The hottest Computer Science Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

An intro to Functions [Math Mondays]

Technology Made Simple • 19 implied HN points • 21 Jun 22
🚌 Education Math Programming Computer Science Problem Solving Learning
  1. Understanding functions in math helps in becoming a better programmer by teaching how to frame problems as inputs and equations.
  2. Mastering math functions translates well to coding, as both domains involve transformations on inputs to get desired outputs.
  3. To get better at functions, focus on topics like Linear Programming and Precalculus, which can sharpen problem-solving and understanding of transformations.

RISC-V support for BFloat16

Fprox’s Substack • 3 HN points • 04 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Computer Science Hardware Programming Machine Learning Data processing
  1. Brain Float 16 (BFloat16) format provides a compromise between accuracy and cost suited for machine learning applications.
  2. RISC-V is introducing support for BFloat16 format through scalar and vector extensions to improve efficiency in machine learning tasks.
  3. The new BFloat16 extensions in RISC-V have passed Architecture Review and are designed to be fully IEEE-754 compliant for numerical reproducibility.

AI as UX

Apperceptive (moved to buttondown) • 6 implied HN points • 02 Mar 23
🕹 Technology AI Machine Learning Artificial Intelligence Computer Science
  1. Artificial intelligence is more of a metaphor for user interaction than just a system using machine learning.
  2. The term 'artificial intelligence' has evolved from a failed early definition to a marketing term, implying a human-like experience.
  3. User metaphors play a significant role in how people interact with computers, shaping their understanding and expectations.
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This Emptiness is Normal

Cybernetic Forests • 39 implied HN points • 14 Mar 21
🕹 Technology Cybernetics Philosophy Art Algorithm Computer Science
  1. Contemporary computing culture stems from a simple idea of punch cards, leading to a series of binary choices that automate decisions.
  2. Yuk Hui suggests viewing organisms as behaviors of their components and interactions, blurring the lines between organic and built systems.
  3. Hui encourages a shift from mechanistic thinking to understanding machines based on their behaviors, interactions, and integration into human lives.

Halting prophecy

Notices to three friends • 1 implied HN point • 01 Dec 23
🔬 Science Computer Science Prediction Limitations
  1. The halting problem in computer science cannot be solved because of the limitations of predicting a program's behavior.
  2. Prophecy and prediction face conceptual limitations due to the inability to fully control or predict the future.
  3. The connection between the halting problem and prophecy reveals insights about self-understanding, unpredictability, and the quest for knowledge.

Uploads are Impossible

PashaNomics • 2 implied HN points • 12 May 23
🔬 Science Physics Computer Science Philosophy Culture AGI
  1. Creating digital uploads of human minds is likely impossible due to challenges in physics, computer science, and philosophy.
  2. The process of verifying a successful upload is complex, involving difficult tasks such as identifying 'soul' in the digital mind.
  3. Cultural dynamics and human nature present challenges in ensuring the safety and ethical treatment of digital uploads.

Why I Donate My Book’s Proceeds to the Nonprofit Girls Who Code

Peak Horse • 2 HN points • 30 Mar 23
🕹 Technology History Computer Science Coding Nonprofit
  1. The history of computing is filled with trailblazing women pioneers who laid the foundation for modern technology.
  2. Women like Ada Lovelace, Grace Hopper, and Mary Allen Wilkes made significant contributions to the field of computer science.
  3. Despite historical achievements, there is still a gender gap in computer science education and employment that needs to be addressed.

A Rorschach Test on Fire

Dan’s MEGA65 Digest • 1 HN point • 15 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Programming Hardware Software Graphics Computer Science
  1. The MEGA65 Digest for March 2023 features files, features, hardware, and a programming exercise to play with.
  2. An external floppy disk drive option with modern features and compatibility for the MEGA65 is available for pre-order.
  3. A colorful, low-resolution 80x50 Mandelbrot Set can be created using BASIC programming on the MEGA65, showcasing the computer's capabilities.

120 Years of Game-Changing Genius: Celebrating John von Neumann's Birth

ussphoenix • 1 HN point • 13 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Cybersecurity Game Theory Computer Science Mathematics
  1. John von Neumann was a brilliant mathematician and polymath who contributed significantly to various fields.
  2. Automated Moving Target Defense (AMTD) in cybersecurity involves constantly changing the system's attack surface to deter attackers.
  3. The minimax theorem from John von Neumann's game theories suggests that defenders should choose MTD strategies that minimize the maximum possible loss.

Monday Motivation: Radia Perlman

Danielle Newnham • 0 implied HN points • 05 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Internet Innovation Networks Computer Science Patents
  1. Radia Perlman is a prominent figure in the development of the internet, known as the 'Mother of the Internet' for her invention of the spanning-tree protocol (STP).
  2. Perlman's work revolutionized network design, enabling the Ethernet to expand from small networks to the massive scale we see today.
  3. Aside from her groundbreaking work on STP, Perlman is also an educator, author, and holder of over a hundred patents in the field of computer science.

Machine Learning vs Artificial Intelligence: What's the Difference?

Rod’s Blog • 0 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Machine Learning Artificial Intelligence Computer Science Data Analysis
  1. Machine learning and artificial intelligence are closely related but not the same; machine learning is a subset of artificial intelligence.
  2. Machine learning focuses on data-driven approaches for systems to learn and improve performance, whereas artificial intelligence involves a broader range of tasks requiring human-like intelligence.
  3. Artificial intelligence encompasses various methods beyond machine learning, such as rule-based systems and expert systems, and it aims to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence.

Lecture 1: Categories, Functors, & Naturality

Quantum Formalism • 0 implied HN points • 07 Mar 23
🚌 Education Mathematics Online Learning Computer Science Academic Research Networking
  1. Category theory is important in various fields like functional programming, formal verification, machine learning, and quantum information science.
  2. Connecting with experts like Brian Hepler can provide valuable insights and opportunities in mathematical research.
  3. The course emphasizes sharing knowledge and encouraging more people to learn the language of Category theory.

The AI Worries of Hollywood Actors

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 16 Jul 23
🕹 Technology AI Streaming Digital Media Artificial Intelligence Computer Science
  1. The Hollywood writers and actors are on strike due to concerns about how streaming services have impacted their residuals, leading to a renegotiation of contracts.
  2. The writers are worried about generative AI replacing them, leading to demands to regulate the use of AI in writing, while actors are concerned about exploitation by studios when it comes to AI usage in projects.
  3. There is uncertainty about the future impacts of AI on these professions, with a warning for writers and actors to make the most of the current situation while planning for potential career shifts.

OFF my lawn

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 17 Mar 16
🕹 Technology Internet Art Computer Science
  1. Garbage person insult originates from Manson's self-reference during trial, now widely used online for various situations.
  2. The internet is transforming discussions in the art world towards shallowness and democracy, seen in literature and other creative fields.
  3. Humans created the computer program that beat humans at the game of Go, showcasing the complexity at the intersection of strategy games and computer science.

The weird quest for making programming empirical

Stefan’s Substack • 0 implied HN points • 14 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Programming Software Engineering Computer Science
  1. Many disciplines rely on experiments, but computer science has the luxury of understanding computers thoroughly.
  2. Software engineering is shifting towards an empirical approach, using tests and tweaks instead of deep thinking.
  3. The trend in the community seems to be favoring techniques that may not be resistant to deductive reasoning.