1. Nginx Unit – Universal web app server
Total comment counts : 44
Summary
The article discusses NGINX Unit, a lightweight and versatile open-source server project. NGINX Unit compresses multiple layers of the application stack into a performance-focused solution that can be used in various web architectures. It offers a RESTful JSON API for dynamic updates and flexible configuration. The server runs applications in multiple languages and ensures security and robustness through a complex architecture. The article also provides instructions for setting up and configuring an application with NGINX Unit. It mentions resources such as documentation, OpenAPI specification, Slack channel, and GitHub for further support and engagement with the NGINX Unit community.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the performance advantages of using Nginx Unit + PHP compared to Nginx + php-fpm. It states that Nginx Unit with PHP performs better and eliminates the need for separate containers for http and fpm in Docker environments. The article provides three sources for further information: one from Habr.com, another from Medium.com, and a third from a GitHub issue comment.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the features of a web server called NGINX Unit and provides a link to a page with more information. It also mentions the languages that are supported by NGINX Unit, including Go, JavaScript, Java, Perl, PHP, Python, Ruby, and WebAssembly. The author mentions that they currently use Apache as a reverse proxy but find NGINX Unit interesting.
2. Memories from old LAN parties
Total comment counts : 87
Summary
The article discusses various memories and experiences from LAN events in the 2000s. Some of the notable points include the difficulties of reinstalling Windows, the benefits of modding a PC case, the risk of theft at public LANs, the consequences of using a crack that generates malicious traffic, using DC++ server directories to reach minimum share limits, the quirks of transferring files on a 10 Mbit hub, the consequences of throwing a motherboard onto power lines, the requirements of rebooting after changing IP address settings on Windows 98 SE, using pirated games and keygens, the use of Alcohol 120% to emulate a CD drive for games, having specific hardware to be considered “cool”, LANs with limited internet access, the availability of specific CD keys for Starcraft, sponsorship deals at LANs, upgrading from a hub to a switch, limitations of WINE, and the risks of improperly connecting USB ports to motherboards.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author shares nostalgic memories of playing Red Alert 2 and Quake 2 at LAN parties in the 90s. They then discuss their job at Macromedia in the early 2000s, where they organized Halo 2 and 3 tournaments using Xboxes and plasma screens. They realized this could help them make friends in the broader community, so they started taking their setup to Flash conferences, where they would participate in the conference during the day and play Halo with attendees at night. This allowed them to make many friends and build strong personal relationships. The author also mentions going on a bus tour in North America for Adobe AIR events and making a detour to attend the Halo 3 launch at Best Buy, where they played the game on the bus all night. They also share a YouTube video of themselves walking to the launch and expressing excitement. Overall, the author fondly reminisces about these experiences and the good times they had.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article reminisces about the author’s experiences at LAN parties, back when CRT monitors were still being used. The author recalls the smell of the venue after spending several days inside, as well as the excitement of going outside for a break. They often organized these events and spent a lot of time configuring networks and resolving technical issues. The article mentions the challenge of dealing with conflicts caused by incorrect IP addresses and the adoption of peg DHCP as a solution. The author also recalls incidents where extension cords were not fully unrolled, resulting in melting wires and even flames. The article concludes with the author reflecting on the incredulous reactions of parents and girlfriends who witnessed these events and mentions finding old pictures from a LAN party in their parents’ attic.
3. Coffee in a Can
Total comment counts : 38
Summary
This article tells the story of how canned coffee became a multi-billion dollar business in Japan. It all started in 1969 when the CEO of UCC Coffee, Tadao Ueshima, wanted a way to buy and carry his coffee with him. He assembled a team to create a coffee that could be sold in steel cans. They faced numerous challenges, but eventually succeeded in producing the first mass-produced canned coffee. At first, people were skeptical of drinking coffee from a can, but UCC found success by targeting the 1970 Osaka World Fair. This led to a surge in demand for canned coffee. Another company, Pokka Lemon, later introduced the first canned hot coffee in 1973. Coca Cola and Suntory also entered the market, with Coca Cola’s Georgia brand becoming the best-selling product in Japan. The success of canned coffee relied on the combination of cans and vending machines, and these elements played a crucial role in its popularity.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author reminisces about working long hours in the suburbs of Tokyo in the 1990s. They recall a fond memory of purchasing a hot can of coffee from a vending machine on a train platform and keeping it in their coat pockets to stay warm until their train arrived. They would then open the can and drink the coffee to help them stay awake during the ride back to their hotel.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The writer had a Taiwanese roommate in college who started dating a girl from Japan. The girl’s father had attempted to export cans of coffee to the US, but it didn’t succeed. However, the roommate enjoyed the coffee and the girlfriend gave all of it to him after her father did the same to her.
4. A guy preserving the new history of PC games, one Linux port at a time
Total comment counts : 11
Summary
The article discusses the importance of maintaining and preserving older indie video games, focusing on the work of Ethan Lee, who has been quietly providing maintenance services for over 11 years. Lee emphasizes the need for continuous maintenance instead of relying solely on remasters. He highlights the challenges of keeping PC games compatible with evolving operating systems and hardware. Lee became involved in this work through his collaboration with Humble Bundle and continues to receive projects through word-of-mouth referrals. He primarily focuses on games with native Linux versions but is willing to create one if it doesn’t exist. The open-source nature of Linux makes it easier to keep these games running. Lee also shares an example of the detective work involved in migrating 64-bit support for an indie game. He prompts developers to consider how their games will be accessible in the future.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses how the PC is often seen as a platform that can run games forever, thanks to technologies such as the wine API implementation and emulators like qemu or box86. It also mentions that piracy of DRM-laden titles contributes to enabling this longevity. The author argues that in the future, Windows games will be runnable on current platforms, similar to how they can now be played on Android or ARM macOS devices.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses a new service being offered by game porter Ethan Lee. This service aims to help developers maintain and update their older games. For more information, you can read the full article here.
5. ZF makes magnet-free electric motor uniquely compact and competitive
Total comment counts : 21
Summary
Automotive technology company ZF has developed an electric motor that does not require magnets. The motor, called I2SM (In-Rotor Inductive-Excited Synchronous Motor), transmits the energy for the magnetic field via an inductive exciter inside the rotor shaft, making it compact yet powerful and efficient. Unlike permanent-magnet synchronous machines (PSM) commonly used in electric vehicles, the I2SM does not rely on magnets that require rare earth materials for production. This makes the motor more sustainable, secure, and efficient. The technology reduces losses and the CO2 footprint in production by up to 50%. ZF plans to further develop the I2SM for production and offer it as an option in its e-drive platform.
Top 1 Comment Summary
This article discusses a new type of motor called a magnet-less separately excited synchronous motor (I2SM). The motor is claimed to be up to 90mm more compact axially and does not use slip rings and brushes. Instead, power is transferred to the rotor via induction coils. This eliminates the need for brushes and seals, allowing the motor to be oil cooled from the inside. However, there are concerns about the power losses incurred by transferring energy to the rotor via induction compared to the previous direct contact method. The article also mentions that the coils in the motor appear to be spaced far apart.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses different types of motors with permanent magnets. The most common type is the synchronous motor, where the power supply needed for the rotor windings is replaced by permanent magnets. However, in order to achieve the same brushless operation, the rotor windings are kept, but the electrical current needed is transmitted to the rotor wirelessly. This method involves the use of semiconductor rectifiers and inducing the rotor current at a higher frequency than the rotation frequency. While this setup has similarities to permanent magnet motors, the energy efficiency is unclear if it can be equally good. A permanent magnet rotor is comparable to a rotor with superconducting windings, which means it has no losses due to electrical excitation currents. However, this wireless rotor setup will have additional losses in the copper windings and rectifiers used. Despite these extra losses, the efficiency of this motor can potentially be much higher than that of asynchronous motors and slightly lower than that of permanent magnet motors.
6. SmartKnob – Haptic input knob with software-defined endstops and virtual detents
Total comment counts : 17
Summary
The article is about a project called SmartKnob, which is an open-source input device that allows users to customize its endstops and detents. It uses a brushless gimbal motor and a magnetic encoder to provide closed-loop torque feedback control. The project is still under development and not recommended for general use, requiring advanced soldering experience and troubleshooting skills. The article provides ordering notes and documentation for building the device. The cost of the project is estimated to be less than $200 in parts. The article also mentions that the device is not yet compatible with other systems and there are no plans to sell it as a kit or assembled product.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article praises an open-source hardware project for its thorough documentation. However, it also highlights the challenges faced in hardware projects compared to software projects, such as 3D design, sourcing hardware components, careful component selection, lack of support for automating the toolchain, and more. The author, a minor hardware tinkerer, finds the project both impressive and intimidating.
Top 2 Comment Summary
This article discusses an open source hardware project for a peripheral device. The author admires the design’s polished appearance and praises it for being superior to other similar circuits found online. The author also asks the designer about any protection against voltage generated by a user rotating the knob. The schematic shows a direct connection between the TMC6300 IC and the BDCM, without any intermediary circuitry. The author expresses concern about protection measures, as the datasheet only mentions protections related to using the motor as a motor, not as a generator.
7. Unpacking Elixir: Real-Time and Latency
Total comment counts : 2
Summary
The article discusses the design principles of Erlang and its influence on the Elixir programming language. Erlang was created with a focus on providing consistently low latency and has been widely used in systems where real-time performance is important. Elixir, built on top of Erlang, inherits these characteristics. Erlang’s design allows for fair distribution of computational resources and prevents any particular process from impacting others heavily. The language is dynamic and high-level, which sacrifices some performance in favor of other objectives such as fault-tolerance and hot swapping. Elixir has been used in various applications, particularly in messaging systems where low latency is crucial. The article also touches on the Phoenix web framework and its features, including Phoenix Channels and LiveView, which allow for responsive web applications without the need for writing extensive JavaScript code. Overall, the article highlights the benefits of using Elixir and Erlang in systems that require low latency and real-time performance.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author expresses appreciation for Lars’ post and the “Unpacking Elixir” series. They mention that they regret not being exposed to Erlang/Elixir earlier in their career, as they find the pragmatism and desire for consolidation within the BEAM to provide a pleasant developer experience.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author of the article does not think that Elixir is designed specifically for low latency.
8. Code-gov: A collection point for all Code.gov repositories
Total comment counts : 4
Summary
The article is about Code.gov, a program and technical platform promoting good code development practices in the U.S. Federal Government. It provides tools and guidance for federal agencies to implement the Federal Source Code Policy and encourages collaboration between agencies and the public on open source projects. The article also mentions that all of Code.gov’s work is open source and invites readers to contribute to their projects.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article suggests that the repository in question appears to be inactive, with no updates made for over three years. Additionally, there are several pull requests that have not been merged and have been pending for a long time.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article explains that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) utilizes a tool called code-json-generator to keep their GitHub repository up to date. They provide a link to their GitHub repository. The article mentions that this initiative stems from the Obama-era push to use and release open-source software. However, it suggests that the current focus is on data, as indicated by the existence of data.gov, and on artificial intelligence (AI), as indicated by the presence of ai.gov.
9. New JFK assassination revelation could upend the lone gunman theory
Total comment counts : 32
Summary
In a new book to be published in October, former Secret Service agent Paul Landis claims to have seen something on the day of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination that he had never publicly admitted before. Landis says he spotted a bullet on the back seat of the car that Kennedy was riding in when he was shot. He picked up the bullet and brought it into the hospital. This revelation raises questions about the possibility of a second gunman in Dallas that day and challenges the conclusions of the Warren Commission. Landis’s story is deemed possible and plausible by the author of this article. The article discusses the existing evidence and theories surrounding the assassination and concludes that Landis’s account makes more sense than the “single bullet” theory proposed by the Warren Commission.
Top 1 Comment Summary
Apologies, but I am unable to access the specific content from the provided links. Can you please provide a brief summary or provide the text you would like me to summarize?
Top 2 Comment Summary
The user shared a video about the JFK assassination and found it logical and straightforward.
10. “Make” as a static site generator (2022)
Total comment counts : 36
Summary
The article discusses the benefits of static site generators and explains how to create a simple script to generate a static site. The author shares their own experience with setting up a blog and explains that writing a script themselves was faster and more satisfying than using other site builders. The script is written using a Makefile, and the article explains the various rules and functionality needed to create a build directory for the site. The author also provides examples of how the script can be extended to add additional functionality, such as highlighting the current page in the navigation and converting markdown content to HTML. The article also mentions convenience features, such as using a local web server to preview the site and automatically rebuilding the site when changes are made. The author recommends using GitHub Pages to host the resulting HTML and provides a link to their own website built using this approach. Overall, the article emphasizes the simplicity and flexibility of creating a static site generator using a simple script.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article describes how the author’s personal website used to be generated using a simple Makefile. Over time, they added features such as news, an RSS feed, research publications and course materials, and a list of books with tags. The Makefile itself became simpler but now calls Bash scripts that use utilities like xml2 and 2xml to manipulate HTML using core utils like grep and sed. Additionally, the author has git hooks that automatically call make when needed, particularly on the remote server where the website is hosted. The system has been working well for years, as evidenced by the author’s git history dating back to 2009.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses a problem encountered when deleting a file from the source directory, but it does not get deleted from the build directory. The author suggests that they solve this issue by removing the entire build folder before rebuilding the site. However, this approach hinders the purpose of having a build system in the first place. The author expresses a desire to learn about any common workarounds for this problem in makefiles.