The hottest Infrastructure Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Technology Topics

Irreconcilable Differences

Doomberg • 7505 implied HN points • 20 Nov 24
🕹 Technology AI Energy Infrastructure Telecommunications Innovation
  1. AI's need for power is too high for current energy grids. This means we might face problems trying to meet that demand.
  2. What if new rules stopped data centers from using the main power grid? This could change how we think about energy sources.
  3. If data centers found their own power, it could ease strain on existing grids. But, it would also create new challenges and shifts in the market.

The fastest, cheapest way to transform your city

Urben Field Notes • 172 implied HN points • 06 Jun 25
🪑 Design Urban planning Public spaces Infrastructure Transportation
  1. Cities have a lot of unused land that can be quickly turned into parks or plazas with minimal cost. All it takes is some creativity and determination.
  2. Making streets car-free can transform them into vibrant public spaces. This change can help businesses and improve community life.
  3. Successful pedestrian streets need to be designed carefully. They should be narrow and surrounded by lots of people and businesses to create a lively atmosphere.

Six Things to Know About Your Electric Utility

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 3179 implied HN points • 30 Jan 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Policy Renewable Energy Infrastructure Environmental Impact
  1. Utilities have to serve everyone in their area, which limits how much risk they can take on new technologies. They often focus on proven ideas to avoid wasting customer money.
  2. Community opposition can make it really hard for utilities to expand infrastructure. This can slow down projects that are important for energy needs, as people often don’t want facilities near them.
  3. The push for renewable energy is complicated. While renewables can be cheaper, the technology for storing energy isn't perfect yet, leading utilities to still rely on fossil fuels during certain times.

Google Becomes AT&T

Dana Blankenhorn: Facing the Future • 59 implied HN points • 17 Oct 24
🕹 Technology AI Google Search Infrastructure Monopoly
  1. Google is struggling with its search service, similar to how AT&T failed in the past. They are facing a lot of pressure from new AI technologies.
  2. The company is spending a huge amount of money to fix its issues but still losing ground to competitors. This is making it hard to maintain their position in the search market.
  3. There's a call for government intervention to save the internet and possibly break up Google, as many believe the current setup is damaging and not serving users well.
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AI #89: Trump Card

Don't Worry About the Vase • 1881 implied HN points • 07 Nov 24
🕹 Technology AI Policy Innovation Regulation Infrastructure
  1. Trump's potential return to office could change AI policy significantly. He plans to revoke existing regulations but may not have a clear replacement, which could impact the tech landscape.
  2. Language models are becoming more important in everyday tasks, but they also face challenges. While they improve productivity, they can also lead to decreased job satisfaction for users.
  3. There is growing concern about AI's influence on politics and decision-making. Studies show that AI models can affect voters' opinions, highlighting the need for caution in how they are used.

Why Is It So Hard to Build an Airport?

Construction Physics • 22131 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
💼 Business Infrastructure Aviation Construction Economics Environmentalism
  1. Airports are crucial for global economy, with aviation contributing significantly to GDP.
  2. Building airports is notoriously difficult due to opposition from various interest groups, particularly related to noise concerns.
  3. Despite challenges in airport construction, the aviation industry has managed to adapt and accommodate increased air travel by adding runways, expanding infrastructure, and increasing passenger capacity per plane.

How did Discord evolve to handle trillions of data points

VuTrinh. • 399 implied HN points • 20 Aug 24
🕹 Technology Data Engineering Software Tools Infrastructure Open Source Data Analytics
  1. Discord started with its own tool called Derived to manage data, but it found this system limited as it grew. They needed a better way to handle complex data tasks.
  2. They switched to using popular tools like Dagster and dbt. This helped them automate and better manage their data processes.
  3. With the new setup, Discord can now make changes quickly and safely, which improves how they analyze and use their vast amounts of data.

Britain is secretly pro-building stuff

Odds and Ends of History • 67 implied HN points • 26 May 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Policy Military Infrastructure Public Opinion
  1. Many people in Britain actually support building new homes, showing a hidden desire for development. It's important to understand public opinion on housing to better address issues in this area.
  2. The planning system in Britain is more complicated and less effective than many think. This dysfunction can make it harder to create new housing and infrastructure.
  3. There's a push for improving the British military's innovation and security. This focus on modernizing defense is linked to overall national prosperity and safety.

Yes, AI really can be used to tackle potholes

Odds and Ends of History • 2077 implied HN points • 17 Jan 25
🕹 Technology AI Infrastructure Data Innovation Public Services
  1. AI can help local councils find and fix potholes more efficiently. It uses cameras and algorithms to spot problems without needing workers to stop and inspect manually.
  2. The technology can identify not only potholes but also other issues like broken signs and overgrown vegetation. This means councils can be proactive in road maintenance.
  3. Using AI for road maintenance can save time and resources for councils. This allows them to collect useful data and prioritize repairs better, despite limited budgets.

Sustainable Software, can you do something?

Cloud native with Saiyam • 39 implied HN points • 15 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Software AI Sustainability Infrastructure
  1. Cloud Native Sustainability Week is a global event focusing on making technology practices more sustainable. It encourages everyone to join discussions and learn about sustainable software integration.
  2. You can contribute to sustainable software efforts by participating in working groups and exploring specific technologies like Kubernetes. There are many projects people can join to help the cause.
  3. Upcoming events like KubeCon NA provide opportunities to learn about the latest tools in cloud-native landscapes. Attending talks and meetups can deepen your understanding and involvement in sustainability efforts.

What hath AWS wrought?

Cloud Irregular • 2661 implied HN points • 10 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Cloud Computing Software Development DevOps Infrastructure
  1. At this year's AWS re:Invent, there were no major new services launched, which is quite different from previous years. Instead, AWS focused on enhancing existing services and features.
  2. In the past, AWS released many new services, but many of them didn't succeed. This led to dissatisfaction within the developer community.
  3. Now, AWS seems to be concentrating on improving their core offerings. This change could help revive interest and excitement in the AWS developer community again.

How Did LinkedIn Handle 7 Trillion Messages Daily With Apache Kafka?

VuTrinh. • 299 implied HN points • 13 Aug 24
🕹 Technology Data Engineering Infrastructure Software Development Open Source
  1. LinkedIn uses Apache Kafka to manage a massive flow of information, handling around 7 trillion messages every day. They set up a complex system of clusters and brokers to ensure everything runs smoothly.
  2. To keep everything organized, LinkedIn has a tiered system where data is processed locally in each data center, then sent to an aggregate cluster. This helps them avoid issues from moving data across different locations.
  3. LinkedIn has an auditing tool to make sure all messages are tracked and nothing gets lost during transmission. This helps them quickly identify any problems and fix them efficiently.

Netflix Data Engineer Stack

VuTrinh. • 359 implied HN points • 30 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Data Engineering Software Tools Streaming Analytics Infrastructure
  1. Netflix's data engineering stack uses tools like Apache Iceberg and Spark for building batch data pipelines. This helps them transform and manage large amounts of data efficiently.
  2. For real-time data processing, Netflix relies on Apache Flink and a tool called Keystone. This setup makes it easier to handle streaming data and send it where it needs to go.
  3. To ensure data quality and scheduling, Netflix has developed tools like the WAP pattern for auditing data and Maestro for managing workflows. These tools help keep the data process organized and reliable.

$42 Billion Broadband Boondoggle Brought Internet to Zero Homes

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 22 implied HN points • 13 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy Government Infrastructure Public Spending Digital Divide
  1. The $42 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program has not connected any homes to the internet, highlighting a failure in its implementation.
  2. Most people already have internet access, and less than 1 million households are offline due to lack of availability, suggesting the problem isn't as big as thought.
  3. Government funding can slow down private investments in broadband infrastructure, and letting the market operate may lead to better solutions and prices for consumers.

America’s Air-Traffic Control System Is an International Disgrace

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1048 implied HN points • 07 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Regulation Aviation Infrastructure Safety
  1. America's air-traffic control system is outdated and struggling, with too few controllers using old technology.
  2. Recent incidents highlight the mismanagement and dangers of the air traffic system, showing it has become one of the worst in the developed world.
  3. In comparison to systems in other countries like Canada, America's methods feel very outdated and inefficient.

The Birth of the Grid

Construction Physics • 19834 implied HN points • 25 May 23
🕹 Technology Energy Infrastructure Innovation History Utilities
  1. Electricity transitioned from a rare luxury to a critical aspect of modern life in a short period of time.
  2. The development of high-voltage transmission lines allowed for long-distance power transmission and the creation of interconnected power systems.
  3. The electric power industry grew by embracing scale, cooperation, and regulation to meet increasing demand and ensure reliability.

Why American Cities (Actually) Suck

The Discourse Lounge • 1348 implied HN points • 31 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Urban Policy Crime Rates Infrastructure Gun Control Social Issues
  1. Many American cities struggle because of poor political support and funding for urban infrastructure. Unlike some other countries, America often neglects its cities, leading to issues like poverty and crime.
  2. Increased policing alone won't solve the problems in American cities. Issues like gun violence and bad transportation systems need to be addressed holistically.
  3. To make cities better, America could learn from European and Asian approaches to urban planning and social welfare. Improving community support and organizing urban services better could lead to healthier, safer cities.

The Private Train Car Edition

Why is this interesting? • 2352 implied HN points • 29 Oct 24
🎭️ Culture Travel Luxury History Infrastructure Society
  1. Private rail cars are a luxurious way to travel that depend on public train systems like Amtrak. Owners can hitch their private cars onto regular train services for their trips.
  2. These rail cars were a big deal in the early 20th century, designed with amazing features like observation decks and sleeping quarters. Many were made by the famous Pullman company, known for its luxury craftsmanship.
  3. Even wealthy travelers in the past had to rely on public infrastructure, showing a unique blend of private luxury and public services. This coexistence is still important today as societies think about wealth and accessibility.

Attack and Defense

Glenn’s Substack • 2496 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
📰 News Security Terrorism Intelligence Response Infrastructure
  1. A cautionary tale in an article discusses a fictional attack on America, highlighting the importance of border control, intelligence, and target hardening.
  2. The aftermath of past attacks in Israel showed that atrocities can fuel anger and determination rather than cowing a nation into submission.
  3. Having a strong deterrence strategy may be a crucial factor in preventing potential future attacks by instilling fear in those who support terrorists.

Reading List for 11/9/24

Construction Physics • 2087 implied HN points • 09 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Construction Infrastructure Sustainability Data Centers Monitoring
  1. Using drones and AI to monitor construction sites can help identify issues and improve efficiency. This tech can make construction safer and more effective.
  2. Microsoft's plan for mass-timber data centers is an attempt to cut carbon emissions, but energy use for operating them has a much bigger carbon footprint than the building materials.
  3. The trend of smaller windows in buildings to save energy might not be the best solution. It's better to focus on creating more clean energy rather than limiting our energy use too much.

The Hidden World of Undersea Cables

The Garden of Forking Paths • 2869 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Internet Infrastructure Data Security Geopolitics
  1. The internet largely runs through undersea cables spanning about 900,000 miles, connecting the world in a hidden network.
  2. Early undersea cables were made possible by materials like gutta-percha and played a key role in rapid communication during events like the US Civil War.
  3. Specialized ships lay and repair undersea cables made of fiber optics, and even guard against threats like sharks and sabotage by SCUBA divers.

⤴⤵ Up Wing/Down Wing #25

Faster, Please! • 548 implied HN points • 16 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Policy Energy Policy Technology Policy Research Funding Infrastructure
  1. AI is creating a big boom in US construction, especially for data centers. Spending on these centers has grown a lot since the launch of ChatGPT.
  2. The US government has plans to triple its nuclear power by 2050. This is to keep up with the demand for clean energy as AI and industries grow.
  3. There is a push for a new research initiative to support advanced science fields like quantum computing. This aims to keep the US ahead in technology against competitive countries.

Inside Biden’s Billion-Dollar Broadband Boondoggle

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1085 implied HN points • 15 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy Infrastructure Government Technology
  1. The Biden administration promised to provide reliable internet access to 25 million people in rural areas. This is important because many people living in these regions struggle with slow or no internet service.
  2. The $42 billion investment meant to improve broadband services has not connected a single customer yet. This raises questions about how effective the program is and why it hasn't delivered on its promises.
  3. Many individuals, like a software engineer in Wisconsin, face challenges working from home due to poor internet connectivity. Without successful implementation of broadband programs, their work continues to suffer.

What does DigitalOcean do?

Technically • 14 implied HN points • 18 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Cloud Computing Web Development Software Engineering User Experience Infrastructure
  1. DigitalOcean is a service that rents out servers to developers for building web applications. It helps developers run their apps without needing their own hardware.
  2. Unlike bigger companies like AWS or Google Cloud, DigitalOcean is independent and not owned by a massive tech giant. This makes their approach more focused on users.
  3. They focus on simplicity and user experience, making it easier for developers to use their services compared to other cloud providers.

Tech Outages: Ep 1: Canva First Strike!

The ZenMode • 42 implied HN points • 31 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Software Infrastructure User Experience Incident Response
  1. Canva experienced a major outage caused by a version update that didn't go as planned. This led to slow loading times and a surge of failed requests, frustrating many users.
  2. A hidden bug within the system contributed to the outage, showing how important it is to monitor and test software carefully. Fixing such bugs can prevent future disruptions.
  3. After the incident, Canva focused on learning from the experience. They improved their system and promised to be more transparent about issues to better serve their users.

Odds and Ends #55: The left needs to learn to love AI

Odds and Ends of History • 603 implied HN points • 29 Jan 25
🕹 Technology AI Infrastructure Autonomous Vehicles Logistics Government
  1. The left is often more skeptical about AI compared to the right. Understanding and embracing AI could help reshape perceptions and foster positive changes.
  2. There are important logistics infrastructures that many people overlook in their everyday lives. These systems keep society running smoothly, and it's worth acknowledging their significance.
  3. Google's plans for autonomous vehicles are becoming clearer, which suggests a shift in their business approach. This could mean more practical applications of self-driving technology in the near future.

DeepSeek: Is this Jevon's Cope?

Mule’s Musings • 635 implied HN points • 29 Jan 25
🕹 Technology AI Infrastructure Market Trends Economic Theory
  1. Price changes can greatly influence how people feel about markets, leading to strong swings in sentiment. This idea is evident in the ongoing debates around AI infrastructure spending.
  2. The Jevons Paradox suggests that as technology makes things cheaper, demand often increases instead of decreases. This means that even with better technology, we may use more resources rather than less.
  3. There is a real risk that supply can exceed demand in the short term, impacting the market negatively. While the long-term picture may be optimistic, the immediate situation can be very different.

Africa in 2024

An Africanist Perspective • 2117 implied HN points • 01 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Elections Economy Conflict Infrastructure Leadership
  1. Africa in 2024 will see tough economic times, with debt distress, moderate growth, and challenges in inflation and household purchasing power.
  2. Several African countries will hold pivotal elections in 2024, with notable contests in Botswana, Ghana, Mozambique, Namibia, Senegal, and South Africa.
  3. Elite political instability and conflicts are expected to persist in regions such as Central Africa, the Horn, and the Sahel, with specific countries facing ongoing challenges while others remain stable.

The grid part II - the golden age of the power industry

Construction Physics • 11274 implied HN points • 03 Jun 23
🔬 Science Electricity Industry Infrastructure Regulation Environmental Impact
  1. In the 1930s, federal projects like the Hoover Dam increased electrification and capacity, but growth slowed due to the Great Depression.
  2. Post-World War II saw the Golden Age of the electric power industry with massive growth in electricity generation, consumption, and industry assets.
  3. The end of the Golden Age came in the late 1960s due to factors like environmental concerns, technical challenges, and the 1973 energy crisis, leading to rising costs and stagnation.

What's a half-trillion between friends?

Alex's Personal Blog • 65 implied HN points • 22 Jan 25
🕹 Technology AI Infrastructure Investment Technology Policy
  1. There is a big investment in AI happening, totaling $500 billion, which will help the U.S. stay ahead in technology. This money will be used to build infrastructure and create jobs.
  2. SoftBank's financial status is unclear, but it is involved in this major investment deal. The real challenge is making sure they can actually fund their part of the investment.
  3. While OpenAI is leading the project, there are other AI companies like Anthropic and Mistral that are doing well and can compete for market share. The AI market seems to have room for multiple big players.

Layer 3 Deep Dive

DeFi Education • 399 implied HN points • 12 Jun 24
🔮 Crypto Blockchain DeFi Web3 Applications Infrastructure
  1. Layer 3 is the application layer that helps make blockchain technology user-friendly. It aims to simplify how people interact with decentralized finance (DeFi) and other crypto apps.
  2. Layers 1 and 2 are the foundational blockchains, but most users won't need to understand them. The goal is to focus on user experience rather than the underlying complexity.
  3. To bring crypto applications to a wider audience, it’s important to extend and enhance existing technologies, making them more accessible to everyone.

Beyond Big Tech: The Reality Of Data Engineering Outside Silicon Valley

SeattleDataGuy’s Newsletter • 847 implied HN points • 14 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Data Engineering Big Tech Infrastructure Data Systems Business Processes
  1. Working in big tech offers many advantages like better tools and a strong focus on data. This environment makes it easier to get work done quickly and efficiently.
  2. Many companies outside big tech struggle with data because it's not their main focus. They often use a mix of different tools that don't work well together, leading to confusion.
  3. Without a strong data leader, companies may find it hard to prioritize data spending. If data isn't tied to profits, it's tougher to justify investing time and money into it.

Reading List 11/16/24

Construction Physics • 1043 implied HN points • 16 Nov 24
💼 Business Construction Infrastructure Technology Real Estate Finance
  1. Miami tried to become a new tech hub, but it didn't get much venture capital funding, showing it hasn't really worked out.
  2. Modular construction is growing, especially for fast food restaurants, where buildings can be completed in just 24 hours.
  3. The average homebuyer in the U.S. is now 56 years old, which reflects the aging population in the country.

Why Your Data Infrastructure Migration Project Will Fail (And How to Succeed)

SeattleDataGuy’s Newsletter • 376 implied HN points • 12 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Data Engineering Infrastructure Software Development Project management Change Management
  1. Having a clear plan is crucial for successful data migration projects. You need to know what to move and in what order to avoid chaos.
  2. Ownership of the migration process is important. There should be a clear leader or team responsible to keep everything on track.
  3. Testing data after migration is a must. Just moving the data doesn't guarantee that it works the same way, so check for any discrepancies.

More Than Meets the Eye

Doomberg • 8671 implied HN points • 31 May 23
📰 News Energy Infrastructure Policy Supply Chain Disasters
  1. The Great Ice Storm of 1998 had devastating impacts on areas in lower Quebec, parts of New England, and the Northeast megalopolis.
  2. The US power industry is facing a growing supply chain crisis, particularly with a chronic shortage of transformers, risking grid reliability.
  3. Industry leaders are urging for a $1 billion appropriation to address the transformer shortage and accelerate production via the Defense Production Act.

GroupBy #42: Paypal - Scaling Kafka

VuTrinh. • 219 implied HN points • 02 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Data Engineering Software Development Cloud Computing Big Data Infrastructure
  1. PayPal operates a massive Kafka system with over 85 clusters and handles around 1.3 trillion messages daily. They manage data growth by using multiple geographical data centers for efficiency.
  2. To improve user experience and security, PayPal developed tools like the Kafka Config Service for easier broker management and added access control lists to restrict who can connect to their Kafka clusters.
  3. PayPal focuses on automation and monitoring, implementing systems to quickly patch vulnerabilities and manage topics, while also optimizing metrics to quickly identify issues with their Kafka platform.

HS2: The day they cancelled the 21st Century

Striking 13 • 2176 implied HN points • 04 Oct 23
🌍 World Politics Infrastructure Economy Environment Climate Transport
  1. HS2 project cancellation in the UK is criticized for hindering progress and development, especially in terms of infrastructure, economy, and environmental impact
  2. HS2 aimed to address capacity issues in the existing rail system, improve connectivity, and contribute to environmental sustainability by reducing carbon emissions from travel
  3. The decision to cancel HS2 is seen as short-sighted, as it not only fails to save money but also overlooks the long-term benefits and potential financial gains of the project