Zig Creator Calls Spade a Spade, Anthropic Blows Smoke

https://raymyers.org/_astro/ray-gs.BQTkqUTi_ChC9G.webp
Anthropic's push to replace software engineering with AI faces scrutiny over Bun's Rust migration, framed as a marketing stunt, while Zig creator Andrew Kelley's candid critique sparks debate on technical and managerial choices in open-source projects.

A voxel Tokyo in real Japan time – ride the Yamanote line and study Japanese

Ride the Yamanote line through a voxel Tokyo synced to Japan's real clock, weather, and seasons. A lofi bed plays while N5 sentences are read aloud and drift by as subtitles — an ambient Japanese study room you just press play into. 🇺🇸🇬🇧🇩🇪🇨🇦🇫🇷🇯🇵🇸🇪🇵🇱48 countries

Show HN: DOM-docx – HTML to native, editable Word docs (MIT)

https://repository-images.githubusercontent.com/1289616366/8cbab077-707b-40c8-a2c8-db043ecd5e2e
dom-docx converts semantic HTML to editable Word documents (OOXML) with layout fidelity, using Chromium/Playwright for rendering and LibreOffice for validation. It supports Node.js 20+ and browsers, offering inline or computed style conversion, image rasterization, and customizable document settings like headers, footers, and page layouts.

Grok uploaded my user directory to xAI's servers

@XBToshi Okay, grok has uploaded my entire user directory to xAI's servers. It contains my SSH keys, my password manager database, my documents, photos, videos, everything...

Grok CLI uploaded the whole home directory to GCS

@XBToshi Okay, grok has uploaded my entire user directory to xAI's servers. It contains my SSH keys, my password manager database, my documents, photos, videos, everything...

Interrail: 6,379Km and 13 Countries over 7 weeks

https://shkspr.mobi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Long-Interrail-Journey.webp
Last year's 10-country Interrail trip was intense; this year's 15-day package offered flexibility with practical tips like RealTimeTrains and Eurostar vegan meal bookings. Despite delays, crowded trains, and minor mishaps, the couple enjoyed scenic journeys, first-class perks, and found train travel more relaxing than flying, though exhaustion set in after seven weeks.

Backtrack-Free Cursive

https://mmapped.blog/images/52-x.webp
The author finds English cursive frustrating due to frequent backtracking for letters like "t" and "i," unlike Russian, which minimizes this. They designed a custom cursive script blending SmithHand and Russian elements to reduce backtracking, enabling smoother, more enjoyable writing.

GhostLock, a stack-UAF that has existed in all Linux distributions for 15 years

https://nebusec.ai/_astro/race-timeline.light.BdOWiamE.svg
GhostLock (CVE-2026-43499) is a Linux kernel use-after-free vulnerability in rtmutex code, enabling privilege escalation via a dangling pointer from a freed stack frame. Exploited through a race condition and controlled memory overwrite, it allows unprivileged users to execute arbitrary code, fixed in Linux 7.1.

The social physics of conversation: Communication patterns matter

Alex Pentland's research shows group success hinges on communication patterns—like energy, engagement, and exploration—not just decisions made. Effective idea flow emerges from decentralized, informal interactions and physical setups that foster parallel conversations over centralized, structured ones.

Control the Ideas, Not the Code

Antirez, a respected programmer, argues that AI is reshaping programming by shifting focus from code review to controlling software ideas, emphasizing design over manual code scrutiny to adapt to rapid AI-driven changes and improve efficiency. He advocates leveraging AI for implementation while prioritizing QA, optimization, and high-level design to navigate an evolving, error-prone landscape.

The 'absolute magic' of Morse code that still connects people globally

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/7288/live/38251df0-6a5f-11f1-b7aa-49f3a4d630f8.jpg.webp
Amateur radio enthusiasts in Bristol use Morse code to connect globally, fostering a vibrant community through weekly club meetings and long-distance communication. The Shirehampton Amateur Radio Club emphasizes the enduring appeal of Morse code, attracting new members who value its unique blend of technology and human connection.

Cyberpunk Comics, Manga and Graphic Novels

https://shellzine.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/cyberpunkcomicfeat.jpg
A curated list of cyberpunk works (1975–2016) spans Western comics, manga, and graphic novels, featuring *Akira*, *Blade Runner*, and *Ghost in the Shell*, exploring dystopia, tech, and societal critique. Themes include virtual reality, AI, and post-apocalyptic settings, with entries like *The Long Tomorrow* and *Transmetropolitan* highlighting genre evolution and speculative futures.

Beavis Ultrasound PnP ISA Sound Card Replica

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/schlae/BeavisUltrasound/main/beavis_ultrasound.jpg
The Beavis Ultrasound PnP is an open-source Gravis Ultrasound PnP clone with full schematics and reverse-engineered GAL code, relying on an AMD InterWave chip for audio. It requires an AM78C201, programmable EEPROM, and optional GAL, allowing op-amp substitutions and untested ferrite bead replacements.

Tiny Emulators

https://floooh.github.io/tiny8bit-preview/ext/visual6502remix.webp

So you want to learn physics (second edition, 2021)

A self-study physics guide created to help non-traditional learners has aided over 600,000 people, offering a structured curriculum from undergraduate to graduate levels. It emphasizes problem-solving, accessible resources, and addresses gaps in formal education, inspiring self-directed exploration of physics through comprehensive textbooks and practical advice.

The Graph That Should Be Front-Page News

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d3c6c2_85a4b62a65324ff587885b5dc4b8751d~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_1244,h_903,al_c/d3c6c2_85a4b62a65324ff587885b5dc4b8751d~mv2.jpg
Current record-breaking Niño 3.4 sea-surface temperatures, measured directly, show Earth's climate system shifting beyond historical norms due to human-driven warming, amplifying extreme weather and destabilizing ecosystems. This unprecedented shift risks cascading global impacts on food, water, economies, and vulnerable communities, demanding urgent action to prevent irreversible climate ...

Cursed circuits #6: reverse avalanche oscillator

https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!sRjx!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9f963d5f-ebc6-46e4-8324-983e69374080_2000x1487.jpeg
Last year, I published an article titled “It’s hard to build an oscillator”: The title alluded to the fact that there’s no shortage of oscillator circuits on the internet, but many of them use unusual parts, need weird supply voltages, or don’t work well (if at all). But sometimes, bad rises to an art form. Here’s probably the most puzzling bad oscillator you can assemble today with the parts ...

How to read more books

https://scotto.me/assets/img/umberto_eco.jpg
Replace screen time with reading, use an e-reader, read in daily moments, mix genres, and avoid distractions. Set goals, build a library, track progress, and avoid speed reading/summaries to deepen understanding.

Designing and assembling my first PCB

https://vilkeliskis.com/b/2026/i/pcb_breadboard_components.jpg
The user designed and assembled a custom BME280 sensor PCB using KiCad, successfully replicating its I2C interface and achieving plug-and-play functionality after soldering. This hands-on experience with PCB design, assembly, and testing boosted their confidence to tackle more complex hardware projects like integrating an ESP32, LCD, and sensors on a single board.

Frieve Vinyl Explained – Microscopic stylus/groove physics simulation

https://frieve-a.github.io/sound_toolbox/vinyl_explained/ogp.jpg
This app simulates vinyl playback physics (stylus contact, damping, dynamics) to measure frequency response, SNR, and skip rate, using calibrated SI units and realistic noise models. It models groove roughness, dust, and static with physics-based parameters, generating audible effects like treble loss and distortion from geometry, not approximations.

An Infuriating Goodbye to Photoshop

https://anderegg.s3.amazonaws.com/photoshop/adobe-email.png
A long-time Photoshop user, frustrated by Adobe's declining software quality, subscription issues, and intrusive updates, uninstalled Creative Cloud and switched to Pixelmator Pro, finding relief in simpler, more reliable tools.

Ask HN: What Are You Working On? (July 2026)

Working on iOS app improvements and multiplatform C projects with X11/wasm. LLM coding diminished coding's joy, sparking thoughts of a new hobby.

LARP – Revenue infrastructure for serious founders

LARP is a satirical platform mocking legal circular revenue deals where companies mutualize revenue without cash movement, critiquing financial reporting's focus on numbers over real economic value. It highlights how accounting rules allow such practices, blurring lines between legitimate growth and illusion.

Ask HN: Add flag for AI-generated articles

HN users debate adding an AI-generated article flag to let readers opt-out, alongside a two-axis voting system (good/bad, AI/human), while acknowledging enforcement challenges, YC's AI investments, and stigma risks. Current guidelines ban AI in comments but not submissions, with concerns over moderation, gaming, and community divisiveness.

Vint Cerf, “father of the Internet”, is retiring

https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/vint-cerf-GettyImages-454796419.jpg?w=1024
Vint Cerf, co-creator of TCP/IP and retiring Google VP, emphasized standardized protocols for AI agent interoperability at a conference, while panelists discussed open-source sustainability and challenges in AI centralization. His legacy includes pioneering internet protocols and advocating for structured communication over natural language ambiguity.

Sam Neill has died

https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7f0c84a75f72a1f66a9f0ba791015de34e57334d/0_1005_3648_2918/master/3648.jpg?width=465&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none
Sam Neill, the acclaimed New Zealand actor known for roles in *The Piano* and *Jurassic Park*, died at 78 after battling cancer, leaving a legacy of versatile performances across film and TV. Survived by four children and six grandchildren, he was celebrated for his contributions to New Zealand's film industry and received a knighthood in 2022.

Migrating a production AI agent to GPT-5.6: 2.2x faster, 27% cheaper

https://storage.googleapis.com/ployai/d21bf4ad-2458-43ee-9561-54c28ab0e85f/user/98bfdea9-ai-generated-1783640379759.webp
Ploy upgraded to GPT-5.6 Sol, outperforming Claude Opus with 2.2× faster builds, 27% lower costs, and cleaner code, but required fixing tool-call handling, caching, and reasoning replay to address model-specific behaviors and ensure fair evaluation.

Kode Dot Programmable pocket device for makers, pentesters and geeks

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1033/7779/7462/files/kode-dot-front-back.png?v=1782403366&width=1152
Kode Dot is a handheld, all-in-one platform with dual ESP32-P4/C5 MCUs, AMOLED touchscreen, sensors, wireless, and 16 programmable pins for instant prototyping. It supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, and community-developed apps, born from a 16,000-backer Kickstarter success.

Leak of San Francisco Police Drone Footage Exposes Reality of Urban Surveillance

https://media.wired.com/photos/6a5167594b2eb7dbd777986e/master/w_1600%2Cc_limit/sf-cops-footage-arrest-inline_blurred.jpg
San Francisco police's Skydio drones accidentally leaked live surveillance feeds online, exposing sensitive footage of arrests, searches, and civilians. Security researchers discovered the unsecured streams, highlighting risks of AI-enhanced surveillance and privacy breaches.

Are you telling me a readonly property is wrecking my performance?

Investigating Letta Desktop's slowdown revealed that frequent scrollHeight access during message streaming caused performance issues due to dynamic property recalculation. Replacing precise scrollHeight with a fixed large value resolved the problem by avoiding costly recalculations.