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2023-07-09

When an app asks for permissions, it should have a "feed fake data" option

  • When an app asks for permissions, users should have the option to provide fake data instead of granting full access.
  • This approach would allow users to protect their personal information while still being able to use the app.
  • Actively punishing services by feeding them fake data can be more effective than boycotting them.

Industry Reactions

  • Ongoing debate about users' control over their data, the impact of app permissions, and the need for transparency and accountability from app developers and device manufacturers.
  • Concerns about privacy and user autonomy, and the potential for new developments in the future.
  • Discussions on the implementation of region localization on the App Store, dissatisfaction with the current system, and suggestions for alternative solutions.

If PEP 703 is accepted, Meta can commit three engineer-years to no-GIL CPython

  • The statement "pmf = sum(counters) # does this work? can't remember" will work if an initial empty Counter is provided.
  • Without an initial empty Counter, the statement will start with 0 and raise an error.
  • This information is relevant for understanding how to use the statement correctly in programming.

Industry Reactions

  • PEP 703, if accepted, could lead to the removal of the Global Interpreter Lock (GIL) in CPython, offering improved parallelism and performance.
  • The transition to a GIL-less Python would require rebuilding and updating C-API extensions, which could be a major undertaking for codebases heavily relying on them.
  • Facebook (Meta) has committed to investing engineer years in improving the Python interpreter and making it possible to disable the GIL.

Software engineers hate code

  • Software engineers often dislike working with code, especially code written by others. They prefer greenfield projects that require minimal maintenance and troubleshooting.
  • Stack Overflow is a popular resource for finding code solutions without extensive code analysis.
  • Senior engineers prioritize minimizing unnecessary code and deleting existing code, understanding that code incurs maintenance and risk. They advocate for improving and reusing existing code rather than creating new solutions.

Industry Reactions

  • Software engineers often dislike working with existing code because it can be complex and difficult to understand.
  • It's important to strike a balance between writing new code and working with existing code, considering the projected costs of maintaining the existing code and the potential benefits of a rebuild.
  • Good engineers should take pride in their work, strive for clean and maintainable code, and understand the long-term benefits of writing quality code.

Langchain Is Pointless

  • Langchain is a popular but poorly designed library for working with language models.
  • It is filled with overlapping abstractions, leading to confusion and frustration.
  • The documentation is disorganized and inconsistent, making it difficult to use effectively.

Industry Reactions

  • Langchain is criticized for trying to solve problems on top of technical foundations that are not suitable.
  • Users find that the custom prompts and prompt tuning required for each feature in Langchain are not reusable and result in subpar output.
  • Many developers have found it more efficient to build their own solutions using simpler methods and libraries, rather than using Langchain's abstractions.

I stopped buying new laptops (2020)

  • The author explains why they stopped buying new laptops and instead switched to using a second-hand 2006 machine that cost them significantly less money.
  • Not buying new laptops not only saves money but also reduces resource consumption and environmental destruction associated with laptop production.
  • The author provides tips on how to make an old laptop run like new by using low-energy software and replacing the hard disk drive with a solid-state drive.

Industry Reactions

  • The article explores the debate around consumerism and the pressure to buy new tech every year.
  • It discusses the mindset behind these purchases and whether they are worth the money.
  • The post mentions changing batteries and references a video about laptop battery life.

Learn electronics by practice

  • This post titled 'Learn electronics by practice' is for people who are interested in learning about electronics through hands-on practice.
  • The post provides a practical approach to learning electronics, which is especially useful for beginners who are new to the field.
  • Readers can expect to gain valuable knowledge and skills in electronics through the step-by-step guidance and practical examples provided in this post.

Industry Reactions

  • The Discussion Service thread discusses the experience of learning electronics by practice.
  • Nand2tetris is mentioned as a recommended course for learning electronics.
  • The article is criticized for its poor writing in explaining complex concepts.
  • Several resources, such as books, videos, and websites, are shared for learning electronics.
  • There is a mention of kits, like Ben Eater's 8-bit computer kits, that are ideal for learning electronics.
  • The importance of understanding both digital and analog electronics is highlighted.

PdfGptIndexer: Indexing and searching PDF text data using GPT-2 and FAISS

  • PdfGptIndexer is a tool that helps you quickly find and search information in PDF documents using advanced AI models.
  • It uses libraries like Textract, Transformers, Langchain, and FAISS to process and store the text data in a compact and efficient way.
  • Storing the text embeddings locally speeds up the retrieval process, allows offline access, saves computational resources, and enables working with large datasets.

Industry Reactions

  • Users are frustrated with the requirement of using OpenAI or cloud services for similar applications.
  • The default approach for these apps should be local-first, with the option to use cloud services if desired.
  • There are alternative options available, such as locally running LLMs, that can provide similar functionality without the need for cloud services.
  • Some users are interested in running LLMs locally on their own hardware, but are looking for guidance on how to do so effectively.
  • OpenAI's pricing and data usage policies are a concern for some users, who are exploring alternative options for privacy reasons.
  • There are several open-source tools and libraries available for building and customizing LLMs, such as txtai and ChatGPT.
  • Users are looking for solutions that allow them to search and access information from their own documents and data.
  • There is a discussion about the privacy implications of using AI models and cloud services, especially for personal and sensitive data.
  • Some users are interested in certifications and qualifications related to AI models and technologies, while others do not see the value in them.
  • There are competing options and startups in the field of fine-tuning and vector search that offer alternatives to OpenAI.
  • Users are discussing the advantages and limitations of different embedding models, such as GPT-2, GPT-4, and custom embeddings.
  • Users are also exploring the use of other tools and libraries, such as Milvus, Quickwit, and Pinecone, for vector storage and search.
  • There is interest in using AI models to search and analyze personal data, such as emails and chat logs.
  • The importance of privacy and data security is highlighted, with concerns about third-party access to personal and sensitive information.
  • Users are interested in finding hosted versions and services that provide AI capabilities for data analysis and retrieval.
  • The potential use cases for indexing and searching data using AI models are discussed, such as organizing notes, retrieving information, and generating summaries.
  • There is a debate about the effectiveness and reliability of different AI models and embeddings, including GPT-2, GPT-4, and others.
  • Users are sharing their experiences and recommendations for running AI models locally on different hardware configurations, such as Intel Macs.
  • The availability of open-source alternatives and libraries, such as privateGPT and vlite, is highlighted.
  • The benefits of using AI models for document search and personal knowledge management are discussed, including enhanced retrieval and summarization capabilities.
  • Concerns about the misuse and potential abuse of AI models, including medical information and privacy infringement, are raised.
  • Some users express frustration with the lack of documentation and information on hardware requirements and performance benchmarks for AI models.
  • Users share their experiences with different tools and approaches for using AI models, such as services that allow private interactions with documents and embeddings.

The Horror Game of the Year Is a Doom II Mod

  • MyHouse.wad, a Doom II mod, is being hailed as the best horror game of the year by its cult following. The mod introduces new technology and features that were previously thought to be impossible in Doom II.
  • The mod was created by a mysterious user named Veddge, who left cryptic messages and disappeared shortly after releasing it. This sparked a frenzy among players who were eager to uncover the secrets of the mod and its connection to Veddge's personal experiences.
  • The game's unsettling atmosphere and mind-bending gameplay make it a unique and unforgettable horror experience that has garnered praise from both players and industry professionals, including Doom designer John Romero and author Mark Danielewski.

Industry Reactions

  • "The Horror Game of the Year Is a Doom II Mod"
  • Play the game by following the steps and downloading the necessary files
  • Reading the supporting material and forum posts enhances the experience
  • The level may take a while to load, but don't panic
  • You can start the game from a Flatpak of GZDoom if you're a Silverblue user
  • The myhouse.wad file does not contain the full level, you need to use the myhouse.pk3 file
  • The mod is a thriller, not a horror game
  • There are secrets and hidden content in the game that may require external resources to discover
  • The mod is inspired by the book "House of Leaves," but they are different stories
  • There are several YouTube videos available that go through the content and the methods used to create the mod
  • Some people find horror games too intense, but this mod is interesting without being scary
  • FPS games can become repetitive and too intense for some players
  • There is a desire for more non-combat mechanic possibilities in games
  • The mod is praised for its artistry and creativity
  • There are other Doom mods mentioned for those interested in exploring more options
  • The process of setting up and playing the mod may require downloading additional files and copying them to specific folders
  • There are options for obtaining the necessary game files, such as purchasing Doom II or using the Freedoom project
  • The mod has wide appeal and attracts a diverse audience
  • The game is highly anticipated and generates excitement among players
  • The mod utilizes features that were not possible in the original Doom engine
  • The game is praised for its attention to detail and unsettling atmosphere
  • The mod may not be appealing to those who are unfamiliar with the original Doom games

Why use Pascal?

  • Pascal is a modern, readable, and fast programming language that can be used to develop maintainable applications.
  • It is cross-platform, meaning it can be used to create software for different operating systems and devices.
  • Pascal has a welcoming and supportive community, with a wide range of tools and libraries available for developers to use.

Industry Reactions

  • The post discusses the use of Pascal, an older programming language that still has a loyal following.
  • Lazarus, an open-source recreation of Delphi, is mentioned as a popular IDE for Pascal.
  • The FpcUpDeluxe tool is introduced as a way to automate the installation of the Pascal IDE and additional modules.

Scams upon scams: The data-driven advertising grift

  • Digital advertising is filled with scams and deceptive practices, with multiple layers of deceit stacked on top of each other.
  • Data-driven ads, which claim to use personal information to target ads accurately, often fail in their targeting and bombard individuals with irrelevant ads.
  • Tech companies have vast amounts of data on users, but their algorithms are not sophisticated enough to make accurate predictions or deliver meaningful insights to advertisers. As a result, advertisers are sold a false promise and end up with ineffective advertising campaigns.

Industry Reactions

  • The author argues that data-driven advertising is a scam and questions the effectiveness of targeted ads and algorithms.
  • They highlight the disconnect between advertisers and their target audience and suggest that the advertising industry is focused on selling services rather than driving sales.
  • The author emphasizes the importance of questioning the effectiveness of data-driven advertising and the need for more rigorous testing and analysis.