The hottest Infrastructure Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

How to make history with LLMs & other generative models

Leigh Marie’s Newsletter • 74 HN points • 21 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Machine Learning Infrastructure Applications Observability Privacy
  1. LLMs like Github Copilot can augment developer productivity and provide new opportunities for AI-enabled developer tools startups
  2. Generative models can significantly enhance efficiency for knowledge workers in fields like consulting, legal, medical, and finance, offering potential for startups in these areas
  3. New infrastructure opportunities exist around running large models locally, providing compute resources for model training, and challenging incumbents in ML frameworks and chips

Don't count Google out just yet

John’s Contemplations • 39 implied HN points • 25 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Innovation Infrastructure Open Source Tech industry
  1. Google has a strong position in AI with exceptional talent, massive datasets, AI compute, infinite resources, and diversified AI portfolio.
  2. Google's current challenges in AI are not insurmountable, and the company has the potential to lead in various AI subfields.
  3. Google should focus on building AI tooling, open-source platforms, and infrastructure to stay relevant and capitalize on the AI revolution.

BatteryGate: EV Edition? Tesla’s Battery Shenanigans Spark Lawsuit...and Bigger Questions

Fight to Repair • 39 implied HN points • 27 Jun 23
🕹 Technology EVs Software updates Repairability Environmental Impact Infrastructure
  1. Tesla faces a class action lawsuit over using software updates to alter vehicle performance and battery life.
  2. Repairability of electric vehicles is critical for wider adoption; battery pack lifespan and replacement costs influence total ownership costs.
  3. The shift to EVs won't automatically lead to a carbon-free world; the right to repair EVs is essential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impact.
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Slack's Email Classification Service

Arpit’s Newsletter • 39 implied HN points • 08 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Software Data Implementation Systems Infrastructure
  1. Slack has a feature to classify emails as internal or external during workspace invitations.
  2. Slack uses heuristics like domain matching to classify emails, but may face challenges in diverse email domains.
  3. Implementing a classification service involves maintaining a table with counts and eventual consistency for accurate classification.

Twelve months on, flood-affected River Murray farmers are still doing it tough

Murray Bridge News • 19 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Natural Disasters Agriculture Government Response Infrastructure Community support
  1. Primary producers along the River Murray are still struggling after the floods from 2022-2023.
  2. The flooding caused land to become unusable, affecting farmers' income and livelihoods.
  3. Repairing the flood damage, dealing with unexpected costs, and ongoing stress have taken a toll on the farming community.

The rough edges of Terraform that I awkwardly stumble over

Basta’s Notes • 122 implied HN points • 07 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Infrastructure Automation Resource Management API Integration
  1. Terraform allows writing code to describe infrastructure in production, automating deployment and management across various cloud platforms.
  2. Securing secrets in Terraform state files can be a challenge, requiring manual handling to avoid storing sensitive data.
  3. Terraform's manual and serial nature requires human oversight for changes to avoid unintended consequences, making automation challenging.

Into Siberia: The Long Arm of Ukrainian Intelligence and the Green Wedge

Glen’s Substack • 19 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Ukraine Russia Infrastructure Trade Intelligence
  1. Ukrainian intelligence conducted bold and strategic attacks deep inside Russia, impacting Russian trade routes and signaling a vulnerability in Siberia.
  2. The Green Wedge, a large Ukrainian community in the Russian Far East, poses a security threat to Moscow and has historical significance in Ukrainian nationalism.
  3. The recent railway attacks in Siberia will likely escalate into a broader Ukrainian sabotage campaign in the Russian Far East, affecting Russian-China trade relations and military logistics.

Biden and Bernie

Diane Francis • 219 implied HN points • 14 Oct 21
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political parties Debt Ceiling Infrastructure Progressive politics
  1. The U.S. is facing issues like government shutdowns and debt ceiling problems. These issues are affecting how the government normally operates.
  2. Both major political parties, Republicans and Democrats, are struggling due to extreme groups within them. These groups are making it hard for moderate members to lead effectively.
  3. The current political landscape is influenced by key figures like Trump and Bernie Sanders, who represent the far ends of their parties. This is causing delays in important legislation like infrastructure bills.

Amtrak is still riding the nostalgia train

Urben Field Notes • 32 implied HN points • 26 Feb 24
💼 Business Transportation Finances Government Infrastructure Policy
  1. Long-distance trains are nostalgic but may not be the most efficient way to provide rail service to small towns and neglected regions.
  2. Expanding long-distance train routes could reach more Americans, but issues include unreliable trip durations, inconvenient schedules, and high costs.
  3. Optimizing rail routes by focusing on shorter, higher-demand trips could be a more cost-effective and efficient way to improve passenger rail service in America.

What’s happening with the Lower Murray’s levees? Not enough, opposition MPs say

Murray Bridge News • 19 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Floods Disaster Management Government Response Infrastructure
  1. Opposition MPs are concerned about the future of the levee network along the Lower Murray.
  2. Many levees along the Lower Murray were breached or overtopped during recent floods, causing damage to farmland.
  3. The government has committed to a three-year project to improve levee bank management on the River Murray and Gawler River.

Practical Reinforcement Learning and Differential Privacy

Gradient Flow • 119 implied HN points • 17 Feb 22
🕹 Technology Machine Learning Data science Infrastructure Privacy
  1. The ratio of data scientists to data engineers varies based on factors like tools, infrastructure, and use cases, with no set ideal ratio.
  2. Interesting developments include a new podcast discussing machine learning infrastructure at Netflix, imperceptible NLP attacks, and evolving data science training programs.
  3. Exciting tools and updates in the data and machine learning space, like practical reinforcement learning applications, scalable differential privacy for Python developers, and the Orbit version 1.1 for Bayesian time-series analysis.

Supplier Misnomer

Resilient Cyber • 59 implied HN points • 01 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Cybersecurity Software Open Source Supply Chain Infrastructure
  1. Most modern software relies heavily on Free and Open Source Software (FOSS), but companies often don't have a formal relationship with the maintainers of this software. This means you can't always expect support or responses when issues arise.
  2. Many FOSS projects have limited contributors, and some are maintained by just one person. This can lead to challenges in getting help or updates if needed, making it important for users to be ready to step in if something goes wrong.
  3. As a software user, you need to understand that the responsibility for managing FOSS lies with you. If you want maintainers to act like suppliers, consider supporting them financially, or be prepared to handle any risks yourself.

Bicycles in the Digital Age

The Digital Anthropologist • 19 implied HN points • 30 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Society Technology Innovation Gender Infrastructure
  1. Bicycles have played a crucial role in societal changes, like enabling women's freedom and connecting communities in developing nations.
  2. Despite the rise of electric and automated vehicles, bicycles are increasingly popular worldwide, with more bicycles than cars being made annually.
  3. Bicycles offer numerous benefits such as environmental friendliness, space efficiency, and pedestrian safety, leading to a reevaluation of urban infrastructure prioritizing bikes over cars.

Gradient Flow #44: 2021 NLP Industry Survey Results; No-Code Landscape

Gradient Flow • 119 implied HN points • 23 Sep 21
🕹 Technology NLP No Code Machine Learning Data Tools Infrastructure
  1. The 2021 NLP Industry Survey received responses from 655 people worldwide, providing insights into how companies are using language applications today.
  2. Tools like Hugging Face NLP Datasets and TextDistance library are making data processing and comparison easier in Python.
  3. There is a trend towards low-code and no-code development tools that are boosting developer productivity and extending the pool of software application creators.

Canal Dreams

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 99 implied HN points • 17 Feb 22
💾 History U.S. History Landscape Infrastructure Colonization
  1. The era of canals in America began with the Erie Canal in 1825 and led to an ambitious project in Washington state to connect bodies of water. This idea was sparked by settlers dreaming of easier transport methods.
  2. Over the years, multiple plans were proposed to create canals in the Pacific Northwest, but many were eventually deemed unnecessary due to the rise of railroads and automobiles.
  3. Trying to change landscapes with big projects often causes unexpected problems and doesn't always help the communities involved. We should be careful about such ambitious plans in the future.

What is Wrong in Blockchain Marketing: The Builder Effect

Athena Scale • 19 implied HN points • 08 May 23
🕹 Technology Blockchain Marketing Developers Infrastructure Documentation
  1. The network effect in blockchain marketing plays a crucial role in attracting users.
  2. In blockchain, the builder's effect emphasizes that the value of a product increases with the quality of the builders on it.
  3. Blockchains should focus on attracting new developers to their space to build better products and increase their value.

Miners are Profiting Without Mining

Miner Weekly • 19 implied HN points • 07 Aug 23
💰 Finance Mining Regulation Hardware Infrastructure Corporate
  1. Mining companies are finding ways to profit without traditional mining, utilizing strategies like energy sales and renting out hashpower.
  2. Charts comparing bitcoin production and realized hashrate of mining companies show a difference due to flexible use of proprietary hashrate for various purposes.
  3. The evolving use of proprietary hashrate by mining companies highlights their adaptability to changing conditions in the industry.

China 1, America 0

Diane Francis • 99 implied HN points • 29 Jan 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Infrastructure Government Public Policy Economy International relations
  1. China is investing heavily in modern infrastructure, like high-speed rail, while America struggles with outdated systems and poorly maintained public transport. This shows a contrast in how both countries handle their infrastructure needs.
  2. Many Americans feel dissatisfied with their country's infrastructure based on surveys, highlighting a cultural trend of avoiding taxes and cutting government spending. This leads to a lack of funding for important projects and maintenance.
  3. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is a step forward for America, but the real challenge will be overcoming political disagreements and the tendency to ignore issues until they become disasters.

Potential U.S. Space Force Changes

Ill-Defined Space • 19 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Military Technology Training Operations Infrastructure
  1. The U.S. Space Force's missions, assets, and services are mostly about support to combat services like the Army and Navy.
  2. The Space Force relies on old systems which require specialized training, hindering transition to more modern, interoperable systems.
  3. The Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) will bring more capable and interconnected systems, requiring a shift in mindset and cooperation among space operators.

Issue #77

Infra Weekly Newsletter • 18 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Kubernetes Generative AI Infrastructure
  1. Gentoo adds binary support, a positive move but perhaps a bit late.
  2. Security organizations should ask four key questions when selecting AI-SPM tools to ensure secure AI processes.
  3. Generative AI is set to transform the world in 2024 with advancements in various areas like multimodal models and autonomous agents.

Pilings, nothing more than Pilings

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 99 implied HN points • 08 Jul 21
🎭️ Culture Urban Studies Architecture History Infrastructure Environmental Impact
  1. Pilings are important for building urban structures over water, especially in places like Puget Sound. They allow cities to expand and develop their waterfronts.
  2. The process of driving pilings into the ground is complex and labor-intensive. Special machines called pile drivers use heavy weights to push long wooden logs deep into the muddy ground to secure foundations.
  3. While pilings helped cities grow, they also caused environmental damage by reducing natural habitats and using a lot of wood from local forests.

Locating Machine Learning Engineers

Gradient Flow • 59 implied HN points • 27 Jan 22
🕹 Technology Machine Learning Data science Podcasts Infrastructure Art
  1. The role of 'machine learning engineer' has emerged as a key position for implementing data science in production, bridging the gap between data products and machine learning models.
  2. Geographically, machine learning engineers are distributed across various regions, with companies and industries in different locations employing them.
  3. Advances in computer hardware design, coupled with improvements in models and algorithms, are expected to significantly enhance model training efficiency.

Infrastructure and General-Purpose Tools

Bzogramming • 22 implied HN points • 05 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Infrastructure Tools Computing Interactions Personalization
  1. Ubiquitous Computing envisioned computers fading into the background to be convenient means to solve problems.
  2. Simplicity has limits due to the finite number of interactions and outcomes possible with tools.
  3. Personalization and infrastructure are crucial for making general-purpose tools convenient and efficient for individual users.

No one wants to host their own LLM Model or Blockchain Node

Olshansky's Newsletter • 12 HN points • 19 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Blockchain Infrastructure API Inference
  1. Users prefer paying for cheaper, faster, and easier-to-use solutions rather than hosting their own LLM models or blockchain nodes.
  2. Infrastructure companies in AI and Web3 are competing in a race to provide cost-effective services in a commoditized market.
  3. Success in open-core ecosystems requires balancing between hardware operation and gateway services, with a focus on reliability, performance, and cost.

The Anti-Mobility Playbook

Exasperated Infrastructures • 26 implied HN points • 07 Aug 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Transportation Infrastructure Policy Political theory Government
  1. The Republican message focuses on telling people what to do while resisting being told what to do.
  2. There are two main theories in government - Conflict and Mistake - that don't always align with political parties.
  3. The Anti-Mobility Playbook highlights how Republicans resist investing in transportation modes that could benefit everyone, contributing to the lack of progress in transportation planning and infrastructure.

Thoughts on coding with GPT

Logos • 19 implied HN points • 21 Apr 23
🕹 Technology AI Coding Infrastructure Content creation Web Development
  1. The tools to deploy and host code are quite complicated and not user-friendly. This makes it tough for non-technical people to bring their coding ideas to life.
  2. GPT can help generate code, but it struggles to understand the deeper intentions behind the questions asked. Humans can often interpret needs better and provide more useful answers.
  3. There’s a big opportunity to create a platform that simplifies the entire coding process, from writing code to hosting and tracking analytics, making it easier for anyone to make their ideas a reality.