No summary available.

Using artificial intelligence (AI) can help you save time and money. Here are some ways to use it effectively:

• When leasing a new car, upload your contract to ChatGPT for assistance.
• For home repairs, like a leaky tap, AI can often diagnose the problem cheaper than a handyman.
• Parents with a fussy baby can quickly get answers from chatbots instead of waiting for a doctor's appointment.
• You can also use AI, like Claude, to analyze a PDF wine list and identify the best-value options.

Summary of "10 Cent MCU Talk"

The article discusses a project using the very inexpensive CH32V003 microcontroller, costing only 10 cents. The goal was to make this small chip, which has 16 KB of flash memory and 2 KB of RAM, capable of playing audio and even speaking.

Key points include:

1. Audio Playback: The microcontroller can produce audio by using PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) to drive a speaker. A 6-second audio clip was tested, but standard audio formats were too large to fit in the available memory.

2. Data Compression: To fit the audio into the limited space, the author explored several compression methods. The best solution was using 2-bit ADPCM (Adaptive Differential Pulse Code Modulation), which reduced the audio size significantly, allowing it to fit within the memory constraints while maintaining acceptable sound quality.

3. Speech Synthesis: For longer phrases, the project utilized a speech synthesis library called Talkie, which emulates older speech synthesis technology. This allowed for the storage of many words and phrases without exceeding memory limits.

4. Results: The microcontroller successfully played back recognizable audio clips and even synthesized speech, demonstrating the capabilities of low-cost hardware.

The article emphasizes the surprising potential of inexpensive microcontrollers in audio applications and encourages readers to check out a video demonstration of the project.

The tech world often divides into two groups:

1. Buzzword Chasers: This group tends to adopt trendy technologies without fully considering their suitability. They are influenced by marketing claims about benefits like scalability and cutting-edge features. This can lead to overengineering and unnecessary complexity.

2. Common Sense Chasers: This more pragmatic group focuses on simplicity and practicality. They prioritize proven solutions and assess technology choices critically, often resisting hype.

Recently, there’s a shift toward the second camp, driven by two trends:

• Small Data Movement: Many realize that their data needs are manageable and that modern hardware can handle substantial workloads.
• Postgres Renaissance: Postgres is gaining popularity as a versatile solution that can handle a variety of data tasks effectively, often without the need for specialized tools like Kafka or Elasticsearch.

The article benchmarks Postgres for two use cases: pub/sub messaging and queuing. Here’s a summary of the findings:

Pub/Sub Messaging

• Postgres can effectively function as a pub/sub messaging system, achieving impressive performance metrics in various setups.
• Results from a series of benchmarks showed that a modest Postgres setup can handle thousands of messages per second with reasonable latency, challenging the notion that only complex systems like Kafka are suitable for such tasks.

Queueing

• Postgres was also tested as a queue system, demonstrating solid performance in handling job processing.
• The benchmarks indicated that even a simple Postgres configuration can manage substantial queue operations effectively.

Conclusion

The article argues that using Postgres is often a better choice than adopting complex systems prematurely, especially for smaller scales. It advocates for the "minimum viable infrastructure" approach, which emphasizes using familiar and adequate technology to meet user needs without unnecessary complexity.

The overall message is that you should consider sticking with Postgres until your needs genuinely exceed its capabilities, rather than jumping to more complicated solutions too early.

A tiny wireless chip called PRIMA, implanted in the eye, along with special glasses, has helped restore partial vision in people with advanced age-related macular degeneration. In a clinical trial involving 32 participants, 27 were able to read again a year after receiving the device. The PRIMA system allows users to see shapes and patterns, a significant improvement over previous devices that only provided light sensitivity.

The device consists of a small camera on glasses that captures images and sends them as infrared light to the chip in the eye. This chip converts the images into electrical signals, compensating for lost photoreceptors in the retina. Participants used the glasses to enhance their vision with features like zoom and contrast adjustment.

The trial showed that most participants experienced improved visual acuity, enabling them to read books and signs. However, they faced some side effects, mostly mild and temporary. Currently, the device only offers black-and-white vision, but researchers are working on software to provide grayscale and improve resolution.

Future developments may lead to even better vision and designs, with the potential to assist other types of blindness caused by lost photoreceptors.

The author shares their experience transitioning from using Visual Studio Code (VS Code) to Helix, a text editor. Initially, they were hesitant to switch due to fears of needing to learn a new tool and the complexity of configuration. They valued VS Code for its ease of use and wide adoption, but grew concerned about Microsoft's control over it and the implications of relying on American tech companies.

Helix caught their attention because it aims to work out of the box, minimizing the need for extensive customization. They appreciated that Helix allows for visual selection and operations, aligning better with their editing style. Over time, they found Helix comfortable and efficient, overcoming initial fears by diving in and using the available tutorials.

The author highlights the importance of proper documentation and discovered helpful third-party resources for Helix. They also explain how to set up Helix for specific tasks like writing in Markdown, working with the Astro framework, and editing YAML files, using Language Servers for enhanced functionality.

In conclusion, they find Helix to be a fast and user-friendly editor once the learning curve is overcome, though they note that the project could benefit from more active maintenance and support.

No summary available.

Summary of State of Embedded: Q4 2025 Overview

In Q4 2025, the embedded Single Board Computer (SBC) market saw significant advancements, especially in ARM-based Systems-on-Chip (SoCs) competing with traditional x86 systems. Here are the key highlights:

• NVIDIA launched the DGX Spark, featuring a powerful ARM-based superchip, and is priced at $3999. However, support for its software is uncertain.

• Qualcomm introduced the Snapdragon Oryon X2 SoC, reaching speeds of 5GHz, and released new SBCs like the Dragon Q6A, which competes with Raspberry Pi. Notably, Qualcomm acquired Arduino, indicating a strong push into the IoT and edge computing markets.

• Rockchip presented new SoCs (RK3688 and RK3668) at their developer conference, with updates to their software support and ongoing work on open-source drivers.

• MediaTek focused on improving software support, with new products expected soon, including their flagship mobile SoC, the Dimensity 9500.

• Raspberry Pi introduced the 500+, an upgraded desktop computer model.

• CIX announced new products and made progress in device-tree support for their SoC.

• Texas Instruments has not released new products recently but continues to work on existing SoCs for automotive applications.

Overall, the ARM SBC ecosystem is thriving, driven by advancements in AI, open-source support, and competitive pricing against x86 platforms.

No summary available.

Summary of "What We Talk About When We Talk About Sideloading"

A recent blog post discussed Google’s new Developer Program and its impact on users' freedom to use their devices. The author challenges Google’s claim that “sideloading is not going away,” arguing that the new developer verification rules will limit users' ability to install software freely.

Key points include:

1. Definition of Sideloading: Sideloading, often viewed negatively, simply means installing software from outside official app stores. Google’s new rules will require developers to get approval from Google, undermining the idea of sideloading.

2. Consumer Rights: Users bought Android devices believing they could run any software. New updates will restrict this freedom, putting users at the mercy of Google’s software choices.

3. Impact on Developers: Developers can no longer share apps directly without Google’s permission, contradicting Android's original promise of openness.

4. Concerns for Governance: Governments risk losing control over software critical for their operations, as this will be controlled by a single corporation that has a history of complying with authoritarian demands.

5. Safety Claims: Google claims that sideloaded apps are significantly more likely to contain malware. However, past incidents show that malicious apps have also appeared in the Google Play Store, raising doubts about Google’s reliability in safeguarding users.

6. Call to Action: Users and developers are encouraged to resist Google's new policies. Consumers can advocate for an open Android ecosystem, and developers are advised against joining Google’s registration program.

In conclusion, the post emphasizes that users own their devices and should maintain the right to choose their software sources.

The article discusses a new tool called "iongraph," developed to visualize the compilation process of JavaScript and WebAssembly using SpiderMonkey’s optimizing compiler, Ion. This tool creates interactive graphs that allow users to see how functions are optimized during compilation.

Key Points:

1. Interactive Graphs: Users can input JavaScript code and visualize the compilation process through dynamic graphs. The graphs can be navigated and zoomed, providing a clear view of the optimization stages.

2. Comparison with Existing Tools: The author found existing tools like Graphviz inadequate due to their unpredictable layouts and instability when changes are made. In contrast, iongraph provides a more intuitive and stable representation of control flow graphs.

3. Custom Layout Algorithm: The author designed a custom layout algorithm specifically for iongraph, which simplifies the process and produces high-quality outputs in significantly fewer lines of code compared to traditional algorithms. The algorithm focuses on maintaining the logical structure of the code, making it easier to understand.

4. Steps in the Algorithm: The layout process consists of several key steps:

   • Layering: Sorts blocks of code into layers based on their structure.
   • Dummy Nodes: Creates dummy nodes to avoid overlapping edges in the graph.
   • Edge Straightening: Adjusts the layout for clearer visibility.
   • Tracking Edges: Organizes edges into tracks to reduce visual clutter.
   • Verticalization: Assigns vertical positions to ensure a clear layout.

5. Rendering: The graphs are rendered with a style inspired by railroad diagrams, which enhances readability and clarity compared to traditional curved edges.

6. Future Developments: There are plans to enhance iongraph with new features for better navigation and visualization, although there is no specific timeline for these updates.

Overall, iongraph represents a significant improvement in visualizing compiler processes, focusing on clarity and efficiency for developers working with JavaScript and WebAssembly.

In a follow-up to their article about saving $230,000 annually by moving from AWS to bare metal, the authors address questions from readers on Hacker News and Reddit. Over the past two years, they ran a MicroK8s and Ceph setup with 99.993% availability and expanded their infrastructure to include a second rack in Frankfurt, which improved customer latency by 19%.

Key points include:

1. Cost Savings: Initially saving $230,000 per year, their savings have now increased to over $1.2 million annually due to their bare metal setup, which is 76% cheaper than AWS.

2. Migration Costs: The migration took about one week of engineering time, and ongoing maintenance requires approximately 24 engineer-hours per quarter, comparable to their previous AWS tasks.

3. Reliability and Redundancy: They have multiple racks across different data centers to avoid single points of failure and perform regular failover rehearsals.

4. Hardware Management: They amortize server costs over five years, can refresh a significant portion of their hardware every 24 months, and use extended warranties and cold spares to manage lifecycle risks.

5. Cloud Usage: While they moved their primary workload to bare metal, they still utilize cloud services for specific needs like backups and edge caching.

6. Future Plans: They are developing a runbook and Terraform module to assist others in forecasting costs for colocation moves.

Overall, the transition has led to significant savings, increased reliability, and operational efficiency, while still leveraging cloud solutions where appropriate.

OpenAI has launched a new browser called Atlas, which is described as the first "anti-web" browser. Here are the main points:

1. AI-Generated Content: Instead of providing real web links, Atlas gives users AI-generated content that resembles web pages. For example, searching for "Taylor Swift" yields a summary without any direct links to her actual website, making it easy for users to be unaware of the broader web.

2. User Experience: Atlas requires users to guess commands rather than allowing them to click on links. This command-line style interface is outdated and inefficient compared to modern graphical user interfaces, which allow users to easily navigate and discover options.

3. User as an Agent: The browser positions itself as an "agent" for users but, in reality, users are acting as agents for ChatGPT. Atlas collects extensive data about user behavior, documents, and browsing habits, creating a detailed surveillance profile.

4. Lack of Functionality: The promised features, like booking flights, are often ineffective. Users have found that Atlas can make errors that a standard search engine would not, questioning the value of its capabilities.

5. Privacy Concerns: OpenAI's aggressive data collection raises concerns about user privacy and consent. The browser's design may lead to invasive monitoring of user activities, which could be used to train AI without proper consent.

6. Warning Needed: Given the potential for harm, including emotional dependency on AI tools, the browser should come with a warning label to inform users about its risks.

In summary, while Atlas may seem like a novel browser, it undermines the open nature of the web, promotes a poor user experience, and raises significant privacy and ethical concerns.

No summary available.

We're excited to announce the release of our second macOS app, Draw Over It. This small app lets you draw, highlight, or annotate directly on top of any window on your Mac.

Key features include:

• Easy access: Use a shortcut to start drawing over any app.
• A variety of tools: Includes pens, shapes, and highlighters.
• Individual canvases: Each monitor has its own drawing space.
• Focus mode: Blurs the background to highlight important areas.
• No data collection: It's sandboxed, meaning it doesn't collect user data or require extra permissions.
• Multi-language support: The app is available in 14 languages.

Draw Over It is simple to use, doesn't require subscriptions or sign-ups, and is available for a one-time purchase of $2.99 on the Mac App Store. We welcome any feedback or suggestions for improvements!

The author has recently begun learning German and finds it quite frustrating due to many confusing rules. To make memorizing easier and more enjoyable, they created some games to make learning more engaging. They hope others will find these games helpful too.

Summary of uBlock Origin Lite App

• Availability: The app is available on the App Store for iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

• Description: uBlock Origin Lite (uBOL) is an efficient content blocker that helps filter out ads and tracking content. It uses default filter lists, including EasyList and EasyPrivacy.

• Performance: The app operates without needing a continuous background process, reducing CPU and memory usage while blocking content.

• Latest Update: The newest version includes automatic selection of optimal settings for new hosts and updated filter lists.

• User Reviews: The app has a 5.0 rating from 34 reviews, with users praising its performance on iPad and Safari, though some noted the inability to add custom filter lists.

• Privacy: The developer does not collect any data from users.

• Compatibility: Requires iOS 18.5 or later for iPhone and iPad, macOS 13.5 or later for Mac, and visionOS 2.5 or later for Apple Vision.

• Cost: The app is free to download.

Summary:

HexaCluster provides various services for database and application migrations, particularly to PostgreSQL. They offer support and training for PostgreSQL, performance tuning, and managed DBA services.

A recent article discusses Oracle's new support for the Boolean data type in version 23ai, which PostgreSQL has had for over two decades. Before this update, Oracle users had to use workarounds (like CHAR or NUMBER) to represent true/false values, which could complicate queries and reduce performance.

PostgreSQL allows for simpler and more efficient queries with its native Boolean type, making it easier to work with logical values. HexaCluster also offers a migration tool called HexaRocket that simplifies the transition from Oracle (or SQL Server) to PostgreSQL by automatically converting CHAR(1) and NUMBER(1) types to Boolean.

For those looking to migrate databases, HexaCluster invites users to schedule a demo of HexaRocket for a smooth migration experience.

Summary of the Berkeley Out-of-Order Machine (BOOM)

The Berkeley Out-of-Order Machine (BOOM) is a processor design inspired by the MIPS R10000 and Alpha 21264. It features a unified physical register file, which allows for efficient register management. BOOM is built on the open-source RISC-V instruction set architecture (ISA) and uses the Chisel hardware construction language, enabling it to create various designs from a single generator. This means BOOM can produce a range of out-of-order processor designs. Additionally, BOOM incorporates the Rocket Chip SoC generator to share different architectural components, making it easier to build systems on chips (SoCs) with BOOM cores.

The SpiderMonkey garbage collector manages memory for JavaScript data structures by allocating and freeing memory as needed. Its goal is to efficiently collect data without causing delays for users. Key features of the garbage collector include:

1. Precise Collection: It accurately tracks where data is stored, reducing unnecessary retention of unused data.

2. Incremental Collection: Instead of stopping everything to collect memory in one go, it breaks the process into smaller tasks to minimize user interruptions.

3. Generational Collection: It categorizes memory into two groups: young and old generations. Young allocations are collected more frequently, while older ones are collected less often.

4. Concurrent Collection: It can perform some garbage collection tasks while the main program runs, making use of multiple CPU cores.

5. Parallel Collection: It allows certain tasks within garbage collection to happen simultaneously for better efficiency.

6. Compacting Collection: It reorganizes memory to eliminate wasted space when lots of data has been freed, but this is done less frequently due to its complexity.

7. Partitioned Heap: The memory is divided into separate zones that can be collected independently, which helps with efficiency and incremental collection.

For further information, additional documentation is available on the SpiderMonkey garbage collector.

Glyph: Scaling Context Windows via Visual-Text Compression

Glyph is a framework designed to handle long textual sequences more efficiently by converting text into images, which are then processed using vision-language models (VLMs). This method reduces the computational and memory costs associated with traditional text processing while maintaining the meaning of the content.

Key Features:

• Visual-Text Compression: Glyph compresses long text into images, allowing for significant reductions in input size and faster processing times compared to standard text-based models.
• Performance: Glyph shows competitive results on benchmarks like LongBench and MRCR, performing well with inputs of up to 128,000 tokens and speeding up inference.
• Demo Availability: A demo allows users to compare outputs from Glyph and other text models, highlighting Glyph's faster processing capabilities.

Setup and Usage:

• Users need to install specific dependencies and can run a demo script to see Glyph in action.
• The framework offers configurations for rendering text into images, including options for fonts and compression settings.

Limitations:

• Glyph's performance may vary based on rendering settings.
• The model struggles with recognizing complex or rare characters in images.
• Its training primarily focuses on long-context tasks, and its performance on other tasks is not fully explored.

Conclusion: Glyph is an innovative tool that enhances the processing of long text sequences by using visual representations, leading to improved efficiency and reduced resource requirements.

Elon Musk has launched Grokipedia, which he claims is an unbiased alternative to Wikipedia. However, many pages on Grokipedia appear to copy Wikipedia content directly. Musk aims to create a comprehensive knowledge base and plans to preserve Grokipedia pages in stone and send them into space.

The site contains around 885,279 AI-generated English articles, which Musk promotes as more neutral than Wikipedia’s 7 million articles. However, Grokipedia has fewer citations than Wikipedia. Some Grokipedia pages present controversial topics differently than Wikipedia, such as the events of January 6 and the portrayal of George Floyd.

Wikimedia, the nonprofit behind Wikipedia, is still assessing Grokipedia’s operations and emphasizes that Wikipedia's strength lies in its human-created knowledge and community-driven approach. They highlight that Grokipedia relies on Wikipedia's content and has faced criticism for reliability and bias. Overall, Wikipedia remains committed to providing trustworthy knowledge without a profit motive.

Summary of EuroLLM

EuroLLM is a large language model developed in Europe that supports all 24 official EU languages. It is open source, allowing researchers and citizens to freely use it. The model excels at language tasks like question answering, summarization, and translation.

Key Features:

• Multimodal: Future updates will enable the model to understand images and speech.
• High Performance: It is effective for various language-related tasks.
• Multilingual: Pretrained on diverse text from multiple languages.

Models:

• EuroLLM-9B: The flagship model with 9 billion parameters, trained on over 4 trillion tokens from 35 languages.
• EuroLLM-1.7B: A smaller model with 1.7 billion parameters, suitable for edge devices.

Mission: EuroLLM aims to strengthen Europe’s digital future and promote AI innovation, emphasizing AI sovereignty.

Team: The project involves experts from various institutions, including Unbabel, the University of Edinburgh, and Instituto Superior Técnico, among others. They focus on advancing multilingual AI technologies.

Support: EuroLLM is backed by Horizon Europe and the European Research Council and utilizes the MareNostrum 5 supercomputer for training. It is available for use on Hugging Face.

No summary available.

Grammarly is changing its name to "Superhuman" after acquiring the email client Superhuman. However, the Grammarly product will still retain its original name. The company is also planning to rebrand its other products, like Coda, in the future.

They are launching an AI assistant called Superhuman Go, which will be integrated into Grammarly’s extension. This assistant can provide writing suggestions, feedback on emails, and connect with other apps like Jira and Google Calendar to enhance its capabilities. Users can activate Superhuman Go in the Grammarly extension and try out different features, including a plagiarism checker and a proofreader.

Grammarly offers subscription plans: the Pro plan for $12 per month and the Business plan for $33 per month, both billed annually. The company aims to enhance its productivity suite to compete with other platforms like Notion and Google Workspace by adding more AI features to its products.

Overall, Grammarly is evolving its brand and expanding its AI offerings to strengthen its position in the productivity software market.

Today, we are excited to announce the release of the world's first open-source NVIDIA CUDA profiler that operates with low overhead, making it suitable for continuous profiling in production environments. This is part of the v0.43.0 release of the parca-agent.

Key Points:

1. Challenge of CUDA Profiling: Profiling CUDA applications traditionally introduces significant performance penalties. Tools like NVIDIA Nsight provide detailed insights but are invasive and slow down applications.

2. Our Solution: We developed a profiler that uses a combination of advanced technologies:

   • CUPTI API: To monitor CUDA API calls and kernel executions.
   • USDT Probes: Lightweight tracing points that capture key events without adding much overhead.
   • eBPF: A technology that allows us to collect data efficiently from the system kernel without heavy resource use.

3. Dynamic Instrumentation: By using a library called parcagpu, we can instrument CUDA applications without needing to modify their code. This allows us to gather detailed timing and execution information.

4. Efficient Data Handling: We use a ring buffer mechanism (perf event buffers) to transfer data efficiently from the GPU to the profiling agent, minimizing latency and overhead.

5. Correlation of Data: We match timing data from GPU execution with user application stack traces using CUPTI's correlation IDs. This helps in assembling complete profiling samples.

6. Additional Context: Each profiling sample includes contextual metadata, such as device and stream identifiers, which can be used for filtering and analysis.

7. Conclusion: The new CUDA profiler provides in-depth visibility into GPU performance, making it ideal for continuous production use. It supports both standard and complex CUDA graph executions.

Getting Started: To use this profiler, run the Parca agent with CUDA instrumentation enabled and ensure the environment variable points to the required library.

For detailed implementation, you can check specific files in our codebase. We welcome feedback and encourage users to reach out for more information or demos.

The text discusses the importance of tinkering in developing skills and taste, particularly in programming. The author reflects on their own journey, noting that they tried many activities but didn't start tinkering until later in life. Tinkering means making small changes to improve things, often done for enjoyment rather than just for a specific goal.

The author points out that there are two types of people: those who do things only to achieve a goal and those who do things for the sake of exploration. They believe a balance between these approaches is ideal.

The author encourages readers to experiment with different tools and practices to develop a sense of taste, which is the ability to recognize quality. By trying various things and discarding what doesn't work, one can refine their preferences. Ultimately, the message is to keep questioning, experimenting, and learning for personal growth.

The text discusses a comparison between React.js and Cocoa, focusing on how user interfaces (UIs) are not simply functions of data models. Here are the key points:

1. UI Frameworks: Initially, the author saw React.js as a promising MVC framework for JavaScript, similar to Cocoa. However, they found React's approach to be fundamentally different.

2. Core Concepts:

   • Transformation: Both frameworks view UIs as a way to project data into a visual format, but Cocoa does not assume this can be expressed as a pure function, unlike React.
   • Abstraction: Efficient UI design requires breaking down complex UIs into reusable components. Both React and Cocoa support this, but Cocoa uses object-oriented principles.
   • Composition: Creating reusable features involves combining various components, which both frameworks enable.

3. State Management: UIs contain specific state that is not merely a reflection of the data model. Each UI has its own unique state, such as user input or scroll positions, which are not always shared across different views.

4. Performance Optimization: The author highlights that repeatedly calling the same function can waste resources. Memoization is a technique used in both frameworks to avoid this, but React's assumption of pure functions complicates the process.

5. Lists and Hierarchies: UIs often consist of lists, which inherently create a hierarchy. Managing state for these lists is crucial, and both frameworks offer ways to handle this effectively.

6. Contextual Data: Passing data through multiple layers of abstractions can be cumbersome. React addresses this with a concept called "context," allowing easier data access without excessive boilerplate code.

7. Critique of React: The author criticizes the notion that UIs are pure functions of models, arguing that this idea leads to many practical problems. They suggest that this perspective may not be applicable to all types of applications, especially beyond data feeds.

8. Personal Insights: The author expresses a willingness to explore React.js further, despite preferring another framework (Cappuccino). They acknowledge that React is currently gaining popularity in native development.

In summary, the text contrasts the design philosophies of React.js and Cocoa, emphasizing that UIs are complex systems that cannot be simplified to pure functions of data models.

No summary available.

The article discusses the impact of Apple’s transition to M1 chips in Macs, which began five years ago. The M1 Macs outperformed previous Intel models by running faster, cooler, and having better battery life without the trade-offs that were once common in computing.

Despite the success of Apple silicon, some users find recent updates boring and see them as just incremental improvements. The author argues that predictable and steady updates are actually a good thing, as they ensure regular progress in technology.

Historically, Mac updates were often slow and inconsistent, but with Apple controlling the technology behind its products, updates have become more frequent and reliable. The author believes that calling these updates boring ignores the significant advancements made since the M1 and the desire for consistent improvements in Mac hardware. Overall, the transition to Apple silicon has been beneficial for Mac users.

Summary of Rosetta Translation Environment

Rosetta is a tool designed to help users run Intel-based apps on Apple silicon Macs. While macOS Tahoe will be the last version for Intel Macs, these computers will receive security updates for three years. Rosetta will be available for the next two major macOS releases, helping developers transition their apps.

Rosetta translates apps with Intel instructions (x86_64) to work on Apple silicon. It is not a replacement for creating a native app version, but it allows users time to update their software. The translation process happens automatically and may cause apps to open or run more slowly.

Users can run apps with both Intel and Apple silicon instructions, but the system only uses Rosetta for the entire app, not for mixed code. Certain apps, like kernel extensions and virtual machines, cannot be translated by Rosetta. It also does not support AVX512 vector instructions.

To check if an app is running under Rosetta, developers can use specific system functions. In general, Rosetta is a useful tool for easing the transition to Apple silicon for users and developers alike.

The wheeled inverted pendulum (WIP) is a type of pendulum that is connected to a wheel that rolls on the ground without slipping. This review discusses the assumptions behind the WIP and presents its motion equation, which describes how it behaves. The equation is:

[ \ell \ddot{\theta} = g \sin(\theta) - \ddot{r} \cos(\theta) ]

Here, (\ell) is the length of the pole, (\theta) represents the angle of the pendulum, (g) is the acceleration due to gravity, and (r) is the position of the wheel. The review also explains how to simplify the motion for small angles, which helps in applying optimal control strategies to real robots.

In summary, the WIP consists of a point mass attached to massless wheels via a pole. Unlike a cart-pole system where the wheels are passive, in the WIP, the wheels are actively controlled. This study aims to further the understanding and control of such systems.

No summary available.

Summary of Wacl

Wacl is a Tcl distribution designed for WebAssembly and JavaScript, allowing web developers to embed a Tcl interpreter in web browsers and integrate it with JavaScript. This enables the use of Tcl for creating client-side web applications and allows developers to utilize existing Tcl packages and scripts, like Tcllib.

Key Features:

• A main Tcl interpreter accessible through JavaScript.
• An event loop for managing Tcl events.
• Client sockets for connecting to WebSocket servers.
• The ability to call JavaScript functions from Tcl.
• Various useful extensions for XML, JSON, and HTML processing.

Wacl is built using Emscripten and is optimized for WebAssembly, which is smaller and faster than JavaScript. However, it may not be compatible with older browsers.

Getting Started:

• Wacl can be compiled on Unix/Linux with the Emscripten SDK and other tools.
• Windows is not officially supported, but it may work on macOS.
• The build process involves downloading Tcl sources, applying patches, and compiling them into WebAssembly or JavaScript.

For more information and to try it out, you can visit the provided links, but ensure you have a recent browser that supports WebAssembly.

Summary:

On October 25, Bear experienced a significant outage due to a failure in its reverse proxy, which caused custom domains to time out. The author was unaware of the issue for too long because their monitoring tool did not notify them. They acknowledge the impact on users and outline the reasons for the outage and future prevention measures.

The internet is increasingly flooded with aggressive bots, which can be classified into three main types: AI scrapers, malicious scrapers, and unchecked automations. AI scrapers seek content for training models, while malicious scrapers exploit vulnerabilities in websites. Unchecked automations allow anyone to easily create scrapers, leading to unintentional overloads on websites.

To combat these bots, the author uses a combination of web application firewalls and custom code to block harmful requests. However, during the outage, a surge in requests overwhelmed the reverse proxy, causing it to fail.

To prevent future incidents, the author has implemented several measures:

1. Added a second monitoring service for redundancy.
2. Increased rate-limiting and bot mitigation on the reverse proxy.
3. Upgraded the reverse proxy to handle five times the previous load.
4. Set up automatic restarts for the proxy if it becomes inactive.
5. Created a status page for better transparency.

The author emphasizes the importance of maintaining a safe online environment amidst the challenges posed by hostile bots.

No summary available.

Summary of the AirPods Pro 3 Flight Issue

The AirPods Pro 3, known for their excellent noise cancellation and sound quality, have a problem that surfaces during flights. While the new model includes enhanced features like heart rate monitoring, the author experienced a high-pitched whine from the left AirPod at cruising altitude. This noise was caused by the ear seal loosening, resulting in a feedback loop and discomfort.

After trying different ear tips, the issue persisted during a second flight, suggesting that the new foam tips may trap heat and affect the seal. Other users have reported similar problems, especially during takeoff and landing, but Apple has not acknowledged the issue or offered a recall.

While the author appreciates the AirPods Pro 3, the fit and feedback problem make them less recommendable compared to the previous model. It's suggested that potential buyers should test them during a flight before the return window closes to avoid discomfort.

Summary of "HTTPS by Default" Announcement

Starting October 2026, Chrome will automatically enable a feature called "Always Use Secure Connections," which will alert users before they visit any public site that does not use HTTPS. This change aims to improve online security by preventing potential attacks that can occur when users access insecure sites.

Key points include:

1. User Warnings: Chrome will warn users about insecure sites to help protect them from malware and other security threats.

2. HTTPS Adoption: The use of HTTPS has increased significantly over the years, reaching about 95-99% of navigations. However, a small percentage of HTTP navigations still pose risks.

3. Balanced Approach: To avoid overwhelming users with warnings, Chrome will only alert them for new or infrequently visited insecure sites. Regular visits to insecure sites won’t trigger repeated warnings.

4. Special Cases: The feature will initially focus on public sites, as navigating to insecure private sites is generally less risky.

5. Future Steps: Chrome plans to enable this setting by default for all users, while still allowing them to disable it if they choose. Developers and IT professionals are encouraged to prepare for this change and identify any sites that need to transition to HTTPS.

The goal is to enhance web security while minimizing user disruption.

Summary:

The rise of quantum computing poses a significant threat to Internet security as it could break current encryption methods. Cloudflare is addressing this by transitioning the Internet to Post-Quantum (PQ) cryptography, with about half of its traffic already protected against potential quantum attacks, specifically the "harvest now, decrypt later" threat.

A major challenge in this transition is the size of new PQ algorithms, which require significantly larger signatures and public keys compared to current methods, potentially slowing down Internet performance. To tackle this, Cloudflare has proposed a new system called Merkle Tree Certificates (MTCs) that aims to minimize the number of signatures and public keys needed during the TLS handshake, thereby improving efficiency.

The MTCs will allow for a streamlined process where only one signature, one public key, and a Merkle tree inclusion proof are needed. This change is meant to maintain security while enhancing performance. Cloudflare plans to experiment with MTCs in collaboration with Chrome Security, aiming to learn about their impact on performance, client updates, and potential issues before wider deployment.

In this experimental phase, Cloudflare will not act as a traditional Certification Authority (CA) but will work alongside trusted CAs to ensure security through "bootstrap certificates." As they move forward, they are committed to keeping the Internet secure and efficient while adapting to the challenges posed by future quantum technologies.

Strictly Necessary Cookies are essential for the website to work properly. They help with security, prevent fraud, and allow purchases. You can block these cookies in your browser, but this may cause some parts of the site to not work correctly.

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The author expresses frustration with the use of AI-generated content, feeling it undermines the personal touch and creativity that comes from human writing. They argue that writing is a chance to share one's unique thoughts and experiences, and that making mistakes is part of being human. The author encourages people to seek help and connect with others rather than relying on AI, emphasizing that genuine engagement enriches communication. They believe that authentic thoughts, shaped by real-life experiences, are far more valuable than sterile, machine-generated text.

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The text discusses the challenges that open source maintainers face due to the rise of AI coding tools like GitHub Copilot and Claude. While these tools can quickly generate code, they also make code review more difficult and time-consuming. This can lead to an overload for maintainers, who must spend hours reviewing AI-generated code that was created in minutes.

The author suggests implementing a clearer framework for differentiating between "prototypes" (early, unpolished demos of ideas) and "ready for review" pull requests (PRs) that meet project standards. Prototypes are useful for exploring ideas but should not be submitted as PRs. Instead, individuals should share prototypes through branches and provide explanations in forums or issues.

The text emphasizes the importance of maintaining clear communication about the nature of contributions, encouraging developers to label their code properly and respect the time of maintainers. It also highlights that while prototypes can be helpful for idea exploration, they should not distract from the quality and standards expected in production-ready code. Overall, the author advocates for a balanced approach to using AI tools in coding, emphasizing the need for responsibility and clarity in contributions to open source projects.

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Summary:

"Project Shadowglass" is an upcoming game inspired by classic immersive games like Thief and Deus Ex, featuring unique 3D pixel art graphics. Players will take on the role of a thief in a dark world where the rich thrive, and success depends on cleverness and tools.

Key points include:

• The game is still in early development, and details may change.
• All visuals are real-time and not AI-generated; even placeholder assets are made by real people.
• The game uses innovative 3D pixel art technology for immersive gameplay.
• Development phases include an alpha demo in early 2026, beta testing later, early access in 2027, and a full release date to be announced.
• Players can sign up for updates and early access opportunities.

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On October 24, 2025, a discussion took place about the lighting on various towers, including broadcast and cell towers. Key points include:

• Tower Lights Purpose: Towers have different lights (white, red) to help guide aircraft and enhance safety for pilots and air traffic.

• Types of Bulbs: Common bulbs for towers are high-wattage incandescent or LED lights. Some towers use red lights at night to reduce disruption for nearby residents.

• FAA Regulations: The FAA regulates tower lighting based on tower height and location. Towers over 200 feet typically need lights, while shorter towers may not need them.

• Daytime and Nighttime Modes: Some towers are painted to avoid needing lights during the day, activating only at night.

• Monitoring Lights: Towers that require lighting must also be monitored. If a light goes out, it must be reported to the FAA quickly using a NOTAM system.

• Estimating Tower Height: The number of lights on a tower can help estimate its height, as regulations specify lighting based on height.

• Public Responsibility: If someone notices a tower's light is out, they can check NOTAMs or contact the tower's owner for further action.

This discussion highlights the importance of tower lighting for aviation safety and the regulations governing it.

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Andon Labs is a startup that tests AI in real-world situations to assess its abilities and identify potential issues. They previously used large language models (LLMs) to operate vending machines and are now experimenting with LLMs controlling robots. Their testing involves two main activities:

1. Deploying LLM-controlled robots in their office to see how helpful they are.
2. Systematically evaluating the robots' performance on various tasks and comparing different LLMs.

They have published a paper called "Butter-Bench" on arXiv, which provides more details. Additionally, they have a blog post and leaderboard on their website that ranks the LLMs based on their performance in robotic tasks.

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This week, I tried Claude Code on the web, which is a new tool for managing tasks and projects. You start by typing a prompt, and it creates a workspace for you to interact with it. You can see changes by opening a pull request or transfer work to your computer with a command.

I’ve found it very useful as a self-managing to-do list. Whenever I think of something I want to change in different projects, I just add it to a thread and check back later to see what Claude has done.

Claude Code is also available in an iOS app, which I like for quickly asking questions while I’m on the go.

I’ve tried a similar tool from Cursor before, but I prefer Claude Code because it feels more reliable and less glitchy. Overall, Claude Code has worked better for me this week.

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Strictly necessary cookies are essential for the website to work properly. They help with security, fraud prevention, and enable purchasing features. You can block these cookies in your browser, but this may cause some parts of the site to not work correctly.

This is a GitHub project that gathers various screensavers and visualizations made with bash, a command-line shell.

Summary: Cheese Crystals Explained

Many people mistakenly throw away cheese with white spots, thinking it's spoiled. These spots are actually harmless crystals, specifically calcium lactate and tyrosine, that form during the aging process of cheese. They indicate high-quality cheese and add a unique texture, rather than being a sign of mold or spoilage.

Cheese production typically results in a lot of waste, with only about 10% of milk turning into cheese and the rest becoming whey. Previously, whey was often discarded, harming the environment, but it's now used to create whey protein powder.

The white crystals are safe to eat and can appear on various aged cheeses like cheddar and parmesan. They result from bacteria in the cheese that produce lactic acid, which combines with calcium to form calcium lactate crystals. Tyrosine crystals, on the other hand, come from specific bacteria that break down proteins.

Overall, rather than seeing these crystals as defects, cheese lovers should recognize them as signs of quality and enjoy their crunchy texture.

Summary of the Human Only Public License (HOPL)

The Human Only Public License (HOPL) is a software license designed to ensure that software cannot be used by artificial intelligence (AI) systems. The key points of HOPL are:

1. AI Ban: Software licensed under HOPL cannot be accessed, used, or modified by AI. This includes prohibiting AI from analyzing the code or using its functionalities, directly or indirectly.

2. User Compliance: The responsibility for ensuring compliance lies with users of the software, not the developers. For example, if an AI bot scrapes a website using HOPL software, the bot is in violation, not the website owner.

3. Permissive and Copyleft: Besides the AI restrictions, HOPL is permissive like the MIT license, but it includes a copyleft clause. This means that any modified versions of the software must also be shared under HOPL or a similar license.

4. What it Covers: HOPL can be used for any type of work, including software, art, and text, where the creator wants to prevent AI usage.

5. Effectiveness: The license is expected to be taken seriously in the software community, unlike robots.txt files, which are often ignored.

6. Legal Disclaimer: The license comes with a standard disclaimer, stating that the software is provided "as is" without warranty.

7. Termination: Any violation of the license terms can permanently revoke the rights granted under it.

Overall, HOPL aims to promote and protect spaces where only humans engage with software, free from AI influence.

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Summary of SICK: Streams of Independent Constant Keys

SICK is a method for efficiently handling JSON-like data structures. It allows you to:

• Store JSON data in a compact binary format.
• Access only the data you need without loading entire JSON files, improving performance.
• Store multiple JSON structures in a single space while eliminating duplicates.

Key Advantages:

• It enables efficient streaming and updating of JSON data.
• Unlike traditional JSON, SICK can handle complex data structures and circular references.

Challenges:

• JSON's complex grammar makes efficient streaming parsing difficult, leading to inefficiencies in data handling.

How It Works:

• SICK flattens and deduplicates JSON data into a table format, making it easier to stream and update.
• It uses a binary encoding system called EBA (Efficient Binary Aggregate), which allows quick access to data and supports various data types, including custom types.

Current Implementations:

• SICK is available in C# and Scala, but lacks streaming support. Future improvements may add this feature.

Limitations:

• There are some restrictions on object size and the number of unique values.

Project Status:

• SICK is tested and used in real applications, but more implementations and contributions from the community are needed.

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When I learned to use a table saw, my teacher warned me that the saw can be dangerous. It's important to respect powerful tools. If you want to create wooden furniture, you'll need to cut wood safely.

While some tools, like certain table saws, can stop if they touch a finger, other tools, like chainsaws, are inherently dangerous. We shouldn't stop making powerful tools because of their risks; instead, we should teach people how to use them safely.

I use the saw carefully, respect its danger, and have made furniture while keeping all my fingers and limbs intact.

Summary of News from the Python Software Foundation (October 29, 2025)

The Python Software Foundation (PSF) has raised concerns about the sustainability of the Python Package Index (PyPI) as its usage grows rapidly, reaching 2-3 billion daily requests. To support PyPI, the PSF has invested significantly in infrastructure and staffing, including hiring a Director of Infrastructure and other support roles.

Key points include:

1. Partnerships: The PSF aims to secure long-term agreements with infrastructure partners to reduce risks associated with annual renewals.

2. Funding Models: While core PyPI features will remain free, the PSF plans to develop paid features for corporate users, allowing those companies to help cover operational costs.

3. Community Support: The PSF encourages users to optimize their use of PyPI by implementing caching and to consider membership, donations, or sponsorships to help sustain the service.

The PSF emphasizes that while there is no immediate crisis, now is a pivotal time to ensure the future sustainability of PyPI.

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A new study by researchers at Mass General Brigham has revealed how the brain changes as people fall asleep. Using advanced imaging techniques, they found that during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, certain brain areas responsible for movement and sensory input remain active and consume energy, while areas related to thinking and memory become less active and use less energy. This helps explain how the brain stays responsive to the environment even when we are not fully aware.

The study involved 23 healthy adults and showed that as sleep deepens, energy use decreases, but blood flow in sensory areas becomes more dynamic. This suggests that sleep not only helps clear waste from the brain but also keeps us alert to sensory cues that might wake us up.

The researchers plan to conduct further studies with larger and more diverse groups and improve methods for measuring brain activity and different sleep stages. The findings contribute to understanding sleep's role in brain health and its implications for neurological and sleep-related diseases.

I'm sorry, but I cannot access external links, including YouTube videos. If you can provide the text or main points from the video, I'd be happy to help summarize it for you!

Today, my collaborator and I launched issinrealtime.org, a multimedia project that showcases daily life aboard the International Space Station (ISS). We welcome any feedback.

You can read more about the project in this article: Collect Space.

I also wrote a blog post about how we created it, which you can find here: Making of ISS in Real Time.

Summary: How to Build a 747 – A WorldFlight Story

Dellanie Byron describes the ambitious project of the Jurassic Jets Team, a group of flight simulation enthusiasts based in San Jose, California. They are working to build a Boeing 747-200 cockpit from scratch for WorldFlight 2025, an annual charity event where teams fly around the world virtually.

1. Team Overview: The team, including Justin (the captain), Kyle, Jason, and Matt, combines backgrounds in engineering, aviation, and construction. They aim to create an authentic flight experience using real cockpit components.

2. WorldFlight Event: WorldFlight is a week-long virtual journey that raises money for charity, bringing together flight sim enthusiasts to operate high-fidelity simulators. This year’s event runs from November 1-8, 2025, starting in Sydney, Australia.

3. Aircraft Choice: The team chose the Boeing 747, known as the "Queen of the Skies," for its iconic status and complexity. They are utilizing a real-life 747-300 cockpit as their base, which they acquired after it was retired.

4. Building the Cockpit: The team is transforming the cockpit into a simulator, facing challenges with wiring and integration with X-Plane software. They are using original cockpit components and need to reverse-engineer many systems.

5. Community and Support: The project emphasizes community involvement and shared learning among flight simulation enthusiasts. The Jurassic Jets Team is also raising funds for the National Kidney Foundation during their WorldFlight journey.

The team is excited about their project and encourages others to pursue ambitious goals in flight simulation. They are also hosting giveaways on Twitch to engage the community and raise funds for their charity.

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Summary of "Falcon: A Reliable, Low Latency Hardware Transport"

The article introduces Falcon, a new hardware transport system designed for general-purpose Ethernet data centers. Unlike existing systems like RoCE, which are limited to specific uses, Falcon can support various application workloads and multiple upper layer protocols (ULPs).

Key features of Falcon include:

• Congestion Control: It uses delay-based methods and load balancing across multiple paths to manage network congestion.
• Layered Design: The system has a straightforward request-response interface that supports multiple ULPs.
• Error Handling: It incorporates hardware-based retransmissions for better scalability.
• Programmability: A flexible engine allows for adjustments based on different needs.

The initial hardware implementation of Falcon achieves impressive performance metrics, with a peak speed of 200 Gbps and significantly reduced operation times compared to existing technologies, even under challenging network conditions. This makes Falcon a promising solution for enhancing the efficiency and reliability of data center networks.

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Wendy Andrews faced a serious health issue during her pregnancy when her blood pressure spiked at 31 weeks, indicating pre-eclampsia, which typically leads to early delivery. Thanks to the fetal medicine unit at Canberra hospital, her delivery was delayed, allowing her baby, Eleanor, to grow stronger. Ultimately, Andrews had a C-section at 35 weeks, and Eleanor was born healthy, requiring only two weeks of special care.

Australia has successfully reduced preterm births through a six-year prevention program that lowered early birth rates by 7% to 10%. This has prevented around 1,300 preterm births each year by implementing measures like cervical-length screening, progesterone for at-risk women, and discouraging non-medically necessary early deliveries. The initiative emphasizes that pregnancies should continue until at least 39 weeks unless there are clear medical reasons to deliver earlier.

Although progress has been made, experts note that more research is needed, especially for vulnerable groups like First Nations women and migrants. The program's success is being observed by other countries, particularly those struggling with similar issues.

Summary of Database Backup Transition Notes

Andy discusses his transition from using intermediary dump files for database backups to a more efficient method utilizing the restic tool.

Old Method:

• Used mysqldump to create daily backups that stored data redundantly.
• Issues included unnecessary data storage and constant file changes even when the database remained unchanged.

New Method:

• Switched to using restic for backups, which eliminates extra storage, deduplicates, compresses, and encrypts data.
• The new script handles backups directly without intermediary files, making the process cleaner and more efficient.

Key Learnings:

1. Avoid Pipe Confusion: Using --stdin-from-command ensures that errors in the backup process are detected.
2. File Naming: The --stdin-filename flag allows identification of the backup file in restic, although it has some limitations.
3. Using Tags: Tagging backups helps in organizing and managing them, particularly for retention policies.
4. Reducing Churn: Options like --skip-dump-date minimize unnecessary changes in backup files.
5. Effectiveness of --rsyncable: Using gzip --rsyncable significantly reduces changes in backup files compared to other compression methods.

Overall, the new approach with restic has proven to be more efficient and manageable for database backups.

Hi, I'm Erik. We created Butter, a tool that helps AI systems act consistently by storing and reusing their responses. Here are the main points:

• What it is: Butter is an LLM proxy that ensures AI automations behave the same way every time by caching (storing) and replaying responses.
• Easy Setup: It's compatible with existing chat systems, allowing for easy integration.
• Smart Caching: Butter can recognize dynamic content (like names and addresses) as variables, making it more efficient.

Background: Before Butter, we worked on Pig.dev, which tried to automate older Windows applications. However, those methods were slow and unpredictable, which isn't acceptable in fields like healthcare and finance. We realized that users prefer AI that can handle tricky situations rather than completely replacing existing automation.

How it Works: Butter captures the flow of conversations and stores them in a tree structure, allowing it to replay actions based on previous interactions. If something new comes up, it can still use AI to figure it out.

Current Status: Butter is now available for free as we improve its features. We encourage you to try it out and give us feedback!

Emily Riehl is a prominent mathematician focusing on higher category theory, which she likens to the role of a viola in an orchestra, serving as a critical connector in mathematics. Category theory emerged in 1945, challenging traditional notions of equality in math by promoting the idea of "equivalence" instead. Riehl emphasizes that this perspective is now vital across various mathematical fields.

She is co-authoring a book aimed at making higher category theory more accessible, reflecting her commitment to inclusivity in mathematics. Riehl also discusses her background as a musician and athlete, highlighting how her experiences shaped her approach to math and community.

She advocates for social justice in mathematics, stressing the importance of creating an inclusive environment for all students. Riehl expresses her belief that mathematicians should actively work to ensure equal opportunities and support for underrepresented groups in the field.

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Summary of the Programming Languages Zoo

The Programming Languages Zoo is a collection of small programming languages designed to showcase various programming language concepts and techniques. It serves as a helpful resource for anyone interested in creating their own programming language or learning about language design.

Key Features:

• Demonstrates different programming paradigms: functional, declarative, object-oriented, and procedural.
• Includes source code parsing, type checking, type inference, and multiple type systems.
• Features both interactive shells (REPL) and non-interactive file processing.
• Supports various evaluation strategies and exception handling.
• Contains interpreters and compilers, as well as an abstract machine.

Languages Included:

• miniml_error: A variant of miniml that can abort execution.
• minihaskell: A lazy, functional language with static typing.
• miniprolog: A logic programming language.
• levy: Uses call-by-push value and is statically typed.
• comm: A procedural language with basic control structures.
• calc: Basic integer arithmetic operations.
• sub: Supports mutable records and subtyping.
• boa: An object-oriented language with dynamic types.
• lambda: Implements untyped λ-calculus.
• calc_var: An extension of calc with variables.
• miniml: A statically typed functional language with recursion.
• poly: A lazy functional language with type inference.

Usage: The languages are primarily for educational purposes. Users can study the well-commented source code, run commands, and see examples. Each language has its own documentation.

Contributors: The project is maintained by Andrej Bauer and Matija Pretnar and is open source under the MIT license. Contributions are encouraged, including reporting issues, submitting fixes, or proposing new languages, following specific contribution guidelines.

Summary of "The Continual Learning Problem"

The article discusses the challenges of continual learning in artificial intelligence, focusing on how to update model parameters without losing previously learned information. It emphasizes the potential of memory layers as a solution, which allow models to learn efficiently while minimizing forgetting.

Key Points:

1. Continual Learning Challenge: The goal is to create models that continuously learn from new experiences, similar to human learning. This involves two main problems:

   • Generalization: How to learn important information from new data.
   • Forgetting/Integration: How to incorporate new knowledge while retaining what has already been learned.

2. Memory Layers: The paper proposes using memory layers, which are specialized architecture elements that allow selective updates of model parameters. This enables efficient learning without significant forgetting.

3. Sparse Memory Finetuning: The authors introduce a method called sparse memory finetuning, which focuses on updating only the parameters relevant to new information. This approach shows promising results compared to traditional finetuning methods like LoRA.

4. Experiments: The paper presents experiments showing that memory layers significantly reduce forgetting when learning new facts from datasets like TriviaQA, while maintaining performance on other tasks.

5. Future Directions: The authors emphasize the need for further research into memory systems, including their application to larger models and more complex real-world learning scenarios.

In conclusion, the article highlights the importance of developing models that can learn continually and adaptively, using memory layers to enhance learning while minimizing the loss of existing knowledge.

Farming under solar panels, known as agrivoltaics, is gaining interest in India as a way for farmers to secure stable incomes despite unpredictable weather. Harpal Dagar, a farmer near Delhi, has been farming under solar panels for five years and reports that his income has tripled, allowing him to farm crops like turmeric while benefiting from solar energy payments.

Despite its potential, adoption of agrivoltaics in India has been slow, with only about 40 projects currently operating. Challenges include the need for solar panels to be at least 11 feet off the ground, which increases installation costs by 20-30%, making it difficult for small farmers to afford. Additionally, not all crops thrive under solar panels, as they can block sunlight needed for staple crops like wheat and rice.

Experts suggest that agrivoltaics could help farmers adapt to climate change by reducing irrigation needs and diversifying income. However, government support, clear contracts, and proper crop selection are essential for the model to succeed. Currently, India lags behind China, which has over 500 agrivoltaic projects.

Overall, while agrivoltaics shows promise for enhancing farmer resilience and income, its success will depend on collaboration between the government and private sector, along with careful planning and investment.

Business Insider shares interesting and innovative stories that keep you informed.

The article discusses passkeys, which are a new way to secure online accounts. They offer better security and are more convenient than traditional passwords. However, there are still challenges to their widespread use, and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is working to address these issues.

Truffle AI, a startup from Y Combinator, has created Dexto, a platform that helps turn any app or service into an AI assistant that can think and act. Dexto simplifies the process of using AI agents by managing the repetitive tasks that usually make integration difficult, such as connecting tools and managing context.

Instead of requiring users to write complex orchestration logic, Dexto allows users to define an agent's capabilities and behavior through a simple configuration. The agent then operates automatically, managing its own tasks and memory.

Dexto can be used locally or in the cloud, and it comes with a command-line interface and a web UI. It is flexible, allowing users to connect different tools and create custom solutions easily. The team encourages feedback and offers resources like a quickstart guide and documentation for users to try Dexto and share their experiences. They have chosen a flexible licensing model to support community development while limiting larger companies from monopolizing their work.

Summary of "SATisfying Solutions to Difficult Problems!"

This post discusses SAT solvers, which are programs that solve boolean satisfiability problems, a type of NP-complete problem. NP-complete problems can only be answered with "yes" or "no" and can be verified quickly, but finding solutions is complex.

Key Points:

1. NP-Complete Problems: These include well-known issues like the knapsack problem, traveling salesman problem, and Sudoku. They can be transformed into one another.

2. Boolean Satisfiability Problem (SAT): This involves determining if you can assign truth values to variables in a logical formula so that the formula is true.

3. SAT Solvers: These tools find satisfying assignments for boolean formulas. For example, Sudoku can be expressed in a way that SAT solvers can solve it.

4. How SAT Solvers Work:

   • DPLL Algorithm: Uses backtracking, unit propagation, and pure literal elimination to find solutions. It can struggle with complex problems due to repeated conflicts.
   • CDCL Algorithm: An improved version of DPLL that learns from conflicts and uses non-chronological backtracking, making it more efficient for complex problems.
   • Stochastic Local Search (SLS): A different approach using random assignments and adjustments to find solutions, but it may not confirm unsatisfiability.

5. Satisfiability Modulo Theories (SMT): Extensions of SAT solvers that can handle more complex problems, including arithmetic and structures beyond simple boolean logic.

The post concludes by encouraging readers to understand SAT/SMT solvers and when to use them, providing additional resources for further learning.

The text discusses the concept of UserMode Linux (UML), which allows you to run a Linux kernel as a userspace application. This setup enables you to create a virtual machine (VM) without additional virtualization software or needing root access, making it an interesting option for experimentation.

Key Points:

1. UML Overview: UML allows a Linux kernel to run within another Linux kernel, using userspace functionalities for operations like input/output and file access.

2. Building a UML Kernel: You can only build a UML kernel for x86 platforms. The process involves configuring and compiling the kernel using specific options tailored for UML.

3. Creating Userspace: To use UML effectively, you need a userspace environment. A simple way to achieve this is by using Buildroot to create a minimal userspace for x86/64.

4. Running UML: The text details how to create a block device, run the nested kernel, and perform operations like writing files and verifying them from the host system. This demonstrates that changes made inside the UML instance can persist and be accessed from the host.

5. Use Cases and Limitations: UML is not suited for production workloads or full isolation compared to traditional VMs (like those created with QEMU and KVM). Its primary use is for kernel debugging and experimentation rather than as a robust virtualization solution.

In conclusion, UML is a unique and fun tool for testing and learning about kernels, though it may not replace more established virtualization technologies for serious applications.

An administrative error led to the U.S. military incorrectly stating that 54,246 American troops died in the Korean War. After nearly 50 years, the Pentagon revised this number down to 36,940. The mistake occurred when a clerk mistakenly added non-battlefield deaths to the combat deaths. The new figure was confirmed in a Pentagon memo and reported in Time magazine. This correction means that nearly 20,000 families were not mourning unnecessarily.

Summary of Tor Browser 15.0 Release

Tor Browser 15.0 is now available for download. This version is based on Firefox ESR 140 and includes a year's worth of updates and fixes, focusing on improving privacy and security for users. An annual audit addressed around 200 issues related to privacy and security.

New Features:

• Desktop:

  • Introduced vertical tabs for better tab management.
  • Added tab groups to help organize multiple tabs.
  • A new unified search button in the address bar for easier searches.

• Android:

  • Added a screen lock feature to enhance security. Tabs will lock automatically when the browser is not in use, requiring a fingerprint or passcode to access them.

Compatibility Changes:

• Future versions will no longer support older Android versions (below 8.0) and x86 CPUs for Android and Linux. Tor Browser 15.0 will be the last major release supporting these platforms, but security updates will continue until the next major release.

Security Improvements:

• WebAssembly is now managed by NoScript to enhance security. It is disabled in the Safer and Safest security levels to reduce risks.

Known Issues:

• Some quirks with vertical tabs and loading issues on older Android versions have been reported and are being addressed.

Users are encouraged to provide feedback or contribute to future releases. For those interested in supporting the development, donations will be matched until the end of 2025.