The hottest Programming Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Technology Topics

Llama 2 follow-up: too much RLHF, GPU sizing, technical details

Democratizing Automation • 146 implied HN points • 21 Jul 23
🕹 Technology AI Data Programming Hardware Research
  1. The Llama 2 model may be exhibiting trigger-happy behaviors due to excessive use of RLHF during training.
  2. There are challenges with GPU sizing for different model variants, with considerations for inference and fine-tuning.
  3. Meta's evaluation of the chat models reveals potential issues with model refusal rates and ensemble techniques.

RDEL #31: How do developers fix their own bugs differently from other developers bugs?

Research-Driven Engineering Leadership • 19 implied HN points • 26 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Software Development Bug Fixing Research Testing Programming
  1. Bugs are inevitable in software development, and fixing bugs is a crucial part of the process.
  2. Developers tend to fix their own bugs faster than bugs introduced by other developers.
  3. Testing early in development helps catch and resolve bugs more efficiently.

Why Making a Non-Woke AI Is Actually Very Hard

The Future of Life • 19 implied HN points • 26 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Machine Learning Bias Programming Data science Ethics
  1. Language models learn from the data they are trained on, which often includes a lot of left-leaning content, making them reflect that bias.
  2. Adjusting a model's political views is complicated because it involves changing an entire worldview, which can mess up the quality of the responses.
  3. Creating a balanced AI requires new training methods, as current models can’t easily switch perspectives without losing their effectiveness.

“Useless Ruby sugar”: Pattern matching (Pt. 1)

zverok on lucid code • 115 implied HN points • 19 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Programming Syntax Ruby Pattern matching
  1. Pattern matching in Ruby allows for declaratively matching nested data structures and binding parts to local variables
  2. The importance and impact of pattern matching in Ruby has sparked debates, with some considering it mere syntax sugar and others a separate paradigm
  3. Ruby introduced pattern matching in version 2.7, using the 'in' keyword for pattern matching within the 'case' statement

A few words on Ruby's type annotations state

zverok on lucid code • 173 implied HN points • 06 May 23
🕹 Technology Programming Ruby Pattern matching
  1. There was pressure to add type annotations to Ruby, but the language's creator, Matz, was not initially fond of the idea.
  2. Experimentation with tools like steep and Sorbet showed the challenges of implementing type annotations in Ruby, leading to the development of RBS as a compromise solution.
  3. The complexity of integrating type annotations into Ruby's design, especially in metaprogramming scenarios, makes it a challenging feature to implement.
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Elixir, Education, and Beyond: A Conversation with Rickson Oliveira, Software Engineer at ateliware

Elixir & Erlang • 19 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Programming Education
  1. Rickson Oliveira, a Software Engineer at ateliware, works with technologies like Elixir, Phoenix, LiveView, and JavaScript.
  2. Rickson Oliveira was a former student of ELXPRO, an Elixir course created by Gustavo Oliveira.
  3. The podcast episode features a conversation with Rickson Oliveira about Elixir, education, and beyond.

Forcefully deterministic unit testing

Stateless Machine • 3 HN points • 18 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Programming Software Testing Development
  1. Unit tests should not interact with anything outside the program. This keeps tests clean and focused just on the code being tested.
  2. To make testing easier, functions should use interfaces to handle outside interactions. This allows for fake implementations during testing.
  3. By controlling how the outside world is accessed in a programming language, tests can be made deterministic. This means results are reliable and consistency is ensured.

#97 — OAI will have the best coder by year end, Society-as-a-service and DOM's native state preserving move API and more

The Nibble • 7 implied HN points • 13 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Software Development Quantum Computing Programming Mobile Apps
  1. OpenAI is working hard to develop a coding model that's expected to be the best by year end, potentially transforming how coding tasks are approached.
  2. There is a new trend emerging called 'Society-as-a-service,' which could change how communities are built and managed.
  3. A new feature in web development allows elements to be moved in a document without losing their state, making user interactions smoother.

Still loading: Re-Loaded

Rings of Saturn • 43 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Gaming Programming Software
  1. The cancelled Saturn game Re-Loaded from Gremlin Interactive faced performance issues leading to a low frame rate and long loading times.
  2. Despite having only one level, a patch allows players to remove time limits and explore the game more fully by playing as different characters.
  3. The preview image suggests playing as other characters, which can be unlocked by changing values in game files - offering new gameplay experiences.

A reactionary take on memory safety

lcamtuf’s thing • 42 HN points • 01 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Security Programming Government Software Coding
  1. Memory safety in programming languages like C and C++ is a significant issue due to the risk of buffer overflows and other coding errors.
  2. Although there is a push to adopt memory-safe languages like a mandate from The White House, the practicality and necessity of such a move is questionable.
  3. Challenges in enforcing a complete shift to memory-safe languages include the limited exposure of critical code to attacks and the fact that other security vulnerabilities are more common in causing breaches.

Friday Finds - Bonus Links

Data Science Weekly Newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Data science Programming Ecology Tutorials
  1. There are new tutorials available for those interested in AI and humanities. These tutorials aim to help people learn how to use AI tools effectively.
  2. The Leverhulme Programme is offering opportunities in ecological data science. This program is designed for doctoral training and focuses on important ecological research.
  3. A team is looking to hire a remote R programmer. They want someone to create an easy-to-use package for analyzing complex models in R.

Ep#4 : Soft Skills

The ZenMode • 42 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Soft skills Programming Engineering Communication Collaboration
  1. Soft skills are equally important to technical skills in software engineering. They are often the secret weapon that distinguishes those who struggle from those who thrive.
  2. The path to coding proficiency requires a growth mindset, independence, logical thinking, and patience. Embrace challenges, learn from mistakes, and persevere for long-term success.
  3. Essential soft skills for programmers include communication, collaboration, adaptability, and empathy. These skills are crucial for success in a dynamic field where teamwork, continuous learning, and user-centered solutions are key.

Domain-Driven Design is about Language, not Code

🔮 Crafting Tech Teams • 59 implied HN points • 26 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Software Development Framework Design Patterns Programming
  1. Domain-Driven Design focuses on language over code to prevent following frameworks that may not align with DDD principles.
  2. Developers often struggle with ORM tools that extensively use terms like Repository and Entity, which can lead to DDD pitfalls.
  3. Avoid getting trapped by being mindful of the nuances and staying true to the core principles of Domain-Driven Design.

Fast versus Right

Sunday Letters • 79 implied HN points • 26 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Programming Networking Systems Adoption Disruption
  1. Simplicity often beats complexity when it comes to technology. A simple solution that works now can be more effective than a complex one that may take longer to perfect.
  2. In the tech world, being first is crucial. The first company to launch a new idea or product often wins, especially if it benefits from network effects.
  3. It's important to focus on what can be quickly addressed. Don't get stuck on minor issues when bigger, more impactful problems need immediate attention.

The making of Ruby Changes: A boring advent

zverok on lucid code • 86 implied HN points • 28 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Programming Software Development Language Evolution Documentation
  1. The author has been writing in Ruby for almost 20 years and started the Ruby Changes project to understand language evolution.
  2. The author experimented with an 'advent-style' approach to working on the changelog for Ruby 3.3, documenting the process daily.
  3. The diary of working on the Ruby changelog involved tasks like writing the changelog, addressing bugs, improving documentation, and reflecting on the language changes.

Data Science Weekly - Issue 479

Data Science Weekly Newsletter • 99 implied HN points • 27 Jan 23
🕹 Technology Data science Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Programming Statistics
  1. Exploratory programming is important for data teams. It helps them find insights rather than just building software.
  2. Most datasets are not normally distributed, and there are many tests to check this but they can be tricky to use.
  3. AI is gaining a lot of attention, similar to what crypto once had. People are questioning if it can keep that interest alive.

Read code when you're somber

CodeFaster • 72 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Programming Music
  1. Reading code while feeling somber can match personal experience and enhance focus.
  2. Having a specific playlist of somber, melodic music for coding tasks can be effective.
  3. Consider supporting reader-supported publications by becoming a subscriber.

Daily bit(e) of C++ | std::find_end

Daily bit(e) of C++ • 19 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Programming
  1. The std::find_end algorithm in C++ helps find the last instance of a subrange in a range.
  2. It operates similarly to std::search but returns the last instance instead of the first.
  3. This algorithm can be useful when you need to search for the final occurrence of a specific sequence in a larger set of data.

Rust Bytes: "Rust Won’t Save Us"

Rust Byte's Substack • 19 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Programming Updates Resources Opinions Jobs
  1. Google contributes $1 million to enhance C++/Rust Interop Initiative, aiming to improve compatibility between Rust and C++ codebases for smoother transitions.
  2. Rust Analyzer is a valuable Rust compiler front-end tool for IDEs, offering coding assistance and issue highlighting.
  3. Analysis on exploited vulnerabilities highlights the need for continuous vigilance in software development and stresses collaboration in addressing security challenges.

Daily bit(e) of C++ | decltype(auto)

Daily bit(e) of C++ • 19 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Programming
  1. decltype(auto) can be useful when auto type-deduction causes issues, especially with function result types.
  2. It's worth considering decltype(auto) as it follows decltype rules to determine types, offering a potentially better solution.
  3. To explore decltype(auto) further, you can check out Compiler Explorer for practical examples and implementation details.

Interesting Data Gigs # 79: Want a job today as Sofware Engineer? Learn COBOL and Exilir ASAP

Interesting Data Gigs Weekly • 19 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Programming AI Cloud Legacy Systems Software Engineering
  1. Rob Mee and his team at Mechanical Orchard are leveraging Generative AI to modernize critical, old code running on mainframes efficiently and properly.
  2. Legacy systems in the U.S. still heavily rely on languages like COBOL, offering job opportunities for those skilled in it.
  3. Mechanical Orchard's use of COBOL and Elixir highlights the demand for modernizing old systems and the potential for increased profits after such modernization.

On the "Death of the Software Engineer by GenAI"

Laszlo’s Newsletter • 64 implied HN points • 13 Nov 23
🕹 Technology AI Software Engineering Generative AI Programming Natural Language Processing
  1. Software engineering has drastically improved over the years with advancements in tools and techniques like high-level abstractions and unit testing.
  2. Natural language is not suited for specifying programming instructions due to its imprecise nature, unlike the detailed specs required for coding.
  3. Generative models like ChatGPT can assist in programming tasks and improve efficiency, but they won't replace the need for human software engineers.

Full Context Development Newsletter - Astro 2.0 review

Full Context Development • 39 implied HN points • 13 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Programming Frontend Deployment
  1. Newsletter focuses on objective analysis of programming tools and trends to help tech decision-making and career growth.
  2. Astro 2.0 release offers benefits like Content Collection API for error prevention and Hybrid Rendering for flexibility in rendering strategies.
  3. Developers can benefit from tools like Astro 2.0 that improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance customer experience.

Results of #1BRC: So what do we need Moonshots for? - JVM Weekly vol. 70

JVM Weekly • 19 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Innovation Programming Web Development Java Software Development
  1. Moonshots in technology are ambitious, groundbreaking initiatives inspired by the success of the Apollo 11 mission in 1969.
  2. Automatic differentiation of Java methods using Code Reflection allows for efficient mathematical function representations.
  3. Innovation in programming languages like Pkl and advancements in Java implementations like CheerpJ are shaping the future of technology.

Introduction to R for Data Science (Part Five)

The Software & Data Spectrum • 39 implied HN points • 30 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Data science Data Manipulation Programming
  1. Using apply functions in R like lapply and sapply can help apply functions to elements in a vector or list.
  2. Math functions in R like abs(), sum(), mean(), and round() are useful for basic calculations and rounding numbers.
  3. Data manipulation in R using dplyr involves functions like filter(), arrange(), select(), and mutate() to filter, sort, and create new columns in datasets.

Building Your own Conversational Copilot with Python, Flask, and Azure Open AI SDK

Rod’s Blog • 39 implied HN points • 25 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Programming Web Development AI Security
  1. The post discusses building a conversational copilot using Python, Flask, and Azure Open AI SDK.
  2. It highlights the importance of monitoring AI security, particularly focusing on Azure Open AI and Azure Cognitive services.
  3. The post provides details about the necessary code files and steps to run a web-based Chatbot using Python, Flask, and Azure Open AI SDK.

Using Azure Open AI with Microsoft Sentinel Part 1 - Getting Keys and Endpoints

Rod’s Blog • 39 implied HN points • 30 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Cloud Computing AI Data Management Cybersecurity Programming
  1. Consider transitioning from Logic App connector for Open AI ChatGPT to Azure Open AI's ChatGPT for more control over data.
  2. When working with Azure Open AI models, deployments should be done in the Azure console, not Azure OpenAI Studio, and need patience for the API to become accessible.
  3. In Microsoft Sentinel, use best practices like storing API keys and endpoints in Parameters for calls to Azure Open AI deployments.

AI-Assisted Coding: My Experience as a Startup Founder

wentin’s newsletter • 39 implied HN points • 31 May 23
🕹 Technology AI Programming Software Development Educational Technology
  1. AI can assist startup founders in various tasks like coding, content creation, and email management.
  2. Using AI tools like Copilot and ChatGPT can streamline code documentation and help in creating API documentation more efficiently.
  3. AI can be used to quickly generate proof-of-concept code for new features and even write an entire app from scratch, speeding up learning and development processes.

The language of command

Nick Merrill • 39 implied HN points • 28 Jul 23
🕹 Technology AI Computers Programming Ethics Research
  1. In bureaucratic contexts, commands are linguistically coded, associated with power relations.
  2. Computers operate on commands, reflecting cultural stories about labor discipline and efficiency.
  3. AI challenges the traditional power dynamics associated with commanding computers, raising existential questions for users.

Python Powers Excel

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 39 implied HN points • 24 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Software Data science Analytics Machine Learning Programming
  1. Python is now integrated into Excel, making it easier for users to blend Excel's tools with Python's capabilities.
  2. This allows users to perform advanced tasks like data visualization and machine learning directly in Excel.
  3. The integration works well with existing Excel features, so users can still use familiar functions like formulas and charts.

Any Cables Monthly #9

AnyCable Broadcasts • 39 implied HN points • 06 May 23
🕹 Technology Web Development Programming Networking
  1. AnyCable v1.4 release candidate is out with consistency features - try it for real-time applications improvement.
  2. Consider the use of Server-Sent Events (SSE) for live updates in web applications as an alternative to WebSockets due to benefits like simplicity of implementation.
  3. Browser support for SSE has improved, making it a viable tool for streaming responses from a server to a client.