The hottest Substack posts right now

according to Hacker News
Category

The Bear Cave #203

The Bear Cave • 1096 implied HN points • 07 Jan 24
💼 Business Financial News
  1. New Activist Reports on Medical Properties Trust and consequences
  2. Significant Recent Resignations from various companies
  3. Highlighted Tweets of the Week referencing market happenings and insights
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

TBM 337: Pirates and Garbage Cans

The Beautiful Mess • 343 implied HN points • 02 Feb 25
💼 Business Leadership Team Dynamics Decision-making Organizational Behavior Conflict resolution
  1. Conflict in companies often stays unresolved because people are afraid to ask for help. This fear can make it look like admitting problems is a weakness.
  2. The Garbage Can model shows that decision-making is messy and often relies on chance rather than a clear process. Conflicts may get ignored until something urgent happens.
  3. Unlike businesses, pirate ships had systems in place for resolving conflicts because surviving together was crucial. Businesses can postpone resolving conflicts without facing immediate consequences, which can lead to bigger problems later.

Reverse engineering your perfect business

Tiny Empires • 122 implied HN points • 23 Jul 25
💼 Business Work-life balance Productivity Management Marketing Entrepreneurship
  1. Start by figuring out the life you want to live, then design your business around that life. Your business should help you enjoy your life, not take it over.
  2. Identify when you are most productive and build your schedule to fit those energy patterns. Work with your natural rhythms for better efficiency.
  3. Pick a business that matches your skills and preferences. Choose tasks you enjoy and are good at, and avoid things you dislike to keep your energy up.

Crypto Cannot Avoid The Iron Laws of Economics

Points And Figures • 506 implied HN points • 22 Oct 24
🔮 Crypto Investment Cryptocurrency Economics Blockchain Finance
  1. Cryptocurrency operates under economic principles just like any other market. If costs to create or maintain it exceed profits, it won't succeed.
  2. A recent study highlights that cryptocurrencies may struggle to scale due to high security costs, making them potentially less efficient than traditional financial systems.
  3. While cryptocurrencies aimed to remove the need for legal systems and intermediaries, they still require a level of trust that can be expensive and complex to maintain.

Meeting Prevents Exceeding

Software Design: Tidy First? • 353 implied HN points • 17 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Software Design Engineering Development Innovation
  1. You can't meet and exceed expectations at the same time. Focusing only on meeting others' expectations can limit your personal growth.
  2. Setting your own goals helps you think independently and be more creative. When you manage your own expectations, you can achieve unexpected results.
  3. Learning to take risks and act on your own ideas is important for growth as an engineer. The more you practice this, the better you'll become at finding your own path.

The splat operator, or *args and **kwargs in Python

Bite code! • 1100 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Python Syntax Functions
  1. The splat operator ( ) in Python is used for unpacking function arguments and defining infinite (variadic) parameters.
  2. Differentiate between arguments and parameters in Python; parameters are defined variables in a function signature, while arguments are values passed to those parameters when calling the function.
  3. Positional and keyword arguments in Python allow passing arguments by position or by name in a function call.

Tools for thought: the first 300,000 years

Subconscious • 1660 implied HN points • 10 Jun 23
🕹 Technology History Information Storage Artificial Intelligence Computer Science Communication
  1. 300,000 years ago, humanity started leaving messages in rocks and clay, allowing thoughts to outlive individuals.
  2. Throughout history, humans have continuously discovered new tools for thinking, such as language, art, and technology.
  3. The shared brain of humanity has evolved over time, with increasing collaboration and technological advancements, setting the stage for thinking together to address global challenges.

Weekly Dose of Optimism #150

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 149 implied HN points • 27 Jun 25
🕹 Technology AI Biotech Energy Finance Health
  1. AlphaGenome is a new AI tool that helps scientists understand how our genes work. It can analyze DNA to predict how changes in our genes affect health and diseases.
  2. New York is planning to build a major nuclear power plant, which would be the first in over 15 years. This new facility aims to provide clean energy and improve energy security.
  3. A study shows that a single dose of psilocybin, found in magic mushrooms, can help reduce depression for years. This opens up possibilities for new, effective treatments for mental health.

2034 – A Day in the Working Life

Workforce Futurist by Andy Spence • 488 implied HN points • 30 Oct 24
💼 Business Future of work Innovation Education Economy Technology Workforce
  1. In 2034, people have a Lifelong Learning Wallet to improve their skills without the burden of debt. This allows everyone to access education based on their abilities, not their financial situation.
  2. Work has become flexible and collaborative, with projects matching people's skills and interests. Workers earn digital tokens for their contributions, which helps them feel more connected and motivated.
  3. Society now values all contributions, including care work, and uses technology to fairly distribute resources. This new system supports faster solutions to pressing issues like climate change and health crises.

GPT-4o mini

Cobus Greyling on LLMs, NLU, NLP, chatbots & voicebots • 19 implied HN points • 18 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Software Development AI NLP Machine Learning Data science
  1. GPT-4o mini is a new language model that's cheaper and faster than older models. It handles text and images and is great for tasks requiring quick responses.
  2. Small Language Models (SLMs) like GPT-4o mini can run efficiently on devices without relying on the cloud. This helps with costs, privacy, and gives users more control over the technology.
  3. SLMs are designed to be flexible and customizable. They can learn from various types of inputs and can adapt more easily to specific needs.

The LIBOR scandal, part 1: background

The Jolly Contrarian • 79 implied HN points • 08 Apr 24
💰 Finance Banking Risk management Derivatives Interest Rates
  1. Banks have structural interest rate risk, which they manage by borrowing at a low rate and lending at a high one.
  2. The LIBOR rate was created as a benchmark for banks to set their interest rates and trade standardized instruments.
  3. Interest rate swaps changed the game by allowing banks to trade interest rates with counterparties, impacting how they managed their structural interest rate risk.

Humanoid Robots: China’s Grind Toward Embodied Intelligence

ChinaTalk • 400 implied HN points • 16 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Innovation Data science Manufacturing Robotics AI
  1. China aims to become a top producer of humanoid robots by 2027, planning to use them in various industries like manufacturing and services. This is partly because they face labor shortages and believe humanoids can do many tough jobs.
  2. Humanoid robots need advanced technology in hardware and AI to work well. This includes making them mimic human movements and learning from real-world experiences, which is still a big challenge.
  3. The automotive industry could be key for testing and improving humanoid robots. Car factories have structured environments that help robots learn new tasks safely while addressing labor shortages in that sector.

Mondays with the Machine: The Tongue & the Token: Language as Interface in Our Current Age of AI

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 169 implied HN points • 09 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Machine Learning Natural Language AI Computing
  1. Natural language interfaces are a big deal because they let us communicate with AI using everyday language. This makes it easier for everyone to use technology without needing to know complex coding or technical skills.
  2. AI systems, like language models, simulate understanding but don't actually think. They can help us find information and assist with tasks, but we should remember that they are not truly intelligent.
  3. Using conversational AI can democratize access to information, making it easier for people to learn and solve problems. However, we must be aware of the risks, like over-reliance on these systems.

Analytics should be an Assembly Line

Data Thoughts • 3 HN points • 10 Sep 24
💼 Business Business Intelligence Performance Metrics Cost efficiency Data Analytics
  1. Analytics should be handled like an assembly line to make it more efficient and accessible. This means creating standard processes to measure and track important business metrics.
  2. Most companies need to focus on basic descriptive analytics, which involves identifying and measuring key metrics. These metrics will help businesses understand what drives their success.
  3. Having well-defined metrics is essential before deeper analysis can happen. Insights from data come from well-measured processes, allowing teams to explore and understand their business better.

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality—The SubStack

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 461 implied HN points • 09 Nov 24
💼 Business Policy Investing Market Trends Economics Finance
  1. The newsletter aims to make readers smarter and more informed about economic topics. It's designed to keep readers engaged and entertained while learning.
  2. Readers can expect economic insights, historical context, and thoughtful recommendations in the newsletter. The goal is to offer clarity and understanding of complex issues.
  3. The newsletter also seeks to enhance public discourse by steering readers away from sensationalism and clickbait, promoting a more thoughtful examination of current events.

Don't Fall In Trap Of Tarpit Ideas, It's Worst Than Bad Ideas, Why? | Consumer Startups - Tarpit Ideas? | VC Remote Jobs & More

Venture Curator • 219 implied HN points • 18 Nov 23
💼 Business Ideas Consumer Pivoting Startups Venture Capital
  1. Tarpit ideas are worse than bad ideas and can trap entrepreneurs into wasted time and resources.
  2. Many consumer startup ideas end up being tarpit ideas, as they seem simple but are challenging to execute successfully.
  3. To succeed in the startup world, founders need to recognize tarpit ideas early, pivot strategically based on supply-demand dynamics, and focus on building high-quality, in-demand products.

Lessons along the EndBOX journey

Blog System/5 • 165 implied HN points • 17 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Education Hardware Software Computing 3D Printing
  1. The EndBOX project started as a fun idea and led to many useful lessons in tech and programming. It's amazing how one wild idea can spark a whole journey of learning.
  2. Creating and refining prototypes like the EndBOX helps develop practical skills in areas like coding and hardware setup. Each step in the process teaches something valuable.
  3. Sharing knowledge through articles can inspire others and encourage a community of tinkers and makers. Supporting creative projects can lead to even more exciting developments in the future.

How Far Can Moore's Law Go?

Tapa’s Substack • 79 implied HN points • 07 Apr 24
🕹 Technology Hardware Computing Engineering AI Electronics
  1. Moore's Law shows that the number of transistors on chips grows, but the real limit to performance is how efficiently we can use power. Even if we add more transistors, we might not get better performance without better power management.
  2. We need to consider the costs of power and cooling when designing chips, not just the cost of the hardware itself. Cooling efforts can be more complex and expensive as we push for higher performance.
  3. New technologies and materials like photonics, 3D chip designs, and even concepts like spintronics might help enhance computing performance, especially for memory-related tasks, but there are many challenges to overcome.

Recommending Kent Beck: 2011

Software Design: Tidy First? • 1170 implied HN points • 08 Dec 23
💼 Business Career development Management Employment Recommendation Software Development
  1. Kent Beck's role in enhancing engineering teams for growth and prosperity by working on product features and tool building.
  2. Kent Beck's impact through research and publication on software design, attracting new recruits and revolutionizing design ideas.
  3. Kent Beck's personal relationships and pair programming sessions significantly improving engineering skills and career prospects of individuals.

Pony.ai’s Robotaxis and the Long Road Ahead

ChinaTalk • 370 implied HN points • 03 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Market Trends Startup funding Autonomous Vehicles
  1. Pony.ai is a leading robotaxi company in China, rapidly expanding its fleet and operations in major cities. They are working to boost their commercialization amidst significant competition.
  2. Despite a promising start, Pony.ai is currently facing challenges in profitability, with high operational costs and moderate revenue growth. They hope to improve their financial situation by 2025.
  3. Pony.ai is exploring international expansion but must navigate strict regulations and competition in foreign markets. They currently focus on China, where they have strong government support and demand.

Issue #4 - The Five Minute History of Data

The Data Ecosystem • 59 implied HN points • 05 May 24
🕹 Technology AI Cloud Computing Data processing Analytics Data science
  1. Data is generated and used everywhere now, thanks to smart devices and cheaper storage. This means businesses can use data for many purposes, but not all those uses are helpful.
  2. Processing data has become much easier over the years. Small companies can now use tools to analyze data without needing a team of experts, although some guidance is still necessary.
  3. Analytics has shifted from just looking at past data to predicting future trends. This helps companies make better decisions, and AI is starting to take over some of these tasks.

US vs China: How to win the wrong AI race

Platforms, AI, and the Economics of BigTech • 15 implied HN points • 11 Jan 26
🕹 Technology AI Energy Systems Coordination Geopolitics Supply Chains Industrial Policy Manufacturing
  1. The US is betting on building the smartest AI models and assumes intelligence will stay scarce while coordination can be bought on markets.
  2. China is deliberately commoditizing intelligence by opening models so value shifts to energy, hardware, manufacturing, and the ability to coordinate AI into physical systems.
  3. Once intelligence is abundant, durable power and profits will flow to whoever can reliably execute and coordinate systems at scale, so winning means building coordination, execution, and energy advantages—not just better models.

You Ain't Shit

We're Gonna Get Those Bastards • 11 implied HN points • 11 Jan 26
💼 Business Wealth Management Ethics Workplace Careers Leadership
  1. Ego is dangerous and can wreck your career, relationships, and life, so keep it in check and don’t think you’re more important than you are.
  2. Money and small successes often inflate people’s heads, so don’t let a raise or a win change how you treat others; be respectful and empathetic to everyone.
  3. Stay grounded by accepting feedback, checking on friends who are struggling without trying to fix them, and remembering you’re never above honest work.

Ronin Wallet Upgrades are LIVE!

Ronin’s Newsletter • 24 implied HN points • 15 Dec 25
🔮 Crypto UX Wallets Mobile Apps
  1. Ronin Wallet got a fresh look and simpler onboarding with big Fund, Swap, Send, and Receive buttons plus other UI tweaks for both mobile and browser. These changes make the app easier to use and navigate.
  2. Ronin integrated Onramper to offer many more fiat-to-RON onramps, supporting 175+ payment options like MoonPay and GrabPay. This makes buying RON faster and available in more regions, but fees and KYC will vary by provider.
  3. Ronin Wallet now supports Solana deposits and cross-chain swaps, so you can manage SOL and move assets between Ronin and Solana from the same wallet. It also connects with other chains (Ethereum, Base, Arbitrum, BNB Chain, Polygon) to simplify multi-chain portfolio management.

House Prices to Income

CalculatedRisk Newsletter • 47 implied HN points • 04 Nov 25
💰 Finance Wages Housing Income Economics Market Trends
  1. House prices compared to incomes are important to track, but income data often comes out late and can be misleading. It's tricky to decide which income figures to use for accurate comparisons.
  2. The median household income increased to $83,730 in 2024, showing growth from the previous year. This change can affect how we view housing affordability.
  3. Currently, house prices are still high compared to historical averages, which means buying a home might be more expensive than usual. They're not far from the peaks seen during the housing bubble.

Under the microscope: Shrek Extra Large (GameCube)

Rings of Saturn • 29 implied HN points • 06 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Graphics Software Gaming Emulation Reverse Engineering Game Engines
  1. The GameCube port removed several advanced graphics features from the original Xbox build, leaving rougher visuals and an inconsistent framerate compared to the technical demo of the Xbox version.
  2. Entering the player name GASTON or IDKFA triggers an undocumented cheat that starts on the world map, unlocks every stage, enables a Cheat Menu, and grants $99 to buy all cheats.
  3. The hidden cheat was found by inspecting emulator memory and reverse-engineering the game (tracing a case-insensitive string compare to cheat logic), and IDKFA is a clear nod to Doom’s famous cheat while GASTON’s reference is unknown.

Avoid these Mistakes if you are Android Developers

Better Engineers • 19 implied HN points • 18 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Career growth Code Quality Programming Languages Software Development
  1. Avoid common mistakes like leaving commented code and using hardcoded values. These habits can help make your code cleaner and more reliable.
  2. Develop strong code review skills to give helpful feedback and improve your team's coding practices. This will also help you grow as a developer.
  3. Focus on scalability by breaking down large features into smaller tasks and using modern tools and concepts. This approach will make your projects easier to manage as they grow.

Meta (Facebook) Lesson 1: Corporate Governance

Musings on Markets • 779 implied HN points • 07 Nov 22
💼 Business Financial Performance Corporate Governance Investment Strategies Market Analysis Tech industry
  1. Corporate governance focuses on how companies are run and who gets to make decisions. It's important because when management and shareholder interests do not align, it can result in poor decisions that harm the company.
  2. Facebook's stock has dropped significantly because of issues like the slowdown in online advertising and reputational damage. These challenges highlight the need for better governance to adapt to changing market conditions.
  3. Investors often give up their voting power when companies use dual-class shares, which can limit their ability to influence management. This trend can make it harder to make necessary changes when a company's leadership is not effective.