1. NASA spacecraft to probe possibility of life in Europa’s salty ocean
Total comment counts : 37
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
The author expresses excitement about the discovery of liquid oceans beneath the surface of Europa, noting its unusual brownish-red color despite the solid ice on top. They speculate that the color might be due to irradiated salt or magnesium sulfate and advocate for sending a probe to Europa urgently to explore beneath the ice.
Top 2 Comment Summary
Robert Pappalardo, the project scientist for NASA’s Clipper mission, clarifies that the mission’s focus is on assessing the habitability of Europa rather than searching for life itself. The mission will last 7 years and cost $5 billion, which has led to some frustration regarding the lack of a direct life search. Critics argue that discovering life beyond Earth would be far more significant than merely evaluating Europa’s potential for supporting life.
2. Hack GPON – how to access, change and edit fibre ONTs
Total comment counts : 20
Summary
The article discusses Optical Network Terminals (ONTs) and their customized firmware, which is tailored to meet specific vendor and ISP requirements. It highlights the challenges of switching between external ONTs and SFPs due to strict checks by Optical Line Terminals (OLTs), making simple replacements difficult. The wiki mentioned provides resources such as links, codes, and tutorials for accessing, editing, and modifying ONTs. The documentation is under the MIT License, while external references maintain their own licenses.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article highlights ongoing efforts in the EU to require Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to permit Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies, including the use of fiber Optical Network Terminals (ONTs). More information can be found in the linked resource.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses a temporary solution for using personal equipment with internet services, advocating for legislation that allows consumers to choose their own Optical Network Terminals (ONTs), modems, and routers. It mentions that such a law exists in the Netherlands, requiring ISPs to permit the use of customer-owned devices. The author shares a personal experience of registering their Fritz!Box Fiber 5590 as their ONT with the ISP, allowing them to connect directly to XGS-PON without needing the ISP’s provided device.
3. Show HN: Hosting my website using my C web server
Total comment counts : 31
Summary
The article discusses a custom-built web server designed by the author to host their blog. The server is robust enough to operate on the public internet without needing reverse proxies. The author invited hacking attempts on the server via Reddit, resulting in amusing and malicious request logs. They emphasize the importance of creating their own tools rather than relying solely on “battle-tested” solutions, acknowledging that crashes can be resolved.
The project focuses on robustness while maintaining speed, comparing its performance against Nginx for static endpoints. The server, by default, is HTTP-only, with options for enabling HTTPS through BearSSL. Local testing can be conducted using self-signed certificates. The server serves static content and allows for endpoint customization.
The author employs validation tools like Valgrind and includes automated tests for HTTP/1.1 compliance, often subjecting the server to stress tests from internet scanning bots. Development occurs primarily in a DEV branch, with pull requests encouraged to target that branch for easier integration. The article highlights the author’s hands-on approach and enthusiasm for developing their own solutions.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the author’s experience with using embedded Jetty applications on the internet without a reverse proxy, questioning the necessity of reverse proxies like nginx. Despite pushback from infrastructure and security personnel, the author finds the justifications for using a reverse proxy—primarily around security and performance—vague and lacking in specifics. The author wonders whether the preference for reverse proxies is based on unexamined tradition rather than clear advantages.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author describes their experience creating a C web server that successfully operated a commercial website two decades ago, using minimal resources (128MB RAM and 1 CPU). It served a significant number of UK schools with an interactive chat system during a time when the internet was less complicated. They also suggest that while bots are useful for fuzzing, actual fuzz testing should be implemented as well. The article includes links to the server’s source code and required libraries.
4. The Calculator that spawned the Microprocessor (2009)
Total comment counts : 8
Summary
The article discusses the pivotal role of the Busicom 141-PF calculator in the development of the Intel 4004 microprocessor, marking a significant advancement in technology during the late 1960s. Busicom Corporation, initially known as Nippon Calculating Machine Corporation, transitioned from mechanical calculators to advanced electronic models. Seeking to innovate and reduce costs, Busicom entered contracts with major semiconductor companies, including Mostek and Intel.
Masatoshi Shima, an engineer at Busicom, designed the 141-PF using a computer-based approach, integrating complex components like arithmetic units and read-only memory. Despite initial struggles due to Intel’s inexperience with calculator technology, the project was championed by Marcian E. Hoff, leading to a streamlined system with fewer, standardized chips.
Ultimately, the collaboration between Busicom and Intel not only resulted in the first commercial microprocessor but also revolutionized the electronics industry and set the stage for modern computing.
Top 1 Comment Summary
Microprocessors in simple calculators had a brief usage period before being supplanted by custom-made controllers. Specifically, during the development of the 4000 series microprocessor chip-set, a dedicated chip known as the MK6010 was created for Busicom by Mostek, indicating a shift towards more specialized technology in calculators.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article highlights a notable practice among Japanese companies where they assist competitors. It cites examples such as Sharp aiding Busicom and Yamaha supporting Korg in their early development. The mention of Korg links to further reading about the company’s history.
5. Furnace – the biggest multi-system chiptune tracker ever made
Total comment counts : 16
Summary
The article discusses Furnace, a multi-system chiptune tracker that is compatible with DefleMask modules. It highlights the software’s compatibility with multiple operating systems, specifically Windows, macOS, and Linux, and provides details on available packages for various Unix/Linux distributions such as Arch Linux, FreeBSD, and openSUSE. The article instructs users on how to build the software from source, including specific requirements for different operating systems. It emphasizes the importance of using Git for downloading the source to ensure necessary submodules are included. Additionally, it mentions specific build tools for Windows and macOS and outlines licensing information under the GNU General Public License. Lastly, it clarifies that Furnace is not affiliated with DefleMask and does not aim to replace it.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article defines chiptune, or 8-bit music, as a style of electronic music created using sound chips from vintage arcade machines, computers, and gaming consoles, typically featuring basic samples produced by these devices. It also explains that a music tracker is a type of software used for composing music, allowing users to sequence sounds.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author shares their experience using Furnace Tracker to learn about chiptune creation. They followed a tutorial by Button Masher, which offers a comprehensive introduction to Furnace, including a hands-on exercise for transcribing a demo. This approach helped the author become familiar with the software. Additionally, while Button Masher provides some demos, there are many more available on the Furnace GitHub project.
6. Insights after 11 years with Datomic [video]
Total comment counts : 8
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the data immutability feature of Datomic, noting that similar benefits can be achieved using a traditional relational database management system (RDBMS) by implementing an append-only model. The author shares their experience of creating an append-only table with a timestamp to capture the insertion time. They used views to ensure that only the most recent records were returned during reads, marking “deleted” entries with a flag. This approach allowed for tracking the complete history of records, from creation to deletion, and it scaled reasonably well for an internal project with low client activity.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses Datomic, a database technology that the author views positively, questioning why it isn’t more widely adopted. They speculate that its limited popularity may be due to its exclusive association with Clojure, a language that is not widely known. The author appreciates Clojure but finds it challenging to use in production due to a community preference for selecting individual libraries over frameworks. Instead, they have found satisfaction and productivity in the Elixir/BEAM ecosystem, particularly with Phoenix. The author expresses a desire for a similar data management solution to Datomic for Elixir, wondering if such an approach must remain tied to Clojure.
7. FRED: New Zealand open-access and crowdsource database of fossil records
Total comment counts : 6
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses how many captivating fossils and bones are stored away in the Smithsonian Institution, rather than being displayed for public viewing. It emphasizes the importance of these hidden specimens for research and education while highlighting the need for more exhibits that showcase the depth of the Smithsonian’s collection. The piece reflects on the balance between preservation and public accessibility, urging for greater transparency and engagement with these significant scientific resources.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article mentions a map available at the provided link, which helps visitors to New Zealand locate various geological features and fossil sites, showcasing the country’s unique geo weirdness.
8. Why I still blog after 15 years
Total comment counts : 35
Summary
The author reflects on 15 years of maintaining a personal blog originally intended to document their journey in creating game prototypes. They started the blog to escape the “Game Engine Trap” after getting stuck in developing a game engine without making any games. Inspired by the Experimental Gameplay Project’s idea of making a prototype in seven days, the blog became a platform to share their progress.
Throughout the years, the author enjoyed the writing process, which helped refine their thoughts and ideas. Despite some years of minimal writing, they found motivation in publishing, which encourages them to produce higher-quality content. The blog also serves as a space to document personal projects, such as building a 3D printer and writing a book, helping counter feelings of stagnation with annual reviews of achievements.
The author appreciates the blog as a creative project that allows for experimentation without external pressure, reinforcing their commitment to programming as a hobby. Ultimately, the blog has evolved into a reflection of their interests and growth over the years.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article reflects on the author’s perspective on content creation, emphasizing a traditional view that prioritizes personal enjoyment over monetization. The author expresses nostalgia for an “old school” approach to blogging and content creation, suggesting that newer generations view creating content primarily as a means to earn a living, which they find puzzling and detrimental. They recount a disagreement with someone in their early 20s about the prevalence of disguised ads in content, highlighting a belief that this commercialization is a recent trend that has negatively impacted the authenticity of content creation. The author is frustrated with current algorithms that favor creators who engage in these practices, feeling that it undermines the original spirit of content creation.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author reflects on their nearly 20 years of blogging, emphasizing the importance of sharing knowledge and experiences. They mention personally benefiting from others’ writings and highlight their popular blog post on simulating drag-and-drop with Playwright automation. The author encourages mentoring developers to write and share what they learn, stressing that it’s a way to give back to the community. They address the hesitation some younger developers feel about sharing their work, using the vast variety of pancake-making videos on YouTube as an analogy to show that every voice has an audience. The overall message is that everyone should cultivate the habit of writing in long form.
9. Rearchitecting: Redis to SQLite
Total comment counts : 19
Summary
The article by Michael Buckbee discusses the release of Wafris’s v2 Rails middleware client, which has transitioned from using a Redis datastore to SQLite. Initially, the v1 client relied on users managing their own Redis instance, which caused complications and deployment issues for many clients. In response to feedback and to simplify the user experience, the company opted for SQLite, which minimizes network latency—a critical factor for their web application firewall (WAF).
Buckbee highlights that while Redis was chosen for its speed, the accompanying management burdens decreased overall performance due to network delays, particularly in cloud environments. The new SQLite-based architecture is designed to ease the operational burden and enhance performance by removing the need for a network round trip. The article reveals insights into the challenges of database benchmarking and emphasizes the importance of user experience in choosing the right technology for their middleware solution.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses a model in which each application server maintains its own copy of a SQLite database file, updated on a scheduled basis. This approach is being utilized for web application firewall rules and is also proposed for managing feature flag configurations. Feature flags, which are checked frequently during requests, may benefit from local SQLite databases due to their complex query requirements and the tolerance for delays in updates.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the performance characteristics of Redis, particularly in relation to read/write latencies, which scale linearly with the number of queried keys. The author reflects on their experience using Redis alongside Postgres in a monolithic application, noting that while it was easier to add new features in Redis, its single-threaded nature can lead to slowdowns if a feature performs bulk reads (e.g., 100K+ keys).
They suggest that Redis is effective for operations involving single keys or small sets of keys. The author speculates that Redis excels at simple key lookups, such as for IP addresses, but may struggle with more complex queries, contrasting this with the performance of SQLite. Overall, the piece highlights Redis’s strengths and weaknesses, and presents unexpected findings regarding SQLite’s performance compared to Redis.
10. A Little History of the Anchovy
Total comment counts : 11
Summary
The article reviews “A Twist in the Tail: How the Humble Anchovy Flavoured Western Cuisine” by Christopher Beckman, which explores the anchovy’s historical significance in Western cuisine, focusing on its associations with identity, comfort, and social status. The anchovy has deep roots, being linked to alcohol (notably in Spanish tapas and Prohibition-era speakeasies) and known for its intense umami flavor due to high levels of glutamate.
Ancient Romans popularized anchovies, particularly through garum, a fermented fish sauce that became a culinary staple across their empire. Despite being seen as food for the lower classes, figures like Casanova embraced anchovies in gourmet contexts, while others, like Samuel Pepys, featured them prominently in their social gatherings. Beckman highlights the evolution of the anchovy from a peasant food to a sought-after delicacy, underscoring the shifting perceptions of this humble ingredient throughout history.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article encourages Bay Area residents to visit the Santa Cruz Wharf (and to a lesser extent, the Pacifica Pier) from August to October. During this time, millions of anchovies can be seen swimming in large schools, particularly visible as sea lions swim through them. The article describes fresh anchovies as tasty when fried, noting they are less salty and fishy than canned versions, and expresses the author’s enjoyment of this delicacy.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author shares their initial skepticism about anchovies as a pizza topping, considering it a ridiculous choice. However, after trying it, they experienced a significant change of heart, expressing surprise and delight at the flavor.