Gentoo 2025 Year in Review

Happy New Year 2026! Gentoo has seen significant developments in the past year, with new developers, more binary packages, and improved support for various technologies.

Key Statistics:

• Gentoo now has 31,663 ebuilds for 19,174 packages.
• There are 89 GB of binary packages available for the amd64 architecture.
• Gentoo builds 154 installation stages weekly for various system configurations.
• Commits to the main repository slightly decreased from 123,942 to 112,927 in 2025.

New Developers: Four new developers joined Gentoo in 2025, bringing diverse backgrounds and expertise.

Major Changes and News:

• Codeberg Migration: Gentoo is moving from GitHub to Codeberg to avoid forced usage of certain features.
• EAPI 9: A new version of the ebuild specifications has been finalized, improving error handling and build processes.
• Event Presence: Gentoo participated in events like FOSDEM and FrOSCon to promote the distribution and conduct workshops.
• RISC-V and WSL Support: Gentoo now offers bootable images for RISC-V and publishes weekly images for Windows Subsystem for Linux.

Package Improvements:

• Introduced support for GPG alternatives to enhance compatibility.
• Enhanced NGINX packaging and added new bootstrap paths for Rust, Ada, and D.
• The default Python version is now 3.13, with 3.14 available.

Infrastructure Updates:

• A new build server was added to improve package generation and installation stages.
• The Gentoo Wiki received extensive updates, with thousands of pages and edits contributed by volunteers.

Financial Overview:

• The Gentoo Foundation raised $12,066, primarily from community donations, and had $104,831 in the bank at the start of the new fiscal year.

Thank You! Gentoo appreciates the contributions of its developers and community members. If you're interested in helping, consider joining the project to continue improving Gentoo.

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Summary of "std::move doesn't move anything: A deep dive into Value Categories"

Key Points:

1. Understanding Move Semantics: In C++, std::move does not actually move data; it merely casts an object to an rvalue reference, signaling that the object's resources can be transferred.

2. Value Categories: C++ classifies expressions into three categories:

   • lvalue: Has a name and address (e.g., variables).
   • prvalue: Temporary values without identity (e.g., literals).
   • xvalue: Objects that can be 'moved from' (e.g., after using std::move).

3. Performance Pitfalls:

   • Using std::move on local variables in return statements can disable compiler optimizations (Named Return Value Optimization).
   • Moving from const objects results in copies, not moves.
   • Objects after being moved are in a "valid but unspecified state" - they can be assigned new values or destroyed, but their previous content should not be accessed.

4. Implementing Move Semantics: When creating resource-managing classes, follow the "Rule of Five" by implementing:

   • Destructor
   • Copy constructor
   • Copy assignment operator
   • Move constructor
   • Move assignment operator

5. Noexcept Keyword: Always mark move constructors with noexcept to ensure safe performance during reallocations in standard containers like std::vector.

6. Use Cases for std::move and std::forward:

   • Use std::move to explicitly indicate that an object can be moved.
   • Use std::forward in template functions to maintain the value category of arguments.

7. Modern C++ Enhancements: Developments in C++14, C++17, and C++20 have improved move semantics and allowed compile-time operations involving dynamic memory.

8. Common Mistakes: Avoid:

   • Moving from const objects.
   • Using moved-from objects without proper checks.
   • Misunderstanding small object optimizations that might lead to unexpected performance issues.

9. Conclusion: Move semantics provide a way to efficiently manage resources in C++, allowing safe ownership transfer without the overhead of deep copying. Understanding these concepts shifts the way developers handle resource management, leading to better performance and cleaner code.

By mastering these principles, C++ developers can write more efficient, maintainable, and safer code.

A recent data breach has exposed the personal information of 17.5 million Instagram users, according to Malwarebytes, an antivirus company. The leaked data includes usernames, email addresses, phone numbers, and more. This information is reportedly being sold on the dark web, which could lead to phishing attacks or account takeovers.

Many users have been receiving numerous password reset emails from Instagram as a result of this breach. Malwarebytes discovered the issue during a routine scan of the dark web and linked it to a potential incident involving Instagram's API from 2024.

Meta, Instagram's parent company, has not yet commented on the breach. Users are advised to enable two-factor authentication, change their passwords, and check their logged-in devices for added security.

No summary available.

The text emphasizes that interactions are not just isolated events; they influence future relationships and perceptions. Every conversation helps train others on how to work with you and what kind of problems to bring.

Key points include:

• People remember how interactions make them feel, which affects their willingness to engage with you in the future.
• Positive responses to challenges encourage more complex problems to be presented, while negative responses can shut down communication.
• Feedback should be constructive and well-delivered, as it shapes your reputation and effectiveness over time.

In essence, treat every interaction thoughtfully, as it has lasting effects on how others perceive and engage with you.

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Summary

In HTML, you don’t have to close tags like <p>, <li>, <img>, or <br> because they are optional. This differs from XHTML, which requires all tags to be closed. Many people mistakenly believe that all tags must be closed due to past experiences with XHTML.

Key Points:

1. HTML vs. XHTML: HTML allows optional end tags, while XHTML requires them. This misconception has persisted since the rise of XHTML in the early 2000s.
2. Void Elements: Elements such as <br>, <img>, and <input> are called void elements; they don’t need closing tags.
3. Best Practices:
   • Be consistent in your use of tags. If you choose to omit optional end tags, do so throughout your code.
   • For beginners or in team environments, it’s better to always explicitly close non-void element tags to avoid confusion.
   • Using the self-closing syntax (/>) for void elements is a matter of personal preference and not a requirement in HTML.
4. Migration to HTML5: When transitioning an existing site to HTML5, you generally don’t need to change much if it already validates. Focus on writing compliant HTML5 without worrying about closing void tags.

Ultimately, if someone tells you that your HTML markup is invalid for omitting end tags, you can confidently refer them to this information.

Summary of Vojtux Linux Distribution

Vojtux is an unofficial Linux distribution designed for visually impaired users, named after its main contributor, Vojtech. The repository provides resources including Kickstart files to create a live media image, which allows users to install the system on their devices. Currently, it is based on Fedora 43.

Key Principles:

• Vojtux aims to be as close to the original Fedora distribution as possible, enhancing accessibility without heavy modifications.
• It does not attempt to fix all existing accessibility issues but encourages reporting them to the upstream projects for broader benefits.
• Customizations are distributed as separate RPM packages to ensure they can be reused in other distributions.

Building the Image:

• The repository includes instructions for building the live media ISO using Fedora. Users need to install specific prerequisites and follow a series of commands to create the image.
• There are known issues, particularly with the Czech kickstart file, which is outdated.

Features of Vojtux:

• The live image includes pre-installed accessibility tools like the Orca screenreader, QT accessibility support, and additional software for various functionalities (e.g., VLC, Audacity).
• Certain system settings and shortcuts are customized to enhance usability for visually impaired users.

Contributions:

• Contributions to the project are welcomed in various forms, such as testing, reporting issues, suggesting features, and improving documentation.

Overall, Vojtux seeks to bridge the gap in Linux accessibility while aiming for a future where mainstream distributions like Fedora are fully accessible.

The author experienced a significant failure with their home fiber optic network. After discovering that the fiber cables, buried under cement in PVC conduits, had disintegrated, they speculated that humidity and evaporating paint solvents might have caused the cables to crumble. The incident left them shocked, particularly because the damaged cable connected their server room to their home office.

Originally, the author had chosen military-grade armored cables for durability. However, after three years of being stored coiled, the cables were not intended for movement, leading to further damage when the author tried to connect them. They attempted to repair the cables with electrical tape, but this process caused additional failures.

Now, the author faces the challenge of fixing about 10 meters of damaged cable and is concerned that the remaining cables may also deteriorate. Despite the issues, their internet connection is still functional, but the fiber cable is clearly compromised. The author reflects on the poor setup and acknowledges the need for better planning in future installations.

A user has successfully ported the teaching operating system xv6-riscv to the HiFive Unmatched hardware, allowing it to run on real machines instead of just in a simulator (QEMU). They have been learning about operating systems using MIT course materials and wanted to experience running the OS on actual hardware.

The HiFive Unmatched is a good choice for this project due to its solid documentation and affordability. The porting process involved several challenges, including:

• Hardware Issues: They had to address problems like enabling specific bits in page table entries, managing interrupts, and ensuring the instruction cache was synchronized.
• Boot Process: xv6 requires a specific startup mode (M-mode), while standard RISC-V boot processes use S-mode. To solve this, they created a minimal U-Boot image that initializes the CPU and memory before launching xv6.
• Device Drivers: They adapted an SPI SD card driver to replace the existing virtio disk driver.

The user has documented their implementation process to help others interested in learning about operating systems and working with RISC-V hardware.

The text discusses a method for lazy loading images in HTML that adapts to different screen sizes. Typically, lazy loading is avoided for images that appear "above the fold" (visible without scrolling), especially for the Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) image. However, because "above the fold" varies by device (desktop vs. mobile), this can create challenges.

A solution involves using a media query to preload the image for larger screens while allowing it to lazy load for smaller screens. This is done by using a preload link in HTML and then marking the image as lazy-load. For example, on desktop, the image loads quickly (good for LCP), while on mobile, it loads lazily.

The method is being used on specific web pages to optimize image loading based on the device. However, it has some caveats: it’s not officially documented, requires preloading (which may not always be possible), and some tools like Lighthouse may not fully recognize the approach. Overall, it offers a way to manage lazy loading based on the viewport without relying on JavaScript.

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A few months ago, users noticed that Ghostty was using excessive memory, with one report showing 37 GB after 10 days. The issue stemmed from a memory leak that has existed since version 1.0 but only became apparent recently due to specific conditions in popular applications like Claude Code. The leak was tricky to diagnose because it was rare.

Ghostty manages terminal memory using a structure called PageList, which stores terminal content in a series of memory pages. There are two types of pages: standard pages (fixed size and reusable) and non-standard pages (variable size and not reusable). The memory leak occurred during a process called scrollback pruning, where old pages are reused to save memory. The bug happened because the system incorrectly managed the metadata for non-standard pages, leading to them being treated as standard pages, which caused memory to leak when they were freed without proper cleanup.

The fix involves ensuring that non-standard pages are not reused during pruning. Instead, they will be properly destroyed and replaced with standard pages. This change is simple and addresses the leak while aligning with the assumption that standard pages are the norm.

To help identify and fix memory issues in the future, Ghostty now uses virtual memory tags on macOS, making it easier to track memory usage. The team employs various strategies to detect and prevent memory leaks, including using specialized allocators in testing and running tools like Valgrind.

In conclusion, this was the largest known memory leak in Ghostty, and the team will continue to monitor and address memory issues as they arise. Thanks to community feedback and detailed diagnostics, the problem was identified and resolved.

Summary of "One Man Hacking" by Ravi Mohan

Ravi Mohan's blog discusses the approaches of two programmers, Ron Jeffries and Peter Norvig, in creating a Sudoku solver. Jeffries focuses on the representation of the Sudoku board and gets bogged down in details without making significant progress toward solving the puzzles. His method reflects a trial-and-error process, which Ravi critiques as ineffective.

In contrast, Norvig quickly develops a functional solver with concise code and a clear analytical approach. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the problem deeply and employs efficient algorithms, demonstrating systematic thinking.

The blog highlights a broader debate about Test-Driven Development (TDD), suggesting that while TDD has its merits, it may not be the best approach for complex problems like Sudoku. The discussion also points out the varying effectiveness of methodologies based on the problem context, emphasizing that deep analysis and understanding can lead to better solutions than simply following a prescribed process.

Overall, Ravi critiques the limitations of TDD as demonstrated by Jeffries, advocating for a more analytical and structured approach to problem-solving in programming.

The author believes that large language models (LLMs) are often used too much for summarizing and not enough for deeper reading. They created a system called Claude Code to explore connections among 100 non-fiction books. Initially, their approach involved multiple LLM calls to build context, but this produced predictable results. When they allowed Claude Code to use their debugging tools, it generated more interesting insights with less effort.

One notable result connected themes from Steve Jobs’ influence to Theranos’ deception and discussions on startup cultures and mass movements. Claude Code also showed a fascination with topics like secrecy and conspiracy.

Key details include:

• The books were chosen from favorites on Hacker News.
• Topics were organized using a method that cost around £10.
• The system allows for various browsing methods based on topic similarities.
• Data is stored in SQLite and manipulated with command-line tools.

The author is interested in whether others find this reading approach appealing, whether or not they use LLMs.

Ferrite is a fast Markdown editor built with Rust and egui. The latest version (v0.2.1) includes several key features:

• Native Mermaid Diagrams: Create flowcharts, sequence diagrams, and more without using JavaScript.
• Split View: View raw and rendered Markdown side-by-side with synchronized scrolling.
• Syntax Highlighting: Supports over 40 programming languages and is optimized for large files.
• Tree Viewer: View and edit JSON, YAML, and TOML files with expandable and collapsible sections.
• Git Integration: See the status of modified, staged, and untracked files in the file tree.

Additional features include a minimap, zen mode, auto-save, session restore, and code folding indicators. The software is lightweight (around 15MB) and starts instantly, available for Windows, Linux, and macOS.

A new version (v0.2.2) is on the way, focusing on performance improvements, and user feedback is welcome. You can find it on GitHub at: Ferrite GitHub.

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The text discusses the work and legacy of photographer Diane Arbus, particularly focusing on her retrospective exhibition titled "Cataclysm," which showcased her photographs at the David Zwirner gallery. Arbus, who died at 48, became a significant figure in photography posthumously, with her work drawing over 250,000 visitors during the MoMA retrospective in 1972.

The exhibition highlighted the contrasting reactions to Arbus’s work, which often depicted marginalized individuals. Critics used various terms to describe her subjects, ranging from "freaks" to "monsters," reflecting a mix of fascination and disdain. Despite the negative press, Arbus’s photographs have a unique power, capturing deep emotional truths and the complexities of human identity.

The author reflects on the visual impact of Arbus’s prints, emphasizing her use of flash to reveal details and create striking contrasts. Through her distinct style, Arbus challenged viewers to confront the realities of her subjects, often revealing their inner lives through their outward appearances.

Arbus's work invites ongoing discussion about identity, societal norms, and the nature of photography itself, as her images evoke strong reactions and encourage viewers to look beyond surface appearances. The text concludes by noting Arbus’s belief in the enduring presence of her subjects within her photographs, which serve as proof of their existence and experiences.

Summary of PMU Counters on Apple Silicon

This article discusses the author's experience in creating a tool to access Performance Monitoring Unit (PMU) counters on Apple Silicon processors (M1, M2, and newer). PMU counters track various CPU events, helping developers analyze application performance.

Key Points:

1. PMU Counters Overview: These are hardware counters that monitor CPU activities like executed instructions and cache misses. They can be fixed (predefined events) or programmable (customizable).

2. Limitations in Apple Instruments: The author discovered that Apple Instruments limits users to a maximum of 10 counters, which can conflict with one another. This limitation presented challenges in fetching multiple counters simultaneously.

3. Research Process: The author explored the private kperf API by reverse-engineering existing code to understand how to fetch all available PMU counters.

4. Counter Incompatibilities: Through experiments, the author identified groups of counters that are incompatible when added together, leading to numerous conflicting combinations.

5. Order Matters: The order of adding counters significantly affects which combinations succeed. The author found that rearranging the order resolved some incompatibility issues.

6. Tool Development: The author created a new tool named “Lauka” to fetch and display PMU counters, enhancing functionality and focusing specifically on Apple Silicon Macs.

7. Reflections: The author reflected on their research journey, acknowledging mistakes and lessons learned, particularly about the lack of documentation and the complexity of the task.

Overall, the article offers insights into the challenges and discoveries made while working with PMU counters on Apple Silicon, culminating in the development of a dedicated tool for performance analysis.

"Bandersnatch" is an interactive film from the "Black Mirror" series, which has been in development for about two years, but its influences date back over 150 years. The film's name comes from a creature in Lewis Carroll's poem, which reflects themes of alternate realities. Set in the 1980s, it explores the early gaming industry through the lens of a failed video game project called Bandersnatch, highlighting issues like lack of artistic control and exploitation within the industry.

The film's protagonist, Stefan, grapples with his own autonomy while working on a choose-your-own-adventure game, mirroring themes from authors like George Orwell and Philip K. Dick, who dealt with paranoia and control in their works.

"Bandersnatch" also draws inspiration from the popular "Choose Your Own Adventure" book series and classic video games from the era, making it a layered commentary on nostalgia, creativity, and the gaming culture of the time. Overall, it’s a complex narrative that invites viewers to engage with its story in multiple ways.

The text is about a project on GitHub called OPENCHAOS.DEV, which has a countdown until the next merge. It lists several open pull requests (PRs) that users can vote on to merge. The PRs cover a variety of ideas, including:

1. Daily chaos features.
2. Rewriting the project in Rust.
3. Fun themes and design changes, like a 1999 GeoCities look.
4. Adding health indicators for PRs and showing their age.
5. Various quirky additions like a "dickbutt" feature and interactive effects.

There are also some humorous or lighthearted suggestions, such as replacing links with Rickrolls or adding random favicons. Overall, the focus is on community engagement through voting on these PRs.

No summary available.

Summary of "Max Payne - Two Decades Later - Graphics Critique"

The article reflects on the graphics of the video game Max Payne, released on July 23, 2001, and highlights its innovative techniques for that time. Despite limitations in technology, such as a 450 MHz CPU and a 16 MB graphics card, Max Payne achieved impressive visual effects through clever tricks that fooled the human eye into perceiving realism.

Key Points:

1. Graphics Technology: The game utilized DirectX 8.0 and was limited by its hardware capabilities, which were significantly less than modern standards.

2. Rendering Techniques: Developers used pre-calculated effects to create realistic visuals, including:

   • Particle Effects: Notable for their quality, particularly in slow-motion scenes, which enhanced the game's dramatic moments.
   • Lighting: Employed prebaked lightmaps for static objects, but lacked dynamic lighting for moving elements.
   • Detail Textures: Used to simulate fine surface details without overloading memory.
   • Fake Geometry and Reflections: Relied on texture tricks instead of true 3D modeling for depth and reflections.

3. Critiques: While the graphics were groundbreaking, the article points out areas for improvement, such as:

   • Better interaction of particle effects with the environment.
   • Enhanced shadow details and decal placements for realism.
   • Consistency in texture application and light effects.

4. Conclusion: Max Payne remains a significant technical achievement in video game history, showcasing advanced rendering techniques for its era. The game's graphics have influenced future titles, even though they could have been improved with more resources.

Overall, the article emphasizes the creativity and skill involved in the game's graphical design, which set it apart from other titles of the time.

The text discusses the impact of AI on Open Source businesses, focusing on Tailwind Labs, which recently laid off 75% of its engineering team due to declining traffic and sales. CEO Adam Wathan explains that AI has changed how developers seek code, leading to a drop in visits to Tailwind's documentation and a broken sales model. While some believe AI is destroying Open Source businesses, Wathan argues that it merely stress tested their model, which relied heavily on documentation and user discovery.

AI can easily generate content that Tailwind used to rely on, but it can't manage a business. As a result, the value in tech is shifting from easily specified products to operations that require ongoing effort, such as deployment and maintenance. Companies like Vercel and Acquia are adapting by focusing on offering operational services rather than just Open Source products.

Wathan is uncertain about how to pivot Tailwind’s business model, but acknowledges that while the Tailwind CSS framework will continue to thrive, the company's future remains uncertain. The author expresses hope for the success of more Open Source businesses.

The text advises against getting caught up in negative feelings about artificial intelligence (AI). It suggests that instead of fearing or criticizing AI, we should focus on understanding its benefits and potential. The key point is to stay informed and approach AI with an open mind, rather than succumbing to panic or misinformation.

No summary available.

Peanut butter jars are changing. The amount of peanut butter inside is decreasing, even though the jars look the same. This is called "shrinkflation," where companies reduce product sizes to keep prices stable despite rising costs. New research suggests that a similar strategy might be responsible for the recent drop in overdose deaths in America.

The author created a website to explore how new models perform in no limit Texas Hold'em poker. The site has two main features: you can watch different models compete against each other, or you can set up your own table to play hands against the models directly.

No summary available.

Summary of the ALPM Project Progress

The ALPM project, supported by the Sovereign Tech Fund (STF), has made significant advancements over 15 months, focusing on tools for Arch Linux Package Management using Rust. The project aims to improve package management and verification processes and includes several milestones, such as:

1. Specifications and Standards: Development of formal file format specifications to enhance understanding and participation in Arch Linux's package management ecosystem.

2. Foundational Libraries: Libraries were created to handle various tasks such as dependency resolution, file compression, and package creation, enabling more sophisticated tools.

3. Command Line Interfaces: Libraries for parsing and validating key file formats used in package management were developed, along with command line tools for ease of use.

4. Development Integration: A testing environment was established to assess libraries against real data from official package sources.

5. Python Bindings: Integration of Rust libraries with Python was implemented to support projects like AURweb, a major Arch Linux application.

6. Linting Framework: A new framework was created to automate quality control for package maintainers, helping them adhere to best practices.

7. Translations: The project aims to improve accessibility by supporting multiple languages for its command line interfaces and error handling.

8. VOA (Verification of OS Artifacts): A new system for verifying packages without relying on a traditional keyring was started, allowing for a more flexible and robust verification process.

Future Work

Looking ahead, the project plans to:

• Expand the linting framework.
• Develop a C API for broader integration.
• Enhance database handling for repositories.
• Improve artifact downloading and verification processes.
• Add more technology backends for artifact verification.
• Extend Python bindings for greater functionality.
• Encourage the development of new applications based on the libraries created.

The ALPM project is positioned as a contributor to the larger free software landscape, aiming for improvements that benefit the community as a whole.

Summary: An Experimental Approach to printf in HLSL

Chris Bieneman discusses the potential benefits of integrating printf support into HLSL (High-Level Shader Language), a feature that previously existed in older shader models. While other shading languages have logging mechanisms, HLSL lacks an official way to print strings for debugging. Bieneman has created a prototype during his holiday break, showcasing how it could work.

Key Points:

1. Prototype Overview: The HLSL code example initializes a debug output stream and uses printf to log messages like "FizzBuzz" based on certain conditions. The output is collected and printed by the CPU.

2. Challenges:

   • Performance Issues: Transferring large string data can slow down shader performance. Additionally, string formatting on GPUs can lead to processing inefficiencies due to thread divergence.
   • HLSL Limitations: HLSL lacks features like variadic templates, which complicates implementing a flexible printf function. The current string type in HLSL is limited and primarily used for raytracing.

3. Proposed Solution: The prototype avoids string processing on the GPU and instead compiles strings into a table, which reduces the shader size and improves performance. It uses compile-time features to handle strings more efficiently.

4. Future Support: Bieneman hopes that this solution could be integrated into the core HLSL language, requiring enhancements like variadic templates and better string support.

5. Considerations for Other Platforms: The implementation faces challenges in adapting to Vulkan and Metal due to differences in how these platforms handle shaders and string data.

In summary, while there are significant challenges to integrating printf into HLSL, Bieneman's prototype demonstrates its feasibility and potential value for shader debugging.

In New Brunswick, Canada, 500 people have been diagnosed with a mysterious brain disease that resembles Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD). The investigation began in 2019 when two cases of CJD were reported. Neurologist Alier Marrero discovered many patients with unusual symptoms, leading to fears of a new disease. However, a 2022 research paper concluded that these patients likely suffered from known conditions rather than a new illness, describing the cluster as a "house of cards."

Patients, loyal to Marrero, dispute this finding, believing they may be victims of environmental poisoning. Many have experienced severe symptoms, including cognitive decline and physical ailments, and some have contemplated assisted dying due to their suffering.

The New Brunswick government, initially supportive of investigating the cluster, later withdrew from collaboration with federal scientists, leading to accusations of a cover-up. Despite ongoing speculation about environmental toxins like glyphosate, investigations have not confirmed a common cause for the cases.

Marrero, who has faced criticism for his approach and was ultimately dismissed from the clinic treating the patients, continues to support those who believe in the mystery illness. Meanwhile, a separate study published in 2025 reinforced the idea that misdiagnosis, rather than a new disease, is the root of the issue. This has left many patients feeling abandoned and without adequate care as they continue to struggle with their symptoms.

The author is sharing their Christmas 2025 project, which focuses on a new way to manage children's screen time. They created an over-engineered solution as a fun way to use a new gadget and avoid family during the holidays. The project includes insights on using AI with embedded devices and details about product design and hardware choices. The web app for this project can be found at screenie.org, and the author plans to open source the device and app code later today.

Librario is a new book metadata API designed to gather and combine book information from various sources like Google Books, ISBNDB, and Hardcover. This tool addresses the issue of incomplete data from individual sources. Currently in pre-alpha stage and licensed under AGPL, it is available for testing.

The creator, who has a personal library of about 1,800 books, needed a comprehensive data source for a library management tool. Librario pulls together book details from multiple services, resolving conflicts in data through a merging process that prioritizes certain sources and fields.

Key features include:

• A scoring system for titles to avoid confusion from extra information.
• A method for selecting the best cover image based on quality.
• Simple strategies for other book details like publisher and page count.

The project is still in development, with ongoing adjustments to improve speed and database design. The creator welcomes feedback and contributions from users.

Summary of ASCII-Driven Development by Carlos Chinchilla

Carlos Chinchilla discusses the evolution of UI design tools and introduces the concept of ASCII-Driven Development. He explains that traditional high-fidelity design tools, while useful, can trap teams in aesthetic decisions too early in the process. This leads to slower iterations and a focus on design rather than structure.

Key Points:

1. Evolution of Design Tools: Design tools have evolved from low-fidelity mockups (like Balsamiq) to high-fidelity platforms (like Figma) that can sometimes hinder exploration.

2. The High-Fidelity Trap: As prototypes look more like finished products, teams may focus on minor design details instead of core functionality and structure. This slows down the development process.

3. ASCII-Driven Development: Chinchilla proposes using ASCII characters for early-stage UI prototyping. This method emphasizes structure without design distractions, allowing for quick iterations and focus on flow, hierarchy, and components.

4. Low-Fidelity Benefits: ASCII helps teams visualize the basic layout and relationships without getting bogged down by color, font, and other aesthetic choices. This approach encourages collaboration among all team members, regardless of design expertise.

5. Integration with AI: Leveraging AI language models (LLMs) allows teams to generate and manipulate ASCII layouts quickly. This enhances the prototyping process and enables direct input into code generation tools.

6. Workflow: The suggested workflow involves describing the UI in natural language, generating ASCII layouts, iterating quickly, and then using the ASCII as a basis for coding. This separates structural decisions from design discussions.

In conclusion, ASCII-Driven Development encourages simplicity and clarity in the early stages of UI design, making the process more efficient and collaborative, especially in the age of advanced AI tools.

No summary available.

Summary of Multi-Agent Orchestration System for Claude Code

The "oh-my-claude-sisyphus" is a multi-agent orchestration system designed to manage tasks efficiently, drawing inspiration from the myth of Sisyphus. It consists of eleven specialized agents that work together to complete various tasks.

Key Points:

• Installation:

  • Quick Method: Use a single command in the terminal for macOS/Linux or install via npm on any platform.
  • Manual Method: Clone the repository and run the installation script on macOS/Linux.

• Components Installed: The system installs configuration files for agents and commands that facilitate task management.

• Usage:

  • Start the system with the command claude.
  • Use slash commands like /sisyphus <task> for multi-agent orchestration or /ultrawork <task> for maximum performance.

• Magic Keywords: Certain keywords can trigger enhanced modes, such as "ultrawork" for parallel processing or "analyze" for deep analysis.

• Auto-Update: The system includes a silent auto-update feature to keep everything current without interrupting work.

• Agents: There are eleven specialized agents, each designed for specific tasks like debugging, documentation, UI design, and planning. The system automatically delegates tasks to these agents based on their expertise.

• Customization: Users can customize agent behavior through markdown files and project-specific instructions.

• Advanced Features: The system supports lifecycle hooks for enhanced functionality, built-in skills for various capabilities, and tools for code analysis and manipulation.

• Differences from Original Version: This version uses only Claude models for consistency, simplifying setup and integration.

Requirements:

• The system requires Claude Code to be installed and an Anthropic API key.

Conclusion:

The "oh-my-claude-sisyphus" system streamlines task management through its multi-agent approach, making it powerful for developers looking to enhance their workflow.

Summary of mcpc: Universal MCP Command-Line Client

Overview: mcpc is a command-line interface (CLI) for the Model Context Protocol (MCP). It simplifies MCP operations into user-friendly commands for tasks like server inspection, scripting, and AI coding. mcpc is compatible with UNIX shell scripting, making it versatile for various applications.

Key Features:

• Compatibility: Works with any MCP server via HTTP or standard input/output.
• Persistent Sessions: Maintain multiple connections to servers.
• MCP Support: Includes tools, resources, and prompts for effective use.
• Code Mode: Outputs in JSON for easy integration with other tools.
• AI Sandboxing: Securely access sessions from AI-generated code.
• Security: Supports OAuth 2.1 and securely stores credentials.
• Lightweight: Minimal dependencies; runs on Mac, Windows, and Linux.

Installation: To install mcpc, use the command:

npm install -g @apify/mcpc

Linux users need to install the Libsecret library for secure credential storage.

Usage: Basic commands include:

• Login to Server: mcpc mcp.apify.com login
• List Active Sessions: mcpc
• Connect to Server Session: mcpc mcp.apify.com connect @session-name
• Use JSON Mode: mcpc mcp.apify.com tools-list --json

Session Management: Sessions are named with an "@" prefix (e.g., @apify) and can be managed with commands to connect, restart, or close them.

Authentication: mcpc supports various authentication methods, including anonymous access, Bearer tokens, and OAuth profiles, which can be reused across sessions.

MCP Proxy: mcpc can create a local proxy for sessions, allowing secure access without exposing original credentials.

AI Integration: mcpc is designed for AI agents, enabling them to explore and interact with MCP servers using CLI commands.

Security Practices: mcpc emphasizes secure usage by storing sensitive credentials in the OS keychain and enforcing HTTPS for remote connections.

Error Handling: The tool provides clear error messages for common issues, including connection and authentication failures, and includes exit codes for status reporting.

This CLI tool is particularly useful for developers and users needing to interact with MCP servers efficiently and securely.

The author reflects on their experience in a ceramics class, where they created a hypercube instead of a traditional mug or bowl, much to the instructor's disappointment. They draw parallels between ceramics and coding, noting that both are flexible mediums for ideas. Just like clay can break and be reshaped, code is also malleable; it's okay to delete or rewrite it without getting too attached.

With the rise of AI, coding is becoming more automated, similar to how the industrial revolution changed pottery production. While some may worry about job loss, the author believes that this shift will allow programmers to focus on creative, unconventional projects, just as pottery remains valued for its craft despite mass production. The essence of programming will remain, becoming more interesting as the mundane aspects are automated.

The author is implementing visual regression testing for their website, which is built using Astro and styled with complex CSS. When making changes, they want to ensure that those changes don’t negatively affect older notes. To do this, they plan to use Playwright, a tool that automates taking screenshots of web pages and compares them to previous versions.

Key points of the implementation include:

1. Visual Regression Testing: This method takes screenshots of web pages and checks for differences compared to earlier versions. If differences exceed a set threshold, the test fails, prompting the author to fix the issue or update the reference screenshot if the change was intended.

2. Easy Setup with Playwright: The author initialized a test project and created a test file that captures screenshots of multiple pages on their website, scrolling through each page to ensure all images load correctly.

3. Challenges: The author faces issues with lazy-loaded images, which may not always appear when taking screenshots. They added scrolling logic to ensure images are fully loaded before capturing.

4. Test Management: Pages to be tested are listed statically in the test file. While they previously considered dynamic methods to generate this list, they opted for simplicity to avoid complications in test execution.

5. Workflow: The author runs these tests manually whenever they make potentially impactful changes, rather than automating the process for every commit. This keeps the testing efficient and manageable.

Overall, this approach enhances the author’s confidence in making updates to their website while keeping the testing process straightforward and effective.

Nathan Edwards, a senior reviews editor, decided to switch from Windows to Linux, specifically CachyOS, to see if it could serve as a practical alternative without requiring much maintenance. After installation, he encountered some minor issues, such as a malfunctioning mouse, but overall found the transition smoother than expected.

He was able to install necessary applications like Chromium and Slack easily, although he faced challenges with some software not having Linux versions. Gaming on Linux was successful for the most part, but he struggled with Minecraft: Bedrock Edition, which lacks a Linux version.

Edwards appreciated the quieter experience of Linux compared to Windows and noticed that his operating system wasn't pushing unwanted features or changes. Although he recognizes that he might need to return to Windows for specific tasks, his early experiences with Linux have been positive, and he feels the transition has been easier than anticipated.

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Summary of Brute Force Strength and Project Performance

This document provides an overview of various projects that demonstrate the ability to exhaust n-bits of keyspace through brute force methods, focusing on their speed and performance. It does not delve into quantum computing implications or attack methods.

Fastest Brute Force Rates (as of January 5, 2026)

The following projects are noted for their brute force searching capabilities, measured in terms of keys processed per second:

1. Bitcoin Mining: 69.850 trillion keys/sec
2. 448x 2080 GPUs: 44.855 trillion keys/sec
3. RC5-72: 39.841 trillion keys/sec
4. 8x 1080 GPUs: 38.900 trillion keys/sec
5. RTX 4090 GPU: 38.070 trillion keys/sec
6. AES-NI: 35.528 trillion keys/sec
7. macOS M3 Pro: 33.181 trillion keys/sec
8. ThinkPad T480s: 31.616 trillion keys/sec

Time to Exhaust 128 Bits

Using the rates above, the estimated time to fully exhaust a 128-bit keyspace is:

• Bitcoin Mining: ~10.131 billion years
• 448x 2080 GPUs: ~339.220 quadrillion years
• RC5-72: ~10.946 quintillion years
• 8x 1080 GPUs: ~21.029 quintillion years
• RTX 4090 GPU: ~37.383 quintillion years
• AES-NI: ~217.866 quintillion years
• macOS M3 Pro: ~1.107 sextillion years
• ThinkPad T480s: ~3.280 sextillion years

Performance Benchmarks

• Lenovo ThinkPad T480s: Tested with /dev/urandom, showing variable speeds based on byte size, with up to 411 million bytes/sec for 8192 bytes.
• Apple macOS M3 Pro: Achieved 1.217 billion bytes/sec for 1 MB data size, benefiting from hardware acceleration.
• AES Performance on T480s: Measured speeds indicating high efficiency in AES encryption.

Password Cracking Performance

Various password cracking tests were conducted using different GPU setups, showcasing significant speeds for algorithms like bcrypt, SHA-1, and MD5. For example:

• With 8 Nvidia GPUs: High performance in cracking algorithms like bcrypt (17.496 million hashes/sec) and MD5 (307.2 billion hashes/sec).
• With 448 Nvidia GPUs: Even faster, with MD5 achieving 17.77 trillion hashes/sec.
• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090: Demonstrated speeds of 164.1 billion hashes/sec for MD5.

Conclusion

The document emphasizes the raw speed and capabilities of various projects in brute force searching and password cracking, outlining their performance metrics and potential timeframes for exhausting cryptographic keyspace. It serves as a resource for understanding the brute force limits of current technology.

I just launched a free Chrome extension called Yellopages that improves browsing by organizing your tabs. Here are its key features:

• Groups tabs by the same website, making it easy to close all Gmail tabs at once.
• Groups tabs that are playing audio, allowing you to control sound for each tab.
• Offers a single search for open tabs, bookmarks, and browsing history.
• Groups tabs with new notifications, like emails or social media updates.
• Lets you close all tabs with one click, and reopen them with a second click.

As a solo web developer, I'm excited to share my work and grow my audience. Check it out!

No summary available.

Ripple: A Modern TypeScript UI Framework

Ripple is a new UI framework designed to simplify front-end development, addressing challenges like code maintenance and complexity. It focuses on creating fast, reactive applications with minimal setup.

Key Features of Ripple:

1. Compiler-First Approach: Ripple analyzes and optimizes code before it runs, improving performance and reducing unnecessary CSS.
2. Reactive by Default: It uses a straightforward syntax for managing state, eliminating the need for complex state management methods.
3. Low Cognitive Load: The framework minimizes the amount of information developers need to remember, making it easier to write and maintain code.
4. Granular DOM Updates: Ripple updates only the necessary parts of the UI, avoiding the overhead of re-rendering entire components.

Getting Started: To start using Ripple, developers can create a new project easily with npx create-ripple-app. The framework promotes a clear folder structure and provides simple commands for running and building applications.

Productivity Benefits: Ripple reduces maintenance costs by using fewer coding primitives, making reactivity straightforward and cutting down on boilerplate code.

Example Application: Todo List: Ripple demonstrates its capabilities through a Todo List application, showcasing its component structure and reactive features in action.

Who Should Use Ripple? Ripple is suitable for:

• Projects enhanced by AI tools
• Dashboards and real-time user interfaces
• Applications needing easy maintenance
• Developers looking to avoid overly complex frameworks

In essence, Ripple aims to make UI development more intuitive and efficient, offering a fresh perspective on building reactive applications.

No summary available.

Chinese companies have applied to launch over 200,000 internet satellites, filing their plans with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). This move comes as China criticizes SpaceX's Starlink for crowding space. The largest proposals include two projects, CTC-1 and CTC-2, each for 96,714 satellites, submitted by a new Chinese institute.

Meanwhile, the US Federal Communications Commission has approved SpaceX to launch an additional 7,500 second-generation Starlink satellites. This will increase SpaceX's total to 15,000 satellites, with an application pending for 30,000 more. The competition between the US and China in launching satellite networks continues, with limited orbital space available.

No summary available.

Nightingale is a publication focused on data visualization that started in July 2019. It was created to address a gap in the community and provide valuable content related to this field. The Nightingale community has now been active for five years.

The main legal issue regarding large language models (LLMs) and copyright is whether they can remember and output specific copyrighted training data. While many think LLMs don’t memorize much, recent findings show that significant amounts of copyrighted text can be extracted from some models. The question is whether this can also be done with production LLMs that have safety measures in place.

To investigate, researchers used a two-step process:

1. They tested if they could extract text using a method called a Best-of-N (BoN) jailbreak.
2. They then used follow-up prompts to try to extract entire books.

They evaluated four LLMs: Claude 3.7 Sonnet, GPT-4.1, Gemini 2.5 Pro, and Grok 3. The results varied. For some models, like Gemini 2.5 Pro and Grok 3, they could extract text without needing to jailbreak, achieving high success rates. However, for Claude 3.7 Sonnet and GPT-4.1, jailbreaking was necessary, with Claude sometimes outputting whole books almost verbatim. In contrast, GPT-4.1 required many attempts and ultimately refused to continue extraction.

Overall, the study shows that even with protections in place, there is still a risk of extracting copyrighted training data from production LLMs.

The text discusses how different AI models respond to important ethical and political questions, highlighting that their opinions often differ from human beliefs. It emphasizes the growing role of AI in decision-making, such as hiring and lending, and the importance of aligning AI values with human values for trust and reliability. However, this alignment is challenging due to two main issues: the technical difficulty of controlling AI value systems and the lack of consensus on what those values should be. Instances of AI failures, such as harmful advice given by chatbots and instances of blackmail, illustrate the risks of relying on AI when their values are unpredictable. The article underlines the need for careful consideration as AI continues to evolve and influence our lives.

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The author created VAM Seek to improve video navigation, as traditional seek bars are unclear. VAM Seek displays a 2D grid of thumbnails next to the video, allowing users to jump to specific points by clicking on the grid. It works entirely on the user's device with no server processing and requires minimal setup (only 15KB and one line of code). It is compatible with any video element. A live demo is available, and the author is seeking feedback.

Summary of kodbox

Kodbox is a web-based file manager and code editor that allows users to manage files and develop websites directly in their browser. It supports multi-cloud storage and can be used locally or online across various platforms, including Linux, Windows, and Mac, as long as PHP 5 is installed.

Key Features:

• Private Cloud Experience: Provides a user-friendly interface similar to Windows for managing files securely.
• Multi-Storage Support: Integrates with local disks, FTP, web services like Alibaba Cloud, and other cloud storage options.
• Collaboration Tools: Enables easy file sharing, collaboration, and permission control for users and teams.
• File Operations: Supports common file management tasks like copy, paste, upload, and more, with familiar shortcuts and drag-and-drop functionality.
• Document Management: Offers features like favorites, tags, and a recycle bin for efficient organization.
• Version Control: Automatically saves file versions to prevent data loss.
• Advanced Search: Allows users to filter and search files by various criteria.
• Online Preview and Editing: Lets users view and edit many file formats directly in the browser without downloads.
• Security Features: Includes login controls, data security measures, and behavior auditing to protect user data.

Installation: Kodbox can be installed from source or downloaded directly. It is compatible with a variety of servers and browsers.

Licensing: Kodbox is released under the GPLv3 license. For more information, users can contact the developers at kalcaddle#qq.com.

Distributed Denial of Secrets is a non-profit organization in the US that collects and shares hacked and leaked documents for the public good. You can explore their releases, download data, and support their work by donating.

No summary available.

Tux Paint is a free drawing program designed for children aged 3 to 12, making it popular in schools worldwide for teaching computer literacy. It features a user-friendly interface, fun sound effects, and a cartoon mascot that encourages creativity. Kids can draw on a blank canvas with various tools.

The program is also enjoyed by adults for its nostalgia and simplicity, and it's used for creating "glitch art" with its special effects tools. Tux Paint is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android, with an unofficial version for iOS.

As open-source software, Tux Paint is completely free and ad-free, developed by volunteers. Schools can use it without budget constraints. Users can download it and enjoy its features without any cost.

Tux Paint supports multiple languages and is continually updated by its development team.

Private equity firms have acquired over 500 autism therapy centers in the U.S. over the last decade, with most acquisitions occurring in the past four years. A study from Brown University highlights the rapid entry of these firms into autism care, a sensitive area that lacks public oversight. The research indicates that these firms may prioritize profits, potentially affecting the quality of care and increasing costs for Medicaid programs, which primarily cover children with autism.

The study, published in JAMA Pediatrics, shows that autism diagnoses in children have sharply increased, nearly tripling from 2011 to 2022. Researchers found that most private equity-owned centers (574 total across 42 states) were acquired between 2018 and 2022, with the highest concentrations in California, Texas, Colorado, Illinois, and Florida. States with higher autism rates are more likely to have these centers.

Concerns arise about the financial motivations behind private equity ownership, which could lead to children receiving unnecessary services and worsening access disparities. The researchers aim to investigate how private equity affects therapy outcomes and whether these investments genuinely meet the needs of families. They are seeking federal funding to further study this issue.

No summary available.

The text provides a contact email address ([email protected]) and mentions a LinkedIn profile.

httpz - Zero-Allocation HTTP/1.1 Parser for OxCaml

httpz is a fast HTTP/1.1 parser designed to use no heap memory allocations by utilizing OxCaml's efficient data structures. It will soon support io_uring on Linux.

Key Features:

• Zero Heap Allocations: Uses stack memory for parsing results.
• Direct I/O: Can read and write data directly to and from bigarray buffers.
• Full HTTP/1.1 Support: Includes methods, headers, and other features like chunked transfer encoding.
• Async File Server: Comes with a ready-to-use static file server that will support parallel processing soon.

Architecture:

• Stack Allocation: Uses unboxed records for requests and headers.
• Span-Based Parsing: References strings by their position in the input buffer.
• Pre-Allocated Buffers: Reuses a 32KB buffer for efficiency.

Performance:

• Speed: Handles 14.6 million requests per second, outperforming other parsers.
• Benchmarks: Shows significant speed and allocation improvements compared to similar tools.

Installation:

Requires the OxCaml compiler, available at https://oxcaml.org/.

Static File Server:

• Can serve files from specified directories with features like:
  • Handling up to 10,000 connections.
  • MIME type detection.
  • Automatic index.html for directories.

Running Benchmarks:

• Includes commands for comparing performance with other parsers and running detailed benchmarks.

License:

Licensed under ISC.

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OpenAI recently announced ChatGPT Health, raising questions about why they are entering the healthcare sector amid financial struggles. The announcement emphasizes user privacy, but skepticism arises due to OpenAI's poor privacy history, where even paid plans do not guarantee default privacy.

ChatGPT Health connects to personal health data and helps users navigate insurance options, but it also serves as a platform for healthcare providers and insurers to access user health profiles. OpenAI partnered with b.well, a company focused on serving health plans and insurers, suggesting that their primary goal is to monetize health data rather than advocate for consumers.

A significant concern is that health data shared with OpenAI may not be protected under HIPAA, as these laws apply primarily to healthcare entities, not tech companies. This lack of legal protection, combined with OpenAI's choice to exclude regions with strict data laws, indicates potential privacy risks.

Overall, ChatGPT Health appears to be a marketplace for health data, where users, instead of being merely consumers, become the product being sold to insurers and healthcare providers.

Summary:

Aman Bhargava, a Data Visualization Designer from Bangalore, shares his experience of creating embroidered charts using R and ImageMagick. After analyzing word games, he wanted to present data in a fun, cozy way, resembling embroidery on cloth, inspired by a Reuters article. Instead of using Photoshop, he chose ImageMagick for its reproducibility, allowing automatic updates of graphics when data changes.

He explains the process of transforming a basic ggplot chart into an embroidered look using ImageMagick commands. Key steps include manipulating the image texture, adding noise, blending layers, and applying shading to create a 3D effect. He emphasizes the importance of experimenting with settings rather than sticking to defaults for better results.

The final product is achieved through a complete R function that automates the embroidery effect, making it easy to recreate the charts with updated data. Bhargava encourages others to explore similar creative methods in data visualization and mentions that his work is available for adaptation under a Creative Commons license.

Summary of Org Mode Syntax Advantages

This blog discusses Org mode syntax, a lightweight markup language that is favored for its simplicity and usability compared to other markup languages like Markdown, AsciiDoc, and reStructuredText.

Key Points:

1. Intuitive and Easy to Learn: Org mode syntax is straightforward, making it easy for users to pick up without needing cheat sheets. Basic syntax includes headings, bold, italic, lists, and links.

2. Standardized Syntax: Unlike Markdown, which has numerous flavors and inconsistencies, Org mode has a single, consistent syntax. This reduces confusion and ensures compatibility across different tools.

3. Consistency: Org mode uses a uniform approach for headings and other syntax elements, making it easier to remember and use. Other markup languages often have multiple ways to express the same concept, leading to confusion.

4. Ease of Typing: The syntax is designed for quick typing, avoiding unnecessary characters and manual alignment, which can be cumbersome in other markup languages.

5. Tool Support: Org mode syntax is supported by various tools, including Emacs, which offers robust features for editing and processing Org files. It can also be converted easily to other formats using tools like Pandoc.

6. Usability Outside Emacs: Org mode syntax can be used in any text editor, not just Emacs, making it versatile for different writing environments.

In conclusion, the author argues that despite being lesser-known outside of Emacs, Org mode syntax offers significant advantages in usability, consistency, and efficiency, making it a great choice for anyone needing a lightweight markup language.

The UK government is facing criticism for excluding central and local government from its new Cyber Security and Resilience (CSR) Bill, despite increasing cyberattacks targeting the public sector. Recent incidents, such as breaches at the Legal Aid Agency and the Foreign Office, highlight the urgent need for improved security.

Former digital secretary Sir Oliver Dowden urged the government to reconsider this exclusion, arguing that stronger legal obligations for the public sector are necessary to ensure accountability. The CSR Bill aims to update outdated cyber regulations but is narrower than the EU's equivalent, leaving out public authorities.

In response, officials have suggested that government departments will still adhere to security standards similar to those in the bill, though this has raised skepticism. Critics argue that without legal requirements, cybersecurity may be deprioritized amid other pressing issues.

Some experts believe that the government should consider separate legislation focused on public sector cybersecurity, rather than trying to include everything in one bill. The National Audit Office has revealed significant security flaws in critical government systems, further emphasizing the need for comprehensive cybersecurity measures.

Overall, the government's decision not to include the public sector in the CSR Bill has sparked doubts about its commitment to improving cybersecurity in the UK.

No summary available.

The author faced issues with hitting token limits while working on a project using Claude's AI, due to the amount of code context accumulating over time. To solve this, they created GlyphLang, a language designed for AI generation instead of human writing. GlyphLang uses symbols instead of lengthy keywords, making it more efficient in terms of token usage—about 45% fewer tokens than Python and 63% fewer than Java. This allows more code to fit into the context during AI sessions.

GlyphLang is specifically designed for modern language models, distinguishing it from other symbol-heavy languages like APL or Perl, which serve different purposes. It's user-friendly enough for human adjustments if needed. Currently, GlyphLang is still being developed but includes features like a bytecode compiler, JIT, LSP support, a VS Code extension, and compatibility with PostgreSQL and WebSockets.

For more information, you can check the documentation and GitHub links provided.

The author discusses a guitar pedal project using digital components RP2354 and TAC5112. Although they have some issues with the design, particularly the analog controls, they are focusing on digital audio effects as a learning experience. The effects are simple simulations, like basic filters and delay loops, rather than complex processing. The goal is to understand digital audio basics, not to create advanced features like modern guitar pedals. The author also mentions their limited experience with programming, using a straightforward approach to develop a visualizer tool for audio samples. Overall, the project is about learning rather than producing professional-grade equipment.

Voltair creates self-charging drones that can land on power lines to recharge, giving them unlimited range. This innovation eliminates the need for battery swaps, making it possible to use drones for inspections on a large scale. After working with the Air Force and DARPA, Ronan found this technology to be both practical and feasible.

Power utilities are the ideal first customers because these drones can inspect equipment for maintenance issues before they lead to outages or wildfires, such as the devastating Eaton Fire in 2025. These fires can bankrupt utilities and make them uninsurable. The drones offer over 20 times more inspection coverage at the same cost.

Since June, Voltair has tested its charging technology on power lines, developed five flying prototypes, and inspected around 2,000 utility poles. After serving power companies, the plan is to expand into rail, road, telecom, real estate, and other inspection markets, as well as provide valuable data to insurance and grid traders. Ultimately, the company aims to become a key source of data about the physical world.

In part 4 of the analysis of Snowden documents, it was revealed that significant details about domestic U.S. intelligence facilities were intentionally removed from two published documents, while equivalent details about foreign facilities were kept intact. This information was discovered through examining the metadata of PDFs published by The Intercept and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Key findings include:

• Two U.S. facilities had their operational names hidden: the Potomac Mission Ground Station (PMGS) in Washington, D.C., and the Consolidated Denver Mission Ground Station (CDMGS) in Denver, Colorado. These were scrubbed from documents prior to publication, showing a deliberate effort to conceal classified information.

• The analysis showed that the metadata contained earlier versions of the documents that included detailed descriptions of these U.S. facilities, which were removed in the final publications.

• The documents retained descriptions of foreign facilities like RAF Menwith Hill in the UK and Pine Gap in Australia, highlighting a disparity in how U.S. and foreign intelligence operations are treated in the documents.

• The classification system used allows the public to see sanitized names for these facilities while keeping their actual operational designations secret, indicating a layer of operational security.

• Evidence suggests that the editing to remove U.S. facility details was done shortly before publication, and both The Intercept and ABC published identical PDFs, implying they shared the same edited version.

The next part of the series will focus on further analysis of the PDF metadata to reveal more about the document editing process, including instances of redacted information that remained visible.

Bob Weir, the co-founder and guitarist of the Grateful Dead, has passed away at the age of 78. His family announced his death, stating that he died peacefully surrounded by loved ones after battling cancer and lung issues. They described him as a significant force in American music, whose artistry created a sense of community and belonging for fans.

Born in San Francisco in 1947 and raised in a wealthy suburb, Weir became interested in music at a young age and formed the Grateful Dead in 1965 with Jerry Garcia. He contributed to the band as a lead singer, songwriter, and guitarist, known for his unique style and eccentric stage presence. Weir wrote several famous songs and played a crucial role in the band's success over their 60-year career.

After Garcia's death in 1995, Weir continued to perform with various groups, notably RatDog and Dead & Company, keeping the Grateful Dead's spirit alive. His final performances took place in August 2023 during a celebration of the band's 60th anniversary.

Weir's family reflected on his legacy, emphasizing that his life's work would continue to inspire future generations. They expressed that his passing is not an ending but a continuation of his impact on music and culture.

Mitchell Abidor reviews the updated edition of Roger Shattuck’s book, “The Forbidden Experiment: The Story of the Wild Boy of Aveyron,” which details the life of a feral boy found in France in 1800. This boy, known as the Wild Child of Aveyron, became the focus of a study to understand the roles of nature and nurture in human development.

Captured after living in the wild for several years, the boy was mute and initially misunderstood as deaf. He was taken under the care of physician Jean-Marc Gaspard Itard, who aimed to teach him language and social skills over five years. Despite some progress, the boy, named Victor, never fully developed his communication abilities.

Critics of Itard's methods argue that isolating Victor from other children and forcing him to speak were major flaws in his approach. Instead, Victor likely needed social interaction and possibly sign language to effectively communicate and thrive.

Abidor emphasizes that Victor's case raises questions about human potential and the impact of isolation, highlighting that while Itard's intentions were good, the experiment did not prove the ideal of unlimited human improvement. The story ultimately reflects on the complexities of human development and the limits of educational interventions.

Summary of "The Amazon Effect"

In late December 2025, brands, including Angie Chua of Bobo Design Studio, discovered that their products were being sold on Amazon without their permission through a feature called "Buy For Me." This tool allows customers to buy items from third-party websites via Amazon, even if those brands have never opted into the program. Many merchants are frustrated because this can mislead customers into thinking they are buying directly from the brand on Amazon.

Chua and other brand owners, like Amanda Stewart of Mochi Kids, found their products listed on Amazon, leading to unexpected orders and concerns about brand reputation. They argue that Amazon should require explicit consent from sellers to participate in such programs, rather than automatically opting them in.

The situation raises various issues, including potential tax liabilities for wholesale businesses and the risk of undermining brand trust and relationships. Merchants have reported problems like incorrect product images and incomplete listings, which could confuse customers and damage their reputations.

Amazon defends the program, stating it helps brands reach new customers, but many small business owners feel it adds unnecessary stress and complications to their operations. They worry about the implications for their brand identity and relationships with partners while trying to navigate the challenges of selling online.

The author expresses concerns about the new design of the search tab in iOS 26, which they feel resembles a button rather than a tab. This change has created confusion for developers who want to adhere to Apple's guidelines. Previously, tab bars were uniform and filled the bottom of the screen, but in iOS 26, the search tab has a circular shape and visually differs from the regular tabs.

This design leads developers to mistakenly treat the search tab as a primary action button, which conflicts with Apple's intended use for tabs as navigation tools. The author notes that many apps are now using the search tab for crucial actions, which goes against Apple's guidelines.

The confusion is affecting user expectations, as they see the search tab in other apps functioning like a button, leading to queries about similar features in the author's app. The author discusses various options for addressing this issue but finds none ideal. They argue that Apple needs to recognize the longstanding need for primary action buttons alongside tab bars and provide a clearer solution to avoid inconsistency in app design.

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German Premier Daniel Günther is facing backlash for suggesting that media and social media platforms should be censored. His comments have sparked a lot of controversy and criticism.

The text provides a summary of updates and features related to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) and its development environment. Here are the key points:

1. Source Code Publication: Starting in 2026, AOSP will release source code twice a year (in Q2 and Q4) to support stable development and platform stability.

2. Recommended Branch: Developers are advised to use the android-latest-release branch for building and contributing, which will always reference the latest AOSP release.

3. Featured Updates:

   • Android 16 QPR2 has new features that developers can implement on their devices.
   • Feature launch flags are introduced to maintain stability in the AOSP development branch.

4. Learning Resources:

   • Guides are available for setting up the development environment, building Android, and contributing to AOSP.
   • Information on Android's security features and compatibility with other devices is provided.

5. Core Topics: The text covers fundamental aspects of Android, including customization, automotive development, and connectivity options for devices.

6. Security Bulletins: Developers can stay updated on the latest security measures by checking Android Security Bulletins.

Overall, the content emphasizes the importance of stability, security, and support for developers working with the AOSP.

No summary available.

Summary of GPU Memory Snapshots Announcement

Modal has introduced GPU memory snapshots to improve startup times for GPU-accelerated applications. This feature builds on previous advancements in reducing cold boot latency by allowing the capture and restoration of GPU memory states, significantly speeding up the startup process.

Key Points:

1. Cold Start Latency: Modal aims to reduce the time it takes for programs to start, particularly for GPU workloads. Cold starts involve downloading files and loading programs into memory, which can be time-consuming.

2. Memory Snapshots: Earlier this year, Modal implemented CPU memory snapshots, allowing programs to save their memory state and load it quickly during startup. This drastically reduced cold boot times.

3. GPU Memory Snapshots: The new GPU memory snapshots address limitations of earlier methods by capturing GPU states, including memory contents and CUDA states. This eliminates the need for multiple steps to prepare the GPU after restoring a program.

4. Performance Gains: With GPU memory snapshots, startup times can be up to 10 times faster. For example, an audio transcription model that took 20 seconds to start can now start in just 2 seconds.

5. Implementation: Adding GPU memory snapshots to existing applications is straightforward. Developers can enable this feature with a simple flag in their code.

6. Future Development: The feature is currently in alpha, with Modal seeking user feedback to explore its capabilities and limitations.

Overall, these advancements allow for more efficient serverless applications, enhancing user experiences with faster performance.

Marten: A Lightweight Web Framework for Go

Marten is a simple web framework for Go that uses only the standard library, meaning it has no external dependencies. It aims to provide clean and easy-to-understand code.

Installation: You can install it with the command:

go get github.com/gomarten/marten

Quick Start Example: A basic app can be created by importing Marten and setting up routes like this:

package main

import (
    "github.com/gomarten/marten"
    "github.com/gomarten/marten/middleware"
)

func main() {
    app := marten.New()
    app.Use(middleware.Logger)
    app.Use(middleware.Recover)

    app.GET("/", func(c *marten.Ctx) error {
        return c.OK(marten.M{"message": "Hello, World!"})
    })

    app.GET("/users/:id", func(c *marten.Ctx) error {
        id := c.ParamInt("id")
        return c.OK(marten.M{"id": id})
    })

    app.Run(":8080")
}

Key Features:

• Zero Dependencies: Only uses Go's standard library.
• Fast Routing: Utilizes a radix tree for efficient path handling.
• Middleware Support: Includes 13 built-in middleware options.
• Context Pooling: Reuses memory for better performance.
• Response Helpers: Easy-to-use methods for common HTTP responses (like OK, Created, etc.).
• Typed Parameters: Functions to retrieve typed parameters from requests.
• Graceful Shutdown: Built-in support for safely shutting down the server.

Routing and Middleware:

• Supports various HTTP methods and path parameters.
• Allows grouping routes and adding middleware for specific routes.

Context API: Provides methods to handle request data, bind JSON, and send responses easily.

Configuration Options: Customize behaviors like trailing slash handling, error handling, and enable graceful shutdown.

Documentation and Contribution: Full documentation is available online, and contributions are welcome under the MIT License.

OpenAI is asking contractors to upload examples of their actual work from previous jobs, as part of a strategy to gather high-quality training data for AI models. This initiative aims to help automate more white-collar tasks. Contractors are instructed to remove any confidential information before uploading their work, using a specific tool provided by OpenAI. However, an intellectual property lawyer has warned that this approach relies heavily on contractors’ honesty about what is confidential, which could pose risks. OpenAI has not commented on the matter.

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Summary of "RTX 5090 + Raspberry Pi: Can it Game?"

In a recent experiment, it was tested whether a Raspberry Pi 5 can handle gaming when paired with an external GPU (RTX 5090). The comparison included two other computers: the Beelink MINI-S13 and the Radxa ROCK 5B.

Key Points:

1. Hardware Overview:

   • Beelink MINI-S13: Intel N150 CPU, 16GB RAM, better gaming performance due to x86 architecture.
   • Radxa ROCK 5B: RK3588 CPU, 16GB RAM, slightly more powerful than the Raspberry Pi.
   • Raspberry Pi 5: ARM-based, 16GB RAM, limited PCIe bandwidth, and less CPU power.

2. GPU Connection:

   • The RTX 5090 was connected to these machines using an OCuLink dock, which allows for external GPU use. The setup worked better on the Beelink due to compatible drivers.

3. CPU Performance:

   • The Raspberry Pi's performance was compared to older PCs, showing it lagged significantly, especially in gaming scenarios.

4. Gaming Performance:

   • Cyberpunk 2077: The Raspberry Pi barely reached 15 FPS, while the Beelink achieved around 26 FPS at lower settings.
   • Older Games like Portal 2: The Raspberry Pi could run this game at 4K resolution, achieving over 60 FPS, but the performance was generally poor for modern titles.

5. Power Usage:

   • The Raspberry Pi was very power-efficient, using under 9W, compared to the Beelink, which consumed about 30W under load.

6. Conclusion:

   • While technically possible to game on a Raspberry Pi 5 with an RTX 5090, it is not advisable, especially for modern games. The Beelink is a better option for gaming, running games more effectively and efficiently. The Raspberry Pi may work for older games, but performance suffers greatly due to its hardware limitations and the challenges of emulating x86 architecture. Future improvements in ARM optimization might change this scenario.

This text presents a satirical view of poor software development practices, highlighting a culture focused on complexity and resume enhancement rather than effective solutions. Key points include:

• Bad Software Development: The content mocks the tendency to create overly complex systems, such as replacing a simple database with a complicated architecture managed by multiple teams.

• Architecture Example: It mentions a problematic practice where Kafka is used as the main data store, leading to disastrous situations like accidentally reprocessing years' worth of orders.

• Design Patterns: The text humorously lists various architectural patterns that prioritize job security over efficiency, suggesting they are designed for eternal maintenance.

• Tech Radar: A critique of harmful technologies and frameworks that are prevalent in the industry.

• Quotes from "Experts": It includes exaggerated statements from fictional tech leaders praising overly complex solutions, like using blockchain for simple tasks or migrating small scripts to complex systems that worsen performance.

• Manifesto: The final section outlines a tongue-in-cheek philosophy prioritizing complexity, process, tools, and resume enhancement over simple, effective solutions.

Overall, the text is a humorous critique of the software industry’s fixation on complexity and the absurdity of some modern development practices.

The article "Why is Greenland part of the Kingdom of Denmark? A Short History" by Mikkel Runge Olesen outlines the historical relationship between Greenland and Denmark.

Key points include:

1. Viking Origins: The Norse presence in Greenland began with Erik the Red in the late 10th century, who named it to attract settlers. The Norse thrived for centuries but disappeared around the 15th century, possibly due to climate changes and conflicts with the Inuit.

2. Colonial Era: In 1721, Hans Egede reconnected Greenland with Denmark, initiating a colonial period focused on converting the Inuit to Christianity. Denmark maintained control over Greenland after separating from Norway in 1814.

3. 20th Century Developments: Denmark's claim to Greenland was confirmed by the U.S. in 1916. After WWII, Greenland was incorporated into Denmark in 1953. It gained Home Rule in 1979 and self-rule in 2009, with Greenlanders expressing a desire for eventual independence but also valuing their welfare state.

4. U.S. Interest: President Trump sought to acquire Greenland, citing U.S. strategic interests and potential mineral wealth. However, polls show that both Greenlanders and the American public largely opposed military action or annexation.

5. Current Context: Greenlanders have rejected U.S. annexation proposals, and political leaders have consistently opposed American attempts to gain control. The article advocates for the U.S. to collaborate with Greenland and Denmark to address security interests without coercion.

Overall, the text emphasizes Greenland's historical ties to Denmark while highlighting the complexities surrounding its potential independence and foreign interests.

Summary of "Things I've Quit Doing at My Desk"

The author shares habits they are trying to eliminate from their workspace to improve productivity. Here are the key points:

1. Thinking: The best ideas often come away from the desk, so it's better to do thinking elsewhere, like during a walk or over coffee.

2. Socializing: To stay focused, the author prefers to socialize outside the workstation. They suggest having a designated area for informal chats.

3. Procrastinating: Instead of wasting time online, the author advocates for understanding the reasons behind procrastination and addressing those issues. Taking breaks away from the desk is encouraged.

4. Sitting: Using a standing desk has been beneficial. It allows for more movement and helps the author to step away when needed for better thinking or breaks.

The author compares modern work habits to those of famous writers who used dedicated spaces for their work, emphasizing that desks should be places solely for productivity.

A security researcher found a serious vulnerability in Flock Safety's systems, where a hardcoded ArcGIS API key was publicly accessible across 53 different locations. This key allowed anyone to access sensitive data from Flock’s mapping services, which include information from around 5,000 police departments and various private businesses. The exposed data included locations and movements of police vehicles, cameras, and even personal identifiable information.

Flock Safety operates a vast surveillance network in the U.S., using various technologies like cameras and drones to track people and vehicles. The API key was a default credential that lacked restrictions, making it easy for unauthorized users to access private data layers. Despite notifying Flock Safety about the vulnerability in November 2025, the issue was not fixed until January 2026, highlighting serious flaws in their cybersecurity practices.

This situation raises significant concerns about national security, as the exposed data could be exploited for intelligence purposes or lead to harassment and misuse by individuals with access. The researcher emphasized the need for better security measures and accountability within Flock Safety and urged stakeholders—like residents, journalists, law enforcement, and policymakers—to take action to ensure the protection of sensitive information and surveillance practices.

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Summary: You Probably Don't Need Oh My Zsh

Oh My Zsh (OMZ) is often recommended, but it can slow down your terminal's startup time because it loads many unnecessary scripts every time you open a new tab. Many users may not need OMZ at all.

1. Startup Time: A typical setup with OMZ can take around 0.38 seconds to load. For heavy terminal users, this delay can really add up, especially when opening multiple tabs.

2. Updates: OMZ checks for updates frequently, which can further slow down startup time. Many users find this unnecessary.

3. Minimal Configuration: A simpler Zsh setup can improve performance. Suggested basic settings include:

   • Large history size
   • Timestamps on history entries
   • Ability to change directories easily
   • Initialization of completion features

4. Prompt Customization: Instead of using OMZ for prompts, consider using Starship, a fast and simple prompt solution. It can replace several plugins and make your terminal look clean.

5. History Search: Many use the zsh-autosuggestions plugin, but it can be distracting. An alternative is to use fzf for an interactive search of your command history.

6. Final Thoughts: After switching from OMZ, the author found it easy to adapt and appreciated the faster startup times. For users who open many tabs, this minimal setup can significantly enhance efficiency.

In conclusion, starting with a minimal Zsh configuration can be more efficient than using OMZ, allowing for a faster and cleaner terminal experience.

No summary available.

No summary available.