The hottest Substack posts right now

according to Hacker News
Category

Moving On

Software Design: Tidy First? • 1281 implied HN points • 10 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Experiments Software Design Innovation Development
  1. It's important to recognize when to move on from a project that isn't working. You don't have to stick with something just because you've already invested time or resources into it.
  2. Balancing between believing in your ideas and treating them as experiments is key. If something isn't getting good feedback, it's okay to change direction and try something new.
  3. Using timeboxing can help you make better decisions about projects. Setting a time limit lets you step back and reconsider if it's worth continuing or if you should explore other options.

Ranking the Chinese Open Model Builders

Democratizing Automation • 356 implied HN points • 17 Aug 25
🕹 Technology Innovation AI Open Source Machine Learning Research
  1. China's AI labs are rapidly releasing open models, showing strong competition with Western counterparts. Labs like DeepSeek and Qwen are leading the pack with frequent and high-quality outputs.
  2. DeepSeek is known for its innovative models and focus on performance, but its recent slower release pace has allowed other labs to catch up. They aim for continual improvement and impactful contributions.
  3. Other emerging companies like Moonshot AI and Zhipu are also gaining ground, offering competitive models and partnering with tech giants for investments. They are expected to grow and possibly reshape the AI landscape.

Career Architecting.

The Future Does Not Fit In The Containers Of The Past • 68 implied HN points • 21 Dec 25
💼 Business Careers Change Management Talent Leadership Networking Personal Branding
  1. Use the nine-word exercise (three words for niche, three for voice, three for story) to clarify who you are and uncover a core expertise to build your career around.
  2. Reframe that expertise into specific solutions customers need and build credibility by continuously learning and sharing proof through content, speaking, and advisory work so those activities create a reinforcing flywheel.
  3. Be generous in partnering to grow a strong network, and shore up financial resilience by cutting costs and adding income streams so you can take risks and reinvent gradually over a long career.

So, here we are ...

Tim Culpan’s Position • 19 implied HN points • 30 Aug 24
🕹 Technology Tech news Career Asia Journalism Media
  1. The author recently left a long career at Bloomberg and started a Substack to stay connected with followers. They weren't expecting such a positive response with many signing up and offering financial support.
  2. The author values their audience and will focus on Asia's technology scene moving forward. They want to keep their readers engaged with honest and critical insights.
  3. The author is interested in feedback and has created a poll to understand what their audience wants. However, they hint they'll ultimately follow their own path regardless of the results.
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Headway

First 1000 • 943 implied HN points • 05 Oct 23
💼 Business Marketing
  1. Testing simple things can be valuable.
  2. Utilizing social proof on landing pages can be effective.
  3. It's not always necessary to go against the grain.

IEEE-754: THE floating-point standard

Fprox’s Substack • 124 implied HN points • 22 Nov 25
🕹 Technology Standards Computing Hardware Software Machine Learning
  1. IEEE-754 created a common binary floating-point standard that gives hardware and software consistent formats and behaviors, making numerical results more portable and predictable.
  2. Major revisions added practical features — notably the 2008 update introduced decimal formats, half-precision and the fused multiply-add (FMA) for better performance and accuracy, while later updates clarified edge cases and added augmented operations for exact-error reporting.
  3. Work is ongoing (including a 2029 revision and the P3109 effort for tiny formats), because emerging vendor-specific small formats for machine learning could fragment the ecosystem unless standards converge.

How Sony Mastered the Transistor

The Asianometry Newsletter • 1607 implied HN points • 07 Nov 24
🕹 Technology History Innovation Electronics Engineering Manufacturing
  1. Sony started from nothing after World War II, but two determined founders, Akio Morita and Masaru Ibuka, worked together to create innovative products like radios using new technology.
  2. They took a big risk by licensing transistor technology from Western Electric, believing it could change the way they made electronics, especially portable radios.
  3. Through trial and error, they learned how to produce reliable transistors and eventually created one of the first successful transistor radios, leading to the company's iconic brand name, Sony.

Data Science Weekly - Issue 553

Data Science Weekly Newsletter • 99 implied HN points • 27 Jun 24
🕹 Technology Data Engineering Artificial Intelligence Data science Data Visualization Machine Learning
  1. Data visualization can show important patterns, like changes in night and daylight globally. Understanding these trends helps us appreciate our environment better.
  2. In AI engineering, simplifying data preparation is crucial. Many new AI applications can be built without structured data, which might lead to rushed expectations about their effectiveness.
  3. Aquaculture technology is evolving with better methods to track and analyze fish behavior. New approaches like deep learning are making monitoring more accurate and efficient.

The Monetary Event Horizon

The Dollar Endgame • 938 implied HN points • 08 Jul 23
💰 Finance Interest Rates Debt Economy Government
  1. The U.S. national debt is skyrocketing due to increased government spending, tax cuts, and economic events like the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a staggering $32.47 trillion in debt and a rapid increase of over $1 trillion in just 34 days.
  2. As the U.S. debt continues to grow, the country is possibly entering a debt spiral where borrowing becomes necessary to fulfill existing financial obligations, potentially leading to an annual interest payment of $1.6 trillion at a 5% rate and putting the nation at risk of financial instability.
  3. Rising interest rates and debt levels could push the U.S. Treasury towards insolvency, with potential consequences including inflation and the need for severe fiscal austerity measures to mitigate the crisis, a situation further complicated by complex economic feedback loops.

2026 Predictions as a Comic Book and Poster Series

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 36 implied HN points • 26 Jan 26
🕹 Technology User Experience Product Design Generative AI Human factors Automation UX Research Artificial Intelligence
  1. AI capabilities are accelerating fast and will shift from chat tools to autonomous, multimodal agents that can plan and execute complex tasks, changing how work gets done.
  2. As raw model intelligence becomes commoditized, user experience and workflow design become the main product differentiators, with interfaces generated in real time and much more interactive image/video editing.
  3. The AI economy will polarize: compute scarcity and subscription tiers create a two‑class system, single‑mode providers face consolidation, and model‑level dark patterns raise new oversight and defense needs.

How to Build a Company that OpenAI/Google Can't Eat

FutureIQ • 3 implied HN points • 13 Mar 26
💼 Business Partnerships Strategy Startups Healthcare AI Data
  1. Trust wins in high-stakes fields: using credentialed sources and training models only on vetted, domain‑specific literature (not the open internet) makes professionals trust the system and cuts hallucinations.
  2. Own exclusive data and build a flywheel: getting top practitioners and journals to use and partner creates unique, high‑quality signals that improve the product and attract more users and partners.
  3. Capture tacit, time‑sensitive context to monetize defensibly: real‑time usage data and tight integrations let you offer services big generalist models can’t replicate, creating a deep, hard‑to‑clone moat.

Reinforcement learning with random rewards actually works with Qwen 2.5

Democratizing Automation • 633 implied HN points • 27 May 25
🕹 Technology AI Research Computer Science Open Source Reinforcement Learning Machine Learning
  1. Reinforcement learning using random rewards can still improve performance in models like Qwen 2.5, even when the rewards aren't perfect. This suggests that the learning process is more flexible than previously thought.
  2. Qwen 2.5 and its math-focused variants show that they might use unique reasoning strategies, like code-assisted reasoning, that help them perform better on math tasks. This means they learn in ways that other models might not.
  3. The ongoing debate about the effectiveness of reinforcement learning with verifiable rewards (RLVR) highlights the need for further research. It also suggests that scaling up the use of reinforcement learning could lead to new behaviors in models, making them more capable.

"Here's the sad state of the cloud"

Cloud Irregular • 3696 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Data Privacy Tech Culture Tech industry Artificial Intelligence Cloud Computing
  1. The cloud landscape is shifting from big hyperscalers to more specialized services like standalone databases and DIY cloud-in-a-box.
  2. Using tools like Nightshade to protect art from being exploited by AI may not be the best strategy, focusing on creating original, high-quality art is key.
  3. Google, despite criticism, remains a significant player in the tech industry, seen as a symbol of intellectual prowess and innovation.

What Interviews Should I Look For?

Computer Ads from the Past • 384 implied HN points • 11 Aug 25
🕹 Technology Media Advertising History Computation Interviews
  1. The author is enjoying finding and sharing interesting interviews from old computer magazines. It's like digging for treasures from the past.
  2. The author is asking readers for suggestions on who they would like to see interviewed next. It’s a way to involve the audience in choosing future content.
  3. Readers are encouraged to share their thoughts in the comments. This helps create a community and shapes the direction of future posts.

Uber’s 2025 Reorg: Platform Strategy Meets Conway’s Law

Gad’s Newsletter • 70 implied HN points • 29 Dec 25
💼 Business Technology Architecture Leadership Strategy Org Design Product Platform
  1. Uber put Mobility, Delivery, and Autonomous units under one COO to build a single platform that shares data and cross-sells services, aiming to get customers to use both apps more often.
  2. The org change follows Conway’s Law: by redesigning reporting lines they’re steering the software toward shared identity, pooled supply, and unified data so cross-platform features like Uber One and contextual offers can work.
  3. Centralizing integration can speed cooperation but risks a slow monolith and lost local excellence, so Uber needs a strong shared platform with clear delegation and should watch cross-platform adoption, Uber One penetration, and contextual attach rates.

FUNDRAISING APPEAL

The J. Burden Show • 439 implied HN points • 13 Feb 24
💼 Business Fundraising
  1. The author is seeking donations to upgrade parts of their show despite its recent success.
  2. The author reinvests most of the money earned back into their business.
  3. Donations are not expected but would greatly improve the quality of the content.

Watching From Afar

Points And Figures • 479 implied HN points • 16 Jul 25
💼 Business Markets Finance Trading Corporate Governance Networking
  1. The CME trial highlights how traders and members suffered financially and emotionally when trading shifted to electronic platforms. Many had to sell their memberships and stocks to survive during tough times.
  2. Understanding different types of networks, like open and closed ones, is crucial in business. Closed networks can provide trust and stability, while open networks encourage competition and innovation.
  3. The way exchange boards operate can impact trust and progress. Members may lose confidence if the board lacks expertise or innovation, leading to a disconnect between the exchange's history and its current direction.

The rise of reasoning machines

Democratizing Automation • 570 implied HN points • 12 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Machine Learning Data science Software Development Computing AI
  1. Reasoning is when we draw conclusions based on what we observe. Humans experience reasoning differently than AI, but both lack a full understanding of their own processes.
  2. AI models are improving but still struggle with complex problems. Just because they sometimes fail doesn't mean they can't reason; they just might need new methods to tackle tougher challenges.
  3. The debate on whether AI can truly reason often stems from fear of losing human uniqueness. Some critics focus on what AI can't do instead of recognizing its potential, which is growing rapidly.

Data Update 5 for 2025: Profitability - The End Game for Business?

Musings on Markets • 479 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
💼 Business Corporate Finance Market Analysis Investment strategy Profitability
  1. Businesses should focus on profitability as their main goal, not just growth. It's important to make money to cover expenses and create value for the future.
  2. Measuring profitability can be tricky because different measures tell different stories about a company's health. Companies need to be compared properly to understand their true performance.
  3. Most companies struggle to earn profits that exceed their costs of capital, showing it can be tough to succeed in the business world today. Even in a competitive market, many companies fall short.

Channels, not Addresses

Philip’s Newsletter • 31 implied HN points • 28 Jan 26
🕹 Technology Networking AI Privacy Security Internet Decentralization Messaging
  1. The internet's address-based model lets anyone send messages to you uninvited, which enables spam, DDoS, stalking, and will get much worse with persuasive AIs.
  2. Creating shared private channels between people makes messaging a pull-based, encrypted inbox you control, so others can't overwhelm you and you can stop contact by deleting the channel.
  3. Simple relays only store and forward encrypted channel messages, letting many devices and servers carry traffic without reading it, which makes messaging decentralized, censorship-resistant, and usable even offline.

A Job at Microsoft: Getting and Passing the Interview

Rod’s Blog • 575 implied HN points • 04 Jan 24
💼 Business Interviewing Networking Professional Skills Career development
  1. Finding the right opportunity at Microsoft can be about letting things unfold naturally, embracing roles that align with your skills while leaving room for growth.
  2. Getting an interview at Microsoft often depends on having a strong advocate within the company willing to support and recommend you.
  3. During the interview process at Microsoft, showcasing a willingness to learn, sharing real-world experiences, and being prepared to discuss inclusivity can make a positive impact.

Data Science Weekly - Issue 547

Data Science Weekly Newsletter • 179 implied HN points • 17 May 24
🕹 Technology Data science Software Development Data Visualization Machine Learning AI
  1. Learning Rust programming can be made easy with exercises designed for beginners, even if you know another language already. You’ll work through small tasks to build confidence.
  2. Data scientists need to learn how to work with databases to scale their analytics. Many face challenges when transitioning to this part of their work.
  3. There are helpful tools, like Data Wrangler for VS Code, that simplify data cleaning and analysis. These tools help generate code automatically as you work with your data.

This number does nothing...

atomic14 • 346 implied HN points • 23 Aug 25
🕹 Technology Engineering Software Hardware Programming Gadgets
  1. The common baud rate of 115200 is often used in Arduino projects, but testing shows that actual data rates can be much higher on some newer boards, like the ESP32-S3.
  2. Using USB connections instead of traditional serial connections can lead to significantly faster data transfer speeds, sometimes reaching over 9.6 Mbit/s.
  3. Performance tests can vary, especially between different firmware versions, and while raw numbers are interesting, real-world performance can be quite different.

The Tech Founder & The Narcissistic Parent

Design is Love • 3 HN points • 25 Sep 24
💼 Business Startups Mindset Entrepreneurship Leadership Personal Development
  1. Narcissistic people can really bring you down and make you doubt your dreams. It's important to ignore their negative words and believe in yourself.
  2. Success often comes from hard work and resilience, not just connections. Keep pushing toward your goals even if others don’t support you.
  3. Finding your own worth is key to overcoming challenges. You should define your success, not let others tell you what it means.

DeepSeek: A Tragedy Foretold?

ChinaTalk • 1141 implied HN points • 31 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Open Source Regulations Innovation China tech AI
  1. DeepSeek is an open-source AI project in China that allows developers to use and build on its models for free. This supports the idea of sharing knowledge and innovation globally.
  2. Many Chinese tech leaders prefer closed-source models because they see open-source as less profitable. They believe it’s often not worth the investment when considering the costs involved.
  3. The Chinese government supports open-source initiatives to reduce dependence on foreign software, but there are concerns about how powerful AI could be regulated to ensure safety and control.

Issue #1 - We Need to Rethink Data

The Data Ecosystem • 259 implied HN points • 13 Apr 24
🕹 Technology Data Management Data Strategy Business Intelligence Analytics Information Systems
  1. The data industry is really complicated and often misunderstood. People usually talk about symptoms, like bad data quality, instead of getting to the real problems underneath.
  2. It's important to see the entire data ecosystem as connected, not just as separate parts. Understanding how these parts work together can help us find new opportunities and improve how we use data.
  3. This newsletter aims to break down complex data topics into simple ideas. It's like a cheat sheet for everything related to data, helping readers understand what each part is and why it matters.

On Techno-pragmatism

ailogblog • 579 implied HN points • 02 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Technology Ethics Social Change Pragmatism
  1. Techno-pragmatism offers a balanced approach to technology, acknowledging both its potential and risks.
  2. Pragmatism emphasizes action and adequacy, rejecting fixed principles and absolutes.
  3. In the face of uncertainty with emergent technologies like AI, a pragmatic mindset that prioritizes observation and experimentation is crucial.

Hands-on graphics without X11

Blog System/5 • 1240 implied HN points • 17 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Hardware Systems Software Graphics Programming
  1. Using NetBSD's wscons framework, you can access and manipulate the graphical framebuffer directly without needing X11. This lets programmers draw graphics in a simpler way.
  2. The architecture of wscons is structured in layers, making it possible to interact with various hardware devices uniformly. It ensures that both output and input devices work across different machines.
  3. You can handle keyboard input using a feature called wsmux, which allows you to manage multiple keyboard devices easily. It makes your program more robust if a keyboard isn't connected right away.

There are no moral laws out there

Optimally Irrational • 111 implied HN points • 28 Nov 25
📖 Philosophy Moral Psychology Metaethics Ethics History Political Philosophy Epistemology
  1. Moral realism is unlikely: there probably aren’t absolute moral laws that exist independently of us, since a naturalistic view gives no clear source or access to such outside moral truths.
  2. Major defenses of moral realism often just systematize our moral intuitions or assume values exist, leaning on appeals to consequences or preference rather than proving mind‑independent moral facts.
  3. Rejecting objective moral laws doesn’t imply moral anarchy: morality can be grounded naturalistically as evolved social rules and cooperative norms that guide behavior without needing metaphysical moral facts.

Moral puzzles: Man vs. machine

DYNOMIGHT INTERNET NEWSLETTER • 562 implied HN points • 19 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Future Technology Machine Learning Human Values Moral Philosophy AI Ethics
  1. Current AI can understand human values to some extent, but it may not cover all complex situations. It's crucial to keep testing AI's responses on moral questions.
  2. People's opinions on moral dilemmas can vary significantly, especially on more unusual scenarios. This highlights the complexity of human ethics.
  3. Readers recognized that their views might differ from the general population, showing self-awareness in moral reasoning. It's good to be mindful of how diverse perspectives can be.

The Product Development Triathlon

Software Design: Tidy First? • 1436 implied HN points • 06 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Innovation Product Design Software Development Project management User Experience
  1. Product development happens in three main phases: Explore, Expand, and Extract. Each part has its own challenges and ways to tackle them.
  2. You need different skills and tools for each phase. Trying to use expansion tools in exploration will slow you down.
  3. It's important to notice when you're transitioning between phases. Adapting quickly helps keep the project on track.

Simple Portfolios

Market Sentiment • 923 implied HN points • 16 Jul 23
💰 Finance Investing Funds Assets Diversification Portfolios
  1. Steve Edmundson's successful investment strategy was to do as little as possible, keeping costs low and not trying to beat the market.
  2. Investing doesn't have to be complicated - simple portfolios like the 60/40, Cockroach, and 3-Fund portfolios can be the foundation for long-term success.
  3. Ray Dalio's All Weather Portfolio aims to perform well over time without predictions, with an asset allocation of 55% bonds, 30% stocks, and 15% commodities.

Resilient Cyber Newsletter #4

Resilient Cyber • 79 implied HN points • 09 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Vulnerability Management Workforce Cybersecurity AI Regulation
  1. Cybersecurity roles are becoming more competitive, and many people want to join the field. It's important to have standards, but we also need to make sure newcomers have a chance to enter the profession.
  2. There's a huge increase in cybersecurity vulnerabilities, making it harder for companies to keep up. Organizations need better ways to manage these vulnerabilities to protect against attacks.
  3. The conversation around AI in cybersecurity is rising, with discussions on how to use it securely and the risks involved. Transparency is key to building trust, especially after high-profile breaches.

Some ideas for what comes next

Democratizing Automation • 529 implied HN points • 23 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Software Development Tech Trends AI Models Machine Learning Data science
  1. OpenAI's new model, o3, is really good at finding information quickly, like a determined search dog. It's unique compared to other models, and many are curious if others will match its capabilities soon.
  2. AI agents, like Claude Code, are improving quickly and can solve complex tasks. They have made many small changes that boost their performance, which is exciting for users.
  3. The trend in AI models is slowing down in terms of size but improving in efficiency. Instead of just making bigger models, companies are focusing on optimizing what they already have.