1. Organic Maps
Total comment counts : 82
Summary
Organic Maps is a free Android and iOS offline maps app that is based on crowd-sourced OpenStreetMap data. It is a privacy-focused, open-source app that allows users to download maps and use them without an active internet connection. The app is free from trackers and other potentially harmful elements and is verified by privacy organizations. Organic Maps believes in privacy as a fundamental human right and encourages users to reject surveillance and embrace freedom. The app is free for everyone, but donations are accepted to support the development. Organic Maps is open-source software licensed under the Apache License 2.0 and is based in Estonia.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author of the article discovered a new app and decided to download it based on positive comments. They describe the website as having a straightforward, “old internet” vibe and being very active on all platforms. The app itself has a simple and clear user interface with many features. The author believes it could potentially replace Google Maps for them due to its ability to show road names and other navigation tools. They also praise the design and UI, particularly the offline approach which allows for easier and more efficient downloading. The app was developed in Estonia, a country known for its IT and software culture.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author of the article expresses frustration with Google Maps’ lack of proper offline support. They recount a conversation with Google’s lead designer, who seemed dismissive of user complaints and focused on unrelated issues. The article suggests that the designer did not understand the importance of being able to navigate in a new city without an internet connection. The author also mentions that the designer had an uncomfortable conversation about empathy in relation to wifi throttling at his new company.
2. Animated Knots
Total comment counts : 40
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the author’s experience learning and using knots for sailing. The author reflects on how the names of these knots are challenging in English and even more so in Dutch. Despite this, the author still remembers and occasionally uses a few knots. They liken the process of learning and working with knots to solving 3D puzzles and find satisfaction in figuring out how they work. The practicality of knots in ensuring safety and functionality is highlighted, with the importance of knots staying secure and being easily undone when needed. While it is possible to get by with knowing only a few knots, there are also specialized knots for specific purposes.
Top 2 Comment Summary
This article recommends learning the bowline knot, which is considered the “king of knots” due to its reliability and ability to hold under load. It suggests that even if you only learn one knot, this should be the one. The article also mentions that there is a one-handed method of tying the bowline, which can be useful in rescue scenarios. It provides links to animated instructions and a YouTube video demonstrating how to tie the knot.
3. ChangeDetection, monitor any website change
Total comment counts : 15
Summary
The article discusses a free open-source website change detection, restock monitor, and notification service called ChangeDetection.io. The service allows users to monitor websites for text changes, website defacement, price changes, and price drops. It supports various notification methods such as Discord, Email, Slack, Telegram, and API calls. The article also mentions the use of Git or SVN for version control and provides information on how to access and use the service. Additionally, it highlights features such as browser steps configuration, visual selector tab, and support for XPath, JSONPath, jq, and CSS. The article concludes by mentioning support for Raspberry Pi and various Linux devices, API management, and the option for users to support the project through donations or subscriptions.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article describes how the author, as a Junior engineer, used a script to reserve hockey tickets for their stepdad. The author noticed that the ticket reservation website had a predictable slug format for each season. They wrote a script to monitor the website and notify them if the page changed. Using this script, the author was able to reserve tickets before the official announcement. However, the office manager later told them to un-reserve the tickets, and they lost their original reservation.
Top 2 Comment Summary
This article suggests that government contractor websites, both at the federal and state/local level, are often poorly designed and difficult to navigate. The lack of proper tools, such as email signups, means that important information, like requests for proposals (RFPs), can go unnoticed for weeks. It emphasizes that this presents an opportunity for companies who are able to efficiently track and access these RFPs, increasing their chances of winning government contracts.
4. Farewell EC2-Classic, it’s been swell
Total comment counts : 25
Summary
The article announces that Amazon Web Services (AWS) has officially shut down EC2-Classic, a network architecture service that started cloud computing, after 17 years of operation. The article reflects on the significance of EC2-Classic in making cloud computing accessible to developers, entrepreneurs, startups, and enterprises. It highlights the evolution of cloud computing since 2006, mentioning the advancements in network throughput, CPU power, GPUs, memory, and storage capacity. The article also mentions the addition of features like Elastic IP addresses, Auto Scaling, Load Balancing, and CloudWatch to EC2 over the years. The author acknowledges the effort made by the EC2 team to migrate or shut down every instance of EC2-Classic while providing documentation, tools, and support to customers. The article concludes by stating that although it is bittersweet to say goodbye to EC2-Classic, AWS is committed to continuing innovation for its customers.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the transition from EC2-Classic to the new “VPC” mechanism in cloud networking. The author expresses frustration with the complexity of the new system, stating that EC2-Classic was more fun and easy to work with. They argue that the new mechanism does not offer significant improvements over the use of security groups. The author links to additional sources for further reading on the topic.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses a question about the IPv4 notation used in an EC2 launch in 2006. The author is unsure about the significance of the “2” in the notation “/8” and wonders if it should be “/16” instead. They seek clarification from an expert and apologize for being nitpicky if it turns out to be a typo.
5. Things I wish I knew before moving 50K lines of code to React Server Components
Total comment counts : 45
Summary
The article discusses React Server Components and their advantages and challenges. It starts by explaining the evolution of website generation from server-side rendering (SSR) to client-side rendering (CSR) and the limitations of each approach. It then introduces React Server Components (RSCs) as components that run on the server instead of the client. The article highlights two major advantages of RSCs: the ability to define where code runs (server or client) and the capability to fetch data directly within the component. It also mentions the use of React Actions for server-to-client communication.
The author discusses the challenges faced when migrating to RSCs, such as the lack of support for CSS-in-JS and limitations with React Context. They also mention the complexity involved in understanding where code runs and managing the interactions between server and client components.
The article provides a step-by-step guide for adopting RSCs incrementally, starting with adding the “use client” directive to top-level components and gradually introducing server components for data fetching. It also suggests optimization strategies, such as using React.Suspense for streaming data and creatively rearranging client and server components to control bundle size.
The author concludes by acknowledging the complexity and trade-offs of using RSCs and advises evaluating the benefits against the costs before adopting them.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the benefits of server-side rendering, where clients are sent HTML that they can immediately see. It explains that by placing plaintext files on the server, such as .css files, the browser can enhance the appearance and movement of the page. However, the article emphasizes that the most important factor is still having useful content on the first page.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article warns against using React Single-Page Components (RSCs) and suggests using full-stack or classic web frameworks such as Rails, Django, Laravel, or even Elixir/Phoenix, for easier, quicker, and more scalable development. The author cautions that inexperienced developers may encounter problems similar to those faced in older PHP sites, and advises staying focused on shipping actual products efficiently.
6. Lidl Product Recall [pdf]
Total comment counts : 10
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses a common issue in the retail industry where retail buyers work with suppliers to order products that have promotional or informational sites linked to them through QR codes. These sites are managed by external agencies and are often not known or maintained by the IT teams in the retail organization. When the products are no longer being sold and are placed back in the warehouse, the domain hosting these sites may be lost or compromised. This presents a problem for the IT and security teams, who are then asked to step in and support their colleagues. This situation occurs regularly in retail corporations, but it does not typically have a significant impact on the company’s share value or reputation.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author understands the concern about a compromised promotional website listed on packaging. However, they believe that conducting a full product recall is overly wasteful. They argue that if a company cannot take care of a URL, they should not heavily advertise it on consumer products. The author highlights the issue of single-use plastics and references the Dogs Trust and the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium).
7. Types versus sets (and what about categories?) (2022)
Total comment counts : 11
Summary
The article discusses the confusion surrounding the concept of “types” in mathematics, particularly whether types are the same as sets. The author provides a historical background on type theory and set theory, highlighting their respective roles as foundations of mathematics. They discuss various interpretations of type theory, including Church’s original theory, de Bruijn’s lambda-typed lambda calculus, and the calculus of constructions. The author emphasizes that type theories were initially developed without a specific interpretation in mind and were justified syntactically. They also highlight the importance of notations in mathematics and computer science. The article concludes by discussing the relationship between types and sets, pointing out that while types can be interpreted as sets in some cases, there are also other interpretations possible. The author argues against the idea that all mathematicians are working in Zermelo-Fraenkel set theory and highlights the dangers of assuming collections that are too big. The article also questions the need for using all Zermelo-Fraenkel sets in category theory.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses various versions of Martin-Löf’s intuitionistic type theory and the calculus of constructions. These theories were created without any specific interpretation in mind, and were justified syntactically through proofs of strong normalization. Models for these theories were developed later. Martin-Löf explicitly discussed the denotational meaning of his theories. The article emphasizes that both type theory and set theory must be connected to the mathematical ideas in order to give them meaning.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the issue of large categories that cannot fit into the ZFC meta-theory. It mentions that most books on category theory address this problem by mentioning universes or classes but then ignore it. The article also mentions that type theory faces a similar problem when talking about the type of all types, requiring the introduction of a hierarchy of universes to avoid logical inconsistencies. It emphasizes the need for a hierarchy of classes or universes to prevent circular self-reference when quantifying over all sets, types, and objects.
8. Learning For Mastery (1968) [pdf]
Total comment counts : 8
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
The author of the article is admitting that they have recently come across a paper on mastery-based education and feel positively about it. They also offer a link to their own take on mastery-based learning.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the author’s implementation of mastery learning, along with other related ideas, in their software project called “trane.” The software is designed to teach ear training and improvisation on any instrument in all keys, modes, and common chord progressions. The author mentions that although the user experience is not yet polished, they have converted courses from a website called “improviseforreal.com” into courses for their software. Currently, the software is focused on piano, but the author plans to expand it to cover more jam tracks. The author also highlights the lack of funding for implementing these ideas and the need for a coherent system that incorporates concepts like mastery learning, spaced repetition, and interleaving. They mention another website called “mathacademy.com” that is similar but not open-source or customizable. Overall, the author’s software uses a depth-first search over a graph as its core functionality.
9. Ask Microsoft: Are you using our personal data to train AI?
Total comment counts : 41
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
The article highlights the problems with the regulatory framework surrounding “big tech” companies. It argues that allowing these companies to have control over almost every aspect of the digital domain raises concerns about potential abuses of power. The article emphasizes that these trillion-dollar entities, backed by armies of lawyers and lobbyists, may exploit weaknesses in regulatory and political systems. The longer these issues go unaddressed, the more difficult it becomes to find a solution.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses Microsoft’s use of analytics and data science to enhance the user experience. It also addresses concerns about Microsoft reading personal data from sources like Gmail, Word documents, and Porn activities and providing them to OpenAI. The article concludes by stating that while Microsoft does not explicitly mention these activities in their terms and conditions, they may still engage in unknown activities.
10. From Art Nouveau to Bauhaus: How Home Interiors Looked in Popular Art Movements
Total comment counts : 17
Summary
The article discusses the influence of art movements on architecture and interior spaces. It highlights the impact of art movements like Renaissance, Baroque, Art Nouveau, Art Déco, and Bauhaus on architecture. The author explains how these movements have transformed buildings and interiors to create visually inspiring environments. The article specifically focuses on the Art Nouveau, Art Déco, and Bauhaus movements. It describes the characteristics of each movement and their influence on interior spaces, including furniture design, spatial organization, and decorative elements. The author also provides examples of buildings that exemplify these movements. Overall, the article emphasizes the importance of art in creating meaningful and expressive spaces.
Top 1 Comment Summary
This article discusses the differences between Art Deco and Art Nouveau, highlighting four key factors: time of creation, curved lines vs. geometrical shapes, organic vs. machinic themes, and Japanonisme influence. The author expresses a personal preference for Art Nouveau and mentions that it would be a good fit for solarpunk architecture. They also note that Bauhaus has aged poorly compared to Art Deco and Art Nouveau, likely due to its similarity to modernism and the “minimal” aesthetic that is still prevalent today. Art Deco and Art Nouveau buildings are described as offering a glimpse into a bygone era.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author recounts their experience staying at an art deco hotel in Cambodia and describes it as a visually pleasing combination of color, form, detail, and space. They believe that living in such a design would greatly benefit their mental health, even though they acknowledge it may not be financially feasible for them.