1. Linux Crisis Tools
Total comment counts : 27
Summary
The article recommends installing “crisis tools” on Linux servers to quickly diagnose performance issues during outages. It provides a list of essential analysis tools and suggests pre-installing debugging tools like gdb(1) for immediate use. The article acknowledges that these tools may add to disk size but assures that the listed packages are relatively small. The author discusses the challenges of installing software during a production crisis and suggests that Linux distros include crisis tools in their enterprise variants to help companies respond effectively to performance outages.
Top 1 Comment Summary
This article discusses a failed package installation due to unresolved repositories and a potential solution using the cloud. The author suggests that instead of trying to fix the issue, it is better to kill the machine or remove it from the pool and get a new one. By doing so, the machine and the application are likely to come up clean, resolving the incident.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the challenges of containerizing servers and the issues that arise with security scanning tools. Many tools in docker images can be flagged as unnecessary and potentially aiding attackers. To address this, the article suggests keeping such tools in a separate volume as static binaries or installing them with the mount path as the install prefix. If debugging is required, the volume can be temporarily mounted as read-only. Another challenge discussed is the impact of enabling specific kernel features for debug tools on other containers running on the same host.
2. After 41 years, my first assembly program on my first computer, the Tomy Tutor
Total comment counts : 9
Summary
The article discusses the challenges of creating and running machine language programs on the Tomy Tutor, an obscure home computer. The article explains that the Tutor’s architecture, which primarily relies on non-executable VDP RAM, makes it difficult to create and run programs. It also mentions the lack of a Tomy assembler and RAM expansion cartridge for the Tutor. However, the article notes that there are now homebrew options available for the Tutor, allowing users to run assembly language programs. The article provides an overview of the Texas Instruments home computer series, including the TI 99/4A, and discusses the evolution of the TMS 9900 CPU and the 9918 video display processor. It explains that TI planned to implement the TMS 9995 CPU in their next generation of home computers, but ultimately canceled those plans. The article also mentions the Japanese toy manufacturer Tomy’s adaptation of the 99/8 architecture, resulting in the creation of the Tomy Pyuuta home computer. The Pyuuta was specifically targeted at younger children and featured a durable plastic case and rubber Chiclet keys. Tomy licensed arcade games for cartridge use on the Pyuuta and also provided game controllers and optional peripherals.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the interesting history of the Tomy Tutor, highlighting its financial risks and unlikely approval in today’s era. It also mentions the unique architectural designs of the 1980s and the author’s appreciation for their quirkiness and diversity.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article highlights the changing connotations of parent guidance over the years. It mentions that it is uncommon in today’s society to come across the phrase “no parental guidance necessary.”
3. Creating an autopilot in X-Plane using Python
Total comment counts : 13
Summary
This article discusses the author’s experience connecting Python code to the X-Plane flight simulator in order to develop an autopilot using PID controllers. The author explains their interest in flight simulators and how they got started with X-Plane. They mention that X-Plane is a well-known flight simulator with a highly regarded flight model and options for data input/output. The author also mentions that NASA has developed code to interface with X-Plane, and provides instructions on how to set up the X-PlaneConnect plug-in and run the Python code. They show a screenshot of the information displayed by the code, which includes latitude, longitude, elevation, and control deflections. The author concludes by mentioning their plans for future posts, including coding a wing leveler autopilot. They also invite readers to guess the location of the runway shown in the screenshot for a chance to win “internet points”. The article ends with a note about the author’s website, where they document nerdy activities to share knowledge with others.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article is about a blog owner named Austin who is excited to see a sudden increase in traffic to his blog. He mentions that he recently added a Flask/html frontend to control the autopilot setpoints, using Redis as a quick intermediate database to store the setpoints. Austin created a post to demonstrate this feature due to the high volume of visitors who might find it interesting. He provides a link to the blog post.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses using the kRPC mod in Kerbal Space Program to control the game using different programming languages. By doing so, players can create a more realistic avionics/robotics experience by simulating multiple sensors that may not always agree with each other. The mod also requires careful interface handling with engines and may not provide a simple “go left” control input. Overall, it offers a more complex and challenging experience for players.
4. The Super Mario Maker community faces its final boss
Total comment counts : 15
Summary
A group of players called “Team 0%” has spent years clearing levels in the original Wii U Super Mario Maker that had never been beaten by anyone except for their original uploaders. They have narrowed the list of uncleared levels to one final level named “Trimming the Herbs.” However, they face a deadline as Nintendo plans to shut down the Wii U’s gameplay servers on April 8. The team is aiming to completely beat the game before that date. The effort started in 2017 when a player created a definitive list of uncleared levels. Team 0% was able to clear all the 2015 levels, but they had to contend with thousands of newer uncleared levels. In March 2021, Nintendo stopped allowing new uploads, which made the goal of fully beating the game more achievable. The team has gained attention from popular streamers, attracting more participants.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article argues that games as a service should be required to allow the community to host them once they are no longer profitable. The author believes that relying on for-profit businesses to preserve gaming history is not a reliable solution, as they have consistently refused to do so in the past.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article is outdated as it discusses the final boss level, “Trimming the Herbs,” which has been determined to be a hacked (TAS) level. It also mentions that “The Last Dance” was the last level that had already been beaten.
5. What happens to Google Maps when tectonic plates move? (2020)
Total comment counts : 23
Summary
The article discusses how Earth’s tremors can impact GPS coordinates and cause discrepancies in mapping services such as Google Maps. It explains that Earth’s tectonic plate movements can warp space and time, similar to Einstein’s theory of relativity. The author explores the challenges faced by geographers, geologists, and geodesists in ensuring the accuracy of maps due to the constantly changing landscape. Factors such as the limitations of GPS hardware and misalignment of maps and satellite images contribute to errors in GPS coordinates. The article also mentions that as technology progresses, people will expect higher accuracy in real-time GPS measurements. The National Geodetic Survey and other agencies use fixed GPS stations and survey marks to align aerial and orbital images with the latitude and longitude grid, but the process is not always perfect. Geocachers, a community of hobbyists, play a role in ground-truthing maps by verifying the accuracy of survey marks.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the International Terrestrial Reference System and Frame (ITRF), which serves as a standard for geographic datums. Datums, such as Australia’s GDA2020, are tied to a specific reference frame or year (epoch) of the ITRF. GDA2020, for example, is based on ITRF2014 at epoch 2020.0, replacing GDA94, which was based on ITRF1992 at epoch 1994.0. The difference between the two datums is approximately 1.8 meters.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article provides a link to global drift vectors information by NASA, which can be found at https://sideshow.jpl.nasa.gov/post/series.html.
6. TinySSH is a small SSH server using NaCl, TweetNaCl
Total comment counts : 18
Summary
The article discusses the feedback received and its importance. It also mentions TinySSH, a server with less than 100,000 words of code.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the use of tinyssh, a lightweight SSH server, for remotely unlocking encrypted drives during the Linux boot process. The author describes a specific use case where they have a headless NAS server using dm-crypt/LUKS under ZFS. When they update the kernel/ZFS, they remotely reboot the server, wait a few seconds, and then SSH into a tinyssh powered encryption key prompt to unlock the drives. After this initial SSH session, tinyssh exits, and they can SSH again a few seconds later to access the fully booted machine. The article includes a link to the project on GitHub for further reference.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The requested article is currently unavailable due to being “Slashdotted.”
7. Speaking without vocal cords, thanks to a new AI-assisted wearable device
Total comment counts : 8
Summary
A team of engineers at UCLA has developed a small device that can help people with dysfunctional vocal cords regain their voice function. The device, measuring just over 1 square inch, is attached to the skin outside the throat and uses machine-learning technology to detect movement in the larynx muscles and translate those signals into audible speech with nearly 95% accuracy. The bioelectric system is made up of two components: a sensing component that detects and converts muscle movement signals, and an actuation component that turns those signals into voice expression. The device is non-invasive, lightweight, and can be easily adhered to an individual’s throat. It has the potential to provide a wearable, non-invasive option for those with voice disorders, who currently may have to undergo surgical interventions or voice therapy for recovery. The researchers plan to further develop the device and test it in people with speech disorders.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses a device that decodes silent speech using the larynx. However, the decoding capability is limited to five different sentences. The media has exaggerated the device’s abilities as the larynx alone does not provide enough information for accurate decoding. The article suggests that decoding becomes more accurate when the device also detects movements of the lips, tongue, and jaw. The article refers to additional research that demonstrates high accuracy in decoding general English with these additional factors considered. The author also mentions conducting experiments using only the larynx recording, which resulted in poor performance even with a small vocabulary. This explains why the device was limited to a task involving five sentences.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article critiques a hyperbole called “Speaking,” which claims to allow users to accurately say five phrases with a 95% success rate after repeating each sentence 100 times. The author argues that this hyperbole is useless because the sentences are easily distinguishable mainly based on their length. The author expresses surprise that anyone would find this tool useful. The article also mentions a brief demonstration involving five sentences for training the algorithm. The author concludes by stating their skepticism towards press releases from universities, suggesting they are often exaggerated.
8. Fault tolerance and resilience patterns for Go
Total comment counts : 8
Summary
The article discusses a library called Failsafe-go that is used for building fault-tolerant applications in Go programming language. Failsafe-go works by wrapping executable logic with resilience policies such as Retry, CircuitBreaker, RateLimiter, Timeout, Fallback, Hedge, and Bulkhead. These policies can be combined and composed as needed. The article provides a link to the library’s website for further usage information and documentation.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article addresses a critique about a module that does not resemble Go and seems over-engineered due to its use of generics and separate packages for each policy. The author mentions having implemented a simpler version of the module themselves.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the positive experiences the author had with using the Java version of a library called Failsafe for a number of years. They express their excitement about the release of a Go version of the library.
9. Safecast Open Radiation and Air Quality Map
Total comment counts : 6
Summary
error
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses a map that is extremely difficult to interpret, stating that it would be challenging for anyone to design such a map.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses how data is being collected by volunteers using homemade devices. Although the source of the data is unclear, it appears that volunteers are driving around to collect information. The article also mentions the existence of related apps, but it seems that these apps have been removed from the App Store and Play Store. The article includes a link to a website where more information can be found.
10. PSChess – A chess engine in PostScript
Total comment counts : 5
Summary
The article provides a summary of the making and inner workings of PSChess, a chess program written in PostScript. The project can be broken down into five steps, with steps 1-4 already completed. PSChess allows users to play chess against GhostScript, a PostScript interpreter, by entering moves in the console. The game state is kept in a dictionary, and pieces are represented by a PostScript string and moved using the putinterval instruction. PSChess also includes a simplified evaluation function for board configurations. The program implements the min-max algorithm when playing against the computer. The article also mentions the structure of the PSChess code and how it produces output on both the console and PDF documents.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article mentions two books that are recommended for those interested in learning more about PostScript language program design: “Green Book - PostScript Language Program Design” and “Thinking in PostScript.” The first book can be found on Goodreads and the second one is widely available as a PDF on the author’s website. Additionally, the article provides a link to a website that demonstrates typical usage of PostScript programming.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the convention of naming procedures in programming and highlights the potential benefits for larger programs. The author also mentions being motivated to finish and publish a blog post about a neural network they have written in PostScript.