1. Companies must stop using Google Analytics
Total comment counts : 46
Summary
The article discusses the audits conducted by the Swedish Data Protection Authority (IMY) on four companies - CDON, Coop, Dagens Industri, and Tele2 - regarding their transfer of personal data to the US through Google Analytics. The audits were initiated based on complaints from the organization None of Your Business (NOYB) in light of the Schrems II ruling by the European Court of Justice (CJEU), which stated that the US did not provide an adequate level of protection for personal data. IMY finds that the data transferred via Google Analytics is personal data and that the technical security measures taken by the companies are insufficient. Tele2 is fined 12 million SEK and CDON is fined 300,000 SEK, while the other three companies are ordered to stop using the tool. These decisions are expected to have implications for other organizations using Google Analytics.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the author’s sister-in-law’s experience studying for a data analytics certification that is based on Google Analytics. The author expresses concern about the amount of dependence on Google Analytics and the potential consequences if it were to be banned or replaced. The author suggests that relying solely on specific tools instead of understanding the underlying principles may be unwise.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author suggests that Google Analytics can still be used by masking or hashing the IP address to protect privacy. However, they express frustration with Google for making it difficult to convert old data into the new version of Analytics, as well as abandoning the API for coding custom reports. The author then describes their positive experience with using self-hosted Matomo, praising its interface, open-source nature, and the ability to create custom reports using SQL queries. They conclude that if they wanted to continue using Google Analytics, they would write a converter to transfer Matomo events into it while remaining GDPR-compliant, but they have decided to permanently switch to Matomo.
2. Hunting for Nginx alias traversals in the wild
Total comment counts : 20
Summary
This article discusses Nginx, a widely used web server and how it handles specific URLs. It explores potential vulnerabilities arising from misconfigurations and demonstrates how they can lead to security exploits. The article introduces NavGix, an automated tool designed to detect these vulnerabilities. Real-world case studies involving Bitwarden and Google’s HPC Toolkit highlight the risk of data exposure. The article also provides examples of vulnerable Nginx configurations found in popular open-source repositories using GitHub Code Search. It concludes by emphasizing the importance of understanding Nginx’s complexities and implementing secure configurations.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article mentions that gixy, an nginx configuration checker, can detect a specific vulnerability related to alias traversal. It also mentions that the NixOS system automatically runs gixy on generated configurations, preventing the system from building if the vulnerability is detected.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the vulnerability of allowing traversal into “..” from a URL path in nginx. The author questions the necessity of having this feature and expresses concerns about potential problems that could arise. They further mention that they are confused about how the vulnerability works and why it only functions in certain cases.
3. Learning needs to be effortful to be effective
Total comment counts : 45
Summary
The author, who used to spend a lot of time consuming digital content for learning purposes, realized that they were not retaining most of the information. They discovered that learning requires effortful engagement, and passive consumption of digital content does not lead to long-term retention. The author explains that learning is physically grounded and that movement and physical activity aid in memory retention. They also argue that digital products can trick us into thinking we’re learning when we’re actually being entertained. To address this, the author suggests reassessing digital learning and using edutainment as a tool for motivation and exploration. They propose a learning inbox system to actively engage with content and differentiate between learning and entertainment. Finally, the author emphasizes the importance of proactive engagement and effortful actions to truly absorb and retain information.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the field of education, which focuses on studying teaching and learning. It suggests that theories of learning can be applied to improve knowledge acquisition. The author compares the “effortful” component of learning to the transformation stage, where students apply what they have learned to make changes in the world. This idea is often discussed by curriculum developers and those who create lessons for students. The article mentions several examples related to aviation learning, YouTube, and PBS, but suggests that more links to university documents on learning theory would be helpful.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article emphasizes that learning is an active process and that learners cannot simply absorb knowledge passively. The instructor cannot assume that learners remember something just because they were present during the presentation. Learners also need to be able to apply what they know and react and respond to the material. Effective knowledge transfer requires learners to engage emotionally, intellectually, or inwardly.
4. More than 75% of Steam games tested are playable or verified on the Steam Deck
Total comment counts : 38
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
The author recently purchased a Steam deck and is impressed by the number of playable and quality indie games available. Despite being a casual gamer, they find the device enjoyable and surprisingly comfortable to use. The author chose the base model and is overall impressed with its quality.
Top 2 Comment Summary
Valve’s Steam Deck is an impressive device with easy plug-and-play functionality. Despite owning a powerful gaming PC and a Switch, the author is delighted with the Deck’s performance, as most games work well without requiring extensive customization. As a father with limited gaming time, the Deck allows the author to indulge in their collection of controller-friendly games. The article also mentions a website called ProtonDB, which offers user reviews and optimization recommendations for playing games on the Steam Deck.
5. Sao Paulo: A city with no outdoor advertisements (2013)
Total comment counts : 51
Summary
The article discusses the implementation and effects of the “Clean City Law” in São Paulo, Brazil in 2006. The law banned outdoor advertisements, including billboards, transit ads, and storefront signs. Within a year, 15,000 billboards were taken down and store signs had to be reduced in size. The law also made pamphleteering in public spaces illegal. The article acknowledges initial concerns about the law leading to lost revenue and jobs, as well as a bland cityscape. However, the city’s economy did not suffer, and a survey showed that 70% of residents found the ban beneficial. The removal of advertisements revealed previously hidden urban beauty and exposed overlooked architecture. Similar bans on billboards exist in other parts of the world, including some places in the US and Europe.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses a law in São Paulo that limits the use of storefront advertising. According to the law, stores cannot use their entire facade for advertising purposes, though branding colors and details are allowed. Logos cannot be too large, though the exact rule is not specified. To get around these restrictions, some stores have adopted a glass facade with LEDs placed inside. This has led to an increase in full building graffiti, which is not banned under the law.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author of the article describes the installation of a large screen billboard in Florianópolis, Brazil, which obstructs the view of a historic bridge. The billboard is bright and plays animated ads throughout the day, causing concern for potential health hazards. The author expresses disappointment that money prevailed over the importance of preserving the iconic sight. They provide a link to a screenshot of the billboard on Google Street View.
6. Sourcegraph is no longer open source
Total comment counts : 33
Summary
The article lists several notable changes to Sourcegraph, a code search and navigation tool. Some of the changes include the removal of the limited open source subset of Sourcegraph, the addition of API documentation as an experimental feature, and a new visual design for the user interface. There are also warnings and advisories related to upgrades and security measures. Additionally, the article mentions improvements to search functionality, new features for user settings and permissions syncing, and enhancements to observability and distributed tracing capabilities.
Top 1 Comment Summary
Sourcegraph has announced that it is splitting into two separate products: code search and Cody, their code AI. Cody will remain open source, while the code search variant will be removed due to low usage. The company will soon extract Cody to a separate open-source repository. Sourcegraph’s licensing principle remains the same, charging companies while keeping tools for individual developers open source. The change does not affect customers, and individual developers can still use Sourcegraph code search for free on public code and on the self-hosted free tier for private code.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article recommends an open-source search tool called livegrep for quickly searching through repositories or a single large repository. It claims that livegrep is faster than local tools like ripgrep, even when searching a single repository. The article also provides a link to a review of livegrep and a post by its creator discussing its performance and architecture. The tool was used at Stripe and was quite popular.
7. SQLite-based databases on the Postgres protocol? Yes we can
Total comment counts : 11
Summary
The article discusses the limitations of using SQLite as a production backend due to its lack of network accessibility. However, a fork of SQLite called libSQL has been created to address these limitations. The latest addition to libSQL is “server mode” (known as sqld) which allows network access and replication to multiple instances. The article provides examples of how the server mode works and mentions the support of HTTP commands and a native TypeScript client. The fork of SQLite was necessary because SQLite does not allow virtualization of the Write-Ahead Log (WAL) methods. By virtualizing the WAL, libSQL can capture updates to the database in real-time. The article also mentions the goal of libSQL to go beyond server mode and invites contributions to the project.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the challenges of using both SQLite and Postgres for a backend app. The author highlights the differences between the two databases, such as the need for different codepaths and variations in functionality. For example, only Postgres supports certain commands like with conn.cursor as cur, and SQLite requires additional steps for escaping things for columns and table names.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author of the article discusses their experience working on Marmot and the importance of allowing readers to perform tasks within the same process rather than relying on a protocol such as HTTP or Postgres. They also mention a similar issue with rqlite and dqlite and made a deliberate decision to design Marmot as a side-car rather than a layer on top, as they believe this aligns better with the principles of SQLite.
8. Huge phosphate rock deposit discovered in Norway
Total comment counts : 14
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
The article states that while there is optimism about the potential of a current orebody, it is important to note that it is only at a depth of 400m and considered resources, not fully proven reserves. The article also mentions that the projected numbers are based on extrapolating drill results up to a depth of 4500m, which is quite remarkable. However, the article suggests that there may be more cost-effective options available and highlights the possibility of the current orebody becoming the deepest mine in the world if it does continue at regular grades. The author of the article identifies themselves as a hard rock mining engineer.
Top 2 Comment Summary
A mining company in Norway has discovered a large phosphate rock deposit that holds enough minerals to supply the global demand for batteries and solar panels for the next century. This news is being promoted by the company’s PR firm, who is focusing on the positive implications for electric cars and solar panels. However, the article criticizes this approach as being similar to discovering a large oil field and claiming it will benefit electric cars because they have plastic components. The author suggests that this is an example of greenwashing.
9. Ask HN: How to do market research for product?
Total comment counts : 51
Summary
The article discusses the process of performing market research for a product targeting restaurant owners. The author identifies a problem with restaurants keeping their menus up to date on delivery apps and online platforms, and proposes building a simple product to help them easily update and publish their menus. The author also mentions skepticism towards using Net Promoter Scores (NPS) and satisfaction scores in small communities. Additionally, the article suggests asking critical questions to assess potential customers’ awareness of the problem, existing solutions, and budget for a better solution. The author also provides a framework for determining customer interest and value based on their willingness to deploy the product for free and their response to a high price point. The article touches on the challenges of competition and the need to constantly iterate and adapt to maintain a competitive edge.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the importance of asking questions in a way that doesn’t lead to biased or “approval” answers. Different forms of questions can solicit different responses. The use of matched-pair questions, which have two opposing approaches, can be helpful in aligning responses. The author also expresses skepticism about using Net Promoter Scores (NPS) and satisfaction scores in small communities, as they may not be reliable indicators. Additionally, the author highlights the potential for negative responses when asking about service delivery in denying something, and the reverse for positive responses.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article emphasizes the importance of differentiating between market research and product research. Market research involves analyzing competing companies and products, understanding market size and positioning. Product research involves talking to prospective users or customers to understand their problems and pain points. It advises against immediately presenting solutions and suggests asking questions to get a deeper understanding of customer needs. The article also suggests various research methods, including speaking to family and friends in the industry, utilizing social media platforms for complaints and wish lists, reading product reviews, exploring industry-specific publications and forums, conducting expert interviews and surveys, and connecting with people on LinkedIn for conversations. The article concludes by emphasizing the need for customer conversations before building any product.
10. Ask HN: Could you share your personal blog here?
Total comment counts : 780
Summary
The article provides a list of blog posts from different authors on various topics. Some of the titles include “Anything can be a message queue if you use it wrongly enough,” “A weapon to surpass Metal Gear,” “The best sudo replacement,” “Sleeping Through the Technical Interview,” and “I Put Words on this Webpage so You Have to Listen to Me Now.” The author also mentions their own blog posts, covering subjects like ping, ELF, HTTP, and more. Additionally, they discuss their blog’s evolution, commenting on how discussions now primarily take place off-site and the blog is mainly visited through organic searches or referrals. The author mentions various tools they use, such as Markdown, Hugo, and Bootstrap, to build their blog. Several other users share their blog links and talk about their writing experience, covering topics like engineering, startups, math, AI, and more.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article talks about the migration of a website to a .com domain. The author provides a link to the website and asks readers to refresh the page if they encounter any errors. The article also mentions categories such as “writings” and “manasha” on the website, which include short poems.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article provides a list of favorite blog posts, including topics such as message queues, surpassing Metal Gear, a sudo replacement, sleeping through a technical interview, and experimental writing. The author also suggests subscribing to their feed or considering an email list.