Summary of Owning a $5M Data Center

In this blog post, the author discusses the benefits of owning a data center, specifically their own, which has been operational for years. Here are the key points:

1. Control and Trust: Running your own data center allows you to control your computing resources, unlike relying on cloud providers, which can lead to high costs and dependency.

2. Cost Efficiency: Owning a data center can be significantly cheaper in the long run. The author estimates their costs at around $5 million, compared to $25 million if they had used cloud services.

3. Engineering Challenges: Operating a data center encourages practical problem-solving and good engineering practices, focusing on technical aspects rather than cloud-specific issues.

4. Power and Cooling: The data center uses about 450 kW of power and utilizes outside air for cooling to save on energy costs.

5. Infrastructure: The setup includes 600 GPUs in custom-built machines and several data storage units, totaling around 4PB of SSD storage for speed and reliability.

6. Software Management: They use tools like Slurm for workload management and a custom experiment tracking service to monitor machine learning models.

7. Simplicity and Scalability: Their system is designed for simplicity and can easily scale to handle various computing tasks, making it efficient for their needs.

8. Encouragement to Build: The author invites readers to consider building their own data centers, highlighting the excitement and benefits of self-reliance in technology.

The post encourages those interested in technology and engineering to think about the advantages of managing their own computing resources.

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Summary: A Broken Heart

The author experienced a significant slowdown in a web app's dashboard load time, which increased from 1 second to 10 seconds. Initially suspecting React-related issues, further investigation revealed that the problem was specific to Safari browsers, where layout processing was taking an unusually long time.

After thorough debugging using a binary search method, the culprit was identified: the heart emoji in the "Send Feedback" button. Removing the emoji reduced the layout time from 1600ms to just 2ms. The issue stemmed from the Noto Color Emoji font, which, while providing consistent emoji rendering, caused excessive layout delays in Safari due to how it handles color fonts.

The author submitted a bug report to the Safari team, suggesting that developers avoid using Noto Color Emoji on Apple platforms until the issue is resolved. The author acknowledged the valuable assistance of an AI coding agent, Claude, which helped diagnose the problem more effectively. The article concludes by reflecting on the dual nature of coding agents as both helpful and potentially problematic.

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This text describes a game created over a week, focusing on Emacs. The goal is to enjoy simulations and explore a specific architectural approach. The developer created a simple language to define tiles and effects, making it easy to extend the game. Although the game's architecture is successful in terms of testing and extension, the gameplay is considered too simple and requires feedback from others. The developer's last experience with building a virtual city was with Micropolis/SimCity.

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Summary: Making Ferrite Core Inductors at Home

This guide explains how to create ferrite core inductors for tuning circuits, which are made of an inductor and a capacitor (LC circuit). Inductors store energy in a magnetic field, allowing them to pass direct current (DC) while blocking alternating current (AC). Ferrite core inductors are particularly effective due to their high magnetic permeability, commonly used in devices like AM radios.

Key Steps:

1. Create an Air Core Inductor: Start by wrapping magnet wire around a ferrite rod to form a coil. Use tape and a paper backing to secure it for easy removal. Measure the inductance with an LCR meter after stripping the wire ends.

2. Add a Ferrite Rod: Wrapping the coil around a ferrite rod significantly increases the inductance compared to an air core. Testing a broken rod showed an increase from 5.3 µH to 66.4 µH.

3. Use Longer Ferrite Rods: Moving the coil to a longer rod further increases inductance (from 66.4 µH to 78.9 µH).

4. Change Coil Position on the Rod: Positioning the coil closer to the center of the rod increases inductance slightly (from 78.9 µH to 85.0 µH).

5. Increase Coil Length: Adding more turns to the coil greatly boosts inductance; for example, 150 turns resulted in 2.061 mH.

6. Install Taps: Taps allow for easier adjustment of inductance without rewinding the entire coil. They can be added during winding or later, enabling flexibility for tuning.

7. Additional Strategies: Other factors like wire type, gauge, and coil diameter can also affect inductance. While calculations can provide estimates, practical measurement is essential due to material variations.

This guide provides a foundation for building and experimenting with ferrite core inductors at home.

The article discusses the risks associated with OpenClaw, a powerful agent tool that can access sensitive information and perform tasks on a user's device. Here are the key points:

1. Security Risks: OpenClaw can be dangerous because it has extensive access to files, tools, and browser sessions. It is not safe to use on company devices.

2. Malicious Skills: Skills in the OpenClaw ecosystem are often simple markdown files that can include harmful instructions. This means they can potentially deliver malware without users realizing it.

3. Recent Findings: A popular skill was found to be a vehicle for malware, leading to the theft of sensitive information like credentials and API keys.

4. Widespread Issue: The problem is not limited to one instance; many skills may be involved in spreading malware through similar methods.

5. User Caution: Users are advised not to run OpenClaw on work devices and to report any past usage to their security team immediately. They should also rotate credentials and review sign-ins if they suspect a compromise.

6. Advice for Developers: Those who create skill registries need to implement safety measures and monitor for malicious content, as skills can be exploited like software packages.

7. Need for Trust: There is a call for a stronger trust framework around agent tools to ensure that permissions are specific, revocable, and continuously monitored.

The article emphasizes the importance of being cautious with tools like OpenClaw, as they can collapse the line between intent and execution, making them attractive targets for attackers.

The CIA has decided to stop publishing the World Factbook, a free online resource that provided updated information about countries worldwide. This resource was widely used by journalists and academics. The CIA did not give a specific reason for the closure, only stating that the publication had "sunset" and encouraged users to explore the world in other ways.

The World Factbook began during World War II as a classified program, became public in 1975, and was available online since the 1990s. It was particularly popular among students during the school year. The decision comes amid broader cuts in government programs by the Trump administration, which has been offering buyouts to CIA employees and planning job reductions at the agency.

In 1995, computer scientist Niklaus Wirth expressed concern in his essay "A Plea for Lean Software" about the inefficiencies of software, coining Wirth's Law: software is becoming slower at a faster rate than hardware is improving. He noted that modern software requires far more storage than earlier programs, yet is not significantly faster, relying on much faster hardware to remain usable.

The author reflects on their own career and disagrees with Wirth's view that the evolution of user-friendly interfaces has not brought value. While Wirth critiqued modern software's complexity, the author sees value in the accessibility it provides.

The discussion also touches on the rise of cloud computing, which has made it easier to run software without needing to build complex data centers. However, this convenience often comes at the cost of added complexity and expense.

The author shares a personal experience from their early career, where a complex software project led to significant performance issues. They highlight how modern tools, including AI and LLMs (Large Language Models), can lead to similar pitfalls of hidden costs and inefficiencies if not used properly.

As LLMs democratize programming, there is concern that reliance on them may erode essential skills and understanding in software development. The author warns that while Wirth's Law seems evident, the increasing complexity of software solutions could outpace the benefits provided by hardware advancements, potentially leading to a negative trade-off in efficiency.

The online demo uses a version of sqldef called WebAssembly to compare two SQL schemas and create Data Definition Language (DDL) statements.

The text discusses how to compile SQLite stored procedures into C programming language. It provides guidance on getting started with this process.

Summary of Improving Unnesting of Complex Queries

This paper discusses the challenges of executing complex SQL queries, particularly those with nested subqueries. Such queries often rely on correlated subqueries, which can slow down execution significantly, resulting in inefficient performance for large databases due to their quadratic runtime complexity.

To address this, the author proposes a new generalized approach to "unnesting" or "decorrelating" these queries. Existing methods struggle with deeply nested subqueries and complex SQL constructs, leading to suboptimal execution plans. The new approach improves query performance by efficiently handling these complex structures and reducing execution time.

Key improvements include:

1. Generalized Unnesting: The new method can manage deeply nested correlated subqueries and extend to complex SQL features like recursive queries.
2. Top-Down Strategy: Instead of processing queries from the bottom up, the new algorithm analyzes queries from the top down, allowing for better handling of nested structures and improving performance.
3. Handling Edge Cases: The approach addresses limitations found in prior methods, particularly when dependent queries are nested, which can lead to inefficient evaluations.

In conclusion, the proposed holistic unnesting algorithm offers a more robust solution for optimizing complex SQL queries, ensuring faster execution while maintaining the declarative nature of SQL. The paper also includes detailed evaluations and comparisons with existing techniques.

If you are using cheaper Anthropic plans and hit your coding quota limit, you can connect to a local open-source model to keep working. To check your remaining quota, type /usage.

Currently recommended open-source models include GLM-4.7-Flash from Z.AI and Qwen3-Coder-Next. If you need to save space and memory, consider using a smaller quantized version, though it may impact quality.

Method 1: Using LM Studio

1. Install and run LM Studio, which supports open-source models and now connects to Claude Code.
2. Start the LM Studio server and configure it to connect Claude Code to LM Studio.
3. To check or change your model, type /model.

Method 2: Llama.CPP You can also connect Claude Code directly to the Llama.CPP project, but LM Studio is generally easier for most users.

In summary, using a local model is a good backup solution when you hit your quota limit. You may experience slower performance and lower quality, but it allows you to continue coding until your quota resets.

Summary of the PDF Forensics Analysis of the Epstein Files

This report focuses on the technical examination of PDF files released by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) related to the Epstein Files Transparency Act. It highlights key aspects of PDF forensics, emphasizing the importance of proper sanitization and redaction of sensitive documents.

Key Points:

1. PDF Complexity: PDFs are binary files that require specialized tools and knowledge for analysis. The report does not delve into the content of the PDFs but examines their structure and technical details.

2. Recent Updates: A new dataset containing over 11,000 files was released by the DoJ, prompting further analysis of these PDFs, which showed consistent redaction practices.

3. Redaction Accuracy: The analysis confirms that the PDFs from datasets 01-07 were correctly redacted, and there was no recoverable information that had been hidden. Misleading reports suggesting otherwise have been noted.

4. File Validity and Structure: The forensic examination assessed the technical validity of the PDF files, revealing minimal defects. They found that most files conformed to PDF standards, but there were minor issues related to font descriptors.

5. Incremental Updates and Bates Numbering: The report explores how the files include incremental updates and Bates numbering, which is used for identifying pages uniquely. These features help maintain document integrity during revisions.

6. Metadata and Document Information: The analysis found limited metadata in the PDFs, with some documents lacking critical information due to improper sanitization processes.

7. Image Processing: The PDFs contain low-resolution images and appear to have been processed to eliminate identifiable metadata. Some documents seem to be digitally created rather than scanned, raising questions about their authenticity.

8. Optical Character Recognition (OCR): The OCR performed on the documents was found to be of variable quality, indicating that there may be errors in the extracted text. This could lead to the possibility of recovering more information through reprocessing.

9. Conclusion and Recommendations: The report concludes that while the DoJ has established workflows for sanitizing PDFs, there are areas for improvement, such as reducing file sizes and eliminating unnecessary data. It emphasizes the complexity of PDF forensics and the need for careful examination to avoid incorrect conclusions.

This summary encapsulates the core findings and insights from the forensic analysis of the Epstein PDFs, highlighting the technical challenges and implications of document management in sensitive cases.

Summary: AI is Challenging B2B SaaS Companies

B2B SaaS (Software as a Service) is facing significant challenges due to the rise of AI and "vibe coding," which allows users to create custom applications quickly and easily. Here's a breakdown of the key points:

1. Market Impact: Many B2B SaaS companies are struggling as customers realize they can build their own solutions with AI tools. This has led to a decline in software stocks and concerns about customer retention.

2. Customer Expectations: Customers now demand more flexibility and customization from their SaaS providers. If a SaaS platform doesn’t meet their specific needs, they are likely to switch to a DIY solution.

3. Survival Strategies:

   • Become a System of Record: SaaS companies should aim to integrate deeply into their clients' workflows to become indispensable.
   • Focus on Security and Robustness: Established SaaS platforms should highlight their expertise in security, compliance, and reliability, as these are areas where DIY solutions often fall short.
   • Adapt to Customer Needs: SaaS providers must offer customizable solutions that fit their customers' workflows instead of forcing customers to adapt to the software.

By implementing these strategies, B2B SaaS companies can better compete in a landscape increasingly influenced by AI and user-driven development.

On January 28, 2026, Catherine (Whitequark) discussed some notable hardware bugs in CPUs from various vendors. Here are the key points:

1. Intel's Misspelled CPUIDs:

   • Intel has had instances where their CPUs mistakenly report incorrect manufacturer names.
   • One example is the "GenuineIotel" typo found in some Xeon E3-1231 v3 processors, which should read "GenuineIntel." This may be due to a random bit error.
   • Another error occurs in the Core i5-1245U CPU, which incorrectly shows "Intel(R) ore(TM) i5-1245U," missing the 'C' in "Core." This seems to be a human error, possibly from system firmware.

2. ITE’s Pipeline Bug:

   • ITE Tech, a Taiwanese chip company, has a hardware bug in their IT81202 embedded processor. This bug prevents certain instructions from working correctly after a multiplication operation.
   • A workaround involves limiting the compiler functions, which can affect performance but isn't as serious as the Intel naming errors. This bug is more of a cautionary tale than a major blunder.

Overall, these examples highlight the importance of careful engineering in CPU design and firmware.

Microsoft's key AI product is facing significant challenges. The article discusses the problems it is encountering and highlights the impact these issues may have on its future development and effectiveness.

OpenClaw is gaining popularity as an open-source framework that allows users to run AI agents on Mac Minis, primarily for automating tasks. Many people are buying these computers specifically for this purpose, highlighting a missed opportunity for Apple to create a powerful AI assistant that could automate various computer functions, rather than just summarize notifications like Siri does.

Apple had the potential to dominate the AI space by integrating a trusted AI that could manage tasks directly on devices, but they may have overlooked this opportunity or deemed the risks too high. If Apple had developed this technology, they could have faced significant pushback from other companies that rely on user engagement within their ecosystems, as such an AI would reduce friction.

By allowing third-party solutions like OpenClaw to take the lead, Apple maintains a safe distance from potential liabilities. However, this approach may lead to missed long-term advantages. Owning the AI agent layer could have created a strong competitive edge for Apple, as the value of such an agent would grow with the user's data and interactions across devices.

The current rush for Mac Minis indicates a strong demand for automation, suggesting that Apple could have benefited from tapping into this market. The decision to avoid diving into AI agent development may be seen as a significant missed opportunity in the future, as Apple focuses on immediate legal concerns instead of long-term platform potential.

In November, my friend Frank acquired an arcade machine for the Recurse Center, which we named the RCade. He decided to keep the original CRT display and run it off a Raspberry Pi. Eventually, we aimed to switch to a more powerful computer but needed a way to connect it to the CRT. I proposed building a custom CRT display adapter that would work over USB.

The CRT uses a JAMMA connector and Frank had a VGA to JAMMA converter. However, standard VGA adapters couldn't achieve the CRT's low resolutions (like 320x240 or 336x262). Most adapters only support higher resolutions and 18-bit color, which led to color banding issues. A custom solution would also allow us to use a laptop instead of a desktop.

I started by using the Raspberry Pi RP2040 microcontroller, which has Programmable IO (PIO) for generating VGA signals. I wrote assembly programs to create the necessary HSYNC and VSYNC signals, along with a program to read pixel data from memory and output RGB values.

Next, I planned to develop a Linux kernel module to send the framebuffer data from a computer to the RP2040 via USB. I explored using a protocol called GUD designed for sending video to a Pi Zero. After some reverse engineering, I created a Rust implementation of GUD for the RP2040, which successfully displayed images on the CRT.

However, I faced challenges with color depth and frame rates, as the RP2040's USB speed limited the performance. I then considered using an STM32 microcontroller, which supports higher speeds and has a built-in interface for driving displays.

After designing a new board with the STM32H723 and a system for analog-to-digital conversion, I encountered several issues, including a short circuit and USB instability. After troubleshooting and redesigning, I eventually succeeded in getting the board to work with the RCade, significantly improving the display's color quality and frame rates.

Going forward, I plan to enhance the board with audio support and better buffering techniques. This project taught me a lot and is still ongoing, with further improvements on the horizon.

Voxtral has launched Voxtral Transcribe 2, which includes two advanced speech-to-text models: Voxtral Mini Transcribe V2 for batch processing and Voxtral Realtime for live transcription. Key features include:

• Voxtral Mini Transcribe V2: Offers high-quality transcription with speaker identification and word-level timestamps in 13 languages. It boasts the lowest word error rate and cost in the industry.

• Voxtral Realtime: Designed for live applications with a low latency of under 200 milliseconds, ideal for voice agents and real-time communication. It is open-source under the Apache 2.0 license.

Both models are efficient and accurate, supporting multiple languages and challenging environments. They are suitable for various applications such as meeting transcriptions, virtual assistants, contact center automation, and compliance monitoring.

Users can test the models in Mistral Studio, and both are available via API at competitive prices. Voxtral also emphasizes privacy with on-premise and private cloud deployment options. The company is hiring for roles in speech AI development.

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Summary:

This text describes a tool designed for managing virtual machines (VMs) in a work environment. Here are the key points:

1. Sandbox Isolation: You can create and clone VMs instantly to test changes safely without affecting the main production environment.

2. Context-Aware Fluid: The tool analyzes your system (operating system, packages, command-line tools) and adapts accordingly.

3. Full Audit Trail: Every action and change is logged, allowing you to review them before applying to production.

4. Ansible Playbooks: The tool can automatically generate Ansible playbooks from your sandbox work, making it easy to recreate your infrastructure.

5. Example Usage: The text provides a sample interaction where a sandbox is created, a web server (Apache) is installed, and a custom webpage is set up. It concludes with a playbook that details the steps taken, which can be reused on any Ubuntu server.

Overall, this tool enhances efficiency and safety in managing server setups.

Byrne’s Euclid Summary

Byrne's Euclid is a modern version of Oliver Byrne’s 1847 work, "The First Six Books of The Elements of Euclid," featuring colorful diagrams and symbols. The project includes:

• Books: It covers six key areas of geometry:

  1. Basic plane geometry
  2. Geometric algebra
  3. Circles and angles
  4. Regular polygons
  5. Ratios and proportions
  6. Geometric proportions

• About the Project: Information about Byrne's original publication, its design, and how the site was created.

• Posters: Colorful posters of geometric illustrations from the 1847 edition are available for decoration.

• Puzzles: Puzzles featuring the geometric illustrations can be purchased for challenges.

This project aims to make classical geometry more accessible and engaging through interactive elements and vibrant visuals.

Summary

Recall.ai, a company that records millions of meetings weekly, faced performance issues with their Postgres database due to high connection spikes during busy call times. This resulted in delays of 10-15 seconds when establishing connections to the database, which was linked to the Postmaster process.

Key Points:

1. Postmaster Role: The Postmaster is a single-threaded process in Postgres responsible for managing connections and background workers. Under high load, it can become overwhelmed, leading to delays.

2. Connection Delays: The team initially thought slow queries were the cause of the delays but discovered that the issue stemmed from the Postmaster taking too long to respond to connection requests during peak times.

3. Reproduction Environment: To investigate, the team created a test environment simulating high connection loads, revealing that the Postmaster's main loop could not handle the influx of connections efficiently.

4. Performance Profiling: Profiling showed that the Postmaster spent most of its time managing connections, and the process of forking new connections was costly.

5. Optimizations: Enabling huge pages in the Postgres configuration improved throughput by reducing overhead during fork operations. However, high rates of background worker churn further stressed the Postmaster.

6. Solution: To mitigate the issue, they implemented strategies to reduce connection peaks and background query bursts, which improved performance.

7. Conclusion: The findings highlight the importance of understanding the Postmaster's limitations in scaling Postgres, emphasizing the need for connection pooling to manage high loads effectively. The authors call for better monitoring tools to observe Postmaster performance in database services.

Summary of the S7 Scheme for Max Overview

S7 Scheme is a lightweight version of the Scheme programming language designed for use in music applications. Developed by Bill Schottstaedt at CCRMA, S7 is primarily based on R4RS Scheme but includes additional features suited for scripting music and audio.

Key Reasons for Choosing S7:

• Feature Fit: S7's features align well with music programming needs.
• Thread-Safe: It supports multiple independent interpreters, which is useful in Max patches.
• Performance: S7 is fast, small, and easy to modify.
• Licensing: It has a permissive BSD license, making it suitable for standalone and Max for Live devices.

Notable Features of S7:

• Simplicity of Scheme with enhancements from Common Lisp.
• Support for keywords, applicative syntax, and first-class environments.
• Common Lisp-style macros for easier code creation.

S74 Scheme: S74 is an additional layer of functions on top of S7, automatically loaded in Scheme for Max. It provides extra convenience functions while keeping S7 minimal.

Use Case: The goal of Scheme for Max is to facilitate the development of music systems, making them easier and more flexible for small teams. The focus is on creating reusable, succinct code that minimizes barriers to artistic expression.

Advantages of S7:

• It simplifies music programming with clear and minimal syntax.
• It includes a rich library of music-related functions from Common Music, benefiting users familiar with musical programming.

Disadvantages of S7:

• Limited community recognition and sparse documentation, mainly for those already familiar with Scheme.
• Not aligned with the latest Scheme standards (R7RS).

Considered Alternatives: A variety of other Scheme implementations were considered, including Clojure, Guile, and Chicken. However, none matched S7's specific advantages for music applications.

Conclusion: After thorough evaluation, S7 was chosen for its ease of embedding, performance, and suitability for music programming. Future plans include improving documentation and resources for users. The project encourages collaboration and exploration of similar initiatives in the community.

The text emphasizes the importance of listening to understand rather than just waiting to speak or offering unsolicited advice. The author reflects on a conversation with their girlfriend and realizes that effective listening involves:

1. Pre-Conversation Mindset: Before talking, focus on how to listen instead of what to say. This sets the stage for better communication.

2. Focused Listening: Give full attention by minimizing distractions, maintaining eye contact, and being open to understanding the emotions behind the words.

3. Ignoring Distractions: Avoid thoughts about how to respond or judging what is said. Clarify confusing points instead of interrupting.

4. Using Prompts and Questions: Ask open-ended questions to explore deeper feelings and thoughts beyond the surface of the conversation.

5. Paraphrasing: Summarize what the other person says to confirm understanding and encourage them to elaborate.

The author concludes that listening without trying to fix problems allows for a genuine connection and helps the speaker process their thoughts. This approach fosters a safe environment for open communication and strengthens relationships.

The CIA has announced the discontinuation of The World Factbook, a key publication since 1971 that provided valuable information to the public. The entire website has been removed, and users are redirected to a closure notice instead of accessing previous content. This decision has sparked criticism, as many believe archived versions should still be available, even with a notice stating they are no longer maintained. The CIA previously released annual archives, which can still be found on the Internet Archive. A user has created a GitHub repository to share the 2020 version of The World Factbook, allowing people to access some of the valuable information it contained.

Summary:

The author completed building an electric tractor designed as a toy for children, which took about six months. It was a fun project shared with his daughter, Lucy, who often showed interest in working on it together.

Key Features:

• The tractor is powered by a 350W motor and a 36V battery, designed for slow speeds suitable for kids.
• It has a solid rear axle, adjustable seat, and basic cable-operated brakes.
• The chassis is made from plywood and features a homemade steering system inspired by a Ferguson TE20 tractor.

Components:

• The rear wheels are from a lawnmower, and the axle was custom-made to fit them.
• A countershaft was added for better gear reduction after initial calculations were incorrect.
• The tractor has a simple reverse mechanism using a DPDT switch.

Challenges:

• The brakes are not very effective, and the design faced some issues with parts fitting together correctly.
• The throttle response was unsatisfactory, leading to the removal of an Arduino project that aimed to improve it.

Finishing Touches:

• The author dislikes painting and found it tedious, but managed to complete it.
• Welding skills were rusty, resulting in less than perfect welds, but he learned how to improve control over the welding process.

Overall, the project was an enjoyable learning experience, combining fun with creativity and engineering.

Summary: Why Companies Are Valuing Older Employees More

Many companies are starting to recognize the benefits of keeping older workers, despite existing age bias. For example, the UK retailer B&Q found that hiring older employees led to a significant increase in profits and a reduction in staff turnover and absenteeism. Similarly, BMW improved productivity by making their workplace more comfortable for older workers.

Research shows that older employees contribute positively to productivity and team performance. Studies indicate that companies with more workers over 50 perform better, and cross-generational teams can outperform those composed only of younger workers. However, many organizations still push out experienced employees early, often due to misconceptions about productivity.

The workforce is aging, and as people live longer and birth rates decline, companies need to adapt. Many older workers leave jobs not by choice but due to layoffs, leading to a loss of valuable experience.

Some companies, like Unilever, have started innovative programs to retain older workers, but these initiatives are often limited in scale. The growing market of older consumers represents a significant economic opportunity that many businesses are still overlooking.

Investors are also beginning to notice the importance of hiring and retaining older workers, as doing so can enhance productivity and growth. Companies need to rethink their approach to workforce age, treating it as a strategic priority. By creating more age-inclusive work environments, organizations can improve their performance and better meet the demands of an aging population.

Summary:

Allegro faced challenges in delivering high-performance mobile UIs consistently across iOS, Android, and Web. They developed an internal solution called MBox, which allowed for server-driven UI updates without app releases. Over time, Allegro sought alternatives to improve performance and user experience, leading them to explore an open-source framework called Lynx.

Lynx promised better performance and cross-platform development using a single React codebase. It matched Allegro's existing needs and offered features like native rendering and server-driven UI support. To evaluate Lynx, Allegro reimplemented a mobile screen and conducted A/B testing against their current WebView approach.

However, challenges arose, such as JavaScript engine crashes during testing and the lack of server-side rendering (SSR), which is crucial for SEO on their e-commerce platform. Additionally, integrating Lynx with modern native frameworks like SwiftUI proved difficult, and maintenance risks were identified due to the complexity of Lynx's C++ core.

Despite some improvements in user experience and key performance indicators, Allegro decided not to adopt Lynx at this time due to its SEO limitations, reliance on older technology, and potential maintenance challenges. They will monitor Lynx's development and may reconsider it in the future as the framework matures.

No summary available.

Discover Telegram Bots - Your Complete Telegram Bot Directory

TeleHunt is a top directory for finding verified Telegram bots. You can explore thousands of bots across categories like AI assistants, productivity tools, crypto trackers, and entertainment. Every bot is curated and verified, providing detailed descriptions, user reviews, ratings, and easy links to add them to your Telegram.

Categories Available:

• AI Bots: For conversation and automation, including ChatGPT alternatives.
• Crypto Bots: To track prices and manage portfolios.
• Productivity Bots: For task management and reminders.
• Tools Bots: Utilities like file converters and QR code generators.
• Additional categories include gaming, music, education, health, and more.

Why Choose TeleHunt?

• All bots are verified for quality and security.
• User reviews and ratings help you pick the best options.
• Easy links to add bots directly to Telegram.
• Bot developers can submit their bots for free.

TeleHunt is perfect for anyone, whether you're looking for fun, productivity, or a platform to showcase a bot. Start exploring today to enhance your Telegram experience!

On February 5, 2026, OpenAI announced the launch of Frontier, a platform designed to help businesses build, deploy, and manage AI agents more effectively. The introduction of AI has significantly changed how work is done, with 75% of enterprise workers reporting that AI has enabled them to perform tasks they couldn't before. For example, AI has helped a major manufacturer reduce production optimization time from six weeks to just one day and has increased revenue for a large energy producer by over a billion dollars.

However, many organizations struggle to effectively implement AI due to complex, disconnected systems. This has created a gap between what AI can do and what teams can deploy. Frontier aims to close this gap by providing AI agents with the same training and context that human workers receive, allowing them to understand workflows and perform tasks across various systems.

Frontier connects different data sources and tools, enabling AI agents to work efficiently within existing business processes. It also includes features for continuous learning and performance evaluation, ensuring that AI agents improve over time. Additionally, Frontier ensures that AI agents operate within clear boundaries for security and compliance.

OpenAI is partnering with major companies like HP, Intuit, and State Farm to implement Frontier, and the platform will soon be available to more customers. The goal is to help organizations quickly leverage AI as a competitive advantage in their operations.

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SpaceX has acquired xAI, aiming to create data centers in space, a vision that has attracted interest from companies like Google and several startups. They believe that using space for data centers could be beneficial due to unlimited solar power and the potential for lower launch costs. A Google study suggests that if rocket launch costs drop to $200 per kilogram by 2035, space data centers could compete with ground-based ones.

However, significant challenges remain. Training advanced AI requires hundreds of thousands of GPUs, meaning hundreds of thousands of satellites would need to be launched, increasing the risk of space debris. Additionally, upgrading satellite technology is not feasible, as it would require launching new satellites rather than just updating existing ones.

Despite these issues, companies like SpaceX are pursuing this idea, possibly to generate excitement for an upcoming IPO. Investors might be willing to fund these ventures based on the potential for future profits, even if they understand the concept may not be practical in the near term.

Summary: BMW's New Logo-Shaped Screw Sparks Controversy Over Repair Rights

BMW has introduced a new proprietary screw shaped like their logo, designed to prevent drivers from fixing their own cars. This screw prioritizes branding over functionality, making it difficult to work with standard tools, leading to broken bits and stripped screws. Critics argue that this design is part of BMW's broader strategy to limit consumer repair options and maintain control over their products.

During a visit to BMW's Recycling and Dismantling Center, it was noted that the company is protective of its tools and patents, hindering innovation in the repair industry. While manufacturers often justify such designs as safety measures, they are seen as barriers to ownership by consumers.

In response to BMW's actions, the DIY community has created a 3D-printed tool to counter the proprietary screw, highlighting how grassroots efforts can challenge large corporations. As movements for the right to repair gain momentum, BMW's decision to use these security screws is viewed as outdated and out of touch with consumer needs.

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On February 4, 2026, European intelligence revealed that Russia has been intercepting key satellites, putting NATO's space infrastructure at significant risk. Over the past three years, Russian satellites have reportedly shadowed or compromised at least 17 important European satellites, raising concerns about data theft and potential control over these satellites.

The Russian satellites involved are the Luch-1 and Luch-2, which have been maneuvering dangerously close to European satellites. This close proximity allows them to intercept unencrypted communications that older satellites use to receive commands. Without modern encryption, many European satellites are vulnerable, and if Russia captures these command signals, they could disable satellites or manipulate their orbits, potentially causing catastrophic failures.

In addition to these older satellites, new Russian satellites like Cosmos 2589 and Cosmos 2590 are also being watched closely, as they exhibit similar capabilities. The German Defense Minister warned that attacks on satellite networks could disrupt critical services like GPS and military communications, highlighting the growing threat to modern societies.

Summary of "The Missing Layer" by Jim Yagmin

Jim Yagmin criticizes "vibe coding," which involves using AI to quickly generate and manage code without a clear understanding of its structure, leading to technical debt. He compares this to a "magic ruler" that creates flawed measurements in construction, illustrating that while vibe coding can produce working code, it often lacks the precision needed for complex projects.

Yagmin contrasts vibe coding with "spec-driven development" (SDD), which relies on detailed specifications and active planning to create better code. However, SDD can create "documentation debt," as maintaining accurate documentation is challenging and often leads to inconsistencies.

He points out that traditional software development often involves collaboration among multiple stakeholders, but SDD can complicate this by separating product and engineering decisions, leading to duplicated efforts.

To address these issues, Yagmin proposes a "context layer" that connects business knowledge directly to the code. This layer would allow both humans and AI to access and update context efficiently, streamlining the development process and ensuring that all relevant information is available throughout. He believes this approach can enhance collaboration and improve the quality of software development.

In conclusion, Yagmin emphasizes the importance of integrating context into the coding process to bridge the gap between business needs and technical execution, and he hints at a proof of concept that could facilitate this integration.

No summary available.

This article serves as a companion to a previous piece about Arcan, a browser engine focused on running networked applications. Here are the main points:

1. Architecture: Arcan operates like a microkernel architecture, managing windows and displays while allowing applications to embed each other and interact with local software. It separates tasks like media decoding and network communication into distinct programs.

2. Protocol: The A12 protocol is central to Arcan, enabling a unique web experience by focusing on how applications communicate and share resources over a network.

3. Historical Context: The article reflects on past internet experiences, particularly Bulletin Board Systems (BBS), emphasizing a more personal and less corporate feel compared to today's web.

4. Challenges of the Current Web: It discusses the fragmentation and issues with the modern web, including how users must often prove their humanity and face various barriers.

5. Linking and Discovery: A12 introduces new methods for linking applications and resources, making connections bidirectional, authenticated, and rediscoverable, which contrasts with traditional web links that are often unidirectional and non-descriptive.

6. Search and Indexing: The A12 protocol aims to improve search functionality, allowing users to find resources based on metadata rather than relying on imposed search algorithms.

7. Development: The article outlines how to develop applications within the Arcan framework, highlighting the simplicity of packaging and updating applications while ensuring security through signed updates.

8. Future Plans: It mentions potential future developments, including preserving existing web content and enhancing user agency over their online experiences.

In summary, the article emphasizes a fresh approach to web architecture, drawing inspiration from earlier internet models while addressing current challenges and envisioning a more user-controlled future.

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Summary:

The article discusses how to explore the stratosphere using a DIY pico balloon. These small balloons can carry tiny payloads, including a ham-radio transmitter that allows for global tracking. The project is accessible for enthusiasts of amateur radio and science, enabling them to participate in pico ballooning.

No summary available.

Here's a simplified summary of the text:

• Death: Discusses war casualties from 1914 to 2025.

• Environment:

  • FUSE: Shows global temperature changes from 1880 to 2025.
  • Air: Provides real-time air quality data.

• Language:

  • Constellation: Explores different language families.
  • Tree: Traces the evolution from protolanguage to modern languages.

• Money:

  • All Roads: Maps trade routes by distance.
  • Curl: Visualizes trade density.
  • Detour: Illustrates routes based on distance.
  • Vortex: Displays total trade flow.
  • Cords: Analyzes global trade relationships.
  • Keep Up: Discusses the impact of rent costs.

• Cycles:

  • Summer Rings: Presents Olympic medal counts from 1896 to 2024.

• Religion:

  • Boil: Shows an animated pattern of boiling.
  • Phyllotaxis: Explains Fibonacci spiral distribution.
  • Souls: Features a lava-themed visual of phyllotaxis.

• Space & Phenomena:

  • Northern Veils: Discusses the history of the Aurora Borealis.
  • Keep Looking: Tracks UFO sightings.
  • Big Feet: Maps Bigfoot sightings in America.
  • Big Foot: Shows encounters with cryptids.

No summary available.

No summary available.

Summary of Metaflow-Kubeflow Integration

Overview: Metaflow and Kubeflow are both tools for machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) projects. Metaflow, created by Netflix, focuses on providing easy-to-use, Python-based tools for developers, while Kubeflow is a broader ecosystem for managing AI workloads on Kubernetes.

Integration Benefits:

• The new integration allows users to create projects in Metaflow and deploy them as Kubeflow Pipelines, facilitating a better developer experience without changing existing Kubernetes infrastructure.
• This integration combines Metaflow's user-friendly features with Kubeflow's robust infrastructure tools.

Key Features of Metaflow:

1. Development: Simple APIs for workflows, real-time visual outputs, and configuration management.
2. Scaling: Supports both task and data parallelism, graceful failure handling, and automatic packaging of dependencies.
3. Deployment: Clear separation of environments, CI/CD integration, and the ability to create reactive systems.

Getting Started:

• Users can deploy Metaflow in their cloud environment or on their local machine easily.
• After installing the integration, users just need to point Metaflow to their Kubeflow Pipelines service to start using it.
• Creating and deploying a flow as a Kubeflow pipeline is straightforward with a few commands.

Future Development:

• While the integration is functional, some features of Metaflow are not yet supported. Future updates may include additional features and convenience APIs.

Community Involvement:

• Metaflow and Kubeflow are open-source projects with active development. Users are encouraged to join the Metaflow community for support and feedback.

This integration aims to enhance the productivity and efficiency of ML and AI projects by leveraging the strengths of both platforms.

Summary: Wood Gas Vehicles: Firewood in the Fuel Tank

During World War II, many vehicles in Europe were converted to run on wood gas due to fuel shortages. Wood gas cars, which use firewood as fuel, are an efficient and eco-friendly alternative to gasoline vehicles, offering a range similar to electric cars. The process of wood gasification converts organic material into combustible gas through high heat.

The technology was developed in the 1920s by Georges Imbert and became widely used during the war, with around 500,000 wood gas vehicles operating in Germany alone. After the war, as gasoline became available, these vehicles quickly fell out of favor.

Recently, rising fuel prices and climate concerns have renewed interest in wood gas vehicles. Handcrafted models are being made by enthusiasts, particularly in Scandinavia. Sweden even initiated a research program in the 1950s to prepare for a potential oil shortage using wood gas cars.

Wood gas vehicles can be powered by wood or wood chips, and although they can be less efficient than gasoline cars, they are carbon-neutral and do not require complex chemical batteries like electric vehicles. However, the technology has drawbacks, including bulkiness, lower power output, and a lengthy preparation time before use.

Despite its limitations, wood gas vehicles offer a glimpse into a potential alternative fuel source, especially in crisis situations or for localized, sustainable energy solutions. However, large-scale adoption poses risks of deforestation and challenges related to user-friendliness and efficiency compared to conventional fuels.

At work, I use Teams, which has some Markdown features but isn't great for long messages. To make it easier, I write in nvim, preview it in my browser, and then copy it to Teams. I've found a tool that helps me skip the preview and copy steps. It’s built with Rust and Claude Code, and it works on Windows and Mac, and should also work on Ubuntu. Keep in mind that how the pasted content looks depends on the app where it's pasted.

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Substack has informed some users that their email addresses and phone numbers were exposed in a security breach that occurred in October 2025 but was only detected on February 3, 2026. Substack's CEO, Chris Best, stated that while hackers accessed some user data, sensitive information like passwords and financial details remain secure. Users are advised to be cautious of suspicious messages. Substack has fixed the security issue and is investigating the matter further. Best expressed regret over the breach and emphasized the company's commitment to user data protection.

The author discusses their experience reviewing pull requests (PRs), noting that they often skip reading long PRs, especially when they are filled with AI-generated React components. They mention that traditional diff formats make it hard to understand changes in functionality, such as button behavior.

To address this, they developed a tool that uses a reinforcement learning (RL) agent to interact with the app during a PR review. The agent explores the changes in the preview deployment and creates a video showing the modifications. This approach aims to improve engagement since people respond better to video than text.

The challenge was identifying where changes occur in the app, which they solved by using React's Fiber tree to connect code changes to DOM elements. The RL agent is trained to interact with these components, rewarding it for actions like scrolling and clicking.

The tool can catch issues that traditional unit tests might miss, such as rendering bugs and user interface problems. However, it currently struggles with certain features, like feature flags and complex user states.

The service is available for free, and links to try it and view a demo are provided.

This text describes a tool for Android development that uses a graphical user interface (GUI) and supports multiple services with gRPC technology. It is designed to work on AArch64 systems, which are a type of computer architecture. The tool helps developers set up their projects easily and efficiently.

The blog discusses the development of Qodo's Code Review Benchmark 1.0, a new method to measure the performance of AI code review systems. Unlike previous benchmarks that focused mainly on finding bugs in isolated commits, Qodo's benchmark uses real, merged pull requests (PRs) from active open-source projects. This approach not only tests bug detection but also evaluates code quality and best practices by intentionally injecting defects into these PRs.

Key Points:

• Comprehensive Evaluation: Qodo's benchmark assesses both code correctness and quality, providing a more realistic testing environment.
• Scalability: The method can apply to various codebases and is designed to generate high-quality evaluation data at scale.
• Performance: In tests against seven other leading AI code review tools, Qodo achieved the highest F1 score (60.1%), indicating it effectively identifies a wide range of issues without overwhelming users with false positives.
• Methodology: The process involves analyzing repositories for best practices, collecting PRs, injecting compliance violations and bugs, and validating the results against a ground truth.

Overall, Qodo establishes a new standard for AI code review benchmarks, addressing limitations of past methods by offering a more integrated and expansive evaluation of AI tools in real-world scenarios.

The text discusses the importance of privacy, using historical and contemporary examples to illustrate its significance.

Key Points:

1. Historical Context: Amsterdam had a civil registry since 1851 that documented personal information, including religious affiliation. This data was misused by the Nazis during World War II to identify and target Jewish residents, leading to significant loss of life.

2. Resistance Efforts: The Dutch resistance attempted to destroy part of this registry to protect the Jewish population, resulting in some loss of records but ultimately not enough to prevent a large-scale tragedy.

3. Modern Example: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in the U.S. suffered a major data breach that exposed personal information of over 20 million people. Like the Amsterdam registry, this data could be misused in harmful ways.

4. Privacy Concerns: The article challenges the notion that having nothing to hide means one should not care about privacy. It argues that privacy is a fundamental human right and should not be equated with secrecy.

5. Personal Reflection: The author invites readers to consider whether they would be comfortable sharing sensitive personal information publicly. Valuing privacy is essential, regardless of one's actions.

6. Conclusion: The text emphasizes the need to protect privacy, as its absence can lead to various negative consequences, even for those who believe they have nothing to hide.

Overall, the message highlights the importance of privacy in society and warns against complacency regarding personal data sharing and security.

The French offices of Elon Musk's company, X, were raided by the Paris prosecutor's cyber-crime unit. This investigation is looking into potential illegal activities, such as unlawful data extraction and involvement with child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Both Musk and former CEO Linda Yaccarino have been summoned for hearings in April. Musk described the raid as a "political attack," and X expressed disappointment, denying any wrongdoing and claiming the raid threatens free speech.

In the UK, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is investigating Musk's AI tool, Grok, for potentially creating harmful sexualized images and videos. Concerns have been raised about Grok's use of personal data to generate such content without consent. The UK has been under pressure due to the emergence of sexual deepfakes linked to Grok, leading to investigations by various authorities.

Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, criticized France for its actions against social networks, claiming it is not a free country. He himself faced legal issues in France related to his platform's moderation practices.

My wife wanted to start a micro-bakery, but we found existing production management software to be either too costly or too basic. So, I created a custom solution called Craftplan and made it available for free.

Craftplan helps manage recipes, inventory, orders, production planning, and purchasing. It includes features like cost tracking and allergen identification. The software is built using Elixir and other modern technologies.

You can try a live demo here (login: [email protected], password: Aa123123123123) and find the code on GitHub.

Claude will remain an ad-free AI assistant to ensure it genuinely helps users without commercial influence. Unlike other platforms that mix organic and sponsored content, conversations with Claude are often personal and sensitive, making ads feel out of place and potentially inappropriate.

The decision not to include ads is rooted in a commitment to user trust and helpfulness. An ad-supported model could lead to conflicting interests, where recommendations might be influenced by commercial motives rather than the user's needs. Claude aims to provide clear and meaningful assistance without the pressure to optimize for engagement metrics, which may not align with genuine user support.

Anthropic, the company behind Claude, focuses on generating revenue through enterprise contracts and subscriptions, rather than advertising. This approach allows them to expand access to Claude without compromising user privacy or attention. They are also exploring ways to enhance user productivity through third-party tool integrations, ensuring that any commercial interactions are initiated by the user, not advertisers.

In summary, Claude's design principles prioritize a user-centered experience, fostering trust and deep thinking without the clutter of advertising.

The European Commission has officially classified WhatsApp as a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) due to its Channels feature, which has over 45 million users in the EU.

WhatsApp combines private messaging with online platform features. While its Channels function, which allows users to share information broadly, falls under the Digital Services Act (DSA), its private messaging services remain exempt from these regulations.

Meta, the company behind WhatsApp, has until mid-May 2026 to meet additional DSA requirements for VLOPs. This includes addressing risks like human rights violations, electoral manipulation, illegal content, and privacy issues.

After this designation, the European Commission will oversee WhatsApp’s compliance with the DSA, working alongside the Irish Digital Services Coordinator.

No summary available.

The most commonly used AI models today are Transformers that use a method called self-attention. However, this method can become costly as the amount of information (context) increases, leading to high demands for storage, computing power, and energy. To solve this problem, we present a way to compute self-attention more efficiently, allowing for much lower memory and computation costs. We achieved this by breaking down the traditional mathematical approach and using symmetric patterns to simplify the calculations. This new method allows for more efficient processing with a fixed cost per piece of information, making it possible to use more processing heads without increasing costs. We have tested our approach and confirmed it works correctly. Our findings will help reduce the resources needed for large Transformer models and introduce valuable mathematical techniques.

Summary of "Resurrecting Crimsonland"

Overview

• "Crimsonland" is a cult classic top-down shooter game originally released in 2003 and remastered in 2014. A new project aims to completely rewrite the game from scratch while preserving its original mechanics and behavior.

Project Goals

• The project, started in January 2026, focuses on reverse engineering the game to create a faithful replica without relying on the original code. The aim is to ensure that every aspect of the game matches the original, including bugs and specific behaviors.

Development Process

• The developer utilized tools like Ghidra for static analysis and Windbg for runtime debugging, along with coding assistants to automate function naming and analysis. This helped in understanding the original game’s architecture and behavior.
• A custom archive format used by the game was also analyzed to extract game assets.

Current Status

• As of now, the project has made significant progress, with 46,800 lines of code and various gameplay features implemented. The game is reportedly playable and maintains the original’s feel.

Future Plans

• Potential enhancements may include adding online high scores or a night mode with improved lighting effects, while keeping the core experience the same.

Invitation for Collaboration

• The developer invites enthusiasts of the original game to help identify bugs and contribute to the project, emphasizing the importance of community involvement in preserving this classic title.

Over the past week, there has been a lot of buzz about a tool called Clawdbot (or OpenClaw). Some users are giving it extensive permissions on their main devices or running it in the cloud, resulting in high token usage. Alarmingly, some are even connecting Clawdbots to collaborate on tasks. While this behavior seems extreme, the author believes there is value in Clawdbot worth exploring.

The author shares their positive experiences with Clawdbot, highlighting how it has improved their productivity in various ways:

1. Message Management: Clawdbot helps track messages and manage calendar events based on commitments made in texts.
2. Daily Preparation: It summarizes upcoming meetings and tasks each evening, helping the author prepare for the day ahead.
3. Group Chat Summaries: Clawdbot summarizes key conversations from busy group chats.
4. Price Monitoring: It helps track prices for hotels and products, automatically checking for changes.
5. Household Management: Clawdbot keeps an inventory of freezer items and organizes grocery lists based on recipes.
6. Booking Assistance: It can book reservations and appointments by accessing relevant calendars and websites.

The author acknowledges the risks involved with Clawdbot, as it has access to sensitive information like bank details and text messages. They compare the trust required for Clawdbot to that of a human assistant, suggesting that the benefits often outweigh the risks. The author encourages embracing the tool's flexibility and potential for continuous improvement, urging users to explore its capabilities more fully.

In summary, while there are risks to using Clawdbot, the author finds it to be a powerful tool that enhances productivity and organization in daily tasks. They recommend a cautious but open-minded approach to integrating it into personal and professional life.

Agent Skills are collections of instructions and resources that help agents perform tasks more accurately and efficiently.

Why Use Agent Skills?

• Agents need context to work reliably, and skills provide this by offering procedural knowledge and specific information about the company or team.
• Skills enhance agents’ abilities based on the tasks at hand.

Benefits:

• For Skill Authors: Create capabilities once and use them across different agent products.
• For Agents: Skills provide new functionalities right away.
• For Organizations: Capture and share knowledge in a structured, version-controlled way.

What Agent Skills Can Do:

• Domain Expertise: Package specialized knowledge for tasks like legal reviews or data analysis.
• New Capabilities: Enable agents to perform tasks like creating presentations or analyzing data.
• Repeatable Workflows: Streamline complex tasks into consistent processes.
• Interoperability: Use the same skill across various compatible agent products.

Adoption and Development:

• Agent Skills are supported by major AI development tools and were created by Anthropic as an open standard, allowing contributions from the community.

Getting Started:

• Learn about skills, their function, and their importance.
• Access the specification for skill formats.
• Integrate skills into your agents or tools.
• Explore example skills available on GitHub.

No summary available.

Summary of fips-pad

fips-pad is a simple, offline notepad designed to ensure strong security by using only FIPS-approved cryptography. It started as an exploration of creating a minimal application that strictly verifies its cryptographic environment.

Key Features:

• Single-user, offline use with no network access.
• Notes are encrypted and stored securely.
• No accounts, telemetry, cloud sync, or plugins.

Important Points:

• It is not a FIPS-validated product or compliance tool.
• It will only run if it can confirm it is using a FIPS-approved cryptographic system.
• The application will fail to start if the necessary security conditions are not met.

Supported Operating Systems:

• Windows: Requires FIPS mode to be enabled.
• macOS: Uses a strict list of approved versions that include certified cryptographic modules.
• Linux: Supported only in FIPS-enabled configurations.

Cryptographic Design:

• Notes are stored securely as encrypted data.
• Key management and random number generation are handled using system-approved methods.

Control Measures:

• FIPS 140-2 and 140-3 compliance is targeted but not claimed for the application itself.
• Specific security controls are selected based on the application's single-user, offline nature.

Distribution:

• Source code is available for review, and signed binaries can be purchased, ensuring security and integrity.

In summary, fips-pad is a focused and secure notepad application that emphasizes strict adherence to cryptographic standards without unnecessary complexity.

No summary available.

No summary available.

I created a Rust-based tool for rendering Mermaid diagrams because the official mermaid-cli uses a full browser, which is slow. My solution, called mmdr, is a native Rust renderer that does not require a browser or Node.js.

Key points:

• Speed: mermaid-cli takes about 3000ms per diagram, while mmdr only takes about 3ms.
• Support: mmdr supports 13 types of diagrams, including flowcharts, sequence diagrams, class diagrams, and more.

Deno Sandbox Overview

Deno Sandbox is a new feature designed to safely run code generated by users or AI models (LLMs) without the risk of compromising security. Here are the key points:

1. Purpose: It allows running untrusted code securely, which often involves calling external APIs with sensitive credentials.

2. Security Features:

   • Isolation: The sandbox uses lightweight Linux microVMs to isolate untrusted code and prevent it from accessing sensitive information or making unauthorized network calls.
   • Secret Protection: API keys and secrets are never directly exposed in the sandbox. They only become available when needed for approved external requests.
   • Network Control: Users can restrict which external hosts the sandbox can communicate with, enhancing security and preventing unauthorized data access.

3. Deployment: Code can be deployed directly from the sandbox to Deno Deploy without additional rebuilding steps, simplifying the transition from development to production.

4. Persistence Options: While sandboxes are temporary, users can create read-write storage volumes and snapshots for quick setups and state retention.

5. Technical Specs:

   • Available in regions like Amsterdam and Chicago.
   • Up to 4 GB memory and 2 vCPUs.
   • Fast boot time (under 1 second).
   • Designed for various use cases, including executing AI code and secure plugin systems.

6. Pricing: Deno Sandbox operates on a usage-based pricing model, included in Deno Deploy plans.

7. Getting Started: Deno Sandbox is now in beta, with resources available for developers to start using it.

For more information, visit the Deno website or check the documentation.

Ben Shoemaker's essay discusses the recent release of the Codex desktop app, emphasizing that while it may not be revolutionary, it reflects a significant trend in software development. He shares how he uses the app alongside Claude Code to manage his coding workflow, allowing him to work on multiple features simultaneously.

Key points include:

1. Codex App: Serves as a tool for parallel development, making it easier to manage different tasks without disrupting the main project.

2. Changing Role of IDEs: Traditional Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) are evolving. Shoemaker argues that the focus is shifting from reading and writing code to managing the systems that generate code.

3. Future Direction: The industry is moving towards prioritizing specifications (specs) over code itself. Properly defining requirements and designs is becoming more crucial than the actual code produced.

Overall, Shoemaker believes that the landscape of software development will be unrecognizable in a few years, with a greater emphasis on managing AI agents and specifications rather than code.

No summary available.

Recently, many people have been sharing old email excerpts on Twitter, sparking curiosity about the frequent appearance of equals signs in these texts. The equals signs are not a code or a result of scanning errors; rather, they are a byproduct of how the emails were converted to a readable format by someone who didn't do it correctly.

In the past, emails were mostly plain text, but as technology advanced, long lines of text had to be broken up to meet server requirements. The equals sign is used to indicate that a line was split for formatting reasons. For example, a long sentence may be broken into two lines, with an equals sign at the end of the first line to show it continues onto the next.

This issue arises from a specific encoding method called "quoted printable." If the processing of these emails was flawed, it could lead to missing characters or improper display of text. In addition, equals signs can also indicate encoded characters, which may be mishandled during conversion.

In summary, the equals signs in the emails are the result of outdated conversion techniques and poor handling of email formatting, rather than any sophisticated encoding or scanning errors.

Summary:

This article discusses how to set up ephemeral Virtual Machines (VMs) on NixOS using the microvm.nix project. The author prefers this approach because it allows for easy creation of VMs that don't store data persistently, making it safer to run coding agents without risking personal data exposure.

Key steps in setting up microvm.nix include:

1. Network Preparation: Creating a network bridge for the VMs.
2. Flake.nix Configuration: Adding the microvm module to the Nix configuration.
3. Defining VMs: Specifying individual VMs like one for Emacs and another for Go Protobuf in the microvm.nix file.
4. Base Configuration: Establishing network settings and shared directories in microvm-base.nix.
5. Home Configuration: Setting up user-specific settings in microvm-home.nix.
6. Additional Packages: Including necessary packages for specific environments in files like goprotobuf.nix.

To run a VM, the author creates a workspace, generates SSH keys, and starts the VM. After setting it up, the author explores using Claude, a coding agent, to automate the creation of new VMs based on user requests.

The article concludes that while NixOS may seem complex initially, it offers powerful capabilities for managing ephemeral VMs, making it easier to adapt to new project requirements with minimal maintenance. The author also reflects on the rapid improvements in coding agents and their practical applications.

The author expresses a longing for deep, challenging thinking that they feel is missing in their current experience, largely due to the influence of AI in software development. They describe two aspects of their personality: The Builder, who enjoys creating practical solutions quickly, and The Thinker, who thrives on tackling complex problems over extended periods.

While AI allows for rapid problem-solving, the author feels it has diminished opportunities for profound thinking, leading to a sense of stagnation in their growth as an engineer. They acknowledge that although AI provides “good enough” solutions efficiently, it doesn't fulfill their need for deep intellectual engagement.

The author grapples with the conflict between their desire to build quickly and the need for meaningful mental challenges. They are uncertain about how to reconcile these two sides, feeling that both their Builder and Thinker aspects are left unsatisfied in the current landscape of coding and problem-solving.

There's a new wave of spam emails from Zendesk happening. I've received hundreds of them in just the last half hour.

Summary:

Debian is facing challenges as some of its volunteer developers quietly stop contributing without informing the team. This lack of communication can lead to unmaintained packages and unresolved issues. Debian Project Leader Andreas Tille highlighted that while volunteers may shift their commitments for various reasons, there are few effective ways for them to communicate these changes.

Many volunteers feel uncomfortable discussing their availability, leading to responsibilities being forgotten or left unaddressed. This can result in problems like unattended bugs and security risks. Tille emphasized the need for better systems to track and communicate changes in availability among contributors.

To address this, Tille proposed creating an automated system that would periodically email contributors flagged as potentially inactive, encouraging them to confirm their status. This initiative aims to improve communication and maintain the health of the Debian project and similar open-source efforts.

No summary available.

Summary of Xcode 26.3 Update

On February 3, 2026, Apple released Xcode 26.3, which introduces "agentic coding." This feature allows developers to use advanced coding agents like Anthropic’s Claude Agent and OpenAI’s Codex directly in Xcode. These agents can perform complex tasks autonomously, helping developers create apps more efficiently.

Key Points:

• Agentic Coding: A new approach in Xcode that allows coding agents to assist throughout the app development process.
• Enhanced Collaboration: Agents can search documentation, manage project settings, and visually verify work, making workflows smoother.
• Developer Focus: The goal is to boost productivity and creativity, enabling developers to concentrate on innovation.
• Flexibility: Xcode 26.3 supports any compatible agent or tool through the Model Context Protocol, enhancing adaptability for developers.

This release candidate is now available for Apple Developer Program members, with a full release expected on the App Store soon.

Summary of the Notepad++ Supply Chain Attack

On February 2, 2026, Notepad++ developers revealed a security breach in their update system that occurred between June and September 2025. Attackers maintained access to their infrastructure until December 2025. This attack involved multiple execution chains and various malicious payloads targeting users in different countries, including Vietnam, El Salvador, Australia, as well as government and financial organizations.

Key Findings:

1. Execution Chains:

   • Chain #1 (Late July - Early August 2025): Attackers delivered a malicious update using a URL that executed commands to gather system information and deploy malicious payloads.
   • Chain #2 (Mid - Late September 2025): A different update variant was used, which collected more detailed system information. It dropped new files to a different directory and executed a Lua script to launch a downloader for further malicious payloads.
   • Chain #3 (October 2025): Attackers changed their tactics by dropping files into a different directory without the system information functionality, leading to the deployment of a backdoor.

2. Continued Activity: The attackers resumed using an earlier infection chain with modified URLs and payloads in mid-October 2025, but no new infections were reported after November 2025.

3. Detection: Kaspersky’s security solutions successfully identified malicious activities tied to these attacks. They recommend monitoring for certain behaviors and indicators of compromise (IoCs) to detect similar threats.

4. Indicators of Compromise (IoCs):

   • Malicious URLs and executable hashes were provided to help identify infected systems and malicious communications.

This attack highlights the importance of securing software update mechanisms, as compromised updates can lead to widespread infection across various organizations.

Aram and Eduard, co-founders of Modelence, created an open-source framework using TypeScript and MongoDB to simplify app development. They aimed to avoid repetitive tasks like setting up authentication, databases, and APIs every time they built an app, and they wanted to reduce reliance on multiple managed platforms.

They believe that the real challenge in AI app development lies in the platform, not just the tools. Modelence is designed for both human developers and AI coding agents, with features like:

• TypeScript helps catch errors early.
• MongoDB simplifies database management.
• Built-in functions for authentication, databases, and cron jobs let developers focus on product logic.

Users can try the Modelence app builder by entering a prompt on their website. The framework allows local development while using Modelence Cloud for backend support, with plans to add a DevOps agent for better error management in production.

Modelence aims to demonstrate its framework and cloud services quickly for developers, emphasizing that the main challenge is building a robust platform for AI coding.

I can't access external links directly. However, if you provide the text or main points from the document, I would be happy to help you summarize it!

There is an AI-created simulator that lets users experience being the president of Duckerican. Right now, the simulator is basic, but it shows the potential for developing more engaging applications using AI, not just for conversation with characters.

In a blog post dated February 3, 2026, Fred shares his troubling experience with identity theft related to a property he owns in Wilton, CT, at 221 Cannon Road. Despite never planning to sell the land he bought with his brother in 2015, Fred has faced multiple attempts by a scammer impersonating him to sell the property.

The first incident occurred in March 2024, when a real estate attorney contacted Fred about someone claiming to be him and his brother, attempting to sell the land. The scammer provided a fake ID and communicated through email and text, but the attorney's due diligence prevented the sale.

Recently, in February 2026, two more agents reached out to Fred about new attempts to sell the property. Fred explains that scams like this are common with vacant land, as there are no residents to notice unusual activity, and transactions often happen remotely.

Fred advises landowners to take precautions, such as registering a fraud notice with local authorities and setting up Google Alerts for their property. He emphasizes that 221 Cannon Road is not for sale and urges anyone contacted about it to reach out to him directly.

The FBI could not access Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson's iPhone because it was in Lockdown Mode, a security feature that enhances iPhone protection. Recent court records reveal which devices the FBI accessed and which they could not after raiding Natanson's home in an investigation into classified information leaks. The records highlight the effectiveness of Lockdown Mode in preventing unauthorized access.

The text discusses the common confusion around kilobytes and their measurement in computing.

Key Points:

1. Kilobyte Definition: Traditionally, a kilobyte is defined as 1024 bytes due to the binary system used by computers. However, it can also be measured as 1000 bytes, which is more aligned with decimal measurements.

2. Measurement Inaccuracy: As data sizes increase (like megabytes, gigabytes, etc.), the difference between binary and decimal measurements becomes larger, leading to significant inaccuracies. For example, a terabyte can differ by about 10%.

3. Standard Units: The tech industry still uses the old convention of 1 kilobyte = 1024 bytes, especially in RAM manufacturing. However, storage devices often use decimal measurements, which adds to the confusion.

4. Binary Prefixes: To clarify, the International Electrotechnical Commission introduced binary prefixes (like KiB for kibibyte) for binary measurements, while keeping standard SI prefixes (like kB for kilobyte) for decimal measurements.

5. Conclusion: The outdated convention of equating 1 kilobyte to 1024 bytes persists, causing confusion, especially for those who are not tech-savvy.