Backdoor in upstream xz/liblzma leading to SSH server compromise

The article reports a backdoor in the xz/liblzma that affects SSH server performance, traced to compromised upstream tarballs and repository. The backdoor targets specific systems and conditions, slowing down SSH logins and complicating its detection and analysis.

Simon Riggs has died

PostgreSQL maintainer Simon Riggs has died in a small airplane crash, on Tuesday. For those who didn't know Simon, he's responsible for PostgreSQL Binary Replication and many big data features. He and I worked together at Greenplum 2006-2008. Postgres would not be the world-leading DB it is today if it weren't for him. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjex992z0wlo

OpenVoice: Versatile instant voice cloning

OpenVoice clones voices from short audio clips, offering control over style parameters and cross-lingual capabilities. It is cost-effective and outperforms similar commercial APIs.

The Great Migration from MongoDB to PostgreSQL

https://infisical.com/static/images/postgresql-migration-technical.png
Infisical, processing over 50 million secrets daily, migrated from MongoDB to PostgreSQL to better support growing self-hosting demands and overcome MongoDB's limitations. The complex transition involved rewrites and careful data mapping, resulting in enhanced performance and easier self-hosting capabilities.

Ross Anderson has died

https://alecmuffett.com/tti-cache/109513.png
This is not something I was expecting or ever imagining I would write; I’ve just heard. Professor Ross Anderson, FRS, FREngOur dear friend and treasured long term campaigner for privacy and security, Professor of Security Engineering at Cambridge University and Edinburgh University, Lovelace Medal winner, died suddenly at the family home in Cambridge overnight. Duncan Campbell ⊞

When new hires get paid more, top performers resign first

https://hbr.org/resources/images/article_assets/2024/03/March24_05_200279495-003.jpg
Employers often pay new hires more than current employees, a disparity made evident by increased pay transparency and expected to grow with predicted salary rises in 2024. Visier's team, including experts like Andrea Derler and Peter Bamberger, provides data-driven insights using their extensive global employee database.

Group buys up large tracts of land in Romania to create 'European Yellowstone'

https://images.english.elpais.com/resizer/bIY8Rvzzwnjw-hco9P0uUYli-_k=/414x0/filters:focal(743x480:753x490)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/prisa/WIB2WEVTQRCX7HJT2K5XKMZVGE.jpg
Hansjörg Wyss funds the Foundation Conservation Carpathia's goal to create a vast protected area in Romania's Carpathian range, aiming to preserve Europe's virgin forests and wildlife. The project faces challenges in gaining local support and combating illegal logging, while promoting ecotourism and community involvement.

Santa Barbara's collective memory, sold for kindling

https://www.independent.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/1988-073_SBNP_Building_exterior.jpg
The Santa Barbara News-Press, a former pillar of local journalism, chronicled the community's story for 155 years until bankruptcy in 2023, now faces the loss of its digital archives. Controversial ownership led to staff walkouts and a decline in quality, with potential sale of online assets threatening the preservation of local history.

The rev.ng decompiler goes open source

https://rev.ng/assets/vsc_poster.png
The article announces the open sourcing of the rev.ng decompiler engine, the beta release of its UI, and the launch of a new website and documentation. It invites users to subscribe for closed beta access and details support for multiple architectures and platforms.

Math writing is dull when it neglects the human dimension

The article discusses the importance of engaging writing in mathematics papers, drawing parallels with storytelling to maintain reader interest. It emphasizes clear, well-organized prose and the introduction's role in setting context and enticing readers.

Running a Raspberry Pi with a read-only root filesystem

The article discusses how to run Raspberry Pi with a read-only root filesystem to extend the SD card's lifespan, although it warns that this could make the Pi unbootable. It provides detailed instructions on how to configure the system, including workarounds for services that expect to write to disk, setting up the system before freezing it in place, adjusting ntp settings, and managing files ...

Apache Guacamole: a clientless remote desktop gateway

https://guacamole.apache.org/images/demo-thumbnail.jpg
Apache Guacamole is a free, clientless remote desktop gateway using HTML5, allowing access to desktops through any web browser. It supports protocols like VNC, RDP, SSH, and can integrate into other applications, emphasizing flexibility and ease of use.

Arraymancer – Deep learning Nim library

https://opengraph.githubassets.com/0572b4b092a73f860c86f6625959c9edb0ed0efeba3958cc70e0697e9cddb179/mratsim/Arraymancer
Arraymancer is a tensor project in Nim aimed at providing a fast and ergonomic CPU, Cuda, and OpenCL ndarray library for building a scientific computing ecosystem. It allows faster prototyping than C++ due to Nim's quick compilation times, supports machine learning algorithms, and can be customized with different backends like OpenMP, Cuda, or OpenCL.

Everything I Know About the XZ Backdoor

https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/51836263?v=4
The article discusses a real-time update on a backdoor discovered in open-source software, with suspicious commits to libarchive and xz repositories, indicating compromised security. Contributors with little activity, including JiaT75, are involved in pushing compromised versions into major distributions like Debian and Fedora.

Vultr Just Betrayed Us

https://mwlio.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/web-site-banners-20225.jpg
The article criticizes Vultr's terms of service, which grant the company extensive rights to user content without compensation. The author advises users to migrate away and explore alternative hosting options.

Overlay networks based on WebRTC

https://opengraph.githubassets.com/c456ebe9039104214d0cc6feb93cdf78130a056410cd4d19960444d12db5dbb8/pojntfx/weron
Weron, a tool for creating secure networks, has not undergone a formal security audit. It leverages WebRTC to facilitate connections even through NATs and firewalls, and is suitable for integrating local nodes into larger networks.

Monogon: A Linux userland in pure Go

https://opengraph.githubassets.com/852d1388e1217e4d02936d0cd27d97ebeec4f13090aea3cedc38e12a501a58f6/monogon-dev/monogon
This is pre-release software - take a look, and check back later! In the meantime, join us on Matrix: #monogon-os-community:matrix.org. See the //metropolis/README.md for a developer quick start guide, or see the Monogon OS Handbook for user documentation.

A muon collider could revolutionize particle physics, if it can be built

Launch HN: Lumona (YC W24) – Product search based on Reddit and YouTube reviews

Lumona.ai is a product search engine that uses social media opinions to recommend skincare items, planning to include more products and platforms. It offers personalized results based on user queries and aims to make opinion-sharing as simple as posting online.

FAQ on the xz-utils backdoor

Equinix: Major Accounting Manipulation, Core Business Decay

https://hindenburgresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/EQIXStock_chart.png
Equinix, a global data center REIT, is accused of manipulating accounting metrics to inflate profitability, with practices such as misclassifying maintenance as growth CapEx. Investigations suggest these manipulations have boosted reported AFFO, enriching executives, while the company faces risks from overselling power and industry competition.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/Old_FOTP_homepage_%28cropped%29.png/310px-Old_FOTP_homepage_%28cropped%29.png
The article discusses the concept of "banner blindness," a term coined in 1998, which refers to the tendency of website visitors to consciously or unconsciously ignore banner-like information, including both external advertisement banners and internal navigational banners. It further explores strategies to counteract this phenomenon, such as native advertising and social media, ...

Can Demis Hassabis save Google?

https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F391df180-8feb-4902-b20e-44a0fc7ac111_1282x882.png
Demis Hassabis, founder of DeepMind, now leads Google's AI research, aiming to maintain the company's cutting-edge status amidst AI disruptions. Despite impressive revenues, Google faces challenges in the AI race and must integrate AI breakthroughs into tangible products without disrupting its core business.

Facebook: We install a root CA on the device and MitM all SSL traffic

Awk as a major systems programming language, revisited (2018)

The article details the journey of a paper on the evolution of Awk, highlighting its strengths and shortcomings in systems programming, and discusses how GNU Awk (gawk) addresses many of the language's needs outlined in a 1991 paper by Henry Spencer. Despite improvements and a formal specification, gawk remains less popular than other scripting languages due to its lack of extensibility and ...

Thirty Seven

Frame-free version

School absences have ‘exploded’ almost everywhere

https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/26/multimedia/00-NAT-CHRONIC-ABSENCE-hlcz/00-NAT-CHRONIC-ABSENCE-hlcz-mobileMasterAt3x.jpg
Chronic absenteeism in U.S. schools has surged post-pandemic, with 26% of students now chronically absent, up from 15%. Efforts to counter rising absenteeism face complex challenges across different demographics and income levels.

Engineers find a new way to convert carbon dioxide into useful products

https://news.mit.edu/sites/default/files/styles/news_article__download/public/download/202403/MIT-DNA-Catalyst-01-press.jpg?itok=ObqTRfL9
MIT engineers enhance CO2 to CO conversion using a DNA-tethered catalyst, aiming for industrial-scale decarbonization by producing profitable chemicals. This efficient electrochemical method could significantly reduce greenhouse gases.

Qwen1.5-Moe: Matching 7B Model Performance with 1/3 Activated Parameters

https://qianwen-res.oss-accelerate.aliyuncs.com/assets/blog/qwen1.5/qwen-moe.jpg#center
The article introduces Qwen1.5-MoE-A2.7B, a small MoE model that matches the performance of larger 7B models with a 75% reduction in training costs and 1.74x inference speed. The model uses a specially designed MoE architecture with fine-grained experts and a unique initialization for improved performance.

Bartók's Monster – Stalking the dead composer through Transylvania (2013)

https://harpers.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/49-PopperfotoGetty-HarpersKirk1310-400x571.jpg
Béla Bartók, an obsessed and sullen composer with a penchant for collecting folk music, was transformative onstage despite his meek offstage demeanor. His passion for authentic music led to intense collecting expeditions, influencing his unique and often unsettling compositions.

Managing Linux Servers with Cockpit

https://static.lwn.net/images/2024/cockpit-dashboard-sm.png
The Cockpit project, sponsored by Red Hat, provides a web-based graphical interface for Linux server administration, targeting both new users, including Windows admins, and experienced Linux users who desire an easy-to-use interface. The project aims to provide a coherent, discoverable GUI that seamlessly interacts with existing system tools, offering extensive features such as system health ...

Fiber-optic data transfer speeds hit a rapid 301 Tbps

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/W52AjFZkpxsnM3znzpABcN-320-80.jpg
Researchers have unlocked E-band for fiber-optic transfers, hitting 301 Tbps, which is much faster than current broadband speeds. This was possible by using new devices to stabilize the previously unstable E-band.

A Chronicle reporter went undercover in high school

px-captcha

Two hundred reasons to not use Azure

201 Posts, 0 Following, 324 Followers · Daily dosis of shit experienced on Microsoft Azure. This account is obviously not affiliated with Microsoft.

Software vendors dump open source, go for the cash grab

https://images.idgesg.net/images/idge/imported/imageapi/2023/09/26/13/leading_fistful-of-dollars_budgets_money-100748225-large-100946426-large.jpg?auto=webp&quality=85,70
The article discusses a trend where companies initially use open-source licenses for their software, then switch to proprietary ones after gaining success, as seen with Redis and others. This practice leaves contributors behind and raises concerns in the open-source community.

Radicle: Peer-to-Peer Collaboration with Git

https://static.lwn.net/images/2024/radicle-web-ui.png
The article introduces Radicle, a new decentralized, peer-to-peer collaboration platform for software development that integrates with Git and is self-hosted, contrasting it with centralized forges like GitHub. It highlights Radicle's features, such as local-first software, self-signing repositories, and a web interface, while also noting its current limitations and challenges.

Can We Get Kids Off Smartphones?

https://media.newyorker.com/photos/660445430da77aa0db8a10f6/2:2/w_2560%2Cc_limit/JW_KidsPhones_FinalJW_final_bleed.jpg
The article discusses the mental health crisis in Gen Z, attributing it to cultural and technological changes that have weakened their psychological resilience and increased exposure to social comparison. It also highlights the importance of unstructured play and recommends limiting smartphone and social media use for better mental health outcomes.

James Webb Telescope Confirms That the Universe Is Expanding at Different Speeds

https://www.tomorrowsworldtoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/JWSTs-infrared-cameras-allow-it-to-look-at-the-universe-in-more-precise-detail-than-any-telescope-before-it.png
Astronomers confirm the universe's expansion rate varies, challenging physics using James Webb and Hubble telescopes. The discrepancy, affirmed by precise measurements, suggests a fundamental misunderstanding of cosmic dynamics.

Suppressing boredom at work hurts future productivity

https://scx1.b-cdn.net/csz/news/800a/2020/bored.jpg
The article discusses how boredom at work, if ignored, can reduce future productivity, and suggests alternating tasks to mitigate its effects. Research indicates that suppressing boredom can prolong its negative impact on attention and efficiency.

Reddit shares plunge 25% in two days, finish the week below first day close

https://image.cnbcfm.com/api/v1/image/107393949-17115838931711583890-33890241633-1080pnbcnews.jpg?v=1711583892&w=750&h=422&vtcrop=y
Reddit's stock plunged below its initial trading price following a post-IPO rally, amid disclosures of significant share sales by CEO Steve Huffman and COO Jennifer Wong. The decline was fueled by a critical report and the overall market perception of overvaluation.

SBCL: The Assembly Code Breadboard

https://pvk.ca/images/2014-03-15-sbcl-the-ultimate-assembly-code-breadboard/rotating-stack.jpg
The article discusses optimizing stack-based virtual machines by limiting stack size and simplifying the push/pop operations, which is in line with Chuck Moore's minimalist design philosophy. It also explores generating specialized machine code for each stack position to improve performance.

EEG channels with low-cost PiEEG device

https://i0.wp.com/pieeg.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/1707680002309-removebg-preview-1.png?resize=558%2C447&ssl=1
PiEEG is an open-source Raspberry Pi shield for measuring biosignals like EEG, EMG, and ECG, known for its versatility and ease of use. It offers broad applications in various fields and is complemented by a neuroscience course in development.

Germany drafts law that will make E2EE mandatory for messengers and cloud

https://tuta.com/blog/images/German-parliamant.jpg
Germany's BMDV proposes a bill mandating end-to-end encryption for digital communication, countering global trends of surveillance. This move aligns with Germany's strong privacy laws and is celebrated by privacy advocates and experts.
https://images.openai.com/blob/1be0c17b-707d-4a3c-9812-1a90ab423830/tts-custom-voice-cover.png?trim=96%2C0%2C352%2C0&width=1000&quality=80
OpenAI introduces Voice Engine, which crafts realistic speech from text and a brief audio sample, and cautiously explores its safe, beneficial applications. They engage with partners to test and discuss responsible use, mindful of misuse risks.

Project Wayfield – The JDK Wayland Desktop on Linux [video]

https://inside.java/images/java-logo-vert-blk.png
The OpenJDK Project Wakefield is focusing on transitioning JDK, which is currently X11-based, to operate on the increasingly popular Wayland-based Linux distros. The project aims to initially support JDK running on Wayland in X11 compatibility mode, before moving on to develop a fully Wayland-native implementation.

The history of lead pencils and their lack of any lead (2021)

https://www.pensunlimited.co.uk/image_resize/back/w437/h285/layout/site-logo.png
Humans have used drawings for communication since 38,800BC, valuing those skilled in the art. The discovery of a graphite deposit in 1500s England led to the modern pencil, mistakenly called "lead" due to its appearance.

TnT-LLM: Text Mining at Scale with Large Language Models

https://arxiv.org/static/browse/0.3.4/images/arxiv-logo-fb.png
The article introduces TnT-LLM, a framework using Large Language Models to streamline label taxonomy generation and text classification, reducing the need for expert input. It demonstrates TnT-LLM's efficacy in user intent analysis, outperforming existing methods in accuracy and efficiency.

AutoBNN: Probabilistic Time Series Forecasting

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd5Wc54p1HvgIokpazxDsMo1u6i9wg3ovpNOiFc4-wYwebETvjs9-hm2wxZ4osNbBAxhet8To3hwGg-whFScksHQB_BP1kS4Z8Cu7FQT2bjVtJl4trPid-OxCyYocwyRTN66tuvAedu9z0FepBg4zZvmLbLxY6uuib8p5jVH2kfb3RxT_HMABsKMXuSFXr/s320/AutoBNN.jpg
The article introduces AutoBNN, a JAX-based package for automating time series forecasting with Bayesian neural networks, enhancing interpretability and scalability. AutoBNN merges traditional probabilistic models with neural networks, offering a flexible, powerful tool for complex data analysis.

Ways of Seeing by John Berger

Ways of Seeing by John Berger is a seminal text based on the 1972 BBC series of the same name, which explores the role of art in western civilization and how it has shaped how the world is seen.

Show HN: An adventure game in Z80 assembly for CP/M and ZX Spectrum

https://opengraph.githubassets.com/6c75f01decf143ece7422f5e99518185f545eb55b6c9589edd9eaf648748a0f1/skx/lighthouse-of-doom
The article discusses a text-based adventure game created in C and Z80 assembly for CP/M and ZX Spectrum, with simplified coding via data-structures and table-based design. It details the implementation, state management, and build process, including a browser-playable version.

Thin, bacteria-coated fibers could lead to self-healing concrete

https://images.theconversation.com/files/578396/original/file-20240227-26-c98ze5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C7%2C5176%2C3437&q=20&auto=format&w=320&fit=clip&dpr=2&usm=12&cs=strip
Scientists at Drexel University developed a self-healing concrete called BioFiber, which uses bacteria to repair cracks and could extend concrete's lifespan. Challenges remain in manufacturing and testing BioFiber for widespread use.

SSPL Is Bad

The article criticizes the Server Side Public License (SSPL) for its restrictive nature, suggesting it harms the open-source community and could lead to a lack of innovation and increased costs. It argues that SSPL, under the guise of protecting open-source, actually locks down products and benefits investors at the expense of freedom and competition.

Song lyrics getting simpler, more repetitive, angry and self-obsessed – study

https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/83dc54cff71676c289248614b8faf1cead7e2ebe/0_71_2120_1273/master/2120.jpg?width=465&dpr=1&s=none
The study reveals that song lyrics from 1980 to 2020 have become simpler, more repetitive, and self-focused, with a decline in positive emotions and an increase in anger and sadness. It reflects changes in society, music production, and consumption over the years.

Show HN: Appamor.d – Full set of AppArmor profiles (~ 1500 profiles)

https://opengraph.githubassets.com/3247c78279ad65bfde6f692904f240887c8500a469432b1f5de9ae5da64f188d/roddhjav/apparmor.d
The AppArmor.d project is developing over 1500 profiles to confine Linux apps and processes, seeking contributions. It's inspired by Android/ChromeOS security models, aiming to sandbox core Linux system applications.
https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GettyImages-2047200563-800x533.jpg
The MyCity ChatBot, used by NYC for aiding businesses, often provides incorrect legal and policy information due to its predictive model's reliance on statistical associations. Reports highlight the risks of deploying chatbots without thorough vetting, as they can mislead users and cause real-world consequences.

VoiceCraft: Zero-Shot Speech Editing and Text-to-Speech in the Wild

https://jasonppy.github.io/VoiceCraft_web/static/images/teaser.png
The article discusses various topics, including the allure of a criminal lifestyle, the importance of being open to adoption, the significance of economic development in climate adaptation, excitement over Grammy nominations, expanding character definitions in storytelling, the desire for simplicity in a complex world, aspirations to gain recognition, the limitations of government control ...

Maersk names first vessel of its large methanol-enabled fleet "Ane Maersk"

https://www.maersk.com/~/media_sc9/maersk/news/press-releases/images/2024/naming-ceremony-in-south-korea_1024x576.jpg?h=576&w=1024&hash=79551AFCDBEF2003B7B869B2CECB3B4E
The world's first large methanol-enabled container vessel, "Ane Mærsk," was named in South Korea, marking a step towards sustainable shipping. Maersk's new vessel series aims to reduce emissions, with "Ane Mærsk" starting service on a low-emission fuel route between Asia and Europe.

Tesla's $25,000 Car Means Tossing Out the 100-Year-Old Assembly Line

https://assets.bwbx.io/images/users/iqjWHBFdfxIU/imy_T2r2HS6k/v1/-1x-1.jpg
Bloomberg reports Tesla Inc. aims to compete with low-cost Chinese electric cars by introducing a $25,000 model, requiring a revamp of traditional assembly line methods. Tesla's new "unboxed" manufacturing could shrink plant sizes by 40%, cutting costs and build time.

Honey bees at risk for colony collapse from longer, warmer fall seasons

https://wpcdn.web.wsu.edu/news/uploads/sites/2797/bee-worker-in-orchard-1024x676.jpg
Climate change extends autumn, increasing bee flights and risking colony collapse; indoor cold storage during winter could mitigate this by conserving worker bees. Study suggests immediate action required as warming impacts are imminent, not distant.

U.S. podcast listening reach new high: 47% listened one last month, +12% YoY

https://i.podnews.network/r/a/840/infinite-dial-monthly-2403.jpeg
The Infinite Dial® survey reveals record highs in online audio and podcast listening in the U.S., with notable growth among female listeners. Edison Research reports increases across all age groups, with a significant rise in weekly and monthly podcast consumers.

Google Podcasts service shuts down in the US next week

https://www.bleepstatic.com/content/hl-images/2024/03/28/0_google-tomb.jpg
Google is discontinuing its Podcasts service, urging U.S. users to transition to YouTube Music before April 2nd. The app, with over 500 million downloads, will be phased out completely by July.

Typesetting the LaTeX Way (2013)

https://chriscummins.cc/images/2013-12-27-font.png
The author expresses a passion for typography, particularly the LaTeX typesetting, and describes how new projects have enabled the use of LaTeX-style fonts and text justification on the web. They highlight the implementation of the Knuth-Plass line-breaking algorithm in JavaScript, which enhances web text layout, despite some limitations.

Nine writers on their Adderall use and experiences

https://cdn.sanity.io/images/vgvol637/production/dfd374fb1778e622540a751125441abee044a180-1920x1080.jpg?w=800
The article discusses the widespread and normalized use of Adderall in America, highlighting its cultural impact and the sharp increase in prescriptions. It questions the long-term consequences and risks of Adderall, which include addiction and serious health issues.

Colon Cancer Is Rising in Young People: What to Know About Causes and Symptoms

https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/03/27/well/27Well-Colon-Cancer/27Well-Colon-Cancer-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale
Marisa Peters' symptoms of colorectal cancer were initially dismissed until a colonoscopy revealed her condition. Rates of early-onset colorectal cancer are increasing, particularly in individuals under 50.

Amazon Bets $150B on Data Centers Required for AI Boom

https://assets.bwbx.io/images/users/iqjWHBFdfxIU/iylx6cNCYgYc/v1/-1x-1.jpg
Amazon.com Inc. is investing $150 billion in data centers over 15 years to meet rising AI and digital service demands, aiming to sustain its cloud market dominance despite slowed sales growth at Amazon Web Services.

Fuchsia 2024 Roadmap

The article discusses the enhancement of Rust workflows in Fuchsia's platform, including fast CI, updated documentation, and maintenance of Rust libraries. It also details the SDK's role in hardware development, driver testing, and the commitment to a stable driver ABI.

When Bacteria Are Beautiful

https://assets.nautil.us/sites/3/nautilus/UBdJDkQF-French_BREAKER.png?auto=compress&fit=scale&fm=png&h=640&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=1024&wpsize=large
The article discusses the intersection of art and science in "Beautiful Bacteria: Encounters in the Microuniverse," showcasing the aesthetic allure of microbes through photography and essays. Tal Danino's work reveals the unexpected beauty in bacterial patterns, challenging perceptions and inspiring a blend of scientific inquiry and artistic expression.

Grok-1.5

https://x.ai/_next/static/media/context.f27d1f23.webp
Grok-1.5, an advanced AI model, boasts enhanced long context understanding and problem-solving, and will soon be accessible on the 𝕏 platform. It excels in math and coding tasks with significant improvements in memory and information retrieval.

Ask HN: Projects You Thought Were Cool but Failed Miserably – What Happened?

The author shares their experience with a failed project, interfAIce, which was a Java/Kotlin library for accessing LLMs, but failed due to a possible tech stack mismatch. They invite others to discuss their own failed projects and the lessons learned.

Don't use your ORM entities for everything – embrace the SQL

https://assets-global.website-files.com/634ad06bbca0d239a6847c25/63c00f59ecb9a15b1eb08c31_jeremy-yap-J39X2xX_8CQ-unsplash.jpg
The article criticizes the avoidance of SQL when using ORMs like JPA/Hibernate, highlighting the need for SQL knowledge for efficiency and complex tasks. It suggests embracing SQL and using tools like jOOQ for better query building and maintenance.

The First Cat War

Hay for cattle consumes nearly half the water drawn from Colorado River, study

https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/07facd3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5280x3520+0+0/resize/2000x1333!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F89%2Fa0%2F90697d7d498dab1ff441132c5220%2F1186576-me-surf-lagoon-la-quinta-17-cmc.jpg
A study reveals that cattle-feed crops, especially alfalfa, consume 46% of Colorado River water, highlighting agriculture's 74% share in total water diversion. This detailed analysis aims to inform ongoing discussions for sustainable water management amid climate change.

How Stability AI’s founder tanked his billion-dollar startup

https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/5fcdfb7f165c95e2dfe0ff45/400x0.jpg?cropX1=0&cropX2=1080&cropY1=0&cropY2=1080
Emad Mostaque's AI company, Stability AI, faced a downfall due to financial mismanagement and unmet promises. Despite public optimism, internal issues and a lack of sustainable revenue led to his resignation as CEO.

Antarctica, Earth's largest refrigerator, is defrosting

https://www.economist.com/interactive/science-and-technology/2024/03/27/antarctica-earths-largest-refrigerator-is-defrosting/processed-images/1424/20240330_STC131.png
The article discusses the devastating impact of the 1900 Galveston hurricane and the construction of a seawall, juxtaposing it with the ongoing climate changes affecting Antarctica's ice mass, which is crucial for global sea levels and climate. Recent data show alarming shifts in Antarctic sea ice patterns and ice shelf collapses, raising concerns about accelerated sea level rise and global ...

Ask HN: What's the simplest static website generator?

The author discusses the complexity of Jekyll and Hugo for static site generation, and seeks a simpler solution for including headers and footers. They mention their own SSG, TCUP, and various tools like Next.js, Caddy, and Zola that can simplify the process.

Porting the GCLC to the Web

Professors released a web version of GCLC, a math illustration tool, now open-sourced and expanded with features like animations. The article details the challenging process of porting GCLC to WebAssembly without server-side code, allowing code sharing via URL.

Ruzzy, a coverage-guided Ruby fuzzer

https://blog.trailofbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/cropped-android-chrome-512x512-1.png
Trail of Bits has developed Ruzzy, a fuzzer for Ruby and its C extensions to uncover bugs, filling a gap in the Ruby community's testing tools. Ruzzy, inspired by Google's Atheris and using libFuzzer, aims to simplify and enhance Ruby code testing.

Google I/O 2024

https://io.google/2024/app/images/io24-homepage-hero-bg-mobile.webp
Don't miss our biggest developer conference, featuring product news and innovations from Google. Tune in to I/O for livestreamed keynotes and technical sessions on demand.

Xiaomi releases electric car $4K cheaper than Tesla's Model 3

https://image.cnbcfm.com/api/v1/image/107378032-17089171091708917106-33481848756-1080pnbcnews.jpg?v=1708917108&w=750&h=422&vtcrop=y
Xiaomi enters China's electric car market with the SU7, priced below Tesla's Model 3, and claims superior specs despite selling at a loss. Orders surpassed 50,000 in 27 minutes, with production boasting an SU7 every 76 seconds.

Too many labs run like this

Online Gambling Is Changing Sports for the Worse

https://media.newyorker.com/photos/6605cfab1060066cad7b86b9/2:2/w_2560%2Cc_limit/FaultLines_SportsBetting_Final.png
The article discusses the evolution of sports betting, highlighting the shift from in-person to app-based betting and the resulting concerns over gambling addiction and the integrity of sports. It also touches on recent scandals involving athletes and the permanent changes to how sports are consumed and experienced due to legal betting.

Faintest known star system orbiting the Milky Way discovered

https://scx1.b-cdn.net/csz/news/800a/2024/faintest-known-star-sy.jpg
Astronomers have discovered UMa3/U1, the faintest Milky Way satellite, which could be a dark matter-dominated system. The survival of this ancient, tiny stellar system challenges current understanding of galaxy formation.

Beware Scaling on AWS in Early Days

The individual faced unexpected mid-month billing from AWS for Batch usage and subsequent account lockout, disrupting preparations for an important demo. Attempts to resolve the billing and account issues have been ongoing for weeks.

Knuth and Plass line-breaking revisited (2007)

https://defoe.sourceforge.net/images/knuth.gif
The article discusses the implementation of the Knuth-Plass line-breaking algorithm, focusing on transitioning it from Pascal to Java and integrating it with Java 2D features. It details the algorithm's process of determining feasible break-points and optimizing line breaks within a paragraph.

Do you really need Kubernetes?

https://blog.ekern.me/assets/images/kubernetes-iceberg.png
Kubernetes excels in portability and is open-source with a mature ecosystem, avoiding vendor lock-in, but it may introduce complexity and a paradigm lock-in, demanding careful consideration before adoption. It's vital to assess whether Kubernetes aligns with business needs and to consider alternatives that may offer simplicity and less operational burden.

Netflix adaptation of sci-fi novel The Three-Body Problem sparks anger in China

The article promotes a subscription to the Financial Times, offering full digital access to its journalism on any device with various discounts and a cancel-anytime policy. It also highlights a 20% savings for annual payments and the availability of a print edition.

A Note About Vultr's Terms of Service

Plastics Contain Thousands More Chemicals Than Thought, and Most Are Unregulated

https://th-thumbnailer.cdn-si-edu.com/IpJOhGAaarMgh07sRCUIoT9A4Uc=/1000x750/filters:no_upscale():focal(1500x871:1501x872)/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer_public/87/d1/87d1d42d-7802-4ef3-a2fe-72a78051c946/gettyimages-98057150.jpg
The report reveals an increase in known chemicals in plastics to 16,000, with a quarter deemed toxic and most unregulated, highlighting the need for stricter global controls and transparency from manufacturers. It also emphasizes the urgency for comprehensive regulations and data to mitigate environmental and health risks.

Win32 Is the Only Stable ABI on Linux (2022)

The release of Glibc 2.36 has led to compatibility issues, rendering games using EAC EOS unplayable. The transition from DT_HASH to DT_GNU_HASH in ELF format lacks documentation, causing breakages in newer distributions.

How to fix CSV: make it even more U+1F4A9 PILE OF POO

https://www.getgrist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-from-2024-03-29-09-42-47-1500x895.png
The article critiques the widespread use of the outdated CSV format due to its simplicity and compatibility, but notes its limitations and errors it can introduce. It humorously proposes using an obscure Unicode character or the "pile of poo" emoji as separators in a new format called DSV to improve data handling and reveal software limitations early.

Looking to build a personalized AI for myself. Any resources?

The individual seeks to develop a personalized AI to assist with communication in an online community they frequent. They desire an AI that is familiar with community members and can suggest conversation topics, and are curious if a solution exists beyond ChatGPT.

No equality for working women in any country in the world, study reveals

https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a31f53fa4f1957a2c244ca3991febbb259a37633/175_0_4768_2862/master/4768.jpg?width=465&dpr=1&s=none
The World Bank report reveals a global gender gap in legal protections for women, significantly wider with childcare and safety considered. Addressing these gaps could notably boost the global GDP.

RSS Feed Organization Strategies and New Feed Cost

https://yukinu.com/static/images/thunderbird/feed-account.png
The article discusses various methods for organizing RSS feeds, including by personal relevance and engagement level, and addresses challenges such as categorization and scale. It then proposes a mathematical strategy to optimize feed quality and manage time spent processing feeds effectively.

Playboy image from 1972 gets ban from IEEE computer journals

https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/rejected-image-lenna-800x450.jpg
The IEEE Computer Society will stop accepting papers with the "Lenna image" after April 1 to promote inclusivity and respect Lena Forsén's wishes. The image, used since 1973 in tech research, has been criticized for objectifying women.