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Saying Goodbye to bcachefs: One User's Reluctant Migration

2025-01-23

After a year of using bcachefs, Steinar Gunderson has migrated to XFS. His reason? A lack of confidence in bcachefs' future. While appreciating its compression and mixed SSD/HDD capabilities, he found the developer's uncompromising attitude, hostility towards distributions like Debian, and numerous unfixed bugs (including catastrophic data loss) unbearable. Reporting bugs proved a frustrating experience, with the developer prioritizing arguments with Debian over bug fixes. He ultimately chose the stability of XFS, sacrificing compression benefits, a trade-off he deems worthwhile.

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(blog.sesse.net)
Development

Gource: Visualizing Your Codebase with Stunning Animations

2025-01-03
Gource: Visualizing Your Codebase with Stunning Animations

Gource is an open-source software that visualizes your version control repository history in a breathtaking animated way. The repository root is at the center, directories are branches, files are leaves, and developers become dynamic characters moving around the code tree, their contributions shown as animated trails. Gource uses OpenGL rendering and requires a 3D-accelerated video card. It supports various version control systems like Git, SVN, Mercurial, and offers extensive parameters for customization, allowing you to easily generate impressive visualizations of your codebase history.

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(github.com)
Development code visualization

TeaVM 0.11.0 Released: New WebAssembly Backend

2024-12-15

TeaVM 0.11.0 has been released, featuring a brand new WebAssembly backend. The old WebAssembly backend, while functional, lacked adoption due to insignificant performance gains and a poor developer experience. The new backend, leveraging the WebAssembly GC proposal, addresses these issues, improving interaction with browser JS APIs and reducing binary file size. While currently slightly less feature-rich than the JS backend, it already supports JSO (Java-to-JS interaction API), aiming for parity in the next release. This release also includes bug fixes in BitSet implementation and adds support for various JS APIs, such as file reading, touch events, the Popover API, and Navigator.sendBeacon.

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(teavm.org)
Development

In Praise of the 100-Page Idea: A Case for Brevity in Nonfiction

2024-12-22

Tracy Durnell argues for the value of concise nonfiction books, specifically those around 100 pages long. She finds these shorter works ideal for exploring a single, impactful idea without excessive detail, fitting modern readers' shorter attention spans. Durnell highlights several examples of excellent books in this length, contrasting them with longer works that she believes often dilute their core ideas through padding. She champions the efficiency of a focused approach, emphasizing the benefits of connecting multiple concise ideas to build a broader understanding over consuming lengthy, highly-detailed tomes.

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(tracydurnell.com)
Misc reading books writing

Astonishing Patterns of Prime Numbers in Polar Coordinates

2024-12-16

This article explores the phenomenon of prime numbers plotted on polar coordinates exhibiting spiral or linear patterns. The author uses Python code, employing SymPy to generate prime numbers and Matplotlib for visualization. Results show that as the number of primes increases, the pattern transitions from spirals to straight lines. This isn't unique to primes; it's related to rational approximations of $2pi$. The article explains the underlying mathematics and explores the connection between prime distribution and pattern sparsity.

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(jaketae.github.io)
Misc polar coordinates

UK Electricity Bills Soar: High Subsidies and Grid Investment Lag

2024-12-20
UK Electricity Bills Soar: High Subsidies and Grid Investment Lag

High UK electricity bills aren't solely due to wholesale power costs. A recent analysis reveals that network costs and green energy subsidies are major drivers. Twenty years of stagnant grid investment now necessitate urgent expansion, skyrocketing network costs. Contracts subsidizing renewables will continue increasing bills, while past subsidies, like the Renewables Obligation and Feed-in Tariff, failed to adjust quickly enough to falling renewable energy prices, locking in massive long-term costs. The author suggests reducing grid dependence or improving grid utilization as pathways to lower future electricity bills.

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(climate.benjames.io)
Tech UK electricity bills energy subsidies grid investment

UK's Illegal Cybertruck Faces Uphill Battle for Legalization

2024-12-15
UK's Illegal Cybertruck Faces Uphill Battle for Legalization

Yianni Charalambous, a UK car customizer, is attempting to register a Tesla Cybertruck for road use in the UK, following a similar success in the Czech Republic. However, the Cybertruck's sharp design clashes with UK and EU pedestrian safety regulations, posing significant challenges. Its unique steer-by-wire system, reliance on OTA updates unavailable in the UK, and incompatibility with EU recall systems further complicate matters. Experts deem its chances of passing the UK's IVA test extremely slim.

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(www.wired.com)
Tech Tesla Cybertruck Car Modification Safety Regulations

Attention as Electromagnetic Field Line Management: A New Model of Consciousness

2024-12-17
Attention as Electromagnetic Field Line Management: A New Model of Consciousness

Qualia Research Institute proposes a novel model of attention, conceptualizing it as the management of dynamic patterns in the brain's electromagnetic field. By simulating electric field lines arising from weighted sums of harmonic oscillations, researchers demonstrate how attention controls charge density by modulating underlying resonant modes, explaining seemingly random fluctuations and drifts in attentional behavior. This model also offers a potential explanation for psychedelic experiences, suggesting that psychedelics disrupt the normal flow of attention by altering the configuration of harmonic modes. The research provides a new lens for understanding consciousness and developing novel neuro-interventions, such as inducing exotic states of consciousness by non-invasively perturbing the phase locking of attention.

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(qualiacomputing.com)
AI consciousness attention electromagnetic field

Apache Cloudberry: Open-Source MPP Database, a Greenplum Alternative

2024-12-21
Apache Cloudberry: Open-Source MPP Database, a Greenplum Alternative

Apache Cloudberry, built by the original Greenplum Database developers, is an advanced and mature open-source Massively Parallel Processing (MPP) database. It features a newer PostgreSQL kernel and enhanced enterprise capabilities, serving as a data warehouse and supporting large-scale analytics and AI/ML workloads. Users can build from source or utilize a Docker-based sandbox for quick trials. A vibrant community provides support and encourages contributions ranging from code improvements to documentation enhancements.

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(github.com)
Tech open-source database Greenplum alternative

Postgres Reads Causing Writes: MVCC, Page Pruning, and Hint Bits

2024-12-25

This article delves into the seemingly paradoxical behavior in PostgreSQL where simple SELECT queries can trigger data writes. Starting with the Multi-Version Concurrency Control (MVCC) mechanism, it explains concepts like row versions, pages, and tuples. Through code examples, it analyzes how hint bit updates and page pruning cause read operations to modify pages, ultimately leading to disk writes. The article also discusses the HOT update optimization strategy and uses page inspection tools to illustrate how data is stored and updated within pages.

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(jesipow.com)
Development Database Performance

Programmer Creates Pseudo-3D Game in Bash

2024-12-20
Programmer Creates Pseudo-3D Game in Bash

A programmer, izabera, has developed a surprisingly impressive pseudo-3D game using the Bash scripting language. This project, a homage to the classic game Wolfenstein 3D, is open-source on GitHub. The code is concise yet the result is stunning, showcasing the power of Bash and the programmer's ingenuity. The repository includes the game source code and demonstration videos. Developers interested in learning more can check it out on GitHub.

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(github.com)
Development Game Development

AI-Powered Coding: My Journey with Cline and LLMs

2025-01-27
AI-Powered Coding: My Journey with Cline and LLMs

Paolo Galeone recounts his experience using AI to revamp his SaaS platform, bot.eofferte.eu. Leveraging Cline's VSCode plugin and LLMs like Claude Sonnet 3.5 and Gemini, he redesigned the UI/UX, generating content like privacy policies. Backend development saw AI accelerate code optimization and repetitive tasks, but highlighted the need for human expertise. Multilingual content generation was streamlined, with AI efficiently translating JSON files for multiple Amazon affiliate regions. The key takeaway: AI significantly boosts efficiency but requires developers to validate and integrate AI suggestions, emphasizing the role of human expertise in ensuring quality.

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(pgaleone.eu)
Development

Tailscale Subnet Routers: A Simple Solution for Complex Network Connections

2024-12-14
Tailscale Subnet Routers: A Simple Solution for Complex Network Connections

Tailscale typically requires installing a client on every device, but this isn't always feasible for embedded devices or existing VPCs. That's where subnet routers come in. They enable devices to communicate using Tailscale's powerful NAT traversal technology, regardless of whether they're running Tailscale. This article explains how Tailscale subnet routers work, including installation and configuration on Windows and Linux. For large network migrations or connecting AWS VPCs, subnet routers offer a fast and easy way to get started. Personal use is free and doesn't count against device limits.

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(tailscale.com)
Development Subnet Router NAT Traversal

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Impeached Over Martial Law Decree

2024-12-14
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Impeached Over Martial Law Decree

South Korea's parliament impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday over his controversial six-hour-long martial law declaration. The National Assembly voted 204-85 in favor of impeachment, suspending Yoon's powers and duties. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo assumed presidential authority. The Constitutional Court has 180 days to decide whether to remove Yoon from office; a new election would follow within 60 days if he is dismissed. The impeachment followed days of political turmoil and widespread protests, with public opinion overwhelmingly in favor of removing Yoon. While Yoon declared the martial law as a measure against the opposition, his actions are seen by many as an attempt to undermine democratic processes. The US and Japan expressed support for South Korea's democratic process.

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(apnews.com)
Misc South Korea Impeachment Yoon Suk Yeol

The Illusion of Intelligence: AI, Interaction, and the Clever Hans Effect

2024-12-15
The Illusion of Intelligence: AI, Interaction, and the Clever Hans Effect

This paper explores the nature of intelligence in AI, particularly large language models (LLMs). It argues that the apparent intelligence of LLMs isn't due to independent reasoning but rather emerges from interaction with users. Drawing parallels between Socratic questioning, the Clever Hans effect, and iterative prompting of LLMs, the author demonstrates that intelligence is a relational phenomenon arising from collaboration, not isolated cognition. LLMs generate responses based on probabilistic relationships within their training data, responding to user prompts like Clever Hans responded to his handler's cues. The value of AI, therefore, lies not in its inherent 'knowledge' but in its ability to facilitate insightful questions and collaborative exploration, ultimately augmenting human creativity and problem-solving.

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(aalokbhattacharya.substack.com)
AI Emergent Intelligence

SiYuan: A Privacy-First, Self-Hosted Personal Knowledge Management System

2024-12-26
SiYuan: A Privacy-First, Self-Hosted Personal Knowledge Management System

SiYuan is a privacy-first, self-hosted, fully open-source personal knowledge management software written in TypeScript and Go. It boasts features like fine-grained block-level referencing, Markdown WYSIWYG editing, custom attributes, SQL query embedding, web clipping, and PDF annotation link export. Available via app stores (App Store, Google Play, F-Droid) and Docker, SiYuan offers a powerful yet user-friendly experience. Most features are free for both personal and commercial use.

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(github.com)
Development knowledge management

The Evolutionary Mystery of the Human Butt

2024-12-24
The Evolutionary Mystery of the Human Butt

Why do humans have such uniquely shaped buttocks compared to other primates? This article explores the evolutionary reasons behind the human derriere. Bipedalism led to changes in the human pelvis, particularly a shorter, more curved ilium. This facilitated the development of larger gluteus maximus muscles, providing powerful leg extension for running and climbing. The significant fat storage in the buttocks is also linked to the energy demands of our large brains. However, bipedalism also comes with a downside: a messier pooping experience.

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(massivesci.com)
Misc human evolution anatomy bipedalism

Ergo: A Modern Go-Based IRC Server Released

2024-12-18
Ergo: A Modern Go-Based IRC Server Released

Ergo is a modern IRC server written in Go, designed for ease of setup and use. It combines the features of an ircd, services framework, and bouncer (integrated account management, history storage, and bouncer functionality). It boasts bleeding-edge IRCv3 support and is highly customizable via a rehashable YAML config. Key features include integrated services (NickServ, ChanServ, HostServ), native TLS/SSL support, SASL authentication, LDAP support, and advanced security and privacy features.

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(github.com)
Development IRC server

Something's Rotten on the Internet: Tech Giants, Streaming Services, and the Erosion of User Experience

2024-12-22
Something's Rotten on the Internet: Tech Giants, Streaming Services, and the Erosion of User Experience

A blog post examines the current state of the internet, arguing that tech companies prioritize investor demands over user experience, manipulating user behavior through frustrating app designs, deliberately degraded search results, and pervasive ad tracking. Simultaneously, the Netflix streaming model is criticized for destroying the movie industry, its disregard for quality and manipulation of viewing data leading to a flood of low-quality content and inflated viewership numbers. The post concludes by highlighting widespread user dissatisfaction with the increasing cost and declining quality of online services, ultimately suggesting smartphones and social media in their current forms are fundamentally flawed and require significant improvement.

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(www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com)
Tech internet streaming services

Tesla's German EV Registrations Plummet 41%, Ranking Falls

2025-01-30
Tesla's German EV Registrations Plummet 41%, Ranking Falls

Tesla's new EV registrations in Germany plummeted 41% in 2024 to under 38,000, dropping to third place in market share. This decline is attributed to CEO Elon Musk's controversial statements and a lack of recent innovation, despite the Berlin Gigafactory's initial promise. Competitors like BMW and VW outperformed Tesla, highlighting challenges faced by the US automaker in the German market, including legal issues, environmental protests, and lower-than-expected sales at its Berlin plant.

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(www.cleanenergywire.org)
Tech

Why Some UK Gov Services Are Offline at Night: A Legacy Tech Nightmare

2025-01-16
Why Some UK Gov Services Are Offline at Night: A Legacy Tech Nightmare

This post explores why some DVLA (UK Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency) digital services are offline overnight. The root cause lies in a complex legacy system, including a 1980s IBM mainframe and a partially completed modernization effort. Facing a choice between years of rebuilding infrastructure or launching a service with nighttime limitations, DVLA chose the latter to deliver value quickly. The article highlights the challenges of digital transformation in large organizations grappling with legacy technology and the difficult decisions involved in balancing speed and long-term stability. The situation underscores how tricky government digitalization can be, even a decade after initial modernization efforts.

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(dafyddvaughan.uk)
Tech legacy systems government services

Homescreen App: Redefining Your Home Screen Experience

2024-12-18

Homescreen is an app designed to revolutionize the home screen experience on your phone. Breaking free from the limitations of traditional phone desktops, it offers users a more personalized, efficient, and convenient way to interact with their devices. Users can customize widgets, themes, and layouts to create a unique home screen, boosting productivity and enjoyment. Homescreen isn't just a simple desktop replacement; it's a refreshing approach to how we use our phones.

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(homescreen.app)
Development phone home screen customization productivity

SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch Scrubbed 11 Seconds Before Liftoff Due to Delta Air Jet

2025-01-20
SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch Scrubbed 11 Seconds Before Liftoff Due to Delta Air Jet

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch was scrubbed with just 11 seconds to go on Sunday morning after a Delta Air Lines plane reportedly flew into restricted airspace near the launch site. The live broadcast of the launch showed the control room urgently calling "Hold, hold, hold!" as the launch was aborted at the 11-second mark. Investigations revealed the Delta Air Lines Boeing 767, en route from Los Angeles to Honolulu, flew over Vandenberg Space Force Base, the Falcon 9 launch site. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will investigate how air traffic controllers allowed the Delta flight to enter the restricted airspace. This near-miss comes days after SpaceX's Starship rocket exploded, causing flight diversions.

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(www.paddleyourownkanoo.com)
Tech Falcon 9 Restricted Airspace

Clojure Error Handling: No Silver Bullet, Only Choices

2024-12-14

Clojure offers a diverse range of error-handling approaches, with no single best practice. The article explores several methods: throwing native exceptions, using `ex-info` for data-carrying exceptions, returning error maps, and utilizing various libraries for more sophisticated error handling flows, such as the `anomalies` library or options like `pact` and `failjure`. The author emphasizes that the choice depends on the specific context and that a mix of approaches can coexist within a single project. Developers are empowered to select the most appropriate solution for their needs; Clojure embraces this freedom.

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(www.daveliepmann.com)
Development error handling

Minecraft Server Crafted in COBOL: A Retro Rewind

2024-12-26
Minecraft Server Crafted in COBOL: A Retro Rewind

CobolCraft is a Minecraft server audaciously built using the legacy COBOL programming language. Despite COBOL's limitations in low-level data manipulation, this project surprisingly supports features like infinite terrain generation, dynamic chunk loading, and multiplayer capabilities. It even handles Minecraft's data files, showcasing the unexpected potential of this often-overlooked language and challenging perceptions of its capabilities. This project serves as a testament to programming ingenuity and an interesting experiment in using unconventional tools.

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(github.com)
Development Server Development

Caves of Qud's Gigantic World Map: A 13.8 Gigapixel Adventure

2024-12-13
Caves of Qud's Gigantic World Map: A 13.8 Gigapixel Adventure

The upcoming sci-fi roguelike Caves of Qud, launching December 5th, boasts a massive world map totaling an astounding 13.8 gigapixels! This immense map consists of 240 x 75 zones, each zone containing 25 x 80 tiles, with each tile being 16 x 24 pixels. A web viewer allows exploration of the surface and even the first underground level (the remaining 2 billion+ levels are omitted due to data size). This breathtaking scale promises an epic, fantastical adventure, ripe with exploration possibilities.

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(kernelmethod.org)
Game Caves of Qud World Map

Thread Safety Nightmare: A Mysterious Crash on ARM64, Even with Safe Rust

2025-01-22
Thread Safety Nightmare: A Mysterious Crash on ARM64, Even with Safe Rust

While porting network I/O code from Python to Rust in EdgeDB, a mysterious crash on ARM64 platforms emerged. Initially suspected to be a deadlock, the root cause turned out to be thread-unsafe behavior in the `setenv` and `getenv` functions. On ARM64, the `openssl-probe` library uses `setenv` to set environment variables, while another thread concurrently calls `getenv`. This reallocates the `environ` array, leading to a crash. The solution involved switching reqwest's TLS backend from rust-native-tls to rustls. This highlights how even in memory-safe Rust, interactions with the C standard library can still introduce thread safety issues.

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(www.edgedb.com)
Development C standard library thread safety

GitHub's UI: Past, Present, and a 10x Frontend Cost

2025-01-24

This is a retrospective by GitHub engineer Joel Hawksley on the evolution of GitHub's UI architecture. He recounts GitHub's journey from simpler beginnings to its current focus on usability and accessibility, highlighting the challenges encountered along the way. He emphasizes that mobile is the new baseline, and building and maintaining design systems (like Primer) comes with unforeseen costs, with frontend code complexity being 10 times that of backend. Hawksley advises developers to avoid reinventing the wheel, leverage existing design systems, and carefully budget for frontend complexity to reduce costs and improve efficiency.

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(hawksley.org)
Development UI Architecture

Warning Future Generations: The 10,000-Year Challenge of Nuclear Waste

2024-12-20
Warning Future Generations: The 10,000-Year Challenge of Nuclear Waste

The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in New Mexico faces a daunting task: communicating the dangers of nuclear waste to future generations 10,000 years from now. The impermanence of language and symbols proved challenging. Experts explored various solutions, from genetically engineered "ray cats" that glow near radiation to a forbidding "landscape of thorns." Ultimately, the most enduring warning might be woven into cultural narratives and belief systems, creating a lasting legend like that of the "ray cats" to warn future people of the danger.

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(99percentinvisible.org)
Tech nuclear waste future warning cultural transmission
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