The hottest Software Development Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

The changing reality of appsec

Frankly Speaking • 101 implied HN points • 06 Mar 24
🕹 Technology 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.

Edge 447: Not All Model Distillations are Created Equal

TheSequence • 49 implied HN points • 12 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Software Development
  1. There are different types of model distillation that help create smaller, more efficient AI models. Understanding these types can help in choosing the right method for specific tasks.
  2. The three main types of model distillation are response-based, feature-based, and relation-based. Each has its own strengths and can be used depending on what you need from the model.
  3. Response-based distillation is usually the easiest to implement. It focuses on how the student model responds to similar inputs as the teacher model.

Vulnerability Disclosure Programs (VDP) and PSIRT's

Resilient Cyber • 79 implied HN points • 18 Dec 22
🕹 Technology Software Development
  1. Vulnerability Disclosure Programs (VDP) help software suppliers communicate vulnerabilities to users. Having a clear VDP builds trust and prepares organizations for potential security issues.
  2. A Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT) focuses on managing and responding to security issues in products. PSIRTs help organizations effectively analyze vulnerabilities and communicate solutions to their consumers.
  3. Maturity levels for PSIRTs range from basic to advanced, with advanced teams being proactive and integrating security into product development. This approach ensures better security practices and communication throughout the supply chain.
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GroupBy #14: What it takes to be a Senior IC at Meta, Netflix Data Engineering Summit

VuTrinh. • 19 implied HN points • 19 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Software Development
  1. To be a Senior Individual Contributor at Meta, focus on quickly adding value and aligning with the organization's goals. It's about making an impact and building good relationships within the team.
  2. Data modeling involves creating a shared understanding between business and data teams. It's essential for delivering valuable insights and ensuring everyone is on the same page.
  3. Job hopping in data engineering can be successful with the right approach. Make sure to deliver value early on and always be ready for new opportunities while enjoying your work-life balance.

How to Measure Progress in a Software Project

Rethinking Software • 56 HN points • 19 Sep 24
🕹 Technology Software Development
  1. The main way to measure progress in a software project is by assessing the working software itself, not through estimates or projections. This means focusing on what you can actually deliver and test at any moment.
  2. Agile encourages regular feedback by delivering small increments of software frequently, allowing teams to adjust based on customer needs. This approach helps avoid wasting time on unnecessary features.
  3. Many teams have reverted to old methods of measuring progress with estimates and projections, which can lead to project failures. Sticking to the core Agile principle of valuing actual working software is crucial.

OMB 22-18 and NIST's SSDF

Resilient Cyber • 79 implied HN points • 11 Dec 22
🕹 Technology Software Development
  1. Federal agencies must collect self-attestations from software vendors about their secure development practices, following NIST's guidelines.
  2. The NIST Secure Software Development Framework (SSDF) encourages integrating security early in the software development process, rather than addressing it later on.
  3. Industry groups are raising concerns about the requirements for transparency in the software supply chain, which could lead to delays in implementing necessary security measures.

How to Get Ahead of 99% of Software Engineers

Brain Bytes • 19 implied HN points • 13 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Software Development
  1. Invest time in personal coding projects, starting with small ones and progressing to more complex ones. Quantity is crucial in the beginning, followed by a focus on quality.
  2. Define clear, measurable goals and work backward to plan your learning journey. Reverse engineering your goals helps to track progress and stay motivated.
  3. Develop not just technical skills but also soft skills like communication and teamwork. Networking and surrounding yourself with other developers can lead to valuable opportunities.

What Distinguishes Great Software Engineers?[StoryTime Saturdays]

Technology Made Simple • 59 implied HN points • 11 Sep 22
🕹 Technology Software Development
  1. Mastery in software development can lead to significant career growth. Understand concepts deeply to excel in tech.
  2. Great software engineers possess specific traits that can be cultivated effectively. Avoid cardinal sins that bad engineers make.
  3. Research by Microsoft delves into what distinguishes great software engineers, providing valuable insights for students, mid-level developers, and seniors in the field.

Did OpenAI create the best weapon detection software available with ChatGPT-4o?

School Shooting Data Analysis and Reports • 4 HN points • 04 Jun 24
🕹 Technology Software Development
  1. AI weapon detection software struggles to differentiate between weapons and weapon-shaped objects like umbrellas or sticks, leading to issues in accuracy and efficiency.
  2. OpenAI's ChatGPT-4o offers more advanced weapon detection capabilities from image analysis compared to current market options, recognizing context better.
  3. ChatGPT-4o was successful in identifying guns and gun-like objects in various scenarios, showcasing a high level of performance in image classification and context understanding.

Language isn't the cure

Sunday Letters • 119 implied HN points • 01 May 22
🕹 Technology Software Development
  1. New programming languages or techniques won't solve old problems. Teams need to focus on fixing their systems before expecting a new language to make things better.
  2. People often believe learning a new language will improve their skills, but it doesn't address deeper issues like organization or trust. Just like learning a different language won’t make someone a great writer.
  3. Fixing systemic team issues takes hard work and discipline. Sometimes, sticking with familiar tools can be more effective than constantly chasing new options.

The MANY Alternatives to Scrum

Rethinking Software • 50 HN points • 01 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Software Development
  1. Scrum isn't the only way to manage software development. There are many effective alternatives that some companies are using successfully.
  2. Each alternative relies on worker freedom and experimenting, so it's important to find a process that fits your team's needs, not just a one-size-fits-all solution.
  3. Processes like Kanban or Agile focus on continuous flow and autonomy, which can lead to better results than traditional Scrum methods.

HCF EP 005: Cursor based pagination

Hasen Judi • 35 implied HN points • 04 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Software Development
  1. Cursor-based pagination lets you skip to the next set of results easily. It's better for large lists because it doesn't waste time reading and ignoring lots of entries.
  2. This method is more stable, as it remembers where you left off even if there are changes to the list. It's like using a bookmark to continue reading later.
  3. However, it has some downsides, like not being able to jump to a specific page directly, which might be less convenient for users wanting to skip ahead quickly.

Once a Maintainer: André Luis Cardoso Jr.

Once a Maintainer • 49 implied HN points • 18 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Software Development
  1. Getting into programming can start with just curiosity and having a computer. Self-study can lead you to discover what you really want to do.
  2. Contributing to open source is about giving back to the community and helps you grow as a developer. Even small contributions can make a big difference.
  3. It's important to teach younger developers about understanding the code under the hood, not just using tools. Encouraging contribution can keep projects alive and thriving.

On Typing Chinese

Reboot • 31 implied HN points • 03 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Software Development
  1. Typing in Chinese is complex because it involves using different input methods to represent thousands of characters. This process can be frustrating and often requires negotiating between what you want to say and how the computer interprets your typing.
  2. There is a digital divide in China between generations and socioeconomic groups. Younger people are more familiar with technology, while older individuals may struggle to adapt, leading to varying experiences in the digital world.
  3. Moving from typing Chinese to English can be challenging, as it requires adjusting your muscle memory and skills. This switch highlights how language and technology can create feelings of exclusion for those not fully versed in the dominant digital practices.

The Tech Buffet #15: Build and Evaluate LLM Applications with TruLens

The Tech Buffet • 19 implied HN points • 03 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Software Development
  1. TruLens is a helpful open-source tool for evaluating and monitoring applications that use Large Language Models (LLMs). It tracks performance and helps you find the best settings for your models.
  2. The tool allows you to create feedback functions that measure how well the model's answers relate to the questions asked. This helps ensure the answers are relevant and grounded in the provided context.
  3. You can visualize the results and metrics in a dashboard, making it easy to understand how your model is performing and where improvements may be needed.

Weekly Notes

Rethinking Software • 49 implied HN points • 30 Sep 24
💼 Business Software Development
  1. Building successful work teams is like creating a strong community, and it takes good advice to do it well.
  2. Too many rules in software development can stifle creativity and innovation. Developers should choose their own processes to thrive.
  3. Workers are often seen as tools to achieve executives' dreams, so we need more self-managed and cooperative workplaces.

Alone, together, in the data

Data Thoughts • 79 implied HN points • 21 Oct 22
🕹 Technology Software Development
  1. Working in data often feels lonely, since a lot of the work is done solo on a computer, but there's magic in that solitude.
  2. Events and communities bring people together, making these lonely moments feel connected and meaningful, especially in the data field.
  3. The joy of working with data comes from the love of the craft itself, not just the outcomes or recognition, and that passion can survive even in tough times.

Faking OpenAI - Unit testing in the age of LLMs (Part Two)

Laszlo’s Newsletter • 27 implied HN points • 02 Mar 25
🕹 Technology Software Development
  1. Dependency Injection helps organize code better. This makes your testing process simpler and more modular.
  2. Faking and spying in tests allow you to check if your code works without relying on external systems. It gives you more control over your testing!
  3. Using structured testing techniques reduces mental load. It helps you focus on writing clean tests instead of remembering complicated mocking syntax.

Why the Future of Engineering Is Still Human

ppdispatch • 13 implied HN points • 08 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Software Development
  1. AI is changing the way software is developed. It's making coding easier and faster, but we still need skilled humans to manage and check the work.
  2. Even with AI tools, human expertise is crucial. Writers and engineers often have to fix mistakes made by AI, which creates more job opportunities.
  3. The biggest challenges in coding are understanding and collaborating, not just writing the code. Good teamwork and trust among developers are still very important.

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.

Going Down With the Ship

Resilient Cyber • 39 implied HN points • 31 May 23
🕹 Technology Software Development
  1. Many organizations have a huge number of open vulnerabilities, but they struggle to fix them fast enough. This creates a risky situation where bad actors can exploit these weaknesses quickly.
  2. Despite new tools and approaches, cybersecurity continues to lag behind the speed of threats. Adding more security tools doesn't necessarily make things safer and can actually create confusion and overload for teams.
  3. Security should be treated as an ongoing process, not just something to buy or check off a list. If we keep doing the same thing without real change, we’ll keep facing the same problems.

Introducing the Model Memo

Artificial Ignorance • 25 implied HN points • 06 Mar 25
🕹 Technology Software Development
  1. Several new advanced AI models have been released recently, improving reasoning and knowledge. These models, like OpenAI's GPT-4.5 and Google's Gemini 2.0, excel in different areas.
  2. AI is becoming more interactive with features that let it browse the web and perform tasks for users. This shows a shift towards AI that can take action, not just chat.
  3. The best AI models now cost more, with some requiring premium subscriptions. While powerful models like GPT-4.5 have high access fees, other new features may be available for free with some limits.

Dangerous metrics

Sunday Letters • 59 implied HN points • 20 Dec 22
🕹 Technology Software Development
  1. Measuring developer productivity is really hard. Common metrics like lines of code or bugs fixed often don't tell the full story and can even be manipulated.
  2. It’s important to think about how a metric could be misused before applying it. Focusing on the wrong metrics can lead to unhelpful outcomes and confusion.
  3. Organizations learn and respond to metrics, but sometimes they take things too literally. Choosing the right metrics carefully is crucial to avoid unintentional negative effects.

The Sequence Radar #486 : The Amazing AlphaGeometry2 Now Achieved Gold Medalist in Math Olympiads

TheSequence • 28 implied HN points • 09 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Software Development
  1. AlphaGeometry2 has become a top performer in solving geometry problems, even surpassing human math Olympiad gold medalists. It can handle tough geometry concepts and has a better understanding of different math problems compared to its predecessor.
  2. The latest improvements in AlphaGeometry2 include an enhanced symbolic engine and a wider range of mathematical language features. This allows it to solve more complex geometry problems efficiently.
  3. AI is getting closer to matching or even exceeding human capabilities in competitive mathematics. This success in geometry could lead to similar advancements in other scientific fields like physics and chemistry.

Troublesome Tenants

Resilient Cyber • 59 implied HN points • 16 Jan 23
🕹 Technology Software Development
  1. The PEACH Framework helps with cloud security by focusing on tenant isolation. It gives guidance on how to keep different customer data safe from each other.
  2. Multi-tenancy in cloud computing can bring risks, especially if security isn't handled correctly. It's important for both cloud service providers and users to understand these risks and take steps to protect themselves.
  3. Effective tenant isolation involves using several methods, like reducing complexity and improving separation. These strategies help ensure that one tenant's data doesn’t accidentally mix with another's.

AI Week That Was

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 39 implied HN points • 19 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Software Development
  1. Alpaca 7B is a new AI model introduced by Stanford that performs well, similar to OpenAI's models, but is smaller and cheaper to use.
  2. The AI landscape is buzzing with exciting developments and new models, making it an interesting time for AI enthusiasts.
  3. The week highlights a range of impressive AI technologies, signaling that there's much more innovation to come in this field.

Edition 27: Secure by Design is important, but requires a different kind of industry effort to achieve it

Boring AppSec • 38 implied HN points • 10 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Software Development
  1. The Secure by Design initiative aims to improve software security, but it's unclear how effective it will actually be. Companies might just treat it as another compliance standard without real change.
  2. CISA's approach mixes good ideas with vague guidelines, making it hard for security teams to use effectively. This can lead to companies focusing on basic compliance instead of deeper security improvements.
  3. Awareness initiatives can be helpful, especially for new issues in cybersecurity, but they often become outdated. What worked in the past, like OWASP Top 10, may not be useful for current complex security challenges.

How to code for the future

CodeFaster • 36 implied HN points • 19 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Software Development
  1. When coding for the future, it's important not to create more work for yourself later. Focus on avoiding technical debt instead of trying to predict every future need.
  2. Don't go overboard with coding. Keep your code simple and flexible, ensuring it can adapt to changes without adding extra complexity.
  3. Instead of trying to build reusable programs from the start, solve the immediate problem first. You can refactor and create reusable parts later if needed.

Cogito v2, GLM-4.5 , first open-source MoE Video Model, fully autonomous ML agent, FLUX.1 Krea [dev], Qwen3-Coder-Flash, Manus Wide Research, Runway Aleph, Intern-S1, Step3, Action Agent & more

AI Brews • 10 implied HN points • 01 Aug 25
🕹 Technology Software Development
  1. Several new AI models have been released, including models for reasoning and video generation. These advancements promise improved performance in various AI tasks.
  2. Open-source AI projects are on the rise, allowing developers and researchers to access and contribute to innovative AI technologies more easily.
  3. New features in AI tools, like autonomous agents and enhanced context management, are making it easier for users to navigate complex workflows and streamline their tasks.

Application Security Maturity Models

Resilient Cyber • 59 implied HN points • 03 Jan 23
🕹 Technology Software Development
  1. OWASP's Software Assurance Maturity Model (SAMM) helps organizations check how secure their software practices are and plan for improvements. It breaks down the process into different business functions to make it manageable.
  2. SAMM outlines specific security practices organizations should follow during software development, including governance, design, implementation, verification, and operations. Each area has suggested actions to help raise security standards.
  3. It's important to cautiously evaluate self-attestations from third-party software vendors regarding security compliance. Additional tools like Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) can help provide clearer insights into software vulnerabilities.

Where is the autonomy in AI?

Sunday Letters • 19 implied HN points • 06 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Software Development
  1. AI models like large language models need human guidance to perform tasks effectively. Humans help by providing prompts and correcting errors.
  2. Even complex tasks require a lot of human involvement. AI can't work fully independently; it can't just be told to 'write a book' without further instruction.
  3. There is still a long way to go in developing AI that can handle complex, open-ended problems alone. Current systems struggle with autonomy and can't yet replicate human planning and organization.

Bicycles for the Mind and Software-Augmented Mentats

Bzogramming • 30 implied HN points • 06 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Software Development
  1. Our minds work like software made up of various pieces that interact with each other. The way we learn, remember, and think can change based on our experiences and the information we take in.
  2. Computers can help enhance our thinking, just like a bike helps us move better. But we still have a long way to go in fully using technology to improve how we think and learn.
  3. As we learn more about how the brain works and how to interact with computers, we may discover new ways to enhance our mental abilities. This could lead to different skills and talents that we haven't seen before.

🔐 TPM Microguide: Getting Started With AI Tools For TPM

Building Rome(s) • 11 implied HN points • 03 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Software Development
  1. Start using AI tools gradually in your work. You don't need to be a tech expert; just try small tasks like drafting emails or summarizing updates with chat tools.
  2. Build a supportive community at work by connecting with others interested in AI. Share experiences, tools, and ideas to learn together and create an AI-friendly culture.
  3. Experiment with AI to tackle everyday annoyances. Find small problems at work that automation can solve, which helps you gain confidence and learn how these tools can improve your workflow.

Comparing vectors for equality.

Software Bits Newsletter • 154 implied HN points • 19 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Software Development
  1. Consider using std::array instead of std::vector when you know the size at compile-time.
  2. Using std::array can provide significant speed improvements over std::vector in certain scenarios.
  3. While std::array is efficient for compile-time initialization and faster than std::vector, it may not be suitable for all cases.