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2024-12-07

My second year without a job

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: The Dialog Element

  • The HTML `` element is used to create dialog boxes, which can be modal (pausing page interaction) or non-modal (allowing interaction).
  • JavaScript methods .showModal() and .show() are used to display modal and non-modal dialogs, respectively, while .close() is used to close them.
  • Accessibility is crucial; ensure focus is set correctly and provide a closing mechanism, such as a button, while using CSS ::backdrop for styling modal backdrops.

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  • The dialog element on developer.mozilla.org has initiated a debate about the use of interactive HTML elements, such as file pickers and media players, with differing opinions on their consistency and predictability across browsers.
  • While some developers criticize the dialog element for being unstyled and not functioning like native popups, others value its semantic and accessibility benefits.
  • The discussion highlights challenges in maintaining design consistency and concerns about potential misuse by advertisers, indicating that the dialog element is a progressive step but still requires enhancements.

Maps.me co-founder tries to close down Organic Maps open-source fork

  • Organic Maps has released the source code for its "metaserver," which optimizes map download speeds by directing users to the best Content Delivery Network (CDN) servers based on their location.
  • The code, initially closed to prevent unauthorized forks, is now open under the MIT license, promoting transparency and community involvement.
  • The team is reconsidering the use of Cloudflare Workers to prevent vendor lock-in and has reverted unauthorized changes made by a contributor, emphasizing their commitment to privacy and transparency.

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  • Alexander Borsuk, co-founder of Maps.me, tried to close Organic Maps' open-source fork by altering its MIT license and adding logging to a private repository.- Roman Tsisyk, another project maintainer, reversed these changes and made the repository public, leading to a conflict and the revocation of his permissions.- The incident underscores internal disagreements about the project's open-source nature, yet Organic Maps continues to be a widely used offline map application.

How to use Postgres for everything

  • "Postgres for Everything" is a repository that promotes the use of PostgreSQL, a popular open-source relational database, for a wide range of applications beyond traditional database tasks.- The repository invites contributions and tracks various innovative uses of PostgreSQL, including cron jobs, message queues, analytics, and more, highlighting its versatility.- The initiative includes 11 items related to Supabase, a platform that provides backend services using PostgreSQL, showcasing its integration and utility in modern application development.

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  • The discussion emphasizes Postgres' versatility in various applications but also points out limitations, such as handling null characters in strings and requiring custom SQL for skip-index scans.- Opinions vary on using Postgres for all purposes, with some cautioning against over-reliance on a single database for large teams and others praising its simplicity and reduced complexity.- Alternatives like Redis are mentioned, along with challenges in scaling and the importance of avoiding over-engineering in the early stages of a project.

Lies I was told about collab editing, Part 1: Algorithms for offline editing

  • In early 2024, research into collaborative editing systems for Moment's text editor highlighted challenges with offline editing, where popular algorithms like CRDTs (Conflict-free Replicated Data Types) and OT (Operational Transformation) often fail.- Offline editing increases direct conflicts, with 20-30% of these conflicts resulting in unacceptable outcomes, suggesting the issue is more of a user interface/user experience (UI/UX) challenge than an algorithmic one.- Researchers are now focusing on improving the user experience in offline editing, drawing parallels to how git handles document merging, which is a promising development.

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  • The article addresses the challenges of collaborative editing, especially offline, and critiques current algorithms like Conflict-free Replicated Data Types (CRDTs) and Operational Transformation (OT) for not always yielding semantically meaningful results.- There is a consensus on the need for improved conflict resolution, potentially through user input or advanced tools like Large Language Models (LLMs), to handle semantic conflicts effectively.- The discussion also considers the role of User Interface/User Experience (UI/UX) solutions in enhancing the collaborative editing experience, highlighting that the issue extends beyond algorithms to understanding user intent.

Structured Outputs with Ollama

  • Ollama has introduced support for structured outputs, enabling models to generate outputs in a specific format using a JSON schema.
  • This feature is now available in the updated Ollama Python and JavaScript libraries, useful for tasks like data parsing from documents and images.
  • Users should update to the latest Ollama version and use the format parameter in cURL requests or libraries, with future updates promising performance enhancements and more format options.

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  • Ollama provides a method to generate structured data, such as JSON, from language models, with discussions on using GBNF grammars for more versatile output formats like XML or SQL.- Users debate the reliability of JSON outputs versus natural language, with insights into how language models (LLMs) generate text and the role of structured prompts.- Ollama's integration with llama.cpp is noted for simplifying model usage, though some view it as merely a wrapper, and the feature supports various models with differing accuracy levels.

RollerCoaster Tycoon was the last of its kind [video]

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  • RollerCoaster Tycoon, developed primarily in assembly language by a small team, became a best-seller in 1999, showcasing a rare development style.
  • Fans suggest OpenRCT2 for enhanced features and compatibility, and Roller Coaster Tycoon Classic for modern devices, while alternatives like Parkitect and Planet Coaster provide varied experiences.
  • The video highlights the evolution of game development and the challenges small teams encounter when competing with larger studios, with indie successes like Minecraft illustrating the potential for small team achievements.

Fructose in diet enhances tumor growth: research

  • Fructose consumption has increased significantly over the last 50 years, primarily due to high-fructose corn syrup in beverages and processed foods.
  • Research from Washington University in St. Louis indicates that while fructose doesn't directly fuel tumors, the liver converts it into nutrients that support tumor growth in cancers such as melanoma, breast, and cervical cancer.
  • The study suggests potential new cancer treatments by exploring methods to prevent fructose from aiding tumor growth, possibly through dietary changes or pharmaceuticals, with partial funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

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  • Research from Washington University indicates that high fructose consumption may promote tumor growth by increasing circulating lipids, which are utilized by cancer cells for growth.- While fructose in fruits is typically safe due to additional nutrients, excessive intake from sources like high fructose corn syrup could be risky.- The study underscores the complexity of cancer metabolism and the potential influence of diet on cancer progression, though further research is necessary to fully comprehend these mechanisms.

Biggest shell programs

  • The page highlights significant shell programs, focusing on substantial hand-written scripts rather than those generated by tools like autoconf.- Notable entries include akinomyoga/ble.sh, a Bash Line Editor with 61K lines of code (LoC), and kalua, an OpenWRT addon with 56K source lines of code (SLoC).- The list provides insights into the complexity and diversity of shell scripting, featuring programs that utilize data structures and algorithms, typically exceeding 5,000 lines of code.

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  • The discussion focuses on the complexities and challenges of using large shell scripts, such as issues with readability, error handling, and portability.- Users suggest considering alternatives like Python or AWK for complex tasks due to better maintainability, while tools like ShellCheck can help improve shell script quality.- The conversation highlights the balance between using shell scripts for quick tasks and opting for more robust programming languages for larger projects.

DSPy – Programming–not prompting–LMs

  • DSPy is a framework designed for building modular AI systems using compositional Python code, focusing on improving language model (LM) outputs without relying solely on prompts.- It supports multiple large language model (LLM) providers like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Databricks, allowing users to describe AI behavior as code, facilitating easier iteration and optimization.- Originating from Stanford NLP, DSPy has a strong community presence on GitHub and Discord, contributing to open-source AI research and advancing program architectures and optimizers.

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  • DSPy is a framework designed to optimize prompts for language models (LMs) by automating the selection of training data subsets, thus enhancing performance and minimizing manual adjustments.
  • It supports end-to-end training of large language model (LLM) programs, preventing the use of outdated prompts in code, and is particularly useful for tasks such as data extraction and summarization.
  • While some users find DSPy's complexity challenging, it is valued for its structured approach and features like assertions and suggestions that enforce output constraints.