The hottest Software Development Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

My Journey into Personal Computer Software Development in 1983

Farrs’s Substack • 125 HN points • 20 Apr 24
🕹 Technology Software Development Programming Management Bug Fixing
  1. Personal Computers were gaining popularity in 1983, despite being considered toys by some programmers, and had promising applications developed for them.
  2. Taking a risk to work in Personal Computer Software Development led to a successful job offer and opportunity to solve a challenging memory limitation issue.
  3. Facing skepticism and disrespect at the company, the individual showcased exceptional bug-solving abilities, but ultimately chose to leave due to being labeled unfairly.

How much effort is it to create software?

Bite code! • 1590 implied HN points • 06 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Software Development Coding Information processing Tech Tools Human Interaction
  1. Creating software has become easier due to resources and tools available, but it still requires dedication, time, and energy.
  2. Writing software demands perseverance and continuous learning, akin to mastering a musical instrument or a sport.
  3. Working on software involves dealing with humans, extracting requirements, navigating social dynamics, and recognizing the importance of human interaction in the development process.

What's up Python: uv light speed, stand alone pythons and a new lock file format

Bite code! • 1100 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Python Software Development
  1. Astral released a new Python package manager called uv, which aims to replace existing package and virtual env managers, with smartly integrated features and community contributions.
  2. Stand Alone Python project by indygreg compiles Python for various platforms, offering archives that can be run without installation, providing a consistent experience across different machines and platforms.
  3. A new lock file proposal by Brett Canon aims to tackle the challenge of pinned dependencies for Python projects, with previous attempts in 2021 and the latest proposal focusing on source distribution support and a new file format.

The Tale of Two Teams

Software Design: Tidy First? • 1226 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
💼 Business Leadership Software Development Management Innovation Team Dynamics
  1. Software development teams can take two different paths over time - one struggling to maintain progress and innovate, the other accelerating and exceeding expectations.
  2. Executives play a crucial role in steering teams towards successful software development by fostering a culture of continual improvement, tidy code, automation, and collaboration.
  3. Understanding software design fundamentals as an executive can help diagnose ineffective teams, bridge communication gaps between business and technology, and inspire innovation and excellence.

Tidy First? in One Page

Software Design: Tidy First? • 1184 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Software Development
  1. Resistance to tidying in software development can come from various angles like product managers and colleagues.
  2. To ensure lasting change in software development, there needs to be a partnership between implementors and executives.
  3. Creating a 'Surprise Factory' in software development involves incorporating software design in the right proportions and at the right times.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Money Shapes Design: The Economic Drivers of Software Development

Software Design: Tidy First? • 549 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Software Development
  1. Software development can sometimes become disconnected from economic principles due to factors like lack of competition and high demand.
  2. Money plays a significant role in shaping the design and development of software products.
  3. Executives can benefit from understanding the economic drivers behind software development to make informed decisions and drive business success.

Twitter is dead and Threads is thriving

Platformer • 3262 implied HN points • 27 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Social media Tech industry Digital Content Artificial Intelligence Software Development
  1. Twitter underwent significant changes after Elon Musk's takeover, leading to a decline in daily users and financial setbacks.
  2. Musk's plan to pivot Twitter towards paid subscriptions failed, with less than 1% of users signing up for the premium service.
  3. Former Twitter employees have accepted the company's demise, with concerns about the future of the platform integrity at X.

The Lazy Tyranny of the Wait Calculation

One Useful Thing • 1048 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Innovation Software Development Artificial General Intelligence Prediction Markets
  1. Consider waiting for technology to improve before embarking on projects in fields where advancements are rapid.
  2. AI has the potential to significantly impact various industries, leading to the need for strategic thinking about project timelines.
  3. Evaluate the risks and benefits of waiting for AI advancements in decision-making processes, balancing learning, incentives, and the unpredictability of future developments.

How to practice isometric software development

Bad Software Advice • 247 implied HN points • 11 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Software Development Company dynamics Ownership
  1. Transition from offense to defense in a company means focusing on predictability and consistency rather than rapid growth.
  2. Operate within constraints by aligning your project with the company's current theme to open doors and ease scrutiny.
  3. Find ways to expedite approvals, deflect ownership, and handle criticism strategically to navigate a defensive organizational culture.

Briefing: Tinder for Slack, GPTs, X’s 2024 roadmap

Department of Product • 943 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Product Design Software Development Tech industry Artificial Intelligence
  1. Slack's new Catch Up feature works like Tinder for messages, making it easier to catch up on missed messages.
  2. OpenAI launched a GPT store with tools like DesignerGPT and AI PDF, offering add-ons for ChatGPT.
  3. Perplexity is a new 'answer engine' competing with Google, providing direct answers and generative AI capabilities.

VenturCom's VENIX

Computer Ads from the Past • 384 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Computers Operating Systems Software Development
  1. VenturCom was founded in 1980 and worked on various projects including Venix, Windows NT, and Windows CE. They later changed their name to Ardence, which was acquired by Citrix Systems before becoming IntervalZero.
  2. Venix was one of the first UNIX systems for IBM PCs, based on Version 7 Unix with enhancements. It had different versions released over the years and received feedback on pricing, performance, and features compared to other similar systems like Xenix.
  3. Reviews from publications like PC Magazine and Dr. Dobb's Journal praised Venix's compatibility with System V Unix, while also highlighting areas for improvement like bugs, DOS interface, and third-party software support.

My Toddler Loves Planes, So I Built Her A Radar

Jacob’s Tech Tavern • 1304 HN points • 27 Nov 23
🕹 Technology App Development User Experience API Integration Mobile Apps Software Development
  1. The idea for the app came from the author's toddler's fascination with planes, leading to the creation of a radar app.
  2. The app was built to be engaging and fun for kids, with features like showing nearby flights and being oriented correctly.
  3. The author went through user testing with their toddler to ensure the app was enjoyable and successful before launching it on the App Store.

Recommending Kent Beck: 2011

Software Design: Tidy First? • 1120 implied HN points • 08 Dec 23
💼 Business Recommendation Employment Management Career development Software Development
  1. Kent Beck's role in enhancing engineering teams for growth and prosperity by working on product features and tool building.
  2. Kent Beck's impact through research and publication on software design, attracting new recruits and revolutionizing design ideas.
  3. Kent Beck's personal relationships and pair programming sessions significantly improving engineering skills and career prospects of individuals.

Briefing: Shopify Magic, Vision Pro Zoom, AX vs UX

Department of Product • 393 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Products AI Remote work Software Development Tech Companies
  1. MultiOn and Arc Browser are challenging the assumption that users interacting with products are human by automating browsing tasks
  2. Shopify introduced over 100 new product updates in its Winter Edition, including a media editor for generating product images instantly
  3. Google, PayPal, Zoom, TikTok, and OpenAI all revealed new features and products this week, showcasing advancements in technology

Live Session on Performance Optimization Using 1BRC as a Case Study

Confessions of a Code Addict • 360 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Coding Performance optimization Live session Software Development Programming Languages
  1. The live session focuses on learning to analyze and reason about code performance through iterative optimization using 1BRC as a case study.
  2. Attendees will explore various topics including performance profiling with flamegraphs, I/O strategies, and leveraging SIMD instructions.
  3. Prerequisites include a few years of coding experience in languages like C, C++, Java, or others, with a specific focus on Java during the session.

Tech gamble

Alex Ewerlöf Notes • 353 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Software Development Product Management
  1. Tech gamble is about paying the price of hypothetical future tech debt upfront without proper data or insight, leading to waste and friction for the product.
  2. Symptoms of tech gamble include complex technical solutions for simple problems, big bang improvement projects cancelled mid-execution, and rewriting systems without clear pragmatic checkpoints.
  3. Tech debt is reactive, while tech gamble is proactive, with tech debt giving engineers a bad conscience and tech gamble representing naive ambition or malice.

Console #191 -- Interview with Bernhard of ACID Chess - Chess computer for nerds, by nerds

Console • 472 implied HN points • 07 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Open Source Programming AI Software Development Neural Networks
  1. ACID Chess is a chess computer program written in Python that can analyze the movements of pieces on a chessboard through image recognition.
  2. The creator of ACID Chess balanced working on the project with a full-time job by dedicating time in evenings and weekends while finding it to be a good balance.
  3. The creator of ACID Chess believes AI will simplify various aspects of software development, and open-source software will continue to thrive with challenges in monetization for small developers.

The changing reality of appsec

Frankly Speaking • 101 implied HN points • 06 Mar 24
🕹 Technology SaaS Software Development
  1. Application security has evolved rapidly with the changing landscape of development practices like shorter cycles and SaaS distribution methods.
  2. Security organizations will face a pivotal moment in adopting new application security methods to stay effective.
  3. In the past, application security was less competitive due to slower development cycles which allowed for comprehensive security checks and reviews.

Write Cleaner, More Maintainable Rust Code with PhantomData

Aayushya’s Substack • 99 implied HN points • 06 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Coding Software Development Rust Programming
  1. Using PhantomData in Rust can help reduce code duplication by creating a generic struct with common fields and methods.
  2. Marker types like FreeLineQuantityTag and BilledLineQuantityTag can help differentiate between types when refactoring code.
  3. Leveraging advanced Rust features like PhantomData can lead to more maintainable and expressive code in real-world projects.

Code “Smells”?

Software Design: Tidy First? • 2181 implied HN points • 03 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Programming Software Development
  1. Code that works might still be problematic if it's hard to understand or change later on.
  2. It's important for programmers to focus on writing code that not only works now but is also easy to change in the future.
  3. The analogy of 'code smells' is like food that smells bad: a warning of potential future issues in the code.

Resurrecting Swing Desktop Apps on the Web

jDeploy Newsletter • 84 implied HN points • 05 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Software Development
  1. It is possible to resurrect old desktop applications, like ArgoUML, by converting them into web apps using tools like jDeploy and CheerpJ.
  2. When transitioning desktop apps to the web, functionalities like accessing local files and the clipboard may need modifications to align with web app behavior.
  3. Adding cloud storage integration and improving download functionalities can enhance the usability and user experience of old Swing apps on the web.

The devil is old

Wednesday Wisdom • 113 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Programming Mathematics Physics Concurrency Software Development
  1. Experience and age often bring wisdom, knowledge, and a unique perspective.
  2. In technology, while tools and capabilities have evolved, fundamental principles like people dynamics, math, and physics remain constant.
  3. Despite advancements, people still struggle with basic math, concurrent programming, and effective communication in group settings.

All the bullshit I did as a kid (part 1?)

Basta’s Notes • 204 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Programming Web Development Operating Systems Software Development Tech industry
  1. The author reflects on the interesting and ambitious projects they worked on as a kid, showcasing a strong interest in technology and programming.
  2. Despite lacking mentorship, the author taught themselves valuable programming skills, such as building their own web browser and writing complex code like a CSS parser.
  3. The journey from tinkering with personal computers to winning a programming contest and earning internship opportunities highlights the author's growth and passion for technology.

Google announces AI system for diagnostic medical reasoning and conversation

MLOps Newsletter • 176 implied HN points • 20 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Machine Learning Data science Software Development
  1. Google announced an AI system for medical diagnosis and conversation called AMIE.
  2. AMIE's architecture includes multi-turn dialogue management, hierarchical reasoning model, and modular design.
  3. The AI system AMIE showed promising performance in simulated diagnostic conversations, outperforming PCPs and matching specialist physicians.

No sacred masterpieces

Basta’s Notes • 753 HN points • 15 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Software Development Data science Engineering Project management Web Development
  1. Sometimes, valuable projects end abruptly without much recognition or lasting impact.
  2. It's important to focus on creating business value with your work, rather than building impressive but ultimately unnecessary solutions.
  3. Every piece of code you write as an engineer is legacy and may not last forever, so focus on learning from each project's outcome.

Microsoft builds the bomb

benn.substack • 1500 implied HN points • 26 May 23
🕹 Technology Data Management Cloud Computing Software Development Artificial Intelligence
  1. The modern data stack aimed to revolutionize how technology is built and sold, focusing on modularity and specialized tools.
  2. Microsoft introduced Fabric as an all-in-one data and analytics platform to address the issue of fragmentation in the modern data stack.
  3. Fabric from Microsoft presents a unified solution but may risk limiting choice and innovation in the data industry.

Ergodic Development

Software Design: Tidy First? • 845 implied HN points • 25 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Software Development Team Collaboration Risk management Innovation
  1. Ergodicity reminds us to treat systems that continue as is differently from those that fail when changed.
  2. Strategies like reducing irreversibility and having skin in the game can help transform failing systems into sustaining ones.
  3. Load redistribution and encouraging collaboration can make development more survivable and sustainable.

The end of “Useless Ruby sugar”: On intuitions and evolutions

zverok on lucid code • 133 HN points • 22 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Programming Language Software Development Language Evolution
  1. The article discusses the analysis of 'useless sugar' features of Ruby and the process of understanding language changes.
  2. The writing project on Ruby syntax features expanded into a series of posts over two months, focusing on language evolution.
  3. The two main driving forces behind language evolution discussed are the shift towards functional programming styles and the natural expansion of a language's thesaurus.

Insomniac breach

SuperJoost Playlist • 216 implied HN points • 21 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Gaming Data Breach Cybersecurity Tech industry Software Development
  1. The business of hacking video game publishers is growing, with recent incidents showing flaws in hackers' business fundamentals.
  2. Hacking video game companies does not always result in financial gain for the hackers, as evidenced by unsuccessful attempts to sell stolen data.
  3. Leaking information about upcoming video games may actually generate more excitement and interest in the games rather than spoil the experience for players.