The hottest Substack posts right now

according to Hacker News
Category

Shut up and Build!

Play Permissionless • 99 implied HN points • 12 Jan 23
💼 Business Income Entrepreneurship Product Development Startups
  1. Focusing on building and taking action can lead to concrete results and improvements in income.
  2. Building a service first, then turning internal tools into standalone products can provide value and stable cash flow.
  3. Taking a step back from the 'indie hacker game' mindset and following a proven playbook of service-oriented growth can lead to more sustainable success.

Internet Independence Day

Alex's Personal Blog • 32 implied HN points • 01 Jul 25
🕹 Technology AI Cryptocurrency Web Development Internet
  1. Cloudflare's new 'Pay Per Crawl' system lets websites charge AI bots to access their content. This could change how the internet works, making it easier for sites to earn money from their information.
  2. California's pension fund, CalPERS, is facing issues due to poor-performing investments in venture capital. Many retired workers are concerned that their pensions may be affected by these losses.
  3. Salesforce is becoming more efficient by using AI tools, which could significantly improve productivity. This efficiency may help the company grow revenues without needing as many workers.

How I Self-Published My Book In 4 Months

The Uncommon Executive • 19 implied HN points • 24 Mar 24
💼 Business Self-Publishing Publishing Editing Marketing
  1. Decide why you are writing a book - legacy, knowledge sharing, or business marketing are common reasons, not making money.
  2. When considering how to publish, options include traditional publishers, smaller publishing services, or self-publishing on platforms like Amazon Kindle.
  3. From writing to publishing a book, budget for costs like editing, proofreading, design, and consider the timeline - it took the author 4.5 months.

Google Developer Knowledge MCP, Linq $20M, FireCompass Explorer

The API Changelog • 1 implied HN point • 10 Feb 26
🕹 Technology Integration APIs AI Security Developer Tools Platforms
  1. APIs are becoming the primary interface for AI and autonomous agents, shifting design and product decisions away from human‑first experiences. This lets assistants live inside existing apps and enables real‑time capabilities like voice translation.
  2. As APIs power more automation, security risks and supply‑chain exposure grow—hidden endpoints and misconfigurations can leak credentials across systems. Teams need proactive, agentic testing and stronger access controls to find and fix shadow APIs before attackers do.
  3. Enterprises are packaging complex domains behind unified APIs and tools to make AI integration practical across industries. Measuring AI‑readiness and centralizing documentation and access is becoming essential for reliable, maintainable integrations.
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Ensemble Weather Forecast API

Open-Meteo • 351 implied HN points • 05 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Weather Documentation Models Forecasting API
  1. Ensemble weather forecasts show a range of possibilities, helping to understand the uncertainty in predictions.
  2. Weather forecasts differ in reliability based on location and weather patterns, affecting the level of uncertainty in predictions.
  3. The Ensemble API combines various weather models, providing access to different weather variables for various purposes.

Discovering Shopify Domains: A Journey Through Common Crawl Data

Ali's Tech Tales • 7 HN points • 17 Jun 24
🕹 Technology Web scraping Data processing
  1. Utilizing object storage like MinIO can streamline processes and reduce the amount of code needed for handling large data sets efficiently.
  2. Efficiently processing large volumes of data using multiprocessing in Python can significantly speed up tasks like parsing vast numbers of URLs in parallel.
  3. By merging dictionaries containing hostnames and then splitting them into manageable chunks, it's possible to handle huge amounts of data effectively, such as discovering over 140 million unique website hostnames.

What I'm preparing for in 2025

next big thing • 76 implied HN points • 08 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Efficiency Hardware Startups Crypto AI
  1. AI is becoming a big part of software development, allowing small teams to create successful products quickly and efficiently. By 2025, we will see a lot more companies thriving because of this.
  2. We are moving towards using AI not just as helpers but as real team members. In 2025, AI will be more about collaboration rather than just assistance.
  3. There will be breakthroughs in other technologies like healthcare or energy that could surprise us, just as AI did in the past. These advancements will create new opportunities for startups.

The Alliance for the Future Manifesto

From the New World • 199 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Open Source Regulation AI Work National Security
  1. The Alliance for the Future opposes blind panic and over-regulation around artificial intelligence, aiming to educate and advocate for the benefits of AI in society and politics.
  2. AI is a process, not an object, and regulating it is complex and infeasible. History shows that negative actions should be condemned, not the technology itself.
  3. Encouraging open source development in AI can lead to a diverse range of models, efficient training, and easier detection and prevention of issues, benefitting all involved.

Under the microscope: Beach Spikers (GameCube)

Rings of Saturn • 29 implied HN points • 12 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Game design Cheat Codes Gaming
  1. You can unlock all player customizations in Beach Spikers by entering the name 'VDF5PS'. This gives you access to special uniforms and character designs.
  2. The game has hidden player names that are like secret codes to unlock features. 'ARKATA', 'JUSTICE', and 'DAYTONA' are some, but 'VDF5PS' is the big one everyone missed.
  3. While the game's controls could be better, it still has a fun appeal for those patient enough to explore all its hidden features and cool outfits.

$1 Million Newsletter & Niche Startup Ideas: This Week's Startup Digest!"

startupsemail • 39 implied HN points • 16 Dec 23
💼 Business Marketing Technology Finance Startups Entrepreneurship
  1. Starting a successful business can happen unexpectedly but requires strategic planning and market understanding.
  2. Utilize personal brand and network to effectively market a business, showing the power of credibility and community.
  3. Diversify revenue streams in a content-driven business for sustainability and growth.

Want to play AAA Games in Your Car?

More Than Moore • 233 implied HN points • 04 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Computing Hardware Gaming Automotive
  1. At CES, AMD announced new automotive APUs for in-car entertainment, driver safety, and autonomous driving.
  2. The new AMD chips support a gaming experience in cars, with potential for multiple displays and better graphics performance.
  3. AMD's acquisition of Xilinx enhances their presence in automotive technology, particularly in ADAS with their Versal AI Edge processors.

Orange Micro's OrangePC

Computer Ads from the Past • 256 implied HN points • 20 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Computers Emulation Performance
  1. Orange Micro's OrangePC was a hardware solution for Mac users to run DOS and Windows applications.
  2. OrangePC provided a Wintel-compatible computer with features like Pentium processors, sound emulation, and VGA support.
  3. Compared to software emulators like SoftPC, OrangePC offered faster performance and better integration between Mac and PC applications.

Synthesizing Introspection: The AI Mediated Self

Cybernetic Forests • 99 implied HN points • 04 Dec 22
🕹 Technology Self-care AI Ethics Artificial Intelligence Data Analysis
  1. The challenge of using AI for introspection is knowing what you are really asking and understanding the limitations of the technology.
  2. Conversing with AI to simulate interactions with younger versions of oneself may not provide personalized or beneficial insights.
  3. Relying on AI for deep introspection or personal growth may present risks of misunderstanding, projection, and avoidance of true self-care.

Using LC0's WDL to Analyze Games

Chess Engine Lab • 19 implied HN points • 23 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Gaming Data Visualization Analysis Chess
  1. Analyzing chess games using LC0's WDL can provide a more insightful overview of the game compared to centipawn graphs.
  2. Increasing the number of nodes per move in analysis results in spikier graphs, showing more extreme evaluations; finding a balance between accuracy and relevance to human play is important.
  3. Using WDL contempt values in LC0 analysis can adjust the winning probabilities based on player ratings, offering a new perspective on game outcomes.

Talking Points Are Really "Demons"

Tessa Fights Robots • 23 implied HN points • 06 Aug 25
📖 Philosophy Energy Human behavior Spirituality Mind Control
  1. Talking points can affect people's minds deeply, making them feel misunderstood unless their viewpoint is echoed back to them. This shows a disconnect from true understanding.
  2. The idea of 'demons' here refers to negative thoughts or feelings that can take hold of people and influence their beliefs and actions, often fueled by external pressures and society's narratives.
  3. Being true to oneself and sharing original thoughts is important, as many people might feel pressured to conform to popular opinions or 'demons.' It's essential to be brave and express your unique voice.

Microsoft Security Copilot Demos from Microsoft Ignite 2023

Rod’s Blog • 39 implied HN points • 15 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Microsoft Conference Demo Security AI
  1. Microsoft Ignite 2023 highlighted the importance of securing AI and using AI for security, with these topics being top of mind for many organizations and individuals.
  2. The Microsoft Security Copilot, still in its early adopter program, was a popular topic at the event, drawing significant interest and overflowing demos.
  3. Key demo areas for Microsoft Security Copilot at Ignite included lifecycle workflows, sign-in logs, identity access troubleshooting, and risky user summary.

The First Act

Technically Optimistic • 39 implied HN points • 15 Dec 23
🕹 Technology AI Regulation Weather Forecasting
  1. The EU is close to finalizing AI regulation, but it's not a done deal yet. The rules won't go into effect until 2025.
  2. The AI Act introduces a risk-based approach categorizing AI systems into minimal, high, and unacceptable risk categories. It imposes strict requirements on high-risk systems.
  3. The regulation includes transparency requirements, penalties for non-compliance, and the right for consumers to launch complaints about high-risk AI systems.

Building a Better What's New Page for Microsoft Sentinel

Rod’s Blog • 59 implied HN points • 22 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Development Updates Community Software Tools
  1. Customers are frustrated with the outdated 'What's New' page in Microsoft Sentinel, which is lagging behind in updates.
  2. To address the issue, various sources like Microsoft Sentinel blog, community blogs, and Docs 'What's New' page are being utilized for the most current information on features and enhancements.
  3. Efforts are being made to convert the Docs 'What's New' page into Markdown using a PowerShell script for integration into Microsoft Sentinel workbooks, keeping the content up-to-date.

Let's get rid of security reviews

Frankly Speaking • 254 implied HN points • 16 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Software Engineering Security Agile practices Development
  1. The current security review process is outdated and not aligned with modern development practices.
  2. Implementing efficient and effective security measures may involve integrating software engineers with security teams.
  3. Scaling security efforts requires a rethink of traditional security review processes towards more collaborative and contextual approaches.

AI Safety: A Technical & Ethnographic Overview

jonstokes.com • 391 implied HN points • 30 Mar 23
🕹 Technology AI Ethics Intelligence Models Research
  1. The AI safety debate involves technical details about AI systems like GPT-4 and cultural dynamics around the issue.
  2. The discussion includes concerns about regulating and measuring AI capabilities, as well as the divisions and allegiances within different groups.
  3. Some groups, like the Intelligence Deniers, have strong beliefs about AI being a scam and hold firm against AI progress, leading to potential divisions among AI safety proponents.

Reading philosophy for the examples

Overthinking Everything • 419 implied HN points • 27 Feb 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics Analogies Human experience Examples
  1. Reading philosophy books can offer stellar examples that stand out and make you think beyond the theories presented.
  2. The examples in philosophy books can be more memorable and impactful than conceptual tools, helping to anchor thoughts and ideas in a relatable context.
  3. Stories in philosophy books, rich with human experiences, can provide valuable insights and prompts for reflection on ethical dilemmas and thought processes.

Murray Rothbard on Me and Vice Versa

David Friedman’s Substack • 269 implied HN points • 28 Oct 23
📖 Philosophy Legal Philosophy Libertarianism Moral Philosophy
  1. Murray Rothbard criticized support for government as an intellectual mistake, highlighting his approach to argument in libertarianism.
  2. Disagreement with Rothbard on producing libertarian law in an anarcho-capitalist society due to differing views on law development and enforcement.
  3. Rothbard and Ayn Rand shared similar styles and approaches in their political views despite disagreements, with Rothbard eventually satirizing Rand in a play.

Disinformation Handbook: A Concise Guide to Countering Disinformation (3)

Natto Thoughts • 39 implied HN points • 14 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Journalism Online Security Data journalism Media Manipulation Disinformation
  1. Understanding concepts and tactics associated with disinformation is crucial in countering its harmful effects.
  2. Detecting disinformation and avoiding manipulation involves learning from organizations and individuals who are actively working against it.
  3. Accessing resources such as handbooks, guides, and reports can provide valuable insights and strategies for countering and combating disinformation.

Applying AI where it matters

Engineering Enablement • 7 implied HN points • 26 Nov 25
🕹 Technology Software Engineering Developer Experience Artificial Intelligence Research AI safety Productivity
  1. Use a simple need-vs-use map to decide where to invest in AI, so you can spot high-need, low-use opportunities to build and high-need, high-use areas to harden.
  2. Developers welcome AI for repetitive operational work, use it cautiously for high-stakes technical tasks to reduce effort or check mistakes, and limit AI in mentoring or identity-defining work that requires human judgment.
  3. AI tools must be safe, reliable, private, transparent, and easy to control, with more experienced or AI-savvy developers especially valuing transparency and steerability.

6 Reasons Why Superintelligent AI Might NOT End Humanity

The Future of Life • 19 implied HN points • 22 Mar 24
🕹 Technology AI safety Machine Learning Ethics
  1. Superintelligent AI might naturally align with moral goodness. This is because as AI becomes smarter, it might understand and adopt moral values without needing direct human guidance.
  2. AI development could progress slower than we think. If it takes longer for AI to reach a superintelligent level, we could have more time to solve safety issues.
  3. Humans have worked together in the past to deal with big threats. There's a chance we could unite globally to address AI safety concerns if problems arise.

Naming risky situations

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 99 implied HN points • 03 May 23
📖 Philosophy Decision-making Epistemology Uncertainty
  1. The term 'risk' is often misunderstood and misused. Many people think it means a situation where we know some things but don't know the outcome, even though true risk is much rarer.
  2. Decision-making strategies designed for formal risk scenarios may not work well in real-life situations, which often involve many unknowns. This can lead to poor choices when we apply the wrong approach.
  3. Different people define 'risk' in various ways, which creates confusion in communication. It’s important to clarify what we mean when we talk about risk to make better decisions.

April Progress Prizes / Updates

Vesuvius Challenge • 38 implied HN points • 23 May 25
🕹 Technology Research Data science Engineering Software Algorithms
  1. New techniques for analyzing scroll shapes are improving the way we handle and segment data. This means we can understand and work with historical documents much better.
  2. There have been exciting updates in scroll deformation methods, which can help in restoring the original shapes of ancient scrolls. This makes analyzing them easier and more accurate.
  3. The new developments in fiber analysis provide important information that can help reconstruct ancient writing surfaces. This can lead to better ways to unroll and study papyrus materials.

Why your manager sucks [Finance Fridays]

Technology Made Simple • 99 implied HN points • 12 Nov 22
💼 Business Work Relationships Leadership Career development Management Organizational Culture
  1. The Dilbert Principle explains how incompetent employees may be promoted to management to get them out of the way.
  2. The Invisible Man Principle highlights how mediocre employees may end up in important projects when all the top performers are busy with other tasks.
  3. The Peter Principle shows that competent workers may be promoted until they reach a role where they struggle, impacting their career progression.

New newsletter, as suspicious of technology as ever

Technology, Environment, and Art • 39 implied HN points • 14 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Technological Impact AI Digital ethics Content creation Automation
  1. The author warns against AI and advocates for a cautious approach towards technology, believing AI is a significant danger to humanity
  2. Not all AI developments are beneficial; the author strongly objects to AI taking over creative tasks and emphasizes the importance of human connection over AI-driven efficiency
  3. The author calls for resistance against the advancement of AI, encouraging individuals to avoid AI tools and take a stand against the pervasive use of technology for the sake of genuine human interaction and creativity

Chinese AI’s Sputnik Moment

Taipology • 69 implied HN points • 24 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Innovation Research Open Source Computing AI
  1. DeepSeek-R1 is a new AI model from China that performs on par with top models at a much lower cost. This is surprising and changing the AI landscape.
  2. It uses a special 'DeepThink' mode that makes it think about responses more deeply, which helps it give better answers compared to other models.
  3. The competition is heating up, with concerns that Chinese AI could take over. DeepSeek aims not just to match the West but to innovate and lead in technology.

Claude Plays Pokémon

Teaching computers how to talk • 62 implied HN points • 28 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Innovation Gaming AI Research Metrics
  1. AI playing games like Pokémon can show us how smart it really is. It might be better than other tests because games need quick thinking and problem solving.
  2. Recent projects like Claude playing Pokémon on Twitch highlight how slow and confused current AI can be. It took Claude a long time to beat just one part of the game.
  3. Today's AI tests often focus on math or coding, but playing games might give a clearer picture of intelligence. We should use games to see if AI can think and adapt like humans do.