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Tabs vs. Spaces: The War Is Over
9 months ago
- The debate between tabs and spaces for code indentation has been ongoing for decades.
- A survey of popular programming languages shows that 90% prefer spaces over tabs for indentation.
- Languages like Go, Odin, Hare, and Assembly are exceptions, recommending or requiring tabs.
- Go enforces tabs through tooling, eliminating the option for spaces entirely.
- The preference for spaces reflects a broader trend toward standardization in technology.
- Despite the majority favoring spaces, the debate may never be fully settled due to personal preferences.
Resizable Structs in Zig
9 months ago
- Introduction to the concept of 'runtime resizable struct' in Zig.
- Comparison of Zig's primitive backing types for contiguous data storage: arrays and many-item pointers.
- Explanation of slices in Zig as syntax sugar around many-item pointers and lengths.
- Discussion on the limitations of current Zig structs, which have compile-time known sizes.
- Identification of a gap in Zig's tools: runtime-sized contiguous storage for differing types.
- Use-case presented from Zig's standard library where runtime resizable structs would be beneficial.
- Current workaround involves manual byte slice management with potential for errors.
- Proposal for a 'VariableLengthArray' type to simplify runtime-sized data handling.
- Implementation idea using Zig's comptime functionality to create a 'ResizableStruct' utility type.
- Published minimal proof of concept on GitHub with API methods: init, get, resize, and deinit.
- Request for community feedback and real-world use-cases to refine the concept.
Teach Yourself Programming in Ten Years
9 months ago
- Many books promise to teach programming languages like Java, C, SQL, Ruby, and more in just a few days or hours, indicating a rush to learn quickly.
- Research shows that developing expertise in any field, including programming, takes about ten years of deliberate practice, not just superficial learning.
- True mastery requires challenging oneself, analyzing performance, and continuous improvement over time, as seen in examples like Mozart and The Beatles.
- Programming success involves enjoying the process, learning by doing, collaborating with others, and gaining experience through various projects and languages.
- Understanding computer science fundamentals, such as how long operations take, is crucial for becoming a proficient programmer.
- Book learning alone is insufficient; practical experience and interaction with other programmers are essential for growth.
- Choosing a programming language should consider community support, simplicity, and interactive learning opportunities, with Python or Scheme recommended for beginners.
- Great programmers often have an innate quality or willingness to dedicate significant time to practice, as emphasized by figures like Fred Brooks and Alan Perlis.
Janet: Lightweight, Expressive, Modern Lisp
9 months ago
- Janet is a functional and imperative programming language compatible with Windows, Linux, macOS, and BSDs.
- The entire Janet language, including core library, interpreter, compiler, assembler, and PEG, is less than 1MB.
- Janet can be embedded in applications via a single C source file and header.
- Suitable for system scripting, embedding, rapid prototyping, and dynamic systems.
- Implemented in standard C99, with easy portability to new platforms.
- Features include threading, networking, an event loop, subprocess handling, and a PEG library.
- Example code demonstrates solving the 3SUM problem in O(n^2) time.
- Janet includes a REPL for interactive programming and script execution.
- Command-line options support script execution, REPL entry, and debugging.
- Community resources include GitHub libraries, Zulip chat, and Janet Docs.
Show HN: The Aria Programming Language
9 months ago
- Aria is a modern, dynamic scripting language designed to be easy to learn and use.
- It features a C-style syntax with influences from Python and Rust, focusing on simplicity and productivity.
- The standard library is minimal but sufficient for starting on interesting problems.
- Currently, Aria is only supported on Linux, with contributions for other OSes encouraged.
- Example provided demonstrates fetching data from a web API and processing JSON.
- Running Aria scripts is straightforward, as shown with a GitHub API example.
- Encourages users to try Aria and contribute, directing them to the language's website for more information.
Pony: An actor-model, capabilities-secure, high-performance programming language
9 months ago
- Pony is an open-source, object-oriented, actor-model, capabilities-secure, high-performance programming language.
- You can try Pony in your browser using the Pony Playground.
- Pony's unique features and benefits make it worth considering for use.
- The early history of Pony is documented in 'An Early History of Pony'.
Do variable names matter for AI code completion? (2025)
9 months ago
- Descriptive variable names improve AI code completion performance.
- Experiment tested 8 AI models on 500 Python code samples with 7 naming styles.
- Descriptive names had 34.2% exact match rate vs 16.6% for obfuscated names.
- Levenshtein similarity was higher for descriptive names (0.786) vs obfuscated (0.666).
- Semantic similarity was better for descriptive names (0.874) vs obfuscated (0.802).
- Ranking of naming styles: descriptive > SCREAM_SNAKE_CASE > snake_case > PascalCase > minimal > obfuscated.
- Descriptive names use 41% more tokens but achieve 8.9% better semantic performance.
- Clear variable names benefit both human readability and AI systems.
KernelScript eBPF-centric programming language
9 months ago
- KernelScript is a beta domain-specific programming language for eBPF-centric development.
- It unifies eBPF, userspace, and kernelspace development in a single codebase.
- Aims to simplify Linux kernel customization and application-specific optimization.
- Addresses challenges in writing eBPF programs like manual memory management and complex build systems.
- Provides features like single-file multi-target compilation and automatic tail call orchestration.
- Supports all major eBPF program types with typed contexts.
- Includes a rich type system designed for systems programming.
- Offers built-in support for all eBPF map types.
- Features clean function syntax with helper function support.
- Enables modern control flow with pattern matching.
- Can coordinate multiple eBPF programs.
- Compiles to eBPF C code and userspace programs with a complete automated toolchain.
- Includes examples and comprehensive documentation for easy onboarding.
7 Tips to Successfully Micromanage Programmers (2018)
9 months ago
- Programmers often prefer clear instructions and micromanagement to avoid endless discussions.
- Effective micromanagement involves detailed specifications, strict deadlines, and frequent check-ins.
- Ownership mentality: Emphasize decision-making authority and remind programmers of their replaceability.
- Provide exhaustive specs including architecture, frameworks, and naming conventions to guide work.
- Define rigid workflows and discourage collaboration to specialize roles and maintain efficiency.
- Impose tight deadlines and use pressure tactics to ensure timely project completion.
- Maintain constant communication, including late-night calls and emails, to keep momentum.
- Schedule after-hours communications to appear dedicated without actual late-night work.
CodeCrafters (YC S22) is hiring first Marketing Person
9 months ago
- CodeCrafters (YC S22) creates programming challenges for experienced software engineers.
- The role involves owning end-to-end marketing at CodeCrafters.
- Backed by Y Combinator and founders of Instagram and Dropbox.
- Customers include experienced engineers from companies like Google, GitHub, and Stripe.
Programmers Aren't So Humble Anymore–Maybe Because Nobody Codes in Perl
9 months ago
- Perl was widely used around the turn of the millennium, powering websites and bioinformatics.
- Perl is known for its messy, flexible syntax and the motto 'There’s More Than One Way to Do It.'
- Larry Wall, Perl's creator, applied linguistic principles to the language, embracing evolution and flexibility.
- Perl's decline in popularity is attributed to its complexity and the rise of cleaner languages like Python.
- Perl's philosophy emphasizes humility and adaptability in the face of complex technological systems.
- Perl contrasts with languages like Lisp, being more organic and human-centric rather than mathematically elegant.
- Programming languages must be readable by humans, not just machines, a principle Perl embodies despite its 'write-only' reputation.
- Perl's legacy is a reminder to prioritize human aspects in programming language design.
Carbon Language: An experimental successor to C++
9 months ago
- Carbon is an experimental successor to C++ designed for performance-critical software with seamless C++ interoperability.
- Goals include modern language foundations, easy upgrades between versions, and a path towards memory safety.
- Carbon aims for a gentle learning curve for C++ developers and supports scalable migration from C++.
- The project is currently experimental, focusing on toolchain development for Carbon ↔ C++ interop.
- Carbon provides a modern generics system with checked definitions, offering advantages over C++ templates.
- Memory safety is a priority, with plans for a safe Carbon subset in the future.
- Developers can try Carbon via the online toolchain or download experimental nightly releases.
- Carbon encourages community contributions and has a welcoming, inclusive development environment.
Show HN: Astro dev blog template with 60 interactive colorschemes
9 months ago
- The blog showcases the custom Astro theme/template MultiTerm.
- Features include an interactive theme changer, RSS, sitemap, tagging, and markdown extensions.
- Topics covered include Python's context managers and the with statement.
- TypeScript's keyof operator and mapped types for advanced type manipulation.
- JavaScript's prototypal inheritance and its use cases.
- Go's use of interfaces to achieve polymorphism.
Design Patterns You Should Unlearn in Python
9 months ago
- Design patterns in Python often re-implement Gang of Four patterns unnecessarily.
- Many patterns solve problems Python doesn't have, making code harder to read and maintain.
- Singleton pattern in Python can lead to unexpected behavior and issues with subclassing.
- In C++, Singleton was a solution for lack of modularity and global state management.
- Python's modules provide a simpler alternative to Singleton patterns.
- Builder pattern in Python often overcomplicates object creation with unnecessary boilerplate.
- Python's default arguments and factory functions offer a more straightforward solution than Builder patterns.
Code Monkey or CAD Monkey?
9 months ago
- Many people express reluctance to work in front of a computer all day, yet office jobs often require this.
- The author shares their experience of transitioning from a technical job (engineering/physics) to a programming job.
- The technical job involved interesting challenges but was repetitive, tedious, and used poor software tools.
- Advanced technical skills often mean fewer job opportunities and worse tools, as the market is smaller.
- Colleagues in technical jobs were tolerant of repetitive work, and management was dismissive of complaints.
- Efforts to improve software and efficiency in technical jobs were not significantly rewarded.
- The programming job offered more autonomy, better tools, and a focus on problem-solving before coding.
- Programming jobs involved less computer interaction (typing/clicking) and more time thinking on paper or whiteboard.
- Programmers value workflow improvements, and such efforts are rewarded, unlike in technical jobs.
- Despite not being more intellectually interesting, the programming job had better pay and work conditions.
- The work environment and tools significantly impact job satisfaction, often more than the technical challenge itself.
- Ironically, non-programming technical fields can make people more dependent on computers than typical programming jobs.
TypeScript 5.9
9 months ago
- TypeScript 5.9 has been released, introducing several new features and optimizations.
- New features include support for `import defer` syntax, `--module node20`, and summary descriptions in DOM APIs.
- Enhancements to developer experience include expandable hovers (preview) and configurable maximum hover length.
- Performance optimizations include caching instantiations on mappers and avoiding closure creation in file existence checks.
- Notable behavioral changes involve `lib.d.ts` updates and type argument inference adjustments.
- TypeScript 6.0 is planned as a transition point towards TypeScript 7.0, focusing on readiness for future updates.
Perl Is Dead. Long Live Perl and Raku (2020)
9 months ago
- Perl is not dead; it's misunderstood by some programmers due to its complexity.
- Raku, designed by Larry Wall, improves upon Perl's imperfections while retaining its core values.
- Raku's expressiveness can be intimidating but offers rich rewards for those who learn it.
- Writing code that is understandable to humans is prioritized in Raku.
- Learning resources for Raku include official documentation, books, and community support.
- The Raku community is welcoming, with resources like IRC channels and email lists for support.
The Summer of Codex
9 months ago
- LLMs are improving exponentially and their utility depends on user proficiency.
- The author initially hesitated to use AI for their 80,000-line Go codebase but gradually integrated LLMs for architecture improvements, bug fixes, and unit tests.
- The author found LLM output speed and confidence addictive but refrained from paid subscriptions to avoid over-reliance.
- OpenAI's Codex was initially too expensive but became accessible via the Plus plan, offering background task implementation and pull request creation.
- A detailed prompt example shows how Codex was used to modify a Customer resource to support businesses, saving significant time.
- Codex successfully implemented the changes, allowing the author to review, merge, and push updates quickly while maintaining work-life balance.
- Repetitive coding tasks, like CRUD APIs, can be efficiently handled by Codex with proper prompting and an AGENTS.md file for coding preferences.
- The author seeks to improve prompting techniques by studying guides like Foundry's and the Lyra prompt.
- Autocomplete suggestions in code editors still have room for improvement.
28th International Obfuscated C Code Contest
9 months ago
- The 28th International Obfuscated C Code Contest (IOCCC) winners for 2024 are announced.
- The contest reopened after a 4-year pause with significant improvements to the submission process and website.
- A record 23 winners were selected, surpassing the previous record of 15.
- The judging process was more efficient, taking only 33 days due to new tools and processes.
- Submissions showed increased quality and quantity, with many entries well under the size limit.
- Notable winning entries include a small LLM inference engine, a polite UTF-8 editor, and an Intel 4004 emulator.
- The contest emphasized originality and obfuscation quality over sheer code size.
- Future contests will see streamlined rules and guidelines, with IOCCC29 planned for December 2025.
- Encouragement was given to non-winning participants to refine and resubmit their entries.
- Instructions for compiling winning entries and reporting issues were provided.
Seed7 – The Extensible Programming Language
9 months ago
- Seed7 is a general purpose programming language designed by Thomas Mertes.
- It is a higher level language compared to Ada, C/C++, and Java.
- Seed7 is open-source, including its interpreter, example programs, and compiler.
- The compiler translates Seed7 programs to C, which are then compiled to machine code.
- Seed7 allows easy declaration of new statements and operators.
- It supports functions with type results and parameters, offering elegance over templates or generics.
- Object orientation is used where beneficial, with interfaces and multiple dispatch supported.
- Seed7 includes concepts from Pascal, Ada, C, C++, and Java.
- Features include extensibility, first-class types, predefined constructs in libraries, and static type checking.
- Automatic memory management without garbage collection, exception handling, and debugging are supported.
- Handles integer overflow with OVERFLOW_ERROR and provides unlimited size numbers (bigInteger, bigRational).
- Supports overloading of functions, operators, and statements.
- Includes various predefined types like array, hash, set, struct, color, time, etc.
- Source code portable with no need for changes.
- Offers a database independent API compatible with multiple databases.
- Runs under Linux, Unix versions, and Windows.
- Licenses: GPL for interpreter and examples, LGPL for runtime library.

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#programming

Tabs vs. Spaces: The War Is Over

Resizable Structs in Zig

Teach Yourself Programming in Ten Years

Janet: Lightweight, Expressive, Modern Lisp

Show HN: The Aria Programming Language

Pony: An actor-model, capabilities-secure, high-performance programming language

Do variable names matter for AI code completion? (2025)

KernelScript eBPF-centric programming language

7 Tips to Successfully Micromanage Programmers (2018)

CodeCrafters (YC S22) is hiring first Marketing Person

Programmers Aren't So Humble Anymore–Maybe Because Nobody Codes in Perl

Carbon Language: An experimental successor to C++

Show HN: Astro dev blog template with 60 interactive colorschemes

Design Patterns You Should Unlearn in Python

Code Monkey or CAD Monkey?

TypeScript 5.9

Perl Is Dead. Long Live Perl and Raku (2020)

The Summer of Codex

28th International Obfuscated C Code Contest

Seed7 – The Extensible Programming Language