1. Got called to a professor’s office after a complaint his SPARC4 was running slow
Total comment counts : 54
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
The article tells a story about a nurse at a hospital who called tech support because she had a “weather report” window on her screen that she couldn’t close because it would go under the screen. When the tech support person arrived, they realized that the nurse had accidentally pressed a button on the monitor that called up the brightness menu, making it appear as if there was a window on the screen. The issue was resolved by pressing the button again, and the tech support person went back to wait for the next call.
Top 2 Comment Summary
In 1989, the author worked as the sole IT department for a group of ex-academic economists who were using a Digital VAX 11/750 computer for econometric modeling. The computer operated on a multi-user operating system called VMS, with all users having admin rights. Each user believed that increasing their model’s process priority would make it run faster. However, this actually disrupted the real-time processes necessary for the computer’s effective functioning. The author revoked their privileges and after a system restart, the computer returned to normal operation. The author was appreciated for resolving the issue and making the system work faster.
2. Show HN: Invoice Dragon – An open source app to create PDF invoices
Total comment counts : 40
Summary
I’m sorry, but I cannot summarize an article without knowing its content or having access to it. Could you please provide me with the article or some specific information from it?
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article praises a tool for its ability to generate PDF invoices effectively. However, it also acknowledges that the complexity of invoicing lies in tracking unpaid and paid invoices, monitoring aging invoices, applying discounts for early payment, and integrating with accounting tools. Despite this, the article concludes that the tool is suitable for individuals who only need to occasionally send invoices.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article mentions that the software solution, Invoice Ninja, is a favorite in its space. It can be self-hosted or hosted by the company, and offers features such as PDF generation.
3. The Fall of Stack Overflow
Total comment counts : 128
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses a significant and permanent decline in website traffic over a few days in May 2022. The number of daily new visits decreased from approximately 1 million to 300,000, daily page views dropped from around 20 million to 14 million, and daily sessions decreased from about 9.4 million to 6.1 million. However, during the same period, there was no corresponding decrease in posts/votes. They remained relatively constant until February 2023 when both experienced a significant decline, potentially due to the rise of LLMs (Large Language Models). The traffic data is sourced from Google Analytics, while post/vote data is computed internally by StackOverflow. The author speculates whether the sudden drop in traffic in May 2022 is an artifact of Google Analytics changing how it tracks traffic/visitors.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author found that the strictness of Stack Overflow (SO) helped them the most when they had questions that were not already answered. They realized that by going through the process of writing a high-quality question with a clear thought process and providing examples of their attempts at solving it, they often found the solution without needing to actually post the question on SO.
4. Google’s nightmare “Web Integrity API” wants a DRM gatekeeper for the web
Total comment counts : 67
Summary
Google is proposing a new web standard called the “Web Environment Integrity API” that aims to verify the integrity of web browsers and users. The goal is to ensure that users are not robots and that browsers have not been tampered with. This data would be useful for advertisers, social media platforms, game developers, and financial institutions. Google’s plan involves a web server requiring users to pass an “environment attestation” test, which involves contacting a third-party attestation server and receiving an “IntegrityToken” if the test is passed. This token would then unlock the desired content. The proposed API is similar to existing attestation signals used by Apple and Android.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article suggests that Google’s market dominance in areas such as web browsing, advertising, search engine, operating systems, and popular websites gives it the power to do what it wants, regardless of how it affects users. The author argues that this is where the idea of breaking up the company becomes relevant, as Google’s immense market power may result in negative consequences that users cannot address.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article criticizes a project aimed at collecting user data to improve advertising, counter online bots, protect intellectual property, and prevent cheating in online games. The author expresses displeasure with Google’s attempt to gather personal information, arguing that web browsers are meant to serve users, not gather information about them.
5. The 1990s Amiga with Video Toaster has a VFX cool factor that endures today
Total comment counts : 15
Summary
The article discusses the nostalgia surrounding NewTek’s Video Toaster, a popular video production tool from the 90s. The Video Toaster was a revolutionary device that offered features such as switching, titling, and animation, making visual effects accessible to a wider audience. The article explores the history of the Video Toaster and its impact on the industry. It also mentions notable figures like Todd Rundgren, Wil Wheaton, and Kiki Stockhammer, who were involved with the Video Toaster. The article highlights the potential of incorporating some of the old-school analog-era tools and aesthetics into modern software.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author shares their early experiences with programming on the C64 computer and their involvement with audiovisual work at their local church. They recall the transformative moment when the church replaced their equipment with the Video Toaster, which inspired them to pursue a career in computer-based video. The author spent the following summer learning and mastering various tasks related to video production. By the time they graduated, they were skilled enough to run the news for a small TV station. The author feels fortunate for the opportunity and expresses gratitude for the Video Toaster’s significant impact on their life.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the visual effects of the TV show Babylon 5. The effects were initially seen as crude, but now they are considered weirdly cool and artistic, and ahead of their time. The show’s approach to spacecraft maneuvers and modeling has influenced other TV shows, such as the 2000s reboot of Battlestar Galactica. The article also mentions that one of the original 3D artists of Babylon 5 has re-rendered some of the original assets and scenes at high resolution, resulting in an awesome look today. The limitations of the output medium at the time restricted the 3D art of Babylon 5.
6. The first room-temperature ambient-pressure superconductor?
Total comment counts : 61
Summary
The article states that the reader does not have permission to access a link provided by arXiv. If the reader believes this is a mistake, they can refer to a link for more information on how to restore access. The information was last updated on December 18, 2019.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article explains that although the information presented in the paper may be true, the material discussed has limited applications. The critical field and critical current of the material are very low, and it cannot handle large currents or be used to create powerful magnets or viable power lines. However, with further modifications, it is possible that the material could potentially achieve higher current density and critical field.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses a related paper authored by Hyun-Tak Kim, who has numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals, including one with over 1500 citations. The article mentions that the claims made in the paper seem legitimate and straightforward to reproduce, contrasting with previous claims that required complex setups. The author anticipates that other researchers will provide input soon. The article also provides links to the mentioned paper and the author’s Google Scholar profile.
7. RNA editing is common in behaviorally sophisticated coleoid cephalopods (2017)
Total comment counts : 9
Summary
RNA editing is a post-transcriptional process that allows for the diversification of proteomes beyond the genomic blueprint. Recent reports suggest that RNA editing is particularly common in behaviorally sophisticated coleoid cephalopods, such as squids. This editing is enriched in the nervous system and affects molecules related to excitability and neuronal morphology. The process of RNA editing is important for diversifying proteins, particularly those associated with neural function. The large number of editing sites in cephalopods reduces the number of mutations and genomic polymorphisms in protein-coding regions, highlighting the trade-off between genome evolution and transcriptome plasticity. Overall, this study suggests that RNA editing plays a significant role in proteome diversity.
Top 1 Comment Summary
RNA editing is a post-transcriptional process that allows for the diversification of proteomes in animals. However, it is not frequently used for this purpose. RNA splicing, on the other hand, is a widely used and highly important RNA editing process in eukaryotes. It is so common and conserved that even if a human gene is inserted into a mouse, it would be spliced in the same way. Therefore, RNA editing is not as rare as some might think.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article highlights the significance of root access in nature and its beauty.
8. Mozilla Standards Positions Opposes Web Integrity API
Total comment counts : 24
Summary
The article discusses a proposal called the “Integrity API” that is currently being relied upon by Chromium’s prototype. The author expresses concerns about the lack of vendor-neutrality and the potential for the API to restrict users of other browsers. Mozilla also opposes the proposal, stating that it contradicts their principles and vision for the Web. They argue that mechanisms that restrict user choices are harmful to the openness of the Web ecosystem. Additionally, the proposal’s use cases may obstruct existing uses of the Web, such as assistive technologies and automatic testing. Mozilla suggests that the proposal lacks practical progress and has clear downsides. Despite disagreements in the past, the author is grateful for Mozilla’s objection to the proposal and donates to the organization.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article explains how a particular attack works. The attacker creates a device, such as a smartphone, and generates a keypair for it. The device runs the attacker’s software and whenever non-attacker software is run with elevated privileges, the device informs the hardware security module (HSM) in a way that cannot be reset. The HSM produces signatures that indicate the device is running the attacker’s software. This allows conniving third parties to ensure they are interacting with a device that is under the attacker’s control, restricting user behavior as specified by the attacker. The attack is already happening on Android and iOS smartphones and has now been extended to the web.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author is urging people to use Firefox as an alternative to Google Chrome. They argue that if everyone uses Chrome, there will be no one left to challenge Google’s control over it. Having a competing browser with a significant market share is seen as necessary to prevent Google from doing whatever it wants without any opposition. The author acknowledges that Firefox is not perfect, but believes it is important to have a viable alternative.
9. Vscode.dev: Local Development with Cloud Tools
Total comment counts : 22
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
The article advises caution when using a certain tool, recommending that it should only be used when necessary and not relied upon completely. It warns that the tool’s creators may make it highly appealing and convenient, making it difficult to resist using it. However, the article emphasizes that people with technical knowledge should be aware that relying on this tool, particularly when combined with Microsoft services, may have negative consequences in the long term. It suggests that big companies are not to be trusted and may take advantage of users, eventually leading to dependency and negative outcomes.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article mentions that users can go to github.dev or press “.” while browsing any repository to access the same online experience as VS Code, with the repository automatically loaded. It also highlights the confusion between vscode.dev and github.dev, which are both free and run the editor fully locally in the browser, while Github Codespaces involves provisioning a VM to run containers, build tooling, and other tools, which comes with charges based on hourly usage.
10. Textual Paint – MS Paint in your terminal
Total comment counts : 12
Summary
The article is about a TUI (Text User Interface) image editor built with Textual that is inspired by MS Paint. It requires Python 3.10 or later and supports many file formats, including ANSI art, raster images, SVG, and HTML. The article also provides instructions for using the image editor, including how to draw using characters, set the text color, and preview ANSI art files. It also mentions compatibility with different terminals and provides tips for using the program in different environments. The article concludes with information on setting up and running the program, as well as additional features and considerations.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article mentions a person who created a program called jspaint. The author also has other interesting projects that can be found on their GitHub page. One example is a pipes screen saver. The author’s website also lists some of these projects.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article expresses admiration for a demo showcasing the capabilities of Textual. The project is described as both impressive and absurd, generating excitement. The author is eagerly anticipating the adoption of Textual by commercial products and hopes to see them in the near future.