The hottest Functions Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics
Bite code! 1100 implied HN points 15 Jan 24
  1. The splat operator ( ) in Python is used for unpacking function arguments and defining infinite (variadic) parameters.
  2. Differentiate between arguments and parameters in Python; parameters are defined variables in a function signature, while arguments are values passed to those parameters when calling the function.
  3. Positional and keyword arguments in Python allow passing arguments by position or by name in a function call.
The Software & Data Spectrum 39 implied HN points 26 Mar 23
  1. In R, if, else, and else if statements have similar logic to other programming languages but with different syntax.
  2. While loops in R allow a program to run continuously until a condition is met, and can include if statements and break statements.
  3. For loops in R iterate over objects and execute code for each loop, distinguishing from while loops as they execute code for each variable in the object.
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Deus In Machina 72 implied HN points 02 Mar 23
  1. Simula was a significant influence on the design of languages like C++ and Java, showcasing Object-Oriented Programming concepts.
  2. Finding an implementation for Simula, like Portable Simula, can be a bit challenging but rewarding.
  3. Simula uses unique syntax like keyword-based blocks, explicit statement endings with semicolons, and different assignment operators for text variables.
Technology Made Simple 19 implied HN points 07 Jul 22
  1. Math and logic are essential in problem-solving as they can help analyze and solve complex scenarios.
  2. Understanding periodicity in functions can be applied to analyze repetitive patterns in problems with infinite instructions.
  3. Analyzing the impact of direction and location in a periodic function can reveal insights on the behavior of a system over time, leading to accurate solutions.
Harnessing the Power of Nutrients 19 implied HN points 28 Apr 13
  1. Vitamin K2 in foods comes from the conversion of other K vitamins to MK-4 in animals or from bacterial production of various MKs, highlighting how cheese production involves these processes.
  2. Different cheeses have varying amounts of vitamin K2 based on the specific bacteria used in fermentation, showcasing how the type of bacteria impacts the levels of MKs like MK-7 and MK-10 in the final product.
  3. The presence of MK-10 and MK-11 in pork products raises questions about their bioavailability compared to other MKs found in foods like cheese and natto, emphasizing the need for further research on the different biological functions of various MKs.
EIP-2535 Diamonds 1 implied HN point 07 Apr 23
  1. The EIP-2535 Diamond standard emphasizes the importance of emitting and returning immutable functions for transparency.
  2. Transparency is crucial to prevent confusion and incorrect data about immutable functions in diamonds.
  3. Ensuring compliance with EIP-2535 Diamond standards avoids situations where functions are unintentionally duplicated or incorrectly referenced.
Harnessing the Power of Nutrients 0 implied HN points 21 Dec 08
  1. Cholesterol is essential for our health as it plays critical roles in cell membranes, hormone production, vitamin D synthesis, and brain function.
  2. Nutritious foods like egg yolks and liver, rich in cholesterol, are unfairly demonized by anti-fat, anti-cholesterol campaigns despite promoting health without causing disease.
  3. For some individuals with a genetic defect impacting cholesterol synthesis, cholesterol may be considered an essential nutrient.
Prompt Engineering 0 implied HN points 14 Jun 23
  1. OpenAI has updated the GPT-3.5 model with a larger context length of 16,384 tokens, allowing for more data input and better results.
  2. There is a 75% cost reduction on OpenAI's models, and a 25% cost reduction on input tokens for gpt-3.5-turbo.
  3. OpenAI announced functions that allow the model to make API calls, write emails, query databases, and more, taking LLM applications to the next level.