Technology Made Simple

Technology Made Simple explores a range of computer science concepts, software engineering careers, machine learning, tech industry insights, and programming interview tips. It offers deep, yet understandable insights targeting tech leaders, coders, and managers, with a focus on practical application in tech and enhancing career pathways.

Software Engineering Careers Machine Learning Tech Industry Insights Programming Interviews Computer Science Data Structures and Algorithms System Design Ethics in Technology Financial Aspects of Tech Career Development in Tech Artificial Intelligence Data Privacy and Security

The hottest Substack posts of Technology Made Simple

And their main takeaways

Understanding Branchless Programming [Technique Tuesdays]

119 implied HN points • 26 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Programming Performance Debate Complexity Optimization
  1. Branchless programming is a technique that minimizes the use of branches in code to avoid performance penalties.
  2. Branchless programming can offer optimization benefits, but its complexity can outweigh the performance gains and make code maintenance challenging.
  3. Simpler code is often better than overly complex code, and branchless programming may not be suitable for most developers despite its potential performance improvements.

The Ethics of GitHub Copilot [Storytime Saturdays]

259 implied HN points • 25 Dec 22
🕹 Technology AI Ethics Environmental Impact
  1. GitHub Copilot raises ethical questions in the tech industry, especially regarding its impact on the environment and privacy of developers.
  2. The use of AI models like Copilot can have substantial implications on society, requiring a thorough evaluation of their ethical considerations and potential flaws.
  3. While GitHub Copilot can aid developers in writing routine functions and offer insights into coding habits, it also poses challenges such as high energy costs, potential violations of licensing rights, and the risk of generating incorrect or insecure code.

An intro to the Normal Distribution [Math Mondays]

159 implied HN points • 23 May 23
🚌 Education Math Software Engineering Statistics Finance Technology
  1. The Normal Distribution is a probability distribution used to model real-world data, with a bell-shaped curve and key points located at the center.
  2. The Normal Distribution is essential as it is commonly used in various fields to model real-world phenomena, calculate probabilities, and make informed decisions in software development.
  3. Understanding and using the Normal Distribution in software can help in making approximations for performance, making the right sacrifices, and optimizing solutions based on real-world data.

What Musk and Zuckerberg should learn from McDonalds [System Design Sundays]

159 implied HN points • 22 May 23
🕹 Technology Social media Software Algorithm Business strategy
  1. Fast food companies like McDonald's struggled with the lack of differentiation and identity when trying to offer healthier options, leading to worse performance and higher operating costs.
  2. Adding more options in social media can increase complexity, operating costs, and dilute platform identity, similar to challenges faced by fast food companies.
  3. Different social media platforms are optimized for different content types, and integrating different mediums can complicate code bases and user experiences.

The lucrative business of lying to you about AI [Finance Fridays]

159 implied HN points • 20 May 23
💼 Business Technology Finance Media Marketing Influencers
  1. AI Misinformation, whether positive or negative, creates urgency, distorts expectations, and glamorizes certain factors to profit off misleading the public.
  2. Both AI hype and criti-hype follow a playbook of generating emotional responses in individuals to make sales, leading to financial gain for those spreading misinformation.
  3. Misinformation about AI can hide real issues within the system, making it challenging to address genuine concerns and improvements.
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Amazon Prime Video reduced costs by 90% by ditching Microservices [System Design Sundays]

159 implied HN points • 07 May 23
🕹 Technology System Design Microservices Architecture Scaling
  1. Amazon Prime Video saw a 90% cost reduction by moving away from Microservices to a monolith architecture. This change improved scalability and reduced infrastructure costs significantly.
  2. The challenges Amazon faced with their initial microservices implementation included hitting scaling limits and high overall costs of the system. Moving to a monolith architecture helped address these issues and allowed for better scaling.
  3. While the debate between Microservices and Monoliths continues, the decision should depend on factors like team size, emphasis on scale, and complexity. Microservices offer scalability but require careful planning, while monoliths are easier to design and manage.

Understanding Software Dependencies [Math Mondays]

99 implied HN points • 01 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Types Coding
  1. Software dependencies are vital relationships where one component relies on another to function properly.
  2. There are two types of software dependencies: direct dependencies, where we directly call packages, and transitive dependencies, where we indirectly use tools created by others.
  3. Improperly managed software dependencies can lead to conflicts and errors when updating or changing the software, creating what's known as Software Dependency Hell.

Elon Musk fighting Zuckerberg is a brilliant business move[Finance Fridays]

119 implied HN points • 24 Jun 23
💼 Business Finance PR Marketing Strategies Media
  1. Elon Musk uses strategic maneuvers and public challenges to distract from negative stories and generate attention, showcasing a clever business move.
  2. Public figures like Boris Johnson and SBF have similarly employed quirky behavior and distractions to cover up scandals and manipulate public perception.
  3. Media manipulation through humor and unexpected antics is a growing trend with profound implications, emphasizing the importance of being mindful of where attention is directed.

3 Common Statistical Biases Everyone Falls Prey To [Math Mondays]

139 implied HN points • 25 Apr 23
🔬 Science Statistics Bias Data Analysis
  1. Statistics can be misleading if affected by bias, which is a flaw in experiment design or data collection process.
  2. Biases affect everyone and can be exploited by manipulative individuals like politicians and salespeople.
  3. Common statistical biases include selection bias, recall bias, and observer bias, which can all be combated by slowing down and evaluating claims carefully.

A reading list of older articles to get you started

199 implied HN points • 04 Jan 23
🕹 Technology Math Techniques Finance Leadership Machine Learning
  1. The newsletter offers curated reading lists of older articles to help readers get started in understanding important concepts in Math and Computer Science, as well as tips for becoming a next-level tech professional.
  2. Technique Tuesdays focus on tricks and techniques to solve challenging problems, such as improving code comments and creating good documentation.
  3. Finance Fridays delve into the tech industry's financial aspects, covering topics like tech business models, personal finance tips, and how news from the tech industry affects your finances.

Math for Software Engineering[Math Mondays]

139 implied HN points • 21 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Mathematics Software Engineering Data Analysis Algorithms Machine Learning
  1. Linear Algebra is crucial for software engineers, especially for operations involving vector and matrix operations. Understanding the basics is key for most developers.
  2. Probability and Statistics play a significant role in analyzing data, and even non-AI professionals can benefit from grasping concepts like causal inference. Focus on foundational principles before diving deeper.
  3. Calculus, though important, may not be essential for all software engineers. Studying up to Calc-2 is generally adequate, as it appears in various other topics.

Understanding the Different Types of Transformers in AI [Math Mondays]

99 implied HN points • 11 Jul 23
🕹 Technology AI Deep Learning Neural Networks Machine Learning Natural Language Processing
  1. There are three main types of transformers in AI: Sequence-to-Sequence Models excel at language translation tasks, Autoregressive Models are powerful for text generation but may lack deeper understanding, and Autoencoding Models focus on language understanding and classification by capturing meaningful representations of input data.
  2. Transformers with different training methodologies influence their performance and applicability, so understanding these distinctions is crucial for selecting the most suitable model for specific use cases.
  3. Deep learning with transformer models offers a diverse range of capabilities, each catering to unique needs: mapping sequences between languages, generating text, or focusing on language understanding and classification.

Big Banks and Credit Unions- An overview[Finance Fridays]

119 implied HN points • 26 May 23
💰 Finance Banking Investing Personal Finance Comparison Financial Literacy
  1. Banks are for-profit while credit unions are non-profit. Credit union customers have more ownership and transparency in decision-making.
  2. Credit unions usually offer higher interest rates on savings and have lower fees compared to banks.
  3. Credit unions tend to be more flexible in customer service and product offerings, while banks typically have more branches and services.

How to be safe from infinite loops[Technique Tuesdays]

99 implied HN points • 28 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Coding Programming Software Engineering Cybersecurity Innovation
  1. The Jolt Approach provides a simple yet powerful method to detect and escape infinite loops by monitoring program progress and identifying loop iterations that produce the same state, which is an indication of being stuck in a loop.
  2. It's crucial to address the limitations of the Jolt Approach, especially in scenarios where programs cycle between different states, by implementing strategies like storing each state, breaking if a seen state recurs, and having code that accounts for these situations.
  3. To safeguard against infinite loops, ensure your code progresses in every step, have clearly defined exit strategies, use kill-switches like iteration limits, and implement thorough logging for observability.

3 quick tips on how to build more scalable systems [System Design Sundays]

119 implied HN points • 17 Apr 23
🕹 Technology System Design Scalability Engineering Software Architecture
  1. Location matters: Place software close to clients for faster response times using CDNs, edge computing, or geo-replication.
  2. Cache wisely: Optimize speed by using in-memory caching, database caching, or web caching to avoid repeated actions.
  3. Async is key: Improve efficiency with asynchronous processing through message queues, event-driven architectures, or microservices.

3 Techniques to help you optimize your code bases[Technique Tuesdays]

119 implied HN points • 26 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Coding Optimization Software Engineering Developer Tools
  1. Compile time evaluation can help execute functions at compile time instead of run time, saving memory and CPU time.
  2. Dead code elimination removes unused code, enhancing code readability and reducing executable size.
  3. Strength reduction is a compiler optimization technique that replaces expensive operations with simpler ones, making localized code changes easier.

The 3 Pillars of Observability in Distributed Software Systems[System Design Sundays]

99 implied HN points • 19 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Observability Metrics
  1. Observability in distributed software systems is crucial as they grow in complexity and scale.
  2. The 3 pillars of observability are logs, metrics, and traces, each offering unique insights into the system's operations.
  3. Combining logs, metrics, and traces is essential for building tools that enhance observability and improve system performance.

Google Cloud's Core Principles of System Design [System Design sundays]

59 implied HN points • 04 Sep 23
🕹 Technology System Design Cloud Computing Documentation Architecture
  1. A robust system design should be secure, reliable, scalable, and independent, allowing for iterative changes without disruption.
  2. Document everything to help visualize deployments, collaborate effectively, and guide future design decisions.
  3. Simplify system design, use fully managed services, decouple architecture, and strive for a stateless architecture to improve reliability and scalability.

Randomness- A billion dollar problem in Software Engineering [Math Mondays]

59 implied HN points • 22 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Software Math Computing Engineering Programming
  1. Randomness in software engineering introduces unpredictability and can be used for various reasons like generating different outputs and introducing randomness into systems.
  2. Careful consideration is needed when using randomness in software engineering to avoid security risks and unnecessary complexity.
  3. To test the randomness of a system, consider using Diehard tests, which are intuitive and effective in evaluating randomness.

Problem 85: Count Complete Tree Nodes [Amazon]

99 implied HN points • 04 May 23
🕹 Technology Coding Data Structures Algorithms Tech industry
  1. The post discusses Problem 85: Count Complete Tree Nodes [Amazon], focusing on recursion, trees, and data structures.
  2. It is about solving a problem related to counting the number of nodes in a complete binary tree efficiently.
  3. The post mentions the importance of community engagement in choosing problems to discuss and the growth of the author's newsletter.

Post Delay- Computer Issues

99 implied HN points • 10 May 23
🕹 Technology
  1. The author's post was delayed due to computer issues, but research is ready and will be posted as soon as the computer switches on again.
  2. The author appreciates the readers' understanding and assures that they will love the upcoming post.
  3. The post conveys a polite and transparent communication style, keeping readers informed about the delay and the situation.

The Pigeonhole Principle [Math Mondays]

99 implied HN points • 11 Apr 23
🚌 Education Math Computer Science Software Engineering
  1. The Pigeonhole Principle states that if you have more items than containers, at least one container must hold more than one item.
  2. In software engineering, the principle ensures the correctness and efficiency of algorithms, especially in large-scale system design.
  3. The Pigeonhole Principle can also be used to prove non-existence, such as showing the impossibility of a universal lossless compression algorithm.

3 Techniques to Make your Machine Learning more efficient[Technique Tuesdays]

99 implied HN points • 04 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Machine Learning AI Software Engineering Tech industry Data science
  1. Reducing the number of features in your data can improve performance and keep costs down in machine learning processes.
  2. Active learning focuses on prioritizing data points for efficient machine learning model training.
  3. Using filters and simpler models for specific tasks can lead to better performance and cost savings compared to always using large, powerful models in AI.

How your team can use Open Source to improve productivity [Storytime Saturdays]

99 implied HN points • 07 May 23
🕹 Technology Open Source Productivity Tech Giants Software Development Business strategy
  1. Open source solutions can provide quick fixes to problems many consider major. They are readily available and already in use by people.
  2. Business leaders and managers often underestimate the significance of open source in technology. It's a powerful resource that can greatly benefit organizations.
  3. Utilizing open source software has become crucial in the tech industry. Knowing how to leverage it can be a game-changer for tech leaders and businesses.

How to save your systems from collapsing- Graceful Degradation [Technique Tuesdays]

99 implied HN points • 03 May 23
🕹 Technology Software Design Web Development Software Engineering AI
  1. Graceful Degradation is a design principle that ensures systems maintain limited functionality even when parts are rendered inoperative.
  2. Implement the 80-20 principle while integrating Graceful Degradation to focus on backing up critical components and keeping systems active.
  3. Combine Progressive Enhancement with Graceful Degradation to provide essential content to all users while delivering the best possible experience to modern browsers.

Understanding Big Oh, Big Theta, and Big Omega Notations[Math Mondays]

99 implied HN points • 16 May 23
🕹 Technology Algorithms Computing Education
  1. Time complexity refers to the number of instructions a software executes, not the actual time taken to run the code.
  2. Three common asymptotic notations for computing time complexity are Big Oh, Big Theta, and Big Omega.
  3. Understanding time complexity bounds is essential in computer science and software engineering, as they are fundamental concepts that appear regularly.

[Solution]Problem 81: Daily Temperatures [Microsoft]

99 implied HN points • 31 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Coding Problem Solving
  1. The post discusses the problem of finding daily temperatures using a Monotonic Stack approach.
  2. By solving the problem of finding daily temperatures, it reinforces fundamental programming concepts and can help with technical interviews.
  3. The examples and constraints provided give a clear understanding of the problem and its requirements.

The Metaverse is a good business move[Finance Fridays]

179 implied HN points • 22 Oct 22
🕹 Technology AR/VR Social media Data Collection Engineering Skills Development
  1. The Metaverse is viewed as a beneficial business move, despite criticism from some sectors. It offers potential for immersive AR/VR experiences that could transform various industries.
  2. Critics raise concerns about the Metaverse's impact on mental health, utility versus costs, and accessibility to all. However, these challenges might not be as significant as initially perceived.
  3. Investing in the Metaverse could help Meta address its major challenges, create new revenue streams, and establish a unique position in the tech industry. Developing skills related to AR/VR and technology can potentially lead to opportunities in this evolving landscape.

The Network Effect- The phenomenon enabling trillion dollar social media industry [Math Mondays]

79 implied HN points • 20 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Mathematics Business Social media Software Engineering
  1. The Network Effect refers to a concept where the value of a product/service increases as more people use it, making the network more valuable for each participant.
  2. The power of the Network Effect can be understood mathematically; as more individuals join a network, the connections exponentially increase, making the system more useful for outsiders.
  3. Businesses/systems built around the Network Effect are powerful due to factors like increased value with more users, a growing network, and the ability to reshape industries and drive innovation.

4 hours of work for a promotion- How a Pintrest Android Engineer made waves with a weekend project[Storytime Saturdays]

59 implied HN points • 06 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Software Engineering Career development Side Projects Promotions Tech industry
  1. To stand out for promotions, focus on meaningful projects that showcase your skills and impact.
  2. Instead of waiting for approval, consider building a useful side project to demonstrate your value to your organization.
  3. By presenting a strong proof of concept project, you can negotiate effectively and secure impactful work opportunities for yourself.

The Secret Behind Great Hybrid Cultures- Harvard Business Review[Storytime Saturdays]

59 implied HN points • 30 Jul 23
💼 Business Remote work Leadership Productivity Professional development
  1. Remote work offers benefits like better employee satisfaction, flexibility, and cost savings.
  2. Hybrid work can be a good transition for organizations unsure about fully remote work, providing a balance between remote and in-person collaboration.
  3. Understanding and implementing great hybrid cultures can unlock productivity gains for teams and leaders.

A neat way to catch unrelaible data [Technique Tuesdays]

79 implied HN points • 07 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Machine Learning Software Engineering Computer Science
  1. Feature Drift occurs when the distribution of the features being tracked changes, and it is a subset of Data Drift.
  2. Detecting Feature Drift can be tricky when tracking numerous variables, potentially leading to detrimental outcomes over time.
  3. A technique to catch Feature Drift involves creating artificial target variables based on old and new data sets, then using a simple Supervised Learning algorithm to identify drifting features.

How to use Easy Leetcode Problems [Technique Tuesday]

259 implied HN points • 25 May 22
🕹 Technology Coding Interviews Learning Practice Tips
  1. Easy Leetcode problems are beneficial because they help you cover a lot of volume quickly, develop coding skills, and build familiarity with new concepts.
  2. Medium and hard Leetcode problems are important for improving problem-solving abilities and understanding how concepts can be applied in different contexts, but they require more time and energy to master.
  3. A balanced study plan that includes easy, medium, and hard questions can help you maximize your preparation for coding interviews, focusing on different aspects of learning and problem-solving.

An Amazon Sr. Manager's Guide to Managing AI Teams effectively [Storytime Saturdays]

79 implied HN points • 04 Jun 23
💼 Business Management AI Technology Finance
  1. Managing AI teams can be uniquely challenging due to the multi-disciplinary and opaque nature of the field, requiring robust systems to tackle.
  2. Gaining insights from experienced managers like Christopher Walton, who shares tips on effective AI team management, can help you stay ahead in the AI race.
  3. Learning from the experiences of others in areas like Leadership, Productivity, and Personal/Professional Development through stories can provide valuable lessons for your own growth.

5 Easy Tips for Writing Cleaner Code [Technique Tuesdays]

119 implied HN points • 11 Jan 23
🕹 Technology Coding Software Engineering Tips
  1. Clean code is essential for software engineering success, especially in large companies where code reviews play a crucial role in promotions.
  2. Using pure functions, named parameters, and meaningful variable names are key techniques to ensure cleaner code.
  3. Avoid hard-coding values and utilize default values to improve code readability, maintainability, and reduce complexity.

How to evaluate dependencies [Technique Tuesdays]

79 implied HN points • 30 May 23
🕹 Technology Software Development Dependencies
  1. Software dependencies are crucial relationships where one component relies on another for proper functioning, like an application using a library to interact with a database.
  2. Before choosing dependencies, it's important to read the documentation, inspect the code, evaluate project activity, and analyze project stats.
  3. Selecting dependencies is not a one-time decision; it's an ongoing assessment of costs and benefits, necessary for efficient software development.

The biggest mistake you're probably making for your Leetcode Interview prep [Storytime Saturdays]

79 implied HN points • 21 May 23
🕹 Technology Programming Interviews Technology News
  1. The biggest mistake many make in Leetcode interview prep can cause months of frustration and even lead to giving up.
  2. Transitioning to new topics while keeping the roots intact can be a challenge but can also be well-received by the audience.
  3. Learning from others' experiences and mistakes can help you progress faster towards your goals.

Why you should design systems that ship fast [System Design Sundays]

79 implied HN points • 15 May 23
🕹 Technology System Design Software Development Programming
  1. Shipping software quickly has many benefits, including improved efficiency and cost savings.
  2. A slow release process can lead to increased expenses as more resources are required for tasks like testing, outage management, and manual deploys.
  3. Investing in designing systems that support fast shipping is valuable as it helps build a culture of efficiency and productivity.

How to destroy your Anxiety in less than 5 minutes[Storytime Saturdays]

79 implied HN points • 23 Apr 23
🏥 Health & Wellness
  1. Anxiety is a common emotion that everyone experiences, but it can have serious implications if it becomes overwhelming and interferes with daily life.
  2. There are techniques you can use to manage anxiety symptoms in the moment, such as before interviews or important events, which can help you calm down quickly in under 5 minutes.
  3. Short-term techniques for managing anxiety can provide immediate relief but are not substitutes for long-term mental health improvement. Addressing anxiety long-term is crucial for overall well-being.