The hottest Substack posts right now

according to Hacker News
Category

Graphing in the blue skies

Conspirador Norteño • 36 implied HN points • 27 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Social media Graph Theory Data science
  1. Repost network graphs are helpful to understand how ideas spread on social media, especially on platforms like Bluesky. You can visualize how hashtags or posts gain popularity and interaction.
  2. You can create these graphs from datasets of reposts and original posts, using Python to handle the data. This allows researchers to analyze which accounts are most influential in sharing content.
  3. Different types of conversations on social media can create unique patterns in these graphs. For instance, debates might lead to clusters of accounts, while friendly interactions could show a more unified graph with fewer divisions.

Are hotdesks always hellish?

Make Work Better • 103 implied HN points • 14 Nov 24
💼 Business Workplace Human Resources Productivity Management Culture
  1. Most companies use their office space less than three days a week and are planning to reduce their office size in the near future. This change is a response to new work habits formed during the pandemic.
  2. Employees can be happy with hotdesks, but it's crucial to have a variety of workspaces available. A diverse range of settings helps them feel productive and satisfied.
  3. Some workers struggle more than others in hotdesk environments, indicating that not everyone adapts the same way. Companies should consider individual needs, like having good booking systems for personal spaces.

Optimizing Performance: How Our Extension Became Lightning Fast

Casca’s Substack • 59 implied HN points • 19 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Performance optimization User Experience Web Development
  1. Casca Extension prioritizes speed for a smooth user experience and optimized resource usage.
  2. They utilized technologies like React, Tailwind, and IndexedDB to enhance performance.
  3. Strategies like optimizing images, dealing with slow requests, and minimizing re-renders helped make the extension faster and more efficient.

o3 is important, but not because of benchmarks

Artificial Ignorance • 92 implied HN points • 23 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Benchmarking Software Engineering Model development Machine Learning AI
  1. OpenAI's new model, o3, shows impressive benchmark performance, particularly in tasks that are tough for AI, but it's more about how AI is evolving rather than just hitting high scores.
  2. The way AI systems process information is changing. Instead of needing huge amounts of data and time upfront, they can now improve their performance during use, making development faster and cheaper.
  3. Even though o3 is advanced, it doesn't mean we've reached artificial general intelligence (AGI). It's a step in that direction, but more improvements and different benchmarks are needed to really understand AI's potential.
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All the AI circus you can fit in a single tent

Alex's Personal Blog • 32 implied HN points • 14 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Economy Artificial Intelligence Startups Venture Capital Tech news
  1. Big companies are increasingly hiring talent from smaller AI firms instead of fully buying them out, which is leaving those startups in tough positions. This trend means more competition but can also hurt innovation.
  2. Many kids are using AI chatbots and turning to them for companionship, showing a growing acceptance of AI in everyday life. This could change how younger generations interact with technology and each other.
  3. Some new AI models from Chinese companies are impressing the tech world and could challenge established players in the market. The race for AI development is global and is not just dominated by American companies.

Happily Ever After? Exploring the Fei-Rari merger

DeFi Education • 379 implied HN points • 23 Dec 21
🔮 Crypto Governance Mergers Tokenomics DeFi
  1. Rari Capital and Fei Protocol are merging, with TRIBE tokens from Fei being exchanged for RGT tokens from Rari at a specific ratio. This merger is important as it's the first of its kind in the DAO space.
  2. The merger aims to eliminate Rari's debt, which was a result of a prior hack, by having Fei use its funds to pay off the liabilities. This move helps Rari start fresh financially.
  3. There are concerns about the pricing method used for the merger, as many feel that RGT holders received a bad deal. This raises questions about how to value tokens fairly in future mergers.

How to realistically estimate market size and revenue in defense start ups

Nathan’s Substack • 59 implied HN points • 18 Oct 23
💼 Business Market Analysis Budgeting Defense industry
  1. Estimating market size and revenue in defense startups is challenging due to the complexities of the market, long customer life cycles, and misleading reports from analysts.
  2. The traditional top-down approach for market sizing in defense is flawed, so a bottom-up method, focusing on quantifying available customers and understanding unit costs, can be more effective.
  3. Understanding different contract types in defense, such as SBIRs, OTAs, IDIQs, and Programs of Record, is crucial for startups to differentiate between product revenue and government-funded R&D, and to aim for sustainable growth.

Strong worlds, weak worlds, SaaS worlds, link worlds

Data People Etc. • 71 implied HN points • 19 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Digital Culture Virtual Worlds Worldbuilding
  1. Strong worlds offer structure and meaning, helping people feel like they belong and know what's expected of them. This creates a sense of purpose and connection.
  2. The Internet helps create many weak worlds where it's easy to join or leave. These worlds often lack strong narratives but can have a big impact on our daily lives.
  3. Platforms are tools for building worlds online, but strong systems matter more than just good stories. Companies must ensure their systems work well to keep their teams functioning smoothly.

What Is Work?

Castalia • 179 implied HN points • 28 Oct 22
📖 Philosophy Social Constructs Existentialism Metaphysics
  1. Work often means how you make money, but that doesn't always show your true effort or success. Many rich people actually avoid traditional work, relying on investments instead.
  2. People often see work as something unpleasant that we have to do to survive. This perspective highlights how work can feel like coercion, especially in rigid job hierarchies.
  3. There's a blurred line between work and leisure, as many enjoyable activities can also be seen as work. Ultimately, true work should provide value to others and be something we find pleasure in.

A note on Unreported Truths and AI-written stories

Unreported Truths • 40 implied HN points • 12 Jun 25
🕹 Technology AI Content creation Social media Digital marketing Email Marketing
  1. Some writers use AI to create many posts quickly, which can spam your inbox. This is seen as a bad shift in how content is created.
  2. Real engagement comes from genuine writing. The writer promises to share meaningful content without relying on AI or spammy tactics.
  3. The writer values the community built around their work and encourages everyone to support it by subscribing, ensuring quality over quantity.

Re-Introduction

Interconnected • 385 implied HN points • 07 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Politics Cloud Startup Global
  1. The author provides a re-introduction of their background in three phases: US Politics, Foreign Policy, Washington DC; Cloud Infrastructure, Open Source, Startup Operator; Global Lens, GitHub, Investing and Writing.
  2. Their experience ranges from working in the Obama administration, studying law and computer science, to engaging in early stage investing and working at GitHub.
  3. They emphasize the importance of achieving bilingual information symmetry between English and Chinese through their writing.

There's more to LLMs than chat

Generating Conversation • 233 implied HN points • 15 Feb 24
🕹 Technology UX Design AI Human-computer interaction Information Retrieval
  1. Chat interfaces have limitations, and using LLMs in more diverse ways beyond chat is essential for product innovation.
  2. Chat-based interactions lack the expression of uncertainty, unlike other search-based approaches, which impacts user trust in the information provided by LLMs.
  3. LLMs can be utilized to proactively surface information relevant to users, showing that chat isn't always the most effective approach for certain interactions.

Why I want an AI File Explorer

Cosmos • 39 implied HN points • 31 Dec 23
🕹 Technology File Management Multimodal AI Data Privacy AI
  1. AI File Explorer can use AI to analyze, tag, search, and organize files based on their contents, freeing users from manual tagging.
  2. Data stored on cloud services may pose privacy and accessibility challenges for using AI on personal files.
  3. Next-generation file explorers, like Cosmos, offer privacy-focused AI solutions, emphasizing user control over data and experimenting with Small Language Models.

The Tech Buffet #8: Flowise - An Interface To Build and Test LLMs Apps Easily

The Tech Buffet • 59 implied HN points • 18 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Machine Learning Web Development Programming Software Development AI Tools
  1. Flowise is a no-code tool that helps you build and test applications using LLMs right from your web browser. It makes creating complex workflows easier by allowing you to choose and connect components visually.
  2. You can easily set up Flowise either from source code or using Docker. Once it's running, you can create ChatFlows, which are workflows for LLM applications, by simply dragging and dropping elements in the interface.
  3. Flowise is great for prototyping applications quickly, but it still has room for improvement, like better error handling and documentation. Overall, it's a handy tool for developers experimenting with language models.

Today’s Top 5 HN posts

Top 5 HN Posts of the day • 19 implied HN points • 02 Apr 24
🕹 Technology Job Opportunities Software Development Open Source News
  1. The post shares the top 5 HackerNews posts for the day, including topics like Wi-Fi, open-source attacks, and robot arms.
  2. The post includes links to interesting discussions on HackerNews related to GPT, Transformer technology, and profitable online form builders.
  3. Bonus section lists job openings at Emerge and Skio, both mentioned as Y Combinator-backed companies looking to hire senior engineers for specific roles.

NYT vs. The Musk Foundation: A Masterclass in Slant

The Save Journalism Committee • 216 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
💼 Business Ethics Media Criticism Nonprofit Philanthropy Politics
  1. The NYT article raises concerns about Elon Musk's foundation finances, but overlooks crucial details like the grace period where the foundation caught up on giving deficits in following years.
  2. Private foundations like Musk's have latitude in choosing charities based on legal approvals, not restrictions like public charities. Contextual understanding of foundation structures is essential.
  3. The article highlights Musk's charitable acts but frames them in a negative light, despite him helping schools, disasters, and children in need. The public benefit of these actions is significant.

38 stock ideas for 2024.

Jon’s Newsletter • 39 implied HN points • 30 Dec 23
💰 Finance Investments Stock Market Market Analysis Economic outlook Portfolio Management
  1. Investing in sectors like industrials, materials, and financials is recommended for good returns. Companies in these areas often generate high cash flow and have strong dividends.
  2. Some experts believe that consumer staples and financial stocks will do better in 2024 as they can benefit from lower interest rates and inflation-related price increases.
  3. It's a good idea to consider mid-sized companies and precious metals for investment, as they may have better valuations and growth potential amid an uncertain economic environment.

On The Public/Private Polarity

Castalia • 119 implied HN points • 11 Mar 23
📖 Philosophy Civil Society Ethics Political theory Public Discourse Personal freedom
  1. Kant's idea flips the normal understanding of public and private. He suggests that people in roles with obligations act 'private,' while those writing freely are 'public.'
  2. Today, many feel trapped by their jobs and use social media to express themselves more freely. This creates a divide between those who feel constrained and those who can speak openly.
  3. Power can actually limit freedom, not expand it. Many chase power thinking it will bring them freedom, but it often just adds layers of constraint.

Tech Talks Weekly #11 🔥

Tech Talks Weekly • 19 implied HN points • 25 Apr 24
🕹 Technology Software Development Open Source Web Development Tech Conferences Programming
  1. This week features many new tech talks from popular conferences like Conf42 Golang 2024 and NDC London 2024. You can find insightful sessions about various programming topics.
  2. You can help improve future content by completing a short survey. Your feedback can make the newsletter even better.
  3. The newsletter also encourages sharing it with friends to build a community of tech talk enthusiasts. Spreading the word can help others join in on these great conversations.

The "Macros" for healthy engineering teams - part 2: Proteins

The Healthy Engineering Leader • 19 implied HN points • 02 Apr 24
💼 Business Leadership skills Team Management Communication Skills Project management Continuous Improvement
  1. Continuous improvement is like protein for engineering teams. Just as proteins help our bodies grow and heal, ongoing learning helps teams adapt and stay strong.
  2. Team skills are essential for a resilient team. Skills like project management and communication are the building blocks that help a team work well together and tackle challenges.
  3. Engineering leaders play a key role in developing these skills and fostering a culture of improvement. By supporting their team's growth, leaders create an environment where everyone can thrive.

20 years of Tesla

Jon’s Newsletter • 139 implied HN points • 22 Jan 23
💼 Business Innovation Investment Automotive Entrepreneurship Manufacturing
  1. Elon Musk nearly went broke saving Tesla in 2008, but he managed to keep it alive by splitting his fortune between Tesla and SpaceX.
  2. In 2010, Tesla became the first car company to go public in the U.S. in over 50 years, which boosted its credibility and opened doors for growth.
  3. The launch of the Model 3 in 2017 was crucial for Tesla's success, making it the best-selling electric vehicle in the world and greatly increasing the company’s market value.

The Region-Beta Paradox and its Impact on Product and Experimentation Thinking

CAUSL Effect • 119 implied HN points • 12 Apr 23
💼 Business Market fit User Experience Product Development Experimentation Psychology
  1. The Region-Beta Paradox shows that people often tolerate mild discomfort until they reach a more intense state, which can lead to faster recovery. In simple terms, we might ignore small problems until they become serious.
  2. This idea can change how product teams think about improving customer experiences. Instead of aiming for perfect satisfaction, it might be okay to allow for some mild frustration, as it can be a signal for customers to take action.
  3. Not all products need to be perfect to be successful. Sometimes, a product that fits well in the market is more important than one that delivers an ideal experience but lacks user interest.

Why Data Teams are embracing low-code for controlling Data Release Pipelines

The Orchestra Data Leadership Newsletter • 39 implied HN points • 30 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Workflow Orchestration Data Teams Low-code ETL
  1. Data teams are increasingly turning to low-code solutions to streamline data release pipelines, utilizing tools like Airflow but questioning the need for extensive code writing and infrastructure maintenance.
  2. The complex cloud environment has led to the development of specialized data tools, making the orchestration of data pipelines challenging and highlighting the importance of governance, data quality, and scalability.
  3. No-code solutions like dbt core and Hightouch are already integrated into many data tools, simplifying the orchestration process and indicating that the future of data architecture might involve a combination of workflow orchestrators and efficient data quality checks.

Migrating to Substack: A guide for TikTokers

Substack • 182 implied HN points • 16 May 24
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Audience engagement Marketing Social media Digital Content
  1. Set up your Substack for easy discovery. Choose a memorable name and personalize it to make your audience feel at home.
  2. Create your first post to introduce yourself and what you’ll offer. This helps new subscribers know what to expect from you.
  3. Use your TikTok platform to promote your Substack. Share updates and links to engage your followers and grow your community.

Must Learn AI Security Compendium 12: Red Teaming Strategies for Safeguarding Large Language Models and Their Applications

Rod’s Blog • 59 implied HN points • 17 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Machine Learning AI Cybersecurity Artificial Intelligence Security
  1. Red teaming is crucial for identifying vulnerabilities and strengthening the defenses of AI systems like large language models.
  2. Large language models, while powerful, are not immune to vulnerabilities such as manipulation by malicious actors or amplification of biases.
  3. Effective red teaming involves systematic approaches like threat modeling and penetration testing, and collaboration between red and blue teams is key for a comprehensive defense strategy in AI security.

Advertisers won’t be guilted into funding news

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 224 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
💼 Business Media Activism Monetization News Advertising
  1. Advertisers won't easily fund news due to activist campaigns pressuring them to choose where ads appear.
  2. The use of keyword blocklists by advertising agencies has made it difficult to monetize hard news through advertising alone.
  3. Organizations are urging brands to support trusted news sites to ensure journalism is adequately funded, but the path forward is challenging.

Amazon's $43B ad business, explained

SatPost by Trung Phan • 329 implied HN points • 01 Sep 23
💼 Business Advertising Investing Tech Digital E-commerce
  1. Amazon's ad business has grown significantly, reaching a revenue run rate of $43 billion annually, surpassing other social media platforms.
  2. Amazon's shift towards embracing ads was influenced by the need to reduce dependence on Google search slots and utilize its valuable first-party transaction data.
  3. Amazon ads have become highly profitable and could rival its AWS business in terms of generating absolute profits, signaling a significant shift in the digital advertising landscape.

Custom bots for teaching classes

Solresol • 19 implied HN points • 02 Apr 24
🕹 Technology Bots Education
  1. Custom bots can be helpful for teaching classes by allowing students to ask questions about the content and assessments.
  2. Setting up custom bots for teaching is relatively easy, but there may be equity-of-access issues for students who do not have access to certain tools.
  3. One consideration when using custom bots in teaching is transcribing lectures with technical terms to ensure students understand the content.

Disney's ~$4B Acquisition That (Probably) Saved The Company

SatPost by Trung Phan • 79 implied HN points • 25 Jan 25
💼 Business Streaming services Mergers & Acquisitions Entertainment industry Corporate strategy Market Trends
  1. Disney made a smart $4 billion purchase of BAMTech to help launch Disney+ and compete with Netflix. This move was key for its success in the streaming market.
  2. BAMTech was originally part of MLB and became a leader in streaming technology, proving essential for Disney's various streaming services like ESPN+ and Hulu.
  3. Disney's pivot to streaming was risky but necessary, as it allowed the company to adapt to changing media trends and focus on digital content, which is now vital for its growth.

3rd Look at Local Housing Markets in October

CalculatedRisk Newsletter • 9 implied HN points • 17 Nov 25
💰 Finance Housing Market Real Estate Sales trends Market Analysis
  1. In October, home sales were down slightly by 0.3% compared to last year, even though they had increased by 8% the previous month. This shows that the housing market is facing some slowdowns.
  2. New home listings rose by 5.2% compared to last year, but they are still lower than levels seen in 2019. This suggests there's a cautious approach among sellers in the market.
  3. Active inventory of homes available for sale increased by 17.3% year over year, indicating more options for buyers. However, the growth is slightly lower than the previous month's increase.

Microsoft Sentinel SOC 101: How to Detect and Mitigate Botnet Attacks with Microsoft Sentinel

Rod’s Blog • 59 implied HN points • 16 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Cybersecurity Threat intelligence Automation Collaboration Analytics
  1. Botnet attacks can be detrimental to network security by causing massive disruptions through DDoS attacks, data theft, and malware distribution.
  2. Microsoft Sentinel provides advanced AI and machine learning capabilities to detect and mitigate botnet attacks effectively, offering features like threat intelligence integration and automated incident response.
  3. Organizations can enhance botnet detection with Microsoft Sentinel by setting up custom alerts, regularly updating systems, implementing strong access controls, and collaborating with security teams for threat intelligence sharing.

Must Learn AI Security Compendium 11: Threat Modeling AI/ML Systems

Rod’s Blog • 59 implied HN points • 16 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Machine Learning Security AI Data Poisoning
  1. Threat modeling is crucial for identifying and mitigating security threats in AI/ML systems by adopting the perspective of an attacker and uncovering vulnerabilities.
  2. Key considerations in threat modeling for AI/ML systems include data poisoning, adversarial perturbation, model extraction, and membership inference attacks.
  3. To protect AI/ML systems, organizations should implement mitigation strategies like robust data validation, adversarial training, access controls, and privacy-preserving techniques.

How Mercury is winning startup banking with a $3.5 billion valuation through clear positioning and community led growth 🪐

the case for brand 💼 • 29 implied HN points • 25 Jul 25
💼 Business Fintech Startup Marketing Branding Community
  1. Mercury focuses on making banking easier for startup founders. They know that founders need not just good tools, but inspiration and connection to build their businesses.
  2. Building a strong community is key for Mercury. They treat their customers like a community and create events that help founders connect and learn from each other.
  3. Mercury stands out in a low-trust industry by offering a delightful user experience. Their clear communication and useful resources make customers feel valued and respected.

Choosing the right UX metrics - Part 1

UX Psychology • 119 implied HN points • 20 Sep 22
🕹 Technology UX Design User Experience Product Analytics Feature Prioritization Metrics
  1. UX metrics are vital for making evidence-based UX decisions instead of relying on opinions and beliefs.
  2. Using a combination of attitudinal and behavioral metrics can provide a comprehensive understanding of user experience.
  3. The HEART framework - Happiness, Engagement, Adoption, Retention, and Task Success - offers a structured way to select and track UX metrics for data-driven decision-making.