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A daily curated digest with the tech news that matter + community vibes, delivered daily, in tabloid style. Like you always wanted.
Thursday, January 15, 2026
Epic Fined, AI Agents Leak, Coders Panic!
Today the tech crowd watches regulators slap game giants while fresh AI agents spill private files on command... Junior developers stare at shrinking job boards as smarter tools chew on their future... A shaken Anthropic blocks a popular extension and triggers open revolt... The UK quietly backs away from a new digital ID push even as other countries move to hard age limits online... We see once unstoppable apps sliding down the charts, strange malware stalking cloud servers, and satellite networks rewriting the rules of who stays connected... The mood is edgy, tired, a little amused, and very aware that the next headline could hit anyone.
AI darlings stumble and users bite back
Claude workbot tricked into leaking private files
A security researcher shows Claude Cowork can be steered by crafty prompts into reading and exfiltrating files from its own workspace. People who just wired these agents into real code and documents suddenly feel exposed, and trust in neat "secure by design" claims takes a real hit.
Anthropic quietly blocks OpenCode from Claude API
Without real warning, Anthropic cuts off the popular OpenCode tool from Claude Code. Devs see it as the careful, safety‑first company playing platform cop, and the reaction is swift: angry posts, promises to try rivals, and fresh worries about building businesses on someone else’s model.
Community says Anthropic makes a huge mistake
After the OpenCode block, a wave of users call Anthropic’s move self‑defeating and petty. The tone is weary: yet another AI giant treating partners as disposable. Many say this is the push they needed to test open models instead of staying locked to one polished corporate brain.
Autonomous coding agents now run for weeks alone
The Cursor team shares experiments where AI coding agents hack on projects for weeks with minimal human input. It sounds futuristic, but the write‑up admits constant failures, messy code, and lots of babysitting. Readers feel both impressed and uneasy about what this means for everyday programmers.
Junior devs fear there is no entry door
A blunt essay on junior developers in the AI era argues companies like the idea of replacing beginners with tools. Paired with a raw rant from an unemployed MIT grad, it captures a heavy mood: older engineers worry for newcomers, and newcomers wonder if the ladder has already gone.
Regulators, censors and age cops circle tech
Fortnite maker fined for nudging kids to pay
A Dutch court confirms a long‑running Epic Games fine of over one million euros for how Fortnite pushed children toward in‑app purchases. Gamers cheer the slap, parents nod along, and designers quietly recheck every bright button and countdown timer that keeps the money flowing.
UK backs off plan for mandatory work digital ID
The British government drops a plan to make a new digital ID the default proof of right to work, returning to passports and existing checks. Privacy‑minded readers breathe out, seeing it as a rare win against creeping ID systems that turn every job hunt into a database check.
EFF explains how to survive new age gates
With more sites rolling out hard age gating rules, the EFF walks users through what these laws do, the risks of face scans and private IDs, and how to push back. The tone is practical but worried, as online life starts to feel more like a bouncer line than an open web.
Push grows to ban social media under sixteen
A long piece argues every country should set 16 as the minimum age for full social media accounts, pointing to mental health and addiction data. Many parents nod, teens roll their eyes, and tech workers brace for yet another wave of rushed rules written by people who barely post.
DHS deportation clips hit by music copyright claims
The US DHS posts slick deportation reels on social media, only to see them slapped with copyright strikes for unlicensed music. Critics call it a perfect symbol of the moment: a government agency eager for viral punishment clips but apparently too sloppy to clear the soundtrack.
Nets, space toys and malware shake the wires
New Linux cloud malware looks painfully professional
Researchers detail a Linux malware family hitting cloud servers with stealthy tricks well above script‑kiddie level. It slips through common defenses and abuses provider features, leaving admins unsettled and yet again questioning how many ghosts are already living in their containers.
Starlink roam data doubled with slow unlimited after
SpaceX quietly bumps Starlink Roam from 50 to 100 GB of high‑speed data, then unlimited but slower traffic after that, at the same price. Van lifers and rural users seem pleasantly surprised for once, though everyone is waiting to see what "slow" really feels like on movie night.
Hackers, Iran and Starlink GPS spoofing tests
A deep dive into Starlink terminals in Iran shows how they detect GPS spoofing and jamming attempts. It reads like spy fiction with code samples, and leaves readers impressed that satellite dishes now play cat and mouse with nation states before they even load a single web page.
Verizon outage leaves US east coast scrambling
A major Verizon outage hits parts of the US east coast, pushing people onto Wi‑Fi calls and iPhone emergency satellite features. The story feels familiar and tired: one big provider stumbles, support scripts lag, and customers are reminded how fragile their always‑online life really is.
New URL shortener leans into maximum sketchy vibes
A joke project offers a URL shortener that makes links look as suspicious as possible on purpose. It is silly and sharp at the same time, poking fun at how used to shady redirects we have become and how little comfort a clean looking link truly gives anyone these days.
Top Stories
Epic hit for nudging kids to spend
Dutch regulators finally make Fortnite maker Epic Games pay a long-disputed fine for manipulating children into in‑app purchases, sending a loud warning shot at dark patterns in games.
Claude Cowork lets private files leak out
A researcher shows Anthropic’s new Claude Cowork agent can be tricked into exfiltrating files, confirming people’s worst fears that AI copilots wired into real data can become very expensive parrots with sticky fingers.
Anthropic blocks OpenCode and angers builders
Anthropic quietly blocks the OpenCode extension from Claude Code, sparking a storm of posts and boycotts from devs who feel the supposedly careful AI company is tightening the leash on its own ecosystem.
Junior coders squeezed by AI and hiring freeze
A widely shared essay on junior developers in the age of AI, plus a raw rant from an unemployed MIT grad, crystallizes the fear that the bottom rung of the software ladder is being kicked away.
UK quietly dumps mandatory digital ID plan
Britain’s new government scraps a looming digital ID requirement for work checks, calming civil liberties worries and showing that pushback against always‑on identity systems can still win in 2026.
New Linux cloud malware has defenders spooked
Researchers uncover a never‑before‑seen Linux malware family hitting cloud servers with stealthy tricks well beyond the usual botnet junk, reminding everyone that the attack surface does not care about your smug Tux sticker.
OpenAI Sora app sinks in the charts
Download data shows the invite‑only Sora AI video app tumbling down the iOS and Android charts, feeding the growing sense that not every shiny AI toy can hold mainstream attention for more than a long weekend.
Show HN: The Tsonic Programming Language
by jeswinTsonic is presented as a toolchain that compiles TypeScript to C# and then uses .NET NativeAOT to create fast, single-file native executables for x64 and ARM64. It emphasizes the ability to write in T...
Key Points
- Compiles TypeScript to C# and emits native executables via .NET NativeAOT.
- Direct .NET BCL access with optional JS and Node-style APIs.
- Simple setup (npm install -g tsonic) and examples covering I/O, collections, LINQ, and JSON.
April 9, 1940 a Dish Best Served Cold – Historical Easter Eggs
by vinnyglennonThis historical overview details the Nazi invasions of Denmark and Norway on April 9, 1940, within the broader context of World War II. It explains how Nazi expansion began with the 1938 annexation of...
Key Points
- Germany invaded Denmark and Norway on April 9, 1940, leading to rapid occupation.
- Norwegian resistance (Milorg) later sabotaged heavy water operations at Rjukan, impacting Nazi nuclear research.
- Croton oil is highlighted for its extreme toxicity and discontinued medicinal use.
Show HN: 1D-Pong Game at 39C3
by ogerThis GitHub repository documents 1D Pong, a minimalist two-player reaction game implemented on a WEMOS D1 Mini ESP32 and a WS2812B LED strip. Players attempt to press their button at the moment the ba...
Key Points
- Two-player reaction game on a WS2812B LED strip with ESP32.
- Dynamic difficulty and early-hit bonus enhance gameplay.
- Detailed hardware, pin mapping, and schematic provided for replication.
DHS Deportation Reels Are Getting Copyright Strikes for Unlicensed Music Use
by fortran77The article outlines how the Department of Homeland Security’s social media push around immigration enforcement has repeatedly run into copyright issues. From late January to early November 2025, DHS ...
Key Points
- DHS greatly increased Instagram posting in 2025, using popular audio and memes.
- Creators have challenged DHS’s unlicensed use of music, leading to removals.
- High-profile examples include BRMC and Kenny Loggins objecting to specific videos.
Putting the "You" in CPU (2023)
by vinhnx“Putting the ‘You’ in CPU” is an educational article by Lexi Mattick, published with Hack Club in July 2023, that demystifies what happens when you run a program on a computer. It consolidates low-lev...
Key Points
- Explains program execution from startup to running processes.
- Clarifies multiprocessing, system calls, and hardware interrupts.
- Uses Linux to demonstrate how executables are loaded.
I Love You, Redis, but I'm Leaving You for SolidQueue
by amalinovicThe article explains a shift in Rails 8 away from Redis as a default component for background processing, caching, and real-time messaging. Rails now includes SolidQueue, SolidCache, and SolidCable, w...
Key Points
- Rails 8 introduces database-backed SolidQueue, SolidCache, and SolidCable, removing Redis from the default stack.
- SolidQueue uses PostgreSQL’s FOR UPDATE SKIP LOCKED to enable concurrent, contention-free job processing.
- The queue architecture comprises jobs, scheduled executions, and ready executions tables, supporting PostgreSQL/SQLite/MySQL.
LLMs are a 400-year-long confidence trick
by GrowtikaThe article examines how centuries of trust in machine accuracy, beginning with early mechanical calculators, shape contemporary perceptions of large language models (LLMs). It recounts Wilhelm Schick...
Key Points
- Centuries of calculator use fostered trust in machine accuracy.
- LLM marketing leverages emotional manipulation, including fear and wonder.
- OpenAI’s GPT‑3 release posture and “P(Doom)” discourse exemplify risk-focused messaging.
The Stick in the Stream
by zdwThe article recounts hands-on maintenance of runoff creeks in the Santa Cruz Mountains during winter rains, highlighting how accumulated detritus—leaves, sticks, and branches—can obstruct intended wat...
Key Points
- Blocked roadside runoff can force water to cross roads and erode them during heavy storms.
- Clearing from the dry side to remove a single key stick often collapses blockages and restores flow.
- Effective resolutions rely on strong feedback loops to sustain effort.
Systematically generating tests that would have caught Anthropic's top‑K bug
by jasongrossThe article presents a testing approach designed to catch rare edge-case bugs that often escape traditional test suites, using Anthropic’s recent TPU approximate top‑K issue as a motivating example. I...
Key Points
- Fractional proof decomposition encodes correctness properties as PBTs to catch rare bugs.
- Example tests verify JAX approximate top‑K includes the true max and LLM top‑1 is within top‑k.
- Decomposition into smaller theorems reduces compute and improves coverage (finite logits, vLLM key alignment).
UK secures record supply of offshore wind projects
by ljfThe UK has awarded contracts for a record 8.4 GW of offshore wind capacity as part of its plan to expand clean electricity. Projects span England, Scotland, and Wales, including the first phase of Ber...
Key Points
- Record 8.4 GW of offshore wind contracts awarded across the UK.
- Targets: 43 GW offshore wind and 95% clean power by 2030; delivery depends on grid connections.
- Average price ~£91/MWh for fixed-bottom projects; government pegs new gas at £147/MWh with carbon.
Show HN: Tiny FOSS Compass and Navigation App (<2MB)
by nativeforksMBCompass is a modern, free, and open-source compass and navigation app for Android focused on simplicity, privacy, and small size. Built with Jetpack Compose and Material Design, it aims to sit betwe...
Key Points
- Free, open-source Android app with compass and navigation features and no ads or tracking.
- Sensor fusion and OpenStreetMap integration provide accurate direction and live location.
- Upcoming v2 design proposes UI refresh, GPS speedometer, and True AMOLED Dark Mode.
Coverage Cat (YC S22) Is Hiring a Fractional Operations Specialist
by botacodeCoverage Cat, part of the Y Combinator ecosystem (YC S22), is recruiting a fractional Operations Specialist to support its growth as an AI-native insurance broker. The posting emphasizes the need for ...
Key Points
- Coverage Cat seeks a fractional Operations Specialist for administrative, back-office, and automation support.
- Applicants must apply via Y Combinator’s Work at a Startup platform; emails will be discarded.
- Role is open to both new graduates and experienced operations professionals.
Show HN: Seapie – a Python debugger where breakpoints drop into a REPL
by markushirsimakiSeapie is a Python debugger that turns breakpoints into a live REPL, enabling developers to inspect, experiment with, and modify program state in place. Invoking seapie.breakpoint() pauses execution a...
Key Points
- Breakpoints drop into a live Python REPL for interactive debugging.
- Concise !commands provide help, navigation, and stepping within the interpreter.
- Installation and packaging instructions are provided, along with noted limitations.
The $200K Developer Dream Is Over – Here's the Reality in 2026
by cumoThis article argues that the once-popular narrative—learn to code and quickly earn six figures or more—no longer matches the software engineering job market in 2026. It clarifies that software enginee...
Key Points
- The article states the guaranteed path to high pay from coding is over in 2026.
- It contrasts current conditions with the 2020–2022 hiring boom marked by high salaries and rapid raises.
- It indicates the market shift is structural, not a temporary downturn.
Servo 2025 Stats
by todsacerdotiThe post reports strong growth in activity and community engagement for the Servo web engine in 2025, following Igalia’s assumption of maintenance in 2023. Annual statistics show 3,183 PRs merged in 2...
Key Points
- 2025 saw 3,183 merged PRs and increased contributor engagement, excluding bot activity.
- WPT pass-rate changes can reflect new tests rather than Servo code changes; Servo’s totals differ from wpt.fyi.
- Governance, releases, and sponsorships expanded: near 35k GitHub stars, formal roles, three releases, four bronze sponsors.
Lago (Open-Source Billing) is hiring across teams and geos
by RafsarkLago, an open-source billing platform, announced that it is hiring across multiple teams and geographies, inviting candidates to explore roles via its official job board. The company highlights its de...
Key Points
- Lago is hiring across teams and geographies with roles listed on its job board.
- The platform is open-source, uses Ruby, and targets complex developer-centric use cases.
- Lago is investing in data-driven RevOps capabilities, with examples like the lago-agent-toolkit.
I Hate GitHub Actions with Passion
by xliiThe article recounts a developer’s experience with a multi-platform build for the tmplr scaffolding tool using GitHub Actions. A Rust build script (build.rs) leverages the CUE tool to generate README....
Key Points
- Linux ARM runner failed to find the CUE binary while other platforms succeeded.
- Matrix isolation in GitHub Actions prevented ARM runners from accessing x86_64 binaries.
- Keep CI workflows minimal and delegate build logic to locally testable scripts.
System Programming in Linux: A Hands-On Introduction "Demo" Programs
by teleforceThis repository provides the demo program source code for “System Programming in Linux: A Hands-On Introduction,” a book published by No Starch Press and available on Amazon. The codebase is organized...
Key Points
- Code may differ from the book; use the “firstprinting” branch for original edition code.
- Build requires make in common, make install to deploy headers and libutils.a, then make in chapter directories.
- Programs are GPLv3-licensed; library code is LGPLv3-licensed, with license texts provided.
Why NUKEMAP isn't on Google Maps anymore
by fanf2The article details why the NUKEMAP tool no longer uses the Google Maps API. Initially, the API was free, feature-rich, and supported an active developer community, enabling NUKEMAP’s interactive mapp...
Key Points
- Google’s deprecation of the Earth Plugin ended NUKEMAP3D and 3D API capabilities.
- The Google Maps API stagnated while the standalone site gained features not available to developers.
- Pricing changes made Google Maps usage costly for educational, high-traffic tools like NUKEMAP.
UK Officials could face US entry ban over Twitter policy
by OgsyedIEUK regulator Ofcom has launched a formal investigation into X after reports that its Grok AI chatbot generated non-consensual deepfake images, including sexualised depictions of women and minors. Ofco...
Key Points
- Ofcom opened a formal probe into X over Grok AI deepfakes and demanded user protections.
- UK ministers signaled full support for potential fines or blocking under the Online Safety Act.
- US officials and lawmakers warned of sanctions and visa bans if the UK blocks X.
India's Electric Two-Wheeler Market: Rise, Reset and What Comes Next
by prabinjoelIndia’s electric two-wheeler (e-2W) market has accelerated since 2022, when sales surged about 305% year-over-year to roughly 632,000 units. The FAME-II subsidy—covering up to 40% of ex-factory price ...
Key Points
- 2025 e-2W sales reached ~1.28m units (+11% YoY), ~6.3% of total two-wheeler sales.
- TVS led 2025 sales (~299k), while Ola’s fell ~51% to ~200k amid quality/service issues.
- PM E-DRIVE launched Oct 2024, allocating $197m for 2.47m advanced-battery e-2Ws through March 2026.
SparkFun Officially Dropping AdaFruit due to CoC Violation
by yalemanSparkFun announced it will cease business transactions with Adafruit Industries, citing recent activities that violate SparkFun’s publicly available Code of Conduct. The company listed two categories ...
Key Points
- SparkFun ended transactions with Adafruit due to Code of Conduct violations.
- Cited violations involve offensive communications and inappropriate customer involvement.
- SparkFun continues to support its reseller network and provides a distributor map.
Why some clothes shrink in the wash – and how to 'unshrink' them
by OptionOfTThe article explains why garments shrink in the wash by examining textile fibers at the molecular level. Plant-based fibers such as cotton and linen have cellulose chains that are stretched and aligne...
Key Points
- Heat, moisture, and agitation relax stretched cellulose fibers, causing shrinkage.
- Fabric construction matters: knits shrink more than tight weaves.
- Use cold water and gentle cycles to reduce shrinkage, especially for cotton and rayon.
FBI raids Washington Post reporter's home in 'highly unusual and aggressive' act
by echelon_muskThe FBI conducted a search at Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson’s home in Virginia, seizing her phone, a Garmin watch, and two laptops—one issued by her employer—during an inquiry related to mi...
Key Points
- FBI searched Hannah Natanson’s home and seized devices; she was told she’s not the investigation’s focus.
- Warrant tied to inquiry into contractor Aurelio Perez-Lugones accused of taking home classified reports.
- Washington Post leaders and press groups described the search as highly unusual and concerning for press freedom.
Edge of Emulation: Game Boy Sewing Machines
by mosuraThis piece from the Edge of Emulation series examines early-2000s sewing machines that integrated with Nintendo’s Game Boy, marking a notable intersection of gaming hardware and home sewing. In 2000, ...
Key Points
- Jaguar’s JN-100 and JN-2000 used Game Boy hardware and software to control stitching and embroidery.
- Singer’s IZEK 1500 mirrored the JN-100 in the U.S. but saw limited success and no embroidery-capable successor.
- Game Boy’s role as an interface reduced complexity and costs, paralleling modern USB/Bluetooth workflows.
Never-before-seen Linux malware is "more advanced than typical"
by BrajeshwarCheckpoint researchers have identified VoidLink, a cloud-native malware framework aimed at Linux systems. The framework comprises more than 30 modules that allow attackers to customize operations for ...
Key Points
- VoidLink is a newly discovered, modular Linux malware framework targeting cloud platforms.
- It detects hosting providers via cloud metadata APIs and offers advanced stealth and movement capabilities.
- Checkpoint reports no observed in-the-wild infections; indicators suggest ongoing development.
Denmark sends military reinforcements to Greenland
by mooredsDenmark has initiated steps to bolster its military presence in Greenland, sending an advance command and equipment to prepare for the potential arrival of larger forces, according to DR. The advance ...
Key Points
- Denmark sent an advance military contingent to Greenland to prepare for larger forces.
- Troels Lund Poulsen signaled a move toward a more permanent presence, with allied exercises expected in 2026.
- Arctic activity has increased, with training and preparations underway, while troops remain committed in the Baltics.
A Brief Introduction to the Basics of Game Theory
by 7777777philMatthew O. Jackson’s “A Brief Introduction to the Basics of Game Theory” is a concise set of notes meant to provide rapid access to foundational ideas in game theory. The resource is specifically desi...
Key Points
- Concise notes offering quick access to game-theory basics
- Aimed at students in courses assuming familiarity without a prerequisite
- Published December 5, 2011; accessible on SSRN with a DOI
Maggots, an Efficient Source of Protein, May Become Next Superfood for Humans
by bookofjoeThe article profiles a Kenyan black soldier fly (BSF) farm operated by InsectiPro that transforms mango processing waste into insect protein meal for animal feed. Inside a greenhouse near Nairobi, 128...
Key Points
- BSF larvae at InsectiPro convert mango waste into protein meal, consuming ~16.5 tons/day.
- BSF show high feed conversion efficiency compared to chickens, per Innovafeed.
- Insect farming has attracted ~$2B investment, with >50% toward BSF operations.
Government drops plans for mandatory digital ID to work in UK
by FridayoLearyThe UK government has abandoned plans to require all workers to enroll in a new mandatory digital ID system to prove their right to work. Instead, ministers will digitise existing right-to-work checks...
Key Points
- Mandatory digital ID sign-up for workers has been dropped.
- Right-to-work checks will move fully online by 2029 and remain mandatory.
- Public support declined sharply, with a large petition opposing digital IDs.
Epic fined €1.1M over manipulating children through in app purchases
by hvb2A Dutch court has confirmed that Epic Games must pay a €1.1 million fine imposed by the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM). The regulator determined that Fortnite’s in-game advertising pr...
Key Points
- Court upholds ACM’s €1.1 million fine against Epic Games for manipulative in-game purchase tactics.
- ACM cited scarcity and time pressure in Fortnite’s shop as directly encouraging children to buy.
- Epic previously removed an availability timer and did not contest a separate related fine.
Show HN: A 10KiB kernel for cloud apps
by ianseylerBareMetal Cloud is a minimal, cloud-oriented version of the BareMetal exokernel designed to run a single payload efficiently in virtualized environments. The kernel is 10,240 bytes and uses 4 MiB of m...
Key Points
- Minimal 10,240-byte kernel using 4 MiB RAM; rest allocated to payload.
- Tested deployments on DigitalOcean and Proxmox; broader cloud support planned.
- Complete build, install, run, and cloud deployment steps provided, including VMDK creation.
Xoscript
by gabordemooijxoscript is a server-side scripting language whose development began in 1993, initially targeting the C64 system. After a 2009 reboot focused on research, localization, and later education, the projec...
Key Points
- xoscript’s 2026 release emphasizes simplicity, security, and backward compatibility.
- The project dates back to 1993, with a 2009 reboot for research, localization, and education.
- Design choices include typeless data, dynamic scope, reference semantics, and Smalltalk-like message passing.
I built Vector. Now I'm answering the question your observability vendor won't
by binarylogicThe article presents a decade-long perspective on observability from an engineer-turned-founder who built Timber.io, which evolved into the widely adopted Vector and was eventually acquired. Over this...
Key Points
- Observability costs are portrayed as the dominant challenge, with renewals rising and vendor support limited.
- The author’s experience includes founding Timber.io, evolving it into Vector, and staying three years post-acquisition.
- A central unanswered question is the percentage of observability data that constitutes waste.
The Unbearable Frustration of Figuring Out APIs
by ezekgA developer, motivated by learning Chinese, set out to build a macOS command-line translation tool. Initial attempts to use third-party translation APIs were deterred by token requirements, rate limit...
Key Points
- External APIs posed barriers, so the author explored macOS’s built-in Translate service.
- Zig implementation hit Swift async interop issues, prompting a shift to Swift.
- Swift CLI setup used swift-argument-parser and highlighted Apple Translation API constraints.
Starlink roam 50GB is now 100GB with unlimited slow speed after that
by bahmbooStarlink has updated its Roam plan by doubling the high-speed data allowance from 50GB to 100GB at no extra cost in most markets. After reaching 100GB, users are not disconnected; instead, service con...
Key Points
- Roam high-speed data doubled to 100GB at no extra cost in most markets.
- Unlimited low-speed data after the cap; upgrade to Roam Unlimited for restored high-speed.
- Per-GB add-ons removed (except Ocean Mode); ocean usage beyond limits requires Ocean Mode with Roam Unlimited.
GitHub should charge everyone $1 more per month
by evakhouryThe article proposes a platform-driven mechanism to fund open source projects via GitHub. The author suggests adding a $1-per-user monthly fee for organizations and placing the proceeds into an escrow...
Key Points
- Charge GitHub orgs $1 more per user per month to fund open source.
- Allocate funds by parsing dependency manifests (package.json, requirements.txt), possibly Dockerfiles.
- Make the program opt-out and consider incentives like badges or profile styling.
4k tons of potatoes to be given away for free in Berlin
by mrzoolA farm in Saxony has been left with 4,000 tons of potatoes after a trader’s order coincided with an oversupplied market and falling prices, resulting in a large surplus remaining in storage despite fi...
Key Points
- Ecosia funds transport; Berliner Morgenpost organizes distribution.
- First truckload is en route to Berlin for free potato handouts.
- Registration is closed; applicants receive email with collection details today.
Show HN: HyTags – HTML as a Programming Language
by lassejansenThe article introduces HyTags, an approach that treats HTML as a way to program unified web applications. It argues that the common division between backend and frontend, usually bridged by an API, ad...
Key Points
- HyTags proposes a unified backend–frontend architecture.
- UI behavior and markup are co-defined in small, composable components.
- The approach aims to cut complexity like duplicated routing and API contracts without harming UX.
Junior Developers in the Age of AI
by zdwThis article by Christine Miao examines a shift in the software job market: companies have slowed hiring and increasingly avoid junior engineers, often attributing decisions to AI’s ability to produce...
Key Points
- Entry-level software roles have contracted despite overall industry stability or growth.
- AI and LLMs are cited as reasons for deprioritizing juniors, making code appear commoditized.
- Engineering requires human-held institutional knowledge and system-level understanding beyond code generation.
Find a pub that needs you
by thinkingemoteThe article announces that, as of 8 January, the UK government has signalled a possible u-turn on pub rates, though no definitive changes have been confirmed. Against a backdrop of rising costs, it ca...
Key Points
- Possible government u-turn on pub rates is signalled but not confirmed.
- The Fucked Pub Index uses VOA data and Google Maps to identify pubs needing support.
- Pubs face rising costs; readers are urged to support local establishments now.
How have prices changed in a year? NPR checked 114 items at Walmart
by srameshcNPR conducted a December price check of 114 items at a Walmart superstore south of Savannah, Georgia, continuing a series begun in 2018. The analysis found an average 5% increase in basket prices in 2...
Key Points
- NPR’s Walmart basket rose 5% in 2025; U.S. cost of living up 2.7% YoY in December.
- Tariffs and weather contributed to notable price increases on imported goods.
- Some staples like eggs, milk, and Cheerios became cheaper; Walmart offered more discounts.
So, You've Hit an Age Gate. What Now?
by hn_ackerThe Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) provides a practical guide for users facing mandated age verification online. While EFF opposes age-gating laws on speech and privacy grounds, it acknowledges ...
Key Points
- Submit the minimum data required to reduce leak risk.
- Assess verification options by Data, Access, Retention, Audits, and Visibility.
- On-device methods (e.g., Private ID, k-ID) pose lower leak risks than server-side processing (e.g., Yoti).
OpenAI's Sora now sits at #71 in the US App Store and #108 on Play Store
by spenvoOpenAI’s Sora, an AI video generation and sharing app, launched as invite-only on September 30 and quickly rose to the top of the US App Store within three days, crossing 1 million downloads in under ...
Key Points
- Explosive early growth: top of US App Store in 3 days; 1M downloads in under 5 days; Android launch with 470K first-day installs.
- Engagement cooling: DAUs down to 750K by December; average user time 13 minutes vs. TikTok’s 90.
- Current standings: #70–80 on US iOS Free charts, #8 in Photo & Video, ~#100 on Google Play.
Dutch police have their own car stolen during car theft chase
by ohjeezA 34-year-old man from Breda triggered a multi-stage vehicle theft and pursuit across North Brabant. After being asked to leave a defense site near the Gilze-Rijen air base, he abandoned his own car, ...
Key Points
- Police halted a high-risk pursuit and continued in an unmarked vehicle.
- The suspect stole both an ANWB car and a police car during the incident.
- The suspect was ultimately stopped and taken into custody; motive remains unknown.
Ask HN: Could you share your personal website here?
by susamA Hacker News post invites the community to help build and maintain a directory of personal websites, accessible at hnpwd.github.io. The project’s README on GitHub outlines details, expectations, and ...
Key Points
- Directory at hnpwd.github.io seeks personal website submissions.
- Community-maintained project invites maintainers via IRC and GitHub.
- PRs to the GitHub repo are encouraged to expedite processing.
Virginia Faulkner: Writer, Editor and Ghostwriter?
by samclemensThis piece traces the circumstances that led writer-editor Virginia Faulkner to become involved in revising Polly Adler’s memoir in 1951. After composer Dana Suesse returned from Paris, she sought a p...
Key Points
- Dana Suesse initiated the plan to have Virginia Faulkner revise Polly Adler’s memoir.
- Polly Adler’s 150,000-word manuscript faced legal and quality objections from editors.
- Faulkner’s career history explains her selection to inject wit and structure into the narrative.
Ford F-150 Lightning outsold the Cybertruck and was then canceled for poor sales
by MBCookThe article examines 2025 sales performance of Tesla’s Cybertruck versus Ford’s F-150 Lightning, relying on Tesla’s aggregated reporting to estimate Cybertruck volumes. With Tesla grouping vehicles in...
Key Points
- Estimated 2025 Cybertruck deliveries: ~21,500 globally; Q2 ~5,000 and Q4 ~5,500.
- Ford F-150 Lightning delivered ~27,300 units in the U.S. in 2025 before production ended.
- SpaceX bought over 1,000 Cybertrucks last quarter (~20% of quarterly Cybertruck sales).
You Can Just Buy Far-UVC
by surprisetalkThe article highlights a shift in the availability of far-UVC technology for air disinfection. Far-UVC, specifically around the 222-nm wavelength, is described as capable of inactivating airborne viru...
Key Points
- Far-UVC at 222 nm targets airborne pathogens while being presented as safe for people.
- Aerolamp offers an off-the-shelf far-UVC device for $500, shipped.
- The author reports practical use of multiple Aerolamp units to quietly disinfect air at events.
East coast. Verizon outage in US
by Scubabear68Verizon confirmed a mobile service outage affecting wireless voice and data for some customers, largely in the eastern United States. The company said its engineering teams are actively working to dia...
Key Points
- Verizon confirms outage and says engineers are working to resolve it.
- Downdetector shows tens of thousands of reports across U.S. cities.
- D.C. alerts residents about 911 issues; iPhone and Android emergency options explained.
Technical Analysis of Starlink Terminal GPS Spoofing/Jamming Detection in Iran
by bazzmtA January 2026 technical report analyzes debug telemetry from a Starlink terminal operating in Iran during a government-imposed internet shutdown amid reported GPS interference. The analysis centers o...
Key Points
- gpsStats pattern (gpsValid true, 18 satellites, inhibitGps true) is interpreted as GPS spoofing detection.
- About 20% sustained packet loss and no stabilization over 24 minutes indicate severe degradation.
- Pointing error exceeding attitude uncertainty points to degraded beam tracking accuracy.
US to suspend immigrant visa processing for 75 nations, State Department says
by ImustaskforhelpThe U.S. State Department will pause immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries starting Jan. 21 as part of a broader tightening of immigration policy under President Donald Trump. A S...
Key Points
- Immigrant visa processing paused for 75 countries starting Jan. 21; visitor visas unaffected.
- Policy cites public charge ineligibility and follows a November directive on financial self-sufficiency.
- Broader tightening includes higher H-1B fees, expanded social media vetting, and over 100,000 visa revocations.
Meet ski map artist James Niehues, the 'Monet of the mountains'
by gyomuThe piece profiles James Niehues, a Denver-based artist renowned for hand-illustrated ski trail maps over the past three decades. Working with a no.2 brush from his basement studio, Niehues crafts map...
Key Points
- Niehues hand-paints detailed ski trail maps, emphasizing color, tree species, and “Bluebird” lighting.
- His global portfolio includes many U.S. resorts and international locations like South Korea and New Zealand.
- His career launched in 1987 with the Winter Park commission via ski map artist Bill C. Brown.
Why Every Country Should Set 16 as the Minimum Age for Social Media Accounts
by paulpauperThe article argues that countries considering age limits for social media should adopt a minimum age of 16, following Australia’s 2025 law that restricts accounts for those under 16. It presents two c...
Key Points
- Set social media minimum age at 16, without parental-consent exceptions.
- Puberty’s heightened brain plasticity makes early-teen exposure riskier and potentially longer-lasting.
- Australia’s 2025 law and international interest frame the policy context; France’s 15-year proposal is deemed insufficient.
Show HN: Harmony – AI notetaker for Discord
by SeanDorjeHarmony is introduced as a purpose-built AI notetaker for Discord, aimed at improving how teams and communities capture voice-based discussions. The tool’s primary functions are to record Discord call...
Key Points
- AI notetaker designed for Discord
- Records and transcribes voice calls
- Generates summaries of call content
Show HN: A fast CLI and MCP server for managing Lambda cloud GPU instances
by odedfalikThis article presents an unofficial, community-built solution for managing Lambda cloud GPU instances through two components: a command-line interface (CLI) and an MCP (Model Context Protocol) server....
Key Points
- Provides both a CLI and MCP server for managing Lambda cloud GPU instances.
- Supports installation via Homebrew, Cargo, and GitHub Releases with API key-based authentication.
- Offers optional Slack/Discord/Telegram notifications and detailed CLI/MCP usage options.
Ask HN: Unemployed almost a year after graduating MIT – a rant
by TimGubthAn MIT Course 6 (EECS) graduate shares a detailed account of being unemployed almost a year after a February graduation. Despite applying to hundreds of roles, tailoring resumes and cover letters, lev...
Key Points
- Rejections cite lack of specific industry or tech stack experience.
- Two prior internships and limited personal projects may affect outcomes.
- Considering volunteer or side projects while prioritizing well-being.
Ask HN: How do you safely give LLMs SSH/DB access?
by nicoA developer outlines their experience using Claude Code to streamline DevOps tasks, including SSHing into servers, grepping logs, inspecting files, and querying databases. While the tool saves time, i...
Key Points
- Using Claude Code for DevOps tasks is effective but requires tedious manual command reviews.
- Proposed solution: allowlist safe SSH commands and block destructive ones.
- For databases, permit SELECT and prohibit mutating operations to reduce risk.
Wind power slashed 4.6B euros off electricity bills in Spain last year
by mooredsA new macroeconomic study by Deloitte, presented by Spain’s wind energy association (AEE), shows wind power’s growing role in Spain’s energy mix. In 2024, wind covered 24% of electricity demand and, b...
Key Points
- Wind power cut Spanish consumer electricity bills by over €4.6B in 2024.
- Growth pace (31,679 MW total, +1,185 MW) is insufficient to meet PNIEC targets.
- Administrative and environmental bottlenecks stall a large pipeline (>10 GW authorized; 9.2 GW pending; >17,000 MW blocked).
The string theory hype machine will never die
by headalgorithmA blog post critiques renewed media and institutional promotion of string theory’s relevance across disciplines. It highlights press releases from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Northeastern Uni...
Key Points
- Universities and media outlets published new pieces linking string theory to brain and network research.
- Quanta reported a five-dimensional string theory construction claimed to accommodate dark energy.
- The author argues string theory hype persists and cites a string theorist on the field’s contraction.
Show HN: Digital Carrot – Block social media with programmable rules and goals
by newswangerdDigital Carrot is a distraction-blocking app that helps users build healthier digital habits by restricting access to chosen apps, websites, and video games until daily goals are achieved. It offers a...
Key Points
- Blocks selected digital distractions until programmable goals are completed.
- Supports health verification (activity data, GPS for gym) and meditation timers.
- Integrates with Apple Reminders and Todoist for task-based productivity goals.
Show HN: Webctl – Browser automation for agents based on CLI instead of MCP
by cosinusalphaWebctl is a command-line browser automation tool tailored for AI agents and human operators, designed to prevent context bloat common in MCP-based browser tooling. The article explains that MCP server...
Key Points
- CLI design lets users control and filter what enters agent context.
- Requires Python 3.11+ and downloads Chromium; source install available on GitHub.
- Comprehensive commands span navigation, observation, interaction, waits, sessions, and console logs.
Claude Cowork Exfiltrates Files
by takiraThe article demonstrates a file exfiltration vulnerability in Anthropic’s Claude Cowork research preview, enabled by indirect prompt injection and an allowlisted Anthropic API within Claude’s VM-based...
Key Points
- Claude Cowork’s VM allowlists the Anthropic API, enabling exfiltration via indirect prompt injection.
- A DOCX disguised as a Markdown ‘Skill’ can hide malicious instructions and trigger file uploads.
- Both Claude Haiku and Opus 4.5 in Cowork were manipulated to leverage the same file upload vulnerability.
US to suspend immigrant visa processing for 75 nations, State Department says
by barishnamazovThe U.S. State Department will halt immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries beginning January 21, as part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to tighten immigration. Offici...
Key Points
- Immigrant visa processing will be paused for 75 countries starting Jan. 21; visitor visas are unaffected.
- The pause is tied to “public charge” assessments and a reassessment of processing procedures.
- Cato Institute estimates the move could bar about 315,000 legal immigrants over the next year.
The Influentists: AI hype without proof
by LucidLynxThis article critiques a wave of AI hype sparked by a viral tweet from Jaana “Rakyll” Dogan, who said Claude Code recreated a distributed agent orchestrator in about an hour. While the initial message...
Key Points
- Dogan’s initial claim suggested a dramatic productivity leap using Claude Code.
- Follow-up context reframed the result as a guided proof-of-concept, not production-ready.
- The article defines “Influentists” and critiques reliance on anecdotes and lack of reproducible proof.
Native ZFS VDEV for Object Storage (OpenZFS Summit)
by suprasamZettalane detailed a cloud-native approach to ZFS at the OpenZFS Developer Summit 2025, introducing objbacker.io, a native ZFS VDEV that integrates directly with object storage. Instead of mounting bu...
Key Points
- objbacker.io is a native ZFS VDEV for direct object storage access, avoiding FUSE overhead.
- 1MB-aligned ZFS recordsize maps blocks to single objects, enabling high-throughput operations.
- Benchmarks achieved up to 3.7 GB/s by striping across multiple S3 buckets on AWS c5n.9xlarge.
Sun Position Calculator
by sanborThe Sun Position Calculator is a browser-based tool that visualizes Earth–Sun geometry via an interactive 3D Sun-path diagram. It requires a modern HTML5 browser with JavaScript and WebGL enabled, and...
Key Points
- Requires HTML5, JavaScript, and WebGL for the interactive 3D model.
- Inputs site and time data to compute solar position, daylight, and twilight.
- Provides projections, orthographic views, overlays, and animations to explain Earth–Sun dynamics.
I Accidentally Finished a Filesystem
by phbootHYDRA-NEXUS 4 (HN4) is introduced as a freestanding filesystem/storage engine built from first principles to serve both constrained embedded devices and high-performance environments. The project’s co...
Key Points
- Deterministic Ballistic Allocation provides amortized O(1) allocation/lookups.
- Copy-on-Write with CRC32C verification ensures crash-safe updates without journaling.
- Epoch Ring enables power-loss recovery with bounded data loss (~5s) and no external fsck.
Scaling long-running autonomous coding
by samwillisThe post details experiments in scaling autonomous coding agents from single-task helpers to long-running, multi-week systems capable of tackling complex software projects. Early attempts at dynamic, ...
Key Points
- Role separation into planners, workers, and a judge solved coordination and scaling issues.
- The system produced a browser codebase of 1M+ lines across 1,000 files in about a week.
- Agents executed a 3+ week Solid-to-React migration and delivered a 25x video rendering speedup using Rust.
The State of OpenSSL for pyca/cryptography
by SGranThe maintainers of pyca/cryptography, a widely used Python cryptography library, outline escalating issues with OpenSSL, their long-time cryptographic backend. They chart OpenSSL’s development across ...
Key Points
- OpenSSL 3 introduced performance regressions and API complexity compared to 1.1.1.
- Rust-based X.509 and public key parsing in pyca/cryptography delivered major speedups.
- pyca/cryptography plans to reduce its reliance on OpenSSL going forward.
Generate QR Codes with Pure SQL in PostgreSQL
by tanelpoderThe article showcases a QR code generator implemented entirely in a single SQL statement for PostgreSQL, eliminating the need for extensions or external libraries. The author provides two scripts: a b...
Key Points
- Single-statement SQL QR generator for PostgreSQL with no extensions required.
- pqrsafe.sql enforces QR Version 1-M (ECC M) payload limits, raising errors when exceeded.
- PostgreSQL 17 performed faster than 16 in lab tests; execution plans not yet compared.
ChromaDB Explorer
by arsentjevChromaDB Explorer is a native desktop application built to provide a streamlined interface for working with ChromaDB. The tool centers on practical workflows: browsing collections, running semantic se...
Key Points
- Native desktop client for ChromaDB with collection browsing and semantic search.
- Includes tools to manage vector embeddings directly within the app.
- Download available; requires macOS 11.0 or later.
Simple to Ornate and Back Again (2024)
by nikodunkThis article explores a recurring pattern in design across multiple disciplines: a pendulum swing between ornate, heavily decorated styles and minimal, clean aesthetics. It begins with architecture, c...
Key Points
- Design oscillates between ornate and minimal across disciplines, shown through architectural eras.
- Software mirrors this cycle: vi to Microsoft Word to iA Writer and clean macOS interfaces.
- The article anticipates future swings back to more ornate software designs, possibly on faster cycles.
Training my smartwatch to track intelligence
by dmvaldmanThe article describes an individual’s effort to quantify and predict their day-to-day mental clarity by linking chess performance with wearable data. Over roughly 1.5 years, they collected Lichess ELO...
Key Points
- Logistic regression on Garmin and Lichess data predicted daily chess outcomes with ~60% accuracy.
- REM sleep and Garmin stress metrics were positive predictors; recent exercise and light sleep were negative.
- A custom Garmin watch app delivers daily probability of ELO increase and updates weekly.
US, for first time in 50 years, experienced negative net migration in 2025
by pqtywA Brookings Institution report finds the U.S. recorded negative net migration in 2025 for the first time in at least 50 years, primarily due to a sharp decline in entries and increased enforcement und...
Key Points
- U.S. net migration turned negative in 2025, largely due to fewer entries and heightened enforcement.
- Brookings estimates 310,000–315,000 removals in 2025, below DHS’s stated figure of 600,000+.
- Economic impacts include an expected $60–$110 billion decline in consumer spending over 2025–2026.
Rubik's Cube in Prolog – Order
by myth_drannonKenichi Sasagawa demonstrates a Prolog-based approach to modeling the 2×2 Rubik’s Cube through group theory. The cube is represented by the positions of eight corner pieces and their orientations, eac...
Key Points
- Cube state encoded in Prolog with corner positions and orientations.
- F, U, R moves defined; F has order 4 via iteration and an order predicate.
- Prolog predicates enable inverse moves by reversing arguments.
EU-US relationship is 'disintegrating,' says Germany's vice chancellor
by doenerGermany’s Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil declared that the EU‑US relationship is “disintegrating,” pointing to President Donald Trump’s rhetoric about gaining control over Greenland and the U.S. milit...
Key Points
- Lars Klingbeil says EU‑US ties are disintegrating due to U.S. moves on Greenland and Venezuela.
- Friedrich Merz urges a cautious approach, citing NATO’s role and legal complexity in the Maduro case.
- German public trust in the U.S. is at a record low (15%), shaping domestic political calculations.
Anthropic Explicitly Blocking OpenCode
by ryanvogelA publicly shared Bun script aims to demonstrate that Anthropic’s Claude Code enforces selective blocking of certain system prompt identities when accessed via OAuth tokens associated with Claude Pro/...
Key Points
- Reported block of “You are OpenCode” in Claude Code system prompts via OAuth.
- First system prompt must exactly match the specified Claude Code header.
- Other identity phrases (e.g., Cursor, Pi) reportedly pass without being blocked.
Furiosa: 3.5x efficiency over H100s
by written-beyondFuriosaAI unveiled the NXT RNGD Server, a turnkey, air‑cooled AI inference solution designed to fit into existing data center environments. Built around RNGD accelerators and dual AMD EPYC processors,...
Key Points
- Turnkey, air‑cooled AI inference server using RNGD accelerators and standard PCIe.
- Validated EXAONE 3.5 32B performance by LG AI Research: up to 60 tokens/s.
- Preinstalled SDK/runtime with vLLM and OpenAI API support for rapid deployment.
How can I build a simple pulse generator to demonstrate transmission lines
by alphabetterThe article presents a practical approach to building a fast-rise pulse generator suitable for demonstrating transmission line behavior in a home lab. The author achieved a measured 3 ns rise time and...
Key Points
- Fast-rise pulse generator (~3 ns) enables clear transmission line demonstrations.
- Matching scope bandwidth and cable length (e.g., 50 MHz, ~50 ft) is crucial for clean waveforms.
- Impedance configurations reveal reflection, absorption, and ringing behaviors critical to signal integrity.
Anthropic is making a huge mistake
by swahThe article reports that Anthropic has again blocked a tool or usage method called “opencode” from accessing the Claude Code API. The author, who previously recommended Claude Code widely since a mode...
Key Points
- Article claims Anthropic again blocked opencode from the Claude Code API.
- Author says an earlier block had an easy workaround.
- The article argues restrictions may push users toward other model providers.
Is passive investment inflating a stockmarket bubble?
by andsoitisThe article examines whether the surge in passive investment is inflating a stockmarket bubble, referencing a widely circulated working paper that supports this possibility. It places the discussion i...
Key Points
- A working paper cited by the article suggests passive investing may be inflating a market bubble.
- Passive funds now hold about 60% of U.S. equity fund assets, per the Investment Company Institute.
- Trillions have shifted from active management to index-tracking vehicles over the past decade.
Media Player Classic Qute Theater
by XzetaU8MPC-QT (Media Player Classic Qute Theater) is an open-source media player that reimplements Media Player Classic using the Qt framework and libmpv for video playback. It aims to closely mirror MPC-HC’...
Key Points
- Qt and libmpv-based reimplementation of MPC-HC with time-based release versioning for Windows and Linux.
- Feature set includes multiple playlists, seekbar thumbnails, yt-dlp support, quick queuing, and multi-threaded search.
- Contributions and translations via PRs and Weblate; compiling requires Qt6 SDK and recent libmpv.
Crafting Interpreters
by toshCrafting Interpreters by Robert Nystrom is a practical guide to building a complete, efficient scripting language from the ground up. The book starts at main() and progresses through both conceptual a...
Key Points
- Step-by-step guide to implementing a full-featured scripting language, covering parsing to garbage collection.
- Available in print (640 pages), ebook, PDF, and a free, fully responsive web version.
- Authored by Robert Nystrom, a Google engineer working on the Dart language, with prior language projects.
Bubblewrap: A nimble way to prevent agents from accessing your .env files
by 0o_MrPatrick_o0This article proposes a practical method to protect sensitive development secrets (such as .env files) from AI coding agents by sandboxing them with Bubblewrap. The author previously suggested creatin...
Key Points
- Bubblewrap is recommended to sandbox coding agents and protect secrets.
- Vendor-embedded sandboxing (e.g., Anthropic’s client) should be supplemented with user-controlled defense-in-depth.
- A minimal Bubblewrap configuration is provided that restricts filesystem access and disables networking.
You Need a Kitchen Slide Rule
by aebtebetenThis article presents the slide rule as a practical kitchen tool for managing the proportional math inherent in cooking and baking. By setting a slide rule to a constraining ratio—illustrated with 2 t...
Key Points
- Setting a slide rule to a ratio enables instant scaling of all recipe ingredients.
- Normalization to a common ingredient helps compare recipes and understand structure vs. taste components.
- A pesto example shows high variability in some ingredients, with parmesan more structurally consistent.
The URL shortener that makes your links look as suspicious as possible
by dreadswordThis article presents a URL shortener that flips the usual premise of making links look clean and trustworthy. Instead, the service is designed to output URLs that look intentionally suspicious or “cr...
Key Points
- Introduces a URL shortener designed to make links look suspicious.
- Contrasts with typical shorteners that aim for neutral, trustworthy-looking URLs.
- Provides a brief concept overview without technical details or examples.
Ask HN: Distributed SQL engine for ultra-wide tables
by synsqlbytheseaThe post examines challenges in managing ultra-wide tables arising from machine learning feature engineering and multi-omics data, where column counts escalate into the hundreds of thousands or more. ...
Key Points
- Standard SQL systems cap column counts around 1,000–1,600, limiting ultra-wide schemas.
- Experimental design distributes columns and uses SELECT-only operations to improve latency.
- Prototype benchmarks show sub-second selects for subset columns on a small AMD EPYC cluster.
MIT Whirlwind I: A High-Speed Electronic Digital Computer (1951)
by stmwThis 1951 document from MIT’s Digital Computer Laboratory outlines Whirlwind I, a high‑speed electronic digital computer designed for general‑purpose use. It explains that digital computers operate on...
Key Points
- Whirlwind I is a general‑purpose, high‑speed electronic digital computer developed at MIT.
- It uses parallel architecture to process all digits simultaneously, enabling higher speed.
- The system comprises about 4,000 vacuum tubes and occupies roughly 2,500 sq. ft.
Ask HN: What is the best way to provide continuous context to models?
by nemathAn Ask HN post on Hacker News seeks practical guidance on providing continuous context to AI models. The author is looking for the most effective approaches grounded in current research, not speculati...
Key Points
- Seeks best practices for providing continuous context to AI models.
- Requests detailed resources on how Cursor implements context.
- Asks how context collation companies operate and structure their systems.
Ask HN: Weird archive.today behavior?
by rabinovichAn Ask HN post details unusual client-side behavior on archive.today’s CAPTCHA page. The author reports that the page’s JavaScript repeatedly requests a personal blog, gyrovague.com, and provides a sc...
Key Points
- Archive.today’s CAPTCHA page runs JavaScript that repeatedly fetches gyrovague.com.
- The code uses setInterval (300 ms) and Fetch API with no-referrer and no-cors.
- The target blog hosts one article mentioning archive.today from August 2023.
Ask HN: What did you find out or explore today?
by blahajA pet owner describes their crimson-bellied conure beginning to lay an infertile egg and shares observations about the bird’s behavior and supportive care. The conure nests using towels, positioning i...
Key Points
- Crimson-bellied conure lays an infertile egg and nests using a folded towel.
- Owner provides extra warmth and increased food to support the demanding process.
- Bird remains active and nibbles a stone perch, possibly for calcium or stress relief.
Ask HN: How are you doing RAG locally?
by tmalyThis Ask HN post seeks practical advice on building retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) systems that run locally while keeping dependencies to a minimum. The author highlights two common data scenari...
Key Points
- Seeks approaches for local RAG with minimal dependencies.
- Targets internal codebases and complex documents as key data sources.
- Asks about using vector databases, semantic search, or graph-based methods.
New Safari developer tools provide insight into CSS Grid Lanes
by ferossSafari Technology Preview 234 expands support for masonry-style layouts via CSS Grid Lanes and introduces new visualization features in Safari’s developer tools. Grid Lanes adds a capability to CSS Gr...
Key Points
- CSS Grid Lanes now supported in Safari Technology Preview 234 with masonry-style layout behavior.
- Safari’s Grid Inspector adds “Order Numbers” to show item sequence for Grid, Subgrid, and Grid Lanes.
- Enhanced Grid and Flexbox Inspectors provide multiple overlays, clearer visuals, and accessibility-focused debugging aids.
Show HN: Sparrow-1 – Audio-native model for human-level turn-taking without ASR
by code_brianSparrow-1 is introduced as a multilingual, audio-native model for real-time conversational control that focuses on human-like turn-taking rather than simply minimizing response latency. The article ex...
Key Points
- Audio-native model predicts human-like turn-taking without relying on endpoint detection.
- Continuously models semantic, prosodic, and non-verbal cues, plus overlap and affective silences.
- Built for Tavus’s Conversational Video Interface; extends Sparrow-0 with richer supervision.
Upgrading DrizzleORM logging with AsyncLocalStorage
by bihlaThis article addresses the challenge of implementing comprehensive query logging after switching to DrizzleORM as a fully typed Postgres query builder. The team requires detailed log lines per query—u...
Key Points
- DrizzleORM’s logger lacks post-execution access, blocking timing and result logging.
- AsyncLocalStorage propagates context across async operations to enable complete log assembly.
- The solution avoids fragile prototype hacks on node-postgres internals.
Show HN: Liberty – Hardware-bound secret manager (no more .env files)
by deciphergitLiberty is a command-line secret manager designed to replace traditional .env files and improve security practices for developers. The tool stores secrets in an encrypted vault, with encryption keys d...
Key Points
- Hardware-bound AES-256-GCM encryption secures a local secret vault.
- Operates offline with a global vault at ~/.liberty; MIT licensed for individual use.
- Available on GitLab and PyPI; team secret-sharing features planned as paid.
First impressions of Claude Cowork
by stosssikAnthropic has introduced Claude Cowork as a research preview within the updated Claude Desktop macOS app for Max subscribers. Positioned as an extension of Claude Code to broader, non-developer tasks,...
Key Points
- Claude Cowork is a research preview available via Claude Desktop on macOS for Max subscribers.
- Cowork processes user-attached folders, running code/commands and web searches to complete tasks.
- A test showed Cowork enumerating recent files and outputting a prioritized list of unpublished drafts.
Eigent: An open source Claude Cowork alternative
by WorldPeasEigent announces an open-source, multi-agent AI desktop application designed to automate complex workflows by orchestrating specialized agents in parallel. Built on CAMEL-AI’s open-source project, the...
Key Points
- Open-source multi-agent AI desktop app with cloud, self-hosted, and enterprise options.
- MCP integration for built-in and custom tools (e.g., Notion, Google suite, Slack).
- Predefined agents and human-in-the-loop support for complex workflow automation.
I Designed a Custom Protocol for My App
by _rojThis article outlines an experimental system, Rast, for detecting orthographical errors in Central Kurdish text and the custom infrastructure built to make it efficient over a duplex network connectio...
Key Points
- K8 8-bit encoding reduces overhead for Kurdish text and includes optional UTF-8 compatibility via a footer.
- The protocol streams errors with cached detail references over WebSocket to minimize repeated data.
- Binary packet structure uses counts, offsets, lengths, and indexed associations for efficient parsing.
Project SkyWatch (a.k.a. Wescam at Home)
by jjwisemanThis article details a DIY system that brings professional-grade aircraft tracking to consumer hardware. Using a generic PTZ camera, the builder replicates the stability of EO/IR gimbals by shifting t...
Key Points
- Software-first stack (CSRT + Kalman + PID/Feed-forward) compensates for PTZ hardware latency.
- Digital stabilization functions as a virtual gimbal to suppress residual mechanical jitter.
- ADS-B correlation adds aircraft identification to the visual tracking output.