The hottest Technology Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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MCU land, part 10: blocks all the way down

lcamtuf’s thing • 1224 implied HN points • 20 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Graphics Audio
  1. Using a 32-bit MCU was necessary for storing graphics assets like bitmaps and ensured smooth gameplay.
  2. The display quality is not just about resolution; advancements in technology like camera sensors and display panels also play a crucial role.
  3. Game development on microcontrollers involves considerations like random number generation, handling rapid player inputs, and optimizing rotations for a smooth gameplay experience.

Getting started with live video

Substack • 446 implied HN points • 11 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Social media Streaming Content creation Audience engagement Digital marketing
  1. Live video is a great way to connect with subscribers in real time. You can share special moments or hold conversations to reach more people.
  2. Promote your live sessions ahead of time to build excitement, and after the session, share highlights on social media to engage a wider audience.
  3. Consistency is key. The more often you go live, the better chance you have to grow your audience and strengthen your relationship with subscribers.

What's Holding Up Progress?

In My Tribe • 410 implied HN points • 30 Oct 24
🕹 Technology AI Innovation Regulation Economics Transport
  1. Self-driving taxis could change the way we think about car ownership. They might make owning a personal car feel less safe over time.
  2. Many great ideas from the past are still unused because of rules and culture blocking them. There's a huge potential in reviving these old ideas in new ways.
  3. Regulations are slowing down progress, especially in Europe. The rules are making it harder for economies to grow, even though they should be benefiting from things like a big market.

Software Engineering Myths Wasting Your Time

Brain Bytes • 139 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Software Engineering
  1. Software engineering myths include the idea that you have to learn everything in the field, but it's more practical to focus on specific areas and have a general understanding of others.
  2. The belief that adding more programmers speeds up development isn't always true; it can lead to more delays due to increased need for communication and management.
  3. Software development involves more than just writing code; it includes tasks like planning, testing, deploying, and maintaining software.
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Where Was RDNA4 at AMD’s Keynote?

More Than Moore • 326 implied HN points • 06 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Hardware Software Gaming Electronics Artificial Intelligence
  1. AMD didn't announce RDNA4 at the CES keynote because they felt a short presentation wouldn't do it justice. They want to provide detailed information rather than leave people with questions.
  2. AMD plans to share more about RDNA4 through partners at CES, but a dedicated event will follow for an in-depth reveal. They are close to launch but wanted to wait for the right time.
  3. The naming scheme for new graphics cards will be clearer to help users make better comparisons. AMD aims to improve performance in key gaming areas and ensure good value for consumers.

NeoDesk, the Desktop Alternative for the Atari ST

Goto 10: The Newsletter for Atari Enthusiasts • 137 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Software Operating System Hardware Technology History
  1. NeoDesk was a desktop alternative for the Atari ST with enhanced features and better functionality.
  2. Key features of NeoDesk included improved memory usage, custom app icons, better window handling, and desktop background picture.
  3. NeoDesk versions like 3 and 4 continued to enhance functionality with features like low-resolution support, draggable dialog boxes, and drag-and-drop file launching.

Your Chatbot has Arrived

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 99 implied HN points • 26 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Chatbots Software Innovation Startups
  1. A new chatbot named KRUTRIM by Ola was launched in public beta. It aims to improve as feedback is gathered from users.
  2. The founder believes this chatbot will have fewer errors in Indian contexts compared to global platforms. They are committed to fixing any issues that arise.
  3. User feedback is encouraged to help make the chatbot better over time, highlighting the importance placed on community input.

Who Runs the World?

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 99 implied HN points • 26 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Computing AI Software Hardware Data
  1. NVIDIA is a major player in the tech industry, affecting many computer companies worldwide. They've made big strides in both hardware and software for computing and AI.
  2. The company's recent financial success is impressive, with revenue growing significantly compared to last year. This shows that more businesses and industries are adopting their technology.
  3. NVIDIA's growth signals a shift to a new era in computing. Many experts believe we are entering a transformative phase in technology.

The Sequence Engineering #671: How Anthropic Built a Research Agent?

TheSequence • 140 implied HN points • 25 Jun 25
🕹 Technology AI Research Software Engineering Computing
  1. The Research feature in Claude allows AI to handle complex research tasks better by using a multi-agent system. This means that different AI agents can work on separate parts of a question at the same time.
  2. A LeadResearcher controls the process by breaking down a user's question into a plan and assigning tasks to specialized Subagents. This helps the system gather more information efficiently.
  3. Each Subagent does its job—like searching online or analyzing data—and sends back its results to the LeadResearcher, who then puts everything together into one clear report.

Expansion hack: Yuna Remix (Saturn)

Rings of Saturn • 14 implied HN points • 05 Jan 26
🕹 Technology Gaming Hardware Software Reverse Engineering Modding Emulation
  1. The game includes a Bonus Mode unlocked by the SBOM Joycard on the Options screen, which lets you view the game’s movies, images, and sound clips for each section. That hardware check can be patched to always enable Bonus Mode so you don’t need the special controller.
  2. There’s also a hidden graphical debug menu that lets you jump to cutscenes, pick courses, play music, and load battles. It’s not reachable in normal play but can be unlocked by changing a memory check to the required value.
  3. Community patches make both Bonus Mode and Debug Mode easy to access without special hardware or deep hacking by replacing those runtime checks with static values. Those patches and instructions are publicly available so players can try the menus themselves.

Ann Arbor Software's Textra Word Processing

Computer Ads from the Past • 128 implied HN points • 02 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Software Computers History Innovation Reviews
  1. Textra was a budget-friendly word processing software that provided many essential features for users without the high price of competitors. It became popular due to its easy-to-use design.
  2. The software had a reliable reputation for customer service, often going the extra mile to resolve issues and satisfy users. This level of care helped it stand out in the market.
  3. Even though Textra did not have all the features of more expensive options, it served well for basic word processing needs, making it a favorite among families and small businesses.

📞 The Magic Hotline: Talk to Substack Sam!

The Cosmopolitan Globalist • 3 implied HN points • 14 Feb 26
🕹 Technology Product Platforms Software UX Mobile Podcasting Payments
  1. A live webinar with Substack engineer Sam Sudar is scheduled for Monday, February 16 at 11:30 AM Pacific, giving readers a chance to ask about the platform directly.
  2. You can ask about features, bugs, billing, podcasting, notifications, and design issues, and if you can’t join live you can leave questions in the comments for the host to ask.
  3. The Zoom link and some event access are behind the paywall, and subscribing also gives access to archives, podcasts, classes, group chats, and an upcoming symposium tomorrow at 4:30 PM Paris time.

CROSSPOST: LEIF WEATHERBY: Our Spreadsheet Overlords

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 146 implied HN points • 09 Jun 25
🕹 Technology AI Data Automation Bureaucracy Engineering
  1. AI tools like ChatGPT are often seen as super smart, but they're really just advanced digital bureaucrats. They help manage data and tasks but can hide errors behind a layer of complexity.
  2. Relying too much on AI can lead us to overlook its limitations. It doesn't think like humans; it's more about processing and translating data rather than genuine understanding.
  3. There's a risk in using AI for important tasks without careful oversight. As it automates jobs and decision-making, we need to stay aware of the potential for misuse and the loss of human judgment.

SBOM Management

Resilient Cyber • 159 implied HN points • 18 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Cybersecurity Software Risk management Vulnerability Management Incident Management
  1. SBOMs, or Software Bill of Materials, list components of software products. They help organizations know what parts make up their software, which is important for security.
  2. The NSA offers guidelines for managing SBOMs, emphasizing the need for both software suppliers and consumers to take security seriously. Suppliers should be transparent and accountable, while consumers should ensure their suppliers follow good security practices.
  3. Organizations need effective SBOM tools that can manage and analyze software components, detect vulnerabilities, and facilitate easy reporting. These tools should also be user-friendly to help teams work efficiently.

Did OpenAI Just Solve Abstract Reasoning?

AI: A Guide for Thinking Humans • 344 implied HN points • 23 Dec 24
🕹 Technology AI Machine Learning Computing Data science Research
  1. OpenAI's new model, o3, showed impressive results on tough reasoning tasks, achieving accuracy levels that could compete with human performance. This signals significant advancements in AI's ability to reason and adapt.
  2. The ARC benchmark tests how well machines can recognize and apply abstract rules, but recent results suggest some solutions may rely more on extensive compute than true understanding. This raises questions about whether AI is genuinely learning abstract reasoning.
  3. As AI continues to improve, the ARC benchmark may need updates to push its limits further. New features could include more complex tasks and better ways to measure how well AI can generalize its learning to new situations.

Round-Up of Embedded World 2024

burkhardstubert • 59 implied HN points • 22 Apr 24
🕹 Technology Embedded Systems IOT Cybersecurity Software Development Conferences
  1. Software updates are important for devices, and using smaller application updates instead of large full updates can save time and bandwidth. It's a smart way to keep devices running smoothly.
  2. Manufacturers need to focus on creating simple, secure solutions for managing software updates and cryptographic keys to comply with new regulations like the EU Cyber Resilience Act.
  3. New companies like QBee and Crypto Quantique are developing innovative tools for secure OTA updates, which help manufacturers manage their devices more effectively and meet security standards.

Data Science Weekly - Issue 507

Data Science Weekly Newsletter • 279 implied HN points • 11 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Data science Machine Learning Artificial Intelligence Data Engineering Big Data
  1. Large Language Models (LLMs) can take over some data tasks, but they won't replace all data jobs. Many tasks still need human insight and specialized skills.
  2. Understanding machine learning theory takes a long time, but in the industry, practical implementation is often more important. It's crucial to balance theory and hands-on skills.
  3. The new field of mechanistic interpretability is growing. Researchers are looking at how models learn and generalize, aiming to make sense of how AI works.

The Cogsec Chronicles

Investing 101 • 96 implied HN points • 02 Aug 25
🕹 Technology AI Psychology Information Cognition Propaganda
  1. Cognitive security, or cogsec, is about protecting your mind from manipulation. It's important to actively choose your beliefs instead of letting outside influences shape them.
  2. Propaganda has been around forever and can be used for good or bad. The key is to be aware of the stories being told and to take responsibility for the narratives we accept.
  3. Writing and critical thinking are powerful tools for understanding and transforming our beliefs. Engaging deeply with ideas helps us resist being programmed by others.

Simplify Your Writing Process with Quarto

Mindful Modeler • 319 implied HN points • 11 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Technical Writing
  1. Use Quarto to simplify writing processes by integrating code with text in markdown format.
  2. Ensure your writing is version-controlled for peace of mind and use one source format for multiple outputs.
  3. Quarto allows you to write in a markdown file format (.qmd), which can be easily converted to various forms like ebooks, reports, or websites.

Moving From Natural Language Understanding To Mobile UI Understanding

Cobus Greyling on LLMs, NLU, NLP, chatbots & voicebots • 19 implied HN points • 11 Jul 24
🕹 Technology AI Machine Learning User Interface Natural Language
  1. Natural Language Understanding (NLU) helps machines grasp and respond to human language, making sense of unstructured conversations.
  2. The shift to Mobile UI Understanding means we are now focused on understanding what's on mobile screens instead of just conversations.
  3. The Ferret-UI model enables devices to interact with users in a more meaningful way, allowing for richer and more context-aware conversations.

Create good problems to have

Subconscious • 830 implied HN points • 26 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Innovation Tech Culture Community Building Complex Systems Social Networks
  1. Create good problems to have after the flywheel is already spinning, during rapid growth, which motivates the ecosystem to solve problems.
  2. Avoid building perfect technology as it leads to front-loading work, needing an ecosystem flywheel, and inability to anticipate scale problems.
  3. Creating good problems to have encourages co-evolution with the community and provides opportunities for others to contribute.

Primordial USB on Atari 8-bits

Goto 10: The Newsletter for Atari Enthusiasts • 117 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Computers Connectivity Design History
  1. Atari 8-bit computers were more advanced than other personal computers of the late 1970s, with superior graphics and design.
  2. Atari used a well-designed Serial Input/Output (SIO) connector for peripherals, allowing easy connection and daisy-chaining of devices.
  3. The Atari SIO connector, developed by Joe Decuir, served as a predecessor to the USB standard due to its single-port, plug-and-play design.

#4 Prototyping / Pre-Order Campaign

Mountain Labs Newsletter • 39 implied HN points • 27 May 24
🕹 Technology Prototyping Product Development Hardware Startups Innovation
  1. Mountain Labs successfully got 77 pre-orders for their Air Quality Monitor in just 6 weeks. This is a good sign of interest from customers.
  2. They have a clear prototyping process, starting from a breadboard to a punched-card prototype, before making the final PCB design. Each step helps them test and improve their product.
  3. Collecting pre-orders helps Mountain Labs plan their first batch of manufacturing. They aim to sell the product at $99, making it affordable for many people.

Shaping Light, Visualizing Sound, and The Generative Shift

Generative Arts Collective • 131 implied HN points • 21 Jun 25
🕹 Technology AI Creative Coding Generative Art Digital Media Programming
  1. AI is changing how we create art and media by combining different styles and concepts to make something new. This gives more people the tools to express their creativity.
  2. Even though AI can generate impressive content, it lacks genuine human experience and thought. True creativity and original ideas still come from human minds.
  3. As technology evolves, society will need to adapt how we understand and engage with artistic expression. This shift may lead to exciting new forms of entertainment and creativity.

Import AI 326:Chinese AI regulations; Stability's new LMs If AI is fashionable in 2023, then what will be fashionable in 2024?

Import AI • 279 implied HN points • 24 Apr 23
🕹 Technology AI Regulations Open-source models Language Models
  1. Effective AI policy requires measuring AI systems for regulation and designing frameworks around those measurements.
  2. Chinese generative AI regulations aim to exert control over AI-imbued services and place more responsibility on providers of AI models.
  3. Innovations like StableLM in open-source models and the use of synthetic data can lead to improved AI model performance.

Under the microscope: Jet Moto 3 (PlayStation)

Rings of Saturn • 29 implied HN points • 27 Nov 25
🕹 Technology Reverse Engineering Software Gaming Programming Tools Security
  1. Ghidra and a small Python script were used to reverse‑engineer the game's cheat system by mapping letters to PlayStation controller button bit patterns, which let the author extract the actual button combos for each code.
  2. Many decoded codes reliably unlock content or change gameplay — for example EVERYTHING unlocks nearly everything, ALLTRAC adds bonus tracks, SEASONS opens Season levels, and other codes enable turbo, camera modes, and special hops — and some codes must be entered at the title screen while others work during play.
  3. Not every discovered code has a visible effect: several camera codes do nothing, STUNT and RACE appear unused, and some cheats have prerequisites (e.g., COP requires unlocking Granny), so results vary by code.

UX Roundup: How People Use AI | AI Does User Research | Founding Designers | Prompt Engineering | AI Agent Use Cases | Electricity Fuels AI | GPT 5.2 Beats Humans

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 23 implied HN points • 15 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence User Experience User Research Interaction Design Product Design Compute Infrastructure
  1. Workers are already using AI a lot — often secretly — so product design must support both automation and collaboration, teach prompting, and give users control (especially for creative workflows that need canvas-style UIs and curator tools).
  2. AI can run and analyze large-scale interviews, turning qualitative insights into quantifiable themes and making researchers into orchestrators, but agent behavior and user needs change over time so longitudinal usability studies are essential.
  3. Simple persona prompts don’t improve factual accuracy, yet models and costs are improving rapidly — cutting task costs and enabling AI to outperform experts on many half-day tasks — so designs and infrastructure (including power capacity) must evolve quickly.

Tech in 2025: Infrastructure, Innovation, and Integrity

philsiarri • 22 implied HN points • 11 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Hardware Infrastructure Cloud Services Consumer Tech Gaming Semiconductors Sustainability
  1. AI became everyday infrastructure: agentic systems and wider GPU access made generative tools and smarter search part of normal workflows.
  2. Big hardware launches — like the NVIDIA RTX 5090, Galaxy Z Fold 7, and Switch 2 — pushed performance and helped new device formats reach mainstream appeal.
  3. The year favored steady integration over sudden disruption, with sustainability shifting from an aspiration to an industry requirement.

🧪⚛🧬 Broken promises: CHIPS Act funding for science research falls short

Faster, Please! • 822 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Research Economics Policy AI Health
  1. Despite promises made in the CHIPS and Science Act, Congress significantly underfunded key agencies and programs for scientific research, hindering progress in fields like artificial intelligence.
  2. Investment in basic scientific research, often a public good with long-term benefits beyond immediate financial gains, is essential for innovation and societal advancement.
  3. Government-funded R&D has historically played a crucial role in business sector productivity growth, supporting the argument for increased federal spending on research and development.

Generative AI, Bullshit as a Service

The Algorithmic Bridge • 891 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Ethics Creativity Writing
  1. Generative AI technology is often used for negative purposes like spamming, cheating, and faking.
  2. The democratization of creative freedom through AI may not be beneficial as it can lead to misuse by those who don't truly value it.
  3. Despite the potential of AI to revolutionize the world, its primary current use is for mundane and simplistic tasks, highlighting the complexities and limitations of humanity.

Spreadsheet, Not Skynet: Microdoses, Not Microprocessors

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 130 implied HN points • 24 Jun 25
🕹 Technology AI Economy Data Innovation Impact
  1. AI tools like GPT are not as powerful as some say; they're more like useful spreadsheets than super intelligent machines. This means their impact on the economy is real but not world-changing.
  2. The benefits of AI on human welfare will be positive but limited. It's important to use AI wisely and not let it distract us.
  3. AI models are great for processing language, but they aren't complex enough to be truly revolutionary. They function similarly to simple input-output machines rather than groundbreaking technologies.