Summary of Tree Borrows

Tree Borrows is a new approach in the Rust programming language that addresses issues with the existing system called Stacked Borrows. Rust is known for its strong safety features, like preventing memory errors and data races, but it also allows unsafe code that can compromise these guarantees. This creates a conflict because while compilers want to optimize code based on Rust's safety rules, unsafe code can disrupt these optimizations.

Stacked Borrows previously set rules to define "badly behaved" unsafe code but excluded some common patterns used in real-world Rust applications and didn't consider newer features of Rust's borrow checker. Tree Borrows improves upon this by using a tree structure instead of a stack, allowing it to handle more cases effectively.

Research shows that Tree Borrows rejects 54% fewer test cases compared to Stacked Borrows and maintains many optimizations while introducing new ones, like better handling of read operations. This work has been recognized with a Distinguished Paper Award at the PLDI'25 conference.

The article discusses the challenges that large language models (LLMs) face when writing code in the q/kdb+ programming language due to its unique evaluation order, which goes from right to left without operator precedence. This differs from other languages like Python, where the evaluation order is left to right. The author highlights that LLMs, like Claude, struggle to generate correct q code because they often mix syntax from different programming languages, resulting in errors.

To address this issue, the author proposes a solution called Qython— a Python-like language that compiles to q. This approach leverages the LLM's proficiency in Python while simplifying the conversion to q code. The article presents a proof of concept where a function is successfully written in Qython and then translated into q, demonstrating that this method allows LLMs to generate accurate q code without the difficulties associated with its evaluation rules.

The author notes that Qython is still in development, and while it provides a promising bridge for coding in q, additional work is needed, especially to create a translator that can convert q code back into Qython. Overall, the article emphasizes the potential of using a familiar syntax to improve the coding experience in niche programming languages.

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The author discusses their experience using Shopify's documentation bot while upgrading email notification templates. They asked the bot how to check if an order includes items fulfilled through Shopify Collective, but the bot provided incorrect code because the relevant tag isn't present when the confirmation email is generated. This led to frustration, as the author had to repeatedly place and refund orders to test the code.

The author questions the reliability of the documentation bot, suggesting that while it can provide quick answers, it can also give misleading information that could lead to bigger issues. They argue that the bot's guessing undermines the quality of the actual documentation written by Shopify.

In the end, the author found a workaround by checking product-level tags instead of order-level tags, which proved to be reliable for generating notifications.

I found a collision detection algorithm during the COVID pandemic and decided to share my findings. You can check out my work on GitHub: github.com/cairnc/sat_blog.

Summary of Helm Security Issue (CVE-2025-53547)

A security vulnerability was found in Helm, specifically in versions up to 3.18.3. This issue allows for potential local code execution when updating dependencies due to a specially crafted Chart.yaml file linked to a Chart.lock file. If the Chart.lock file is a symlink to a file that can be executed (like a bash.rc file), updating dependencies can overwrite that file with malicious content, leading to unwanted execution.

Key Points:

• Affected Versions: Up to Helm v3.18.3.
• Patched Version: Helm v3.18.4 resolves this issue.
• Impact: Requires user action (updating dependencies) and can lead to high integrity and availability risks.
• Workaround: Ensure that the Chart.lock file is not a symlink before updating dependencies.
• Severity: Rated high with a CVSS score of 8.5.

For further details, refer to Helm's security policy and the full disclosure by the contributor, Jakub Ciolek.

Summary: Most RESTful APIs Aren't Really RESTful

Key Points:

1. Understanding REST: REST (Representational State Transfer) is an architectural style for designing scalable web services, introduced by Roy Thomas Fielding. It promotes principles of scalability, simplicity, and adaptability.

2. Common Misunderstandings:

   • Many APIs labeled as "RESTful" do not fully implement REST principles.
   • REST is not just about CRUD operations (Create, Read, Update, Delete) or using HTTP verbs.
   • A crucial aspect of REST is using hypermedia (links) to guide client interactions, known as HATEOAS (Hypermedia as the Engine of Application State).

3. What is a Resource?: A "resource" in REST is any information that can be named, including documents, services, or concepts. It is identified by a URI (Uniform Resource Identifier), not limited to a specific data structure.

4. Fielding's Principles for RESTful APIs:

   • APIs should not depend on a single protocol, meaning they should be usable with any URI scheme.
   • They should adhere to existing communication standards without redefining them.
   • Focus should be on media types and hypermedia links, not hardcoded URI structures.
   • Clients should dynamically discover URIs through links provided in responses, rather than relying on pre-defined paths.

5. Why Many APIs Fail to be Truly RESTful: The preference for simpler, RPC-like APIs often stems from practical considerations like ease of use, tooling support, and immediate developer experience, which seem more beneficial than the long-term advantages of a truly RESTful design.

6. Conclusion: To build a RESTful API, embrace hypermedia for client-server interaction, allowing clients to discover resources dynamically through links. However, for internal APIs or specific use cases, simpler approaches may be more practical. The focus should be on creating APIs that are easy to learn and use rather than strictly adhering to REST principles.

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Kyle Nolan shares his journey of building ProjectionLab, a financial planning tool, which he grew to $1 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) within four years without external funding. Inspired by the financial independence movement, he started the project in 2021 after realizing there was no suitable tool for his needs.

His journey included significant milestones, from earning his first dollar to quitting his day job and eventually expanding his team. It wasn't always easy; he faced challenges such as slow growth and doubts along the way. However, he emphasizes the importance of persistence, consistency, and working with a supportive team, particularly his growth partner Jon Kuipers and contractors from the user community.

As he looks to the future, Kyle plans to continue focusing on creating a product that users love while maintaining a lean, customer-aligned approach. He encourages others to persist in their efforts, as small, consistent actions can lead to significant results over time.

The author, a software engineer, successfully adapted a vector database (ZVDB) for SAP to work on a 1976 Z80 processor. This project was inspired by the similarities between the ABAP programming language, created in 1983, and the Z80 CPU, which was widely used in the same era. Both technologies were developed under constraints like limited memory and the need for efficient CPU cycles.

The author utilized techniques from Z80 programming, which focus on optimizing performance through methods like pre-computation and efficient memory access. These strategies were so effective that when the ZVDB was ported to Z80 assembly, minimal changes were needed.

Performance results showed that the ZVDB ran only 3-6 times slower on the Z80 compared to modern hardware, demonstrating that the optimizations from the past are still relevant today. The author argues that understanding fundamental computing principles is more important than focusing solely on new frameworks. Ultimately, the insights gained from working with older technology remain applicable and beneficial in modern programming.

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The term "calling" a function in programming has several possible origins. It can be compared to calling on a friend, summoning a servant, or making a phone call for information. The most accurate interpretation is the idea of summoning a subroutine from a library, similar to asking for a book at a library.

The term "call number" in libraries, established in the late 1800s, refers to a notation that helps locate books. This concept influenced programming, where the term evolved to refer to how subroutines are accessed in computer systems.

Early mentions of "call" in computing can be traced back to the 1940s, with John W. Mauchly discussing how subroutines are referenced and initiated. By the 1950s, programming languages like Fortran introduced "CALL" statements, which marked the formal adoption of the term in programming to denote transferring control to a subroutine.

Over time, the terminology evolved, and by the 1960s, "call" became a common term for invoking subroutines, reflecting a shift from assembly-time referencing to runtime control transfer. The usage of "to call X" became standardized, largely popularized by Fortran and later adopted by other programming languages like Algol.

In summary, the phrase "call a function" has roots in library terminology and has evolved through various programming languages to describe the action of invoking subroutines in programming.

Ikea is enhancing its smart home products by introducing over 20 new devices that use the Matter-over-Thread standard. This move aims to make smart home technology simpler and more affordable for everyone. Starting in January, customers can expect new smart lights, sensors, and remotes, with more products to follow.

Ikea's Dirigera smart home hub has been updated to support Matter, allowing it to connect with devices from other brands without needing Ikea's hub. These new devices will replace existing ones and will include smart bulbs, plugs, and air-quality monitors, all at competitive prices.

Matter is a new standard that improves compatibility among smart home devices, making them easier to set up and use. Ikea's products will work with various smart home ecosystems, such as Apple Home and Amazon Alexa, without requiring the Ikea app.

This initiative positions Ikea as a leader in bringing Matter to the general market, focusing on making smart technology accessible to everyone, not just tech enthusiasts. While there are still challenges with Matter's adoption, Ikea is confident in its decision to embrace this new standard.

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Summary of RapidRAW

RapidRAW is a fast and efficient RAW image editor that does not harm original images and uses GPU acceleration for performance. It is a lightweight alternative to Adobe Lightroom, available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, and was developed by an 18-year-old as a personal project to enhance his photography workflow and programming skills.

Key Features:

• GPU Acceleration: Fast image processing using custom shaders.
• AI Masking: Precise subject and foreground detection for editing.
• Generative Edits: Non-destructive editing to remove or add elements using prompts.
• Full RAW Support: Compatible with various RAW camera formats.
• Non-Destructive Workflow: Keeps original images intact with edits saved separately.
• Professional Adjustments: Includes tonal controls, color grading, and detail enhancement tools.
• User-Friendly Library: Easy management of photos with batch processing capabilities.

Recent Updates:

• New features include image rating filters, improved AI capabilities, and better user interface layouts.
• Fixed bugs related to zooming and cropping.

Development Journey: The project started in June 2025, focusing on building a feature-rich application quickly. It uses Rust for performance and Tauri for cross-platform compatibility.

Getting Started: Users can download the latest version or build it from source. Contributions are welcomed to enhance the project further.

Support: The developer invites donations to support continued development, ensuring RapidRAW remains open-source.

License: RapidRAW is licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0, ensuring it stays free and open for community use.

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Astro is a web framework launched in 2021 that is designed specifically for content-focused websites. Unlike traditional frameworks that prioritize complex applications, Astro emphasizes simplicity and performance by shipping no JavaScript by default.

Key features of Astro include:

1. Island Architecture: This allows only the interactive parts of a page to load JavaScript, keeping the rest as static HTML. This results in faster page load times—up to 40% faster than traditional frameworks.

2. Developer Experience: Setting up projects is straightforward, and Astro provides helpful tools, such as a setup assistant and excellent TypeScript support.

3. Flexibility: Developers can use various frameworks (like React or Vue) alongside Astro components without being locked into one method.

4. Built-in Features: Astro supports Markdown natively, offers automatic image optimization, and includes modern build tools with no need for complex configurations.

5. Use Cases: Astro is great for marketing sites, blogs, and e-commerce catalogs, especially when content is the main focus.

However, Astro may not be suitable for complex single-page applications (SPAs) or projects that require heavy client-side state management.

To get started with Astro, you simply create a project, add a framework if needed, and start developing. It provides a refreshing approach to web development, focusing on fast, accessible, and content-first experiences while still offering modern conveniences.

Summary of CVE-2025-48384: Git Vulnerability

A new vulnerability in Git (CVE-2025-48384) can allow remote code execution (RCE) when using the command git clone --recursive on untrusted repositories, particularly on Unix-like systems. If you use GitHub Desktop, it automatically clones repositories with this option, increasing the risk.

Key Points:

1. Carriage Return Issue: The problem arises from how Git handles carriage return (\r) characters in configuration files. When reading these files, Git can misinterpret or drop carriage returns, allowing attackers to manipulate file paths.

2. Submodule Vulnerability: The .gitmodules file can contain paths with control characters, and the way Git processes these paths can lead to unintended file locations, potentially allowing malicious file writes.

3. Mitigation: Users should avoid using --recursive with git clone on untrusted repositories. Instead, clone without --recursive, check the .gitmodules file for safety, and then initialize submodules manually.

4. Patch Available: A simple fix has been proposed to ensure that any strings with carriage returns are properly quoted when written back to configuration files.

5. Exploitation Potential: An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to run arbitrary code, especially by creating malicious scripts in a Git directory.

Users are advised to update to the latest version of Git and related software to protect against this vulnerability.

COBOL Calculator Collection Summary

This project features a collection of calculators written in COBOL, showcasing various computational methods and modern features like emoji support. It includes three types of calculators:

1. Basic Calculator: Uses traditional infix notation for arithmetic operations.
2. RPN Calculator: Implements Reverse Polish Notation with stack-based evaluation.
3. Emoji RPN Calculator: A modern version of the RPN calculator that uses emoji for operations (e.g., ➕ for addition).

Setup Requirements:

• macOS: Install GNU COBOL using Homebrew with brew install gnu-cobol.
• Linux: Use your package manager to install GnuCOBOL.
• Windows: Download GnuCOBOL from the official website.

Project Files:

• The project contains COBOL source files for each calculator and their respective test suites, along with scripts to run the tests.

Usage Instructions:

• To use any calculator, compile the corresponding COBOL file using the cobc compiler and run the executable.

Features:

• Basic operations (+, -, *, /) and error handling in all calculators.
• The emoji calculator supports modern emoji operators and colorful error messages.

Error Handling:

• Both RPN calculators handle errors like division by zero, insufficient operands, and invalid expressions.

Technical Highlights:

• Demonstrates COBOL's capabilities, including error handling and Unicode support for emojis.
• The project is educational, aiming to show COBOL's relevance and versatility even today.

Contribution:

• Users can enhance the calculators by adding operations, tests, or features following the existing structure.

License: The project is provided for educational purposes.

Fun Fact: Despite being created in 1959, COBOL can handle modern Unicode emojis, showcasing its adaptability over time.

The text discusses a comprehensive security analysis conducted by Security Explorations on eSIM technology, focusing on vulnerabilities found in Kigen's eUICC cards. Here are the key points:

1. Research Overview: Security Explorations investigated the security of eSIM technology, specifically targeting Kigen's eUICC cards, which have been used widely across mobile networks.

2. Vulnerability Discovery: The researchers managed to break the security of Kigen's eUICC cards, using proof-of-concept codes to demonstrate the vulnerabilities. They found that eSIM profiles, which can be installed on these cards, have significant security flaws.

3. Implications of the Hack: The attack allowed the extraction of sensitive information, including private keys and eSIM profiles, which could potentially lead to identity theft and unauthorized access to mobile services.

4. Past Research Impact: The vulnerabilities identified in 2019 concerning Java Card technology were crucial for this recent attack, highlighting the need for ongoing attention to security in software development.

5. Responses and Mitigations: Kigen has acknowledged the vulnerabilities, communicated with the GSMA, and is working on implementing fixes to enhance security. They have also agreed to reward the researchers for their findings.

6. Recommendations: The report urges mobile network operators and vendors to implement stronger security measures, including memory protection and bytecode verification, and to not solely rely on vendor claims regarding security.

7. Broader Implications: The findings raise concerns about the overall security architecture of eSIM technology and mobile devices, suggesting that the potential for exploitation remains high if proper safeguards are not established.

8. Next Steps: The research calls for increased scrutiny of eSIM security by all stakeholders in the telecom ecosystem, urging a more proactive approach to addressing these vulnerabilities.

Overall, the document emphasizes the critical need for better security practices in the development and implementation of eSIM technology to protect user privacy and prevent unauthorized access to mobile services.

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The article discusses testing the performance of CGI (Common Gateway Interface) using various programming languages, including Rust, Go, Perl, JavaScript, Python, and C. The author conducted benchmarks on a virtual machine and found that CGI is a reliable technology, despite misconceptions about its security and performance.

Key points include:

• CGI is an effective protocol that can be secure if implemented correctly.
• The author tested different languages for CGI performance, highlighting their request rates and latencies.
• Bash performed poorly with 40 requests per second, while Perl, JavaScript, and Python achieved 500, 600, and 700 requests per second, respectively.
• Go reached 3,400 requests per second, Rust nearly 5,700, and C slightly better at around 5,800 requests per second.
• The results showed that CGI is viable for real work, especially with compiled languages, even though it may not always be the top performer.

The author appreciates the simplicity and effectiveness of CGI technology.

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EarthGPT allows users to work with multi-spectral satellite imagery using advanced technology. Users can explore sample projects featuring different satellite datasets, such as:

• Brazilian Forest: No cloud cover, from Sentinel-2a.
• Greenland Ice Sheet: 54.1% cloud cover, from Sentinel-2c.
• Mine Operations: No specific details, using UMBRA_08.
• Pakistan Post and Pre-2022 Floods: Various cloud cover percentages, from Sentinel-2a and Sentinel-2b.
• Coastal Water Management and Florida Coastal Run-off: No specific details on cloud cover or sensor.

The platform includes a user-friendly STAC Browser for easy navigation and interaction with these satellite datasets.

Hugging Face, a $4.5 billion AI platform, has launched Reachy Mini, a $299 desktop robot aimed at making robotics development accessible to a wider audience. The 11-inch humanoid robot is a response to the high costs and complexity traditionally associated with robotics, which often require expensive equipment.

The launch coincides with Hugging Face reaching 10 million users, many of whom are now interested in robotics. The Reachy Mini is designed to be user-friendly, integrating with Hugging Face's platform for easy access to AI models and applications. It features advanced capabilities like head movement, a camera, microphones, and wireless operation.

Hugging Face’s approach contrasts with traditional robotics companies by embracing open-source principles, allowing users to access hardware designs and software for customization. This model could foster community innovation and lower costs, though it also presents challenges in manufacturing and distribution.

The robot raises new concerns regarding data privacy since it is equipped with cameras and microphones. However, the open-source model is seen as a way to enhance transparency and user control.

Reachy Mini is expected to impact education and research by being affordable and programmable, enabling hands-on learning without the need for expensive equipment. Overall, Hugging Face aims to democratize robotics, shifting the industry from high-cost, proprietary systems to open, community-driven development.

Summary of Supabase MCP Security Risks

Supabase's Model Context Protocol (MCP) allows language models (LLMs) to interact with databases, but this creates security vulnerabilities. An attacker can exploit this integration to leak sensitive SQL database information, including private tables.

Key Issues:

1. LLM Limitations: LLMs cannot differentiate between user instructions and data. If user-provided data resembles an instruction, the model might process it incorrectly.
2. Setup: The attack demonstrates how a standard Supabase setup with Row-Level Security (RLS) can still be exploited. Developers use a tool (Cursor) that interacts with the MCP to manage support tickets.

Attack Process:

1. An attacker submits a support ticket with a message that contains both a question and hidden instructions for the Cursor assistant.
2. When a developer later checks the tickets, the assistant reads and executes the instructions due to its access rights, leaking sensitive data from the database into the support thread.

Mitigation Strategies:

1. Use Read-Only Mode: Enable read-only access for the MCP to prevent unauthorized data changes.
2. Implement Prompt Injection Filters: Scan user inputs for suspicious patterns before processing them, providing an additional layer of security.

These steps can help reduce the risk of data leaks and protect sensitive information in applications using MCP. For teams needing assistance with security measures, expert support is available.

Summary of SmolLM3 Overview

SmolLM3 is a new small language model designed for efficient multilingual processing and long-context reasoning. Released on July 8, 2025, it has a base size of 3 billion parameters and shows competitive performance against larger models while being lightweight.

Key Features:

• Architecture: Built on a transformer decoder, incorporating modifications for better efficiency and long-context capabilities.
• Performance: Trained on 11 trillion tokens, it excels in reasoning, math, and coding tasks, outperforming other 3 billion models and competing with larger ones.
• Multilingual Support: Works in six languages: English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, and Portuguese.
• Context Length: Capable of processing long contexts up to 128,000 tokens.

Training Methodology:

• Pretraining: Utilizes a three-stage approach mixing web, math, and code data to establish strong foundational capabilities.
• Mid-training: Focused on enhancing long context and reasoning abilities by training with additional specific datasets.
• Post-training: Involves supervised fine-tuning to balance performance across reasoning and non-reasoning modes.

User Interaction:

• Users can switch between reasoning and non-reasoning modes during interactions using specific commands.
• The model also supports tool calling for enhanced functionality.

Conclusion: SmolLM3 offers a comprehensive model and training recipe aimed at advancing small model capabilities in various domains. The full training details and model code are available for the community to utilize and enhance further.

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Summary:

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Zorin OS is an operating system designed to replace Windows and macOS, especially as Windows 10 is nearing its end of life. It aims to make computers faster, more powerful, secure, and user-friendly.

Key features of Zorin OS include:

• Familiar Interface: Users can easily adapt to Zorin OS, with options to modify the desktop layout to resemble Windows or macOS.

• Speed and Performance: It runs quickly and efficiently, even on older computers (up to 15 years old).

• Reliability and Security: Based on Ubuntu and Linux, Zorin OS is built on solid open-source software, making it resistant to viruses and malware, with regular updates for security.

• Privacy: Zorin OS does not collect personal data, ensuring user privacy.

• App Compatibility: It comes with essential applications and supports a wide range of additional software, including many Windows applications.

• Gaming Support: Zorin OS allows users to play a variety of games from platforms like Steam and Epic Games.

• Device Integration: Zorin Connect links your computer with Android devices for seamless notification syncing and file sharing.

• Accessibility: The OS is available in over 100 languages and includes various assistive technologies.

• Dual Boot Option: Users can install Zorin OS alongside existing operating systems like Windows or macOS.

Zorin OS is free to download and use, with a Pro version available for advanced features. It is designed for easy installation, and users can test it via USB before committing to installation. Users have praised Zorin OS for its ease of use and sleek design.

Summary of Radium

Radium is a music editing software that offers a unique interface for quicker and more efficient editing compared to traditional methods like piano rolls and trackers. It allows graphical editing of notes and effects, providing a clearer view of musical data while also supporting text-based editing. Radium functions as a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) for recording, editing, and mixing audio.

Despite its unconventional look, Radium is designed to be user-friendly and easy to learn, especially for those familiar with trackers.

History:

• Development began in 1999, with the first public version released in 2000.
• It has since been made available on Linux, Windows, and Mac, becoming one of the most advanced tracker-like music editors.

Key Features:

• Supports audio and MIDI multitracking.
• Automates various musical elements like pitch and tempo.
• Includes granular synthesis, smooth scrolling, and a modular mixer.
• Compatible with multiple plugin formats and offers built-in effects and instruments.
• Features like unlimited undo/redo, multicore support, and Python/Scheme scripting enhance usability.
• Open-source with a simple build system.

Getting Started: Users can load demo songs, play them, and add notes using their keyboard. A manual is available for guidance.

Contact: [email protected]

Recent Updates: The software has had several updates, with the latest version released on December 27, 2024.

Support: Users can support Radium's development through subscriptions which prioritize feature requests and bug reports. Subscription options range from €2 to €100 monthly or yearly.

Summary of libpostal: International Street Address NLP

libpostal is a C library designed to parse and normalize street addresses globally using statistical natural language processing (NLP) and open data. Its main goal is to understand address formats in various languages, making it easier for applications that rely on location data, such as mapping services and delivery systems.

Key Features:

• Address Normalization: Converts free-form addresses into structured, machine-readable formats for better indexing and searching.
• High Accuracy: The parser achieves a 99.45% accuracy rate by using extensive training data from over 1 billion addresses worldwide.
• Multilingual Support: Supports over 60 languages and can handle various address formats and conventions, including abbreviations and local customs.
• Language Bindings: Officially supports Python, Ruby, Go, Java, PHP, and NodeJS, with easy options for creating bindings in other languages.

Installation:

• For Linux and macOS, a set of prerequisites must be installed before compiling the library from source.
• For Windows, it requires MSys2 and MinGW for building.

Usage:

• Provides APIs for address parsing and normalization, allowing developers to integrate address handling into their applications easily.
• Also includes command-line tools for quick testing and processing of addresses.

Contributions:

• Users are encouraged to support the project through sponsorship or donations, report issues, and contribute improvements to the library.

License:

• libpostal is open-source and available under the MIT License.

This library is particularly useful for applications needing consistent and accurate address handling across different regions and languages.

Brut: A New Web Framework for Ruby

Brut is a new, straightforward web framework for Ruby that focuses on simplicity and functionality. Unlike traditional Ruby frameworks, Brut does not use controllers or resources; instead, it allows developers to create pages and forms using server-generated HTML.

Key Features:

• Low Complexity: Brut avoids unnecessary complexity and provides built-in tools like OpenTelemetry for tracking and a Sequel-based data access layer.
• Quick Setup: You can install and start building apps within minutes, even without Ruby installed.
• Unified Validation: It combines client-side and server-side form validation for a seamless user experience.
• Modern Tools: It uses BrutJS for web components, and CSS is automatically packaged and optimized.
• Best Practices: Brut enforces good practices, such as sensible security policies and proper database configurations.
• Testing Support: It integrates with popular Ruby gems like RSpec for testing and Faker for generating test data.

Brut aims to eliminate unnecessary configurations and abstractions, allowing developers to focus on building web apps without getting bogged down by complicated setups. The creator's goal is to make web development fun and straightforward, leveraging the power of Ruby and modern web technologies.

A React Native developer has created a new library called RN Super Cluster for marker clustering on maps. The previous popular library, react-native-maps-clustering, became outdated and wasn't compatible with modern tools. After facing several technical challenges, the developer decided to build a new solution from scratch.

Key features of RN Super Cluster include:

• It is modern and actively maintained.
• Written entirely in TypeScript for better error prevention and improved developer experience.
• High-performance clustering using a library called supercluster.
• Overlapping markers can "spiderfy" at maximum zoom for easier access.
• Custom components and event handling options are available.

This project aims to help other developers avoid the difficulties the creator faced. Feedback and contributions are welcomed. You can find the project on GitHub and NPM.

SUSE, a European open-source software company, has launched a new service called Sovereign Premium Support to help businesses and governments in Europe ensure their IT systems and data are secure. This move comes as European organizations increasingly shift to open-source solutions like Linux, driven by concerns over data privacy and reliance on non-EU companies for cloud services.

Currently, over 90% of European data is stored on servers owned by primarily American companies, raising issues of privacy and potential surveillance. As a result, many European organizations are looking for local alternatives. SUSE’s new support service is designed specifically for those needing strict control over their data and operations within the EU. It guarantees that all support staff and data are based in Europe, ensuring compliance with local regulations.

SUSE’s CEO highlighted the importance of focusing on data, technology, and business operations to achieve digital sovereignty. This service is particularly relevant for sectors like defense and government, but it's available to all European organizations needing enhanced data security. As geopolitical uncertainties rise, SUSE aims to provide the support necessary for companies to feel secure in their digital operations.

500 Mile Email Summary

500 Mile Email is a newsletter created by Harley Hicks that features funny and absurd stories about software bugs. The name comes from a story about email servers that couldn't send emails beyond 500 miles.

You can sign up for the newsletter and share your own bug stories. The content is categorized into various topics like hardware, software, email, and more. Some recent bug stories include:

• Database issues caused by unexpected items.
• Wi-Fi connectivity problems only during rain.
• Software that crashes under strange conditions (e.g., when drinking soda).
• Bugs in video games that create odd scenarios.

The site aims to entertain and inform readers about the quirks and oddities of technology.

The developer of the ad-free Reddit client rdx has created a new app called OffChess, designed for solving chess puzzles without the need for the internet. The app is perfect for offline use, especially in places with poor Wi-Fi, like bathrooms.

OffChess features over 100,000 chess puzzles that can be solved by different categories, such as "Mate in 1" or various tactics and openings. Users can earn or lose points based on their performance, adding a fun rating system.

The app requires no accounts, tracking, or subscriptions, making it a straightforward tool for chess practice. It is available for both iPhone and Android users. The developer welcomes feedback and suggestions.

Summary: SQL Injection Exposes 60,000 Spyware Accounts

A researcher discovered a spyware service called Catwatchful that claimed to be undetectable and used for stalking. After creating a free trial account, the researcher found that the app was well-designed and effectively collected personal data without the user's knowledge.

The investigation revealed that the data was stored on Firebase, making it secure from typical attacks. However, the researcher focused on another server hosting the service. Using SQL injection techniques, they successfully accessed a database containing over 62,000 user accounts, including usernames and passwords in plaintext.

This discovery led to actions against the service. A journalist contacted Google and the hosting provider, resulting in the service being taken down temporarily. Although it was briefly restored under a different domain, security measures were eventually implemented to block SQL injection attacks.

The researcher highlighted the importance of addressing such vulnerabilities in stalkerware services and the ongoing need for vigilance in cybersecurity.

iPod Linux Summary

iPodLinux is an open-source project aimed at running Linux on iPods. It has successfully adapted a version of the uClinux kernel for iPods and created a basic user interface called Podzilla. This project allows users to enhance their iPods with features not available in the original Apple firmware.

Currently, iPodLinux can be safely installed on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation iPods, with ongoing development for newer models, including the 4th generation and Nano. However, support for these newer devices is limited, and installation is recommended only for advanced users familiar with Linux or Mac OS X.

Users can find guides, installation instructions, and a list of supported devices on the iPodLinux website. The project relies on donations to support its development efforts.

Summary of Xenharmlib Documentation

Xenharmlib is a music theory library designed for exploring various harmonic systems, including traditional Western and non-Western music, unconventional tunings, and different notations. It is user-friendly and expandable, aimed at composers and researchers with basic Python programming knowledge.

Key Features:

• Supports equal division tunings (like Western, Arabic, Turkish, and Bohlen-Pierce).
• Offers Western and Up/Down notation systems.
• Provides tools for analyzing intervals, scales, and their relationships.
• Includes modulation suggestions and basic post-tonal analysis.

Design Philosophy: Xenharmlib focuses on scientific exploration of music theory rather than composition or synthesis. It emphasizes immutability in its object-oriented design, returning modified versions of objects instead of altering their states.

Planned Features: The library has a roadmap for future enhancements, including advanced post-tonal analysis tools and support for additional musical notations.

License and Support: Xenharmlib is open-source under the GNU Public License v3 and is hosted on GitLab. Users can request features or report issues through GitLab and engage with the community on Discord.

User Guide: The documentation includes a comprehensive user guide covering installation, tunings, notation, and advanced features. It also provides API documentation for developers looking to contribute.

Contribution Guidelines: Contributors are encouraged to follow specific coding standards, including commit message formatting and code testing, using tools like pytest.

This summary highlights the main aspects of Xenharmlib, making it easier to understand its purpose, features, and usage.

Summary:

Swahili became a key language in East Africa through deliberate efforts, particularly by Julius Nyerere, the leader of the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU). In 1960, during a discussion with Eleanor Roosevelt, Nyerere used a powerful analogy to argue for African independence, emphasizing that African nations were ready for self-governance. He later adopted Swahili as a central part of Tanzania's identity after the country gained independence in the early 1960s.

In 2021, UNESCO recognized July 7 as World Kiswahili Language Day, highlighting Swahili's rise from a regional language to a global one spoken by over 200 million people. Originally a language of coastal traders, it became standardized in the 19th century through educational reforms. Nyerere promoted Swahili during Tanzania's independence movement and used it to foster national unity and social ideals through his philosophy of ujamaa, meaning "familyhood" or "African socialism."

While Swahili thrived in Tanzania, its role in Kenya was more complex due to historical factors and the presence of English. Nonetheless, Swahili remains significant in Kenyan culture. By the late 1960s, Swahili became associated with Tanzania's political stance, particularly its support for liberation movements in southern Africa. Swahili's influence continues to grow, exemplified by South Africa's 2018 decision to introduce Swahili in schools to promote unity across the continent.

Cosmochemical studies suggest that Earth gained about 5-10% of its mass from carbon-rich materials, primarily delivered by Theia, the impactor that formed the Moon. Researchers tested this idea using simulations of how terrestrial planets formed. They started with a setup of planetary bodies between Venus and Earth and included carbon-rich bodies affected by Jupiter's gravity.

The results matched several important factors:

1. The masses and orbits of the terrestrial planets.
2. The amount of carbon-rich material in Earth.
3. The lower carbon content in Mars, which likely only gathered carbon-rich planetesimals.
4. The timing of the giant impact that created the Moon.
5. A later phase of accretion mostly involving non-carbon-rich materials.

For this scenario to be accurate, there needed to be around 0.2 to 0.3 times Earth's mass in scattered carbon-rich objects, with a specific mass ratio between embryos and planetesimals. The simulations indicated a roughly equal chance that Theia was a carbon-rich body or a body that had previously collected carbon-rich material. Overall, the simulations support the findings of earlier cosmochemical studies.

A recent book titled "Mastering Machine Learning: From Basics to Advanced," published by Springer Nature, has come under scrutiny for containing numerous made-up citations. Priced at $169, the book has been found to have significant inaccuracies in its references, with two-thirds of the 18 checked citations either nonexistent or containing major errors.

Three researchers whose works were cited confirmed that the citations were either fabricated or misrepresented. The author of the book, Govindakumar Madhavan, has not confirmed whether he used an AI language model to generate content, but acknowledged the challenges of identifying AI-generated text. Springer Nature is currently investigating the issue but has not disclosed if proper editorial processes were followed to ensure the integrity of the work.

The situation highlights ongoing concerns about the reliability of AI-generated content and citations in academic publishing, with similar issues noted in other recent controversies.

I created a Python package to control hardware directly, avoiding complex PLC tools that are often Windows-only and come with licensing issues. This package is not intended for high-speed or critical production tasks, but it allows for quick setup and easy prototyping in applications with relaxed timing. It's user-friendly, requires only Python, is fully type-annotated, and is licensed under MIT. It communicates with hardware using ModBus/TCP, which is also available as a client library. I welcome feedback on use cases, features, and experiences with PLC tools. For more information, visit the documentation: pyhoff.

Summary of "Why I'm skeptical of Ground News"

Ground News is a news aggregation website and app that aims to provide clarity in the media by collecting articles from various political sources and highlighting different perspectives on the same events. The site labels news sources with bias and factuality ratings to help users understand the political leanings and reliability of the information.

One of its main features, called "Blindspot," shows stories that are heavily covered from one political side, aggregating sources under a single title and summary. However, the method of how these stories are compiled and presented is unclear, leading to skepticism about the use of AI or automation in the process.

The author raises concerns about "false balance," where less credible opposing viewpoints are given equal weight as established facts, potentially misleading readers. An analysis of 500 Blindspot stories revealed that left-leaning stories generally have higher quality sources compared to right-leaning ones, which often rely on mixed or low-factuality sources.

The article discusses specific instances where Ground News published false or misleading stories, particularly regarding LGBTQ+ issues, COVID-19 vaccine misinformation, and claims about the January 6th Capitol attack. These stories often lacked credible sourcing and presented unverified claims as facts.

In conclusion, the author believes that while Ground News has potential as a tool for identifying media bias, its current practices lack transparency and proper curation, which can contribute to the spread of misinformation. For Ground News to be a trustworthy resource, it needs to improve its selection and presentation of stories.

In 2025, a fictional story explores whether emails can be sent beyond a 500-mile limit. A university president, unable to send emails that far, consults a sysadmin, leading to a humorous investigation. The sysadmin demonstrates a method to connect to various universities using code that checks connection timeouts.

Through testing, they find that many institutions are hosted on cloud servers, making it difficult to determine distances accurately. As they connect to different schools, they discover that while some connections succeed, others fail due to timeouts, especially when nearing the 500-mile mark.

The investigation shifts to checking mail servers (MX servers) instead of typical web servers. They find that despite being able to ping some servers quickly, sending emails remains inconsistent, particularly with misconfigured servers. Ultimately, the story concludes that the 500-mile email limit still exists, but determining which domains are accessible is tricky.

The text discusses how companies often fail to adapt to disruptive technologies, using the example of the carriage industry in the early 20th century. At that time, there were over 4,000 carriage manufacturers in the U.S., but only one, Studebaker, successfully transitioned to automobile production.

Key points include:

1. Initial Dismissal of Change: Carriage manufacturers ignored early automobiles, viewing them as unreliable and unsuitable. They focused on their identity as craftsmen rather than innovators.

2. Disruption Process: The transition from carriages to cars took time. Initially, cars were seen as toys, but as technology improved, they became practical and desirable, leading to a rapid decline in the carriage industry.

3. Survival of Few: Studebaker adapted by recognizing that the future was not in horse-drawn vehicles but in mobility. They invested in new technologies and retrained their workforce, allowing them to thrive in the automobile age.

4. Failure of Many: Most carriage companies did not survive due to various factors, including lack of investment for retooling, cultural resistance to change, and reliance on outdated business models.

5. Modern Relevance: The lessons from the carriage industry's demise are relevant for today's businesses facing disruptions like AI. CEOs must be forward-thinking and willing to pivot, despite the pressures of short-term profits and risk-averse corporate structures.

The overarching message is that companies need to recognize and act on disruptive changes before it's too late, rather than clinging to traditional identities and business models.

Summary:

The author shares an update on integrating a moving garbage collector with Guile, a programming language. This collector uses a method that marks objects in place during collection and tries to copy them to designated blocks. If it runs out of space, it will mark objects instead.

The author had to modify Guile to implement a centralized tracing function that manages how objects are marked and traced without exposing internal details to users. They found several bugs, primarily in the Whippet project, and discuss a specific issue where two threads can mistakenly process the same object concurrently, leading to potential errors.

The performance of this new system hasn’t been fully tested yet, but initial indications suggest it may be an improvement over previous configurations. The author emphasizes that they are prioritizing correctness over performance at this stage and will provide updates as testing continues.

Summary:

Join our research lab focused on real-time feedback from financial markets. We use large amounts of data to create AI systems that learn and adapt quickly. Our advantage lies in how fast we iterate and learn, not in secret data.

You will lead our machine learning and AI strategy, starting with options trading, which is complex and full of potential. Our team has over ten years of experience in quantitative trading, having worked at top firms like Optiver and DRW.

Your Responsibilities:

• Develop predictive models and reinforcement learning agents.
• Integrate alternative data and conduct experiments in simulated and live trading, measuring the impact on market returns.
• Collaborate with founders to test predictions and learn from results.
• Help shape our research focus and culture from the beginning.

What We’re Looking For:

• Strong expertise in machine learning and AI, especially in time-series and forecasting.
• Proficient in coding, particularly with Python and cloud infrastructure.
• Experience in deploying models in real-world settings.
• A clear thinker who is eager to work at the intersection of research and execution.
• No prior experience in financial markets is required; curiosity and drive are essential.

You'll have the freedom to produce outstanding work.

NASA's New Horizons spacecraft, launched in 2006 to study Pluto, has now traveled beyond the solar system. By analyzing its images of stars, astronomers have successfully determined its position in the galaxy using a technique called parallax. This is the first instance of interstellar navigation, where the changing positions of stars are visible from New Horizons’ unique viewpoint.

Researchers compared New Horizons' photos of two nearby stars, Proxima Centauri and Wolf 359, with data from the Gaia space telescope. They found that this method, while less accurate than traditional navigation using Earth's Deep Space Network, could still locate New Horizons within 60 million kilometers. With improved equipment, accuracy could potentially be enhanced significantly.

This parallax technique could be beneficial for future interstellar missions, as it would allow spacecraft to determine their location autonomously and more accurately as they travel further from Earth. However, there are currently no plans for missions into deep interstellar space, limiting the immediate application of this navigation method.

Summary of the Article:

Plants have a protective outer layer called the periderm, which is crucial for preventing water loss and protecting against pathogens. When the periderm is damaged, it can regenerate, but the mechanisms behind this process are not well understood.

Recent research on Arabidopsis roots has shown that plants monitor the integrity of their periderm by sensing the diffusion of gases, specifically ethylene and oxygen. When the periderm is injured, ethylene escapes from the wound while oxygen enters, leading to a decrease in ethylene signaling and triggering a regeneration process. This regeneration allows the plant to restore its protective barrier.

The study found that after a wound, specific genes related to periderm formation were activated, with changes in cell structure observed just days after the injury. Gas diffusion plays a key role in this regeneration, suggesting that plants utilize gas levels as a way to maintain their protective barriers.

In summary, the research highlights that plants have a sophisticated system to monitor and repair their protective layers using gas diffusion as a signaling mechanism to ensure their survival.

MIPS and Cyient Semiconductors are working together to create custom power solutions using RISC-V technology. These solutions are designed for applications in AI power delivery, industrial robotics, and the automotive industry. The partnership was announced on June 12, 2025, in San Jose, California, and Hyderabad, India.

Privacy activists are criticizing London's Metropolitan Police for their use of live facial recognition (LFR) technology, claiming it's not an effective use of taxpayer money. They argue that despite police efforts to present LFR as beneficial, the results show only a small number of arrests. Since 2020, there have been over 715,000 total arrests, with only 1,035 aided by LFR, which is just 0.15% of all arrests.

Activists from Big Brother Watch (BBW) emphasize that the return on investment for this technology has been disappointing and that it diverts resources from more pressing crime investigations. The Met defends LFR, saying it helps make policing more efficient by catching offenders faster.

Critics also raise concerns about the lack of legal oversight regarding the use of facial recognition in the UK, likening it to surveillance practices seen in authoritarian regimes. The police assert that their systems are designed to protect privacy by deleting data of individuals not on watchlists, and they claim that LFR has led to significant arrests. However, many remain skeptical about the implications for civil liberties and the effectiveness of this technology in the long run.

No summary available.

Ceramic is a cross-platform tool that uses the Haxe programming language. This allows you to write your code just once and convert it into different languages like C++, JavaScript, or C#. With Ceramic, you can easily export your app to various platforms including Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, HTML5/WebGL, and Unity projects.

No summary available.

No summary available.

Summary of "Million Times Million" by Susam Pal

The author reflects on their childhood understanding of large numbers, specifically the difference between the long scale and short scale systems. Growing up, they learned that a million times a million equaled a billion in the long scale, which makes sense as it directly relates to multiplying a million by itself.

However, upon entering university and the digital world, the author discovered that the short scale is more commonly used, where a million times a million equals a trillion instead. This realization led to confusion as the names of large numbers differed significantly between the two systems.

The long scale uses prefixes (like bi-, tri-, quadri-) that denote how many times a million is multiplied, while the short scale counts how many thousands are multiplied to get to the number, making it less intuitive for the author.

In the end, the author has adapted to using the short scale but retains a fondness for the long scale due to its simplicity and elegance.

Summary:

A new way to create moving images using SVGs instead of GIFs has emerged, which allows for high-resolution animations that are only 49Kb in size. These moving SVGs can be used in GitHub README.md files. To create them, you need the tools asciinema and svg-term-cli. After recording your terminal session with asciinema, you can convert it into an SVG file for easy use.

The SVG animations work by using built-in features like <animate> for changing attributes, <animateTransform> for transformations, and <animateMotion> for moving elements along a path. This method is being widely used in various projects.

Summary: Choosing a Database Schema for Polymorphic Data

Designing a database schema is a challenging task that affects performance and maintainability. Polymorphic data, which can take multiple forms, complicates this process, particularly in SQL databases. For instance, when storing patient payment information, you need to account for insured and uninsured patients, each requiring different data.

Several approaches to modeling polymorphic data in SQL are discussed:

1. Single Table with Nullable Fields: This approach uses one table with nullable fields for each possible data type. While simple, it struggles with validation and becomes inefficient as data grows.

2. Nullable Parent-to-Child Foreign Keys: This method separates data into multiple tables, allowing for better structure and validation through foreign keys. However, it complicates inserts and joins.

3. Tagged Union of Foreign Keys: A single foreign key column is combined with a "tag" column that indicates the type of payment info. This helps enforce certain constraints but can lead to confusion in queries.

4. Child-to-Parent Foreign Keys: This approach uses foreign keys in child tables that reference the parent table, ensuring data integrity. It simplifies updates but can be slightly cumbersome.

5. JSON Column: Storing polymorphic data as JSON is a flexible solution that allows easy querying. However, it lacks strict validation of data structure unless additional checks are implemented.

Ultimately, the best approach depends on specific needs, such as performance, readability, and maintainability. Each method has its trade-offs, and choosing the right one often comes down to personal preference and the specific context of the project. For those not focused on performance, ease of use and maintainability might take precedence.

Summary of "The Day You Became A Better Writer"

The author shares how they improved their writing skills in just one day through a business writing course. Here are the key points for better writing:

1. Clarity and Persuasion: Focus on making your writing clear and convincing.
2. Keep It Simple: Use fewer words. For example, say "He was happy" instead of "He was very happy."
3. Engaging First Sentence: Start with a captivating sentence to draw in readers.
4. Short Sentences: Write short, straightforward sentences. Readers understand simple structures better.
5. Humor Writing: Similar to business writing, it should also be simple but with a different choice of words.

By following these tips, you can enhance your writing significantly.

I created a Pomodoro timer that feels more inviting than others. It features calming sounds like rain, brown noise, soft ASMR, and some Middle Eastern music, along with animated backgrounds to make it visually appealing. It works in your browser without needing any accounts or tracking—just open it and start focusing. I welcome any feedback or suggestions for improvement.

Summary of Reachy Mini – An Open-Source Robot

Reachy Mini is a small, open-source robot designed for human-robot interaction and AI experimentation. It is priced starting at $299 and is fully programmable in Python (with plans for JavaScript and Scratch). The robot is compact, measuring about 11 inches tall and weighing 3.3 lbs, making it suitable for creative projects, education, and research.

Key Features:

• Availability: Comes in a lite version ($299) and a fully autonomous version ($449), with delivery starting in late summer 2025.
• Human-Robot Interaction: Features expressive movements, including motorized head and body rotation, and has cameras, microphones, and speakers for interaction.
• Community Collaboration: Users can easily upload and share new robot behaviors, expanding its capabilities through community contributions.
• Open-Source: Both hardware and software are open-source, encouraging collaborative development and support.

Reachy Mini is designed for all ages, making it a fun tool for exploring AI and robotics.

epanet-js is a new web application that integrates modern mapping with the EPANET hydraulic simulation tool, designed for planning and updating water utility systems. Created by Luke Butler and Sam Payá from Iterating, it helps users understand pipe connections and pressure effects in water systems. The author, Tom MacWright, previously developed an open-source mapping tool called Placemark and is excited to see others using his code to create new products. He emphasizes the value of open-source software and expresses pride in seeing its legacy continue. The new epanet-js tool is more accessible and cost-effective compared to traditional software, making it a significant improvement in the field. MacWright encourages those interested in hydraulic simulation to try it out.

The PHP team has released the first testing version of PHP 8.5.0, called Alpha 1, on July 3, 2025. This marks the beginning of the PHP 8.5 release cycle. Users can download it from the designated page for testing purposes only, as it should not be used in production environments. Any issues found should be reported on GitHub. More details about new features and upgrade notes are available in the NEWS and UPGRADING files. The next testing release, Alpha 2, is scheduled for July 17, 2025. Thank you for helping improve PHP!

No summary available.

No summary available.

The text discusses the concept of "ritual" in the philosophy of Xunzi, a prominent Confucian thinker. Here are the key points:

1. Definition of Ritual: Ritual is seen as a collection of practices that guide proper behavior and promote moral values like ren (humaneness) and yi (righteousness). It is important for maintaining social order and stability.

2. Role of Ritual: Ritual helps to express emotions, organize social relationships, and provide guidelines for behavior, particularly in hierarchical relationships. It is meant to encourage good conduct rather than force it.

3. Contrast with Law: Unlike laws, which are rigid and punitive, rituals are flexible and cooperative, fostering personal responsibility and social harmony.

4. Purpose of Ritual: Rituals are designed to address human desires and conflicts, creating order in society. They help rulers govern effectively by promoting virtue and protecting the people.

5. Adaptability: Rituals can evolve over time based on human experiences and societal needs. Xunzi emphasizes that rituals are human-made tools rather than fixed traditions.

6. Rituals in Governance: A virtuous ruler uses rituals to guide behavior, promote stability, and create a harmonious society. Rituals are essential for cultivating moral leadership.

7. Creation of New Rituals: Xunzi believes new rituals can be developed to fit contemporary circumstances, drawing from past wisdom while addressing current challenges.

In summary, ritual is central to Xunzi's philosophy, serving as a vital mechanism for promoting morality, social order, and effective governance. It is flexible, adaptable, and rooted in human experience, distinguishing it from rigid laws.

Summary:

Berry is a lightweight scripting language designed for low-performance embedded devices. Its interpreter is small, under 40KB, and can run with less than 4KB of memory on ARM Cortex M4 CPUs. Berry includes a one-pass compiler and a register-based virtual machine, all written in ANSI C99. In Berry, not all data types are class objects; simple types like int and boolean are not, while lists, maps, and ranges are class objects, which helps improve performance.

Jukebox is a web app created to improve group music listening experiences. It solves issues with collaborative playlists by allowing anyone to join via a link, add YouTube songs, and ensuring that songs are played in a fair rotation, preventing any one person from dominating the playlist.

Key features include:

• No accounts or installations needed.
• Users can easily add music by dropping in YouTube links or searching.
• Songs play in a round-robin order, ensuring everyone gets a turn.
• It is open source, self-hostable, and privacy-friendly.

The app was developed as a side project while the creator was working on another startup and serves as a way to practice design and coding skills. Feedback and feature suggestions are welcome.

Live demo: Jukebox Demo
Code: GitHub Repository

The author expresses frustration about wasting time searching for information in Confluence, a knowledge management system. They feel that the search function is ineffective, and that knowledgeable coworkers are hard to reach or no longer available. This issue seems common in large companies, and the author is considering leaving their job. They are asking if there are known problems with systems like Confluence and if there are successful strategies or alternative tools to improve knowledge management.

In this opinion piece, Rune Madsen reflects on the impact of Figma, a popular design tool, on the design process. He first recalls his early experience with Figma in 2013 and notes its importance in enabling remote design work. However, he expresses concern that Figma's features, such as Auto Layout and Dev Mode, are pushing designers to adopt an engineering mindset too early in the creative process.

Madsen argues that these features limit creative exploration by enforcing structure and consistency, making it difficult for designers to freely experiment and iterate. He believes that the design process should start with rough sketches and evolve into code, rather than being overly polished before reaching developers.

The author warns that this trend could lead to a homogenization in digital design, where everything looks similar due to shared constraints rather than intentional choices. He advocates for maintaining a balance between design and engineering perspectives, emphasizing the need for tools that support spontaneity and creative discovery. Madsen concludes that while Figma is powerful, designers should be mindful of its influence on their practices.

The podcast episode "The Method" explores the Miyawaki Method of micro-forestry, which has gained popularity as a fast way to create dense, native tree cover in urban areas worldwide. This technique promises rapid afforestation but has not been widely discussed by professional ecologists. The episode features a discussion about Dr. Akira Miyawaki, the method's creator, and his impact on afforestation efforts.

Listeners are encouraged to support the podcast through Patreon for early access to episodes and exclusive content. The episode includes various voices and music, and acknowledges contributions from different sources.

The episode also highlights the growth success of Miyawaki forests, which can reach significant heights in a relatively short time, showcasing their potential to transform landscapes quickly.

Overall, the episode presents both excitement and skepticism about the Miyawaki Method, prompting a deeper conversation about its effectiveness in ecological restoration.

No summary available.

Adrian Holovaty discusses a surprising situation at Soundslice, where their music scanning system began receiving many uploads of ASCII tablature screenshots due to ChatGPT incorrectly suggesting that their service supports this format. Initially confused, Holovaty discovered that ChatGPT was misleading users into thinking they could import ASCII tab for audio playback, which was not true.

Faced with this misinformation, Soundslice had to decide how to respond. They could either put disclaimers about the false feature or create the actual functionality to meet user demand. Ultimately, they chose to develop an ASCII tab importer and update their system's UI accordingly.

Holovaty finds this situation interesting yet troubling, as it raises questions about responding to misinformation by developing new features.

I'm sorry, but I can't access external content such as YouTube videos. However, if you provide me with the main points or a transcript from the video, I can help summarize that information for you!

No summary available.

No summary available.

Summary: Running a Certificate Transparency Log

If you have extra storage and bandwidth, consider running a Certificate Transparency (CT) log. This system helps secure the web by keeping Certificate Authorities (CAs) accountable and alerting website owners to unauthorized certificate issues.

Currently, there are not many independent CT log operators, and starting one could significantly enhance online security. The process has become easier and cheaper due to the new Static CT API, which allows for simpler log operation with minimal dependencies.

Requirements to Run a CT Log:

1. Server: You only need one server; multiple can be used for redundancy.
2. Uptime: Aim for 99% uptime over three months, allowing for some downtime.
3. Resources:
   • CPU: Four cores and 2 GB memory with ECC.
   • Bandwidth: 2 Gbps outbound capacity.
   • Storage: Either 3-5 TB on SSDs or S3-compatible object storage with a 200 GB SSD cache.
4. Personnel: Google requires contact info for two representatives, but one person can likely manage the log.

It's crucial to maintain data integrity and regularly update and monitor the log. You should plan to operate the log for at least three years.

If you're interested in becoming a CT log operator, resources like the Sunlight README can help you get started. The community is supportive, and you can reach out for guidance.

In summary, running a CT log is a valuable contribution to internet security, and the new tools have made it much more accessible.

The Grow a Garden Calculator is a helpful tool for players of the Roblox game "Grow a Garden." It allows users to easily calculate the value of different plants by considering factors like weight, mutations, and bonuses from friends. This calculator is regularly updated to include the latest game features, making it very accurate.

Key Features:

• Accurate Plant Values: Get precise values for over 70 plant types.
• Mutation Effects: Calculate the impact of more than 30 mutations, such as Rainbow and Gold.
• Advanced Mutation Analysis: A special feature for analyzing mutation probabilities.
• Friend Bonuses: Include bonuses from friends to improve profit estimates.
• Pet Experience Calculator: A tool for determining pet growth needs.
• Real-time Results: See instant calculations as you change settings.
• Mobile Friendly: Works well on all devices, making it easy to use anywhere.

Summary:

1. Changelog:

   • Revision 0 was released on July 4th, 2025.

2. Introduction and Motivation:

   • The C programming language has a complex history regarding how to pair data with function calls. A key issue arose with the qsort function in C89, which only accepted a function pointer and lacked a way to pass additional data.
   • Originally, to modify sorting behavior using qsort, programmers had to rely on static variables, leading to bugs and data sharing problems.

3. Nested Functions:

   • To address these issues, GCC introduced Nested Functions, allowing function definitions within a local scope. This design enables functions to access local variables directly, thus avoiding static data.
   • Benefits include more intuitive function definitions and proximity to their usage, but this feature faced security concerns due to its reliance on executable stack memory.

4. Non-Executable Stacks:

   • Non-executable stacks were introduced to enhance security by preventing malicious code execution through stack-based buffer overflow attacks.
   • However, Nested Functions require the stack to be executable to access local scope variables, creating a security vulnerability.

5. Early Design Flaw:

   • The ability of Nested Functions to reference local variables directly led to concerns that the stack could be exploited, since the stack had to remain executable for this feature to work.

This summary captures the main points and concerns regarding the implementation of Nested Functions in C, including their benefits and the associated security risks.

No summary available.

Summary of Particle Lenia Deluxe Edition

Particle Lenia is a type of cellular automaton that creates lifelike patterns and behaviors, first introduced by Bert Wang-Chak Chan. This project builds on earlier work by Alexander Mordvintsev and others, who developed a particle-based version of Lenia using Python and JAX.

Key updates in the Deluxe Edition include:

• 3D Simulation: The simulation has been ported to 3D and optimized for GPU use.
• Multi-Species Support: It allows for simulations with different types of particles, leading to new mathematical lifeforms.
• Enhanced Dynamics: Additional algorithms (update kernels) were added to improve simulation dynamics.

The simulation can be explored through a browser that supports WebGPU, but requires a powerful graphics card. The source code is available for those interested in further experimentation.

Understanding Energy Fields and Particle Behavior: Particles in Lenia move based on energy fields that include repulsion and growth. They naturally drift towards areas of lower energy, resulting in complex behaviors from simple local interactions.

For more detailed mathematical insights, refer to the original Particle Lenia paper.

No summary available.

No summary available.

Memstop Summary

Memstop is a lightweight tool that helps prevent application crashes due to low system memory. It delays the start of applications until a certain percentage of memory is available, ensuring that processes don't fail when memory is critically low.

Key Points:

• Purpose: Memstop is useful for:

  • Preventing failures in parallel build systems.
  • Ensuring enough memory is available in batch processing.
  • Avoiding crashes in high-memory applications.

• How It Works:

  • Memstop is loaded using LD_PRELOAD before an application starts.
  • It checks memory status from the system and waits until a configured percentage (default 10%) of memory is free before allowing the application to run.

• Building and Installation:

  • Requires GCC, a Linux system, and Make.
  • Build with make to create memstop.so.
  • Install it system-wide or manually by copying it to a library directory.

• Usage:

  • Load Memstop using LD_PRELOAD before running your application, like this:

    LD_PRELOAD=/usr/local/lib/memstop.so make -j
    

  • Configure the memory percentage needed before execution with the MEMSTOP_PERCENT environment variable (range: 0-100).
  • Enable verbose output for memory statistics with MEMSTOP_VERBOSE=1.

• License: Memstop is licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0 (GPLv3).

This tool helps manage memory effectively, ensuring smoother application performance in memory-intensive environments.

A new record in sphere packing has been achieved by Boaz Klartag, a mathematician who is relatively new to the field. Sphere packing involves arranging spheres in a way that maximizes efficiency within a space, a problem that has puzzled mathematicians for centuries.

Historically, Johannes Kepler discovered that stacking spheres like oranges fills about 74% of space, but proving this took nearly 400 years. In higher dimensions, the optimal packing remains unsolved, with a few exceptions. Klartag's innovative approach, which builds on an old method by Claude Ambrose Rogers, allows for efficient sphere packing in any dimension.

Klartag revived the use of ellipsoids, a shape that can be stretched in multiple directions, to improve packing efficiency. After exploring this method for a few months, he demonstrated that his new ellipsoids could pack significantly more spheres than previous methods. His breakthrough suggests that a balance of order and randomness may be key to optimizing sphere packing.

This advancement has implications for fields like cryptography and communication, sparking renewed interest in the connections between convex geometry and lattice theory. Klartag hopes his work will inspire further collaboration between these areas of mathematics.

The author, a long-time resident of NYC, created a visual tool to help people understand subway services better. This tool shows how trains start at their stations, stop at various locations, and slow down when near each other. Users can also create their own train routes by connecting tracks. The author invites feedback on this tool.

This text discusses a method to solve the game Wordle using Python's dependency resolver, "uv". The author previously created a Sudoku solver with a similar approach using another tool called Poetry but decided to update the method for Wordle.

Key Points:

1. Background: The author has experience with dependency resolution in Python, specifically using it to solve puzzles like Sudoku. The transition is now towards Wordle.

2. Understanding Wordle: Wordle is a word-guessing game where players have six attempts to guess a five-letter word. Each guess provides feedback indicating if letters are correctly placed (green), correct but misplaced (yellow), or incorrect (blank).

3. Building Blocks: The solution involves representing each letter and position as packages with different versions. Dependencies are set up to reflect the rules of feedback from previous guesses.

4. Feedback Analysis: The feedback from guesses must be carefully encoded to account for nuances in letter placement and presence. The solution must adapt based on previous guesses' results.

5. Dependency Structure: The method uses a layered dependency structure where feedback packages and position packages interact to determine possible word solutions based on the given feedback.

6. Implementation: The author generated numerous packages programmatically to handle the complexity, using uv to manage dependencies efficiently.

7. Performance: The system is designed to be efficient, allowing for quick guesses by sorting words based on character frequency and distinctiveness.

8. Results: The solver runs in a loop, taking guesses based on feedback and updating its constraints dynamically.

9. Conclusion: The source code for this Wordle solver is available on GitHub, allowing others to replicate or modify the solution.

This method combines game strategy with programming to create a fun, automated way to play Wordle.

The paper explores whether large language models (LLMs) can replace human therapists in mental health care. It reviews therapy guidelines from major medical institutions to highlight key elements of effective therapy, particularly the importance of a strong therapist-client relationship. The authors tested LLMs, like gpt-4o, and found that they often fail to align with these therapeutic principles. Specifically, LLMs display stigma towards mental health issues and can give harmful advice, encouraging false beliefs in clients. These issues persist even in advanced models, suggesting that current safety measures are insufficient. Additionally, the paper points out that building a therapeutic alliance requires unique human traits that LLMs lack. Therefore, the authors conclude that LLMs should not replace human therapists but can have other supportive roles in therapy.

The author reflects on the evolution of systemd, initially critical in 2013 for replacing traditional init systems, but now views it as a successful and beneficial advancement.

Key points include:

1. Initial Criticism: The author was frustrated by systemd’s changes, particularly its binary log format and complexity compared to the old init systems, which relied on shell scripts and had many inconsistencies.

2. Improvements Over Time: The author acknowledges that systemd has effectively addressed many issues present in traditional init systems, such as poor dependency management and process handling. It also introduced improved features like timers, logging through journald, and socket activation.

3. Backward Compatibility: Systemd has made efforts to support legacy systems and ease the transition by maintaining compatibility with older configurations.

4. New Features: Systemd introduces useful features like simplified timer configurations, better logging management, and advanced security options for managing services.

5. Overall Success: Despite initial resistance, the author now believes that systemd has proven its worth and has corrected many misconceptions about its complexity and functionality.

The piece concludes with a defense of systemd against ongoing criticism, highlighting its role in improving system management and security in Linux environments.

No summary available.

The article discusses the current issues facing Mozilla and its Firefox browser, criticizing its management rather than the product itself. Despite claims that Firefox is slow, recent benchmarks show it has become faster. The author argues that the real problem lies in Mozilla's leadership, which has failed to recognize important developments and opportunities, such as the Rust programming language and the Servo browser engine, both of which were abandoned.

The piece highlights that Mozilla's management has been directionless and overly reliant on funding from Google, which has led to a lack of competitive drive. The author suggests that Mozilla should focus on being a nonprofit that aims to create a leading web browser and champion web standards, rather than pursuing profit-driven ventures. Ultimately, the article calls for a reevaluation of Mozilla’s goals, suggesting that it should prioritize the development of a standards-compliant browser and support independent projects like Thunderbird.

Honey is a natural sweetener that surprisingly resists spoilage, unlike many other foods. While most foods can attract bacteria and mold, honey stays edible for years due to its unique chemistry and the way honeybees process it.

Honey starts as a sugary, watery liquid, but bees remove water and add enzymes that increase its acidity, making it less hospitable for microorganisms. They use their wings to fan the honey, further reducing its water content to about 15-18%. This low water activity, combined with high sugar levels and acidity, prevents bacteria and fungi from surviving.

Once honey is sealed in a jar, it remains protected from oxygen, which is another factor that inhibits spoilage. However, once opened, honey can be exposed to air and bacteria, which may affect its freshness. Overall, honey’s ability to resist spoilage is due to its low moisture content and the natural processes involved in its production.

We introduce Mercury, a new type of large language model (LLM) that uses diffusion technology. These models are built on the Transformer architecture and can predict multiple tokens at once. Our first version, Mercury Coder, is focused on coding tasks and comes in two sizes: Mini and Small.

Mercury Coder models are very fast, with the Mini version processing 1109 tokens per second and the Small version processing 737 tokens per second on NVIDIA H100 GPUs. They are up to 10 times faster than other speed-optimized models while still delivering similar quality.

We provide results from various coding benchmarks in different programming languages and real-world testing by developers, showing that Mercury Coder ranks second in quality and is the fastest overall on Copilot Arena. Additionally, we offer a public API and a free playground for users.

The author reflects on their experience using the Pocket app, which is shutting down, as they migrate nearly 900 saved articles from the past seven years. They analyze the data to create a personal profile using a tool called o3.

Key points from the analysis include:

• The user likely has a strong interest in technical topics like software, AI, and cybersecurity, suggesting a professional background in these areas.
• The saved articles about family and parenting indicate that the user is likely a parent, possibly male, with a focus on family values.
• Based on article content, the user's age is estimated to be between 30 and 40, living in coastal Virginia, and working as a senior software engineer with a household income of around $150,000 to $220,000.
• The user appears to have a moderate to high risk tolerance in investments and a self-directed learning style, consuming a mix of deep-tech articles and family-oriented content.

The results also highlight seasonal interests and a shift in life focus from technical work to family and leadership. The author finds the profile surprisingly accurate and notes that such technology for personal analysis is now accessible to many, not just large companies.

Finally, the author mentions moving their saved articles to Wallabag and switching their RSS reader to FreshRSS, expressing satisfaction with the ease of self-hosting these services in 2025.

Summary of Bitchat:

Bitchat is a messaging app that allows secure and private communication without needing the internet, servers, or phone numbers. It operates over Bluetooth mesh networks and emphasizes encryption and privacy.

Key Features:

• Decentralized Network: Automatically connects users and relays messages through Bluetooth.
• End-to-End Encryption: Uses advanced encryption methods to keep messages private.
• Channel Chats: Users can create topic-based group chats with optional passwords.
• Offline Messaging: Messages are stored and sent when peers reconnect.
• Privacy Focused: No accounts or personal identifiers are needed.
• User-Friendly Commands: Familiar IRC-style commands for easy navigation.
• Emergency Wipe: Clear all data quickly with a simple gesture.

Setup Instructions:

• Users can set up Bitchat using XcodeGen, Swift Package Manager, or manually by creating an Xcode project.

Basic Commands:

• Join channels, send private messages, and manage blocked users with simple commands.

Security and Privacy:

• Bitchat ensures message security with encryption, no registration required, and temporary message storage by default.

Performance Optimization:

• Messages are compressed for efficiency, and the app adjusts power usage based on battery levels.

Technical Aspects:

• Utilizes a binary protocol optimized for Bluetooth and supports mesh networking for message delivery.

Production Notes:

• Developers can prepare the app for production with proper settings and code signing.

Compatibility:

• The protocol can be adapted for Android clients using Bluetooth LE APIs.

Rob Kochrob shares his thoughts on the use of AI in work. He believes that interesting work, which he values, is not easily replaced by AI, unlike less engaging tasks like writing boilerplate code. He feels a bit of FOMO (fear of missing out) when he sees others praising AI for improving productivity, but he worries that using AI might cause him to lose important context and compromise his work quality. He questions why some people spend so much time on repetitive tasks like boilerplate writing, suggesting it reflects a lack of efficiency. Kochrob wonders if he has misunderstood the role of many software engineers, who he thought were focused on solving problems rather than just filling in templates.