The hottest Substack posts right now

according to Hacker News
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Backstage’s journey from spreadsheets to global IDP standard | Spotify’s Tyson Singer

Dev Interrupted • 14 implied HN points • 20 Jan 26
🕹 Technology DevOps AI Developer Tools Engineering Management Software Platforms Open Source
  1. Backstage evolved from spreadsheets into a company-wide developer portal (Portal) that uses golden paths and an AI Knowledge Assistant to scale support and cut internal tickets nearly in half.
  2. New agentic AI tools like Cowork, Gas Town, and Loom are moving AI from giving advice to doing work autonomously, which creates a need for complex orchestration and tiny task decomposition.
  3. The engineer role is shifting from solo coder to conductor of digital workers, so raw output metrics (like diffs per developer) can mislead and teams should focus on judgment, system design, and sustainable processes.

Liquidity, Not Logic: QTR And Epoch Times Talk Markets

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 21 implied HN points • 09 Jan 26
💰 Finance Markets Risk Crypto Investing Valuation Macro Monetary Policy
  1. Stocks are driven more by liquidity and expectations of policy support than by the current health of the real economy, so bad economic news can sometimes lift markets even as it masks growing strain and creates moral hazard that shifts costs into inflation and weaker purchasing power.
  2. Market valuations look high by almost every historical measure, leaving little margin for error, so investors should be realistic about what they’re paying for and the future growth those prices assume.
  3. Speculation is concentrated in areas like crypto and parts of AI where downside can be sudden, and individual investors should read 10‑Ks, compare peers, understand debt and cash flow, and beware passive flows and index concentration.

2.0 Aristotle, Plato, & Newton

Fields & Energy • 259 implied HN points • 13 Dec 23
📖 Philosophy Ancient Philosophy Scientific Method Cognition Metaphysics Epistemology
  1. Aristotle and Plato have very different views on existence. Aristotle believes existence comes first, while Plato thinks consciousness creates reality.
  2. The Aristotelian approach focuses on observing nature to discover principles, while the Platonist starts with foundational ideas and deduces from them.
  3. Both schools of thought are important for science. Sometimes we discover new principles like Aristotle, and other times we analyze and apply ideas like Plato.
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The Importance (and Shortcomings) of a Data-Driven Approach in Venture Capital

patternventures • 198 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
💼 Business Market Trends Data Analysis Investment Strategies Venture Capital
  1. Venture capital is a great field for using data because it can really improve the investment process. By analyzing data, investors can more easily find and support promising startups.
  2. Some key performance indicators (KPIs) have been shown to correlate with the success of funds. For example, funds scoring above 30% on specific KPIs are much more likely to provide high returns.
  3. While data-driven strategies are helpful, they aren't perfect. Investors still need solid experience and networks to truly understand fund performance and secure access to the best opportunities.

Improving the product

André Casal's Substack • 19 implied HN points • 31 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Product Development Software Engineering User Experience Web Development
  1. Getting user feedback is really important. Talking to customers helps understand their needs, especially beginners in tech.
  2. Watching a seasoned developer use the product can reveal issues and areas for improvement. It's a great way to learn about friction points.
  3. Making things easier for users is key. Simplifying processes and providing good documentation can really help users get started faster and reduce confusion.

What to Watch in Robotics

Startup Pirate by Alex Alexakis • 176 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Innovation Robotics AI Agriculture Small business
  1. Robotics is advancing rapidly, from cooking shrimp to automating tasks like folding laundry and making coffee.
  2. General Robotic Intelligence (GRI) is still missing, but platforms are being developed to enable robots to perform complex tasks in dynamic environments.
  3. Companies are working to make robotics accessible to small and medium-sized businesses, enabling them to automate tasks and stay competitive.

Xmas decorations, part 3

Bite code! • 1467 implied HN points • 21 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Error Handling Python
  1. Decorators provide syntactic sugar for code reuse of callback processing.
  2. Popular usages for decorators include intercepting calls, registering functions, and enriching function behavior.
  3. Decorators can be combined and used creatively to enhance your code, but be mindful not to overdo it.

Stopping Frankenstein

Diane Francis • 579 implied HN points • 08 May 23
🕹 Technology Job Displacement Digital Rights AI Regulation Copyright Law AI Ethics
  1. Many experts are worried that AI, like ChatGPT, may take away millions of jobs, and some countries, like Italy, have banned AI products to figure out what to do.
  2. There are ongoing lawsuits against AI companies for using copyrighted materials without permission, which makes creators feel their work is being stolen.
  3. Regulations are being considered, especially in Europe, to ensure AI development is safe and ethical, which many believe is necessary to protect society from AI becoming too powerful.

shrinking the world

bad cattitude • 249 implied HN points • 23 May 25
🕹 Technology AI Deepfakes Remote work
  1. AI technology is advancing quickly, making it hard to tell what's real and what's fake. This can lead to people losing trust in online interactions.
  2. Remote work has its ups and downs. While it offers flexibility, it can hurt teamwork and personal connections that happen in a physical office.
  3. As trust in digital communication decreases, we might turn back to in-person interactions. This could lead to stronger relationships and a return to community-focused living.

Block AI tools from scraping your site in 3 minutes

Deploy Securely • 216 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Web scraping Cybersecurity Artificial Intelligence Compliance AI Tools
  1. Block major generative AI tools from scraping your website by adding specific directives to your robots.txt file.
  2. Consider modifying your site's terms and conditions to prevent undesired activities like scraping by AI tools.
  3. Blocking AI tools may impact your search and social media rankings, so find a balance between cybersecurity and potential repercussions.

Import AI 329: Compute IS data; don't build AI agents; AI needs a precautionary principle

Import AI • 399 implied HN points • 15 May 23
🕹 Technology AI Data Ethics Language Models AI Development
  1. Building AI scientists to advise humans is a safer alternative to building AI agents that act independently
  2. There is a need for a precautionary principle in AI development to address threats to democracy, peace, safety, and work
  3. Approaches like Self-Align show the potential for AI systems to self-bootstrap using synthetic data, leading to more capable models

TinyStories

Cobus Greyling on LLMs, NLU, NLP, chatbots & voicebots • 39 implied HN points • 26 Jun 24
🕹 Technology User Experience AI Machine Learning Natural Language Data science
  1. Phi-3 is a small language model that uses a special dataset called TinyStories. This dataset was designed to help the model create more varied and engaging stories.
  2. TinyStories uses simple vocabulary suitable for young children, focusing on quality over quantity. The stories generated are meant to be both understandable and entertaining.
  3. Training the Phi-3 model with TinyStories can be done quickly and allows for easier fine-tuning. This helps smaller organizations use advanced language models without needing huge resources.

What’s Deadweight Loss?

Something to Consider • 19 implied HN points • 31 Jul 24
💰 Finance Economics Trade Market Monopoly Taxation
  1. Deadweight loss happens when goods that could have been produced and sold efficiently are not. It means losing out on potential benefits to both sellers and buyers.
  2. This loss can occur in situations like monopolies where one seller controls the market and prices goods higher than in a competitive market.
  3. Taxes can also create deadweight loss by making some products too expensive to produce, which leads to fewer goods being available for consumers.

The Real Mission of the Fed

In My Tribe • 607 implied HN points • 11 Nov 24
💰 Finance Central Banking Monetary Policy Financial Crises Quantitative Easing Government debt
  1. The main job of the Federal Reserve is to help the government borrow money easily and cheaply. This allows the government to spend on various programs, including wars and welfare.
  2. Despite originating to stabilize the banking system, the Fed has faced criticism for not preventing financial crises. Even after its creation, the U.S. has experienced repeated financial problems.
  3. Quantitative Easing, a method the Fed uses to handle money and loans, may need to end. This would help limit government debt and potentially benefit everyday Americans in the long run.

Le futur de la messagerie instantanée

Venture Prose • 479 implied HN points • 12 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Innovation Communication Messaging Privacy iOS
  1. Don't let yourself be overwhelmed by notifications, prioritize important connections over others.
  2. Consider using messaging platforms like Roze that prioritize privacy and control over who you chat with.
  3. Focus on quality interactions by selecting a limited number of close contacts for messaging, rather than being bombarded with irrelevant notifications.

Could the Internet Become Useless?

The Digital Anthropologist • 39 implied HN points • 26 Jun 24
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Internet Digital anthropology Cybersecurity Regulations
  1. The internet might go through messy and confusing phases, but it has a history of overcoming challenges and evolving for the better.
  2. Infrastructure issues and the flow of information are key concerns for the internet's future, especially with the rise of AI technologies.
  3. Solving the complexities of the internet requires a holistic approach involving regulations, standards, and societal collaboration rather than relying solely on technological fixes.

High Growth Engineer Update/Break

High Growth Engineer • 586 implied HN points • 01 Dec 24
🕹 Technology AI Tools Community Building Content creation Mental health Personal Growth
  1. The writer is taking a break for at least four weeks to recharge and think about what they want to focus on moving forward. This time off is important for their mental health.
  2. When they return, there won't be a strict weekly writing schedule. They plan to prioritize quality over quantity and write when they feel inspired.
  3. The writer has ideas for new projects, like building AI tools, writing a book, or starting a community for discussions. They want to use the extra time effectively to provide more value.

The next year of AI target analysis

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 467 implied HN points • 23 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Data Military Analysis AI Intelligence
  1. AI is being used to improve how military targets are tracked and analyzed. This means we could see continuous updates on things like tanks, instead of just occasional snapshots.
  2. Companies like Anthropic and Google are investing big in AI for defense purposes. They're aiming to compete with others, like OpenAI, for military contracts and capabilities.
  3. The U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) is working on integrating AI systems to enhance their intelligence efforts, but it's facing some challenges with existing technologies.

What if bigger models, like bigger stars, fail faster?

Breaking Smart • 34 implied HN points • 07 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Data Economics Modeling AI Infrastructure
  1. Larger AI models can become less reliable over time because they learn from static data that quickly becomes outdated. This means models can fail faster as they can't adapt to changes in the world.
  2. The current push for bigger models might not be sustainable if they aren't supported by enough quality training data. If companies keep investing in these models without the right data, they may end up with expensive resources that don't deliver good results.
  3. To keep AI models useful for longer, we should focus on creating new types of data, like 4D video, which can help models learn from real-world changes rather than just past cultural snapshots.

Import AI 345: Facebook uses AI to mindread; MuJoCo v3; Amazon adds bipedal robots to its warehouses

Import AI • 339 implied HN points • 23 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Robotics Simulation Models AI
  1. Facebook has developed an AI system that uses brain scan data to roughly predict visual representations, demonstrating convergence between AI and human behavior.
  2. Amazon is testing bipedal robots in its warehouses, potentially streamlining the integration of robots into human-centric environments.
  3. Adept released Fuyu-8B, a multimodal model to help AI systems understand and interact with visual elements, expanding the range of tasks AI systems can perform beyond text.

What is a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT)?

Concepts of Finance 🧠 • 279 implied HN points • 28 Nov 23
💰 Finance Portfolio Management Market Analysis Dividends Real Estate Investing
  1. A Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) lets you invest in real estate without actually owning properties. You buy shares in a company that owns and manages real estate, earning money from the profits.
  2. REITs generally pay high dividends because they are required by law to return 90% of their taxable income to shareholders. This makes them appealing for income-focused investors.
  3. Investing in REITs gives you access to commercial real estate, offers liquidity like stocks, and can diversify your investment portfolio without the hassle of property management.

A proposal for importing society’s values

Musings on the Alignment Problem • 519 implied HN points • 09 Mar 23
🕹 Technology AI Ethics Simulation Social Decision-making
  1. AI systems like ChatGPT face value-based decisions that are complex and can be polarizing, highlighting the need to align AI to individual and group preferences.
  2. A proposed process called simulated deliberative democracy aims to use large language models to simulate human deliberations on value questions, offering a scalable and transparent approach.
  3. The proposal presents pros like scalability, transparency, and potential for inclusivity, but also faces challenges such as representativeness, aggregation method complexities, and difficulties in simulating how people change their minds.

Not Technical Enough

QUALITY BOSS • 159 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Technical Skills Workplace Issues Gender bias Career development Impostor syndrome
  1. Feeling like you're not 'technical enough' often comes from biases and stereotypes, especially in gender. It's important to remember that everyone's skills and roles can vary greatly.
  2. Your worth and skills in tech should be measured by how well you understand your job, not just by coding abilities. Everyone has different strengths that contribute to success.
  3. Confidence in your abilities is key. Feedback can sting, but it's crucial to assess it within context and not let others' opinions define your self-worth.

Team got cut. Scope didn’t.

Leading Developers • 160 implied HN points • 29 Jul 25
💼 Business Management Tech development Workplace culture Team Dynamics Productivity
  1. CEOs often make tough decisions that affect employees, like layoffs, but they rarely cut project scopes. This can lead to increased pressure on remaining team members.
  2. After layoffs, teams are expected to be more productive with fewer people, which can create a heavy workload and lead to burnout. It's important to communicate the costs of adding new projects or features.
  3. In a high-pressure environment, it's crucial to map out the new reality and protect your team from burnout by ensuring they have necessary breaks and manage workloads effectively.

Demystifying Liquid Staking Derivatives

DeFi Education • 919 implied HN points • 17 Jan 23
🔮 Crypto Investment Tokens Staking Blockchain DeFi
  1. Liquid Staking Derivatives (LSDs) allow users to trade tokens that represent staked ETH, giving them easier access to their funds without waiting for upgrades.
  2. Staking directly as a validator helps keep Ethereum decentralized and users can earn yield, but it requires technical skills and a minimum of 32 ETH.
  3. Using a staking service adds risks, so it's safer to stake directly if possible, but many users may choose LSDs for convenience.

Which countries played PC and console games... recently?

The GameDiscoverCo newsletter • 176 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Gaming Streaming platforms
  1. Research showed which countries had the most players of PC and console games in the last two weeks, with China, the U.S., and some European countries standing out.
  2. The most streamed games in January included Palworld, Escape From Tarkov, and new releases like Enshrouded and Tekken 8.
  3. Recent game platform and discovery news included updates on Nintendo Switch sales, Steam iconography changes, and Roblox's revenue growth in 2023.

Portfolio Review - October 2023

The Wolf of Harcourt Street • 359 implied HN points • 03 Nov 23
💰 Finance Investing Stocks Portfolio Management Market Analysis
  1. The author discusses reducing their portfolio from 24 to 20 stocks by selling off positions in companies like SQ, DOCU, IIPR, and JNJ.
  2. They reinvested the proceeds into companies like AMZN, MELI, Adyen, and Evolution.
  3. The author is focusing on concentrated positions in companies like MELI and AMZN, with some cash holdings for future investments.

Tesla in 2023: A Return to Reality, The Beginning of the End or Time to Buy

Musings on Markets • 839 implied HN points • 26 Jan 23
💼 Business Corporate strategy Investing Valuation Market Trends
  1. Tesla has grown rapidly, becoming a significant player in the auto industry, especially in electric vehicles. Its revenue jumped from $117 million in 2010 to $31.5 billion in 2020, showing strong growth potential.
  2. The company's success is closely tied to its founder, Elon Musk, whose vision drives Tesla forward. However, his dominant presence raises questions about the company's future if he steps back.
  3. The business landscape is changing, and even a successful company like Tesla must face traditional rules of business, like the need for investment and risk management, which is becoming more evident as competition increases.

There’s more room for niche “Morning Brew for X” newsletters

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 523 implied HN points • 20 Dec 24
💼 Business Newsletters Media Subscriptions Content Strategy
  1. Niche newsletters are on the rise, like the 'Morning Brew for X' concept, targeting specific industries and interests. This means there are more opportunities for unique content in less-covered areas.
  2. Substack's features can help writers grow their audiences, despite some criticisms. Many have seen real engagement and subscriber growth through the platform's tools.
  3. There's a growing market for ghostwriters, as more CEOs and creators seek to produce content. This demand indicates a strong interest in professional storytelling and brand-building.

BREAKING: Frontier adds flights to 7 cities from CLT

The Charlotte Ledger • 196 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
💼 Business Transportation Prices Competition Air Travel
  1. Frontier Airlines is adding flights to 7 new cities from Charlotte, becoming the No. 2 airline in terms of destinations served.
  2. Fares on new routes will start as low as $19, focusing on underserved and overpriced routes from CLT.
  3. Frontier's expansion in Charlotte could potentially help lower airfares in a historically high-priced market.

The Unreasonable Ineffectiveness of Effective Altruism in thinking about AI

Ulysses • 179 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Psychology Ethics Logic Epistemology Ontology
  1. Knowledge systems using symbolic logic in natural language are heuristic and capture reality imperfectly.
  2. Validity of heuristics depends on the similarity between the original context and current application.
  3. Rigid deontological symbolic morality may fail in reasoning about new events like AI, leading to ineffective discussions and decision-making.

Managing cancer, an agency and building SaaS products

Kenny’s Sub • 99 implied HN points • 14 Apr 24
💼 Business Health Leadership Entrepreneurship SaaS Startups
  1. Managing a business while dealing with serious health issues like cancer requires clear delegation and smart prioritization. It's important to have a supportive team that can share the workload.
  2. Building a business with multiple co-founders can offer different strengths and perspectives. Sharing a common dream and working closely together helps in navigating the challenges of starting a company.
  3. Balancing client work with developing your own products can be tricky but is essential for long-term success. Treating internal projects like client projects with clear goals can help maintain focus and ensure progress.

Security Is A Useless Controls Problem

Security Is • 59 implied HN points • 29 May 24
🕹 Technology Risk management Cybersecurity Information Security Compliance
  1. Many security controls are useless, wasting resources and time. It's crucial to understand why you're implementing a control to avoid just following the crowd.
  2. If you can't explain why a security control is needed in a simple way, it's likely not very useful. Good controls should have clear reasons behind them.
  3. Wasting time on unnecessary controls can harm everyone in the industry. Focus on meaningful security measures to make better use of limited resources.

Designing your own PCBs

lcamtuf’s thing • 2652 implied HN points • 09 Mar 23
🕹 Technology PCB Design Electronics Prototyping Tools Manufacturing
  1. Designing your own PCB allows for faster iteration on new designs compared to ordering custom circuit boards.
  2. KiCad is a recommended tool for designing hobby PCBs due to its extensive library of footprints and open-source nature.
  3. Consider important factors like component placement, trace widths, and manufacturing constraints for successful PCB layout.

Import AI 350: Neural architecture search at Facebook scale; hunting cancer with PANDA; European VCs launch a science lab

Import AI • 279 implied HN points • 27 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Open Science AI Research
  1. An AI system called PANDA can accurately identify pancreatic cancer from scans, outperforming radiologists.
  2. Facebook developed Rankitect for neural architecture search, which has proven to create better models than human engineers alone.
  3. A European open science AI lab called Kyutai has been launched with a focus on developing large multimodal models and promoting open research.