The hottest Languages Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top History Topics

What’s up Python ? Rust in CPython, immutable dicts, unpacking in comprehensions...

Bite code! • 1590 implied HN points • 08 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Languages
  1. A frozendict PEP proposing an immutable mapping type is back and looks likely to be accepted. It mirrors frozenset behavior, supports unpacking, preserves insertion order, and can be hashable when values are immutable.
  2. Unpacking in comprehensions is accepted for Python 3.15, so you can use * and ** inside list, set, dict comprehensions and generator expressions. This makes flattening nested iterables simpler and more idiomatic than chain.from_iterable or nested loops.
  3. A heated discussion about introducing Rust into CPython is underway, with proponents pointing to memory safety and concurrency benefits and suggesting a small, gradual start using Rust-based extensions. Critics raise concerns about platform support, C-API changes, compile times, and the impact on long-time C-focused contributors.

AI is just the latest Monoculture

Deus In Machina • 72 implied HN points • 05 Feb 26
🕹 Technology Languages
  1. Technological lock-in has been the default for decades, so AI tools are more inheriting existing monocultures than creating them. They might speed up adoption of dominant tools, but the fundamental switching costs already existed.
  2. Products and tools tend to win by being familiar, not necessarily by being better, because people avoid relearning interfaces. That’s why many improvements preserve old APIs and conventions instead of introducing new paradigms.
  3. Concrete chokepoints — like the C ABI, curly-brace syntax, dominant CPU/GPU ecosystems, and the browser stack — show how early choices constrain future innovation. Those entrenched standards make it hard for new languages, hardware, or platforms to gain traction even before factoring in AI.

An Interview With Oscar About College in Ireland

Design Mom • 1434 implied HN points • 14 Jan 24
🚌 Education Languages
  1. Oscar chose to study in Ireland to do his coursework in English and be closer to his family in the EU.
  2. In his university in Ireland, students have to pick specific Courses when applying instead of declaring a major later on.
  3. American universities start with general education classes, while in Oscar's university, students apply directly to their preferred Course from a list.

Open Thread 1

Nooceleration • 216 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🚌 Education Languages
  1. The blog Nooceleration will be the primary venue for the author's work.
  2. The author plans to cover topics like Biosingularity, 2024 predictions, and network states.
  3. Personal goals for 2024 include developing a concept around The Biosingularity and traveling to Argentina.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Functional Genie

Software Design: Tidy First? • 243 implied HN points • 08 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Languages
  1. When coding in Rust, it can be tricky to use the right idioms, especially when dealing with functions that return an Option. It's good to pay attention to how you handle these results.
  2. In Rust, the common way to check for values is with an 'if' statement, which can take some getting used to if you're new to the language.
  3. Building a high-quality map implementation in Rust can be performance competitive, but learning the language and its features is essential for success.

Idel-Ural

kamilkazani • 314 implied HN points • 10 Nov 23
🌍 World Politics Languages
  1. Idel-Ural is a region shaped by the Volga river and Ural mountains.
  2. Ethnic situation in Idel-Ural is simpler compared to the North Caucasus.
  3. Chuvash people speak the last living tongue of the Bulghar-Oghur family.

Of Jail, hell and avocados

The Global Jigsaw • 238 implied HN points • 24 Nov 23
🚌 Education Languages
  1. Learning a new language is about more than just vocabulary, it's about empathy and understanding vulnerability.
  2. Making mistakes in language is brave and should be appreciated, not ridiculed.
  3. Language learning is like exploring a foreign land - full of surprises and growth.

Python as a configuration language

Bite code! • 856 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Languages
  1. Python can be used for defining conf data and schema, but it may have limitations and challenges.
  2. When not using Python, consider using TOML for small files, JSON for large ones, and CUElang for shared or dynamic conf.
  3. Investing in a pydantic schema for defining and validating configuration content can be beneficial.

Facing Facts, even fraught ones: the quest for proto-Indo-Europeans in 2023

Razib Khan's Unsupervised Learning • 983 implied HN points • 23 Sep 23
💾 History Languages
  1. Indo-European languages have spread widely across the globe through historical events and cultural exchanges.
  2. Genomic technologies have revolutionized our understanding of the rise and spread of Indo-Europeans.
  3. Debates around Indo-European origins have evolved, integrating fields like genetics, archaeology, and linguistics.

Adiós Duolingo, hello Anki

De Novo • 88 implied HN points • 05 Jun 25
🚌 Education Languages
  1. Anki is a flashcard app that helps with memorization using spaced repetition. It's great for learning detailed information and can share decks for team learning.
  2. Using AI to make Anki cards can be helpful, but it's important to check for errors. It's best for reinforcing knowledge rather than learning completely new topics.
  3. After years of using Duolingo, switching to Anki seems more effective for real learning. You can create a system to track your progress similar to Duolingo's streaks.

Be Wary of Lingo

Things I Didn't Learn in School • 117 implied HN points • 08 Mar 23
🚌 Education Languages
  1. Be cautious of using complex language in modern life as it may obscure reality.
  2. George Orwell emphasized the importance of clear, precise language to grasp reality.
  3. To understand reality, challenge vague language and seek truth in concrete facts.

Becoming a beginner again

Tribal Knowledge • 19 implied HN points • 03 May 24
🕹 Technology Languages
  1. Embrace the mindset of a beginner to approach problems with fresh eyes and dive into learning without overthinking.
  2. Experiment with new tools, languages, and technologies to keep yourself engaged and continuously learning in your field.
  3. Maintain curiosity and openness to new experiences in order to stay motivated and discover innovative solutions in your work.

Norse vs. Germanic

Norse Mythology & Germanic Lore • 59 implied HN points • 04 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Languages
  1. Germanic refers to language, culture, and religion, not just bloodlines, race, or ethnicity.
  2. Norse, a subset of Germanic, is a term for medieval Scandinavian speakers of North-Germanic languages.
  3. Germanic mythology shares similarities with other Indo-European traditions, like the thundergod motif, but divergences in stories can lead to variations in how gods are perceived.

An introduction

Baptiste’s Substack • 58 implied HN points • 15 May 23
🚌 Education Languages
  1. The author is an independent researcher specializing in Strategy, Wargaming, and Artificial Intelligence.
  2. The author aims to make academic writings more accessible through this Substack platform.
  3. The majority of content will be free to access, with a weekly newsletter for paid subscribers.

Elixir-like pipes in Ruby (oh no not again)

zverok on lucid code • 57 implied HN points • 16 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Languages
  1. Elixir has a special way to chain functions called the pipeline operator, which makes code easier to read. This idea has caught the attention of many programming languages, including Ruby.
  2. Ruby already has a method-chaining style that makes some proposals for a pipeline operator unnecessary. Ruby methods work differently than in Elixir, which poses challenges for introducing this feature.
  3. The author experimented with a new approach to mimic the pipeline operator in Ruby using a method that transforms code at a low level, but it's not intended to be a permanent addition to Ruby. It's more of an exploration of potential features.

Another Antiquarian Abecedary

Autoscriptorium • 39 implied HN points • 02 Mar 23
📚 Literature Languages
  1. Different unique and lesser-known words are presented along with their origins and meanings.
  2. The post encourages subscribing for more content and to support the author's work.
  3. Words from various languages and historical periods are shared, showcasing linguistic diversity and evolution.

A World without C

Deus In Machina • 72 implied HN points • 07 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Languages
  1. The push towards memory-safe languages like C++ over C is gaining attention due to concerns about software security, especially in critical systems like government infrastructure and services.
  2. C's simplicity and widespread usage make it a common choice for interlanguage bindings, but its simplicity can also lead to challenges in areas like memory management and handling large projects.
  3. While C has a rich history and legacy, there is growing discussion about the potential for newer languages like Zig to eventually replace C in its core functionalities, driven by advancements in the programming landscape.

English-Language Learners

SFEDup • 19 implied HN points • 28 Feb 23
🚌 Education Languages
  1. San Francisco has a high percentage of novice English learners, especially among Latino students.
  2. Home language surveys in California reveal varying English learner numbers and dominant languages in SFUSD.
  3. SFUSD faces challenges in administering initial English proficiency tests, with some students starting to learn English in high school.

Antiquarian Abecediary Annex

Autoscriptorium • 19 implied HN points • 03 Mar 23
📚 Literature Languages
  1. Words like 'Acarprous,' 'Borborygmic,' and 'Clepsydra' are interesting terms with unique origins, adding depth to language.
  2. Learning about words such as 'Horripilation,' 'Ichneumon,' and 'Plangently' provides insight into fascinating phenomena and historical references.
  3. 'Syncope,' 'Usufruct,' and 'Tumulous' introduce us to specific concepts and legal terms worth exploring further.

In C++ We Rust

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 19 implied HN points • 07 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Languages
  1. C++ is becoming less popular, with many developers focusing on newer languages like Rust and Python. It’s like learning a language that’s not used much anymore.
  2. The only people still learning C++ seem to be those interested in its history or looking to write books about it. Most developers just want to get their work done quickly.
  3. Having complete knowledge of C++ is seen as a bold claim nowadays, as many believe that there are more relevant skills to focus on in programming today.

Simula the forgotten programming language

Deus In Machina • 72 implied HN points • 02 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Languages
  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.

Pascal: The language that almost took over the world part 2

Deus In Machina • 36 implied HN points • 16 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Languages
  1. Pascal programs have a structured format with specific sections for constants, types, and variables.
  2. Free Pascal supports multiple dialects which can be specified using mode directives like OBJFPC and DELPHI.
  3. In Pascal, functions and procedures are declared with keywords like constructor, function, and procedure, and variables are prefixed with T and F.

Once a Maintainer: Robert Mosolgo

Once a Maintainer • 5 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Languages
  1. Robert Mosolgo transitioned from a background in linguistics to becoming a prolific open source maintainer and creator of the graphql-ruby gem.
  2. He got involved in open source by taking over the React-Rails gem, contributing, and eventually becoming the maintainer, showcasing the accessibility and impact of open source contributions.
  3. His journey into writing parsers for the gem led him to explore his linguistics background, bridging the gap between human language and programming language parsing.

To C or not to C

Blog System/5 • 4 HN points • 21 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Languages
  1. Knowing C well involves dealing with pointers, memory management, system calls vs. library functions, and understanding the FFI
  2. Knowledge of memory, system calls vs. library functions, and FFI gained from knowing C can be applied to many programming languages
  3. While you don't need to know C to be a good programmer, learning it can help you with understanding fundamental programming concepts

“Useless syntax sugar”: Numeric block parameters

zverok on lucid code • 3 HN points • 10 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Languages
  1. Ruby introduced a feature with numbered block parameters to avoid repeating block arguments, making code more concise and readable.
  2. Using numbered block parameters can improve visual lightness, saving screen space and avoiding unnecessary repetition in chains of short blocks.
  3. The small syntax change of using numbered block parameters can encourage a declarative coding style, emphasizing transformations from inputs to outputs in a more readable manner.

Learning a New Language

Unstable Orbits • 2 HN points • 29 Mar 23
🚌 Education Languages
  1. Reading books is the best way to learn a new language efficiently.
  2. Start with basic syntactic structures and the most frequent words when learning a new language.
  3. Use a common dictionary, avoid tap-on-the-word translations, and prioritize reading over language apps for better language acquisition.

Unblocking myself by writing compilers

derw • 0 implied HN points • 09 May 23
🕹 Technology Languages
  1. When faced with a coding blocker, take a break and try various activities to get past it.
  2. Developing compilers by writing parsers can help to creatively solve coding challenges.
  3. Creating 'lunchtime languages' with parsers that can be written quickly can be an efficient way to experiment with new coding concepts.