Bunster: Compile Shell Scripts to Static Binaries

2025-01-23
Bunster: Compile Shell Scripts to Static Binaries

Bunster is a project that compiles shell scripts into efficient, static binaries, enhancing portability and security. Instead of simply wrapping scripts, it leverages the Go compiler to translate scripts into native machine code, enabling cross-platform execution (currently Unix only). Bunster primarily supports Bash scripts, with plans to support more shells, and add features like a module system, static asset embedding, password and expiration locks. The project is in its early stages but has already implemented many core features and follows SemVer versioning.

Read more

David Lynch, Visionary Director of 'Twin Peaks' and 'Blue Velvet,' Dies at 78

2025-01-16
David Lynch, Visionary Director of 'Twin Peaks' and 'Blue Velvet,' Dies at 78

Acclaimed director David Lynch, known for his dark, surrealist style in films like 'Blue Velvet' and 'Mulholland Drive,' and the television series 'Twin Peaks,' has passed away at age 78. Lynch's films blended horror, film noir, mystery, and European surrealism, creating a unique narrative style. A recipient of an honorary Oscar, his work profoundly impacted cinema and television.

Read more

Epic Journey: A 200-Ton Neutrino Detector's Odyssey

2025-01-26
Epic Journey: A 200-Ton Neutrino Detector's Odyssey

The 200-ton spectrometer for the Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino experiment (KATRIN) completed an epic 63-day, near 9000-kilometer journey from Deggendorf to Karlsruhe, Germany. Too large (nearly 10 meters at its widest point) and heavy for road transport, it embarked on a complex journey by barge and sea, navigating the Danube, Black Sea, and Mediterranean before finally reaching the Rhine and being lifted into place by a massive crane. The trip wasn't without incident, including a storm that damaged its protective cover, but its successful arrival paves the way for the experiment to directly measure the mass of the neutrino.

Read more

CodeCrafters' Lightning-Fast Interview Process: Get Hired in 2 Days!

2025-02-05
CodeCrafters' Lightning-Fast Interview Process: Get Hired in 2 Days!

CodeCrafters boasts a remarkably quick interview process, completing all steps within 1-2 days. It involves: a 15-30 minute introductory Zoom call to get acquainted; a 2-3 hour CodeCrafters challenge completed semi-live over Zoom, using your preferred language, focusing on problem-solving and code structure (practicing beforehand is allowed); and a final 30-60 minute Zoom call to discuss work history and timelines.

Read more

Nvidia Unveils Next-Gen RTX 50 Series GPUs: Double the Performance!

2025-01-07
Nvidia Unveils Next-Gen RTX 50 Series GPUs: Double the Performance!

Nvidia officially launched its highly anticipated RTX 50 series GPUs at CES 2025, including the RTX 5090, RTX 5080, RTX 5070 Ti, and RTX 5070. The top-of-the-line RTX 5090, priced at $1999, boasts double the performance of the RTX 4090, featuring 32GB of GDDR7 memory and 21,760 CUDA cores. The RTX 5080, priced at $999, promises double the performance of the RTX 4080. The entire series utilizes the new Blackwell architecture and DLSS 4, resulting in significant performance gains and improved image quality. Laptop versions of the RTX 50 series are also coming, with availability starting in March.

Read more
Hardware

Building a Database with the Rust Open-Source Community: The ScopeDB Story

2025-01-15
Building a Database with the Rust Open-Source Community: The ScopeDB Story

A team of three built ScopeDB, a shared-disk architecture cloud database for managing petabytes of observability data, in just four months using Rust. Leveraging the power of the Rust ecosystem and numerous open-source projects like Apache OpenDAL, SQLx, and SeaQuery, the team actively contributed back to the community with patches and new libraries. ScopeDB also features an open-source twin, Morax, for sharing engineering experience, demonstrating a commercial open-source paradigm.

Read more
Development

Hacking a Satellite Back to Life: The BEESAT-1 Resurrection

2025-01-04
Hacking a Satellite Back to Life: The BEESAT-1 Resurrection

In 2013, Technische Universität Berlin's BEESAT-1 satellite stopped sending valid telemetry data. Projected to remain in orbit for another 20 years, its recovery would unlock new experiments. However, the satellite lacked both telemetry and software update capabilities. This talk recounts the story of how, by combining space and cybersecurity expertise, the fault was diagnosed without telemetry, software updates were implemented without the existing feature, and the satellite was resurrected in September 2024. The journey involved overcoming significant hurdles, including working with 15-year-old software and hardware and devising a method to upload new software without the standard update mechanism. The presentation details the entire recovery process, highlighting the unexpected challenges and successes.

Read more

Heavy Social Media Use Linked to Higher Irritability

2025-01-23
Heavy Social Media Use Linked to Higher Irritability

A study published in JAMA Network Open found a correlation between frequent social media use and higher levels of irritability among US adults. The research, involving 42,597 participants, revealed that even after accounting for anxiety and depression, frequent use, especially among active posters, was associated with increased irritability scores. A dose-response relationship was observed, with TikTok users exhibiting the largest increase in irritability when posting multiple times daily. Political engagement also correlated with higher irritability levels. The findings suggest a potential feedback loop between social media use and irritability.

Read more

teemoji: The CLI That Adds Emojis to Your Terminal Output

2025-01-30
teemoji: The CLI That Adds Emojis to Your Terminal Output

teemoji is a command-line tool inspired by the classic tee utility. It uses a Core ML model to predict and prepend an appropriate emoji to each line of text, adding a fun, contextual element to your command-line workflows. Features include emoji prediction, standard I/O support, file handling options (append or overwrite), and easy integration into existing shell pipelines. Installation is straightforward via Homebrew, and usage mirrors the standard tee command, with added emoji functionality and helpful options.

Read more
Development

Full Source Code of the Legendary Game Elite Released!

2025-01-31

A website has released the complete original 1980s source code for the classic space game Elite, covering versions for BBC Micro, Acorn Electron, Commodore 64, Apple II, and NES. The code is heavily documented, with over 120 in-depth articles explaining its workings. The site also allows you to play the game and experiment with the code, aiming to help appreciate one of the most iconic games of the 8-bit era.

Read more

Fixing the Loading Issues in Myst IV: Revelation

2024-12-13
Fixing the Loading Issues in Myst IV: Revelation

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.

Read more

AI: The Next Cloud Computing?

2025-01-21

This article draws a parallel between the current AI boom and the cloud computing wave of 20 years ago. The author argues that while AI, particularly Large Language Models (LLMs), shows immense potential, its development path remains uncertain, much like the early days of cloud computing where many predictions failed to materialize. The author points out that AI's success relies on deep learning, powerful computing resources, and massive datasets, but it also faces challenges such as model size, energy consumption, data bias, and copyright issues. He suggests that the future direction of AI may go beyond current expectations and requires incorporating research from fields like cognitive science for a more comprehensive understanding and application of AI.

Read more
AI

Run DeepSeek R1 Reasoning Models Effortlessly on AMD Ryzen AI Processors

2025-02-07
Run DeepSeek R1 Reasoning Models Effortlessly on AMD Ryzen AI Processors

DeepSeek R1, a new class of reasoning models, tackles complex tasks using chain-of-thought (CoT) reasoning, albeit with a longer response time. These highly capable, distilled DeepSeek R1 models are now easily deployable on AMD Ryzen™ AI processors and Radeon™ graphics cards via LM Studio. The article provides a step-by-step guide to running various DeepSeek R1 distillations on different AMD hardware configurations, including recommended model sizes and quantization settings for optimal performance.

Read more

Windows 7/Server 2008 R2: 30-Second Welcome Screen Delay with Solid Color Backgrounds

2025-01-28

Setting a solid color as your desktop background in Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 can cause a 30-second delay displaying the Welcome screen during logon. Microsoft acknowledges this issue and provides an update to resolve it. The issue doesn't occur when using Remote Desktop Connection, or if the Desktop Window Manager Session Manager service is stopped or disabled, or if an image file is used as the background. Workarounds include using an image with a solid color or adjusting the DelayedDesktopSwitchTimeout registry entry.

Read more
Development System Issue

Blazing Fast JavaScript/TypeScript Compiler and Bundler on JVM: swc4j

2025-01-04
Blazing Fast JavaScript/TypeScript Compiler and Bundler on JVM: swc4j

swc4j is an ultra-fast JavaScript and TypeScript compilation and bundling tool on the JVM. Part of the Javet portfolio, it processes JavaScript and TypeScript code before execution in Node.js or V8 on the JVM. Features include AST parsing, plugin support, code transformations, minification, multiple target ES versions, source maps, and robust code sanitization (keyword restrictions, object protection, etc.). Easily integrated into projects via Maven or Gradle, swc4j offers a streamlined workflow for compiling and bundling.

Read more
Development

Is Your 3D Printing Filament Ruining Your Prints? The Ultimate Guide to Drying and Storage

2025-02-05
Is Your 3D Printing Filament Ruining Your Prints?  The Ultimate Guide to Drying and Storage

This comprehensive guide tackles the often-overlooked issue of filament moisture in 3D printing. It details how hygroscopic filaments absorb moisture, leading to problems like stringing and poor adhesion. The guide covers different filament types and their hygroscopicity, symptoms of wet filament, and various drying methods, from dedicated dryers to oven drying (with strong cautions!). It also provides detailed storage solutions, emphasizing airtight containers with desiccants and vacuum-sealed bags. Proper desiccant care is also addressed, highlighting the need to periodically dry the desiccant itself.

Read more
Hardware filament drying

The Science of Mocktails: Mimicking the Taste of Alcohol

2025-01-30
The Science of Mocktails: Mimicking the Taste of Alcohol

This article delves into the science behind creating alcohol-free cocktails that taste remarkably similar to their alcoholic counterparts. It challenges the common assumption that alcohol's flavor is dominant, instead highlighting the role of trigeminal nerve stimulation (the burning sensation) and its drying effect on the mouth. The article analyzes the bitterness and sweetness of low-alcohol beverages and how alcohol enhances other flavor compounds. By using spicy ingredients like ginger and chili to mimic the burn, and strong tea tannins to replicate the astringency, one can craft mocktails with a similar mouthfeel. The focus, however, isn't on perfectly replicating the taste of alcohol, but rather using these elements to enhance the overall flavor profile.

Read more

Dragon Name Generator: Craft Unique Names for Your D&D, Skyrim, and WoW Dragons

2025-01-02

Struggling to name your dragon? DragonNameGenerator.net offers a powerful tool to generate unique dragon names tailored to various games (D&D, Skyrim, WoW, etc.), colors, genders, and even your own name! It covers diverse dragon types and lore, from fiery red dragons to cunning black ones. Specialized generators for D&D, Skyrim, and WoW enhance your gaming experience by providing names perfectly suited to each universe. Create the perfect name for your mythical companion today!

Read more

Spirituality: Secure Attachment to Reality

2025-01-02
Spirituality: Secure Attachment to Reality

This article connects spiritual development with attachment theory, proposing that spirituality is essentially about forming a secure attachment to reality itself. Just as children develop attachment patterns with caregivers, we develop similar patterns with existence. Secure attachment means feeling safe to experience whatever arises, trusting reality's reliability, and returning to a sense of basic okayness even in difficulty, knowing we are loved. Insecure attachment can lead to using spiritual practices as self-validation or escapism. The author argues that healing hinges on establishing safety, which precedes growth. By building secure attachment to reality, we open ourselves to vulnerability and achieve genuine transformation.

Read more

Secure Your Angular App with Keycloak and the BFF Pattern

2025-01-28

This article demonstrates building a secure web application using the Backend for Frontend (BFF) pattern, integrating Keycloak and Angular. To avoid storing sensitive data in the browser, authentication flows with Keycloak are entirely handled by a dedicated BFF server. The BFF acts as a secure intermediary between Keycloak and the Angular app, managing OAuth2 and PKCE flows, securely storing tokens, and preventing sensitive operations (like token refresh) from reaching the browser. The Angular app interacts only with simplified endpoints provided by the BFF, eliminating direct communication with Keycloak. The article details Keycloak configuration, BFF server setup (using Express.js), and Angular app development, highlighting the security benefits of this architecture.

Read more
Development BFF pattern

Type Predicate Generator: Speed and Type Safety Redefined

2025-01-24
Type Predicate Generator: Speed and Type Safety Redefined

This article delves into a comprehensive comparison of Type-Predicate-Generator against other runtime type checkers. Generator produces code that's over 100 times faster, boasts zero runtime dependencies, and generates strictly type-safe, readable, and modifiable TypeScript code without requiring a custom DSL. It outperforms other code generators in speed, even emitting unit tests, while avoiding `eval()` and providing a superior debugging experience. In short, Generator offers significant advantages in performance, type safety, and ease of use.

Read more
Development type checking

EU Accuses Apple of Failing to Comply with DMA Interoperability Rules

2025-01-16
EU Accuses Apple of Failing to Comply with DMA Interoperability Rules

EU digital rights advocacy groups accuse Apple of failing to meet its interoperability obligations under the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA). In a letter, they urge the European Commission to take stronger action to ensure Apple's compliance with Article 6(7) of the DMA, which requires gatekeepers to provide non-discriminatory access to or interoperability with designated software and hardware. The groups propose several recommendations, including prohibiting Apple from unilaterally imposing NDAs, creating a standardized interoperability request form, and revisiting DMA clauses allowing Apple to hide frameworks and libraries for security reasons. They also criticize Apple's 'Feedback Assistant' and lack of a public bug tracking system. Apple counters that DMA's interoperability requirements could expose personal data.

Read more
Tech

The printf Debugging Debate: A Veteran Game Dev Weighs In

2025-01-06

Alex Dixon, a seasoned game developer, challenges the extreme notion of rejecting debuggers in favor of notepad and printf debugging. He argues that debuggers, address sanitizers, and other tools significantly boost efficiency, even for experienced programmers tackling intricate bugs in large projects or legacy code. While advocating for debuggers, he acknowledges printf's utility in specific scenarios (e.g., debugging release builds or mobile touch events). Ultimately, he emphasizes that efficient bug fixing is the goal, and choosing the right tools is key.

Read more
Development

Civilization VII System Requirements: Can Your Rig Handle It?

2025-01-28

Nine years after Civ VI, Civilization VII is finally on the horizon! The minimum and recommended system requirements have been revealed. Minimum specs include an Intel i5-4690 or equivalent, 8GB RAM, a GTX 1050 or equivalent, and 20GB of storage. Recommended specs bump up to an Intel Core i5-10400 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600X, 16GB RAM, an RTX 2060 or equivalent. The article highlights that the game is CPU-heavy, making a CPU upgrade a priority for optimal performance. Are you ready to build your empire?

Read more

Vestigial Ear Muscles Activate During Effortful Listening

2025-01-31
Vestigial Ear Muscles Activate During Effortful Listening

A new study reveals that human auricular muscles, once used to move our ears, reactivate during challenging listening tasks. Scientists used electromyography to measure muscle activity while participants listened to audiobooks with competing sounds. The results showed increased activity in the superior auricular muscles when hearing was difficult, suggesting these vestigial muscles may play a role in attentional mechanisms. While the muscle movements are minuscule and likely don't improve hearing, their activation could serve as an objective measure of listening effort.

Read more

The Browser: A New Medium for Storytelling

2025-01-11
The Browser: A New Medium for Storytelling

This article explores the potential of the browser as a novel medium for adapting stories. Using J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings as an example, it highlights how different mediums shape storytelling. The author argues that the browser, with its versatile tools (text, images, video, sound, interactivity), offers richer, more dynamic, and personalized narrative experiences. A prototype interactive adaptation of Lord of the Rings is showcased, demonstrating how browser technology enhances reader immersion and engagement through features like maps, character sheets, and sound design, creating a compelling user experience.

Read more

Viral Growth on Social Media: Fleeting Fame or Sustainable Success?

2025-01-31
Viral Growth on Social Media: Fleeting Fame or Sustainable Success?

Product launches are different in the age of social media. Going viral can bring a massive influx of users, but these are often low-quality, short-lived 'looky-loos'. The author argues that chasing viral growth is misguided; focusing on durability, scalability, and value is key. Sustainable growth comes from high-quality users and retention. Only products that stand the test of time and attract valuable users truly succeed. Metrics like long-term cohort retention, power user engagement, and organic acquisition should be prioritized over fleeting viral spikes.

Read more

Running DOOM in Microsoft Word: A VBA Hack That's Actually Impressive

2025-01-20
Running DOOM in Microsoft Word: A VBA Hack That's Actually Impressive

A developer has ported the classic game DOOM into a Microsoft Word document! Using VBA macros and base64 encoding, they embedded the DOOM engine and game data within a Word document, rendering the game in real-time by reading keyboard input. While lacking sound, this unusual project showcases the power of VBA and the developer's creativity, prompting reflection on security and the exploration of software boundaries.

Read more
Game

Amazon's Return-to-Office Mandate Backfires: Parking Chaos, Desk Shortages, and Theft

2025-01-20
Amazon's Return-to-Office Mandate Backfires: Parking Chaos, Desk Shortages, and Theft

Amazon's mandatory five-day-a-week return-to-office policy has sparked widespread employee discontent. Staffers report insufficient parking, desk shortages, inadequate meeting rooms, and a rise in office theft and poor hygiene. Many employees are conducting video calls from the office, negating the intended benefits of in-person collaboration. While Amazon claims only a few offices are unprepared, the negative feedback highlights the risks of a poorly planned transition away from remote work and raises questions about company management.

Read more

NZ Sheep Farmer Predicted AI Doom 161 Years Ago

2025-01-14
NZ Sheep Farmer Predicted AI Doom 161 Years Ago

In 1863, New Zealand sheep farmer Samuel Butler penned a letter predicting a future where AI could dominate humanity. Drawing parallels between the rapid advancement of machinery and Darwinian evolution, he envisioned machines evolving consciousness and supplanting humans as Earth's dominant species. His concerns, including machine consciousness, self-replication, and humanity losing control of its creations, resonate in later works like Asimov's *The Evitable Conflict* and *The Matrix*. Butler's prescient warnings, made in a time with almost no computing technology, highlight enduring anxieties about AI safety and strikingly mirror current concerns about advanced AI's potential risks.

Read more
Tech
1 2 228 229 230 232 234 235 236 319 320