1. Show HN: htmz – a low power tool for HTML
Total comment counts : 57
Summary
The article discusses htmz, a minimalist HTML microframework that allows users to create modular web user interfaces using plain HTML. htmz enables the swapping of page fragments using vanilla HTML code, updating only the relevant portion of the page instead of reloading the whole page. It is inspired by htmx, Comet, and other similar web application architectures. The article provides instructions on how to use htmz, including examples, and explains how it works. It also mentions additional features and extensions that can be used with htmz.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the author’s idea to use named iframes and targeted forms for creating simple, server-rendered pages with built-in style-scoped widgets. The author admits that they were not able to simplify and express the idea well. The article includes positive comments from readers praising the author for their understanding of the platform and for creating something simple and powerful. The author concludes by thanking the readers and praising their communication and marketing skills.
Top 2 Comment Summary
This article discusses how the browser is getting closer to offering Single Page Application (SPA) functionality natively. The author mentions a hack that demonstrates this capability, allowing them to avoid using iframes. However, they also note that this hack is more of a proof of concept rather than a practical tool for everyday use. The author concludes by stating that what is really needed is HTML native ajax, as opposed to using libraries like htmx.
2. Castle Engine – Free open-source cross-platform 3D/2D game engine using Pascal
Total comment counts : 20
Summary
The article discusses updates, improvements, and contributions made to Docker images. Some of the updates mentioned include providing data for HTTP PUT requests, fast toggling tiled layers visibility, improved C++ library API, XML API for colors in hex, build tool info, and FreeBSD fixes. The article also mentions news from January, such as Ticoban, editor dragging, CastleGL based on dglOpenGL, tester improvements, Pascal custom RTTI attributes, and API improvements. Additionally, it is mentioned that the company is a member of the MacStadium Open Source Developer Program, which provides them access to a remote Mac machine for developing macOS and iOS targets. The article concludes by stating that the webpage is open-source and welcomes pull requests to improve it, and that cookies are used for analytics.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the reasons behind using the Pascal programming language. It mentions factors such as safety, cross-platform compatibility, libraries, and readability. However, the reader disagrees with the claim that Pascal is more readable than conventional C syntax. They argue that Pascal’s requirement of using complete words to denote syntax makes it more difficult to interpret and less productive. The reader feels that the reasons stated in the article were more relevant twenty years ago, particularly in regards to type safety.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the mismanagement of the Delphi product by Borland/Embarcadero and praises the Object Pascal language for its ability to produce native code for various platforms. It highlights Castle Engine as a large and actively developed project that makes it easy to create games and 3D applications. The article also mentions Mormot, another impressive project based on optimized code. It states that building a server application using Object Pascal and Mormot is efficient and can handle high volumes of requests. The language is noted for its features, including reflection, but lacks integrated multithreading/coroutines like Go. The article concludes by mentioning the author’s ability to compile and run code written 40 years ago and recommends trying out Castle Engine’s visual editor.
3. Diseconomies of scale in fraud, spam, support, and moderation
Total comment counts : 31
Summary
The author discusses the trustworthiness and quality of products and services offered by larger platforms compared to smaller ones. They mention that they trust local reputable electronics shops more than big retailers like Best Buy and Amazon for purchasing authentic products. They also argue that smaller platforms generally have a lower rate of scams, spam, and fraudulent content compared to larger platforms. They provide examples such as Signal vs. WhatsApp and lobste.rs vs. Reddit to support their claim. The author also states that as platform size increases, the likelihood of receiving support and having accounts reinstated decreases. They challenge the belief that only large companies can effectively moderate, filter spam, and detect fraud, pointing out that smaller providers can often perform well in these areas. The author gives examples of search engine results and email management to support their argument.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author of the article believes that the problems associated with large companies are underestimated. They argue that it is generally bad for companies to become extremely large, citing the issue of content moderation as just one example. The detachment from support and the focus on protecting market position rather than serving individual consumers is also discussed. The author argues that economies of scale are only beneficial for the individual company in terms of money-making, but they are harmful to the overall economy, society, and humanity. They compare economies of scale to the rampant growth of grass or weeds, stating that while natural, they need to be actively opposed and big companies should regularly be broken up.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the problem of internet fraud and the lack of accountability for fraudsters. It states that the industry of fraud is lucrative and constantly growing. The author mentions their experience at Blizzard, where mechanisms were in place to detect fraudulent credit card transactions but no process existed to prevent the fraudsters from trying again. The article argues that the problem of fraud is becoming increasingly unmanageable and calls for governments to create task forces to address the issue. It emphasizes that international cooperation is necessary to combat fraud effectively. The author concludes by stating that until action is taken, fraud will continue to worsen.
4. Groq runs Mixtral 8x7B-32k with 500 T/s
Total comment counts : 69
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
The article praises a tech demo, describing it as one of the most impressive ones ever seen. The demo is open to anyone without requiring an account. The author is amazed by the high speed at which tokens are generated. They express surprise that the demo creators haven’t been acquired by major tech companies like Microsoft, Apple, or Google.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article highlights the main problem with Groq LPUs. These LPUs lack HBM and only have a small amount of ultra-fast SRAM. This means that a large number of LPUs, approximately 256, are required to serve a single model. In comparison, a single H200, which has a higher density, can serve these models more effectively. The lack of LPUs makes them unusable for scenarios involving multiple models or on-prem deployments.
5. Show HN: PRQL in PostgreSQL
Total comment counts : 16
Summary
The article discusses the use of PRQL in PostgreSQL. The author mentions that they take user feedback seriously and provide documentation for all available qualifiers. The article encourages the use of PRQL in PostgreSQL.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author of the article experimented with a DSL called PRQL in Postgres, but found it cumbersome. They believe that jq is the best data transformation language and awk is second. They mention that PRQL and EdgeQL are interesting to watch as they evolve. The author also wrote a PG extension to make jq available in Postgres. They believe that Postgres has the potential to flourish as a host for DSL languages. They provide links to their PG extension and a related article.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author is working on a new language that compiles to Postgres’ post-analysis structs. The language has a chosen “universal set” semantics that can be challenging to code.
6. Clean your codebase with basic information theory
Total comment counts : 15
Summary
The article discusses the concept of surprise in text and how it can be measured using entropy. It explains that compressing text at the word-level can be done by replacing repeated phrases with shorter ones. The article also mentions Shannon’s source coding theorem and how it relates to text compression. It suggests using strategies like Huffman coding to compress programs and discusses the idea of compressing code for humans by replacing larger snippets with smaller functions and variables. The author expresses a desire to compare the entropy of files in a repository at each release and asks for implementation suggestions. The article concludes with a discussion on finding compression candidates and maintaining readability in code by developing a respect for locality.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the concept of readability and how it relates to structuring an application or system. It mentions that deciding what counts as “related concepts” is the biggest challenge in this process. The author argues that the recommended approach for structuring applications and systems is outlined in Parnas’ 1972 paper, which suggests designing each module to hide difficult design decisions from the others. The criterion proposed by Parnas recognizes the need for code and systems to evolve over time and highlights that different decompositions can have varying abilities to accommodate change. The article also mentions that blindly applying “Don’t repeat yourself” refactoring rules can yield poor results if two sections of code that may look similar at present are coupled together without considering their distinct constraints and reasons for change.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author argues that in order to maintain readability in code, developers should prioritize locality. They believe that our obsession with representing code as text files in folder hierarchies leads to unnecessary complexity. They propose storing code in a database instead of files and folders, allowing for a tree view UI organized based on runtime code paths and data flow. Additionally, the author suggests using blocks to restrict variables/functions to the smallest possible scope rather than relying on modularization. They believe that by making it easier to trace data dependencies, developers can quickly see what needs updating when making changes. The author also proposes that everything should be a global variable, as the issues associated with global variables can be solved with better tracing tooling. Lastly, they advocate for grouping related concepts together and querying a database of code as needed.
7. Biologists discover four new octopus species
Total comment counts : 9
Summary
Scientists from the Schmidt Ocean Institute have made an exciting discovery in the Pacific Ocean near Costa Rica. They found four new species of octopus, as well as observed an underwater ecosystem of hydrothermal vents. This discovery is significant because it sheds light on where more deep ocean species may be living. It was unexpected to find so many species of octopus in this small area at a depth of 3,000 meters. The researchers used a remotely operated vehicle named SuBastian to explore the area and identified two hydrothermal springs, two octopus nurseries, and one skate nursery. The octopuses were found brooding their eggs near the hydrothermal vents, which provide a warmer environment and increase the chances of survival for their offspring. The scientists are particularly excited about the discovery of the hydrothermal habitats, as they open new doors for octopus study and discovery. This is only the second deep-sea octopus hatchery that has been discovered, with the first found off the Californian coast. The new species of octopus found near the vents has been named the “Dorado” octopus. The other three species were found farther away from the vent ecosystem. The specimens collected during the expeditions have been taken to the Museum of Zoology at the University of Costa Rica, marking a departure from the usual practice of transporting specimens to the United States or Europe. The researchers hope that this discovery will create awareness and policies to protect the deep-sea of Costa Rica.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article states that scientists believe there are approximately 9 million species on Earth, but only a fraction of them have been identified so far.
Top 2 Comment Summary
Nueva Pescanova is preparing to measure cages according to an article on BBC News. The article provided does not contain specific information on the content or details of this cage sizing.
8. Big media publishers are inundating the web with subpar product recommendations
Total comment counts : 50
Summary
The article discusses how Google’s algorithm updates are negatively impacting independent websites. The author notes that certain publishers, such as BuzzFeed, Rolling Stone, Forbes, Popular Science, and Better Homes & Gardens, consistently appear at the top of search results for various product recommendations. However, the author argues that these publishers often recommend products without testing them firsthand and simply paraphrase marketing materials and Amazon listings. They express disappointment in Google’s lack of action to address this issue and highlight the importance of websites like HouseFresh that actually dedicate time, effort, and money to test products before recommending them. The author also criticizes big media publishers for creating pages of product recommendations without conducting proper testing, relying instead on references to a “rigorous testing process” without actually providing in-depth product reviews. The article concludes by emphasizing the negative impact of these practices on independent sites like HouseFresh, as they receive less traffic and face an uncertain future.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article suggests that Google has been prioritizing only well-known domains for a long time, which can be problematic for smaller websites. The author suggests considering alternative platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube instead of solely relying on Google search rankings for business success.
Top 2 Comment Summary
This article discusses how Google search results have shifted from prioritizing popular content to highlighting trusted sources handpicked by Google. Examples of trusted sources include WebMD, Wikipedia, CDC for health information, and major news outlets like NYT, CNN, and BBC for news. This change in approach aims to prevent users from accessing controversial or fringe viewpoints. However, as a side effect, some organizations have taken advantage of their high ranking on Google by creating low-quality listicles filled with affiliate links to make money, even if the content does not align with their expertise.
9. Show HN: RAM Prices
Total comment counts : 36
Summary
The article states that the information about product prices and availability on a certain website is accurate at the time of purchase and is subject to change. It also mentions that some content on the website comes from Amazon Services LLC and can be changed or removed at any time. The author is an Amazon Associate and earns from qualifying purchases.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses two websites, https://geizhals.eu and https://skinflint.co.uk, which offer detailed filtering and sorting capabilities for searching computer hardware. The websites also have an Android app and possibly an iOS app. The author recommends checking out these websites for finding computer hardware.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article criticizes the use of the term “Non-ECC” as unnecessary and adds to search engine pollution. The writer suggests that marketing professionals who use this term should be fired.
10. A beginner’s guide to making beautiful slides for talks
Total comment counts : 25
Summary
This article provides tips and recommendations for improving slide designs for conference presentations. The author suggests using fonts as a way to add personality and uniqueness to slides, recommending websites like Google Fonts, Dafont, and Creative Market for exploring and purchasing fonts. They also suggest using a font manager to preview and organize fonts. Additionally, the author reassures readers that graphic design expertise is not necessary to create beautiful slides, and mentions Photoshop as a useful tool for manipulating and arranging slide elements.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses creative illustration ideas for presentations, but argues that it is not suitable for beginners. The most important design principle for beginners is consistency, specifically in terms of layout, typeface, and colors. The article suggests setting a basic style before adding any special effects to maintain visual consistency. The author also shares examples of their own presentations.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses different approaches to creating slides for presentations. While some prioritize making the slides visually appealing, the author believes that the content and delivery of the presentation are more important than aesthetics. They focus on crafting spoken content and creating minimalist slides that enhance the presentation without spending much time on making them beautiful.