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

Microsoft Patches Windows 11 Bypass for Microsoft Account Login

2025-03-29
Microsoft Patches Windows 11 Bypass for Microsoft Account Login

The latest Windows 11 Dev Channel preview build removes the bypassnro.cmd script, previously allowing users to circumvent the mandatory Microsoft account login requirement. Microsoft states this change enhances security and ensures all users sign in with a Microsoft account while online. This will inconvenience users who prefer offline setup or local accounts, though Microsoft accounts offer benefits like easy access to subscriptions and data syncing. Local accounts, however, reduce notifications and upsells.

Read more
(arstechnica.com)
Development

A Wall Conversation Changed My Programming Career

2024-12-21
A Wall Conversation Changed My Programming Career

In 1983, a programmer working at a large defense contractor planned to pursue a Ph.D. in Chemistry. A chance conversation over a wall with the manager of the neighboring "Microcomputer Group" (a tinkerer) led to an invitation to a meeting about Apple II. There, he was tasked with building a VT-100 terminal emulator in 6502 assembly language within a week to enable the company president to read email at home. This experience not only redirected his career path, leading him to join the Microcomputer Group and become the company's sole PC programmer, but also ultimately led him to start his own company. Years later, he reflected on how chance encounters and interpersonal connections significantly shaped his life.

Read more
(thecodist.com)
Development career opportunity

TSMC Employees' Surprisingly High Fertility Rate: One in Fifty Taiwanese Babies is a 'TSMC Baby'

2024-12-17
TSMC Employees' Surprisingly High Fertility Rate: One in Fifty Taiwanese Babies is a 'TSMC Baby'

The surprisingly high fertility rate among employees of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world's leading semiconductor manufacturer, has drawn significant attention. While TSMC employees constitute only 0.3% of Taiwan's population, they account for 1.8% of all babies born in Taiwan—meaning one in every fifty Taiwanese babies is a 'TSMC baby'. This phenomenon is attributed to TSMC's family-friendly policies, including childcare services from 7 am to 8 pm, flexible work arrangements, and generous maternity leave. The company's culture, fostering positive peer interactions and encouraging parenthood, also plays a vital role, creating a positive feedback loop that boosts birth rates.

Read more
(www.boomcampaign.org)
Misc fertility rate family-friendly policies

Offline Reinforcement Learning Boosts Multi-Step Reasoning in LLMs

2024-12-23
Offline Reinforcement Learning Boosts Multi-Step Reasoning in LLMs

Researchers introduce OREO, an offline reinforcement learning method designed to enhance the multi-step reasoning capabilities of large language models (LLMs). Building upon maximum entropy reinforcement learning, OREO jointly learns a policy model and value function by optimizing the soft Bellman equation. This addresses limitations of Direct Preference Optimization (DPO) in multi-step reasoning, specifically the need for extensive paired preference data and the challenge of effective credit assignment. Experiments demonstrate OREO's superiority over existing offline learning methods on benchmarks involving mathematical reasoning and embodied agent control.

Read more
(arxiv.org)
AI Multi-step Reasoning

Optimized FP32 Matrix Multiplication on AMD RDNA3 GPU: Outperforming rocBLAS by 60%

2025-03-28
Optimized FP32 Matrix Multiplication on AMD RDNA3 GPU: Outperforming rocBLAS by 60%

This post details the optimization journey of creating an FP32 matrix multiplication kernel for AMD RDNA3 GPUs that surpasses rocBLAS by 60%. The author iteratively refines eight kernels, starting with a naive implementation and progressing to ISA-level optimizations. Techniques include LDS tiling, register tiling, global memory double buffering, LDS utilization optimization, and ultimately ISA-level VALU optimization and loop unrolling. The final kernel outperforms rocBLAS, achieving nearly 50 TFLOPS.

Read more
(seb-v.github.io)
Development matrix multiplication

Rick in 240 Lines of Code: A Stunning GLSL Animation

2025-02-06
Rick in 240 Lines of Code: A Stunning GLSL Animation

This article details the author's eight-month journey creating a breathtaking Rick animation using only 240 lines of GLSL code, no libraries, and no images. The author embeds a live coding editor within the post, allowing readers to program their own animations. The process is explained step-by-step, from basic color fills to using signed distance functions (SDFs) like Bézier curves, stars, and rounded rectangles to meticulously craft Rick's features and hair. Noise functions and time domain warping bring dynamic effects to Rick's hair and add random eye movements. The author shares various animation techniques, including looping values, switching drawn content, and noisy movement, providing complete code and explanations to empower readers to create their own GLSL animations.

Read more
(danielchasehooper.com)
Design code art

GGML Training Advancement: A MNIST VAE Training Example

2024-12-22
GGML Training Advancement: A MNIST VAE Training Example

GitHub user bssrdf shared an example of training a MNIST VAE using the GGML library. This example aims to use only the GGML pipeline and its ADAM optimizer implementation, filling a gap in available GGML training examples. Modifications were made to the ADAM and LBFGS optimizers for GPU backend compatibility, and several missing operators and optimizer hooks were added for testing and sampling. The results after 10 epochs were satisfactory.

Read more
(github.com)
AI

Make Software Development Feel Like a Blockbuster

2025-09-16

Tired of mundane software development? This article argues that many everyday development problems are actually full of challenges, just like the thrilling plot of a movie. For example, slow CI/CD, too many database connections, memory leaks, poor code readability, high latency, and slow database batch imports are all waiting for us to solve. The author encourages developers to actively face these "villains," treating them as challenges to overcome, making daily work fun and rewarding. Even if you can't solve all the problems at work, you can practice them in personal projects, creating your own "exciting story."

Read more
(iaziz786.com)
Development

CSS Shapes Arrive in Firefox 62: Flowing Text Around Any Shape

2025-03-17
CSS Shapes Arrive in Firefox 62: Flowing Text Around Any Shape

Firefox 62 now officially supports CSS Shapes, enabling text and other content to flow around non-rectangular shapes. This article explores how to create shapes using images, gradients, and basic shapes, simplifying the process with the new tools in Firefox DevTools. Learn to use image alpha channels, gradient transparency, and predefined shapes (circle, ellipse, polygon) to control text flow, adjust spacing with `shape-margin`, and leverage `shape-image-threshold` for semi-transparent images. The article also demonstrates combining shapes with `clip-path` for advanced effects.

Read more
(www.smashingmagazine.com)
Development

Why I Don't Discuss Politics with Friends

2025-04-02

The author explains why he avoids political discussions with friends, citing years of observation revealing a strong tribalistic tendency over rational thought. Most people cling to political tribal identities rather than independent viewpoints; developing such viewpoints requires significant intellectual effort, which most are unwilling to undertake. This is because forming well-informed political opinions demands interdisciplinary knowledge, overcoming biases, and deep empathetic understanding of opposing viewpoints—a considerable challenge. Additionally, people prioritize belonging and group identity over objective truth. The author thus avoids political discussions to prevent pointless arguments and emotional exhaustion. He ultimately moved to the Bay Area seeking a community valuing rational thought and objective truth.

Read more
(shwin.co)
Misc tribalism rational thought

Wikenigma: An Encyclopedia of the Unknown

2025-01-27

Wikenigma is a unique wiki dedicated to documenting fundamental gaps in human knowledge. It lists scientific and academic questions with no definitive answers—the 'known unknowns.' Users can contribute and edit articles, fostering interest in research by highlighting unsolved problems across various fields like chemistry, computer science, and history. The site offers easy search and random article browsing.

Read more
(wikenigma.org.uk)
Tech knowledge gaps wiki

TSMC to Build Four New 1.4nm Fab Plants in Taiwan

2025-07-20
TSMC to Build Four New 1.4nm Fab Plants in Taiwan

TSMC plans to commence construction of four new 1.4-nanometer wafer fabrication plants (Fab 25) in Central Taiwan Science Park later this year, aiming for 2-nanometer chip mass production by late 2028. This significant investment underscores TSMC's commitment to advanced process technology and its response to growing customer demand for high-performance chips. The project solidifies Taiwan's leading role in the global semiconductor industry. Alongside this Taiwanese investment, TSMC's $165 billion investment in Arizona, building advanced fabs and packaging facilities, diversifies its global manufacturing capacity.

Read more
(www.taipeitimes.com)
Tech Advanced Process

Sherlock Project: Hunt Down Social Media Accounts Across 400+ Networks

2024-12-25

The Sherlock Project is a powerful tool allowing users to search for social media accounts across 400+ networks using only a username. It's easy to get started with simple installation and usage instructions, and supports a wide range of sites. Community contributions are welcome, enabling users to add new sites and improve functionality.

Read more
(sherlockproject.xyz)
Development social media search account search Sherlock Project

The Perils of Native Resource Management in .NET: A Tale of Unexpected GC Behavior

2025-03-31

This post delves into the potential pitfalls of native resource management in .NET. The author uses a RocksDB example to illustrate how unexpected garbage collection behavior can lead to native resources being released before use, resulting in crashes. The root cause lies in the fact that local variables and instances can be garbage collected during a method call. The article ultimately advocates for using SafeHandle to manage native resources safely, preventing these hard-to-reproduce Heisenbugs.

Read more
(sergeyteplyakov.github.io)
Development Native Resource Management

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.

Read more
(arcan-fe.com)
Development autonomy

Intel Delays Ohio Chip Plant Opening to 2030

2025-02-28
Intel Delays Ohio Chip Plant Opening to 2030

Intel's $28 billion semiconductor project in Ohio has been delayed until 2030, pushing back the opening of its first factory by five or six years. The delay, attributed to financial struggles and the need to align production with market demand, has raised concerns. However, Intel insists its commitment to the project remains strong, with $3.7 billion already invested. The revised timeline aims for responsible capital management and long-term success.

Read more
(www.dispatch.com)
Tech Project Delay

EPA Seeks to Roll Back PFAS Drinking Water Standards

2025-09-14
EPA Seeks to Roll Back PFAS Drinking Water Standards

The EPA is attempting to overturn its own regulations protecting Americans from unsafe levels of PFAS “forever chemicals” in drinking water. This move, met with fierce opposition from environmental groups, contravenes the Safe Drinking Water Act's anti-backsliding provision and jeopardizes public health. With PFAS contaminating the drinking water of approximately 200 million people nationwide, the EPA's decision has sparked widespread concern.

Read more
(earthjustice.org)
Tech Drinking Water Safety Environmental Protection

WhatsApp: A Global Cultural Phenomenon

2024-12-14
WhatsApp: A Global Cultural Phenomenon

WhatsApp has transcended its origins as a simple messaging app to become a global cultural force. The article uses Nigerian actress Etinosa Idemudia as an example, showcasing how WhatsApp is used for film promotion, fan engagement, and personal branding. From matchmaking in Bangladesh to news dissemination in India and religious activities in Indonesia, WhatsApp is ubiquitous, connecting people across the globe and becoming an indispensable part of daily life, even used for education and medical appointments. WhatsApp's success lies not only in Meta's business strategy but also in the diverse functionalities and cultural significance its users have imbued it with, transforming it into a platform that connects the world and reshapes how people communicate and live.

Read more
(restofworld.org)
Misc social media global culture

Benchmarking Decimal Digit Counting Algorithms

2025-01-08
Benchmarking Decimal Digit Counting Algorithms

This code implements a benchmark suite for comparing different decimal digit counting algorithms. It generates random integers and then uses five different methods (including log10, bit manipulation, and lookup table methods) to count the number of digits in those integers and compares their performance. The tests cover both 32-bit and 64-bit integers, revealing significant performance differences between the algorithms, with some bit manipulation-based algorithms showing superior performance.

Read more
(github.com)
Development algorithm comparison

Simple Denoising Diffusion: A PyTorch Implementation

2025-04-03
Simple Denoising Diffusion: A PyTorch Implementation

This repository provides a streamlined PyTorch implementation of a denoising diffusion model. Building upon existing resources, the author refactored the code for improved readability and understanding. Functions and classes are logically separated into different files, making it easier to grasp the building blocks of diffusion models. Training and image generation are handled in separate files for easier parameter management. While the generated images aren't perfect, this project serves as a valuable learning resource for understanding diffusion models.

Read more
(github.com)
Development

ChatGPT's Environmental Impact: Debunking the Myths

2025-01-18
ChatGPT's Environmental Impact: Debunking the Myths

Recent discussions surrounding the environmental impact of ChatGPT and other Large Language Models (LLMs) have sparked concerns about excessive energy consumption and pollution. However, this post argues that these claims are largely exaggerated. The energy used by a single ChatGPT search is far less than commonly believed, dwarfed by everyday activities like watching Netflix. Furthermore, the total energy consumption of LLMs must be considered in relation to the number of users; its impact is significantly smaller than other internet activities such as video streaming. While training large models is indeed energy-intensive, this is a one-time cost, and subsequent usage energy consumption is far lower than many imagine. The author urges a rational assessment of the environmental impact of LLMs, cautioning against misinformation that could cause people to miss out on this beneficial technology.

Read more
(andymasley.substack.com)
Tech Environmental Impact

Bypassing Disk Encryption with Automatic TPM2 Unlock: A Critical Vulnerability

2025-01-17

This article exposes a critical vulnerability in systems using TPM2 for automatic disk encryption unlocking. An attacker with brief physical access can decrypt the disk without altering the TPM's state. The vulnerability stems from most setups failing to verify the LUKS identity of the decrypted partition. The attacker can use the initrd image in the unencrypted boot partition to create a fake LUKS partition with a known key, tricking the system into executing a malicious init program, thereby obtaining the original disk key. Solutions include using a TPM PIN or properly verifying the LUKS identity within the initrd.

Read more
(oddlama.org)
Tech Disk Encryption

Hyperlight Wasm: Blazing Fast, Secure, and Compatible WebAssembly Micro-VM

2025-03-26
Hyperlight Wasm: Blazing Fast, Secure, and Compatible WebAssembly Micro-VM

Microsoft's open-source Hyperlight project gets a major update: Hyperlight Wasm. It's a WebAssembly-based micro-VM capable of running components written in various programming languages at incredible speeds while maintaining security and compatibility. Leveraging WASI and the WebAssembly Component Model, Hyperlight Wasm runs programs without a full operating system, boasting millisecond-level startup times. The article details Hyperlight Wasm's workings and demonstrates its usage with a UDP echo example, highlighting its performance and security advantages, and its potential applications in Azure services.

Read more
(opensource.microsoft.com)
Development Micro-VM

Mozilla's Broken Trust: Firefox's New Terms of Service and Privacy Policy Spark Outrage

2025-02-28
Mozilla's Broken Trust: Firefox's New Terms of Service and Privacy Policy Spark Outrage

Mozilla's recent update to Firefox's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy has sparked user concern over data security and privacy. The new policy includes a "non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license" clause, allowing Mozilla to use user browsing data, contradicting Firefox's long-standing commitment to privacy. The author criticizes Mozilla's move as a "massive unforced error," shifting Firefox from a trusted browser to a data collection service. They urge Mozilla to revoke overly broad policies, applying them only to features requiring them, and to preserve Firefox's image as a champion of the open web.

Read more
(connect.mozilla.org)
Development

Revyl: Proactive Observability for Faster, More Reliable Software Releases

2025-03-27
Revyl: Proactive Observability for Faster, More Reliable Software Releases

Revyl is a proactive observability platform that catches and triages bugs in iOS, Android, and web apps before they reach production. Their mission is to automate software reliability by providing end-to-end testing, enabling faster and more confident releases. Founded by the creators of DragonCrawl and backed by prominent investors like Felicis, General Catalyst, and Y Combinator, along with strategic angels from Meta, Nvidia, and Uber, Revyl boasts early enterprise traction and aims to become the default reliability platform.

Read more
(www.ycombinator.com)
Development

NESFab: A High-Performance Programming Language for NES Games

2025-02-13

NESFab is a new programming language designed for creating NES games. Optimized for 8-bit limitations, it's more ergonomic than C while producing faster assembly code. It boasts easy-to-use libraries, making it simple to get started, whether it's your first or hundredth NES game. Features include automatic bank switching, streamlined asset loading, and integration with the MapFab level editor for increased development speed. While currently in beta, NESFab outperforms compilers like GCC and LLVM in benchmarks, potentially making it the best-performing 6502 compiler available.

Read more
(pubby.games)
Development

DHS OIG Audits TSA's Airport Facial Recognition

2025-02-04
DHS OIG Audits TSA's Airport Facial Recognition

Following concerns from lawmakers and privacy advocates, the Department of Homeland Security's Inspector General (DHS OIG) has launched an audit of the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) use of facial recognition technology at US airports. The audit will examine the technology's effectiveness in enhancing security while protecting passenger privacy. Despite TSA's claim of 99.7% accuracy, thousands of misidentifications could still occur daily with widespread deployment. This audit comes in response to senators' concerns about TSA's planned expansion of facial recognition, following the failure of a bill to halt it.

Read more
(www.theregister.com)
Tech

A Programmer's Lesson: Always Bundle a Proposal with a Complaint

2024-12-27
A Programmer's Lesson: Always Bundle a Proposal with a Complaint

In 1988 at Apple, a young, cocky engineer, Kent Beck, was summoned to Jean-Louis Gassée's office after sending an email complaining about a company decision. Instead of anger, Gassée challenged Beck to consider his perspective and rewrite the email as a proposal for a solution. This experience taught Beck three valuable lessons: most problems aren't as big as they seem; always include a solution with a complaint; and effective communication requires empathy. This anecdote highlights crucial workplace communication skills and the importance of understanding different viewpoints.

Read more
(tidyfirst.substack.com)
Development workplace communication proposal empathy

Internet Archive: A Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Texts, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine

2024-12-22

The Internet Archive is a non-profit organization dedicated to universal access to knowledge. It provides a massive digital library of websites (via the Wayback Machine), books, movies, music, and more, offering a free and easily accessible resource for researchers, educators, and the public. Users can freely browse and download these materials, exploring the history and cultural diversity of the internet.

Read more
(archive.org)
Misc Internet Archive digital library
1 2 … 523 524 525 527 529 530 531 … 596 597