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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

Animal Adoption: A Balancing Act of Genes and Emotion

2024-12-13

A lioness adopting a leopard cub sparks a fascinating exploration into the world of animal adoption. This article delves into the evolutionary mechanisms behind this behavior, examining kinship selection, environmental pressures, individual differences, and maternal instincts. Research suggests that animal adoption isn't solely an evolutionary strategy, but also reflects animal emotions and individual variations, challenging traditional evolutionary explanations.

(nautil.us)

Misc animal behavior evolutionary biology kinship selection

Velofuso Unveils Minimalist Espresso Machine and Grinder

2024-12-13

Velofuso has launched two minimalist coffee products: the TREFOLO espresso machine and the TURBINA cylindrical burr grinder. TREFOLO offers a reimagined, minimalist take on the espresso machine, while TURBINA boasts an innovative cylindrical burr design. Both products highlight Velofuso's commitment to clean design and superior performance.

(velofuso.com)

Hardware espresso machine coffee grinder minimalist design

Librebooting a ThinkPad T480: A Challenging Open-Source Journey

2024-12-13

This blog post details the author's experience librebooting a ThinkPad T480, a process fraught with challenges. From updating the BIOS and backing up the original firmware, to using a Raspberry Pi Pico W and SOIC-8 clip to read and write the BIOS chip, and finally compiling the Libreboot firmware (encountering numerous compilation errors and seeking help from the IRC community), the author documents the entire process. The post also shares post-libreboot experiences, including performance improvements, hardware compatibility issues, and troubleshooting tips, along with recommendations for screen, RAM, and storage upgrades.

(ezntek.com)

1

Hardware Open-Source Firmware

The Age of Average: Design Homogenization in the Modern World

2024-12-13

From interior design to automobiles and movie posters, a striking homogeneity pervades modern design. The article uses the example of Komar and Melamid's 'People's Choice' paintings to illustrate the surprising uniformity of aesthetic preferences. The sameness of Airbnb interiors, fast-casual architecture, car designs, and brand logos and advertising all exemplify this trend. The author argues this 'Age of Average' isn't accidental but a result of factors like technological constraints, cost pressures, and market convergence. However, this also presents an opportunity; bold brands and courageous companies that dare to be different and distinctive can thrive.

(www.alexmurrell.co.uk)

3

Design design homogenization aesthetic convergence age of average

Fixing the Loading Issues in Myst IV: Revelation

2024-12-13

This article documents the author's journey in fixing the notoriously slow loading times in Myst IV: Revelation. The game suffers from a two-second load time per click, even on SSDs. Using profiling tools, the author pinpointed the issue to the game's inefficient image loading via the LEADTOOLS library, which loads images row by row. The solution involved extracting game assets, converting images to the DDS format for faster loading, and implementing multithreading. However, challenges remain, such as crashes related to water effects, requiring further optimization.

(medium.com)

3

Game game optimization performance profiling

Anthropic Unveils Clio: Privacy-Preserving Insights into Real-World AI Usage

2024-12-13

Anthropic has developed Clio, an automated analysis tool that provides privacy-preserving insights into real-world large language model usage. Clio analyzes conversations, grouping similar interactions into topic clusters, similar to Google Trends, without compromising user privacy. This allows Anthropic to understand how users employ their Claude model, identify potential misuse like coordinated spam campaigns or unauthorized resale attempts, and improve safety measures. Clio helps reduce false positives and negatives in safety systems, offering valuable data for enhancing AI safety and governance while upholding user privacy.

(www.anthropic.com)

3

AI AI safety privacy preserving

Transformer Shortage Crisis: Can New Engineering Solve It?

2024-12-13

A global transformer shortage is delaying renewable energy projects, new home construction, and grid upgrades. The crisis stems from surging electricity demand and strained material supply chains. The article explores solutions, including redesigning transformers to use different materials, extending their lifespan, and creating more standardized, easier-to-manufacture designs. Researchers are also exploring new solid-state transformers for improved efficiency and reliability. While these new technologies are currently more expensive, their potential for enhancing grid resilience and adapting to future energy needs is significant, driving the power industry to accelerate R&D and investment to address this critical shortage.

(spectrum.ieee.org)

2

Tech transformer shortage power grid renewable energy

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

Mathematicians Discover New Way to Count Prime Numbers

2024-12-13

Mathematicians Ben Green and Mehtaab Sawhney have proven there are infinitely many prime numbers of the form p² + 4q², where p and q are also primes. Their proof ingeniously utilizes Gowers norms, a tool from a different area of mathematics, demonstrating its surprising power in prime number counting. This breakthrough deepens our understanding of prime number distribution and opens new avenues for future research.

(www.quantamagazine.org)

2

Mathematics prime numbers number theory Gowers norms

DataFuel API: Turn Websites into LLM-Ready Data

2024-12-13

DataFuel is a powerful API that transforms websites and knowledge bases into LLM-ready data with a single query. It effortlessly scrapes entire websites, delivering clean, markdown-structured data perfect for RAG systems and AI model training. No complex scraping code is needed. DataFuel offers multiple output formats, including GPT-4 powered extraction for highly accurate results, and a free tier to get started. Trusted by industry leaders, DataFuel simplifies the data preparation process for building powerful AI applications.

(www.datafuel.dev)

3

AI web scraping

Microsoft Discontinues iMac Rival Surface Studio 2+

2024-12-13

Microsoft has discontinued its Surface Studio 2+, ending its only direct competitor to Apple's iMac. The high-end all-in-one PC, aimed at creative professionals, featured a unique tilting touchscreen display. However, its high price and lagging specs hampered its success. This leaves a gap in the Windows ecosystem for premium all-in-one devices and cements Apple's dominance in this market segment.

(www.macrumors.com)

Hardware All-in-one PC

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

IBM's Executive Terminal: A Forgotten Chapter in Computing History

2024-12-13

A recently discovered 1968 videotape reveals IBM's previously unknown "Executive Terminal" system. Unlike Engelbart's "Mother of All Demos," which emphasized collaboration, this system created an information "war room" for top IBM executives. Executives used modified television sets to query information specialists, who then compiled information from various terminals and resources, presenting it visually to the executives. This showcases an alternative application of early computing technology within a hierarchical organization, contrasting sharply with the collaborative approach of the "Mother of All Demos." Together, they offer a fascinating glimpse into the early development of computing.

(spectrum.ieee.org)

3

Tech Executive Terminal Computing History

How Learning Tibetan Changed My Thinking

2024-12-13

Estefania Duque shares her journey learning Tibetan, revealing how the language reshaped her thinking, perspective, and spiritual understanding. She describes how studying Tibetan, particularly its grammar and unique ways of expressing possession and personal experience, has altered her self-perception and relationship with the world. The language's nuanced honorifics and humble speech fostered self-reflection and accountability. She likens the process of learning Tibetan to a form of meditation, culminating in a deeper appreciation of Buddhist philosophy and a commitment to translating Dharma texts, preserving both the Dharma and Tibetan culture.

(www.lionsroar.com)

3

Misc Tibetan language mindfulness

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

Bacteria: Tiny Organisms, Huge Impact on Earth and the Future

2024-12-13

This article unveils the hidden world of bacteria, revealing how these minuscule organisms have shaped the Earth and profoundly influence our future. From being among the first life forms on Earth 3.5 billion years ago, to the great oxygenation event and the formation of complex cells, bacteria's role is undeniable. Their astonishing diversity allows them to thrive in nearly every environment, forming intricate relationships with other life, including humans. Research into bacteria is revolutionizing our understanding of disease, the environment, and the future; harnessing their power offers potential solutions to major challenges like climate change, pollution, and infectious diseases.

(www.oum.ox.ac.uk)

2

AI bacteria life origins biotechnology

New Study Pinpoints Neanderthal Interbreeding with Modern Humans

2024-12-13

A new analysis of ancient DNA from modern humans in Europe and Asia has precisely determined the timeframe of Neanderthal interbreeding with Homo sapiens. The interbreeding began approximately 50,500 years ago and lasted for about 7,000 years, until Neanderthals began to disappear. This research, using 58 ancient genomes and present-day human genomes, revealed an average interbreeding date of around 47,000 years ago, consistent with archeological evidence. The study also found that East Asians possess about 20% more Neanderthal genes than Europeans and West Asians, potentially due to the presence of mixed genes when modern humans migrated eastward around 47,000 years ago. The findings offer a more complete picture of past human migrations and gene flow, and shed light on the impact of Neanderthal genes on modern human health.

(news.berkeley.edu)

Tech Neanderthals Homo sapiens Gene flow

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

Study Reveals Misperception of Opposite-Sex Facial Preferences

2024-12-13

A PLOS ONE study reveals that both men and women overestimate the opposite sex's preference for sexually dimorphic facial features (masculine or feminine traits). Using interactive 3D head models, participants chose their own ideal face shape and the face shape they believed the opposite sex would find most attractive. Women overestimated men's preference for feminine faces, while men overestimated women's preference for masculine faces. This misperception correlated with the discrepancy between participants' own and ideal facial dimorphism (an index of appearance dissatisfaction). The study suggests that misperceiving opposite-sex preferences contributes to appearance dissatisfaction.

(journals.plos.org)

3

AI facial attractiveness sexual dimorphism appearance dissatisfaction

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

Carta's Difficult Subscription Cancellation Process Sparks Outrage Among Founders

2024-12-12

Funding management software Carta is facing criticism for its cumbersome subscription cancellation process. Several founders have taken to social media to complain about the difficulty of cancelling their subscriptions, citing mandatory meetings scheduled well after their renewal dates. While Carta attributes the issue to a temporary staffing shortage, competitors highlight their straightforward cancellation methods, involving simple clicks or emails. This controversy raises concerns about Carta's customer service and cancellation policies, underscoring the importance of careful consideration when choosing service providers.

(techcrunch.com)

Startup subscription cancellation startup

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

CCxTrust: A Confidential Computing Platform Leveraging Collaborative Trust from TEE and TPM

2024-12-12

CCxTrust is a novel confidential computing platform that cleverly combines the strengths of Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) and Trusted Platform Modules (TPMs) to establish a collaborative trust framework. By leveraging the black-box Root of Trust (RoT) embedded in CPU-TEEs and the flexible white-box RoT of TPMs, CCxTrust achieves end-to-end protection of sensitive data and models, overcoming the limitations of relying on a single hardware RoT. The platform implements independent Roots of Trust for Measurement (RTM) and a collaborative Root of Trust for Report (RTR), further enhanced by a composite attestation protocol for improved security and efficiency. Experimental results demonstrate significant performance advantages.

(arxiv.org)

AI Confidential Computing Trusted Execution Environment Trusted Platform Module

The World of Tomorrow: Why Did Progress Lose Its Glamour?

2024-12-12

This article explores the allure and subsequent fading of the 'World of Tomorrow' vision prevalent in the mid-20th century. It traces the evolution of societal yearnings for a better future, from the pursuit of efficiency, order, and speed to desires for exploration, adventure, and achievement, and finally, the longing for security, comfort, and ease. However, as technological advancements became reality, their flaws emerged, such as the blandness of industrialized food and the destructive nature of urban renewal projects. The author argues that disillusionment with progress stems from a misunderstanding of progress itself – the pursuit of 'one best way' rather than acknowledging diversity and individual preferences. To regain progress's charm, understanding contemporary aspirations and providing possibilities for various lifestyles, rather than a single future blueprint, is crucial.

(worksinprogress.co)

Misc Technological Progress Cultural Shift Social Trends

NES Expansion Port Finally Awakens After 39 Years

2024-12-12

After 39 years of dormancy, the Nintendo Entertainment System's long-forgotten expansion port is finally being utilized in commercial products. This article explores the history of the NES expansion port and why it remained largely unused for so long, examining factors such as Nintendo's strategy, technological limitations, and the market environment. Now, thanks to the efforts of the open-source hardware community and enthusiasts, the expansion port is being used to add features like Bluetooth controller support and Famicom Disk System compatibility, marking a breakthrough in retro gaming console modding.

(tedium.co)

Game expansion port retro gaming console modding

Novel Link Between Cell Nutrition and Identity Could Improve Immunotherapies

2024-12-12

Scientists at the Salk Institute have discovered a nutritional switch from acetate to citrate is key in determining T cell fate, shifting them from active effector cells to exhausted ones. Published in Science, the findings reveal that different nutrients alter a cell's gene expression, function, and identity. This groundbreaking research offers new therapeutic targets for immunotherapies, potentially keeping T cells active against chronic diseases. The discovery highlights a direct link between cellular function and nutrition, opening new avenues for treating chronic illness.

(www.genengnews.com)

AI Immunotherapy T cells Cellular Metabolism

Pink Floyd's 'The Wall': A Descent into Isolation and the Search for Meaning

2024-12-12

Pink Floyd's 'The Wall' is a groundbreaking concept album chronicling the fictional Pink's journey from childhood trauma to self-imposed isolation. Haunted by the loss of his father in World War II, a domineering mother, and the crushing weight of fame, Pink constructs a metaphorical wall to shield himself from emotional pain. This wall, built brick by brick through life's hardships, leads him to the brink of insanity. Yet, the narrative explores themes of freedom and responsibility, culminating in a theatrical mental trial that leaves the listener questioning the nature of life, loss, and redemption. Inspired by Roger Waters' personal experiences and disillusionment with stardom, 'The Wall' remains a powerful and enduring piece of musical art.

(thewallanalysis.com)

Game The Wall Concept Album

Fei-Fei Li: The Future of AI Vision Lies in 3D

2024-12-12

AI pioneer Fei-Fei Li delivered a keynote at NeurIPS, outlining her vision for computer vision. She argues that true visual intelligence requires moving beyond 2D image processing to 3D spatial understanding. Her startup, World Labs, is focused on giving AI 'spatial intelligence' – the ability to generate, reason within, and interact with 3D worlds. This unlocks creativity and productivity, impacting robotics, VR/AR, and more. Li stresses the need for substantial computing power and data, advocating for increased public sector investment in AI research.

(spectrum.ieee.org)

AI Computer Vision 3D Spatial Intelligence

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