hackernews

1. Behind the 6-digit code: Building HOTP and TOTP from scratch Total comment counts : 24 Summary The article discusses the concepts of One-Time Passwords (OTPs) used in modern authentication systems, focusing on HOTP and TOTP algorithms. OTPs enhance security by generating a code that is valid only for a single use or for a limited time, mitigating risks associated with replay attacks. The server and user must share a secret key, which can be dynamically altered using time, as in TOTP....

1. Show HN: Resurrecting Infocom’s Unix Z-Machine with Cosmopolitan Total comment counts : 10 Summary The article discusses the creation of standalone executables for the Zork trilogy, adapted from Infocom’s original UNIX source using Cosmopolitan technology. This port allows the classic text adventure game to run natively on Windows, macOS, Linux, and BSD without requiring additional installations. It highlights the historical significance of Infocom’s z-machine interpreters and Cosmopolitan’s approach to achieving platform independence by using a single executable format....

1. Experimental release of GrapheneOS for Pixel 9a Total comment counts : 24 Summary error Top 1 Comment Summary The author expresses their love for GrapheneOS but highlights a significant drawback: the Google integrity API prevents wireless payments through Google Pay. Despite reaching out to Google and submitting a feature request for GrapheneOS support, there was no response. The author has lodged a formal complaint with the consumer market authority regarding the payment duopoly held by Google and Apple and its implications for banking apps....

1. Google Is Winning on Every AI Front Total comment counts : 94 Summary The article expresses the author’s admiration for DeepMind, led by Demis Hassabis, and its innovations like AlphaGo and AlphaZero. Despite initial disappointment with DeepMind’s slow progress, the author notes that Google DeepMind, particularly with the release of Gemini 2.5, has made significant strides, now outperforming competitors like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Meta. The author feels that Google had the potential to succeed earlier but hesitated out of caution regarding its core revenue sources....

1. The Story Behind “100 Go Mistakes and How to Avoid Them” Total comment counts : 25 Summary The article, updated on April 11, 2025, shares the author’s journey in writing their book, “100 Go Mistakes and How to Avoid Them,” published in August 2022. The inspiration for the book began in 2018 while the author was working in Switzerland and exploring Scala and Akka for a project. Following challenges with these technologies, they discovered Go, which quickly became their preferred programming language....

1. PostgreSQL Full-Text Search: Fast When Done Right (Debunking the Slow Myth) Total comment counts : 14 Summary error Top 1 Comment Summary The author of the article, a maintainer of pg_search, discusses the effectiveness of different strategies for implementing full-text search (FTS) in PostgreSQL. They affirm that both the method suggested by Neon/ParadeDB and the one described in the article are valid alternatives according to PostgreSQL documentation. The key issue with PostgreSQL FTS is not simply optimizing a single query, but achieving performance comparable to Elastic for diverse queries, such as boolean and fuzzy searches....

1. Brazil’s government-run payments system has become dominant Total comment counts : 48 Summary In November 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Brazil launched Pix, a digital payment system designed for safety and ease of use. Users can transfer money using a recipient’s national ID number, phone number, or QR code. By 2024, Pix became Brazil’s dominant payment method, surpassing cash and card transactions, with the number of transactions skyrocketing from 9 billion in 2021 to 63 billion in 2024, involving 26 trillion reais (approximately $4....

1. A startup doesn’t need to be a unicorn Total comment counts : 41 Summary Matt, a first-time entrepreneur and founder of Vizzly, shares insights from his experience in the startup world in his first post on Substack. After selling Vizzly to WPP in under three years and going through Y-Combinator, he reflects on fundraising and startup success. He critiques the prevalent narratives in B2B SaaS—either the venture capital (VC) path, which encourages aggressive scaling and significant fundraising, or the bootstrapper approach, which promotes sustainable growth without outside investment....

1. Apple’s Darwin OS and XNU Kernel Deep Dive Total comment counts : 20 Summary The article discusses the evolution of Apple’s Darwin operating system, which serves as the foundation for macOS, iOS, and other Apple platforms. At its core is the XNU kernel, humorously named “X is Not Unix,” which is a hybrid of the Mach microkernel and BSD Unix components. This design combines the modularity of microkernels with the stability of Unix, facilitating performance and flexibility....

1. The blissful Zen of a good side project Total comment counts : 48 Summary The article reflects on the author’s personal journey of rediscovering creativity after a long period of stagnation. After months of consuming video games without fulfillment, the author realized they had neglected their own creative projects, leading to a feeling of depression or burnout. Motivated by a desire for change, they decided to start a new project, diving into a SvelteKit project, and found joy in the process of creation itself—transforming a blank screen into something tangible....