1. GPTBot – OpenAI’s Web Crawler
Total comment counts : 40
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
The article mentions that it’s positive that the headers regarding web crawling are being respected after training a model. However, it is noted that these headers likely have no impact on previously crawled pages used to train GPT.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses a bot that ignores the “429 Too Many Requests” response header and continues to overload a small side project. The author mentions that they have already blocked the IP address being used, as it has been associated with previous malicious bots. They also note that this bot poses a risk to their service, as it relies on third-party APIs with rate limitations, and any bot disregarding these limitations could potentially initiate a (D)DOS attack.
2. Google Maps has become an eyesore
Total comment counts : 123
Summary
I’m sorry, but I am unable to summarize the article as you have provided only the instructions to enable JavaScript and disable ad blockers. Could you please provide the actual article or its title?
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author of the article worked on Google Maps monetization and states that it was a failure. They believe that Maps continues to be a financial loser, although they are unsure of its current performance. The author also mentions that the cost of “pin ads” on Maps is likely lower than search ads. The article notes that Google deliberately avoids estimating indirect revenue from Maps due to potential patent litigation. The author acknowledges that their information might be outdated as they have been retired for some time. In terms of user experience, they describe it as having poor quality and being influenced by big-company bureaucracy.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author expresses their reliance and dependence on Google Maps as a highly useful app, especially as someone who has been living a nomadic lifestyle for the past five years. They use it to find restaurants, dentists, electronics stores, and more. The author also mentions having lists, such as “Places to Work,” which includes coffee shops and other preferred locations to work. They rely on Google Maps for public transportation and state that if they could only choose three apps on their phone, Google Maps would be one of them. Although they wish there were better alternatives and dislike being overly dependent on one company, they feel that open source alternatives like OpenStreetMap do not compare to the functionality of Google Maps.
3. Elixir Livebook is a secret weapon for documentation
Total comment counts : 16
Summary
The article discusses Livebook, a tool in the Elixir programming language that allows for documentation, interactive exploration, and exposition of app logic. Livebook is compared to Jupyter notebooks and is described as being powerful even when used in regular Phoenix web projects. The article provides step-by-step instructions on how to install and use Livebook, including connecting it to an existing Elixir project and accessing code completion and execution capabilities. The benefits of using Livebook for documenting and showcasing app logic are highlighted, and the article concludes by encouraging readers to try Livebook on their own projects.
Top 1 Comment Summary
LiveBook has integrated with Vega Lite, a visualization tool, providing users with access to a wide range of visualizations. Additionally, LiveBook can be used with Explorer, which utilizes the fast DataFrame library Polars. Polars has recently become a company after receiving $4 million in seed funding.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the concept of using .mdx files in OCaml, which are markdown files that can execute OCaml code. These files are useful for unit testing code, providing usage examples, and testing documentation simultaneously. The article suggests that this is a great idea for documentation and encourages using it more often.
4. Some tactics for writing in public
Total comment counts : 19
Summary
The author of this article discusses their approach to dealing with comments on the internet when they write publicly. They explain that they have learned a lot from reading internet comments, even if some people are negative or rude. The author provides several tactics they use to make the comments on their posts more informative and to minimize annoying comments. They mention that discussing facts, sharing stories, asking questions, admitting mistakes, and understanding the context of their posts are all strategies they employ. They also avoid writing about topics that result in boring or repetitive conversations. The author concludes by stating that they try not to engage in arguments or dismissive comments and instead look for ways to find value in unexpected negative comments.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article highlights the importance of being self-aware and admitting when one is unsure about a topic. The author notes that this tactic is unfortunately not common in the software field, where individuals are used to being knowledgeable about everything. However, with the constant growth of knowledge and complexity, it is impossible for one person to know everything. Failing to acknowledge disagreement and not listening to others who may be more knowledgeable can lead to failure in projects.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses how people who write on the internet are often forced to censor themselves and limit the topics they write about due to the culture that exists online. The author shares their personal experience of avoiding certain subjects to prevent repetitive discussions. They also highlight how the online culture allows for behavior that would be considered unacceptable in other social settings. The specific platforms mentioned, such as HN, Slashdot, Twitter, and Tumblr, are noted to have different manifestations of this issue, but the underlying problem is the same across all of them.
5. Ravenchord – A Radical Redesign of the Piano
Total comment counts : 26
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
The writer expresses their dislike for articles that feature random CAD sketches without practical engineering considerations. They feel disappointed and suggest the need for a tag or a clear admission of the content of such articles. The writer finds these articles misleading as they often start with grand claims but lack substance.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses a new concept for a piano that includes optional subtle light behind each string that illuminates as the hammers strike. The author, a professional pianist, expresses confusion and skepticism about the concept. They believe that while the toy illumination aspect may have some usefulness, replacing the traditional action with solenoids would not be a suitable replacement for the double-escapement action of a modern grand piano. The author emphasizes the importance of the tactile feedback and nuanced feel offered by a well-regulated action in refined pianistic technique. They wish the creators well but doubt the viability and necessity of this innovation, which includes LEDs and solenoids.
6. Cloth Simulation
Total comment counts : 16
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
The author of the article discusses their early work in mass-spring dynamics and fabric simulations. They developed their system on a Symbolics Lisp Machine while at MIT in 1985. They also did work on 3D soft object dynamics using SGI workstations in the early 90s. All these developments in cloth and hair simulation led to their role as the R&D lead on the feature film “Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within” and the creation of the commercial Syflex system.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article mentions that Feynman’s son worked on cloth simulation for his MIT MSc Thesis in 1987. The article includes a link to access more information about the thesis.
7. Orb is a free and open source web desktop
Total comment counts : 24
Summary
The article is about Orb, a free and open-source web desktop that simulates a Windows-like desktop in a web browser. It allows users to easily and securely access files on a server or a NAS.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses an “Explorer” app code base that is written in PHP, JS, and jQuery. The code is described as readable, but it contains practices that are not considered best today. The author reflects on how we may have become too focused on complex architectures and APIs, losing appreciation for simplicity. The article includes links to view the code.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author is questioning the practicality of “web desktop” projects and whether they have any real use beyond showcasing technical capabilities. While the author acknowledges that these projects are impressive in their own right, they are skeptical about their practical application.
8. The Physics of Readability
Total comment counts : 14
Summary
The article “What Every Programmer Should Know About Memory” discusses how memory works in computers and how it affects performance. The paper emphasizes the importance of good memory locality, which refers to storing data together that is commonly accessed together. The author also discusses the concepts of high cohesion and low coupling in programming, where modules should be related to form a coherent whole but have minimal dependencies on other modules. The article suggests that code should be kept small and that redundancy should be avoided to improve code locality. Additionally, the author recommends declaring variables close to their usage and keeping code on a single screen for easier scanning. The article concludes by advocating for inlining functions that are used only once to improve code locality and efficiency.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the concept of functional decomposition in program design. It explains that when every function used once is made open, it can harm readability and the ability to break down a linear process into hierarchical groups of functions. The author argues that functional decomposition is still important and provides an example of a function called only once, suggesting that pulling all the functions into one single initialization function may negatively impact cohesion and coupling.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author finds functions with multiple return statements less readable compared to declaring a return variable at the top of the function, setting its value at multiple points throughout the function, and returning it once at the end.
9. Laniakea Books: Public domain books for everyone
Total comment counts : 8
Summary
Laniakea Books is a publishing house in London, England, that focuses on publishing public domain books. Public domain books are those where the author has given up all copyrights, allowing anyone to modify, remix, share, or sell these books. The idea behind Laniakea Books is to challenge the notion of intellectual property and instead advocate for free access to intangible creations. They produce both digital and paperback versions of public domain books and distribute them in select London bookstores. The author only pays for printing, while all other work is provided free of charge by Laniakea Books. The company operates within a gift economy, where providing this service is seen as a rational offering. Their first project, “Letters from Prison: On societal freedom,” is a collection of texts written by the author for their blog in the past few years. Laniakea Books encourages readers to read, download, pay for, buy a paperback version, or modify the book, as it is considered a gift to the public domain.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the availability of a large number of public domain books online, such as on Gutenberg.org, Archive.org, and standardebooks.org. It mentions that standardebooks.org focuses on enhancing the production and editing of old books, but not in physical print form. The author questions the value of printing hardcopies of these books.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the limitations placed on individuals regarding copyright and the need to acknowledge this issue when discussing policies. It explains that while copyright is meant to fund art and has been successful in that regard, it was designed as a restriction on our natural freedom to share in order to reward creators. The author suggests that as long as copyright remains true to its original purpose, it does not need to have excessively long terms as it does now, and copyright infringement should not be treated as a criminal act in certain countries or trade pacts.
10. Launch HN: GitStart (YC S19) – Remote junior devs working on production PRs
Total comment counts : 33
Summary
The article discusses GitStart, a platform that recruits developers from remote countries who want to grow their skills. These developers work full-time on tickets and review each other’s code. GitStart pays them a base salary and charges clients only if the pull requests are merged. The founder of GitStart had experienced difficulty finding remote work as a junior developer from Pakistan and wanted to provide mentorship and career growth opportunities to junior developers. The platform aims to establish longer-term relationships between junior developers and tech teams to maximize value for both sides. GitStart has faced challenges in securing code sharing but has developed solutions like GitSlice to sync sub-repos with the upstream repo. The article also includes feedback from someone who had experiences with GitStart’s PRs, expressing concerns about the quality of the contributions and the use of multiple email addresses. GitStart acknowledges the feedback and apologizes for any mistakes.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article mentions that there are commercial open source repositories that use GitStart. However, it acknowledges that GitStart has previously submitted unsolicited pull requests to open source projects in an effort to enhance their reputation. The author of the article found these pull requests to be of low quality, typical of junior offshore developers. Dealing with these contributions took up a significant amount of their time to prepare them for merging. It was also observed that a single one-line change commit would have numerous associated email addresses, which was deemed peculiar. Although the article encourages contributions from developers of all levels, it expresses concern that the author’s team invested in coaching GitStart’s junior developers only for them to take advantage of their efforts for their own benefit. In the end, the author states that they blocked GitStart from their repository.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the idea of using contractors in certain job positions. The author acknowledges concerns within companies about contractors not caring enough. They mention that building trust is important, especially for companies that are resistant to trusting outsiders with production level code. However, they express support for the idea, stating that not enough companies invest in juniors and commend the effort.