The hottest Development Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Flying Solo

Software Design: Tidy First? • 463 implied HN points • 15 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Software Design Development Innovation Research
  1. Time is precious, and we should focus on spending it in meaningful ways. It's important to prioritize what truly matters in our lives.
  2. Stepping down from a role can be a way to reclaim your time and energy. Sometimes, less responsibility can lead to a more fulfilling life.
  3. Believing in a mission or team is important, but personal time and happiness should come first. Balancing passion with personal needs is key.

Live Session: Live Coding a Bytecode Interpreter for Python

Confessions of a Code Addict • 312 implied HN points • 01 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Coding Programming Software Education Development
  1. The session will involve live coding a simple compiler and virtual machine for a small part of Python. They will focus on features like variables, function calls, and loops.
  2. Participants should know programming well and have some Python experience, especially since recursion will be used a lot in this session.
  3. The session is happening on December 14th and will not be recorded, so attendees should plan to join live for the best experience.

When AI Promises Speed but Delivers Debugging Hell

Nick Savage • 40 implied HN points • 26 Jan 25
🕹 Technology AI Development Programming Software Innovation
  1. Codescribble is a new shared text editor that lets multiple people work on the same document at once. It's designed to be fast and easy to use, similar to Google Docs.
  2. Using AI to help build software can be frustrating and messy, especially if you don’t fully understand how it works. This can lead to a lot of debugging and wasted time.
  3. It's crucial to keep a broader perspective while coding. Getting too focused on small tasks can lead to mistakes and delays, so step back and see the bigger picture.

American Governance Is Not Corrupt Enough

Richard Hanania's Newsletter • 487 implied HN points • 16 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Corruption Regulation Governance Political Commentary Development
  1. Corruption can sometimes lead to positive outcomes, like faster project approvals. In some cases, letting officials profit from development could actually help communities grow and thrive.
  2. Many politicians aren't as wealthy as people think, and there's little evidence of widespread corruption in government. The average net worth of Congress members isn't that much higher than that of other Americans their age.
  3. Regulations and red tape can hinder progress and development. Sometimes, relaxing those restrictions can lead to better results for society, even if it means embracing a bit of 'good' corruption.

Highlights From The Comments On Capitalism & Charity

Astral Codex Ten • 6744 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
💼 Business Charity Capitalism Development Economic Growth
  1. Some comments argue for reiterating the importance of a specific context when considering spending money for charity or capitalism.
  2. There are discussions on the effectiveness of investing in companies with social missions, such as providing microfinance or supporting profitable charitable ventures.
  3. Consideration is given to the balance between supporting capitalism and charitable causes in the context of economic impact and sustainability.
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Live Session: Live Coding a Bytecode Interpreter for Python

Confessions of a Code Addict • 360 implied HN points • 30 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Programming Software Development Coding Education
  1. The next live coding session will focus on creating a bytecode interpreter for Python. It will help participants understand important concepts like how Python code is structured and executed.
  2. In the session, participants will learn about Python's abstract syntax tree and how to traverse it to interpret code. This is a hands-on opportunity to experience coding in a live setting.
  3. There are limited spots available for the session, so early registration is encouraged. The session is free for paid subscribers, and there will be a recording available for those who sign up.

sqlmesh init -t dbt

davidj.substack • 179 implied HN points • 02 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Software Data Engineering Development Analytics
  1. SQLMesh recently announced that it is backwards compatible with dbt projects. This means teams can gradually switch to SQLMesh without having to do a big migration all at once.
  2. Using SQLMesh can help improve the clarity of data workflows and avoid broken DAGs during development. It offers features that make managing complex data stacks easier.
  3. Migrating to SQLMesh is possible even for those who aren't very tech-savvy. The process can be simple and done in an afternoon, making it accessible for teams to test and implement.

How TPM Bridge Communication Gaps Between Tech and Non-Tech Teams

Building Rome(s) • 5 implied HN points • 10 Feb 25
💼 Business Management Communication Collaboration Strategy Development
  1. Technical and non-technical teams often struggle because they don't share a common language. Clear communication is essential for collaboration.
  2. Using the 'Triangle of Translation' (Time, Money, Impact) can help bridge the communication gap. It allows teams to understand each other's priorities better.
  3. Focusing on clarity and empathy in discussions leads to better teamwork and improved product delivery. When everyone speaks the same language, trust is built.

Tidy Together Chapter: Long-Running Design Changes

Software Design: Tidy First? • 287 implied HN points • 30 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Software Design Development Innovation Programming
  1. Mixing design with features is important. It's good to experiment with designs while keeping an eye on the overall features.
  2. Timing matters when tidying up your work. It's helpful to tidy design just before implementation to keep things organized.
  3. When working on design changes, you have to decide when to start, continue, or stop. It's about finding the right balance in your workflow.

The beautiful theory of TDD and the reality check of practice

Bite code! • 2568 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Development Software Testing Programming Pragmatism Productivity
  1. TDD can make your code more flexible, reliable, and less error-prone by focusing on testing upfront.
  2. TDD may not work well for everyone, as it requires experience, ability to hold complex models in mind, and sustained focus.
  3. Not all projects are suited for TDD, and it's important to assess the cost and benefit of testing based on project needs and constraints.

sqlmesh janitor

davidj.substack • 119 implied HN points • 13 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Software Data Engineering Cloud Development
  1. Sqlmesh offers various command-line interface commands that help manage and maintain your data projects effectively. For example, the `clean` command helps fix any issues that might arise during execution.
  2. The new tool has unique features that improve development, like automatic data contract handling and optimized incremental models, making it easier to work with large datasets without unnecessary costs.
  3. Competition in the data transformation space is healthy. It pushes tools like dbt and sqlmesh to improve, ultimately benefiting users by providing better features and experiences.

Low-Code Won’t Replace You | Camunda’s Bernd Ruecker

Dev Interrupted • 18 implied HN points • 28 Jan 25
🕹 Technology AI Development Automation Software
  1. Low-code tools help developers focus on more complex tasks instead of repetitive ones. They make it easier for non-tech users to build applications too.
  2. Understanding when to use low-code solutions versus custom coding is important. Each has its strengths, and using the right one can save time and effort.
  3. Despite the rise of low-code, experienced developers are still needed. The role of developers is evolving, but they won't be replaced anytime soon.

The Mental Characteristics of Resilient High Performers

Voohy Leadership Insights • 79 implied HN points • 11 Aug 24
💼 Business Leadership Workplace Performance Development Psychology
  1. High performers tend to be positive and proactive. They actively look for challenges and always want to get better.
  2. Resilient people learn from tough experiences by reflecting on them. They see these moments as chances to grow.
  3. It's important to have a support system in place. High achievers feel they have good support from others, which helps them succeed.

Monthly Python Data Engineering, August 2024

Monthly Python Data Engineering • 59 implied HN points • 19 Aug 24
🕹 Technology Software Data Engineering Open Source Programming Development
  1. Datafusion Comet was released, making it easier and faster to use Apache Spark for data processing, which is great for improving performance.
  2. Several major data tools like Datafusion, Arrow, and Dask updated their versions, showing ongoing improvements in speed, efficiency, and new features.
  3. New dashboard solutions like Panel and updates in libraries such as CUDF reflect the growing interest in making data access and visualization easier for users.

What Other Software Is Like CIAM?

ciamweekly • 62 implied HN points • 30 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Software Development Cloud Security Managed Services
  1. CIAM software is similar across different platforms, which makes it easy to use but also complex in its features.
  2. CIAM is very important for security since it manages sensitive data like passwords and personal information.
  3. Using managed services like CIAM helps developers save time and focus on building better software instead of handling complex login systems.

Must we have these institutions forever?

Something to Consider • 139 implied HN points • 10 Jul 24
📖 Philosophy Institutions Trust Corruption Development Colonialism
  1. Our institutions and rules affect how well a society can produce and grow. Good institutions help foster trust among people, while bad ones can keep societies trapped in poverty.
  2. The legacy of harmful practices, like the slave trade, has long-lasting effects on trust and cooperation in societies. Areas that were heavily affected tend to have less trust even today.
  3. Changing poor institutions can help lift countries out of poverty. This might involve outside help or imposing better rules that foster cooperation and trust among the people.

🌻 E45: PDL - New Language for Prompting

Musings on AI • 184 implied HN points • 05 Nov 24
🕹 Technology AI Software Development Innovation Data
  1. Prompt engineering is important because the way a prompt is worded can change the AI's response. Finding the right technique can improve the effectiveness of AI applications.
  2. The Prompt Declaration Language (PDL) is a new tool designed to simplify working with AI. It allows programmers to easily create applications like chatbots using a straightforward, data-oriented approach.
  3. Recent advancements in AI include new architectures that enhance performance in specific tasks, like financial analysis. These innovations are making AI applications more powerful and useful for real-world problems.

Testing Too Late: A Case Study

QUALITY BOSS • 139 implied HN points • 09 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Software Quality Assurance Project management Development Testing
  1. Testing too late can cause big delays in getting software to users. If QA is behind, it creates confusion and slows down the whole process.
  2. Good communication between development and QA teams is really important. Working in separate sprints can lead to misunderstandings and more difficult bug fixes.
  3. It's essential to define when a task is 'done' to include testing. If something isn't tested, it shouldn't be considered complete, ensuring that quality stays high.

Redis and Python: 20% of effort, 80% of effects

Bite code! • 1467 implied HN points • 03 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Python Database Programming Web Development
  1. Redis is a powerful companion for Python, used for caching, sharing states, and creating queues.
  2. Redis is easy to use and highly efficient, widely employed in the industry for tasks like caching and inter-process communication.
  3. With basic features like lists, hashes, and sets, Redis has vast utility in tasks such as caches, queues, and inter-process communication.

Flows Are So Back

Cobus Greyling on LLMs, NLU, NLP, chatbots & voicebots • 39 implied HN points • 22 Aug 24
🕹 Technology AI Data Development Software User Interface
  1. Graphs help show complicated data in a simple way. By using nodes and edges, you can easily see how everything connects.
  2. No-code tools let anyone, even those without programming skills, create complex workflows. This makes development quicker and more accessible for everyone.
  3. There's a growing need for tools that can organize and connect different AI flows. This would help everything work better together and solve problems more effectively.

HashMap is a Data Structure every SWE should know.

System Design Classroom • 239 implied HN points • 24 May 24
🕹 Technology Software Data Structures Algorithms Computer Science Development
  1. Hashmaps are useful for storing data by connecting unique keys to their values, making it easy to find and retrieve information quickly.
  2. When two different keys accidentally produce the same hash code, it's called a collision. There are ways to handle this, like chaining and open addressing.
  3. Hashmaps can do lookups, insertions, and deletions really fast, usually in constant time, but they can slow down if too many items cause collisions.

Saturn RPG hacking roundup: Grandia Digital Museum, Samurai Spirits Bushido Retsuden, & Marica: The Real World

Rings of Saturn • 43 implied HN points • 04 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Gaming Software Development Hacking Debugging
  1. Games like Grandia Digital Museum have hidden debug modes that let players access special features. You can enable these modes by changing settings in the game's files.
  2. Shinsetsu Samurai Spirits Bushido Retsuden allows players to activate a debug menu with a patch. This lets them test backgrounds and other game elements easily.
  3. In Marica: Shinjitsu no Sekai, players can unlock a debug screen using a specific cheat code. This screen offers more control and allows visiting different game locations.

TT Chapter: Fat-Tailed Distributions

Software Design: Tidy First? • 154 implied HN points • 04 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Software Design Development Data Engineering
  1. Fat-tailed distributions show that extreme events can happen more often than we expect. This is important for planning in various fields.
  2. When designing software, it's good to focus on creating simple models first. This can help make complex concepts easier to understand.
  3. Being an empirical designer means you rely on real-world data and observations to guide your design decisions. This approach can lead to better results.

Why I fell in love with Go

Tech Ramblings • 39 implied HN points • 18 Aug 24
🕹 Technology Programming Software Development Tech Trends Startups
  1. Learning Scala was challenging, and it took a long time for new hires to get comfortable with the language. This made it hard to maintain projects and hire developers.
  2. Switching to Go allowed for faster operational readiness and simpler code, making it easier to deliver products and focus on customer needs.
  3. Go may not be seen as a 'cool' language, but it's practical and widely understood, making it a better choice for most developers compared to niche languages.

Intrinsic vs Extrinsic

Sunday Letters • 59 implied HN points • 04 Aug 24
🕹 Technology Programming Motivation Software Development Mindset
  1. Good code comes from genuine passion, not just external rewards. When programmers care deeply, they are more likely to improve their skills and produce better work.
  2. Extrinsic motivations like promotions can lead to just getting by rather than striving for excellence. These motivations don’t usually inspire creativity or deep understanding.
  3. Finding a balance between intrinsic motivation and practical limitations is important. Recognizing your reasons for coding can help you become the person you want to be.

Stop begging for JSON

Artificial Ignorance • 88 implied HN points • 12 Dec 24
🕹 Technology AI Software Development Engineering Data
  1. Using AI tools has gotten better with structured outputs, which ensures that AI responses follow a specific format. This means developers can rely more on AI results.
  2. OpenAI introduced features like JSON mode and Structured Outputs, making it easier for developers to get the correct data structure from the AI. This reduces errors and makes integration smoother.
  3. Even with improvements, some challenges like inconsistent names and types in data still exist. Developers need to be aware and manage these issues when using AI.

Mastering Helm from Scratch: Part 1 – The Purpose of Helm

Curious Devs Corner • 1 HN point • 03 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Software Development Cloud Kubernetes Systems
  1. Helm makes using Kubernetes easier for beginners by simplifying the process of installing and managing applications. It helps users avoid the confusion of typing many commands to deploy different parts of an app.
  2. With Helm, you can package all the parts of your application into one bundle called a 'chart'. This makes it much simpler to distribute and manage apps on Kubernetes, similar to how apps are managed on computers.
  3. Helm focuses on security and customization. It verifies the integrity of packages and allows users to customize charts, making it a flexible tool for deploying applications according to their specific needs.

The “Perks” of Being a Full-Stack Dev, Junior Devs’ Burnout, & JavaScript’s Temporal

HackerPulse Dispatch • 8 implied HN points • 04 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Software Development Programming Security Web
  1. Junior developers risk burnout by trying to keep up with many new tools instead of mastering the basics. It's better to understand a few things deeply than to know a little about everything.
  2. The push for full-stack developers often spreads skill sets too thin. Companies might want to save money, but true expertise comes from focusing on specific areas.
  3. JavaScript's new Temporal object is designed to fix the old Date issues. It will help developers manage dates and times more accurately and easily.

Don't grab the brass ring, grab the copper pipe

Sunday Letters • 59 implied HN points • 28 Jul 24
🕹 Technology AI Internet Development Infrastructure UX
  1. Focus on building the essential tools and infrastructure first. These are often overlooked but are crucial for long-term success.
  2. Reaching for groundbreaking goals is important, but make sure the technology is ready. Many ideas are great, but timing matters.
  3. While big ideas attract attention, don't forget about solving smaller, tougher problems that can support those ideas. Both are important for progress.

What's an SDK?

Technically • 67 implied HN points • 16 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Software Development Programming APIs Frameworks
  1. An SDK, or Software Development Kit, is like a toolbox for developers, helping them build apps without starting from scratch. It lets them use pieces of code made by others, saving a lot of time.
  2. There are different kinds of tools: libraries are small, focused pieces of code for specific tasks, while SDKs are larger, more comprehensive sets that cover broader tasks like payment processing.
  3. SDKs help developers use APIs easily by providing helpful tools and documentation. They make tasks simpler, so developers can focus on creating great apps instead of writing everything from the ground up.

OpenAI Enhanced Their API With Robust Structured Output Capabilities

Cobus Greyling on LLMs, NLU, NLP, chatbots & voicebots • 39 implied HN points • 12 Aug 24
🕹 Technology AI API Data Development NLP
  1. OpenAI has improved its API to ensure that outputs always match a set JSON format. This helps developers know exactly what kind of data they will get back.
  2. The previous method of generating JSON outputs was inconsistent, making it hard to use in real-world applications. Now, there's a more reliable way to create structured outputs.
  3. Developers can now use features like Function Calling and a new response format to make their apps interact better with AI, ensuring clearer communication between systems.

The short outburst of activity during Ruby Changelog preparation—2025 edition

zverok on lucid code • 28 implied HN points • 06 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Programming Software Development Documentation Language
  1. Ruby releases a new version every year on December 25th. This has been consistent since 2013, which makes it easier for developers to plan their updates.
  2. A changelog is created that details all the noteworthy changes in the Ruby language. This includes explanations and examples to help developers understand the updates better.
  3. The changelog process helps improve Ruby's documentation and sometimes identifies issues that need to be fixed before the new version is released.

sqlmesh plan

davidj.substack • 59 implied HN points • 10 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Software Data Management Cloud Computing Analytics Development
  1. Virtual data environments in SQLMesh let you test changes without affecting the main data. This means you can quickly see how something would work before actually doing it.
  2. Using snapshots, you can create different versions of data models easily. Each version is linked to a unique fingerprint, so they don't mess with each other.
  3. Creating and managing development environments is much easier now. With just a command, you can set up a new environment that looks just like production, making development smoother.

Code coverage doesn't matter much

Andrew's Substack • 83 implied HN points • 29 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Software Testing Development Engineering Programming
  1. Code coverage alone doesn't indicate whether tests are good or useful. It's more about the quality of the tests than the quantity.
  2. Not all tests are valuable; some can be complex and fail for reasons that don't matter, which can lead to false confidence in the code.
  3. The aim of testing should be to assure that your code works and to catch errors, instead of just trying to raise a coverage percentage.