1. Open-source interactive C tutorial in the browser
Total comment counts : 21
Summary
Learn-c.org offers a free, interactive tutorial for anyone interested in learning the C programming language, regardless of prior experience. Users can start by selecting a chapter, with no downloads required. The site is still in development, and contributions to tutorials are welcome.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author reflects on their experience learning C in the mid-nineties with Visual C++ 1.0, which lacked essential features for game development. They struggled with the limitations of this compiler, particularly in creating text mode and graphics mode applications. Despite initially using Borland C++ in high school, they couldn’t access it. It wasn’t until the early 2000s that they discovered GCC, a free and user-friendly compiler, which they believe would have greatly enhanced their learning experience. The piece advocates for moving towards using GCC or LLVM for improved programming opportunities.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article highlights a comment from Hacker News that the author believes deserves greater attention. For further details, a link to the specific discussion is provided.
2. Sigbovik Conference Proceedings 2025 [pdf]
Total comment counts : 11
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses a paper titled “Making Turing Machines Useful,” which demonstrates running the game Doom on a Turing machine by developing a RISC-V (RV32I) emulator. While the complexity of the project overshadows its practical utility, it raises interesting points about tape and state management in Turing machines. The author critiques the tendency of academics to overlook the optimization of Turing machine programs, suggesting that this dismissiveness is a fundamental issue, linking back to the concept of “evil” in the context of programming and the game’s theme.
Top 2 Comment Summary
Craig Gidney’s paper, “Falling with Style: Factoring up to 255 with a Quantum Computer,” highlights the proper execution of Shor’s algorithm on a real quantum computer, unlike many previous claims. He factored numbers up to 255 by adhering strictly to Shor’s steps, utilizing IBM’s quantum service for complex circuits. Key preprocessing checks whether numbers are even or prime before employing a quantum computer, demonstrating that Shor’s algorithm can succeed with small numbers regardless of quantum computer quality. The paper also references prior research emphasizing the simplifications in quantum factoring.
3. Show HN: Remote-Controlled IKEA Deathstar Lamp
Total comment counts : 12
Summary
Transform your IKEA PS 2014 lamp into a Star Wars-inspired Death Star by motorizing it and adding remote control features. This project offers a creative makeover for your lamp, enhancing its functionality and appeal.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author reflects on their experience with an old lamp model, noting its design appeal but lack of practical functionality. They mention modifications in Germany that changed the internal coating from white to reflective silver or gold and the introduction of larger sizes. Despite owning the lamp for its design, they were disappointed with its usability, particularly in providing adequate lighting, prompting thoughts on motorization for better functionality.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author’s experience with a viral light fixture was disappointing due to its difficult installation. Unlike typical fixtures, it hangs from a hook, preventing a flush fit with the ceiling. Even after multiple attempts to adjust it, gravity caused the base to sag, exacerbating the author’s OCD. Ultimately, they abandoned the light, despite its appealing design.
4. How to program a text adventure in C
Total comment counts : 13
Summary
This article by Ruud Helderman discusses creating text adventure games in C, aimed at readers with basic programming knowledge. While text adventures have faded in popularity against modern games, Helderman argues that writing one in C can be entertaining and educational. He highlights the merits of using C due to its closeness to assembly language, making it suitable for this genre’s constraints. The tutorial will develop a functioning text adventure incrementally, emphasizing coding over storytelling. The initial chapter begins with a simple “Hello World” program to set the stage for further coding.
Top 1 Comment Summary
In 1993, the author ported the original Colossal Cave adventure to TADS, a language for text adventures. Graham Nelson later adapted this port to Inform, which is recommended for writing text games due to its ease of use and multi-platform compatibility. While programming a text adventure in C can be a good learning project, purpose-built languages like Inform and TADS are more practical. The author expresses interest in using frontier LLMs like llama for developing realistic NPCs in text adventures, highlighting the potential of this technology for enhancing gameplay.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author seeks advice on resources and tips for writing a text adventure, highlighting the importance of content. They express interest in incorporating multiple options to cater to readers with varying English proficiency, including themselves. They acknowledge the similarities between writing a text adventure and a novel but believe there are unique strategies applicable to interactive storytelling.
5. Found a simple tool for database modeling: dbdiagram.io
Total comment counts : 28
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
The article lists several tools for converting text to database diagrams. It includes dbdiagram.io, which requires login for exports. Other recommended tools are Database Diagram Tool, QuickDBD, and ERD Lab (the latter two also require login to export). For a more comprehensive list, the article refers to a source at xosh.org.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author praises Mermerd, a tool they have used for years, highlighting its simplicity and effectiveness. They recommend enhancing its output with an elk layout by adding a specific frontmatter snippet. For more information, a link to Mermerd’s GitHub page is provided.
6. Amazon Just Happens to Hold Book Sale During Independent Bookstore Day
Total comment counts : 26
Summary
Independent Bookstore Day on April 26 celebrates local bookstores but coincides this year with Amazon’s second annual book sale from April 23 to 28. Critics call Amazon’s timing “cynical” and “manipulative,” with indie booksellers expressing frustration at the overlap. Despite Amazon’s history of undermining local shops, independent bookstores have thrived by fostering community connections and adapting to online competition. Booksellers encourage shoppers to support local stores anytime, as the personalized experience offers more value than Amazon’s algorithm-driven recommendations.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article suggests that individuals who prefer to buy from independent bookstores during “Independent Bookstore Day” likely differ significantly from those who opt for Amazon solely based on lower prices, indicating two distinct consumer groups with contrasting motivations.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author argues that Amazon’s sales are not morally questionable, stating that the company is not obliged to respect competitors’ marketing efforts. They compare Amazon’s actions to an independent bookseller having a sale on Prime Day, implying that such practices are acceptable in a competitive marketplace.
7. Icônes
Total comment counts : 20
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
Icon artists choose icons based on anticipated utility and trends. Common icons like airplanes are included due to their frequent use in design, while less common items, such as bathtubs, may reflect niche needs or creative expression. Collections can be influenced by specific projects or general market demands, balancing between popular items and unique designs to cater to diverse designer requirements.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article emphasizes the importance of testing software icons with users to determine their effectiveness. It suggests that many icons may be unclear or meaningless to users, despite the role of context in understanding them. Thus, developers should ensure users can interpret the icons before finalizing their design.
8. CSS Zen Garden
Total comment counts : 25
Summary
The CSS Zen Garden showcases the potential of CSS-based design, encouraging designers and coders to create unique styles while using the same HTML structure. It promotes the importance of strong visual design, providing a platform for inspiration and learning, particularly for CSS novices. Participants can modify provided CSS files, but not the HTML, and must ensure their designs validate. Submissions require original artwork, minimal objectionable content, and adherence to copyright laws. The project emphasizes practical CSS usage, aiming for compatibility across modern browsers while fostering creativity and innovation in web design.
Top 1 Comment Summary
Before CSS, web layouts relied on tables and image slicing, a method many developers clung to. Despite claims that CSS could only produce dull designs, early adopters proved this wrong. Dave Shea launched the CSS Zen Garden, showcasing diverse, attractive CSS designs, effectively dispelling the myth that CSS was limited to “boring, boxy” aesthetics. This initiative not only demonstrated CSS’s potential but also led to the misconception that the debate over its efficacy never existed.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author reflects on their transformative experience discovering a website that shifted their perspective from Microsoft ASP.NET to building applications on Linux. Influenced by Alex Russell at a conference, they realized the limitations of Microsoft’s approach and learned to embrace more straightforward tools like Web.py, HTML, JS, and CSS. Over time, they adopted jQuery, Backbone, and Underscore, but feel that newer frameworks like React and TypeScript have complicated the full-stack development landscape again.
9. Anatomy of a SQL Engine
Total comment counts : 6
Summary
May marks the five-year anniversary of Dolt’s adoption of go-mysql-server (GMS). The article outlines the journey of a query in GMS, detailing steps from parsing to result spooling in a SQL engine, which serves as the intermediary between clients and storage. Key processes include parsing, binding, planning, costing, and execution, with Dolt using a left-recursive parser. The article also explains the binding process, which ensures that query identifiers correctly map to database symbols, addressing potential ambiguities in column references. Successful parsing generates an abstract syntax tree (AST), while errors identify invalid tokens.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article encourages database professionals to create a simple database engine, highlighting it as a valuable exercise. Using Python, the author suggests sqlglot for simplifying parsing and optimizing queries. Once the query tree is parsed, building a logical execution plan is straightforward. Additionally, Python’s built-in AST module can be used to convert SQL expressions into Python, eliminating the need for a custom interpreter.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses a pull-style volcano SQL engine, specifically referencing the Calcite implementation. It highlights the usefulness of a graphviz dot export for visualizing explain plans, which facilitates the understanding of optimization problems between physical and logical layers. The author provides links to their SVG representation of a plan and notes that Calcite’s logical plans also support dot export formats.
10. Mesmerizing Interlocking Geometric Patterns Produced with Japanese Woodworking
Total comment counts : 7
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
The author enjoyed a woodworking exhibition at the Japan House, where they assembled kits that provided a soothing, ASMR-like experience. Although they couldn’t find more kits during a recent trip to Japan, the experience has inspired them to pursue woodworking as a hobby.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses Islamic Mashrabiya screens, highlighting their historical simplicity compared to the more intricate patterns of ceramic tilings. It notes the advancement of modern screens featuring innovative designs created with laser cutters. The author expresses appreciation for Kumiko examples that showcase irregular patterns, suggesting a potential opportunity for the evolution of similar patterns in Islamic designs.