The hottest Development Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Technology Topics

Notes on DeepSeek: Generative AI is All About the Applications Now

Big Technology • 25395 implied HN points • 27 Jan 25
🕹 Technology AI Applications Development Infrastructure Investment
  1. Generative AI is now cheaper to build, making it easier for developers to create new applications. This means we might start seeing more innovative uses of AI technology.
  2. The focus is shifting from how much money is spent on infrastructure to what practical applications can be built with AI. This could change the way companies approach AI development.
  3. While there is potential for exciting products, there is still uncertainty about how to effectively use generative AI. Not all that has been built so far has met high expectations.

A Tool To Automatically Detect Memory Leaks

Jacob’s Tech Tavern • 1749 implied HN points • 24 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Software Development Programming Technology Trends IT
  1. Memory leaks can cause unexpected bugs in apps, like weird behavior or actions happening twice. It's important to find and fix them to improve user experience.
  2. There's a way to automatically detect memory leaks in apps with only about 30 lines of code. This saves time and helps avoid frustrating users.
  3. While some may enjoy the challenge of finding leaks manually, using automated tools can prevent a lot of headaches and keep product managers happier.

Irony too funny for words

Marcus on AI • 8813 implied HN points • 06 Feb 25
🕹 Technology AI Software Development Ethics Innovation
  1. Once something is released into the world, you can't take it back. This is especially true for AI technology.
  2. AI developers should consider the consequences of their creations, as they can lead to unexpected issues.
  3. Companies may want to ensure genuine communication from applicants, but relying on AI for tasks is now common.

AI & Python #29: Python Projects You Can Finish in a Weekend

Artificial Corner • 198 implied HN points • 31 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Programming Software AI Education Development
  1. Working on Python projects is important because it helps you apply what you've learned. It's a great way to connect theory to practice and improve your coding skills.
  2. The article suggests projects for both beginners and advanced users, which helps cater to different skill levels. Starting with easier projects can build confidence before tackling more complex ones.
  3. Completing projects can also boost your motivation and help you create a portfolio. This can be really useful when looking for job opportunities or trying to showcase your skills.

Sometimes complicated is clearer

CodeFaster • 36 implied HN points • 19 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Software Programming Development Automation Open Source
  1. Complicated things can sometimes be clearer than simple ones. It can help to look at details closely. It's okay to dive deeper to understand better.
  2. Taking screenshots at different intervals can help document changes over time. This can be useful for tracking progress or capturing important moments.
  3. Support from readers can help content creators keep producing work. Subscribing, whether free or paid, can make a difference.
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My Top 15 OS Books: From Theory and Implementation to Systems Programming

Confessions of a Code Addict • 673 implied HN points • 18 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Software Programming Operating Systems Computer Science Development
  1. Understanding operating systems is really important for software engineers. It helps you know how your code runs and can make fixing problems easier.
  2. There are different types of books to learn about operating systems: theory books, implementation books, and systems programming books. Each type helps you at different stages of your programming journey.
  3. Some popular OS books, like 'Operating Systems: Three Easy Pieces', are easy to understand and cover key concepts without sticking to just one system. These resources are great for anyone wanting to learn about OS.

Literate Testing

Rethinking Software • 99 implied HN points • 14 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Software Programming Testing Development Documentation
  1. Literate programming is great for keeping your code and documentation together. It helps you write tests in a clear and organized way without needing extra frameworks.
  2. With literate programming, you can easily mock functions and test them directly, even in languages like C that are usually tricky to test. This makes the testing process simpler and more enjoyable.
  3. Placing tests right next to your code helps you keep everything organized and makes writing tests feel less like a chore. You start to see tests as part of your coding process rather than an extra step.

Slashing my ".bashrc" in half

Bite code! • 1834 implied HN points • 20 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Software Programming Development Tools Open Source
  1. Using new tools like Atuin and Starship can make your terminal experience much simpler and faster. They help reduce the size of configuration files like .bashrc while still providing great features.
  2. The rise of Rust has led to better command-line tools that are efficient and user-friendly. These tools replace many old commands and plugins with minimal effort needed from users.
  3. It's okay to stop using some tools or plugins if they aren't effective for your needs. Keeping your setup clean and understandable is more important than having every possible feature.

What's new in Svelte: November 2024

The (Unofficial) Svelte JS Newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 01 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Software Frameworks Development Libraries Community
  1. Svelte 5 has been released with new features making coding easier. This includes helpful additions like snippets for filling slots and new DOM properties.
  2. The Svelte community is active with a hackathon called SvelteHack 2024, encouraging developers to create new projects for prizes.
  3. There are many new libraries and tools for Svelte that help build apps more effectively. These resources can boost efficiency and creativity in projects.

The Influence of Bell Labs

Construction Physics • 40086 implied HN points • 15 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Research Innovation Corporations Development Science
  1. Bell Labs was a great mix of academic and industrial research. Scientists could explore their ideas without worrying about making money right away.
  2. Many companies were inspired by Bell Labs to start their own research labs. They saw that basic research could lead to big breakthroughs, like the invention of the transistor.
  3. Over time, the research environment changed, and companies became less willing to fund long-term, unrestricted research like Bell Labs did. Now, research is often more closely tied to immediate business needs.

Make your social apps pop with LinkPresentation

Jacob’s Tech Tavern • 874 implied HN points • 18 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Software Apps Development User Experience Design
  1. You can easily improve your social apps by adding better link previews. This makes sharing more visually appealing and user-friendly.
  2. Building support for hyperlink features in your app can be quick and simple. Many times, you can get it done during a lunch break.
  3. If you're in a fast-paced environment, it's often easier to create a proof of concept and refine it later. Don't be afraid to just jump in and start making changes.

The Sequence Engineering #661: Create Your Own Deep Research Agent with DeerFlow

TheSequence • 119 implied HN points • 11 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Software AI Automation Research Development
  1. DeerFlow is an open-source tool that helps automate research tasks. It uses multiple agents to make research faster and easier.
  2. The framework can do many tasks, like searching the web and creating reports, with little help from people. This makes it very efficient.
  3. It's designed for developers and engineers who want to build research systems that can grow and adapt easily.

JailBreak Protection on iOS

Jacob’s Tech Tavern • 2624 implied HN points • 04 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Mobile Security Software Development Internet
  1. Jailbreaking on iOS means exploiting security flaws to gain more control over the device. This allows users to install apps outside of Apple's approval process and customize their phones more freely.
  2. While jailbreaking can be fun, it can also make devices less secure. People can easily install tools that can read private app data, leading to security risks.
  3. Developers should consider adding jailbreak protection to their apps. This helps safeguard sensitive information and prevents unauthorized access, keeping both the app and user safer.

Let's Eliminate General Bewilderment • Python's LEGB Rule, Scope, and Namespaces

The Python Coding Stack • by Stephen Gruppetta • 179 implied HN points • 27 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Programming Python Software Development Education
  1. In Python, each function has its own scope. This means a variable defined in a function can only be used inside that function, not outside.
  2. The LEGB rule helps Python find variables: it first looks in the Local scope, then in any Enclosing scopes, next in the Global scope, and finally in Built-in scope if it can't find the variable anywhere else.
  3. Namespaces are like containers for names in Python. They store the names of variables and their corresponding values, making it clear which variables are available in which parts of your code.

Notes on Nix

Cloud Irregular • 2956 implied HN points • 20 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Software Programming Development Cloud DevOps
  1. Nix is a tool that helps you set up your software environment the same way every time, making deployments easier. It's designed to manage software dependencies reliably.
  2. Nix can be complex to learn, especially because it uses functional programming concepts. This makes some programmers hesitant to adopt it.
  3. While Docker is useful for containerization, Nix offers better reproducibility for builds by focusing on what the environment should look like, rather than just the steps to create it.

Let's compile Python 1.0

Bite code! • 1957 implied HN points • 05 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Programming Software Open Source Development Virtualization
  1. Python 1.0 was surprisingly advanced for its time, with features like high-level data structures and ways to handle processes and files. It showed a lot of capabilities despite being the first major version.
  2. Compiling Python 1.0 requires some old tools and a legacy environment, as modern systems might not support all the necessary components. Using containers can help recreate this older setup.
  3. Even in its early stage, Python had a live REPL and error handling, making it quite user-friendly. Developers were able to perform a variety of tasks easily, which made Python appealing compared to other programming languages at the time.

BabyTime: A Video Calling App for Babies

offscript • 104 implied HN points • 18 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Apps Family Development Communication User Experience
  1. The app is designed for babies to call family members using photos, making it easy for them to connect without needing to read.
  2. A friend's three-year-old enjoys using the app so much that he started prank calling family, showing how kids can adapt to tech.
  3. Building the app was a fun project that took just one day, and it encourages others to create simple apps for their own families.

What's up Python? A new Windows installer, ruff will type check, Pypi quarantines...

Bite code! • 1957 implied HN points • 01 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Programming Software Security Development Open Source
  1. PEP 773 is proposing a new way to install Python on Windows. It aims to simplify the installation process by using one tool for all versions and making it easier for users to manage them.
  2. Ruff, a popular linter, is getting a type checking feature added soon. This change will help improve Python's type checking and make it more user-friendly.
  3. Pypi has introduced a quarantining system for potentially harmful projects. This will block access to projects suspected of containing malware without completely removing them, allowing for better security.

9 Things Product Owners Should Stop Doing

Ageling on Agile • 99 implied HN points • 27 Oct 24
💼 Business Management Agile Productivity Development Leadership
  1. Product Owners shouldn’t act like team managers. They should focus on the product goals and let Developers decide how to achieve them.
  2. It's important for Product Owners to be part of the team. They should engage with the Developers regularly and not just during official meetings.
  3. Product Owners need to avoid over-managing the details of tasks. They should trust Developers to find the best ways to reach the goals set for the product.

Softcore Debugging

Jacob’s Tech Tavern • 2405 implied HN points • 21 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Software Development Debugging Tools Programming
  1. Xcode has many built-in debugging tools that can help developers troubleshoot their apps. It's helpful to explore these tools to find new ways to fix issues.
  2. Conditional breakpoints can make debugging more efficient by allowing developers to stop the app under specific conditions. This saves time during the debugging process.
  3. Learning faster LLDB commands and memory graph traversal techniques can enhance a developer's ability to diagnose issues quickly. Familiarizing yourself with these options can improve coding skills.

The Software Engineer with Alzheimer's

In My Tribe • 273 implied HN points • 05 Jun 25
🕹 Technology AI Software Development Education Innovation
  1. AI, like Claude, struggles with memory, especially remembering recent conversations. It's important to find ways to manage this limitation to keep projects on track.
  2. Maintaining state is a key challenge for AI development, which affects how well an AI can serve as a personal assistant. This functionality isn't expected to improve quickly.
  3. AI technology can be very useful, and while people may doubt its potential, history shows that dismissing new tech often proves wrong.

Getting silly with C, part (void*)2

lcamtuf’s thing • 3673 implied HN points • 10 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Programming Software Coding Development Computer Science
  1. Understanding C's syntax can be tricky, especially with function declarations and typedefs. You'll find that some definitions may not be exactly what they seem.
  2. C allows some flexibility with variable and function declarations, which can lead to surprising behaviors, so always double-check how your symbols interact in different scopes.
  3. There are quirky features in C, like a BASIC compatibility mode for line numbering, showing that the language has some fun, unexpected twists!

Hardcore Debugging

Jacob’s Tech Tavern • 2842 implied HN points • 13 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Software Debugging Development Engineering Programming
  1. Bugs in apps can sometimes be easy to fix, but some problems are hidden deep in the system and harder to find. These serious issues can cause crashes that are tricky to solve.
  2. When dealing with a crash, you can use tools like Git Bisect to look back in time or symbolicate crash logs to find out what went wrong. These methods help narrow down the problem.
  3. Understanding how crashes occur in the kernel memory management can take time, but specific techniques exist to make debugging easier and faster. It's all about using the right tools at the right time.

We need to think about Africa

Wood From Eden • 1728 implied HN points • 24 Jan 25
🌍 World Politics Demography Migration Globalization Geopolitics Development
  1. Africa's population is growing quickly and will represent a large part of the world in the future. It's important for the rest of the world to pay attention to this change.
  2. Ignoring Africa's potential problems could lead to bigger issues later on. We may need to think about ways to help cope with possible crises.
  3. Instead of only debating about challenges in Africa, we should start thinking of solutions now. Preparing early can help everyone in the future.

The Synchronization Framework in Swift 6

Jacob’s Tech Tavern • 3936 implied HN points • 30 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Software Programming Development Concurrency Frameworks
  1. Swift 6 introduced a new Synchronization framework that includes features like Mutex and Atomics. These help manage how different parts of a program can work together safely.
  2. The new concurrency tools are based on a concept called generic ownership, which is new for Swift 6. This means they have better performance and flexibility.
  3. The article also compares these new low-level features to high-level ones like Actors to see how they perform. This can help developers choose the right tool for their needs.

Change Python's syntax with the "# coding:" trick

Bite code! • 1467 implied HN points • 25 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Programming Software Development Scripting Coding
  1. You can change Python's syntax using a special trick called '# coding:'. This lets you define how your code is read and interpreted.
  2. By using custom codecs, you can make unusual text formats like JPEGs or even SQL valid in Python. It's a creative way to mix different languages within Python.
  3. While it's fun to play with these features, it can also make your code really complicated and hard to debug. So, use this power wisely!

The Sequence Radar #559 : Two Remarkable Papers This Week: Self-Improving Agents and the Limits of LLM Memorization

TheSequence • 56 implied HN points • 08 Jun 25
🕹 Technology AI Research Development Innovation Models
  1. The Darwin Gödel Machine is a new AI system that can improve itself by changing its own code, leading to better performance in coding tasks. This approach mimics evolution by letting different versions of the AI compete and innovate.
  2. A recent study found that large language models have a limited capacity for memorizing information, roughly 3.6 bits per parameter. This helps us understand how these models learn and remember data.
  3. Both papers highlight how AI can evolve and learn, with one focusing on self-improvement and the other on what models can and cannot remember. Together, they show the potential and limits of AI development.

Yes, you should use a Python venv in a container like docker

Bite code! • 1957 implied HN points • 11 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Software Programming Development DevOps Containers Python
  1. Using a Python virtual environment (venv) in Docker is a good practice, even though it's possible to skip it. It helps avoid conflicts when installing dependencies, keeping your project stable and organized.
  2. Even if your Docker image seems minimal, it's hard to maintain that state. Relying on the base image without a venv can lead to unexpected issues later on, especially as dependencies change.
  3. Using a venv simplifies your workflow and ensures consistency across different environments. It protects you from potential problems that arise when system packages interact with Python packages.

Tidy First Example

Software Design: Tidy First? • 463 implied HN points • 30 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Software Design Programming Development User Experience Agile Methodology
  1. It's important to make hard changes easier before tackling them. This means breaking down tough tasks into simpler steps.
  2. Many people want to make the easy changes they envision, but they often overlook the complexity involved.
  3. Always pay attention to examples in learning; they can provide valuable insights that you might miss if you skim over them.

Should managers still code?

The Engineering Manager • 13 implied HN points • 28 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Management Software Development Engineering Leadership
  1. Managers should definitely be involved in the code, meaning they need to understand how their team's code works and participate in reviews. This helps them stay connected to the team's work.
  2. It's not always necessary for managers to write code themselves. They can focus on strategic tasks that only they can do while still being engaged with the technical side.
  3. When managers do want to write code, it should be in a structured way, like setting aside specific time for it or pairing with team members. This keeps the balance between management duties and coding.

New Classic Updates are LIVE!

The Lunacian • 368 implied HN points • 13 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Gaming Software Updates User Interface Development
  1. New game updates are here for Axie Classic, just in time for Season 8, with a lot of changes to explore before the regular season starts.
  2. There are two new quest modes: Starter Mode for beginners to earn rewards without needing Axies, and Guardian Mode for experienced players with tougher challenges and better rewards.
  3. Tower Mode has expanded with more levels, allowing players to earn stars and rewards as they progress, plus gear can now be equipped and upgraded to enhance gameplay.

Moving On

Software Design: Tidy First? • 1281 implied HN points • 10 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Software Design Innovation Development Experiments
  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.

The Swift Compiler

Jacob’s Tech Tavern • 2624 implied HN points • 24 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Programming Software Development Computing Code
  1. The Swift language was created by Chris Lattner, who also developed LLVM when he was just 23 years old. That's really impressive given how complex these technologies are!
  2. It's important to understand what type of language Swift is, whether it's compiled or interpreted, especially for job interviews in tech. Knowing this can help you stand out.
  3. Learning about the Swift compiler can help you appreciate the language's features and advantages better, making you a stronger developer overall.

Options, Financial & Software

Software Design: Tidy First? • 243 implied HN points • 05 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Software Design Finance Development Innovation
  1. Refactoring chapters can be tough to get started on, and finding the right motivation is important. Keeping momentum while writing helps you overcome these challenges.
  2. The metaphor of 'software as options' is valuable and can lead to deeper understanding in software design. Exploring these ideas can enhance how we think about software development.
  3. It's beneficial to connect economic concepts with software design to understand their value better. This connection helps in making informed decisions in both fields.

Chapter Bundles of Options

Software Design: Tidy First? • 198 implied HN points • 06 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Software Design Development Engineering Options
  1. Creating options in software development is essential, especially when there's uncertainty. Keeping options open increases the value of the project.
  2. Investing time in software design is important for better cohesion and less coupling. This helps the system work more efficiently together.
  3. The more you avoid tight connections between parts of the software, the more flexibility you will have. This flexibility is crucial for future changes or improvements.

🤖 OpenAI Reveals AI’s No Match for Human Coders

HackerPulse Dispatch • 5 implied HN points • 25 Feb 25
🕹 Technology AI Programming Software Development Code Quality
  1. AI still struggles with real coding tasks despite being fast. It often fails to diagnose bugs or offer reliable solutions, proving that human coders are still needed.
  2. Using AI tools can make coding easier but might hurt learning. New programmers miss out on important problem-solving experiences that come from debugging and experimenting with code.
  3. AI-generated code can lead to more issues, like code duplication and technical debt. While it helps with productivity, it can also create long-term maintenance challenges.

Vision Changes Everything

Impertinent • 59 implied HN points • 23 Oct 24
🕹 Technology AI Automation Software Development Innovation
  1. Vision is the key to designing technology, as shown by Tesla's reliance on cameras for self-driving cars. This approach means that our environment and technology should work hand in hand with how humans naturally see and interpret the world.
  2. Anthropic's new AI model allows computers to interact more like humans by using an API to understand computer interfaces. This means that the AI can perform tasks on web applications, making it easier for developers to automate processes.
  3. The new capabilities from the AI can enhance app testing by allowing automated agents to perform tasks, record actions, and generate testing data. This leads to more efficient software development and better quality assurance.

“Best” Practices Ain’t...

Software Design: Tidy First? • 1833 implied HN points • 13 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Software Design Development Practices Collaboration
  1. Not all problems are the same, so don't always rely on 'best practices.' Different types of problems need different approaches.
  2. Using 'best practice' as a catchphrase can be misleading. It can hide someone's lack of confidence or let others avoid taking responsibility.
  3. For simple problems, sure, use 'best practices.' But for more complex issues, think critically and come up with your own solutions instead.

Origins Season 12 Preseason is LIVE!

The Lunacian • 736 implied HN points • 22 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Gaming Software Development Internet Virtual reality
  1. The Dream World Arcade Mode is now live, replacing the Haunted House tickets with Dream World tickets while keeping the same gameplay.
  2. Players can test new Runes and Charms for free before the official season starts, allowing them to prepare better for the competition.
  3. Delegatees will soon have the ability to morph their Axies using their own resources, and a new Axie Check-In feature will reward players based on their chosen Axie's tier.