Xfwl4 – The Roadmap for a Xfce Wayland Compositor

Xfce is funding Brian Tarricone to create xfwl4, a new Wayland compositor for Xfce, written in Rust using smithay building blocks. The goal is for xfwl4 to offer the same functionality as xfwm4, with a seamless transition and minimal differences between X11 and Wayland.

I made my own Git

The user created a simplified version control system called "tvc" using Rust, replacing git's SHA-1 hashing with SHA-256 and zlib compression with zstd. The system stores files in a content-addressable file store, generating hashes and tree objects to track changes and allow for checkout of commits.

Heathrow scraps liquid container limit

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Heathrow airport now allows liquids up to 2 litres in bags after installing new high-tech CT scanners. Other UK airports with the scanners may raise their 100ml limit once given the green light by the Department for Transport.

Snow Simulation Toy

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One of the first significant things I ever coded in QBasic was a falling snow simulation- I think they're very soothing to watch, fun to customize, and there's lots of possibilities for extra little delight. Here's one I built on idle afternoons over the holidays this year at my parents. Enjoy!

The Enchiridion by Epictetus

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/45109/45109-h/images/cover.jpg
The Enchiridion, a small book by Epictetus, has played a significant role in shaping modern attitudes and philosophy, particularly in reconciling social dependency and personal independence. The book teaches Stoic philosophy as a way of life, emphasizing the importance of controlling one's desires, accepting what is outside of one's power, and living in harmony with nature.

Velox: A Port of Tauri to Swift by Miguel de Icaza

https://opengraph.githubassets.com/d64b2d4f73b6ea1d3f6790a4714db942498042d379122b96359a12175a26bb1f/velox-apps/velox
Velox is a Swift port of Tauri that allows building desktop apps using HTML with Swift backends and supports features like IPC, devtools, and custom protocols. It includes a configuration file (velox.json) and supports platform-specific overrides, and can be used to create custom commands and responses using a DSL or macro-based approach.

The age of Pump and Dump software

A "pump and dump" scheme combines AI-generated software with crypto to create hype, inflate valuation, and dump worthless tokens. Be cautious of projects like Clawdbot, which may be an unsecure mess of vibecoded software, and consider the possibility of paid astroturfing.

TikTok users can't upload anti-ICE videos. The company blames tech issues

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TikTok users claim censorship after a power outage caused video upload issues, but some suspect it's related to new ownership and ICE content. Users are deleting their accounts and exploring alternative platforms due to concerns about content moderation and data security.

A list of fun destinations for telnet

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The text based internet offers exciting resources via telnet, including Rainmaker and nyancat.dakko.us. Telnetbbsguide.com lists active Dial-Up and Telnet accessible Bulletin Board Systems.

Kimi Released Kimi K2.5, Open-Source Visual SOTA-Agentic Model

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Kimi K2.5 is a multimodal model that delivers state-of-the-art coding and vision capabilities with a self-directed agent swarm paradigm. It reduces execution time by up to 4.5x compared to a single-agent setup.

9 Mothers (YC X26, Defense Tech) Is Hiring

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9 Mothers Jobs

The C-Shaped Hole in Package Management

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System package managers and language package managers have different goals and handle dependencies differently, leading to friction when dealing with C libraries that are needed by both. A symbol database that maps symbols to system libraries and upstream projects could help make cross-ecosystem dependencies first-class and improve sustainability, security, and citation of open-source software.

We Do Not Support Opt-Out Forms (2025)

Show HN: We Built the 1. EU-Sovereignty Audit for Websites

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The EU-US Data Privacy Framework can be invalidated at any time – just like Safe Harbor (2015) and Privacy Shield (2020). Websites with 100% EU score are future-proof.

Ask HN: Books to learn 6502 ASM and the Apple II

To learn 6502 Assembly and the Apple II, use books like "Programming the 6502" by Rodnay Zaks and "6502 Games" for project-based tutorials.

Apple introduces new AirTag with longer range and improved findability

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Apple unveiled the new AirTag with enhanced Precision Finding capabilities and a louder speaker, allowing users to locate items from up to 50 percent farther away. The AirTag is available for $29 or $99 for a four-pack, with free personalized engraving and industry-leading protections against unwanted tracking.

The Universal Pattern Popping Up in Math, Physics and Biology (2013)

https://www.quantamagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Cuernavaca_Morelos_Mexico2.jpg
A Czech physicist named Petr Šeba discovered a pattern in bus departure times in Cuernavaca, Mexico, which was later found in other unrelated systems, including quantum physics and the Internet. This phenomenon, called "universality," is thought to arise from an underlying connection to mathematics and is helping scientists model complex systems.

ChatGPT Containers can now run bash, pip/npm install packages and download files

https://static.simonwillison.net/static/2026/chatgpt-bash.jpg
ChatGPT now supports 11 languages, including Bash, Node.js, and direct execution of JavaScript, Ruby, Perl, PHP, Go, Java, Swift, Kotlin, C, and C++. It can also download files from URLs and install packages via pip and npm.

The hidden engineering of runways

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Runways are complex engineering systems requiring careful design and construction to ensure public safety, considering factors like length, direction, and materials. Engineers use various techniques, such as displaced thresholds and Engineered Materials Arresting Systems, to mitigate risks and prevent accidents.

Windows 11's Patch Tuesday nightmare gets worse

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Microsoft has confirmed some Windows 11 users are experiencing boot issues after January 2026 security update. Users need to manually recover their PC by uninstalling the latest security patch.

There is an AI code review bubble

https://www.greptile.com/blog/ai-code-review-bubble/image1.png
Greptile is an AI code review tool that focuses on independent code validation, not code generation. It aims to automate code review, test, and QA, freeing human engineers to focus on creative tasks.

Over 36,500 killed in Iran's deadliest massacre, documents reveal

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More than 36,500 Iranians were killed by security forces during the January 8-9 crackdown on nationwide protests, making it the deadliest two-day protest massacre in history, according to documents reviewed by Iran International's Editorial Board.

I let ChatGPT analyze a decade of my Apple Watch data, then I called my doctor

https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1UZuLs.img?w=768&h=1141&m=4&q=95
I gave the new ChatGPT Health access to 29 million steps and 6 million heartbeat measurements. It drew questionable conclusions that changed each time I asked.

India and EU announce landmark trade deal

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The European Union and India have agreed on a landmark trade deal after nearly two decades of talks, allowing free trade of goods and services between the two parties. The deal includes huge tariff cuts and a joint security partnership, supporting investment flows and deepening supply-chain integration.

JuiceSSH – Give me my pro features back

https://nproject.io/blog/content/images/size/w300/2025/12/juice.jpg
Users are experiencing issues with JuiceSSH after a price increase, with some complaining of unresponsive support and an exit scam. A workaround involves patching the app using jadx, ApkTool, and jarsigner to bypass purchase and signature validation.

RIP Low-Code 2014-2025

https://www.zackliscio.com/_astro/rip-low-code.r64Myi1R_181YOe.webp
Low-code platforms may face an existential threat due to AI coding advancements, which can now ship tools faster, cheaper, and easier. This shift is already visible as companies like Cloud Capital abandon low-code tools for in-house tooling, citing cost savings and velocity gains.

Refinement Without Specification

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The user describes a series of database schema changes from a boolean is_activated column to a nullable activated_at column and then to an event sourcing-like model with a user_events table. The user discusses refinement mappings to preserve external properties and introduces a constraint to ensure that a user's activated-ness is preserved after changes, but finds that refinement is not ...

Dithering – Part 2: The Ordered Dithering

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Ordered dithering uses a threshold map to decide each pixel's final color, creating unique visual patterns. The map's arrangement, such as the Bayer Matrix, determines the dithering pattern and can be adjusted for different effects.

Russia using Interpol's wanted list to target critics abroad, leak reveals

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Russia is using Interpol to target critics abroad, with thousands of complaints filed against Moscow's requests, which often have political motivations. Interpol's measures to prevent abuse have been ineffective, allowing Russia to continue misusing the system.

New York Times games are hard: A computational perspective

https://arxiv.org/static/browse/0.3.4/images/arxiv-logo-fb.png
Researchers studied four New York Times games: Letter Boxed, Pips, Strands, and Tiles. They found that these games can be hard to solve, with some problems being NP-Complete, while others can be solved in polynomial time.