1. Secret 3D scans in the French Supreme Court
Total comment counts : 30
Summary
The article discusses a seven-year campaign advocating for public access to 3D scans of collections in French national museums, beginning with the Rodin Museum in Paris. The author highlights a conflict with the museum and the French Ministry of Culture, which are accused of violating freedom of information laws to withhold these scans from the public. The author compares France’s situation to other countries, where museums freely share high-quality 3D scans, allowing global access and creative use, benefiting artists, researchers, and the general public.
Despite receiving public funding for digitization, institutions like the Louvre and RMN (Réunion des musées nationaux) restrict access to their scans to protect sales revenue from replica merchandise. The Rodin Museum, although claiming to be self-funded, also receives government support while not adhering to its public service responsibilities. The article advocates for the unrestricted sharing of cultural heritage via 3D scans, arguing that it fosters creativity and public engagement far beyond what museums could achieve by keeping these resources private.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The court determined that a museum’s financial concerns and competition-related threats do not outweigh the public’s right to access its scans, rejecting the museum’s arguments. The article suggests that clearer guidelines prior to launching a government-funded scanning initiative would have benefited both the museum and the associated government ministry. Initially sympathetic to the museum’s financial challenges, the author acknowledges that while museums often rely on additional income sources, this does not excuse the alleged deception mentioned in the article.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article expresses frustration over the lack of access to digital representations of historical artifacts, highlighting the importance of creating an open catalog of digital copies of ancient items for research purposes. The author believes museums should appreciate efforts to digitize and share these works, despite feeling indifferent about the accuracy of representations, such as those of Rodin’s sculptures. They criticize restrictions that prevent photography at certain sites, arguing that greater accessibility to historical archives should be a priority in the field of history.
2. Grandmaster-level chess without search
Total comment counts : 26
Summary
The article discusses the implementation of a chess AI model detailed in the paper “Grandmaster-Level Chess Without Search.” This model leverages large-scale machine learning techniques by using a 270M parameter transformer trained on a dataset of 10 million chess games, annotated with action-values from the Stockfish 16 engine, resulting in approximately 15 billion data points. The model reached a Lichess blitz Elo rating of 2895, outperforming AlphaZero’s policy and value networks without explicit search algorithms. The article highlights the importance of scale in achieving strong performance and outlines steps to set up the code environment, install necessary dependencies, and evaluate the model’s performance. It also covers licensing information for the software and datasets used. Overall, the research emphasizes advancements in chess AI powered by large-scale data and training methodologies.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the desire for non-grandmaster level computer chess opponents that match a player’s skill level or provide a slight challenge for training. Many chess engines allow for reduced performance by limiting search depth, but this often leads to inconsistent gameplay where the engine still outperforms the player until it makes errors. The author seeks computer opponents that can play at a selected skill level while mimicking the style and decision-making of typical human players at that rating. The article inquires whether such engines exist.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses a talk and written work related to a paper on knowledge distillation in the context of chess. It highlights how complex non-linear search functions, refined by expert tuning, can be distilled into a transformer model that functions in a quasi-linear manner for standardized inputs like chess. The focus is more on the process of distillation rather than chess itself. For additional information, a link to the author’s write-up is provided.
3. Hacker Typer
Total comment counts : 36
Summary
Hacker Typer, created in 2011, allows users to simulate the appearance of a stereotypical hacker from movies and pop culture, bringing joy to many. Users can begin typing on their keyboard to generate hacker code instantly. The site encourages creativity and invites users to reach out if they incorporate it into their projects. However, the developer emphasizes that they do not engage in hacking personal property. Additional functionality includes options for full screen and configuration modifications through a menu. For more information, users can visit duiker101.net.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author recounts a humorous experience as an intern at a U.S. defense contractor. Whenever important officials visited, the interns would pretend to work diligently by using a hack typing program, impressing the visitors and causing stress for their boss, who was aware of the ruse. Despite the boss’s anger after the visits, the interns found it amusing and continued the act each time.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article humorously suggests that if someone is attempting to hack the FBI using a specific website, they should remember to triple press the SHIFT and ALT keys, hinting at a playful or sarcastic tone rather than providing serious hacking advice.
4. Using static websites for tiny archives
Total comment counts : 27
Summary
The article discusses the author’s journey towards better organization of their digital data, moving away from the traditional file and folder system. They are creating static websites for each collection of files, enabling easier browsing and enhanced metadata usage. Each website, tailored to its specific collection (e.g., screenshots, bookmarks, videos), is simple, consisting of HTML files that can be opened in a browser, without complex systems or dependencies.
The author critiques various previous organization methods, including tagging within the macOS Finder and third-party apps, feeling constrained by their rigid structures. They found success in developing mini-websites that function as indexes for their folders, allowing for flexible keyword tagging and simplified organization without the need for elaborate hierarchy. This approach focuses on simplicity and longevity, making future data retrieval more manageable.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses a method for creating single-file image galleries by saving images from the clipboard into an HTML file. Users can use either a file-picker or clipboard paste, although dragging images may not work effectively. The images are inserted inline as blobs, allowing them to be saved with the page when using the “file->save” function. To remove unwanted images before saving, users can inspect the elements and delete them. The saved HTML file can then be opened on a server or locally on a computer or mobile device. Links to the relevant code and a live preview are provided.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the benefits of using plain text and Markdown for data archiving, emphasizing its future-proof nature. The author prefers deterministic, lightly formatted documents and lauds Markdown as a domain-specific language for HTML. Key points made include the importance of tooling for plain text and mentions of useful Markdown tools: a browser extension that renders Markdown directly and a standalone web-friendly Markdown formatter with various features.
5. What is theoretical computer science?
Total comment counts : 21
Summary
The article explains that a website is using a security service to prevent online attacks. Users may be blocked for various reasons, such as submitting specific words, SQL commands, or malformed data. If blocked, users are encouraged to contact the site owner and provide details about the action that led to the block, along with a Cloudflare Ray ID for reference. The security measures are managed by Cloudflare.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article emphasizes the importance of theoretical computer science (TCS) in explaining and predicting real-life computing, paralleling the goals of theoretical physics. It highlights a distinction between TCS approaches in Europe and the US, citing personal experiences from the University of Crete, where a hands-on coding and testing approach was integrated into the curriculum. Key areas of study included Human-Computer Interaction and Hardware design, ensuring graduates had a well-rounded knowledge base in both algorithms and practical applications. The author argues that a broader educational framework in computer science is crucial for fostering intellectual foundations and enhancing job prospects for graduates, expressing a willingness to discuss this perspective further in person.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author describes their master’s degree in computer science with a specialization in theoretical computer science (TCS), rooted in their background in mathematics. They define TCS as the study of efficient computation at scale, focusing on optimizing processes like sorting and searching through complexity analysis in terms of time and space. In contrast, they view cryptographic methods like AES and RSA as more aligned with pure mathematics and number theory rather than TCS.
6. DHL pioneered the sharing economy (2016)
Total comment counts : 9
Summary
The article discusses the origins and innovative business model of DHL, highlighting its unique approach to solving a logistics problem during the containerization era of the 1960s. Founded in 1969, DHL began by offering free plane tickets to travelers in exchange for carrying high-value documents—specifically, the “original bill of lading”—in their luggage. This was crucial due to delays in document processing that resulted from the surge of shipments made possible by containerization.
DHL capitalized on the inefficiencies of the postal service, ensuring timely deliveries by transporting these important documents by air, allowing goods to clear ports faster. This model represented an early form of the sharing economy, where underutilized luggage space was used to transport documents efficiently. Despite facing regulatory scrutiny, DHL’s approach proved successful, leading to its expansion into a global courier network that ultimately became part of Deutsche Post.
The article also touches on the outdated nature of the bill of lading system, which has hardly changed since its inception, highlighting ongoing inefficiencies in the logistics industry. Overall, DHL’s innovative strategy allowed it to address a significant bureaucratic challenge, transforming it into a multi-billion dollar business.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses a past practice where passengers could exchange their baggage allowances for a free round trip ticket to Hawaii. It humorously suggests that such an action today could lead to legal issues, implying a shift in how similar situations are perceived, particularly in relation to drug trafficking.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article expresses disappointment after the author invests time reading a piece that turns out to be an advertisement rather than informative content.
7. Smart pointers for the kernel
Total comment counts : 5
Summary
The Rust programming language features various smart pointers, including reference-counted pointers that are optimized by the compiler. The Rust-for-Linux project aims to incorporate custom smart pointers that align with the Linux kernel’s memory model, a task currently done manually. Xiangfei Ding presented at Kangrejos about enabling these custom smart pointers to utilize the same powerful capabilities as built-in types, specifically “unsizing” and “dynamic dispatch.”
Unsizing allows transformation of specific pointer types to be more flexible regarding array lengths, achieved by using “fat pointers.” Meanwhile, dynamic dispatch enables the conversion of a pointer type to one that can invoke different methods at runtime, leveraging a dispatch table.
Both features remain experimental, with plans for an RFC (Request for Comments) that would simplify the implementation of necessary traits for custom smart pointers within the kernel, speeding up their adoption in stable Rust. However, safety concerns arise from potential misuse, such as malicious implementations of the Deref trait, which could disrupt memory safety, especially concerning the Pin type that prevents moving values in memory. To address this, a new unsafe marker trait is proposed, ensuring that programmers promise compliance with safety standards.
Ding indicated that while the new macro for these features is available in nightly Rust, further testing and documentation are required for stabilization, which he expects to complete soon.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses a GCC plugin created by the author, which they believe fulfills a specific purpose. The author expresses interest in whether the kernel team will consider adopting this plugin.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author, a Rust developer with limited knowledge of kernel development, expresses confusion over a discussion regarding the integration of Rust into the Linux kernel. They highlight concerns about implementing features for a smart-pointer type that has a faulty Deref implementation, which could undermine Rust’s memory safety guarantees. The article mentions that, to maintain safety, developers must utilize an unsafe marker trait, indicating they are aware of the potential risks. The author questions whether this approach contradicts Rust’s foundational commitment to safety, likening it to a promise made by C developers to manage memory effectively.
8. SOFA - Start Often Finish rArely
Total comment counts : 24
Summary
The article discusses the philosophy of the SOFA club, a hacker/art collective that encourages starting numerous projects without the pressure to finish them. The principle emphasizes the importance of acquiring experiences rather than achieving completion, allowing individuals to define what “done” means for themselves. It invites members to explore various identities and interests without lifelong commitments, suggesting that one can transition between activities as desired. The philosophy challenges societal norms around commitment, advocating for a healthy detachment from projects, viewing them as valuable experiences to appreciate before letting go. Ultimately, it promotes a cycle of starting and stopping activities as a means to enrich life.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article expresses skepticism about advice suggesting that willpower, focus, and vision can be developed like a muscle through occasional effort. It compares this approach to exercising only once, indicating that it is insufficient for cultivating a consistent habit or achieving true “fitness” in these areas.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article critiques the concept of traditional marriage as an unyielding commitment that individuals are expected to uphold regardless of personal happiness or the well-being of those involved. The author argues that this expectation is unhealthy and not sensible, suggesting that marriage, especially with children involved, should not be treated the same way as less consequential commitments, like starting a project or reading a book.
9. Apple Passwords’ generated strong password format
Total comment counts : 28
Summary
The post summarizes a 2018 talk about Apple’s generated passwords, emphasizing that the two-syllable “words” format is intentional. This design improves typing on suboptimal keyboard layouts by using patterns based on consonants and vowels, making the passwords easier to remember in short bursts without compromising security. The new passwords, dominated by lowercase letters and including hyphens and digits, have been measured to have greater entropy (71 bits) than previous formats. Apple also filters out offensive terms during password generation. Overall, the format combines memorability with security, despite the randomness of the syllables used.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the importance of user experience (UX) and ergonomics in password creation. It highlights that while many people understand the benefits of generating passwords, including special characters can complicate the process, especially when using different keyboard layouts. It argues that password security relies more on entropy than complexity; for instance, ten random lowercase letters are more secure than a complex password like “Summer2024!”. The author prefers using lowercase letters for simpler input, such as on a TV remote, and suggests increasing password length instead of complexity to maintain security.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author shares a frustrating experience of entering a password in VRChat on a Quest 3 headset. They find the process tedious, as they have to use a virtual keyboard while looking at their phone for the password, which complicates the login. They suggest that using pronounceable syllables for passwords could significantly improve the efficiency of this process.
10. Net 9.0 LINQ Performance Improvements
Total comment counts : 16
Summary
The NDepend Blog discusses significant performance improvements in LINQ with the release of .NET 9.0. Key enhancements include the use of the TryGetSpan() method, which allows for faster iteration over arrays and lists by returning a ReadOnlySpan<T>. This update highlights the importance of avoiding premature optimization given the complexity of micro-optimizations in .NET.
The blog also explores how LINQ’s internal structure was optimized by consolidating common call chains into special iterators, improving efficiency, especially for methods like Count() and First(). The abstract class Iterator<T> and its 40 derivatives were examined, revealing that the ListWhereSelectIterator<TSource, TResult> optimizes the common Where(...).Select(...) chain into a single iterator, enhancing performance.
Overall, .NET 9.0 provides notable acceleration for LINQ operations, and users are encouraged to migrate and recompile to leverage these advancements. The article also emphasizes the value of quality content in an era where AI-generated material is prevalent.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author finds the most valuable aspect of LINQ to be the IEnumerable extensions, which allow for a functional programming style in C#. They appreciate the conciseness it brings to coding, in contrast to the IQueryable syntax tree and the language-integrated features, which they do not favor. Their interest in these extensions grew after learning Haskell, which shares some features with LINQ but also presents challenges like laziness. The author advises caution when using LINQ, suggesting that teams should include someone experienced with functional programming to avoid inefficiency and complexity in code. They emphasize leading by example in this context.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author expresses frustration over the lack of investment by the .NET team in improving tools such as documentation generation, doctests, and enhanced unit testing capabilities that integrate directly with the code. They highlight issues like limited access to source code, inadequate package documentation on NuGet, and the need to decompile DLLs for source access. The author compares .NET’s tools and resources unfavorably to those available in other programming environments like Rust, Golang, Java, and Python, which they claim are significantly more advanced in these areas.