1. JIT WireGuard
Total comment counts : 20
Summary
The article is about Fly.io, a company that uses WireGuard to make their system faster and more scalable. They have implemented WireGuard in unique ways, such as conjuring a TCP/IP stack for every instance of their CLI. However, they encountered two problems: unreliable message delivery with NATS and leftover WireGuard peers after running flyctl. To solve these issues, they decided to have gateways pull configurations from their API on demand instead of pushing them. They used the Netlink interface in the Linux kernel to create their own events for handling incoming connection attempts. By implementing these changes, they improved the reliability and performance of their system.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses a problem with building a specific design using the Linux kernel WireGuard. The issue is that the WireGuard kernel does not have a feature to install peers on demand. The article suggests that it is possible to add peers at runtime, but the author seeks clarification on this. They mention that the desired step is to authenticate a peer before adding it to the interface to prevent stale entries. To achieve this, a solution involving an eBPF filter and cryptokey-routing is proposed, where the authorized counterpart is checked before adding the peer to the interface, and it is later removed after a timeout.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author agrees that a direct HTTP request for a single point-to-point message is more reliable than routing through a message queue. However, they express surprise that NATS, a messaging system, would lose many messages to the point where it affected their services. The author wonders why NATS wouldn’t simply retry delivery until successful and asks if anyone knows the reason behind this perceived unreliability.
2. Nvtop: Linux Task Monitor for Nvidia, AMD and Intel GPUs
Total comment counts : 21
Summary
The article summarizes the features and capabilities of NVTOP, which is a task monitor for GPUs and accelerators. It supports multiple vendors such as AMD, Apple (limited support), Huawei, Intel, NVIDIA, and Qualcomm. NVTOP provides a setup utility to customize its interface, allows monitoring of processes using AMD, Intel, and Adreno GPUs, and includes some initial support for Apple using Metal. It requires specific kernel versions for each vendor’s GPU support. The article also mentions the dependencies required for NVTOP and provides installation instructions for different platforms. Finally, it states that NVTOP is licensed under the GPLv3 license.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article suggests that while tools like nvtop or nvidia-smi can provide a general overview of GPU utilization, they may not accurately reflect how fast a workload is being processed. The author recommends using Nsight Compute to profile individual kernels for AI performance analysis, and suggests Nsight Systems for a macro view. If not directly working with kernels, the PyTorch profiler is recommended for those using PyTorch.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The user is asking for help with the “apt install” command, which is not working for them. They receive an error message mentioning a dependency issue with “libnvidia-compute-418.” The user is frustrated with broken installations, particularly those related to NVIDIA, and criticizes the company for not providing a universal installation script for machine learning purposes. They complain about the multiple layers involved in installing NVIDIA components, such as drivers, cuda, cuda toolkit, and cudnn, which often have conflicting versions and outdated installation guides.
3. Bluesky’s stackable approach to moderation
Total comment counts : 21
Summary
Bluesky, a social media platform that aims to give users control over their online experience, has announced that it is open-sourcing its collaborative moderation tool called Ozone. With Ozone, individuals and teams can work together to review and label content on the platform. Bluesky is also allowing users to run their own independent moderation services integrated into the Bluesky app, giving them more control over their social media experience. The platform has its own moderation team but recognizes the need for customization, so it is building an ecosystem of moderation and open-source safety tools. Users will have the option to subscribe to additional moderation services on top of what Bluesky provides. This hybrid approach aims to offer a cohesive experience with in-house moderation working alongside community-specific customization. Independent moderation services will give users and community builders the ability to further customize their spaces, and open APIs will allow developers to innovate on these systems. The platform is prioritizing a polished user experience with customization options.
Top 1 Comment Summary
This article discusses a system called “Labels” which allows for the publishing of metadata on posts. Clients can choose which labeling services to use, and labels can be attached to responses. The system aims to do the majority of moderation at the community level. The labels can be neutral or negative and can function as user badges. The system will be extended to support richer metadata and behaviors in the future.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article argues that getting incentives for moderation right is important. The author believes that users should have the ability to temporarily turn off moderation features to get an unfiltered view. Without this option, moderation can turn into censorship, especially in ideological contexts. Additionally, even if users have the ability to turn off moderation, it will still likely suppress content production as people may feel that their voice is not being heard. However, by enabling users to experiment with turning off moderation, they can assess whether the moderation is supportive or censoring. This can encourage moderators to be reasonable, as their actions are easily discoverable and measurable. The author also suggests that weak moderation, which is always consensual, is better for groups. This avoids leadership contests and allows group members’ voices to be heard. Overall, weak moderation can make group membership more valuable and promote trust amongst members.
4. 40 Years of Programming
Total comment counts : 28
Summary
The article discusses the author’s personal journey in learning how to program and the misconceptions they had about the software development industry. They emphasize the importance of communication and collaboration in building successful software, stating that technical skills alone are not enough. The author also shares their strategies for managing their work, such as using a journal and employing the GTD system. They mention that productivity in software development is not easily defined and that taking care of oneself is crucial for doing good work.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article describes a situation in which the author was in a meeting where note-taking was forbidden by the Chief Technology Officer (CTO). This lack of note-taking led to confusion and differing opinions among the meeting participants. The author argues that this is a common occurrence in many companies they work with, where meetings are often seen as a charade and managers attend to appear busy. The author mentions difficulties in understanding and retaining information during meetings due to language barriers and lack of note-taking. They suggest that writing things down beforehand could have saved time and made the meeting unnecessary. The article concludes by highlighting the humor and frustrations of the corporate world.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author of the article reflects on their 40 years of programming experience. They mention starting out with BASIC on ZX Spectrum and BBC Micro/Electron. They also highlight a difficult programming task they completed at the age of 12, which involved creating a full 3D engine in x86 from scratch. They share a funny anecdote about getting hired for a job by putting a language they didn’t know on their resume. The author mentions their favorite language as VB.NET, but state that it’s no longer worth pursuing. Currently, they primarily write ASP.NET in C#, running on Linux.
5. Technical Manual TM 11-410: The Homing Pigeon (1945)
Total comment counts : 8
Summary
This article is a manual from the War Department in 1945 about the dissemination of restricted matter. It provides instructions for the breeding, care, and training of homing pigeons, as well as the selection and training of enlisted pigeoneers. The manual also describes the mission, function, and operation of a signal pigeon company and the tactical employment of pigeons. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining high standards in the pigeons’ strain, physical condition, training, and treatment in order to ensure reliability and speed in their performance. The article concludes by discussing various factors that can reduce the efficiency of pigeons, such as bad weather, darkness, and injuries.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the use of racing and homing pigeons in the past. The author shares a personal story about their wife’s grandfather who used racing pigeons to get football scores from matches across England. He would attach the scores to the pigeons and release them to fly home, where the author’s father would then announce the scores to the local pubs. This practice was used before the widespread availability of local radio and live football broadcasts, and it highlights the practical use of pigeons beyond racing.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author of the article expresses a strange sensation while reading technical manuals from the 1940s. They feel as though people back then had a clear understanding of how to do things properly and were able to describe them accurately using precise language. However, the author wonders if these abilities have somehow been lost over time. Although they acknowledge that their perception may not make complete sense, they still experience this feeling when reading these manuals.
6. Insult Passphrase Generator
Total comment counts : 34
Summary
The article is about an insult code by Ron Hardin. The insults generated have about 42 bits of randomness and queries are not recorded. The randomness is as good as the random resource in the operating system. The article then lists a series of insults created by the code, such as “You grim firkin of anemic sloth eructation” and “You unaesthetic bucket of toxic thoroughbred gas.” The insults are available on a website mentioned in the article.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author recounts an experience from the early 1990s where a dial-up Bulletin Board System (BBS) they frequented stored passwords in plain text. The system operator (sysop) read the author’s password and subsequently banned them.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses “hilarious” password suggestions found on a website. It mentions that if one were to use these passwords, they would likely have to settle for the first one they see to maintain a desired level of security. It also notes that this website is meant to be a joke and advises against using these passwords for important accounts.
7. Show HN: Creating custom coloring pages from photos. Great for parents/teachers
Total comment counts : 22
Summary
The article discusses a new tool that allows users to personalize their photos into various artistic styles such as coloring pages, sketches, oil paintings, and watercolors. The tool is powered by advanced AI technology and offers an enchanting experience for users to transform their own pictures. The article encourages readers to try the tool themselves.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author, who is the father of a mixed son, expresses concerns about an art task at school that turns black and mixed people into white-presenting caricatures of themselves. The author provides examples comparing original images with coloring pages where black hairstyles are altered to resemble “white” hairstyles. The author worries that this misrepresents and erases the actual appearance of mixed individuals, and it could negatively impact their child’s self-image and sense of belonging. The article includes several links to examples of this issue.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author suggests that the article should clearly mention “GenAI” because it goes beyond regular photo filters. They provide an example of using a selfie with specific details, and mention that GenAI produces poor results by adding random elements. They also mention that the examples on the home page seem to be highly selected as they don’t observe the same level of quality in their own usage.
8. LOCS: Language developed at age 9 in Z80 machine code (1988)
Total comment counts : 7
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
The author built a programming language called Lenguaje Simplificado de Programación (LSP) when they were 12 years old. LSP was a ripoff of BASIC and was written in BASIC. The language supported windows and multitasking, although it lacked synchronization primitives. Despite being rough and incomplete, the author recalls the excitement of running multiple tasks simultaneously for the first time. They had limited resources and relied heavily on the C64 manual for programming knowledge. The author still has a tape with the last version of LSP, but they are unsure if it can still be read.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the use of LOGO, a programming language, for teaching programming. It mentions that LOGO was not widely available on home computers, making it difficult to teach programming with it. However, the author shares their personal experience of using LOGO on their Amstrad CPC464 computer to teach programming in languages like C, Python, and Java, stating that LOGO is the best tool for teaching programming.
9. A ragtag band of internet friends became the best at forecasting world events
Total comment counts : 21
Summary
The article discusses a group called Samotsvety, which specializes in predicting the future. The group consists of highly accurate forecasters, and they were discussing the likelihood of China controlling at least half of Taiwan’s territory by 2030. Each member of the group gives their estimate, ranging from 5% to 24%. The article explores why the Samotsvety group is so good at forecasting and what sets them apart from others. It also mentions that non-experts’ aggregated opinions in forecasting have been found to be more accurate than the forecasts of experts. The article highlights the commitment of Samotsvety members to grading their own accuracy and their knowledge in geopolitical events and China-Taiwan relations.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the process of estimating and predicting future events, with a focus on “base rates.” It mentions that groups that utilize base rates tend to perform better in predicting competitions. The concept of base rates is explained as a way to understand the scale of numbers involved in events, even if individual methodologies may not be accurate on their own. Examples of base rates are given, such as the rate of provinces claimed by China being absorbed and the frequency of control changes in Taiwan. The article also mentions Laplace’s rule, which states that the probability of something happening for the first time is 1 divided by N+2, where N represents the number of times it hasn’t happened in the past. The author then averages three base rates to make an initial prediction of 8 percent for an event.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author raises a concern about the accuracy of predicting one-off events, such as China invading Taiwan or London being hit by a nuclear weapon, in terms of a percentage. They question how one can determine if the prediction was accurate since the occurrence or non-occurrence of the event does not validate or invalidate the percentage chance assigned to it. The author wonders if there is some form of aggregate that validates these predictions. They provide an example where an 8% chance of invasion does not indicate a wrong prediction if an invasion occurs; rather, it suggests that the world fell within that 8% likelihood.
10. Multi-Threading and Mutation
Total comment counts : 8
Summary
The article discusses the milestones that programmers need to reach in order to effectively write code and understand the underlying hardware. It emphasizes the importance of learning to write code that operates on batches of data and the significance of understanding memory allocation. The author also highlights the crucial milestone of writing code that can execute in parallel using multiple threads. The article suggests that it is better to build code with the constraints of multithreading in mind from the beginning, rather than trying to add it later. The author shares their own experience of initially finding multithreading intimidating but ultimately realizing that it can be made easier by designing systems with the additional constraints in mind. The article concludes by stating that the task of writing multithreaded systems is not just about synchronization, but also about minimizing the need for synchronization in order to achieve the benefits of parallel execution.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the benefits of Rust’s borrow checker, which formalizes the usage of shared references and exclusive/mutable references in the language. The unsafe keyword and interior mutability pattern are mentioned as escape hatches for certain situations. The author expresses their appreciation for Rust’s ability to prevent data races, highlighting that while other languages like Java may claim to be memory safe and type safe, they may still have issues with concurrency bugs.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author learned multi-threaded programming on OS/2 in the late 80s and has since designed their code to handle multiple threads even if they thought only one would execute it. This approach has saved them rewrites when other threads were introduced. In their new data management system, multi-threading was designed into every component, resulting in a code that runs nearly twice as fast on CPUs with twice as many cores.