1. We have used too many levels of abstractions
Total comment counts : 116
Summary
The article discusses the problem of increasing abstraction and automation in the tech industry, which is leading to a lack of understanding and knowledge among professionals. Abstractions, such as steering wheels and power steering, improve the user experience, but when they break, people no longer understand how to fix them. The tech industry prioritizes profit over deeper understanding, leading to the consolidation of roles such as DevOps and DevSecOps, where individuals are expected to handle various tasks. As a result, modern tech professionals are only taught how to use specific tools and lack knowledge about the underlying technology. This becomes problematic when the majority of people in the industry don’t know how to fix the tools they are using. The article also highlights the issue of security, where many “security people” only know how to use pre-made tools without truly understanding security principles. This can result in vulnerabilities and data breaches going unnoticed. The author provides an example of a company that had hired developers who lacked understanding of the coding framework and security, leading to performance issues and a hidden hacking incident. The author emphasizes the importance of having a deeper understanding of technology and the ability to manually inspect code and files to uncover hidden issues.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the evolution of aviation and how the roles of flying a plane and designing it have become separate skill sets. It suggests that this separation of skills is not a cause for concern, but rather a sign of the maturation of technology. The author compares this specialization to other subjects throughout history and concludes that it is not necessary for everyone to have a comprehensive overview of all aspects of a subject in order for it to function effectively.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses how kids today are often underestimated and not given enough credit for their abilities. The author shares a story about a friend’s son who excitedly showed off the Roblox game that he and his friends had made. The author emphasizes that just because kids’ devices may be locked down, it does not mean they lack curiosity. The author also mentions that while there are some abstractions in modern technology, there are still opportunities for curious kids to explore and learn. The author concludes by giving an example of a 10-year-old pitching a complex 3D game, highlighting the cool abilities and ideas that kids have today.
2. “No, it’s less effort than that”
Total comment counts : 55
Summary
The article discusses the problem of external stakeholders questioning and pushing for lower estimates from development teams without proper knowledge or facts. These stakeholders often compromise trust and set unrealistic expectations for software delivery. The article compares this behavior to someone telling a meteorologist that the weather forecast will be better without any basis. It emphasizes that the development team uses their expertise and data to estimate effort, but they have limited control over it. The article suggests having a more productive discussion by considering ways to omit certain features and prioritize those with higher value. It also recommends gathering data and insights from actual users to make more informed decisions.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the idea of increasing sales quotas for salespeople. It compares this to asking meteorologists to make the sun shine, implying that it is unrealistic. However, the article argues that pushing salespeople to increase their quotas is necessary in order for them to work more effectively and accomplish the same amount of work more quickly. It suggests that self-set quotas by salespeople themselves may not be sufficient, as they could choose numbers that are easily attainable but below what the business truly needs. The article emphasizes the importance of tying salespeople’s compensation to hitting higher quotas and suggests that salespeople should accept and strive to meet these increased targets instead of complaining about management’s expectations.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the risk of irresponsible parties in companies when it comes to estimating project durations. The author argues that comparing developers to meteorologists is not valid, as developers are focused on operating in current conditions rather than accurately predicting future outcomes. The author finds it frustrating when they receive unrealistic estimates for tasks, especially when they are simple and could be completed quickly. They argue that such estimates damage the trust relationship between stakeholders and developers.
3. O3DE
Total comment counts : 10
Summary
The article introduces O3DE Open Source, an engine for 3D projects with a thriving community of users and contributors. The engine offers various benefits, including the ability to create stunning worlds and support multi-faceted storytelling and gameplay. It can also be deployed in robotics applications through integration with the Robot Operating System (ROS) and used to deliver immersive experiences and 3D assets for the open metaverse. Additionally, O3DE supports different modalities of learning in the modern classroom. The article highlights the gallery showcasing creations and simulations from the global O3DE community. Over 25 companies globally support O3DE as members of the Open 3D Foundation, and readers are encouraged to become members to shape the future of O3DE.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article questions why a .deb package is provided if the installation is placed in the /opt directory instead of following the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS).
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author is comparing O3DE and Godot game engines. They mention that while Godot has a design that is not suitable for high-performance operations or many actors, the Node system gives it an advantage for extendibility and ease of use. The author is keeping an eye on O3DE due to these limitations of Godot.
4. The shortest papers ever published (2016)
Total comment counts : 24
Summary
This blog post discusses short papers in scientific publishing. It highlights examples of extremely short math papers, including one that is only two words long with two distinct proofs. The post also mentions a case report of severe writer’s block and a zero-word paper that didn’t make it to publication but received coverage in a blog. The article concludes by mentioning some of the shortest abstracts found.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article titled “The Effects of Peanut Butter on the Rotation of the Earth” published in The Annals of Improbable Research is being neglected. Here is the link to the article: https://improbable.com/airchives/classical/articles/peanut_butter_rotation.html
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article disproves the misconception that adding one to the product of the first n consecutive prime numbers always results in a prime number. It presents a counter example of 2×3×5×7×11×13 + 1 = 59×509, which is not a prime number. However, it is shown that although the new number may not be prime, it can still be written as a product of distinct prime numbers, generating new prime numbers with this technique.
5. Microwatt: A tiny Open POWER ISA softcore written in VHDL 2008
Total comment counts : 11
Summary
This article discusses a tiny Open POWER ISA softcore written in VHDL 2008. The goal of the project is to create a simple and easy-to-understand softcore. It can be tested using the ghdl simulator without requiring any hardware. However, if you want to build for a hardware target board, there are instructions provided. The article also mentions the availability of a prebuilt Micropython image and the use of ghdl for simulation. Additionally, it provides information on building the softcore using Docker or Podman and gives guidance on installing Vivado and setting up Vivado paths. The article also mentions the platforms on which the softcore has been tested and provides instructions for building a userspace with buildroot and the Linux kernel. It concludes with instructions on programming the flash and connecting to the FPGA.
Top 1 Comment Summary
This article discusses the author’s favorite part of a project, which is the extensive battery of test cases. The author also mentions that many chip releases do not open source the verification, which is potentially more useful than the design itself. The article provides a link to the project’s GitHub page for more information.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article reminisces about working on a Power ISA CPU and highlights its advantages, such as being open source. The author contrasts the Power ISA with IA64, which had complicated variable length instructions.
6. The 7th Guest gets VR remake using volumetric video
Total comment counts : 18
Summary
The article discusses the revival of the iconic mystery game, The 7th Guest, using cutting-edge virtual reality (VR) technology. The game offers an atmospheric and haunting story, where players can explore a foreboding mansion, solve challenging puzzles, and uncover dark secrets. The 7th Guest VR brings back familiar characters from the original game and presents the story from a new perspective. It utilizes innovative ghostly volumetric video capture with 3D live-action graphics to deliver a visceral and haunting VR experience. The puzzles in the game have been redesigned for VR and are meaningful to the story. The mansion is brought to life through high-end visuals, VR-powered optical illusions, and an adaptive soundtrack. The game is published by Vertigo Publishing and developed by Vertigo Studios. It is available on platforms such as Oculus and PlayStation.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article mentions a video that provides an in-depth explanation of the inner workings of a project’s volumetric video.
Top 2 Comment Summary
“The 7th Guest” was a popular puzzle game on PC CD-ROMs due to its innovative use of real video on a computer. The game’s success was not solely based on gameplay, but rather the unique experience it offered. You can read more about it in The Digital Antiquarian’s article titled “The 7th Guest’s New Clothes.” [Link: filfre.net]
7. Pigging
Total comment counts : 20
Summary
Pigging is a maintenance process used in pipeline transportation to clean and inspect pipelines without interrupting the flow of the product. It involves using pipeline inspection gadgets called pigs or scrapers, which are inserted into the pipeline through a pig launcher and pushed along by the pressure-driven flow of the product until they reach the pig catcher. Pigging is commonly used in the oil industry but is also increasingly being used in other industries to improve efficiency and reduce costs. The pigs can be used to separate different products in a multiproduct pipeline, clear liquid slugs, and inspect pipelines for leaks and damage. Pigging requires pipelines to be designed to accommodate pigging, and there are different types of pigs for various purposes, such as cleaning, inspecting, and batching products. Safety measures, such as valve interlocks, are important during pigging operations to prevent accidents. There are different types of pigs, including foam pigs for cleaning, intelligent pigs for inspection, and caliper pigs for measuring the roundness of the pipeline. Positional data is collected during the pigging run to determine the exact path taken and the location, type, and size of pipe defects. This information helps operators plan repairs and prevent leaks or environmental damage. Pigging has also been featured in popular culture, including in James Bond films and other books and shows.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the author’s experience writing software for a pig tracking company. They highlight the blend of low and high-tech methods used in the industry. Pigs are capable of detecting leaks and mapping pipe dimensions, but speed measurements are often taken by listening for the pig passing a weld joint with a stopwatch. The article mentions that pigs frequently get stuck, causing delays. In rare cases, pigs may get stuck for days or break in the pipe, requiring technicians to estimate their location and dig in someone’s backyard. Towards the end, the author’s girlfriend asks for their input on raising pigs, indicating a different type of pig tracking.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author joined an oil and gas company and became curious about the term “pigLauncher” in an enum.
8. The next Raptor OpenPOWER systems are coming, but they won’t be Power10
Total comment counts : 10
Summary
Raptor, a computing company, recently announced that instead of Power10 systems, they will be introducing the Solid Silicon S1, which is a fully blob-free OpenPOWER successor to the POWER9. The S1 is a PCIe 5.0 DDR5 part that operates at a clock range from high 3GHz to low 4GHz. It is bi-endian, SMT-4, and will support at least two sockets with an 18-core option. The S1 includes its own BMC, the X1, which is a Microwatt-based ISA 3.1 core. Raptor’s newest systems are planned to be released in late 2024 under new names, with tiering options available. Solid Silicon is a new name in the Power ecosystem and not much is known about the company yet.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article mentions that Raptor is planning to release new systems in late 2024. The reader expresses disappointment but is glad to have a new addition to the OpenPOWER world. They also wonder who is supporting Solid Silicon and acknowledge that although it may be difficult to sell to most venture capitalists, investments in unconventional ventures have been made in the past.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The person is asking for information on a company called Solid Silicon, specifically on the company’s CPU. However, they are unable to find any details on the company from its website, which is lacking information. They are requesting a link or more information about the company.
9. Don’t use DISTINCT as a “join-fixer”
Total comment counts : 18
Summary
The article discusses the issue of using DISTINCT in SQL queries and proposes alternative approaches to writing queries without it. The author explains that DISTINCT is often used as a “join-fixer” but can introduce performance issues and inefficiencies. They provide an example of a query that returns duplicate rows due to the use of DISTINCT and suggest using EXISTS instead. The article also mentions other ways to write queries without DISTINCT, such as changing it to GROUP BY. The author emphasizes the importance of optimizing queries for efficiency and avoiding unnecessary data retrieval and sorting.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses an interesting use case where changing “DISTINCT” to “GROUP BY” in SQL queries can improve performance by filtering out duplicates earlier. The author also mentions that Amazon recommends using this approach when querying Spectrum.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the issue with the relational SQL query model and how “joins” create new tables. It explains that in certain cases, joins are not necessary, but as soon as additional columns need to be included from other tables, the proposed solution breaks down. The article highlights the challenge of explicitly stating that the result should only have one value per customer in SQL. It concludes by noting that it is easy to make mistakes and difficult to understand the intent when setting up JOIN and GROUP BY keys.
10. The Polaroid SX70’s unusual shutter
Total comment counts : 7
Summary
The author discusses their doubts about the actual aperture and shutter speeds of the SX70 camera. They had the opportunity to speak with Dr. William T. Plummer, who explained that the SX70 camera does not have a fixed aperture. The shutter operates by opening and closing the optical path, resulting in a progression of aperture sizes. The author also mentions that the shape of the shutter blades has been specifically chosen for its purpose. Furthermore, they highlight that the unique design of the SX70’s shutter can result in improved image quality when dealing with focus errors and motion blur. Overall, the author concludes that the SX70 camera offers infinite possibilities in terms of aperture and shutter speed.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the modification of shutter timing in cameras using pneumatics. The author finds the topic fascinating, although it may be difficult to understand for some readers. The article can be found at the following link: https://opensx70.com/posts/2020/11/pneumatics.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the Eames’ Polaroid SX-70 film and its technical summary. It also mentions that the film may have served as inspiration for Steve Jobs’ marketing approach.