BYOJS: Embrace Native JavaScript for Web Development

2024-12-17

The BYOJS project champions building web applications with core JavaScript, rather than relying on heavy frameworks. While frameworks and languages like TypeScript are popular, BYOJS argues that building efficient web apps using the core JS language is a lost art. It encourages using loosely-coupled libraries instead of tightly-coupled frameworks, advocating for choosing the least powerful tool that gets the job done and prioritizing concise code. The project provides helpful utilities such as a simple key-value storage API, an asynchronous event emitter, a modal wrapper, and more. All code is MIT licensed.

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Training Large Diffusion Models on a Shoestring Budget: $1890

2025-01-16
Training Large Diffusion Models on a Shoestring Budget: $1890

Sony Research has open-sourced micro_diffusion, demonstrating how to train large-scale diffusion models on an extremely low budget ($1890). Using 37 million publicly available real and synthetic images, they trained a 1.16 billion parameter sparse transformer model, achieving an FID score of 12.7 on zero-shot generation on the COCO dataset. The project provides training code, dataset code, pre-trained model weights, and details a staged training process, including progressive training from low to high resolution and the use of patch masking to reduce training costs and improve efficiency.

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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.

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Development autonomy

Animal Adoption: A Balancing Act of Genes and Emotion

2024-12-13
Animal Adoption: A Balancing Act of Genes and Emotion

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.

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China's 'Artificial Sun' Sets New Fusion Record: 1,006 Seconds of Plasma Confinement

2025-01-24
China's 'Artificial Sun' Sets New Fusion Record: 1,006 Seconds of Plasma Confinement

China's Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), nicknamed the 'artificial sun', has achieved a groundbreaking milestone in fusion energy research. It sustained high-confinement plasma operation for an unprecedented 1,066 seconds, surpassing the previous record of 403 seconds (also set by EAST). This significant achievement represents a crucial step towards harnessing fusion energy – a clean, virtually limitless power source. The success is attributed to advancements in heating system stability, control system accuracy, and diagnostic systems. This breakthrough not only showcases China's leadership in fusion research but also offers hope for a cleaner energy future.

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Parkinson's Law: Set Deadlines, Boost Efficiency

2024-12-12
Parkinson's Law: Set Deadlines, Boost Efficiency

Parkinson's Law states that work expands to fill the time available for its completion. James Stanier, writing from an engineering management perspective, argues for the importance of setting challenging yet achievable deadlines. Using the 'Iron Triangle' (scope, resources, time), he demonstrates how deadlines prevent scope creep, improve efficiency, and spark innovation. He also highlights the implementation of weekly reporting to encourage proactive task completion, ultimately leading to higher efficiency.

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German Regulator Orders Sam Altman's Worldcoin to Delete Biometric Data

2024-12-22
German Regulator Orders Sam Altman's Worldcoin to Delete Biometric Data

Germany's Bavarian State Office for Data Protection Supervision (BayLDA) has ordered World, a biometric identification project co-founded by Sam Altman, to delete user data. The BayLDA found World's data collection practices violated the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), citing significant data protection risks. World uses a device called an 'Orb' to scan irises and faces for identification. The company has appealed the decision, seeking clarification on whether its privacy-enhancing technologies meet the EU's definition of anonymization.

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Tech

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.

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Best Practices for Representing Inheritance in SQL Server Databases

2024-12-17
Best Practices for Representing Inheritance in SQL Server Databases

This article explores best practices for representing inheritance relationships in SQL Server databases. Three common approaches are presented: single table inheritance, concrete table inheritance, and class table inheritance. The advantages and disadvantages of each are detailed. Single table inheritance is simple but has scalability and data integrity issues; concrete table inheritance solves these but suffers from inefficient queries; class table inheritance balances simplicity and efficiency, making it the preferred choice in most scenarios. Alternative approaches using JSON for subtype-specific fields and normalized database design are also discussed.

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M87 Supermassive Black Hole Emits Astonishing Gamma-Ray Flare

2024-12-16
M87 Supermassive Black Hole Emits Astonishing Gamma-Ray Flare

In 2019, the Event Horizon Telescope captured the first-ever image of a supermassive black hole at the center of galaxy M87. Now, an international team, including researchers from UCLA, has observed a teraelectronvolt gamma-ray flare from this black hole, tens of millions of times larger than its event horizon. This rare, decade-defining flare provides crucial insights into particle acceleration near black holes and could help solve the mystery of cosmic ray origins. UCLA played a significant role in the construction and data analysis of the VERITAS telescope, instrumental in detecting this event.

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2025 TV Market: Lower Prices, More Ads, and an OS War

2024-12-16
2025 TV Market: Lower Prices, More Ads, and an OS War

The 2025 TV market will see significant changes: Walmart's acquisition of Vizio transforms TVs into tools for giant retailers' ad businesses, potentially lowering prices but increasing ad volume. Competition between TV operating systems (OSes) will intensify, with companies like Roku facing acquisition risks. Consumer data becomes crucial, requiring users to balance privacy concerns with cost savings. While hardware innovation slows, price wars and OS competition may benefit consumers.

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Hacking Physics with a Napkin

2024-12-14

This article explores unconventional approaches to solving physics problems using simple estimation and dimensional analysis. The author demonstrates the power of these methods by calculating the speed of falling raindrops, the length of the E. coli genome, and the mass of a proton, among other examples. The article suggests this napkin-based approach can greatly enhance physics education and learning. Further techniques like Fermi estimation and random walks are introduced and applied to problems like estimating the E. coli genome length and determining the optimal speed for walking or running in the rain, showcasing their practicality.

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Immutable Linux Distros: Are They Right for You?

2024-12-25
Immutable Linux Distros: Are They Right for You?

This article explores immutable Linux distributions, which enhance stability and security by locking down the core system as read-only. It explains the concept, advantages, and selection criteria for immutable distros, recommending several desktop and server options like Fedora Silverblue, Vanilla OS, and openSUSE Aeon. The author shares personal experiences and discusses the differences between immutable distros and traditional ones, along with snapshot tools like Timeshift and Btrfs. In essence, immutable Linux distros offer a compelling alternative for users prioritizing stability and security, trading some flexibility for a more maintenance-free experience.

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JMAP Turns 10: A Decade of Open Email Protocol

2024-12-23
JMAP Turns 10: A Decade of Open Email Protocol

Fastmail celebrates the 10th anniversary of JMAP, its open-source email protocol. Over the past decade, JMAP has evolved from initial concept to a mature standard, incorporating email, contacts, and calendar functionalities, through industry workshops, collaborations with developers, and IETF standardization. Looking ahead, Fastmail plans to enhance the Cyrus IMAP server and continue promoting JMAP adoption to improve user experience and make it the industry standard for email.

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The Definitive Guide to Jens Quistgaard's Dansk Peppermills

2025-01-21

This website is a comprehensive guide to the collection of peppermills designed by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk Designs. Each mill is meticulously documented, detailing its unique shape, model number, grinder type, and production history. The site unravels the stories behind these iconic designs, revealing the evolution of their forms and manufacturing processes. From the earliest all-metal grinders to later plastic variations, this resource is a must-have for collectors and design enthusiasts alike.

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OKRs: Tool or Trap?

2024-12-25
OKRs: Tool or Trap?

This article explores the duality of OKRs (Objectives and Key Results). The author points out that many companies misuse OKRs for performance reviews, leading teams to overemphasize measurable metrics while neglecting the actual objectives and external effects. The author uses the example of Alexa to illustrate how blindly pursuing key results can be counterproductive. In contrast, Honeycomb uses OKRs as a tool for communication and reflection, treating key results as clues to observe the world and improve work, rather than ultimate judgment criteria, thus avoiding metric distortion.

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Unraveling the Mango's Mystery: A Scientific Journey Across Asia

2024-12-16
Unraveling the Mango's Mystery: A Scientific Journey Across Asia

The sweet mango, a beloved fruit worldwide, hides a mysterious past. Dr. Emily Warschefsky, a Ph.D. student at Florida International University, embarked on a scientific journey across Asia to uncover the mango's origins. Visiting botanical gardens and forests, she collected numerous samples of Mangifera species and used DNA sequencing to study relationships between different mango species. Her research revealed genetic differences between Southeast Asian and Indian mangoes, challenging the traditional view of a single Himalayan origin. Several scenarios are proposed, including multiple domestication events and hybridization between different species. Warschefsky's work not only deepens our understanding of mango origins but also offers new insights for mango breeding and cultivation.

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Serverless Computing: Why Haven't We All Switched Yet?

2025-01-09

Despite the appealing value proposition of serverless computing (e.g., AWS Lambda)—pay-per-use, auto-scaling, and abstraction from infrastructure—widespread adoption remains slow. The author points to two primary reasons: the lessons learned from the challenging microservices migration, where many organizations struggled due to insufficient technical and organizational readiness; and the fact that serverless amplifies existing challenges of microservices, such as complexities in dependency injection and observability. A gradual adoption approach focusing on highly autonomous teams and suitable use cases (like AI and LLM integrations) is suggested as a more efficient strategy.

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Development microservices

Evolving a Structural Code Editor: From AST Manipulation to Intuitive UI

2025-01-06
Evolving a Structural Code Editor: From AST Manipulation to Intuitive UI

This post details the multi-year evolution of a structural code editor. The initial version directly manipulated the Abstract Syntax Tree (AST), proving cumbersome. Subsequent iterations simplified the AST and explored a text-cursor-based approach, but both fell short. The final version balances AST and text editing, employing techniques like Editable types, Projections, and Frames. A visual, icon-based UI was added, supporting keyboard, mouse, touch, and remote control, significantly enhancing user experience. Built with Gleam and Lustre, this project showcases the ongoing exploration and refinement of structural code editor design.

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Development code editor UI design

Medicare to Negotiate Prices for 15 Popular Drugs

2025-01-17
Medicare to Negotiate Prices for 15 Popular Drugs

The Biden administration announced that 15 commonly used drugs, including Ozempic and Wegovy, will be included in Medicare's price negotiation program. This marks the first time the U.S. government will directly negotiate drug prices with manufacturers, and is expected to save taxpayers billions of dollars. While Ozempic and Wegovy have drawn scrutiny for their high costs, Medicare currently only covers them for diabetes treatment, not weight loss. The incoming Trump administration will decide whether to implement a proposed rule to cover these medications for obesity. This brings the total number of drugs subject to Medicare price negotiations to 25, covering a third of prescription drug spending. The pharmaceutical industry has sued over the program, but groups like the AARP say they will fight to uphold the law.

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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.

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7-Minute Workout: Science or Hype?

2025-01-01

A blog post challenges the efficacy and comprehensiveness of the 7-minute scientific workout featured in The New York Times. The author argues that while the program claims to be science-based, it heavily emphasizes leg exercises while neglecting a balanced workout for glutes, back, and core muscles—a particularly concerning omission for sedentary professionals. A more balanced approach, the post suggests, would include more hip-dominant, upper-body pulling, and core extension exercises to counteract the muscular imbalances caused by prolonged sitting.

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Advent of Code on the Nintendo DS: A Rust Programming Challenge on an Embedded System

2024-12-16

The author tackled Advent of Code 2024 using Rust on a Nintendo DS. This detailed account chronicles the journey, from setting up a cross-compilation environment and writing Rust code for a runtime-less embedded system to overcoming challenges in memory management, interrupts, and screen output. The author successfully displays the Advent of Code solution on the DS screen. The article showcases strong programming skills and deep understanding of embedded systems, highlighting the techniques and enjoyment of programming in resource-constrained environments.

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Development Nintendo DS

Vim: A Programming Language Beyond an Editor

2024-12-15

Vim is more than just a text editor; it's a language for interacting with your computer. Its concise and efficient command structure is easy to learn and remember, and also easy for a computer to interpret. While Vim itself is powerful, its core strength lies in the fact that its mode has been integrated into almost every mainstream code editor, allowing developers to flexibly choose their preferred editor interface while retaining Vim's efficient command language. Therefore, NeoVim, as the most complete and consistent implementation of the Vim language, is valuable for providing this efficient editing language, not just the editor itself.

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Development editor

River Runner Global: Disruptive Hydropower Tech?

2025-01-28
River Runner Global: Disruptive Hydropower Tech?

River Runner Global claims to possess revolutionary hydropower technology that generates electricity from natural river flow without needing large dams. The technology is purportedly low-cost and environmentally friendly, potentially providing clean energy to remote areas. However, details about the technology and its real-world effectiveness remain scarce, and its viability and commercial potential are yet to be proven. Nevertheless, its innovative concept has attracted industry attention.

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Tech hydropower

A 1920s Art Party with Tamara de Lempicka: A Glimpse into Decadence

2025-01-26
A 1920s Art Party with Tamara de Lempicka: A Glimpse into Decadence

Imagine a glamorous 1920s party hosted by the iconic Tamara de Lempicka. This article vividly portrays the era through descriptions of Lempicka's art and the party's attendees. From Lempicka herself, arriving in her green Bugatti, to fashionable flappers in loose dresses, a guitarist in a blue satin gown, gossiping ladies in red hats, and androgynous figures like the Duchess de la Salle, the piece captures the unique fashion, art, and social atmosphere of the 1920s. Lempicka's artistic style is woven into the narrative, highlighting her use of classical references and her distinctive portrayal of modern women.

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SkunkHTML: A GitHub Pages Static Site Generator

2024-12-27
SkunkHTML: A GitHub Pages Static Site Generator

SkunkHTML is a static site generator powered by GitHub Actions, enabling users to quickly create and deploy personal blogs or websites to GitHub Pages using Markdown files. Simply upload your Markdown files to the `/markdown-blog/` folder, and GitHub Actions automatically builds and deploys the updated site. SkunkHTML supports the Giscus commenting system and provides detailed documentation and examples. The project is completely open-source and can be forked directly on GitHub without needing a local download.

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Development static site generator

Unraveling the PPG Wave 2.2 & 2.3: An 8-bit vs. 12-bit DAC Mystery

2024-12-15

This article delves into the subtle yet significant differences between the PPG Wave 2.2 and 2.3 synthesizers. While the 2.3 utilizes 12-bit DACs, wavetable playback remains 8-bit; only samples imported via external devices fully leverage the 12-bit precision. Oscilloscope measurements reveal a unique audio processing method: two oscillators send data interleaved, resulting in a DAC output frequency double the individual oscillator sample rate. This creates a distinctive timbre and high-frequency aliasing beyond human hearing. The article also notes the relatively slow CV update rate, yet the sound retains its character.

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