मुख्य कंटेंट तक स्किप करें

2023-06-19

Imaginary problems are the root of bad software

  • Imaginary problems can often be the root cause of bad software.
  • Miscommunications and long chains of communication can contribute to the creation of imaginary problems.
  • The persistence of imaginary problems can be driven by incentives to maintain job security and avoid fixing real problems.

Industry Reactions

  • The software industry's incentive system often prioritizes creating more solutions rather than focusing on what is actually needed, leading to bad software.
  • The industry's emphasis on features and innovation over stability and usability has resulted in complex and unnecessary designs, contributing to confusion among users.
  • Solving real problems for users and delivering stable, efficient, and usable software is important, and there is value in focusing on practical solutions rather than technical complexity.

Swing VPN app is a DDoS botnet

  • The Swing VPN app has been found to be a DDoS botnet, using its user base to launch distributed denial-of-service attacks on specific websites.
  • The app sends requests to targeted websites at a rate of about one request every 10 seconds, aiming to overwhelm the servers and deny service to legitimate users.
  • The app also raises concerns about privacy, as it collects user data and sends it to an ad network without users' consent.

Industry Reactions

  • The Swing VPN app has been identified as a DDoS botnet, operating in a command and control fashion.
  • Free VPN software, such as Hola VPN, has been known to abuse client trust and resources.
  • The app has over 5 million installations on Android.

Sennheiser HD 555 to HD 595 Mod

  • This post explains how to modify a pair of Sennheiser HD 555 headphones to have the same sound quality as the more expensive HD 595 headphones, saving $150.
  • The only physical difference between the two headphone models is an additional piece of foam inside the HD 555 headphones, which slightly alters the frequency response.
  • By removing this foam and cleaning the cushions, users can achieve a sound quality similar to that of the more expensive HD 595 headphones without the extra cost.

Industry Reactions

  • The post discusses the difference between Sennheiser HD 555 and HD 595 headphones, with speculation on the origin of the drivers used.
  • The discussion includes mentions of product binning, market pricing, and the Chi-fi market's potential impact on the headphone industry.
  • Users share their experiences and preferences for different headphone brands, models, and features like wireless and noise-canceling capabilities.

Jellyfin: Free software media system

  • Jellyfin is a free software media system that allows you to manage and stream your media.
  • It is an alternative to proprietary platforms like Emby and Plex.
  • Jellyfin is built on the .NET Core framework, enabling cross-platform support and there are no premium licenses or hidden fees.

Industry Reactions

  • Jellyfin is a free and open-source media system software that allows users to manage and stream their media files.
  • Users have praised Jellyfin for its ease of use and compatibility with various devices.
  • Jellyfin has been compared to other media center options like Plex and Emby, with some users preferring Jellyfin for its open-source nature.

I have received a $100k sponsorship for Ladybird browser

  • The article discusses the receipt of a $100k sponsorship for the Ladybird browser.
  • The Ladybird browser is a web browser that has recently gained popularity.
  • The sponsorship represents a significant financial contribution that will likely support the development and improvement of the Ladybird browser.

Industry Reactions

  • Andreas has received a $100k sponsorship for Ladybird browser development.
  • Ladybird is a new cross-platform browser project with its own engine called LibWeb.
  • The sponsorship will support the project and its goal of creating a competitive alternative to existing browsers.

A single line of code made a 24-core server slower than a laptop (2021)

  • The performance of a benchmarking tool called Latte was unexpectedly slower on a 24-core server compared to a laptop, despite having more cores available.
  • After investigation, it was discovered that the issue was caused by the use of shared reference counters (Arc) in the tool's code, which led to congestion and poor performance on the server.
  • The problem was addressed by implementing separate reference counters for each thread, resulting in improved scalability and linear performance scaling on the server.

Industry Reactions

  • The use of asynchronous code, coroutines, and parallelization techniques in programming.
  • The importance of dividing work in a way that maximizes parallelism and minimizes contention.
  • The impact of data structures and algorithms on parallel performance.
  • The challenges and trade-offs in scaling parallel programs.
  • The potential performance gains in optimizing code for parallel execution.

Goodbye, Twilio

  • The author is no longer an employee at Twilio after almost four years. Their decision to leave the company was voluntary.
  • The author reflects on the changes that have occurred at Twilio, including a shift towards a goal of collecting and using customer data to drive sales, which no longer aligns with the author's views on online privacy.
  • The author plans to take their time to find a new company with a developer-first culture and is open to consulting and contract opportunities in the meantime.

Industry Reactions

  • Twilio has shifted its focus from a developer-centric company to a customer engagement platform, sparking discussions about the role of developers and the impact of shifting priorities.
  • The company's decision to acquire Segment and its introduction of new products like Twilio Flex are seen as a move away from its developer-centric roots, disappointing some developers.
  • Twilio's changes have raised questions about the company's long-term vision and the potential implications for the future of programmable messaging.

Follow up to "I booted Linux 293k times"

  • The writer experienced a bug in Linux that caused the system to hang randomly, and decided to track down the issue.
  • They performed extensive testing and bisection to identify the specific commit that introduced the bug.
  • The bug has been fixed thanks to the efforts of various developers, but it may still affect users who have already installed the patch.

Industry Reactions

  • The process of identifying and fixing a rare race condition bug in the Linux kernel is discussed in the article
  • The bug was introduced between two versions of the kernel, and there were over 52,000 code changes to consider
  • The author used a binary search approach, running tests on different code changes to narrow down the bug's source

Scientists create contained ball of turbulence in a tank

  • Scientists at the University of Chicago have created a contained "ball" of turbulence in a tank of water, which has never been done before.
  • This breakthrough could help researchers better understand turbulence, which is still not fully understood in physics.
  • The researchers were able to track the parameters of the turbulence more precisely using lasers and high-speed cameras, opening up new avenues for study in the field.

Industry Reactions

  • Scientists have created a controlled ball of turbulence in a tank of water using a ring of jets to blow loops.
  • The experiment visualizes the paths of vortex rings, which resemble electron orbitals.
  • This breakthrough in controlling turbulent flow has potential applications in fluid dynamics, such as improving designs for ships, cars, turbines, and chemical reactions.

Infinite Photorealistic Worlds Using Procedural Generation

  • 'The Tech Times' article discusses the concept of infinite photorealistic worlds created through procedural generation in the field of technology and gaming.
  • The article explains that procedural generation is a method used by game developers to generate an infinite number of unique worlds without having to manually design each one.
  • It highlights the benefits of procedural generation, such as saving time and resources for developers, providing endless exploration opportunities for gamers, and creating dynamic and immersive gaming experiences.

Industry Reactions

  • Procedural generation for creating photorealistic worlds has been a focus of the demoscene community for decades.
  • The paper presents a system that generates geometry, textures, and lighting without using any external assets.
  • The output of the system is free and open source and can be used for training neural networks or creating full image sets for various applications.