hackernews

1. Jokes and Humour in the Public Android API Total comment counts : 22 Summary The article discusses humorous elements in the Android API, specifically methods and constants that serve as easter eggs for developers. Notable examples include isUserAMonkey(), which helps safeguard actions during app stress-testing by the UI Exerciser Monkey. The teleportation method humorously references Goat Simulator, initially detecting goats but later returning false to protect privacy. Additionally, there’s a device policy in Marshmallow (API 23) that restricts users from having “fun,” and a method in Oreo (API 26) that opens a YouTube video of “The Final Countdown....

1. Tell HN: Help restore the tax deduction for software dev in the US (Section 174) Total comment counts : 69 Summary A major effort is underway to reverse a tax code change that prevents software development expenses from being immediately deductible. Luther Lowe from Y Combinator (YC) is organizing alumni and urging US taxpayers to support this reversal by signing a letter to lawmakers. The change classifies engineer salaries as capital investments, resulting in costly depreciation over five years, increasing the expense of hiring software engineers....