1. How many photons are received per bit transmitted from Voyager 1?
Total comment counts : 27
Summary
The article discusses the number of photons transmitted and received per bit by Voyager 1 when it sends messages to Earth. Option A states that Voyager sends 160 bits/second with 23W, resulting in approximately 4 x 10^24 photons per second or 2.6 x 10^22 per bit. Option B mentions that the receiver with a 70m dish will collect only 1.3 attowatt (1.3 x 10^-18 W), which corresponds to around 240,000 photons per second or 1500 photons per bit. Option C highlights the number of photons per bit needed and suggests that with only thermal noise, we would require around 7.5 photons at 8.3 GHz. However, additional atmospheric noise and circuit noise may increase the requirement to around 25 photons per bit at 8.3 GHz or 91 photons at 2.3 GHz. Overall, there is not much margin for photon transmission.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author of the article works in the field of quantum error correction and wants to find examples of repetition codes being used in classical systems. They mention examples such as DRAM storing data through the presence or absence of electrons, undersea cables sending photons per bit, and transistor switching numbers. The author explains that protecting a qubit in quantum computing requires special physical properties or complex error correction strategies, while contrasting it with the sizes of implicit repetition codes used in classical computing. The article includes links to references for further reading.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses how the limit predicted by Shannon can be surpassed by using photon counting receivers and PPM formats. Shannon’s limit assumes gaussian noise, but with photon counting receivers, a poisson distribution is needed. The Gordon-Holevo limit is introduced as a way to go beyond Shannon’s limit. The article also mentions that using optics can achieve even better results, with examples of achieving 1 photon/bit at 10 Gbit/s. A link to a specific study on the topic is provided.
2. Making USB devices – end to end guide to your first gadget
Total comment counts : 15
Summary
This article provides an introduction to building USB devices, explaining the basics of USB technology and the physical connections involved. The author emphasizes that they are not an expert on USB and that the article is more of a documentation of their project to create a simple USB device. The article covers topics such as the purpose of USB devices, the different speeds of USB, the protocol and software layers involved, and the construction of a serial port device. The author also briefly mentions USB-C but notes that it won’t be discussed further in the article.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author of the article used to test devices for USB compliance and noticed problems with the inrush current test, specifically relating to too many bypass caps on the 5V. The author mentions that while high speed digital design is important, compliance often involves less exciting elements. They are unsure of how this works with newer versions of the standard, but the article is still informative.
Top 2 Comment Summary
This article provides an introduction to USB, focusing on using an ST microcontroller. However, the recent ESP32 ecosystem offers easier plug-and-play options for creating USB devices, such as projects from Adafruit’s learning pages. The article also mentions that differential pairs, which are relevant for high-speed work, may not be a concern for beginners. USB controller ICs can handle many details, making manual calculations unnecessary, especially for first-time gadget makers.
3. Learn CSS Grid with a virtual garden game
Total comment counts : 21
Summary
The article is about a Twitter account called @playcodepip.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article is a series by Rachel Andrews that serves as a great learning resource for understanding CSS grid containers. The author, who primarily works on backend development, found it helpful for building modern UI applications without using frameworks like Bootstrap or Tailwind.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author used to work in a place where they had a weekly show-and-tell session with the team. During one session, the author brought something and allowed non-coders to give answers to see how well they understood it. Some people understood it, while others struggled. Overall, the experience was loved by everyone, and the author believes it was a good way to develop basic programming skills in people who would otherwise never code. Even years later, the author’s coworkers would bring up the experience, showing that they now had more respect for the author’s work.
4. Lowering resource usage with foot and systemd
Total comment counts : 11
Summary
The article discusses the author’s experience with configuring their terminal (foot) in the sway window manager. They explain how they used custom systemd targets to manage long-running processes like their terminal server and how they solved issues with scratchpad configurations and applying theme changes. The author decided to switch to a real service manager (systemd) to abstract the configuration and offload process management. They provide the necessary commands and configurations for setting up systemd services for the main and helper scratchpads, as well as the foot server and clients. The article concludes by highlighting the benefits of this setup, including improved memory consumption and easier configuration updates.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the misconception surrounding the title “Lowering resource usage of foot with systemd.” The author initially misunderstood the term “foot” as a resource manager, but later realized that it refers to a terminal emulator.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author of the article discusses their usage of URxvt as a systemd daemon, Tmux as a transient service with systemd-run, and a script in i3wm for managing windows. They also mention a way to run Tmux from a transient service locally and over SSH using the same .bashrc file. The script checks if Tmux is already running and, if not, attaches or starts a new Tmux session.
5. AMD Unveils Ryzen 9000 CPUs for Desktop, Zen 5
Total comment counts : 21
Summary
AMD’s CEO, Dr. Lisa Su, has announced the company’s next generation of Ryzen processors at AMD’s Computex 2024 kick-off keynote. The Ryzen 9000 series, based on the Zen 5 microarchitecture, will bring several advancements over Zen 4 and the Ryzen 7000 series. The flagship part, the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X processor, will feature 16 CPU cores and a maximum boost frequency of 5.7 GHz. Other SKUs include 6, 8, and 12 core parts. AMD is touting an average IPC increase of 16% for Zen 5 in desktop workloads. The Ryzen 9000 series will launch on the AM5 socket, and two new high-performance chipsets, X870E and X870, will be introduced. Zen 5 is built on TSMC N4 and offers improved branch prediction, higher throughput, wider pipelines and SIMDs, a bigger out-of-order instruction window size, increased L2 to L1 memory bandwidth, and improved AI performance. AMD claims a 16% IPC uplift over Zen 4 in desktop workloads.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the impact of AVX512, a computer instruction set architecture extension, on processor performance. It highlights the significance of executing AVX512 instructions in a single cycle instead of two cycles, especially if the processor can maintain a high clock speed. Additionally, the article mentions the doubling of L1 cache bandwidth, which may be necessary to support AVX512 instructions effectively.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author regrets buying an AMD laptop in 2021 and mentions that they will wait one or two years before considering DDR5. They highlight the laptop’s specifications, such as the AMD RX 6800m and Ryzen 9 5900HX, but express disappointment in being locked out of faster ethernet standards, GPU memory, USB4, 10Gbe, and other features that were released after their purchase. The author concludes by stating they should have bought a proper PC and won’t make the same mistake again.
6. I’m forking Ladybird and stepping down as SerenityOS BDFL
Total comment counts : 38
Summary
The article discusses the decision to fork off the Ladybird project from the SerenityOS operating system into a separate top-level project. The author explains that they have been primarily focused on Ladybird for the past two years and have now decided to streamline its development by separating it from SerenityOS. The author expresses love for SerenityOS and its community but believes that this change will lead to a better future for both projects. Ladybird development will now happen in a new repository on GitHub, with day-to-day communication moving to a new Ladybird Discord server. The project will now target Linux and macOS, dropping the SerenityOS target. The article emphasizes that there is no drama behind this decision but rather a recognition that the two projects have been packed uncomfortably into a single space for too long. The author expresses gratitude to everyone who has worked on these projects and is excited about the future of both projects now that they can focus better on their main interests.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses Andreas, a skilled coder and community builder. It suggests that Andreas may be more passionate about browser hacking than operating system hacking. The split between his contributions to Ladybird (a cross-platform browser) and SerenityOS (a toy operating system) is mentioned. SerenityOS is described as a project focused on writing code from scratch and proving its feasibility, rather than producing a revolutionary operating system. The main concern is moving as much code as possible from Ladybird to SerenityOS.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article states that Ladybird, a software program, is now targeting Linux and macOS operating systems, while discontinuing support for SerenityOS. The reasons behind dropping SerenityOS as a target are not provided in the article. It is unclear if Ladybird for SerenityOS will need to continuously adopt patches from the new Ladybird project in order to continue development. The article also raises questions about whether it is still considered a fork if the new project retains the name “Ladybird.” It wonders if SerenityOS’s browser will require a new name or if there will be two separate Ladybird projects with the same name, suggesting a potential qualifier to differentiate them.
7. Ask HN: What was your most humbling learning moment?
Total comment counts : 148
Summary
The article discusses personal experiences of feeling ignorant or inexperienced in certain areas. The author shares anecdotes of not knowing how to properly raise blinds, misunderstanding a question about Windows as a computer operating system, and feeling inadequate in a new job due to lack of knowledge. The author emphasizes the importance of learning and acknowledging that there is always more to learn.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author shares a personal anecdote from 1993 when they were interviewed for an operating job at a power plant’s data center. They describe the operating system computer being used and the manual commands that had to be entered regularly. During the interview, the author misunderstands a question about experience with Windows and replies about window cleaning instead. They realize their mistake after one of the interviewers clarifies that Windows is a computer operating system. Despite their blunder, the author is surprised to be offered the job, which they accept and later gain new knowledge through training.
Top 2 Comment Summary
This article discusses the value of simplicity in software development projects. It highlights instances where teams have wasted time and resources on complex implementations, ultimately leading to canceled projects. On the other hand, it acknowledges the efficiency of individuals who produce working systems quickly, even if their code is not well-structured. The author admires those who prioritize delivering value over obsessing about the technical details, particularly in the startup environment. Overall, the article emphasizes the importance of adopting a pragmatic mindset in software development.
8. The Sword of Kumdor
Total comment counts : 8
Summary
“The Sword of Kumdor” is a touch-typing RPG game for the NEC PC-98, released in 1991. The protagonist, a skilled typist, is summoned to the planet Kumdor to fight monsters by typing spells. However, they lose their keyboard keys and skills in a crash landing. The game features a surreal atmosphere, unique visuals, and quirky dialogue. It has gained a following in Japan and is considered an underrated masterpiece. The game has a control scheme that primarily uses the F, J, and Space keys for non-combat activities, keeping typists’ hands in the home row position. The article provides instructions for downloading the translated version of the game and tips for playing it on emulators. The translation project took about a month and a half, and the text is approximately 7,200 words in English. The author also shares their tools and techniques used for the translation and mentions their inspiration from other games like Mother and EarthBound.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses a game called “Vim Adventures” that can help players become proficient in using the Vim text editor. The author recommends the game to anyone who wants to get started with Vim.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses a unique control scheme in early games where the “F” key is used to move forward and the “Space” key is used to turn the character 90° clockwise. The author expresses their fondness for these unconventional controls, noting that while they may seem strange now, they were considered functional and acceptable during the early stages of gaming.
9. The Intellectual Obesity Crisis (2022)
Total comment counts : 39
Summary
The article discusses how the abundance of information in the digital age has led to an epidemic of intellectual obesity. It compares information to sugar, stating that our brains treat information as a reward and crave it regardless of its accuracy or usefulness. This has resulted in a rise of low-quality “junk info” that is addictive and potentially dangerous. The article explains that junk info is information that has no practical use and doesn’t improve our understanding. Examples include gossip, trivia, clickbait, and sensationalist stories. Market forces and social pressures have caused junk info to dominate the web because it is cheap and good at stealing attention. Despite being empty calories, junk info still gives the satisfaction of mental nourishment. However, consuming junk info can lead to a decrease in awareness and the ability to process information.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article suggests that the brain treats information as a reward, regardless of its accuracy or usefulness. However, the user disagrees, stating that different people are attracted to different types of information because their brains classify it as useful and reward them for engaging with it. They give an example of TikTok, which they find irritating but others find useful. The user suggests that the problem lies in people misclassifying information as useful when it isn’t, comparing it to sweeteners that don’t provide calories but still reward the taste buds. They argue that this behavior leads people to consume artificial information excessively and neglect real useful information.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the quote “The ability to play chess is the sign of a gentleman. The ability to play chess well is the sign of a wasted life.” It highlights the memorization-heavy nature of chess, including openings, end game strategies, and patterns. The author contemplates the enjoyment aspect of chess and mentions the nostalgia for lower ELO blitz games.
10. cuDF – GPU DataFrame Library
Total comment counts : 6
Summary
The article discusses cuDF, which is a GPU DataFrame library designed for data loading, joining, aggregating, filtering, and manipulating tasks. It leverages libcudf, a fast C++/CUDA DataFrame library, and the Apache Arrow columnar format to provide a GPU-accelerated pandas API. Users can import cuDF directly and use it like pandas or use cuDF as a no-code-change accelerator for pandas through cudf.pandas. The article also provides installation instructions and compatibility information. It concludes by mentioning the availability of nightly Conda packages and provides a link for contributing to cuDF.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the impressive implementation of cuDF, a DataFrame library. The author praises cuDF for its close resemblance to Pandas, with only minor differences in function arguments. The article also mentions that cuDF has shown significantly higher throughput and energy efficiency compared to PyArrow on a comparable CPU two years ago. The reference to the article can be found in the provided link.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The user is asking if a certain application can run faster on an Apple M1 chip. They mention that the application is designed for Nvidia GPUs but wonder if it could be compatible with Apple silicon. They are interested in testing the acceleration capabilities on their Mac, specifically with pandas tools.