The hottest Programming Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

As Lovely as a Tree

Crow & Colophon • 3 HN points • 15 Jun 24
📚 Literature Poetry Prose Programming Interpretation Criticism
  1. The question of whether algorithms can be considered beautiful, like poetry, sparks thoughtful considerations about the nature of code and its impact on our world.
  2. The discussion highlights the interconnectedness between literature, programming, and the human condition, prompting reflections on the beauty and artistry inherent in code.
  3. Various perspectives from programmers and computing experts showcase the idea of code as poetry and how programming can be seen as a form of art, invoking creativity, skill, and ingenuity.

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

Deus In Machina • 36 implied HN points • 16 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Programming Software Languages Development Computer Science
  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.

🐕 Newsletter WoR #53: Angular glow up, some bugs, a button that does nothing, being amazed...

Women On Rails Newsletter - International Version • 19 implied HN points • 15 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Programming Web Development Software UI/UX Design Open Source
  1. Angular released version 17 with a redesign, new features, and tutorials, aiming to attract new developers.
  2. A developer shared 7 common techniques to improve debugging skills in Rails apps.
  3. A button that does nothing, called 'inert', was introduced to improve accessibility and celebrate idleness.

Implementing Softmax using RISC-V Vector

Fprox’s Substack • 41 implied HN points • 12 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Programming Algorithms Computing Simulation Hardware
  1. Softmax is a non-linear normalization layer commonly used in neural networks to compute probabilities of multiple classes.
  2. When implementing Softmax, numerical stability is crucial due to exponential function's rapid growth, requiring clever techniques to prevent overflow.
  3. RISC-V Vector (RVV) can be used to efficiently implement complex functions like Softmax, with stable and accurate results compared to naive implementations.

The JavaScript ecosystem in 2024

Optimism (for the web) • 11 implied HN points • 30 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Software Development Programming JavaScript Tools
  1. Svelte and React are evolving together, pushing boundaries with compiler-based approaches. This means developers can write better optimized code more easily.
  2. Remix and Next.js are improving the way we fetch data in React apps. These frameworks are making it easier to manage data and layouts, creating a better experience for developers.
  3. Prisma is raising the standard for using databases in the JavaScript ecosystem. Its strong TypeScript support is being adopted more widely, encouraging better communication between different platforms.
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The One Billion Row Challenge in Rust: Part 1

Art’s Substack • 3 HN points • 12 Jun 24
🕹 Technology Programming Benchmarking Optimization Rust
  1. The One Billion Row Challenge in Rust involves writing a program to analyze temperature measurements from a huge file, requiring specific constraints for station names and temperature values.
  2. The initial naive implementation faced performance challenges due to reading the file line by line, prompting optimizations like skipping UTF-8 validation and using integer values for faster processing.
  3. Despite improvements in subsequent versions, performance was still slower than the reference implementation, calling for further enhancements in the next part of the challenge.

The Programmers of the Future

Based Meditations • 8 HN points • 12 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Future Programming AI Artists Industry
  1. The future of programming may shift towards a focus on creativity and innovation rather than just logic and coding skills.
  2. The impact of AI and automation on the programming industry is uncertain, leading to a potential rise in independent artists creating software.
  3. There is a growing trend of passionate developers moving away from traditional software jobs to pursue artistic endeavors, potentially transforming software development into a form of art.

The Tech Buffet #11: Ruff - A Blazing Fast Linter and Code Formatter For Python

The Tech Buffet • 19 implied HN points • 02 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Software Development Programming Tools Open Source
  1. Ruff is a Python linter and formatter that is much faster than other tools, making it great for big projects. It can speed up how developers work on their code.
  2. It works well with modern Python and supports a lot of rules, which helps keep code consistent and error-free. Plus, it can fix issues by itself.
  3. Ruff is easy to install and use, and you can set it up with your project settings. If you want a better coding experience, Ruff is a tool to consider.

Simula the forgotten programming language

Deus In Machina • 72 implied HN points • 02 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Programming Languages Implementation Classes Functions
  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.

🥳 The Perils of Over-Abstraction, ts_sms Compression Tool, Kqueue vs. Epoll & More

ppdispatch • 5 implied HN points • 31 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Software Development Programming System Design Coding Practices Open Source
  1. Over-abstraction in code can make things complicated and hard to manage, so it's important to keep it simple. If you complicate your system, it might end up slowing down and confusing your team.
  2. Fish-shell switched from C++ to Rust to improve safety and performance, showing how changing your tools can lead to better results. Their move has also engaged the community and made contributions easier.
  3. Understanding the differences between PHP's getenv() and $_ENV can prevent unexpected issues when accessing environment variables. It's essential to know how your PHP configuration handles these variables to avoid problems.

99% of people just get AI wrong...

do clouds feel vertigo? • 39 implied HN points • 25 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Data science Programming Innovation
  1. Microsoft claims that GPT-4 shows potential for Artificial General Intelligence, but some critics doubt its transparency and reliability, feeling it's more of a marketing claim than factual science.
  2. Generative AI models can produce creative outputs but shouldn't be judged like traditional knowledge tools. They often generate believable yet false information, showcasing a need for a different evaluation standard.
  3. As AI technology evolves, the cost to create content is decreasing, which raises questions about who will really profit from it and how existing knowledge can be effectively leveraged in this new landscape.

Want to be an Expert Programmer? Master One Language First

Weekend Developer • 19 implied HN points • 09 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Programming
  1. Focus on mastering one programming language before moving on to others to prevent confusion and set yourself up for success.
  2. Learning and applying coding concepts is challenging, so trying to tackle multiple languages at once can be overwhelming and counterproductive.
  3. Businesses generally prefer specialists in one language over individuals with knowledge of multiple languages, which can lead to better job opportunities and higher pay.

Problem 59:Invert Binary Tree [Google]

Technology Made Simple • 39 implied HN points • 06 Oct 22
🕹 Technology Recursion Trees Coding Programming
  1. Inverting a binary tree is a classic problem that demonstrates important concepts like recursion and trees.
  2. This problem can help build a strong foundation for tackling more complex coding challenges involving recursion, trees, graphs, and dynamic programming.
  3. The process of inverting a binary tree involves swapping left and right children recursively starting from the root.

How to stay motivated while learning Java?

Weekend Developer • 19 implied HN points • 06 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Programming Learning Motivation Refactoring Testing
  1. When learning Java, start by writing code as if you're in a procedural language to ease the transition
  2. Writing unit test cases is important to become a seasoned Java programmer; it helps validate your code
  3. Refactor your code by breaking logic into simpler methods, identifying and grouping methods/variables into classes, and reviewing your code for improvements

8 Brilliant Debugging Ways to Quickly Identify the Problem

Weekend Developer • 19 implied HN points • 26 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Programming Debugging Coding IDE Documentation
  1. Reproduce the issue: To effectively debug, you must replicate the problem on your own laptop to utilize your IDE for quick debugging.
  2. Isolate the problem: It's crucial to narrow down the issue's location by understanding when the code stops working correctly.
  3. Use breakpoints: Employ breakpoints to stop code execution at specific points, making debugging more efficient.

How I Teach Algebraic Data Types

Stefan’s Substack • 19 implied HN points • 23 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Programming Types Data
  1. Start teaching algebraic data types by explaining enums in languages like C or Java and then showing how to write an enum in Haskell.
  2. Introduce the concept of constructors in algebraic data types using a day-of-week datatype as a simple starting point.
  3. Explain sum types and product types as the basic building blocks to create more complex algebraic data types by combining both concepts.

TIL 1: Running coqui-ai/TTS on my M2

Omar’s Newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 18 May 23
🕹 Technology Programming Python Debugging
  1. The user successfully ran Coqui-ai's TTS library on their M2 MacBook after debugging some Python code.
  2. The issue was related to the M2 chip on the laptop, causing a memory error and program crash.
  3. By using Python's built-in debugger and modifying a specific line of code, the user was able to fix the error and run the program successfully.

🍄 Newsletter #45: mushrooms reading code, we have enough to wait 3 hours for a build, Ruby turned 30...

Women On Rails Newsletter - International Version • 19 implied HN points • 14 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Programming Web Development Diversity Innovation Tech Events
  1. Debates over the necessity of JavaScript builds are ongoing in the tech arena, with articles advocating for simpler approaches.
  2. Ruby and Rails developments include useful tools like Rubocop for codebase unification and MyCLI for MySQL command line interface.
  3. Diversity in tech, particularly the need for more women, is a highlighted subject, addressing aspects like code-switching and leadership stereotypes.

GM Shaders Mini: Limits

GM Shaders Mini Tuts • 19 implied HN points • 29 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Shaders Programming Hardware Mobile
  1. Shaders have limitations: vertex shaders can move vertices, fragment shaders can set colors or discard themselves.
  2. Consider resolution and texture samples for efficient shader performance.
  3. GLSL 1.00 has limitations compared to newer versions, affecting features like operators, data types, and texture functions.

The Last Programming Language?

Maximum Tinkering • 19 implied HN points • 02 May 23
🕹 Technology Programming Machine Learning Artificial Intelligence Software Development Computer Science
  1. Learning to program may become more accessible with the use of large language models (LLMs) that allow anyone who can read and write to code.
  2. Programming languages are gradually being abstracted to be more English-like and user-friendly, potentially leading to the development of a 'last programming language' that simplifies coding for everyone.
  3. While traditional programming languages might still have a place, new tools like LLMs could revolutionize the way people approach learning to code and building software.