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  • Nushell 0.103 released, with background jobs support

    a day ago
    • Nushell 0.103.0 released with new features and improvements.
    • Support for background jobs with commands like `job spawn`, `job list`, and `job kill`.
    • Official package support for `.deb`, `.apk`, and `.rpm`.
    • Custom command attributes introduced, including `@example` and `@search-terms`.
    • New `std-rfc` module for experimental additions to the Standard Library.
    • Vi-mode enhancements and LSP/completion improvements.
    • Bug fixes and breaking changes, including removal of deprecated commands like `range` and `into bits`.
    • New commands and flags, such as `random uuid` with version support and `default --empty`.
    • Platform-specific character handling and locale-aware formatting.
    • Improved error handling with backtraces and startup banner theming.

  • The state of binary compatibility on Linux and how to address it

    2 days ago
    • Linux binary compatibility is a significant challenge due to the diverse and evolving ecosystem of distributions, libraries, and services.
    • Containerized solutions like Flatpak and AppImage attempt to address compatibility but introduce complexity and isolation issues, especially with system interactions like hardware-accelerated APIs.
    • GLIBC's monolithic design is a core issue, tightly coupling system calls, memory management, threading, and the dynamic linker, making upgrades disruptive.
    • Proposed solution: Decompose GLIBC into smaller, focused libraries (libsyscall, libdl, libheap, libthread, libc) to enable version coexistence and improve compatibility.
    • Static linking and building against older system libraries (using tools like debootstrap) can mitigate compatibility issues without runtime containers.
    • Challenges include shared resources (heap, TLS, threading) and global state (errno, locale), requiring careful architectural design to maintain compatibility.
    • The article advocates for a fundamental redesign of Linux userspace with binary compatibility as a core principle, similar to Windows' approach.

  • Converting a Go-Kart into a Deathtrap

    4 days ago
    • Transforming a pedal go-kart into a powerful electric car for a child's birthday.
    • Requirements include electric motor, small size, adjustable speed, and all-terrain capability.
    • Two driving modes: manual and radio-controlled for safety and learning.
    • Components sourced from second-hand hoverboards for powerful, compact motors.
    • Motor controllers (ZS-X11H) used for speed regulation and direction control.
    • 36V, 10Ah battery installed for extended use with discharge protection.
    • Inflatable tires added for comfort and all-terrain performance.
    • Radio control (HotRC CT-6A) with 6 channels for various functions.
    • Lights, pedals, and speed limiter installed for functionality and safety.
    • Arduino Nano used as the main processor for control and integration.
    • Pending improvements: steering control, regenerative braking, and signal loss safety.

  • Forking Work Simplification – Let's Bring Back Eisenhower's Process Improvement

    2 days ago
    • Kevin Hawickhorst’s article highlights Eisenhower-era process improvement tools that boosted federal efficiency in the 1940s-1960s.
    • Proposal to recreate and update the Work Simplification program for modern use by governments, civic organizations, and businesses.
    • Current progress includes converting manuals into a docs site named 'Standards' with plans to recreate materials like Process Chart forms.
    • Process improvement is not intuitive; practical tools are needed for local groups to document and fix broken processes.
    • Work Simplification focuses on effectiveness (citizen experience) rather than corporate-style short-term cost-cutting.
    • Example given: Local YIMBY volunteers could use simplified process charting to spot overlooked issues in ADU permits.
    • Historical government successes (e.g., WPA, Medicare) contrast with modern inefficiencies like the delayed rural broadband initiative.
    • Ezra Klein critiques 'everything bagel liberalism' for overloading policies with excessive requirements, slowing implementation.
    • Slow implementation erodes public trust; streamlined governance is needed to restore faith in government effectiveness.
    • Successful initiatives like the Inflation Reduction Act show efficient process design can yield positive results.

  • Vitodeploy: Self hosted Laravel Forge alternative

    5 days ago
    • VitoDeploy is highly recommended for PHP developers, especially Laravel users.
    • It simplifies server management and PHP application deployment to production servers.
    • Users are impressed by its features, performance, and versatility.
    • VitoDeploy is open-source and self-hosted, making deployment hassle-free.
    • Recent updates include a switch to SQLite, sparking interest in beta testing the 1.x branch.

  • UCSD: Large Language Models Pass the Turing Test

    2 days ago
    • GPT-4.5 was judged to be human 73% of the time in a Turing test, significantly outperforming real human participants.
    • LLaMa-3.1 was judged human 56% of the time, performing similarly to real humans.
    • Baseline models ELIZA and GPT-4o performed below chance, with 23% and 21% human judgments respectively.
    • This study provides the first empirical evidence that an artificial system can pass a standard three-party Turing test.
    • The results have implications for understanding the intelligence of Large Language Models (LLMs) and their potential social and economic impacts.

  • Show HN: Await-Tree – Visualize Async Rust Task Execution in Real-Time

    2 days ago
    • Async Rust Futures can be composed or nested for various control flows.
    • The execution of async tasks can be visualized as a logical tree that changes over time.
    • `await-tree` allows runtime dumping of the execution tree with annotated spans.
    • Supports dynamic span customization with runtime `String` for better debugging.
    • Handles complex async control flows and arbitrary `Future` topologies.
    • Uses an arena-based data structure with zero extra `unsafe` code.
    • Optional features include `serde` for serialization and `tokio` for runtime integration.
    • Compared to `async-backtrace`, `await-tree` offers more flexibility and safety.
    • Used in production by RisingWave, a distributed streaming database.
    • Licensed under Apache License 2.0.

  • Show HN: Offline SOS signaling+recovery app for disasters/wars

    2 days ago
    • Igatha is an open-source SOS signaling and recovery app for war zones and disaster areas.
    • Works offline using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) for emergency communication.
    • Steps to send SOS: Install app, enable Bluetooth, tap 'Send SOS'.
    • Disaster Detection feature monitors device sensors (accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer).
    • Automatic SOS broadcast if no response to 'Are you okay?' notification within 2 minutes.
    • BLE broadcasts pseudonymized identifiers and audible sirens for location.
    • No internet or GPS required, preventing signal jamming.
    • Responders can locate SOS signals via decreasing distance indicators and audible sirens.
    • Minimizes battery usage with optimized BLE and sensor monitoring.
    • Open-sourced for transparency, accessibility, and community collaboration.
    • Encourages contributions: testing, documentation, translations, feature enhancements.
    • Privacy-focused: no data collection, uses pseudonymized identifiers.

  • You're protecting your data wrong – Introducing the Protected Query Pattern

    4 days ago
    • Securing full-stack applications involves managing authorizations across multiple contexts.
    • The protected query pattern is introduced as a solution for data authorization challenges.
    • A data access layer is essential for secure and maintainable applications.
    • Common practices like scattering SQL queries or embedding authorization in queries lead to maintenance issues.
    • Protected query pattern wraps pure query functions with an authorization layer, offering methods like `protect` and `unsafe`.
    • Benefits include explicit API, co-location of queries and authorization logic, and pure functions for caching.
    • Redacting data is addressed elegantly with the protected query pattern, allowing conditional data filtering.
    • Kilpi enhances the pattern with centralized authorization logic and easy data filtering capabilities.
    • The pattern solves reusability, maintainability, and redactability issues in data authorization.

  • Testing DVD-R and CD-R 25 years later: optical disks from Japan

    2 days ago
    • Thrift shopping for optical media in Japan via the internet is enjoyable but can be dangerous due to the variety and age of products available.
    • TDK DVD+R 4x UV-Guard discs feature a special hard coating and UV guard, unique to TDK's own production era, with a diamond-like carbon coating.
    • LG Super Multi Versatile Drive 8x DVD+R discs were likely promotional items, showing high quality despite their origin as possible drive bundle inclusions.
    • Maxell 8x DVD-R with CPRM discs, once a quality brand, now show variability in quality, with some discs exhibiting dye spatter and elevated error rates.
    • Mr Data 4x DVD-R discs, a budget option, performed better than expected for their age, though with some quality inconsistencies towards the outer edge.
    • Mitsubishi 2.4x DVD+R and Maxell 12x Master Quality CD-R discs highlight the nostalgia and challenges of using older media, with some discs failing to burn properly due to age or compatibility issues.
    • Fujifilm 12x 650MB CD-R discs demonstrated excellent longevity and performance, even after decades, showcasing the durability of well-made optical media.
    • The review concludes with reflections on the quality and nostalgia of older optical media, noting the TDK UV Guard's effectiveness and the variable performance of other brands.

  • The Tectonics Behind the Myanmar Quake

    4 days ago
    • A 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar near Mandalay, causing extensive damage.
    • The quake toppled a skyscraper in Bangkok, Thailand, over 600 miles away.
    • Myanmar's military junta declared a state of emergency in six regions, with over 100 confirmed deaths and hundreds injured.
    • Thai officials reported at least seven deaths and many missing.
    • USGS estimates the death toll could exceed 1,000, possibly surpassing 10,000 due to the quake's epicenter near populated areas.
    • Myanmar is located on the Alpide Belt, one of the world's most seismically active regions, responsible for 15% of major earthquakes.
    • The earthquake was followed by a 6.7 magnitude aftershock 11 minutes later.
    • The region has experienced at least six magnitude 7+ quakes within 150 miles since 1900.
    • The quake occurred along the Sagaing Fault, a strike-slip fault similar to the San Andreas Fault.
    • Secondary hazards include aftershocks, potential fires, but tsunamis and major landslides are unlikely.

  • DEDA – Tracking Dots Extraction, Decoding and Anonymisation Toolkit

    2 days ago
    • Document Colour Tracking Dots (yellow dots) encode printer and printout information in almost every commercial color laser printer.
    • The software allows for reading, decoding, and anonymizing tracking dots to prevent arbitrary tracking.
    • Installation requires Python 3 and Deda, with optional Wand for anonymizing images with white areas.
    • Commands like `deda_parse_print`, `deda_compare_prints`, and `deda_extract_yd` help analyze tracking dots.
    • Anonymization involves creating a mask with `deda_anonmask_create` and applying it with `deda_anonmask_apply`.
    • Solutions for common issues include adjusting scan settings, installing dependencies, or modifying ImageMagick policies.

  • (2016) Interactive Neural Network Art

    5 days ago
    • Interactive Neural Network Art settings include Network Size = 8 and Network Depth = 4.
    • Resolution is set to 320.
    • Z1 and Z2 parameters are both set to 0.
    • Colour Mode options available: BW, RGB, CMYK, HSV, HSL.
    • Alpha channel options: No Alpha or Alpha.
    • Functionality includes restart, redraw, and save options.

  • A 6-Hour Time-Stretched Version of Brian Eno's Music for Airports

    5 days ago
    • Brian Eno's 'Music for Airports' was conceived as ambient music to prepare listeners for the idea of death, creating a meditative and accepting atmosphere.
    • The album, created in 1978, utilized tape loops from improvisational sessions, pioneering slow, meditative music with melodic ambiguity and background presence.
    • A 6-hour time-stretched version of the album exists, emphasizing decay over attack, making it ideal for unnoticed playback in environments like airports.
    • Originally intended for airport terminals, 'Music for Airports' was first played at La Guardia in the 1980s and later performed live by Bang on a Can in various airports.
    • The album's 40th anniversary was celebrated with a day-long loop at London City Airport in 2018.
    • The article suggests the potential for ambient music to replace traditional genres in public spaces, enhancing environments like doctors' offices with calming sounds.
    • Criticism of the 6-hour version notes its excessive bass, suggesting a preference for mid-tones for better auditory experience, especially for those with synesthesia.

  • A steam locomotive from 1993 broke my yarn test

    a day ago
    • Pair programming session to start with React for an internal Backstage instance.
    • First React commit led to a yarn test failure with a cryptic [Error].
    • Multiple troubleshooting attempts failed to resolve the issue.
    • Discovered Jest was hanging due to a timeout after exactly 27 seconds.
    • Identified the issue was related to Jest mistakenly running the 'sl' (Steam Locomotive) command instead of the intended 'sl' (Sapling CLI).
    • The 'sl' command's execution time caused Jest to crash consistently after 27 seconds.
    • The problem was resolved by renaming the 'sl' command to avoid the naming clash.
    • Investigation revealed Jest was running 'sl' in waves, with each wave taking about 6.7 seconds, totaling close to 27 seconds before crashing.
    • The error was due to Jest interpreting the output of the 'sl' command as a repository path, leading to a failure.

  • Stop syncing everything

    3 days ago
    • Graft is an open-source transactional storage engine designed for lazy, partial replication with strong consistency, horizontal scalability, and object storage durability.
    • Key use cases for Graft include offline-first & mobile apps, cross-platform sync, stateless multi-writer replicas, and replication of any data type.
    • Graft combines the simplicity of physical replication with the efficiency of logical replication, allowing clients to sync only the data they need.
    • The core concept of Graft is the Volume: a sparse, ordered collection of fixed-size Pages, with clients interacting through a transactional API.
    • Graft supports lazy syncing, partial replication, edge-friendly deployment, and strong consistency, making it suitable for edge-native applications.
    • Graft provides Serializable Snapshot Isolation for strong consistency, ensuring safe handling of conflicts and offline operations.
    • The Graft SQLite Extension (libgraft) allows for asynchronous replication, lazy partial replicas, and point-in-time restore.
    • Graft is developed openly on GitHub, with plans for WebAssembly support, more client libraries, and low-latency writes in the future.
    • Graft differs from other SQLite replication solutions like mvSQLite, Litestream, and cr-sqlite by being schema-agnostic and edge-capable.

  • Pulse (YC S24) Is Hiring

    a day ago
    • Machine Learning Engineer role at Pulse involves creating vision and language models for document understanding.
    • Pulse addresses the challenge of extracting structured information from complex documents at scale.
    • The company uses a breakthrough approach combining schema mapping and fine-tuned extraction models.
    • Pulse is a fast-growing team in San Francisco, serving Fortune 100 enterprises and startups.
    • Backed by tier 1 investors, Pulse is shaping the future of document intelligence.
    • The technology involves a multi-stage architecture for document intelligence.

  • Porting Tailscale to Plan 9

    a day ago
    • Tailscale announced support for Plan 9 on April Fools' Day, but it was actually real.
    • The porting effort involved fixing Go compiler issues for Plan 9, including SSE instruction support.
    • Russ Cox contributed significantly by patching Plan 9's kernel to handle floating-point and SIMD in note handlers.
    • Tailscale's Plan 9 implementation includes TUN mode, routing tables, and MagicDNS support.
    • Development was challenging due to Plan 9's unique requirements, such as needing a three-button mouse.
    • A web-based demo was created using v86 to run Plan 9 in a browser with Tailscale support.
    • The project improved Go's Plan 9 support by removing special cases and fixing various bugs.
    • Future directions include testing on 9front and adding exit node support.
    • The effort was educational and fun, leading to improvements in Go and Tailscale.

  • Bare: Run JavaScript Everywhere

    a day ago
    • Bare is a minimal JavaScript runtime designed for desktop and mobile, focusing on modularity, universality, and scalability.
    • Unlike Node.js, Bare emphasizes embedding and cross-device support, making it ideal for peer-to-peer applications.
    • Bare integrates with existing runtimes like V8, offering native performance while maintaining JavaScript flexibility.
    • Developers can build peer-to-peer applications, self-contained cross-platform apps, and leverage Bare's modular architecture for efficiency.
    • Bare works seamlessly with Holepunch's Pear Runtime, enabling completely peer-to-peer systems without centralized servers.
    • Bare supports multiple JavaScript engines (V8, JavaScriptCore, QuickJS), allowing it to run on various devices, from computers to embedded systems.
    • The combination of Bare and Pear provides a minimal, modular, and powerful container model for running apps anywhere.
    • Bare enables write-once-run-anywhere development, a significant advancement for applications like Keet and Pear Runtime.

  • Why Is the World Losing Color?

    a day ago
    • Color is disappearing from our world, with black, white, and silver dominating cars, films, and branding.
    • Studies show consumer goods and graphic design have been neutralized over centuries, favoring grayscale.
    • Cinema and streaming platforms also adopt muted color grades, making vibrant films like Wes Anderson's seem unorthodox.
    • Industrial and branding practicalities (e.g., reproducibility, scalability) contribute to this trend but don't fully explain it.
    • Western philosophy historically devalued color, associating it with deception and chaos, while praising form and rationality.
    • Modernist movements and mass-market appeal further pushed minimalism, leading to sterile, uniform designs in architecture and music.
    • Baroque art serves as a counterexample, showing how color and structure can coexist to inspire and elevate.
    • The cultural shift towards muted colors may reflect broader societal trends like economic strain or post-COVID depression.
    • There's a call to reintroduce vibrancy, challenging the notion that color undermines seriousness or order.
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