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CenterClick NTP200 Series: Offline GPS Time Servers for Precise Synchronization

2024-12-15

CenterClick introduces the NTP200 series of GPS-based NTP servers, offering precise time synchronization without internet connectivity. The series includes models like NTP200, NTP250, NTP220, and NTP270, each with varying RAM and features such as PoE and alarm outputs. These appliances feature built-in GPS antennas, supporting multiple GNSS constellations, and offer various interfaces and protocols including HTTP, HTTPS, SNMP, and SSH. Management and configuration are handled via a web interface, CLI, or USB, with NTP client tracking capabilities. Suitable for a wide range of applications, from ISPs to hobbyists, the series offers optional accessories such as different antenna lengths and power supplies.

(centerclick.com)

Hardware GPS time server NTP server time synchronization

Is Creating a Perfectly Spherical Prince Rupert's Drop Possible?

2024-12-14

An engineering question explores the possibility of creating a perfectly spherical Prince Rupert's drop. Prince Rupert's drops are glass objects formed by dripping molten glass into cold water, their unique internal stresses making them incredibly tough except at the tail. The article discusses how, theoretically, in a zero-gravity environment by controlling the cooling rate and removing the effects of gravity, a spherical Prince Rupert's drop could be made, but significant practical challenges remain.

(engineering.stackexchange.com)

Tech Prince Rupert's Drop Glass Material Science

F-35: A Pricey Subscription Service or Military Might?

2025-03-20

F-35: A Pricey Subscription Service or Military Might?

The F-35 fighter jet isn't just a weapon; it's a subscription service to the US-led defense ecosystem. Buying an F-35 entails not only a hefty upfront cost but also continuous reliance on the US for software updates, intelligence support, and maintenance. Strained relations with the US can result in these services being cut off, rendering the F-35 practically useless, as seen with Turkey. Some nations like Japan and Israel have sought greater autonomy by developing indigenous modifications and upgrades. The decision to purchase the F-35 forces a difficult trade-off between advanced military capabilities and strategic autonomy.

(xxtomcooperxx.substack.com)

Tech

iTerm2's Built-in Browser: Terminal Meets Web

2025-09-19

iTerm2 now boasts a built-in web browser, seamlessly integrating web browsing into its existing window, tab, and split-pane architecture. Users can work in the terminal and browse the web simultaneously within the same interface. It supports various keyboard shortcuts, such as Cmd+click to open links in new tabs and Cmd+Shift+click for new vertical split panes. AI chat integration allows for summarizing, analyzing, or questioning the current page. Privacy features include incognito mode, popup blocking, and ad blocking. While not a primary browser replacement, it's a powerful tool for integrated terminal and web workflows.

(iterm2.com)

Development built-in browser

Unveiling the Deep Connection Between Maximum Likelihood Estimation and Loss Functions

2024-12-15

Unveiling the Deep Connection Between Maximum Likelihood Estimation and Loss Functions

This article delves into the intrinsic relationship between Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) and commonly used loss functions. Starting with the fundamentals of MLE, the author meticulously explains its close connection to KL divergence. The article then uses Mean Squared Error (MSE) and Cross-Entropy as examples, demonstrating how these functions are naturally derived from MLE rather than being arbitrarily chosen. By assuming data distributions (e.g., Gaussian for linear regression, Bernoulli for logistic regression), maximizing the likelihood function via MLE directly leads to MSE and Cross-Entropy loss functions. This provides a clear path to understanding the theoretical underpinnings of loss functions, moving beyond mere intuition.

(rish-01.github.io)

AI Maximum Likelihood Estimation Loss Functions

Revolutionizing Fine-Grained Authorization: Feldera's Incremental Compute Engine

2025-01-20

Revolutionizing Fine-Grained Authorization: Feldera's Incremental Compute Engine

Feldera introduces a revolutionary approach to Fine-Grained Authorization (FGA). Traditional FGA systems evaluate authorization requests in real-time, leading to inefficiency. Feldera precomputes all authorization decisions and uses its incremental compute engine (based on SQL) to update results, turning authorization requests into simple key-value lookups. Even with large object graphs, Feldera processes changes in milliseconds, dramatically improving performance. The article details FGA principles and demonstrates building a high-performance FGA engine using SQL, showcasing its superiority in handling large datasets.

(www.feldera.com)

Development Fine-Grained Authorization Incremental Computation

Streaming Fatigue Hits Americans: Spending on Subscriptions Decreases

2025-01-04

Streaming Fatigue Hits Americans: Spending on Subscriptions Decreases

Americans spent an average of $42.38 per month on streaming subscriptions in 2024, a 23% decrease from 2023. The abundance of streaming services has led to "streaming fatigue," with users feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of options. Many are sharing accounts, reducing subscriptions, or turning to free services to save money. The average American has two subscriptions and watches 3 hours and 49 minutes of content daily. Facing economic pressures and streaming fatigue, consumers are seeking more affordable entertainment options.

(www.techspot.com)

Tech subscriptions consumer trends

Jupyter Notebooks: E2E Testing and Documentation in One

2024-12-18

While developing a quantum computing library, the author leveraged Jupyter Notebooks as both user guides and end-to-end tests. By reading environment variables (like SERVER_URL) within the notebooks, they achieved parameterization, allowing execution by users and automated CI/CD pipelines. Two methods for running notebooks were explored: nbclient for simplicity, and nbconvert/jq for more control but increased complexity. The author opted for nbclient's ease of use, effectively integrating documentation maintenance and code testing, ensuring the integrity of both with every merge request.

(rakhim.exotext.com)

Development E2E testing

Reverse-Engineering the Stone Age: An Experimental Archaeologist's Lab

2025-01-07

Reverse-Engineering the Stone Age: An Experimental Archaeologist's Lab

Metin Eren, an archaeologist at Kent State University, runs an experimental archaeology lab where he and his team recreate and test ancient technologies. Their work ranges from flint knapping and spear throwing to analyzing bullet ricochet marks and butchering bison with ancient tools. Eren emphasizes the rigorous scientific method behind his seemingly playful experiments, publishing numerous papers annually. His research highlights the limitations of traditional archaeology and the value of hands-on experimentation in understanding past cultures and technologies. The lab's focus is on using experimental archaeology to understand cultural evolution and the limitations of the archeological record.

(arstechnica.com)

Tech Experimental Archaeology Stone Age Technology Cultural Evolution

WADA's Funding Crisis: Who Guards Fair Play?

2025-02-13

WADA's Funding Crisis: Who Guards Fair Play?

The US government's withholding of funds from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) exposes a precarious funding model. WADA's reliance on nations with large elite athlete populations makes it vulnerable to manipulation. The article explores WADA's financial struggles and proposes three reforms: an independent global trust fund, expanding WADA's social science research program, and an athlete levy. These reforms aim to ensure WADA's independence and transparency, safeguarding the fairness and integrity of sport.

(phys.org)

Misc anti-doping sports funding

RDAP: The WHOIS Protocol's Successor Takes Center Stage

2025-02-13

The WHOIS protocol (port 43), a standard for accessing domain name registration data for over 35 years, is being phased out due to its limitations, including lack of standardization, internationalization support, and security. RDAP, developed by the IETF, is its replacement. Designed to address WHOIS's shortcomings, ICANN mandated its support by all gTLD registries and registrars by August 26, 2019. Technical implementation is largely complete, and the next step involves amending registry and registrar agreements to ensure RDAP's service level. ICANN will continue transitioning to RDAP and raising global awareness.

(www.icann.org)

Tech

Nvidia Unveils Project Digits: A Personal AI Supercomputer

2025-01-07

Nvidia Unveils Project Digits: A Personal AI Supercomputer

At CES 2025, Nvidia launched Project Digits, a compact 'personal AI supercomputer' providing access to its Grace Blackwell hardware platform. Powered by the new GB10 Grace Blackwell Superchip, it boasts up to a petaflop of computing power, capable of running AI models with up to 200 billion parameters. Targeted at AI researchers, data scientists, and students, Project Digits costs $3,000 and will be available from select partners starting in May.

(techcrunch.com)

Hardware Supercomputer

11 Million Strikers: A Phased Approach to the General Strike

2025-02-01

The General Strike is planned in three phases. Phase 1 (0-6 million signatures): Building a broad network of participants by connecting with organizations and individuals already taking action. Phase 2 (6-10 million signatures): Focusing on concrete demands, setting strike dates and event plans, and holding meetings to gather diverse perspectives. Phase 3 (10-11 million signatures): Finalizing demands, preparing for Strike Day, distributing funds, and conducting final events. The goal is to unite 11 million strikers to fight for racial, economic, gender, and environmental justice.

(generalstrikeus.com)

Misc General Strike Social Movement Organizing Strategy

Daily Murder Mystery: Solve the Case and Save the Day!

2025-01-15

Daily Murder Mystery: Solve the Case and Save the Day!

Mystery-o-matic is a website offering free daily murder mysteries, created by two passionate individuals. Unlike typical games, its daily mysteries emphasize deductive reasoning and mimic the unpredictability of real-life scenarios, resulting in varied difficulty. Each daily mystery is procedurally generated, offering a fresh twist on traditional deduction games. The website is still in beta, so rules, interface, and design are subject to change.

(mystery-o-matic.com)

Game mystery game daily puzzle deductive reasoning

Disabling Password Authentication for Internet-Facing SSH: Security Boost or Overkill?

2025-01-18

This article weighs the pros and cons of disabling password authentication for internet-facing SSH. While strong passwords offer protection against brute-force attacks, the author argues that disabling password authentication provides extra layers of security against stolen credentials, SSH server vulnerabilities, and attacks targeting default accounts. However, this also introduces inconvenience, such as the inability to log in without a keypair. The author suggests a careful consideration of the trade-offs based on individual circumstances.

(utcc.utoronto.ca)

Development SSH security password authentication

Ditch the Top-Down Approach: Why Bottom-Up Code Auditing is More Efficient

2025-03-09

Security consultants often need to become experts in a codebase quickly without writing code. This article critiques the inefficient top-down approach to code auditing, likening it to trying to visualize a whole marathon from the air – discouraging and overwhelming. The author advocates a bottom-up approach: deeply understanding code details, gradually expanding scope, ultimately gaining a deeper understanding than even some developers, and finding more bugs. This method is not only more efficient but also more enjoyable.

(www.cryptologie.net)

Development code auditing development methodology

From Self-Doubt to Software Developer: A Makers Pre-Course Week Four Diary

2025-08-08

This week's blog post details a student's journey through week four of the Makers pre-course. The author grapples with self-doubt while crafting her CV, then progressively masters Test-Driven Development (TDD) and tackles a solo coding project, showcasing her growth and challenges in learning software development. She openly shares her past experiences, including illness recovery and career changes, ultimately solidifying her commitment to becoming a software engineer. The post also highlights her passion for programming and her use of a Go-based text adventure game to reinforce her learning.

(catzkorn.dev)

Development self-growth

B-2 Spirit: The 40-Hour Mission

2025-06-22

B-2 Spirit: The 40-Hour Mission

This article delves into the extraordinary capabilities of the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, focusing on its ability to conduct missions exceeding 40 hours. It details the ingenious solutions implemented to ensure crew rest and operational readiness during these extended flights, including a compact bunk, microwave, and chemical toilet. A real-world account of a mission from Missouri to Libya and back illustrates the challenges and triumphs of maintaining alertness and completing bombing runs across multiple time zones. The article also compares the crew rest amenities and mission profiles of the B-1, B-2, and B-52 bombers, highlighting the rigorous selection and training of B-2 pilots. The success of the B-2 is attributed not only to its advanced stealth technology but also to its meticulous attention to human factors.

(simpleflying.com)

Tech Pilot Endurance

Programming with Agents: Beyond LLM Code Generation

2025-06-11

This article explores a revolutionary approach to programming using agents. The author defines an agent as a for loop containing an LLM call, granting the LLM access to compilers, the file system, and test suites. This contrasts sharply with programming solely with LLMs (akin to coding on a whiteboard), where agents, through environmental feedback, drastically improve code generation efficiency and accuracy. The author shares case studies of using agents for GitHub App authentication and handling JSON in SQL, demonstrating their power in boosting productivity and tackling complex tasks. While agents require more time and computational resources, their efficiency gains and potential for reducing human error position them as powerful tools for the future of programming.

(crawshaw.io)

Development agents

Common Lisp Ecosystem Booms: Even Hacker News is Onboard!

2025-02-22

Common Lisp Ecosystem Booms: Even Hacker News is Onboard!

The Common Lisp community has seen significant growth over the past two years, with numerous new projects, tools, and libraries emerging. Remarkably, the Hacker News website now runs on SBCL! This article summarizes recent advancements in the Common Lisp landscape, including updates to implementations like SBCL, ABCL, and CCL; major improvements to the Lem editor; and new game development tools and web frameworks. Furthermore, community activity is thriving, with events like the ELS conference and Lisp Ireland meetups. Whether you're a seasoned developer or a newcomer, this summary showcases the vibrancy and appeal of the Common Lisp ecosystem.

(lisp-journey.gitlab.io)

Development

Compiler Optimization: Improving Lemire's Nearly Divisionless Random Number Generation

2025-03-09

The author improved a nearly divisionless algorithm for generating bounded random numbers (Lemire's algorithm). A previous version reduced code bloat by inlining the fast path, but compiler optimization was limited. The author discovered that when the limit is a compile-time constant, the rejection threshold can be precomputed, and division avoidance is unnecessary. The new implementation has only one call to the random number generator, and the compiler automatically eliminates the loop when the limit is a power of two. This is more efficient than last year's version, and the author explores similar compile-time optimization techniques in Rust.

(dotat.at)

Development random number generation Lemire's algorithm

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles iOS Version Shut Down Due to Unfixable Bug

2025-02-14

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles iOS Version Shut Down Due to Unfixable Bug

Square Enix has shut down the iOS version of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles and removed it from the App Store due to an unfixable bug preventing access to purchased content. The bug stemmed from changes to the in-app purchase model. Players who made in-app purchases in January 2024 or later can contact Apple Support for a refund. The game remains available on Android, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch.

(www.theverge.com)

Game Final Fantasy Game Shutdown

AI Draws Entire City Road Networks with One Click

2024-12-21

AI Draws Entire City Road Networks with One Click

Imagine drawing all the roads in a city with a single click! This technology, once seemingly straight out of science fiction, is now a reality thanks to AI. Advanced algorithms and massive data analysis allow AI to quickly and accurately map a city's entire road network, providing an efficient tool for urban planning, traffic management, and infrastructure development. This technology not only improves efficiency but also opens up new possibilities for more refined city management, ushering in a new era of smart city planning.

(anvaka.github.io)

AI Urban Planning Road Network Mapping

Hundreds of Seemingly Benign Websites Uncovered as Part of a CIA Covert Operation

2025-05-26

A leaked document reveals hundreds of seemingly ordinary news and entertainment websites that were secretly operated by the CIA. These sites, publishing in multiple languages and covering diverse topics from sports and technology to finance, were used for intelligence gathering, propaganda dissemination, or other covert purposes. Investigators uncovered clues by analyzing website code, images, and domain registration information. The sheer scale of the operation is staggering and raises concerns about online security and information authenticity.

(ourbigbook.com)

Tech covert operation

Google Fights Back Against Breakup, Citing National Security

2025-03-05

Google Fights Back Against Breakup, Citing National Security

Google is pushing back against the Justice Department's efforts to break up the company, arguing that such a move would harm national security. In meetings with the DOJ, Google representatives stressed that dismantling Google would damage the US economy and national security. This comes after the DOJ ruled Google illegally monopolized online search and proposed forcing Google to sell Chrome and make other business changes. While Google has previously voiced these concerns, this latest push comes as the case enters the “remedy” phase, where the court could impose sweeping changes. The final decision rests with the acting Assistant Attorney General, who will determine the DOJ's final recommendation. The fight involves restrictions on Google's AI investments and broader discussions about regulating US tech giants.

(finance.yahoo.com)

Tech

Arcan OS: A Revolutionary Approach to Operating System Design

2024-12-27

Arcan OS: A Revolutionary Approach to Operating System Design

Arcan is a single-user, user-facing, networked overlay operating system designed to provide users with complete autonomy over their computing devices. Independent of Linux or BSD kernels, it operates as a 'vagabond' across various ecosystems. Arcan utilizes a shared memory interface (SHMIF) and the A12 network protocol for efficient inter-process communication, employing 'frameservers' to isolate security-sensitive tasks. Its programmable interface ALT, Appl application model, and diverse user interfaces (Console, Durden, Safespaces) create a flexible and powerful system. Arcan aims to counter the network lock-in and security threats posed by large platforms, enhancing user autonomy and security.

(arcan-fe.com)

Development autonomy

The Dark Side of Software Dependencies: A Trust Crisis and Security Risks

2025-02-13

The Dark Side of Software Dependencies: A Trust Crisis and Security Risks

Modern software development heavily relies on third-party libraries, creating significant security risks. This article delves into the types of software dependencies, the role of package managers, and resulting issues like supply chain attacks, malware, and backdoors. The author emphasizes the importance of regularly auditing dependencies, using signatures and verified sources, implementing security policies, and employing the principle of least privilege. Strategies such as minimizing dependencies and using well-maintained standard libraries are also suggested, ultimately concluding that isolating and containing untrusted software is crucial for mitigating risks.

(linux-howto.org)

Development supply chain attacks

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

Building a Rewrite Rule Database: An Ambitious Project

2025-02-22

This post proposes the creation of a database of rewrite rules encompassing various domains, including integer properties, differentiation, set theory, bitvectors, functional programs, and more. The author lists numerous existing projects and libraries containing rewrite rules and discusses the feasibility and challenges of unifying these rules into a common format. While some rules can be directly proven by existing SMT solvers, the author argues that a well-defined rewrite rule database is crucial for precise rewriting and manipulations in specific application contexts and will be a valuable resource for future research.

(www.philipzucker.com)

Development rewrite rules

beeFormer: Bridging the Semantic and Interaction Gap in Recommender Systems

2025-03-24

beeFormer: Bridging the Semantic and Interaction Gap in Recommender Systems

The beeFormer project introduces a novel approach to recommender systems designed to tackle the cold-start problem. It leverages language models to learn user behavior patterns from interaction data and transfer this knowledge to unseen items. Unlike traditional content-based filtering which relies on item attributes, beeFormer learns user interaction patterns to better recommend items aligned with user interests, even with no prior interaction data. Experiments demonstrate significant performance improvements. The project provides detailed training steps and pre-trained models, supporting datasets such as MovieLens, GoodBooks, and Amazon Books.

(github.com)

AI Recommender Systems Cold-Start Language Models

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