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Lessons Learned: Two Years as Carta's CTO

2025-05-24

Lessons Learned: Two Years as Carta's CTO

Reflecting on his two-year tenure as Carta's CTO, the author shares key learnings in engineering strategy, LLM adoption, and organizational management. He discusses refining his leadership style to delve deeper into details, writing a book on engineering strategy, successful LLM implementation at Carta for internal workflows and new product features, and the impactful 'Navigator' program for increased senior engineer involvement. He also details strategies for managing engineering costs and effectively communicating R&D investments to boards.

(lethain.com)

Development Engineering Strategy LLM Adoption

Stockhausen's Friday from Light: A Sonic Spectacle of Temptation and War

2025-05-01

Karlheinz Stockhausen's opera, Friday from Light, the fifth in his 'Light' cycle, depicts Lucifer's attempt to tempt Eve into his revolution against Heaven. Blending vocal, instrumental, electronic music, and dance, the opera unfolds through alternating 'Real Scenes' and 'Sound Scenes,' creating a fantastical journey of temptation, war, and eventual reconciliation. A children's war serves as the dramatic climax, symbolizing the brutality of human conflict. The birth and ascension of hybrid beings offer a counterpoint of hope and redemption.

(stockhausenspace.blogspot.com)

Game contemporary opera Stockhausen

One Dog vs. the Windows 3.1 Graphics Stack

2025-01-04

The author attempts to run Windows 3.11 on a 2008 Asus Eee PC 1000H netbook, encountering video output issues. The default VGA mode looks awful on the higher-resolution screen, and the included Super VGA driver is incompatible. The article delves into the intricacies of Windows 3.x Enhanced mode, VGA hardware, the VBE standard, and the SVGAPatch. Through reverse engineering and debugging, the author analyzes the display driver and Virtual Display Device (VDD), improving SVGAPatch to resolve some compatibility problems. However, challenges remain, highlighting the complexities of legacy systems.

(wuffs.org)

Development

Sandboxing Libraries: A Thorny Path to Security

2025-05-11

Sandboxing Libraries: A Thorny Path to Security

This article delves into the significant challenges of building sandboxed libraries. The author explores threat modeling, memory tampering, cross-language interoperability, and code reuse. Even languages like Java struggle with complete sandboxing due to features like reflection, global methods, and native methods. Joe-E, a capability-based programming language, while severely restricting Java's functionality, offers valuable insights. However, this approach introduces the "God Object" problem, requiring a single object to control all permissions, contradicting good OOP principles. Chrome's Mojo system presents a process-based sandboxing solution, but faces challenges like unstable APIs, code reuse difficulties, and performance overhead. Ultimately, creating secure sandboxed libraries remains a complex and unsolved problem.

(blog.plan99.net)

Development sandboxing

CartoKit: Finalizing Procedural Island Generation

2025-09-22

CartoKit: Finalizing Procedural Island Generation

This final installment details how CartoKit bakes generated island data into a compact mesh, visualizes it with an egui viewer, and exports assets for other tools. It features three key components: a baked terrain mesh containing elevation, moisture, biome, and river metadata; a CPU debug renderer and viewer for visualizing the data; and export helpers for GLB, PNG, and GIF output. The entire process is efficient and modular, laying a solid foundation for future extensions.

(brashandplucky.com)

Development

Reliving Smalltalk-76: Running the Legend on a Xerox Alto

2025-06-09

Reliving Smalltalk-76: Running the Legend on a Xerox Alto

This blog post details the author's success in running Smalltalk-76 on a vintage Xerox Alto. Smalltalk, a pioneering object-oriented programming language, featured a groundbreaking GUI on the Alto, including the desktop metaphor, icons, scrollbars, and overlapping windows—influencing the design of the Apple Lisa and Macintosh. The article highlights Smalltalk's unique ability to view and modify system code while the system is running, demonstrated by modifying scrollbar code. Despite its slow speed, Smalltalk's implementation on the Alto holds significant historical and technical value, laying the groundwork for modern programming languages and GUI design.

(www.righto.com)

Tech

Encryption Is Not a Crime: The Ongoing War for Privacy

2025-04-17

Encryption Is Not a Crime: The Ongoing War for Privacy

This article exposes the global attacks on encryption, with many government agencies attempting to undermine or even break end-to-end encryption under the guise of fighting crime. It argues that encryption is a vital tool for protecting personal privacy and security, not a criminal tool. Weakening encryption not only fails to effectively combat crime but also increases risks for ordinary citizens, making it easier for criminals to exploit leaked data. The article calls for public support for encryption technology and emphasizes that this is a protracted battle for privacy rights and digital security, requiring continuous effort to safeguard individual freedoms.

(www.privacyguides.org)

Tech

Biff: A Customizable Full-Stack Clojure Web Framework

2025-05-20

Biff: A Customizable Full-Stack Clojure Web Framework

Biff is a novel Clojure full-stack web framework that curates libraries and tools from across the ecosystem into one polished whole. It features immutable database support, schema enforcement with Malli, and uses hyperscript for rich, interactive UIs without leaving the backend. Passwordless email-based authentication (magic links and one-time passcodes) is included. Deploy via Ubuntu VPS provisioning or a Dockerized Uberjar. Changes are evaluated on file save, and a production REPL allows for live development. Biff boasts strong defaults but is designed to be easily modified as your needs evolve.

(biffweb.com)

Development Full-Stack

World's Largest 3D-Printed Neighborhood Nears Completion in Texas

2024-12-31

World's Largest 3D-Printed Neighborhood Nears Completion in Texas

A groundbreaking project in Georgetown, Texas, is nearing completion: the world's largest 3D-printed neighborhood, Wolf Ranch. Construction-tech startup ICON is using its massive Vulcan printer to build 100 homes, a process significantly faster and more efficient than traditional methods. Each single-story home takes roughly three weeks to print, resulting in cost savings and reduced labor needs. While the homes offer strong insulation and weather resistance, some homeowners have reported challenges with wireless internet signal penetration due to the thick walls. The homes, priced between $450,000 and $600,000, are part of ICON's ambitious vision, which even includes plans to utilize this technology for lunar construction projects.

(www.yahoo.com)

Tech construction

Mercure: A Fast and Reliable Real-time Communication Solution

2025-01-02

Mercure: A Fast and Reliable Real-time Communication Solution

Mercure is an open, easy, fast, reliable, and battery-efficient solution for pushing data updates to web browsers and other HTTP clients. It's ideal for publishing asynchronous and real-time updates of resources served through web APIs, powering reactive web and mobile apps. The protocol and a production-ready Go implementation, along with libraries and a Docker image, are available on GitHub. A managed, highly scalable version is also offered at Mercure.rocks.

(github.com)

Development real-time communication web API

Apple's Power Mac 4400: A Failed Attempt at a Budget Mac

2024-12-20

Apple's Power Mac 4400: A Failed Attempt at a Budget Mac

Released in 1996, Apple's Power Mac 4400 aimed for the small business market with a low price point. However, this machine became infamous for its cheap PC-style case, poor build quality, and frequent crashes. Inside, cost-cutting measures resulted in a "Tanzania" motherboard shared with Mac clones, leading to poor performance, compatibility issues (it couldn't even boot System 7.5.5), and a generally disappointing user experience. Discontinued in 1998 after the Power Mac G3's release, the 4400 is considered one of Apple's biggest failures, often described as a Mac version of a Gateway 2000.

(512pixels.net)

Hardware Apple Computer failed product

Wave3 Social: Building Genuine Connections

2025-05-30

Wave3 Social: Building Genuine Connections

Wave3 is a men's social club focused on fostering meaningful friendships. Membership starts by attending open mixers to meet current members. If vouched for by existing members, you receive an invitation to join, gaining access to exclusive events. Bringing friends is encouraged, and the club emphasizes an open and respectful atmosphere. While some events may have small fees, accessibility is prioritized.

(wave3.social)

Misc social club

Libredesk: Open-Source, Self-Hosted Customer Support Desk with AI

2025-02-27

Libredesk: Open-Source, Self-Hosted Customer Support Desk with AI

Libredesk is an open-source, self-hosted customer support desk offered as a single binary application. Key features include multi-inbox support, granular permissions, smart automation (auto-tag, assign, and route conversations), CSAT surveys, macros, smart organization (tags, custom statuses, and snoozing), auto-assignment, SLA management, and business intelligence integrations. It also boasts AI-assisted response rewriting and a command bar for quick actions. Built with Go (backend) and Vue.js 3 with Shadcn UI (frontend), Libredesk is currently in alpha. Easy installation is provided, with Docker support.

(github.com)

Development customer support

2025 Milky Way Photographer of the Year: Stunning Views From Earth and Space

2025-06-10

2025 Milky Way Photographer of the Year: Stunning Views From Earth and Space

The 2025 Milky Way Photographer of the Year contest, hosted by Capture the Atlas, has announced its winners, selecting from over 6,000 submissions worldwide. This year's winning photos showcase the breathtaking Milky Way from diverse locations, including Easter Island's Moai statues, Taiwan's Hehuan Mountain, and Yemen's remote Socotra Island. Remarkably, there's even a stunning shot from the International Space Station, captured by astronaut Don Pettit, featuring both the Earth and the Milky Way. These photos stand out for their diverse geographies, approaches, and techniques, all united by the awe-inspiring celestial spectacle.

(www.thisiscolossal.com)

Misc

US Government Tightens Spending Controls to Combat Fraud

2025-02-20

US Government Tightens Spending Controls to Combat Fraud

The US government has tightened spending restrictions on SmartPay government cards, encompassing both travel and purchase cards. Travel cards, common across government agencies, are tracked via software like Concur. Purchase cards, used for expenses under $10,000, require pre-approval through a multi-step process involving supervisors and finance departments. Every purchase is meticulously tracked through systems like Pegasys, demanding precise reconciliation of spending against approvals. A GSA employee highlighted the complexity of the system, arguing that committing fraud would require collusion across multiple parties, countering previous allegations.

(www.wired.com)

Tech Government Spending Financial Management Fraud Prevention

Scraperr: Precise Web Data Extraction with XPath

2025-05-11

Scraperr: Precise Web Data Extraction with XPath

Scraperr is a self-hosted web scraping application that uses XPath selectors for precise data extraction. It offers a clean interface to manage scraping jobs, view results, and export data in various formats. Features include queue management, domain spidering, custom headers, media downloads, results visualization, and notification channels. Remember to respect robots.txt, terms of service, and implement rate limiting. Use only on websites that explicitly permit scraping.

(github.com)

Development

Is Machine Translation Finally 'Solved'? A Look at the Algorithmic Babel Fish

2025-09-20

Is Machine Translation Finally 'Solved'? A Look at the Algorithmic Babel Fish

This article examines the evolution of machine translation (MT), from AltaVista's Babel Fish to today's sophisticated AI-powered tools. While advancements have dramatically improved speed and efficiency, the author uses Umberto Eco's critique of early MT systems to highlight the persistent challenges in translating nuanced context, cultural implications, and literary devices. Although AI excels in everyday tasks, it falls short of human translation's crucial role in handling subtle linguistic and cultural differences. The article cautions against over-reliance on MT, warning of potential cultural impoverishment and devaluation of human translation skills. It advocates for a cautious approach, emphasizing the unique value of human translators.

(hedgehogreview.com)

AI Machine Translation Human Translation

AI Winter Bites: The Struggle for Computer Science Grads in a Shrinking Tech Job Market

2025-04-23

The post-pandemic tech layoff wave has hit globally, with many tech companies, especially large ones, significantly reducing hiring. Simultaneously, rapid AI advancements are displacing some programmers. For recent computer science graduates, the job market is tougher. While some secure roles through internships and networking, intense competition and uncertainty remain. Experts suggest over-hiring during the pandemic and worsening macroeconomic conditions also play roles, not just AI. However, tech still needs talent; job types and locations are shifting, with opportunities emerging outside the tech giants, such as in banking.

(cacm.acm.org)

Tech tech layoffs

The Inevitable Loss of Youth and the Pursuit of Writing

2025-03-03

The Inevitable Loss of Youth and the Pursuit of Writing

A young writer dreams of becoming a prodigious young author like Amis or Updike, setting a timeline for publishing success in his twenties. However, he fails to meet his ambitious goal, only publishing his first novel at 37. The essay explores the passage of youth and the writer's confrontation with the gap between dreams and reality. He ultimately understands that the desire for success isn't unique to youth but a persistent force throughout life.

(tolstoyan.substack.com)

Misc dreams

Retro Handheld Battery Life: The Evercade's 4-Hour Runtime Sparks a Debate

2025-05-28

Retro Handheld Battery Life: The Evercade's 4-Hour Runtime Sparks a Debate

While reviewing the Evercade handheld console, the author discovered its meager four-hour battery life, a stark contrast to the original Game Boy's impressive 20-hour runtime. The article analyzes the battery life of various Nintendo handhelds throughout the years, highlighting the decline in battery life despite significant performance improvements in modern devices. The author explores factors like operating systems and processors, using examples like the Nokia 3310 to illustrate the difference in battery longevity across eras. Ultimately, the author questions whether high performance justifies sacrificing battery life.

(brainbaking.com)

Hardware handheld battery life hardware performance

Intel Cuts Over 5,000 Jobs in Restructuring Amidst AI Shift

2025-07-17

Intel Cuts Over 5,000 Jobs in Restructuring Amidst AI Shift

Intel is undertaking a major restructuring, laying off over 5,000 employees across four US states to streamline operations and focus on AI. The cuts, impacting California, Oregon, Arizona, and Texas, are part of CEO Lip-Bu Tan's plan to address the company's losses and lagging competitiveness in the semiconductor market. Tan aims to make Intel leaner, faster, and more focused on core AI products to regain its footing.

(www.manufacturingdive.com)

Tech

Online Circle Image Cropper: No Downloads, No Hassle

2025-05-31

Online Circle Image Cropper: No Downloads, No Hassle

This online tool effortlessly crops images into perfect circles or other shapes. It's free, works on all devices, and requires no downloads. Simply upload your image, adjust the circular frame, and download a PNG with a transparent background—ideal for profile pictures, designs, and presentations. Your images are processed in your browser and never stored, ensuring your privacy.

(circlecropimage.io)

Design image cropping circle avatar

Unix Inode 0: A Forgotten Corner

2025-06-02

This article explores the limitations of inode numbers in early Unix systems and the special case of inode 0. The author found that while the POSIX standard doesn't explicitly prohibit the use of inode 0, many systems and programs may rely on non-zero inode numbers in practice. Using inode 0 may lead to unexpected behavior, as some programs might interpret it as a 'no such file' signal. While experimenting with inode 0 is possible using user-space filesystems, it's not recommended due to potential compatibility issues and unpredictable results.

(utcc.utoronto.ca)

Development

Lost Nicknames and the Origins of Surnames

2025-02-10

Lost Nicknames and the Origins of Surnames

Many English surnames derive from patronyms, often nicknames. For example, "Jackson" comes from "Jack" (a nickname for John). This article explores numerous now-obscure nicknames and their resulting surnames, such as "Wat" (a nickname for Walter) yielding "Watts," "Watson," "Watkins"; "Gib" (a nickname for Gilbert) yielding "Gibbs," "Gibson"; and "Hob" (a nickname for Robert) yielding "Hobbs," "Hobson," "Hobkins." The author invites further examples and adds the nickname "Hick" (for Richard) and its derivatives, and speculates on "-mott" possibly indicating an in-law.

(blog.plover.com)

Misc English surnames nicknames etymology

Switzerland's Cold War Relic: A Nuclear Bunker and the Illusion of Survival

2025-05-06

Switzerland's Cold War Relic: A Nuclear Bunker and the Illusion of Survival

This article recounts a visit to Sonnenberg, a seven-story underground command center built in Switzerland during the Cold War to shelter 20,000 people. While impressively engineered, the 1987 trial run revealed significant shortcomings. The article explores the historical context of Switzerland's robust civil protection program, rooted in WWII experience and a unique national identity. However, it also questions the feasibility of surviving a nuclear war and emphasizes the importance of diplomacy and non-proliferation. The piece ultimately reflects on the complex legacy of Sonnenberg—a testament to both Cold War anxieties and a persistent hope for peace.

(www.thedial.world)

Tech Switzerland Nuclear Bunker

US Customs Changes Cause Shipping Delays

2025-04-18

Due to recent US Customs regulatory updates, shipments to the US with a declared customs value exceeding USD 800 are experiencing multi-day transit delays, regardless of origin. To alleviate customs processing strain, starting April 21st, B2C shipments to US individuals with a declared value over USD 800 are temporarily suspended. B2B shipments and those under USD 800 are unaffected, though delays are possible. This is a result of the new USD 800 formal entry threshold (down from USD 2500), causing a surge in formal customs clearances. This is a temporary measure, and updates will be provided.

(www.dhl.com)

Tech US Customs Shipping Delays

Property-Based Testing: Why it Trumps Unit Testing for Complex Inputs

2025-05-21

This article debates the merits of property-based testing (PBT) versus traditional unit testing. The author argues that while unit tests suffice for functions with single inputs, the combinatorial explosion of edge cases in multi-input functions makes PBT, with its randomized input generation, superior at uncovering hidden boundary errors. However, PBT has a learning curve; mastering complex input generation strategies is crucial. Most PBT examples are too simplistic to showcase its true power in handling complex input spaces.

(buttondown.com)

Development property-based testing

Superellipses and Superhyperbolas: Beyond Classical Geometry

2025-03-28

This article introduces superellipses and superhyperbolas, generalizations of ellipses and hyperbolas, respectively. The shapes are controlled by a parameter 'p'. When p=2, they reduce to standard ellipses and hyperbolas. Increasing p makes superellipses more rectangular, but with continuous curvature; superhyperbolas become blunted at the vertices. The article explores why superellipses are far more common than superhyperbolas, speculating on naming conventions and the lack of effective advocacy for the latter.

(www.johndcook.com)

Misc Superellipse

Kenyan Startup Uses Mushrooms to Tackle Housing Shortage

2025-03-14

Kenyan Startup Uses Mushrooms to Tackle Housing Shortage

Facing a severe housing deficit, Kenyan startup MycoTile is revolutionizing construction with eco-friendly building materials. They utilize agricultural waste like sugarcane bagasse, binding it with oyster mushroom mycelium to create affordable insulation panels. These panels, already proven effective in student accommodation, offer superior sound and temperature regulation at two-thirds the cost of conventional materials. Furthermore, they're fully compostable. While facing challenges in convincing a conservative construction industry and public accustomed to traditional materials, MycoTile's innovation offers a promising solution to Kenya's housing crisis.

(www.nature.com)

Startup agricultural waste construction materials

Gemini 2.5 Object Detection: A Surprisingly Good Match for YOLOv3?

2025-07-10

This benchmark tests Google's Gemini 2.5 Pro multimodal large language model on object detection. Using the MS-COCO dataset, the focus is on bounding box accuracy. Results show Gemini 2.5 Pro achieves a mean Average Precision (mAP) of roughly 0.34, comparable to YOLOv3 from 2018, but significantly behind state-of-the-art models at ~0.60 mAP. While Gemini's versatility across open-ended tasks is impressive, CNNs remain faster, cheaper, and easier to reason about, especially with good training data.

(simedw.com)

AI Object Detection

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