hackernews

1. I pwned half of America’s fast food chains simultaneously Total comment counts : 49 Summary The author successfully found exposed Firebase credentials in AI startups by searching through a list of websites using the .ai top-level domain. Their suspicion was that some startups may have overlooked proper security measures. They discovered a self-proclaimed AI hiring system that offers services to fast food chains and other hourly employers in the United States....

1. Python 3.13 Gets a JIT Total comment counts : 43 Summary The article discusses the introduction of a JIT (Just in Time) compiler in Python 3.13. The JIT compiler is a compilation design that compiles code into machine code on demand when the code is run for the first time. This is in contrast to an AOT (Ahead of Time) compiler, which generates machine code once and distributes it as a binary executable....

1. Polars Total comment counts : 55 Summary Polars is a high-performance data manipulation library designed for parallelism and efficient processing. It is open source and written in Rust, offering intuitive expressions and readable code. Polars outperforms other solutions, such as Pandas, achieving over 30x performance gains in benchmark tests. It supports various data formats, integrates easily into existing data stacks, and utilizes the Apache Arrow memory model for efficient collaboration....

1. Mechanical Watch (2022) Total comment counts : 30 Summary This article discusses the inner workings of mechanical watches. It explains the different parts of the watch movement and their functions. It also explains how mechanical watches are powered by a spiral torsion spring called the mainspring, which is wound using an arbor. The article emphasizes the importance of the mainspring as the storage of energy for the watch. It concludes by mentioning that the barrel, which holds the mainspring, is released to allow the stored energy to power the other parts of the watch....

1. Fuzzy Finding with Emacs Instead of Fzf Total comment counts : 6 Summary The article discusses a command-line tool called fzf that allows users to filter long lists of output by selecting specific items. The author suggests using Emacs instead of fzf because it has better fuzzy finding capabilities and is already a commonly used text editor. The author provides a shell script called ezf that allows users to filter and select match candidates using Emacs....

1. If buying isn’t owning, piracy isn’t stealing Total comment counts : 64 Summary The article discusses the issue of DRM (Digital Rights Management) and its impact on consumers. The author recalls a past public spat with Chris Anderson, the former editor in chief of Wired, over the magazine’s positive reviews of DRM-encumbered digital devices. The author argued that these devices could have their features revoked without warning or recourse, and proposed that endorsements for such products should come with a disclaimer....

1. Fairphone 5: Keeping it 10/10? Total comment counts : 33 Summary The Fairphone 5 is a repairable smartphone that follows the same modular and accessible design as previous models. It has an improved IP55 rating, allowing it to survive water jets. The battery is larger, with a capacity of 4200 mAh. The camera modules are individually replaceable, eliminating the need to replace the entire module. The USB-C port replacement is more straightforward, and the internal layout has changed to make room for a bigger battery....

1. Building end-to-end security for Messenger Total comment counts : 52 Summary The article announces that Facebook has started upgrading personal conversations on Messenger to use end-to-end encryption (E2EE) by default. The aim is to ensure that only the sender and intended recipients can access personal messages and to provide assurance that messages are from authentic senders. The implementation of E2EE on Messenger required rebuilding various aspects of the application protocols to improve privacy, security, and safety while maintaining popular features....

1. Gemini AI Total comment counts : 213 Summary Gemini is an advanced AI model that surpasses previous state-of-the-art models in its ability to understand and solve language-related tasks. It is the first model to outperform human experts in Massive Multitask Language Understanding (MMLU). Gemini also performs exceptionally well in multimodal tasks without the assistance of OCR systems. It can generate code, text, and images based on different inputs, reason visually across languages, and provide explanations for complex concepts....

1. Polish trains lock up when serviced in third-party workshops Total comment counts : 24 Summary error Top 1 Comment Summary This article discusses the use of trains in Poland by regional train companies. There are five servicing levels, with some smaller competitors winning tenders at lower prices due to the European Union Agency For Railways opening the market. The article mentions an incident where four trains serviced by SPS Mieczkowski couldn’t start and resulted in penalties....