1. The Mystery of the Bloomfield Bridge
Total comment counts : 44
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
The author enjoyed writing the article and is an advocate for walkability and more bridges in their community. They were curious about the presence of a specific bridge, considering the limited walkability in the area.
Top 2 Comment Summary
This article resembles the work of Robert Caro, but in an internet-savvy and humorous way. It explores the theme of power, especially public power to construct infrastructure such as interstates and bridges. The content is well-researched, similar to Caro’s approach, with extensive use of archives and travel. However, while Caro spent years on his books, the author has only spent two months on this piece, which is seen as a risky venture.
2. The worst programmer I know
Total comment counts : 71
Summary
The article discusses the concept of measuring developer productivity and shares the story of the “worst programmer,” Tim Mackinnon. The author explains how their team was implementing individual performance metrics based on story points delivered. However, Tim consistently scored zero because he spent his time pairing with teammates and helping them instead of working on his own stories. The author refused to remove Tim from the team because they realized his value in improving the team’s overall productivity and effectiveness. They argue for team accountability and tracking business impact rather than measuring individual contributions in a complex adaptive system. The article concludes by recommending working with Tim Mackinnon if given the opportunity.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author worked for a software company that had a desktop application for Mac and Windows. The Windows version had some problems, so the author was hired as a Windows expert to improve it. They spent time visiting other developers’ offices to troubleshoot bugs and discuss best practices. However, despite their efforts, they received a mediocre review criticizing their productivity compared to the rest of the team.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article tells a story about Bell Labs where it was discovered that some of the most productive employees had a habit of eating lunch with the same person. While this person individually was not very productive, their ability to ask thoughtful and compelling questions significantly improved the productivity of their coworkers.
3. A Critical Analysis of the What3Words Geocoding Algorithm
Total comment counts : 21
Summary
The article discusses arXivLabs, which is a platform that enables collaborators to create and share new features on the arXiv website. The platform is open to both individuals and organizations who share arXiv’s values of openness, community, excellence, and user data privacy. The article emphasizes that arXiv only collaborates with partners who adhere to these values. The article also mentions that users can receive status notifications via email or slack.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses a teardown analysis of the What3Words (W3W) system conducted by cybersecurity expert “Cybergibbons.” The analysis suggests that W3W’s implementation is not just aesthetically unappealing, as some critics argue, but fundamentally flawed by design. It raises concerns about the algorithm used by W3W and highlights why the system is not suitable for safety critical applications.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The researchers in the article did not analyze the What3Words (W3W) technology directly due to violating the terms of service, so they created their own word list instead. It is suggested that criticizing a technology used by the government for emergency services should be acceptable, similar to fair use in the US. Additionally, the researchers did not have access to the actual list and had to reverse-engineer the app, which explains their use of a synthetic list.
4. Doing laundry on campus without a phone
Total comment counts : 47
Summary
The author recounts their experience of trying to do laundry without a smartphone. They reflect on how technology, specifically smartphone apps, have become essential for everyday tasks such as laundry. The author discusses their struggle with using the laundry machines in their dorm that require a smartphone app to operate. They eventually discover that there is an option to use an iPod Touch provided by the laundry service, but encounter additional challenges such as forgotten passwords and insufficient funds. Despite these obstacles, they are eventually able to do their laundry and reflect on the dependency on technology for basic tasks.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the problem of hardware devices being dependent on mobile apps, using the example of a washing machine company. The company hires a contractor to design an app for their product, but the app turns out to be of poor quality. When a new contractor takes over, they realize the code is garbage and cannot add new features. The app receives poor ratings, and whenever there’s an iOS update, users are unable to use their washing machines until a software update is pushed. Eventually, the washing machine company decides to discontinue the product line, rendering the app useless and forcing customers to buy new washing machines. The author, having experienced being such a contractor, vows to never own an appliance that requires an app to function.
Top 2 Comment Summary
Lyft recently removed the ability to book rides through its website, instead requiring users to use the app on a mobile phone. Despite the website still being functional in selecting endpoints, viewing nearby cars, and getting pricing information, the booking button now directs users to download the app. This change seems unnecessary as the website still effectively tracks booked rides.
5. A Duodecade of Numberphile
Total comment counts : 7
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the author’s enthusiasm for videos produced by Numberphile, Sixty Symbols, and Deep Sky. They express pleasure in learning that the host’s questions are improvised and not rehearsed with the guests beforehand. However, they find the video explaining the equation 1+2+3+4+… = -1/12 to be somewhat misleading. The link provided leads to the mentioned video.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article mentions the author’s introduction to Brady Haran, not through Numberphile, but via the Hello Internet podcast with CGP Grey, which is believed to have stopped airing in 2020.
6. Tesla, Rivian Put on Fake Show of Support for ‘Right to Repair’
Total comment counts : 8
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
The article suggests the idea of bringing back kit cars, especially for electric vehicles (EVs), due to their mechanical simplicity. This would involve purchasing a preassembled chassis and customizing the rest of the car according to personal preferences. The author believes that this concept could be highly accessible, leading to the formation of a community and potentially a significant market from teenagers to retirees. Furthermore, the author envisions multiple companies participating in this ecosystem by producing compatible parts.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author questions why manufacturers would want to restrict our ability to repair our own property, suggesting that the default state should be the right to repair. They argue that the right to repair, modify, disassemble, and recombine our belongings is an important aspect of capitalism.
7. Ask HN: What is your policy regarding smartphones for your children?
Total comment counts : 96
Summary
The article discusses the author’s approach to technology and parenting, particularly when it comes to smartphones and screen time. The author emphasizes the importance of conversation and negotiation with children, rather than strict parental controls or limitations. They believe that parents should grow alongside their children and adapt to the changing technological landscape. The author also highlights the significance of peer influence during middle school and the need to share influence with peers. The article includes additional points about valuing open-source software, the limitations of parental controls, and the importance of cultivating interests in children.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses random parenting advice from the internet. The author shares their own experience of raising a child during the iPhone era and emphasizes the importance of conversation and negotiation in parenting. They also provide some additional tips, such as valuing your child’s interests, acknowledging the limitations of parental controls, understanding the increasing influence of peers during middle school, and emphasizing personal growth as a parent.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author reflects on their experience of having unrestricted access to an iPad and iPhone at a young age. They mention that their dad would often give them the devices whenever they asked. While they don’t believe their parents neglected them, they feel that their dad could have been more strict. They spent a significant amount of time watching Minecraft YouTube videos, lets play videos, and occasionally playing mobile games. The pros of this experience include developing vocabulary by listening to adult conversations, becoming adept with technology, and easily making friends with similar interests. However, there were also cons such as difficulty focusing, becoming impulsive due to instant access to technology, learning inappropriate language at a young age, and discovering porn at seven years old. Despite these negatives, the author believes they turned out fine, excelling academically and maintaining an ambitious outlook on their career.
8. How to edit your own lousy writing (2017)
Total comment counts : 14
Summary
The article emphasizes the importance of editing in the writing process. It explains that when writers reread their own work, they tend to see the story as it is in their head, rather than how it is actually written on the page. The author suggests that writers should learn to read their work like a first-time reader, in order to identify any gaps in information or confusing details. The article also discusses the need for order of information in a story, and advises writers to release information to the reader in the order that they need it to fully understand the scene. It emphasizes the importance of getting closer to the characters and their actions, and provides tips for improving the clarity and vividness of writing through multiple drafts. The article concludes by reassuring writers that the quality of the first draft doesn’t determine the quality of the finished work, and encourages them to keep editing and improving their writing.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the problem of lengthy and padded articles on the internet. It mentions that even renowned mathematician Gauss preferred to write succinctly, but many writers today prioritize writing lengthy texts in order to appear authoritative and comprehensive. This trend is prevalent on platforms like Medium, the BBC, and The Guardian. The article suggests that most texts these days are twice as long as necessary, possibly due to Google’s preference for longer articles.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the importance of showing rather than telling in writing. It provides an example from the new Star Wars series Ahsoka, where two characters excessively explain the backstory for ten minutes, resembling a plot summary. This demonstrates the distinction between poor writing and a masterpiece.
9. Becoming a contractor
Total comment counts : 12
Summary
The article describes the author’s journey as an independent contractor and the lessons they learned along the way. They started their contracting business after resigning from their full-time job to pursue a volunteering opportunity. The author shares their experiences with finding clients and projects, including using platforms like Toptal and leveraging their network. They also discuss the challenges and risks involved in being a contractor and the importance of communicating about their value proposition and setting appropriate rates. The author reflects on their growth and newfound passion for the contractor lifestyle.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the author’s enthusiasm for a new part-time contracting job. They highlight the benefits of being paid for the hours worked, not being subjected to negative treatment, and being able to improve their skills while getting paid for it. The author expresses their satisfaction with contracting.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the differences between contracting arrangements in the US and the EU/UK. In the UK, contracting is seen as a higher-risk venture with higher salaries, especially in government verticals where it is difficult to find non-contractor developers. On the other hand, in the US, the term “contractor” usually refers to a consultancy worker, which is seen as less prestigious. The author seeks corrections if their understanding is incorrect.
10. A GPT-4 capability forecasting challenge
Total comment counts : 24
Summary
The article introduces a game that challenges players to predict how well GPT-4, a cutting-edge AI language model, will perform in answering questions of various types. It highlights the tendency of people to speak confidently about the capabilities of such models without fully understanding their current capabilities. The game asks participants to estimate the probability that GPT-4 will correctly answer a question, such as “What is the capital of France?” The correct answer is Paris.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses a quiz that asks users to guess the likelihood of GPT-4, an artificial intelligence model, correctly answering a question. However, the quiz does not provide the actual probability of GPT-4 providing a correct answer for comparison. This is likely due to the difficulty of determining the precise probability. The article also mentions that determining a correct answer is not always straightforward as there can be shades of correctness. The author expresses confusion about the premise of the quiz.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the author’s thoughts on the scoring system used in a quiz. They mention that the scoring system tests four different things: whether an LLM (Language Model Model) can answer correctly, whether the answer appeared in the training set, the role of non-determinism in the LLM’s response, and the level of rationality or statistical knowledge of the respondent. The author argues that non-determinism can affect the accuracy of the quiz, and that the scoring system may not accurately reflect people’s confidence or rationality. The article also mentions that the scoring system encouraged the author to make up for prior errors, but this had negative consequences. Overall, the author questions the validity of the scoring mechanism.