The hottest Coding Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

On Devin

thezvi • 1963 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
🕹 Technology AI Software Coding Automation Safety
  1. Devin, an AI software engineer, is showcasing impressive abilities such as debugging and building websites autonomously.
  2. The introduction of AI agents like Devin raises concerns about potential risks, such as improper long-term coding considerations and job disruptions.
  3. Using an AI like Devin introduces significant challenges related to safety, reliability, and trust, prompting the need for careful isolation and security measures.

Product security: barking up the wrong tree

lcamtuf’s thing • 2332 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Security Software Enterprise Coding Vulnerability
  1. The focus on product security often overshadows the more critical aspect of enterprise security.
  2. Enterprise security faces challenges like employee actions that can bypass security measures, demonstrating the need for a paradigm shift.
  3. Successful security programs accept the inevitability of compromise and prioritize detection, response, and containment over aiming for perfect defenses.

How much effort is it to create software?

Bite code! • 1590 implied HN points • 06 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Software Development Coding Information processing Tech Tools Human Interaction
  1. Creating software has become easier due to resources and tools available, but it still requires dedication, time, and energy.
  2. Writing software demands perseverance and continuous learning, akin to mastering a musical instrument or a sport.
  3. Working on software involves dealing with humans, extracting requirements, navigating social dynamics, and recognizing the importance of human interaction in the development process.
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Building a Simple Live Streaming Platform[System Design Sundays]

Technology Made Simple • 119 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
🕹 Technology System Design Platforms Coding Software Engineering
  1. When designing a live streaming platform like Twitch, key steps include ingestion, transcoding, packaging, CDN utilization, and database management.
  2. Challenges like low latency, scalability, and reliability must be addressed for the success of a live streaming platform.
  3. To enhance a streaming service further, consider advanced technologies like adaptive bitrate algorithms, advanced caching, and community features.

Workshop on Performance Optimizations in Code: The One Billion Row Challenge

Confessions of a Code Addict • 577 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Programming Workshop Optimization Performance Coding
  1. Code efficiency at scale is crucial - data structures and algorithms matter, but execution cost is also important.
  2. Participating in challenges like the 1 Billion Row Challenge can enhance performance engineering skills.
  3. The workshop covers optimization techniques like flamegraphs, I/O strategies, system calls, SIMD instructions, and more.

Live Session on Performance Optimization Using 1BRC as a Case Study

Confessions of a Code Addict • 360 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Coding Performance optimization Live session Software Development Programming Languages
  1. The live session focuses on learning to analyze and reason about code performance through iterative optimization using 1BRC as a case study.
  2. Attendees will explore various topics including performance profiling with flamegraphs, I/O strategies, and leveraging SIMD instructions.
  3. Prerequisites include a few years of coding experience in languages like C, C++, Java, or others, with a specific focus on Java during the session.

MCU land #11: Linux toolchain for Cortex-M

lcamtuf’s thing • 1166 implied HN points • 13 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Coding Hardware Development Linux Programming
  1. Setting up a Linux toolchain for Cortex-M microcontrollers can be challenging but beneficial.
  2. When setting up the toolchain, ensure to get the Cortex-M cross-compiler, CMSIS library, and Device Family Pack.
  3. Compiling and programming the device requires additional steps like using the newlib C library and flashing the binary onto the chip.

Write Cleaner, More Maintainable Rust Code with PhantomData

Aayushya’s Substack • 99 implied HN points • 06 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Coding Software Development Rust Programming
  1. Using PhantomData in Rust can help reduce code duplication by creating a generic struct with common fields and methods.
  2. Marker types like FreeLineQuantityTag and BilledLineQuantityTag can help differentiate between types when refactoring code.
  3. Leveraging advanced Rust features like PhantomData can lead to more maintainable and expressive code in real-world projects.

Controlling Rate-Limited Events - Implementation

Low Latency Trading Insights • 117 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Algorithms Data Structures Coding Performance
  1. The requirements for a rate-limiting algorithm include precise event counting, fast performance especially during market turbulence, and minimal impact on cache memory.
  2. Creating a rate-limiting algorithm using a multimap for counting events has inefficiencies; a better solution involves enhancements for optimal performance.
  3. A bounded approximation approach for rate limiting achieves memory efficiency by assuming a minimum time precision and implementing a clever advance-and-clear mechanism.

Good code is like a love letter to the next developer who will maintain it.

Elevate • 258 implied HN points • 21 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Coding Writing AI Collaboration
  1. Good code is a form of communication and should be like a love letter to the next developer maintaining it, personal, sincere, and considerate.
  2. Design patterns and principles in code serve as a shared vocabulary for developers to create scalable, maintainable, and efficient solutions.
  3. Writing good code involves adhering to established best practices like consistent formatting, error handling, testing, and empathy towards other developers.

1024 Reasons to Celebrate: Journey and Future of 'Confessions of a Code Addict'

Confessions of a Code Addict • 481 implied HN points • 07 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Coding Community Subscription Tech industry
  1. The growth of subscribers for 'Confessions of a Code Addict' has been significant, with spikes after posting articles.
  2. The author's journey started after a job loss, and the community support keeps them dedicated to creating content.
  3. Future plans for the community include introducing paid subscriptions with various perks and additional initiatives.

What I have been so busy with

Basta’s Notes • 81 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Coding Web Development Design Animation Video Editing
  1. The author built a website with a bold and animated design that may not please everyone, but aimed to excite their target audience of podcasters.
  2. The website underwent significant development, transitioning from a DOM-based approach to using Canvas for animations, like with a globe section featuring looping videos.
  3. Challenges were overcome by techniques such as using Perlin noise for wiggling animations and rendering inline SVG images via React for intricate visual elements.

Hexceptional Encoding: Mastering the Art of Hex Conversion in Rust

Aayushya’s Substack • 1 HN point • 20 Apr 24
🕹 Technology Coding Optimization Software Development
  1. Hex encoding is essential for storing or transmitting binary data in formats like json, xml. It is widely used for checksums, hash digests, and ensuring data integrity.
  2. Minimizing memory allocations can significantly improve performance in operations involving heavy processing of data, like databases or real-time data processing.
  3. Using dedicated crates like hex and faster-hex in Rust can provide substantial speed enhancements compared to traditional string concatenation methods for hex encoding.

A reactionary take on memory safety

lcamtuf’s thing • 42 HN points • 01 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Security Programming Government Software Coding
  1. Memory safety in programming languages like C and C++ is a significant issue due to the risk of buffer overflows and other coding errors.
  2. Although there is a push to adopt memory-safe languages like a mandate from The White House, the practicality and necessity of such a move is questionable.
  3. Challenges in enforcing a complete shift to memory-safe languages include the limited exposure of critical code to attacks and the fact that other security vulnerabilities are more common in causing breaches.

GM Shaders: WebGPU

GM Shaders Mini Tuts • 58 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Graphics Programming Web Coding Game Development
  1. WebGPU is the new standard for accelerated graphics and compute, set to replace WebGL. It offers more features, deeper low-level access, and enhanced security, making it exciting for developers.
  2. WebGPU provides cross-platform support, allowing for better control over GPU resources, and introduces compute shaders for handling diverse data types efficiently.
  3. WGSL, the shading language of WebGPU, is stricter than GLSL with similarities to Rust or Swift. It offers optimizations and consistent results across different hardware configurations.

Does Reality Have a Surprising _Lack_ of Detail?

Breaking Smart • 45 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Coding Data Visualization
  1. The essay discussed contrasting viewpoints on the level of detail present in reality, questioning if there might actually be a surprising lack of detail.
  2. The post highlighted two major AI developments, Sora and Gemini 1.5, emphasizing the importance of boring inference advances over flashy training advances.
  3. The complexity of reality and the intricacies of AI advancements were juxtaposed with simple examples, prompting readers to reconsider their perceptions about reality's level of detail.

Ep#2: Developer Productivity: A Senior Dev's Guide to Ultra-Focus

The ZenMode • 42 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Productivity Focus Coding Tips
  1. Strategic planning is key: Designate crucial coding tasks that ignite your passion the night before to fuel deep focus and better code.
  2. Create a distraction-free coding environment: Silence your phone, limit browser tabs, and resist multitasking to enhance true focus in a minimalist space.
  3. Take care of your body and experiment with coding blocks: Stay hydrated, consider supplements, move physically, and adapt your coding sessions to find your unique rhythm.

Can GPT-4 *Actually* Write Code?

Tyler Glaiel's Blog • 567 HN points • 17 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Coding Algorithms Machine Learning Programming
  1. GPT-4 can write code when given existing algorithms or well-known problems, as it remixes existing solutions.
  2. However, when faced with novel or unique problems, GPT-4 struggles to provide accurate solutions and can make incorrect guesses.
  3. It's crucial to understand that while GPT-4 can generate code, it may not be reliable for solving complex, new problems in programming.

Cadence of Code

Register Spill • 353 implied HN points • 25 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Coding Learning Programming
  1. Retyping other people's writing can help you learn more about their writing style and rhythm.
  2. Actively engaging with code by typing it out can help with better learning and absorption.
  3. Consider typing out pieces of code character by character to understand the rhythm and cadence of the programming language.

one year in

button mash • 176 implied HN points • 12 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Game Development Coding Tutorials Community support
  1. Starting to learn something new can be challenging but rewarding.
  2. Choosing the right tools, like game engines and coding approaches, is important for beginners in game development.
  3. Seeking out tutorials, teachers, and communities can help in the learning process and provide valuable support.

Fastest Way to Learn Coding and Actually Get a Job

Brain Bytes • 59 implied HN points • 20 Dec 23
🚌 Education Coding Learning Job Market Skills Career Advice
  1. Choose a flexible programming language like Python or JavaScript to boost your chances of landing a beginner job.
  2. Take your time learning coding through books, tutorials, or courses - don't rush the process. Type along with tutorials and practice consistently.
  3. Build simple projects using frameworks, add them to your portfolio, and deploy them online to enhance your chances when applying for jobs. Showcase your projects and personality in your resume.

The KQL Mysteries: Chapter 8

Rod’s Blog • 19 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Security Data Analysis Coding Cybersecurity IT
  1. A major security breach has occurred with sensitive data stolen, leading to a need for urgent action to track down the threat actor.
  2. Jordan quickly jumps into action, using KQL queries to analyze data and identify patterns associated with the suspected threat actor.
  3. The story leaves readers with a cliffhanger, hinting at upcoming developments and ensuring engagement for the next chapter.

Reducing selection bias / popularity bias in ranking

Recommender systems • 26 implied HN points • 20 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Machine Learning Data Analysis Algorithms Coding
  1. Reducing selection bias and popularity bias in ranking is important for recommender systems.
  2. An advocated approach is to factorize user interaction signals to account for biases originating from power users and power items.
  3. The proposals for causal/debiased ranking involve factorization, mutual information, and mixture of logits to improve the ranking model.