a Chess Complexity Metric: A Critical Analysis

2025-09-01

Re-examining a Chess Complexity Metric: A Critical Analysis

This article presents a critical analysis of David Peng's research paper on a chess complexity metric and its accompanying codebase. The author argues that the proposed metric is flawed, its conclusions lack sufficient logical support, and it fails to adequately account for rapid advancements in neural network technology and the dynamic nature of chess engine evaluations. Several logical fallacies within the paper are dissected, and improvements are suggested, including incorporating Stockfish-NNUE evaluations, considering time factors, and including more human vs. engine game data. The author concludes by urging the implementation of a reliable chess complexity metric before cheaters can exploit it.

(lichess.org)

Game

Rick Beato's Furious Rant Against Music Copyright: Killing Podcast Music?

2025-08-31

Rick Beato's Furious Rant Against Music Copyright: Killing Podcast Music?

Rick Beato, a music video podcaster with over 5 million subscribers, recently launched a scathing attack on record labels, particularly Universal Music Group, for their heavy-handed approach to copyright claims on podcast music snippets. Beato argues this stifles music promotion, harms artists, and violates fair use principles. He calls for the music industry to reform its outdated system, enabling fair use of music clips in podcasts to benefit both artists and podcasters. This echoes Saving Country Music's long-standing critique of the music copyright regime, highlighting a growing concern within the industry.

(savingcountrymusic.com)

Misc music copyright podcasting

Nim: An Undervalued Systems Programming Language

2025-09-01

Nim is a systems programming language that blends the conciseness of Python with the power of C++. This article explores its strengths and weaknesses based on the author's experience. Nim boasts excellent cross-compilation capabilities, powerful metaprogramming features, and a memory management model (ORC/ARC in Nim 2) that rivals C++ and Rust. However, areas for improvement include tooling and debugging experience. Overall, Nim is a compelling systems programming language, offering a balance of conciseness, flexibility, and performance that makes it suitable for diverse applications.

(miguel-martin.com)

Development

Sideloading Restrictions: The Battle for Control of Your Devices

2025-09-01

The debate around sideloading on Android and iOS continues. Google's recent tightening of Android's sideloading restrictions has sparked controversy. The article argues the core issue isn't whether users can run any code on their own hardware, but rather the manufacturers' control over the operating system, not the hardware itself. Apple serves as a case study: iOS's tight integration with hardware is key to its success; forcing changes would undermine the iPhone. The real focus should be on the ability to install and run alternative operating systems on one's hardware—e.g., running Android on an iPhone. Manufacturers should be legally required to provide necessary technical support and documentation to facilitate the development of alternative operating systems.

(hugotunius.se)

Tech

Amazon Prime Video Faces Lawsuit Over 'Buy' Button Misleading Consumers

2025-09-01

Amazon Prime Video Faces Lawsuit Over 'Buy' Button Misleading Consumers

A user is suing Amazon Prime Video, claiming its use of the "buy" button is misleading, as it actually purchases a revocable license to access digital content, not permanent ownership. The plaintiff points out that the fine print below Prime Video's "buy" button is too inconspicuous, only visible at the final stage of the transaction. Legal experts believe Amazon might argue users should read the full terms, but the plaintiff is likely to win because ordinary consumers understand "buy" as a permanent transaction. The key to this case is proving that Amazon's advertising is misleading and the losses suffered by consumers due to content removal.

(arstechnica.com)

Tech

Conquering ADHD: Strategies and Tactics

2025-08-31

Conquering ADHD: Strategies and Tactics

This post delves into managing ADHD, divided into 'Strategies' and 'Tactics'. 'Strategies' focus on high-level control systems such as medication, memory management, energy allocation, and introspection. 'Tactics' list micro-level improvements, including task selection, visual field management, regular project check-ins, and inbox management. The author emphasizes medication as a first-line treatment for ADHD and shares practical tips based on personal experience, guiding readers to build efficient personal growth systems and ultimately conquer ADHD.

(borretti.me)

Development

Rethinking Event-Driven Programming: A Bidirectional Observer Pattern in PHP

2025-09-01

Rethinking Event-Driven Programming: A Bidirectional Observer Pattern in PHP

Traditional observer patterns are observer-centric: events trigger passive reactions. This PHP Observer package shifts the perspective to the emitter. Emitters dispatch signals (events, plans, inquiries, commands), and observers can return counter-signals, creating a bidirectional dialogue. This allows for dynamic handling of complex workflows, such as canceling orders based on inventory or dynamically configuring libraries. The package offers seven signal types, robust error handling, and observability features, making it ideal for building responsive, emitter-driven applications.

(medium.com)

Development Observer Pattern Bidirectional Communication

AI Web Crawlers: Devouring the Open Web?

2025-09-01

AI Web Crawlers: Devouring the Open Web?

The rise of AI has unleashed a swarm of AI web crawlers, relentlessly scraping content to feed Large Language Models (LLMs). This results in 30% of global web traffic originating from bots, with AI bots leading the charge. Unlike traditional crawlers, these AI bots are far more aggressive, ignoring crawl delays and bandwidth limitations, causing performance degradation, service disruptions, and increased costs for websites. Smaller sites are often crippled, while larger sites face immense pressure to scale their resources. While solutions like robots.txt and proposed llms.txt exist, they are proving insufficient. This arms race between websites and AI companies risks fragmenting the web, restricting access to information, and potentially pushing the internet towards a pay-to-access model.

(www.theregister.com)

Tech web traffic

IBM's Software Strategy Shift: From Free to Fee

2025-09-01

This article recounts IBM's strategic shift from offering free software to charging for it in the early 1970s. Initially, to build utility value for its computers, IBM offered software for free, similar to today's bundled internet and phone packages. However, antitrust pressures and internal factors, such as executive bonuses versus future recurring revenue, led IBM to unbundle software and hardware pricing and start charging for system engineer services. This transition also resulted in adjustments to the training model for junior engineers. To support 7x24 online services, IBM developed techniques to optimize billing. Following the failure of the Future System project, IBM refocused on 370 hardware and software, ultimately deciding to charge for kernel software, marking a complete change in its software strategy.

(alt.folklore.computers.narkive.com)

Tech software strategy

Near-Death Experience: A Rebirth of Consciousness

2025-09-01

Near-Death Experience: A Rebirth of Consciousness

The author recounts his battle with a brain tumor. On the eve of surgery, he undergoes a profound experience, gaining a deep understanding of time, life, and love. Post-surgery, despite a painful recovery, he cherishes life more and realizes that 'consciousness' is not just neuronal activity but also care, love, and the perception of life. This story is filled with profound reflections on the meaning of life and a delicate portrayal of love.

(bigthink.com)

Misc life experience

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