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2024-10-19

The long road to lazy preemption in the Linux CPU scheduler

  • The Linux kernel's CPU scheduler is introducing "lazy preemption," a new concept designed to simplify scheduling and improve system performance.
  • Lazy preemption aims to replace existing modes PREEMPT_NONE and PREEMPT_VOLUNTARY with PREEMPT_LAZY, using a new flag, TIF_NEED_RESCHED_LAZY, to allow tasks to run longer unless immediate preemption is necessary.
  • This change seeks to make the kernel smaller and simpler, with more predictable latencies, though it requires extensive testing and adjustments before full implementation.

Reactions

  • The Linux CPU scheduler is exploring lazy preemption to simplify the kernel and achieve more predictable latencies, similar to the EEVDF (Earliest Eligible Virtual Deadline First) model.
  • Preemption, which allows systems to quickly respond to events, can negatively impact overall throughput and increase lock contention, necessitating a balance between different preemption modes for various workloads.
  • Initial testing indicates that lazy preemption slightly reduces throughput compared to the existing PREEMPT_VOLUNTARY mode, highlighting the complexity of managing event priority and preemption levels in the kernel.

US probes Tesla's Full Self-Driving software in 2.4M cars after fatal crash

Reactions

  • The United States is conducting an investigation into Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) software, which is installed in 2.4 million vehicles, due to a fatal accident.
  • This investigation highlights ongoing concerns about the safety and reliability of autonomous driving technologies.
  • The scrutiny of Tesla's FSD software could have significant implications for the future of self-driving car regulations and development.

Express v5

  • Express v5 has been released, marking a significant update for the Node.js framework, focusing on stability, security, and maintenance simplification.
  • Key updates include dropping support for older Node.js versions, improved path matching, enhanced security, promise support, and changes to the body parser.
  • Deprecated method signatures have been removed for a consistent API, and a detailed migration guide is available for those upgrading from v4.

Reactions

  • Express v5 has been released after a decade, featuring major updates such as enhanced security and support for asynchronous handlers.- The release was delayed to prioritize security audits and ensure a stable version, reflecting the team's commitment to reliability.- While some users face challenges upgrading, the Express team is commended for their efforts, and comparisons are made with other frameworks like Fastify and Koa.

Have McKinsey and its consulting rivals got too big?

  • An anonymous memo from former McKinsey partners criticizes the consultancy for its rapid growth and lack of strategic focus, suggesting that its reputation is at risk.
  • This memo highlights broader industry concerns about whether major consulting firms, like McKinsey, have expanded too much.
  • Other trending business topics include Nike's marketing success, big tech's artificial intelligence strategies, and the increasing use of AI in customer service.

Reactions

  • The discussion critiques large consulting firms like McKinsey for prioritizing short-term gains, fostering toxic work environments, and engaging in questionable ethical practices.
  • Concerns are raised about these firms' significant influence in corporate decision-making, often acting as a liability shield for executives and providing political cover rather than strategic value.
  • Criticism extends to their involvement in controversial projects, with suggestions that their size and influence contribute to a lack of accountability.

How to leverage Claude's capabilities with interactive visualization

  • Claude Financial Data Analyst is a Next.js application leveraging Claude's AI for interactive financial data analysis through chat, featuring intelligent data analysis and multi-format file support.
  • The app supports various data visualizations, including line, bar, area, stacked area, and pie charts, and requires Node.js 18+ and an Anthropic API key for setup.
  • It is built with a technology stack comprising Next.js, React, TailwindCSS, and Recharts for the frontend, and Next.js API Routes and Anthropic SDK for the backend, offering use cases in diverse fields like environmental data and social media analytics.

Reactions

  • A company transitioned its Large Language Model (LLM) backend from Claude to ChatGPT due to unforeseen changes in Claude's responses, highlighting the importance of consistent API outputs.
  • Discussions arise around the challenges and potential of developing applications with Claude, with some questioning the value of creating minimal layers over it and others seeing niche opportunities.
  • The conversation emphasizes the need for reliable API responses, interest in open-source projects, and the demand for more robust basic features in Claude.