Hasty Briefsbeta

Bilingual

Making Magic Leap past Nvidia's secure bootchain and breaking Tesla Autopilots
a day ago
- Magic Leap disabled activation servers for TX2-based XR headsets, turning them into e-waste.
- Discovered vulnerabilities in NVIDIA's Fastboot implementation: 'sparsehax' (SparseFS unpacking) and 'dtbhax' (kernel DTB loading).
- Used fault injection to dump BootROM from Tegra X2 devkit, revealing a USB recovery mode vulnerability.
- Exploited the BootROM vulnerability to gain highest privilege level execution, despite challenges.
- Demonstrated exploit also works on Tesla's autopilot hardware.
A small collection of text-only websites
5 hours ago
- The author serves blog posts as plain text by adding .txt to URLs, offering a simple, fast browsing experience.
- Lists several websites that support text-only browsing, including methods to access plain text versions.
- Rules for adding a site to the list: must serve content with MIME type text/plain, no HTML or multimedia.
- Emoji are allowed in the plain text content.
- Includes comments from readers expressing interest and sharing their own plain text implementations.
Assorted Less(1) Tips
3 hours ago
- Operating on multiple files: You can directly provide one or more files to open with `less`.
- Adding files after starting: Use `:e file.h` to add another file to the argument list.
- Navigating multiple files: Use `:n` for next file, `:p` for previous file, and `:x` to rewind to the first file.
- Removing files: Use `:d` to delete the current file from the argument list.
- Jumping to a line-number: Use `«count»G` to jump to a specific line.
- Jumping to a percentage-offset: Use `«count»%` to jump to a percentage of the file.
- Searching: Use `/«pattern»` to search forward, `?«pattern»` to search backward, and modifiers like `!`, `*`, `@`, and `@*` for advanced search.
- Filtering lines: Use `&«pattern»` to filter lines matching the pattern, and `&!«pattern»` for lines not matching.
- Bookmarking: Use `m` followed by a letter to bookmark, and `'` followed by the letter to jump back.
- Bracket matching: Type `(`, `[`, or `{` to jump to the matching closing character, and vice versa.
- Toggling options: Use `-` followed by an option (e.g., `-S` for word-wrap) to toggle settings without restarting.
- Running external commands: Use `!` to invoke external commands like `!date` or `!bc`.
- Default options with $LESS: Set common options in your shell startup file (e.g., `LESS="-RNe"`).
- Editing the current document: Use `v` to open the current document in your `$VISUAL` editor.
- Log output: Use `o` or `O` to redirect `less` output to a file.
Show HN: OfferGridAI – side-by-side comparison of real estate offers from PDFs
2 hours ago
- AI-powered tool extracts key terms from purchase offers (price, financing, contingencies, closing timelines).
- Generates a side-by-side comparison grid with risk scores for easy seller presentation.
- First property analysis is free with no credit card required; results in under 2 minutes.
- Supports multiple file formats (PDF, DOC, DOCX, TXT) and allows drag-and-drop upload of up to 10 offers.
- Risk scores evaluate financing type, contingencies, timeline, and buyer qualification to identify the strongest offers.
- Export comparison grids to PDF for professional sharing with sellers.
- Subscription options available: pay per property or unlimited monthly subscription.
- Positive testimonials highlight efficiency, accuracy, and ease of use.
- Secure data handling with encryption and optional data deletion.
What You Need to Know Before Touching a Video File
6 days ago
- Video files consist of container formats (e.g., .mp4, .mkv) and encoded video streams (e.g., H.264, H.265).
- Remuxing (changing containers) is lossless, while reencoding (changing the video stream) reduces quality and takes time.
- Video quality is determined by encoding settings (e.g., CRF in x264/x265), not resolution, file size, or container format.
- Avoid unnecessary changes to resolution, frame rate, colors, or sharpness, as they degrade quality.
- Use tools like ffmpeg, x264/x265, and MKVToolNix for efficient video processing; avoid Handbrake and online converters.
- Hardsubbing (burning subtitles into video) should be minimized due to quality loss; prefer soft subtitles in .mkv files.
- Color space issues (e.g., BT.601 vs. BT.709 matrices) can cause mismatches; tag files correctly to avoid problems.
- Interlaced footage may be telecined (reversible), not always requiring deinterlacing.
- For beginners, stick to CRF-based encoding with x264/x265 and avoid unnecessary post-processing.
39th Chaos Communication Congress Videos
3 hours ago
- Various topics covered including cybersecurity, AI, political issues, and technology.
- Specific articles on hacking the Great Firewall of China, WhatsApp exploits, and AI in warfare.
- Discussions on political reforms, energy transitions, and digital rights.
- Technical deep dives into GPU emulation, terrestrial navigation, and decentralized networks.
- Cultural and social insights from European cycling data and Austrian information freedom.
Patients Starting to Fight Back Against Insurance AI Usage
9 hours ago
- Health insurers increasingly use AI to process claims, leading to a rise in denials.
- In 2023, about 73 million Americans on Affordable Care Act plans had claims denied, with less than 1% appealing.
- AI is now being used by patients to fight back against denied claims by generating detailed appeal letters quickly.
- Software companies offer AI services for around $40-$50 to help patients appeal insurance denials.
- Despite the benefits, there is concern about an AI arms race between insurers and patients.
- Regulation of AI in insurance claims is minimal, with calls for more robust oversight to ensure fair decisions.
A terminal-based browser with Sixel graphics
7 hours ago
- Brow6el is a terminal web browser with Sixel support, using Chromium (CEF) and libsixel for graphics rendering.
- Features include Sixel graphics, mouse support, Vim-style modal control, element inspector, JavaScript console, bookmarks, user scripts, download manager, popup handling, multi-instance support, and configurable profiles.
- Vim-style modal control includes STANDARD, INSERT, and MOUSE modes for efficient navigation and interaction.
- Inspect mode allows element highlighting and detailed info similar to browser DevTools.
- Hint mode (f key) enables keyboard-only navigation with link hints.
- Mouse emulation mode (e key) provides keyboard-driven mouse control with cursor overlay.
- User scripts allow custom JavaScript injection, similar to Greasemonkey/Tampermonkey.
- Profile modes include temporary (private) and persistent (normal) browsing.
- JavaScript console (c key) allows executing JS commands and viewing logs.
- Multiple instances can run simultaneously, each with isolated cache.
- Requires a Sixel-capable terminal and specific build dependencies.
- License: MIT, using CEF (BSD clause 3 exception) and libsixel (MIT).
High-Fidelity 3D Shape Generation
5 hours ago
- Main Pipeline for Image to 3D Shape Generation
- Multiple instances of 'View GLB' indicating 3D model viewing options
- Comparison feature for 3D Shape Generation
Can I throw a C++ exception from a structured exception?
4 days ago
- Customer wants to avoid using /EHa compiler switch due to performance and code size penalties.
- Proposes converting structured exceptions to C++ exceptions via an unhandled exception filter.
- Initial example works because printf might throw, keeping the try-catch block active.
- Without printf, the compiler optimizes out the try-catch block, causing the exception to be missed.
- Using /EHa ensures variables are stable for exceptions, preventing undefined behavior.
- Manual conversion without /EHa leads to potential undefined behavior due to uninitialized variables.
- Conclusion: Throwing C++ exceptions from structured exceptions requires /EHa to avoid undefined behavior.
Show HN: I built a clipboard tool to strip/keep specific formatting like Italics
4 hours ago
- CustomPaste is a Windows utility that cleans, formats, and transforms clipboard text automatically.
- It solves common frustrations like messy formatting, duplicate lines, and unwanted styles when pasting text.
- Users can create reusable 'recipes' to apply specific transformations with each paste.
- Features include preserving or stripping formatting, fixing AI-generated text, and handling web content cleanly.
- CustomPaste runs locally, ensuring privacy—no data is sent to servers.
- One-time purchase at $14.50 (50% off), with a free trial available.
- Developed by Joseph M., who built it to solve his own clipboard frustrations.
One Number I Trust: Plain-Text Accounting for a Multi-Currency Household
5 hours ago
- The author built a personal finance system using Beancount, a Python library for plain-text accounting, to track net worth across multiple accounts and currencies.
- Double-entry bookkeeping is central to the system, ensuring every transaction balances and nothing slips through the cracks.
- Plain-text accounting offers auditability, version control, privacy, and scriptability, making it a robust solution for personal finance.
- The system automates transaction imports from PDF statements, which are often more reliable than CSV files, and categorizes transactions semi-automatically.
- Investments are tracked as commodities, with detailed account structures for stocks, dividends, and capital gains, enabling accurate performance tracking.
- Multiple views (e.g., net, gross, CGT) allow for simplified daily use or detailed tax-time analysis without duplicating transactions.
- The system scales to handle two people's finances, combining individual and household views while maintaining legal ownership clarity.
- A weekly ritual keeps the system updated, involving statement downloads, categorization, and sanity checks, taking about 20 minutes per week.
- Key principles include double-entry everywhere, plain text as the source of truth, and tracking at the most granular level for flexibility.
Show HN: MVP Guide for Startup Founders
a day ago
- Define the problem clearly by identifying who has the problem, how they currently solve it, and why it's painful.
- Pick specific target users, avoiding broad categories like 'everyone'.
- Focus on one user, one flow, and one measurable outcome to validate your MVP.
- Build a landing page with a clear headline addressing the pain point and a call-to-action.
- Set up feedback loops by talking to users weekly and tracking 1-2 key performance indicators.
- Understand what an MVP is: solving for one user, one flow, and one outcome.
- Learn from real examples like Dropbox (used a video and waitlist) and Airbnb (started with renting their own apartment).
- Avoid common MVP mistakes such as building too many features, skipping user research, perfectionism, and ignoring distribution.
- Download a free MVP checklist to validate key items before building.
- Consider professional help if needed, with guarantees like first paying customer in 90 days.
Square Minus Square – A coding agent benchmark
7 days ago
- A coding benchmark was conducted to implement a function that calculates the area of one square minus the intersection with another square on a 2D plane, using the least amount of triangles.
- Several coding agents, including top models like Opus, Gemini 3 Pro, and GPT 5.2, were tested, but none successfully solved the task without issues.
- Agents were encouraged to generate screenshots and examine them to fix bugs, demonstrating the importance of a feedback loop in coding tasks.
- Results varied between test runs, with no consistent winner among the top models, and some generated code that crashed or was inefficient.
- The full code and results are available on GitHub, including video captures of the outcomes.
10 years of personal finances in plain text files
5 hours ago
- Author has been using Beancount for personal finance management for nearly 10 years, starting January 2016.
- The Beancount ledger contains over 45,000 lines across 16 plain text files, with 10,000 transactions and 20,000 postings.
- There are 1086 virtual accounts created for categorizing different types of spending and income.
- Approximately 500 documents (e.g., receipts, invoices) are attached to transactions for efficient bookkeeping.
- Monthly workflow involves downloading bank statements in CSV, converting them via importers, and balancing transactions manually and automatically.
- Author developed Beancount importers for German banks (DKB, ING, N26) to facilitate transaction imports.
- Wrote a book to help newcomers understand Beancount, receiving positive feedback and recognition.
- Storing finances in plain text files within a git repository ensures data longevity and independence from apps or services.
Going immutable on macOS, using Nix-Darwin
7 hours ago
- The article discusses transitioning from Homebrew to nix-darwin for managing macOS environments.
- Homebrew's imperativeness leads to issues like version mismatches and system rot.
- Nix offers reproducibility, rollbacks, and system immutability through the Nix store.
- Nix-darwin allows declarative system configuration, including macOS-specific settings.
- Nix Flakes ensure system consistency by pinning dependencies to exact versions.
- Ephemeral shells in Nix allow temporary usage of software without system-wide installation.
- The learning curve for Nix is steep, requiring understanding of Nix language and macOS specifics.
- A hybrid approach using both Nix and Homebrew is recommended for GUI applications.
- Steps to start with Nix include installing the Determinate Nix Installer and setting up modular configuration files.
Standard Ebooks: Public Domain Day 2026 in Literature
7 hours ago
- Public Domain Day is celebrated on January 1, marking the expiration of copyright on older works.
- In the U.S., works enter the public domain 95 years after publication due to extended copyright terms influenced by corporations.
- 2019 marked the first significant entry of works into the public domain in nearly a century.
- On January 1, 2026, books published in 1930 will enter the U.S. public domain, including works by Faulkner, Kafka, Christie, and Hughes.
- Notable books entering the public domain in 2026 include 'The Castle' by Kafka, 'The Maltese Falcon', and 'As I Lay Dying' by Faulkner.
- Other significant works include 'Not Without Laughter' by Langston Hughes and 'The Murder at the Vicarage' by Agatha Christie.
- The article highlights 20 books being prepared for free release by Standard Ebooks for Public Domain Day 2026.
You Have Only X Years to Escape Permanent Moon Ownership
12 hours ago
- The 'permanent underclass' meme targets neurotic, well-off individuals in Silicon Valley, not the actual underclass.
- There's a small possibility of oligarch capture post-Singularity, but worst-case scenarios still involve significant wealth (e.g., owning a terraformed moon).
- The next few years are framed as the last chance to make a mark on history, akin to classical Greece and Rome.
- Future historians in a galaxy-spanning civilization will scrutinize current events, making even small actions potentially immortal.
- Examples like St. Veronica show how minor acts at pivotal moments can lead to lasting fame.
- The article encourages leveraging this unique historical moment for meaningful contributions rather than chasing wealth out of fear.
- Suggestions include participating in discourse, creating art, donating to causes, and making discoveries.
- Historical figures like Aristippus, Epicurus, and Antinous are cited as examples of how diverse actions can lead to immortality.
- The piece concludes by urging readers not to waste their opportunity on fear-driven pursuits like escaping the 'permanent underclass.'
Chinese Cargo Ship Converted to Launch Advanced Combat Drones Emerges
8 hours ago
- China has set up a modular, road-mobile electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) on a converted cargo ship.
- The ship was previously configured with 60 containerized missile launch cells and has been rapidly reconfigured to serve as a multi-role advanced combat drone carrier.
- The EMALS system is composed of four connected vehicles forming a scalable catapult track, adaptable for different drone types.
- The ship retains 24 of its original 60 vertical launch cells and maintains defensive systems like the Type 1130 CIWS and large phased array radar.
- The system is currently launch-only, with no provisions for drone recovery, suggesting one-way missions.
- The feasibility of using such a system on a rolling ship and its power requirements remain unclear.
- The development could be a proof of concept, exploratory, or performative, aimed at sending a strategic message.
- China's rapid reconfiguration of commercial vessels into combatants highlights its expanding naval capabilities, posing challenges for the U.S. and allies.
AB316: No AI Scapegoating Allowed
12 hours ago
- AB316 is a new California law that prevents developers from using AI autonomy as a defense in liability cases.
- The law defines AI as an engineered system that can generate outputs influencing environments based on inputs.
- Developers are held responsible if their AI causes harm, even if the harm was autonomously caused by the AI.
- The law raises questions about liability, especially concerning third-party applications and open-source AI models.
- Increased adoption of AI safety measures and AI insurance is anticipated as companies seek to mitigate liability risks.

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About Login

Bilingual

Making Magic Leap past Nvidia's secure bootchain and breaking Tesla Autopilots
a day ago
- Magic Leap disabled activation servers for TX2-based XR headsets, turning them into e-waste.
- Discovered vulnerabilities in NVIDIA's Fastboot implementation: 'sparsehax' (SparseFS unpacking) and 'dtbhax' (kernel DTB loading).
- Used fault injection to dump BootROM from Tegra X2 devkit, revealing a USB recovery mode vulnerability.
- Exploited the BootROM vulnerability to gain highest privilege level execution, despite challenges.
- Demonstrated exploit also works on Tesla's autopilot hardware.
A small collection of text-only websites
5 hours ago
- The author serves blog posts as plain text by adding .txt to URLs, offering a simple, fast browsing experience.
- Lists several websites that support text-only browsing, including methods to access plain text versions.
- Rules for adding a site to the list: must serve content with MIME type text/plain, no HTML or multimedia.
- Emoji are allowed in the plain text content.
- Includes comments from readers expressing interest and sharing their own plain text implementations.
Assorted Less(1) Tips
3 hours ago
- Operating on multiple files: You can directly provide one or more files to open with `less`.
- Adding files after starting: Use `:e file.h` to add another file to the argument list.
- Navigating multiple files: Use `:n` for next file, `:p` for previous file, and `:x` to rewind to the first file.
- Removing files: Use `:d` to delete the current file from the argument list.
- Jumping to a line-number: Use `«count»G` to jump to a specific line.
- Jumping to a percentage-offset: Use `«count»%` to jump to a percentage of the file.
- Searching: Use `/«pattern»` to search forward, `?«pattern»` to search backward, and modifiers like `!`, `*`, `@`, and `@*` for advanced search.
- Filtering lines: Use `&«pattern»` to filter lines matching the pattern, and `&!«pattern»` for lines not matching.
- Bookmarking: Use `m` followed by a letter to bookmark, and `'` followed by the letter to jump back.
- Bracket matching: Type `(`, `[`, or `{` to jump to the matching closing character, and vice versa.
- Toggling options: Use `-` followed by an option (e.g., `-S` for word-wrap) to toggle settings without restarting.
- Running external commands: Use `!` to invoke external commands like `!date` or `!bc`.
- Default options with $LESS: Set common options in your shell startup file (e.g., `LESS="-RNe"`).
- Editing the current document: Use `v` to open the current document in your `$VISUAL` editor.
- Log output: Use `o` or `O` to redirect `less` output to a file.
Show HN: OfferGridAI – side-by-side comparison of real estate offers from PDFs
2 hours ago
- AI-powered tool extracts key terms from purchase offers (price, financing, contingencies, closing timelines).
- Generates a side-by-side comparison grid with risk scores for easy seller presentation.
- First property analysis is free with no credit card required; results in under 2 minutes.
- Supports multiple file formats (PDF, DOC, DOCX, TXT) and allows drag-and-drop upload of up to 10 offers.
- Risk scores evaluate financing type, contingencies, timeline, and buyer qualification to identify the strongest offers.
- Export comparison grids to PDF for professional sharing with sellers.
- Subscription options available: pay per property or unlimited monthly subscription.
- Positive testimonials highlight efficiency, accuracy, and ease of use.
- Secure data handling with encryption and optional data deletion.
What You Need to Know Before Touching a Video File
6 days ago
- Video files consist of container formats (e.g., .mp4, .mkv) and encoded video streams (e.g., H.264, H.265).
- Remuxing (changing containers) is lossless, while reencoding (changing the video stream) reduces quality and takes time.
- Video quality is determined by encoding settings (e.g., CRF in x264/x265), not resolution, file size, or container format.
- Avoid unnecessary changes to resolution, frame rate, colors, or sharpness, as they degrade quality.
- Use tools like ffmpeg, x264/x265, and MKVToolNix for efficient video processing; avoid Handbrake and online converters.
- Hardsubbing (burning subtitles into video) should be minimized due to quality loss; prefer soft subtitles in .mkv files.
- Color space issues (e.g., BT.601 vs. BT.709 matrices) can cause mismatches; tag files correctly to avoid problems.
- Interlaced footage may be telecined (reversible), not always requiring deinterlacing.
- For beginners, stick to CRF-based encoding with x264/x265 and avoid unnecessary post-processing.
39th Chaos Communication Congress Videos
3 hours ago
- Various topics covered including cybersecurity, AI, political issues, and technology.
- Specific articles on hacking the Great Firewall of China, WhatsApp exploits, and AI in warfare.
- Discussions on political reforms, energy transitions, and digital rights.
- Technical deep dives into GPU emulation, terrestrial navigation, and decentralized networks.
- Cultural and social insights from European cycling data and Austrian information freedom.
Patients Starting to Fight Back Against Insurance AI Usage
9 hours ago
- Health insurers increasingly use AI to process claims, leading to a rise in denials.
- In 2023, about 73 million Americans on Affordable Care Act plans had claims denied, with less than 1% appealing.
- AI is now being used by patients to fight back against denied claims by generating detailed appeal letters quickly.
- Software companies offer AI services for around $40-$50 to help patients appeal insurance denials.
- Despite the benefits, there is concern about an AI arms race between insurers and patients.
- Regulation of AI in insurance claims is minimal, with calls for more robust oversight to ensure fair decisions.
A terminal-based browser with Sixel graphics
7 hours ago
- Brow6el is a terminal web browser with Sixel support, using Chromium (CEF) and libsixel for graphics rendering.
- Features include Sixel graphics, mouse support, Vim-style modal control, element inspector, JavaScript console, bookmarks, user scripts, download manager, popup handling, multi-instance support, and configurable profiles.
- Vim-style modal control includes STANDARD, INSERT, and MOUSE modes for efficient navigation and interaction.
- Inspect mode allows element highlighting and detailed info similar to browser DevTools.
- Hint mode (f key) enables keyboard-only navigation with link hints.
- Mouse emulation mode (e key) provides keyboard-driven mouse control with cursor overlay.
- User scripts allow custom JavaScript injection, similar to Greasemonkey/Tampermonkey.
- Profile modes include temporary (private) and persistent (normal) browsing.
- JavaScript console (c key) allows executing JS commands and viewing logs.
- Multiple instances can run simultaneously, each with isolated cache.
- Requires a Sixel-capable terminal and specific build dependencies.
- License: MIT, using CEF (BSD clause 3 exception) and libsixel (MIT).
High-Fidelity 3D Shape Generation
5 hours ago
- Main Pipeline for Image to 3D Shape Generation
- Multiple instances of 'View GLB' indicating 3D model viewing options
- Comparison feature for 3D Shape Generation
Can I throw a C++ exception from a structured exception?
4 days ago
- Customer wants to avoid using /EHa compiler switch due to performance and code size penalties.
- Proposes converting structured exceptions to C++ exceptions via an unhandled exception filter.
- Initial example works because printf might throw, keeping the try-catch block active.
- Without printf, the compiler optimizes out the try-catch block, causing the exception to be missed.
- Using /EHa ensures variables are stable for exceptions, preventing undefined behavior.
- Manual conversion without /EHa leads to potential undefined behavior due to uninitialized variables.
- Conclusion: Throwing C++ exceptions from structured exceptions requires /EHa to avoid undefined behavior.
Show HN: I built a clipboard tool to strip/keep specific formatting like Italics
4 hours ago
- CustomPaste is a Windows utility that cleans, formats, and transforms clipboard text automatically.
- It solves common frustrations like messy formatting, duplicate lines, and unwanted styles when pasting text.
- Users can create reusable 'recipes' to apply specific transformations with each paste.
- Features include preserving or stripping formatting, fixing AI-generated text, and handling web content cleanly.
- CustomPaste runs locally, ensuring privacy—no data is sent to servers.
- One-time purchase at $14.50 (50% off), with a free trial available.
- Developed by Joseph M., who built it to solve his own clipboard frustrations.
One Number I Trust: Plain-Text Accounting for a Multi-Currency Household
5 hours ago
- The author built a personal finance system using Beancount, a Python library for plain-text accounting, to track net worth across multiple accounts and currencies.
- Double-entry bookkeeping is central to the system, ensuring every transaction balances and nothing slips through the cracks.
- Plain-text accounting offers auditability, version control, privacy, and scriptability, making it a robust solution for personal finance.
- The system automates transaction imports from PDF statements, which are often more reliable than CSV files, and categorizes transactions semi-automatically.
- Investments are tracked as commodities, with detailed account structures for stocks, dividends, and capital gains, enabling accurate performance tracking.
- Multiple views (e.g., net, gross, CGT) allow for simplified daily use or detailed tax-time analysis without duplicating transactions.
- The system scales to handle two people's finances, combining individual and household views while maintaining legal ownership clarity.
- A weekly ritual keeps the system updated, involving statement downloads, categorization, and sanity checks, taking about 20 minutes per week.
- Key principles include double-entry everywhere, plain text as the source of truth, and tracking at the most granular level for flexibility.
Show HN: MVP Guide for Startup Founders
a day ago
- Define the problem clearly by identifying who has the problem, how they currently solve it, and why it's painful.
- Pick specific target users, avoiding broad categories like 'everyone'.
- Focus on one user, one flow, and one measurable outcome to validate your MVP.
- Build a landing page with a clear headline addressing the pain point and a call-to-action.
- Set up feedback loops by talking to users weekly and tracking 1-2 key performance indicators.
- Understand what an MVP is: solving for one user, one flow, and one outcome.
- Learn from real examples like Dropbox (used a video and waitlist) and Airbnb (started with renting their own apartment).
- Avoid common MVP mistakes such as building too many features, skipping user research, perfectionism, and ignoring distribution.
- Download a free MVP checklist to validate key items before building.
- Consider professional help if needed, with guarantees like first paying customer in 90 days.
Square Minus Square – A coding agent benchmark
7 days ago
- A coding benchmark was conducted to implement a function that calculates the area of one square minus the intersection with another square on a 2D plane, using the least amount of triangles.
- Several coding agents, including top models like Opus, Gemini 3 Pro, and GPT 5.2, were tested, but none successfully solved the task without issues.
- Agents were encouraged to generate screenshots and examine them to fix bugs, demonstrating the importance of a feedback loop in coding tasks.
- Results varied between test runs, with no consistent winner among the top models, and some generated code that crashed or was inefficient.
- The full code and results are available on GitHub, including video captures of the outcomes.
10 years of personal finances in plain text files
5 hours ago
- Author has been using Beancount for personal finance management for nearly 10 years, starting January 2016.
- The Beancount ledger contains over 45,000 lines across 16 plain text files, with 10,000 transactions and 20,000 postings.
- There are 1086 virtual accounts created for categorizing different types of spending and income.
- Approximately 500 documents (e.g., receipts, invoices) are attached to transactions for efficient bookkeeping.
- Monthly workflow involves downloading bank statements in CSV, converting them via importers, and balancing transactions manually and automatically.
- Author developed Beancount importers for German banks (DKB, ING, N26) to facilitate transaction imports.
- Wrote a book to help newcomers understand Beancount, receiving positive feedback and recognition.
- Storing finances in plain text files within a git repository ensures data longevity and independence from apps or services.
Going immutable on macOS, using Nix-Darwin
7 hours ago
- The article discusses transitioning from Homebrew to nix-darwin for managing macOS environments.
- Homebrew's imperativeness leads to issues like version mismatches and system rot.
- Nix offers reproducibility, rollbacks, and system immutability through the Nix store.
- Nix-darwin allows declarative system configuration, including macOS-specific settings.
- Nix Flakes ensure system consistency by pinning dependencies to exact versions.
- Ephemeral shells in Nix allow temporary usage of software without system-wide installation.
- The learning curve for Nix is steep, requiring understanding of Nix language and macOS specifics.
- A hybrid approach using both Nix and Homebrew is recommended for GUI applications.
- Steps to start with Nix include installing the Determinate Nix Installer and setting up modular configuration files.
Standard Ebooks: Public Domain Day 2026 in Literature
7 hours ago
- Public Domain Day is celebrated on January 1, marking the expiration of copyright on older works.
- In the U.S., works enter the public domain 95 years after publication due to extended copyright terms influenced by corporations.
- 2019 marked the first significant entry of works into the public domain in nearly a century.
- On January 1, 2026, books published in 1930 will enter the U.S. public domain, including works by Faulkner, Kafka, Christie, and Hughes.
- Notable books entering the public domain in 2026 include 'The Castle' by Kafka, 'The Maltese Falcon', and 'As I Lay Dying' by Faulkner.
- Other significant works include 'Not Without Laughter' by Langston Hughes and 'The Murder at the Vicarage' by Agatha Christie.
- The article highlights 20 books being prepared for free release by Standard Ebooks for Public Domain Day 2026.
You Have Only X Years to Escape Permanent Moon Ownership
12 hours ago
- The 'permanent underclass' meme targets neurotic, well-off individuals in Silicon Valley, not the actual underclass.
- There's a small possibility of oligarch capture post-Singularity, but worst-case scenarios still involve significant wealth (e.g., owning a terraformed moon).
- The next few years are framed as the last chance to make a mark on history, akin to classical Greece and Rome.
- Future historians in a galaxy-spanning civilization will scrutinize current events, making even small actions potentially immortal.
- Examples like St. Veronica show how minor acts at pivotal moments can lead to lasting fame.
- The article encourages leveraging this unique historical moment for meaningful contributions rather than chasing wealth out of fear.
- Suggestions include participating in discourse, creating art, donating to causes, and making discoveries.
- Historical figures like Aristippus, Epicurus, and Antinous are cited as examples of how diverse actions can lead to immortality.
- The piece concludes by urging readers not to waste their opportunity on fear-driven pursuits like escaping the 'permanent underclass.'
Chinese Cargo Ship Converted to Launch Advanced Combat Drones Emerges
8 hours ago
- China has set up a modular, road-mobile electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) on a converted cargo ship.
- The ship was previously configured with 60 containerized missile launch cells and has been rapidly reconfigured to serve as a multi-role advanced combat drone carrier.
- The EMALS system is composed of four connected vehicles forming a scalable catapult track, adaptable for different drone types.
- The ship retains 24 of its original 60 vertical launch cells and maintains defensive systems like the Type 1130 CIWS and large phased array radar.
- The system is currently launch-only, with no provisions for drone recovery, suggesting one-way missions.
- The feasibility of using such a system on a rolling ship and its power requirements remain unclear.
- The development could be a proof of concept, exploratory, or performative, aimed at sending a strategic message.
- China's rapid reconfiguration of commercial vessels into combatants highlights its expanding naval capabilities, posing challenges for the U.S. and allies.
AB316: No AI Scapegoating Allowed
12 hours ago
- AB316 is a new California law that prevents developers from using AI autonomy as a defense in liability cases.
- The law defines AI as an engineered system that can generate outputs influencing environments based on inputs.
- Developers are held responsible if their AI causes harm, even if the harm was autonomously caused by the AI.
- The law raises questions about liability, especially concerning third-party applications and open-source AI models.
- Increased adoption of AI safety measures and AI insurance is anticipated as companies seek to mitigate liability risks.

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A terminal-based browser with Sixel graphics

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Chinese Cargo Ship Converted to Launch Advanced Combat Drones Emerges

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