The hottest Software Development Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Olympics, AI, and some BI

HyperArc • 59 implied HN points • 05 Aug 24
🕹 Technology AI Data science Analytics Machine Learning Software Development
  1. AI can help us learn about the Olympics and analyze different aspects, like who won medals and their physical attributes. It starts with basic questions and gets more complicated over time.
  2. While AI is good at remembering information and summarizing it, it struggles with reasoning about things it hasn't seen before. This means it can't always come up with new insights without the right data.
  3. For businesses, using AI with their private data can lead to smarter insights and faster decisions. It's important to combine human knowledge with AI to make the best use of available information.

The Tale of Two Teams

Software Design: Tidy First? • 1281 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.

Operation Liberate Programmer

Rethinking Software • 399 implied HN points • 05 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Software Development Artificial Intelligence Freelancing Agile Methodology
  1. Scrum and its new version, Extreme Agile, focus too much on speed without considering the quality of work. This prioritization can lead to worsening job conditions for programmers.
  2. Programmers have the option to explore freelancing or starting their own businesses, especially with AI tools making it easier. This could provide more freedom and control over their work.
  3. Instead of waiting for companies to change, programmers should take action to create their own opportunities, sharing their experiences and insights to help others along the way.

Resilient Cyber Newsletter #6

Resilient Cyber • 79 implied HN points • 23 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Cybersecurity Software Development AI Security Market Trends Workforce Issues
  1. Crowdstrike faced a huge IT outage because of a faulty update, affecting many industries. This shows how important having strong disaster recovery processes is for businesses.
  2. There's a growing debate about who the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) should report to—whether the CEO or CIO. What really matters is how much influence and impact they have in their role.
  3. Wiz opted out of a big sale to Google and plans to pursue its IPO instead. Their focus on building a solid security platform may help them succeed despite the tough market.

Data Science Weekly - Issue 551

Data Science Weekly Newsletter • 159 implied HN points • 13 Jun 24
🕹 Technology Data science AI Machine Learning Software Development Computer Science
  1. Data Science Weekly shares curated articles and resources related to Data Science, AI, and Machine Learning each week. It's a helpful way to stay updated in the field.
  2. There are various interesting projects mentioned, such as the exploration of Bayesian education and improving code completion for languages like Rust. These projects can help in learning and improving skills.
  3. Free passes to an upcoming AI conference in Las Vegas are available, offering a chance to network and learn from industry leaders. It's a great opportunity for anyone interested in AI.
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Tidy First? in One Page

Software Design: Tidy First? • 1237 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Software Development Technical Debt
  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.

Why sprints are taking the joy out of building software

Leading Developers • 147 implied HN points • 29 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Software Development Agile Methodology Product Management Team Dynamics Engineering Practices
  1. Sprints can make software development feel rushed and stressful. Teams often end up prioritizing completing tasks over enjoying the process of creating.
  2. Agile isn't just about following the sprint process; it's more about flexibility and responding to change. Focusing too much on the sprint leads to sticking to the rules instead of adapting to needs.
  3. Instead of traditional sprints, teams might benefit from cycles where they take their time, release when ready, and allow some room for creativity and quality work. This can create a more enjoyable work environment.

Creating Synthetic Training Data

Cobus Greyling on LLMs, NLU, NLP, chatbots & voicebots • 59 implied HN points • 01 Aug 24
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Data science Machine Learning Natural Language Processing Software Development
  1. Creating synthetic data is hard because it's not just about making more data; it also needs to be diverse and varied. It's tough to make sure there are enough different examples.
  2. Using a seed corpus can limit how varied the synthetic data is. If the starting data isn't diverse, the generated data won't be either.
  3. A new approach called Persona Hub uses a billion different personas to create varied synthetic data. This helps in generating high-quality, interesting content across various situations.

sqlmesh cube_generate

davidj.substack • 59 implied HN points • 16 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Software Development Data science
  1. Building integrations can seem tough, but understanding the metadata available can simplify the process. It's important to leverage existing tools to create new functionalities efficiently.
  2. Trying out new ideas, even if they might fail, is essential for learning and discovering possibilities. Taking small steps can help you manage potential setbacks.
  3. Creating a command to generate projects based on existing data models can streamline workflows. It allows for easier implementation of complex data relationships when set up correctly.

Authorization in microservice architecture, P4: Deploy in production

Hung's Notes • 79 implied HN points • 18 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Microservices Software Development Authorization Cloud Computing IT Infrastructure
  1. Migrating authorization logic from an old system to a new one can take a long time and requires careful planning to avoid errors.
  2. Each part of a business can manage its own authorization rules, making it easier for them to control access based on their specific needs.
  3. As systems grow, it's important to keep improving and adapting to new challenges, like optimizing runtime decisions and better analyzing access logs.

Cyber and Tech News of the Week

Vigilainte Newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 02 Sep 24
🕹 Technology Cybersecurity AI Data Privacy Digital Culture Software Development
  1. The US government has warned about a ransomware group that attacked Halliburton, urging companies to improve their security measures.
  2. Taylor Swift's concert tour inadvertently helped the CIA prevent a terrorist attack, showing how pop culture can link to national security.
  3. NIST is holding a contest for hackers to test AI systems, aiming to spot weaknesses and promote safety in technology development.

You Don't Know Who Your Users Are.

Permit.io’s Substack • 159 implied HN points • 06 Jun 24
🕹 Technology User Experience Software Development Security Authorization Access Control
  1. Different users need different access levels in apps. It's important to plan what each type of user should see and do.
  2. Internal users, like employees, also need access to applications but have different requirements than regular end users.
  3. It's crucial to have a balanced approach to permissions management. This means sharing responsibilities to avoid bottlenecks and inefficiency in the system.

Bicycles for the Mind and Software-Augmented Mentats

Bzogramming • 30 implied HN points • 06 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Cognitive Science Software Development Digital Tools
  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.

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 Need for Speed | 2025 Engineering Benchmarks

Dev Interrupted • 14 implied HN points • 21 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Software Development Engineering Productivity Data Privacy Artificial Intelligence
  1. Smaller pull requests can increase both speed and quality of software development. This helps teams work faster without compromising standards.
  2. Longer cycle times often lead to more errors and project failures. It's essential to keep cycle times short to maintain software quality.
  3. Investing in developer experience (DevEx) is important for a team's productivity. If you don't invest enough, unexpected work and issues can slow down progress.

TPM Guide To Ticket Intake Management

Building Rome(s) • 5 implied HN points • 03 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Program Management Software Development Process Optimization AI Integration
  1. Teams can improve how they handle incoming requests by using different models like dedicated triage teams, intake funnels, or individual component owners. Each model has its own benefits and can suit different team sizes and needs.
  2. It's important for teams to balance structure with flexibility when managing requests. A rigid system may cause more issues, so finding a process that works best for the team is key.
  3. As technology, like AI, advances, ticket management may become more automated. For now, focusing on effective intake processes will help teams stay productive and reduce chaos.

sqlmesh init duckdb

davidj.substack • 71 implied HN points • 03 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Data science Software Development APIs Analytics Cloud Computing
  1. There's a new public repository called bluesky-data where people can collaborate and follow along with its development. It's easy to get started by setting it up on your local machine.
  2. Using sqlmesh with the Bluesky data can provide real-time data availability, while also allowing for a more complete view of the data in a batch processing style. This means you can get both immediate updates and historical data.
  3. It's better to start with dlt and then initialize sqlmesh within that project. This way, you can efficiently manage large datasets without needing to compute everything each time.

Build Software Like a Home

Tech Ramblings • 39 implied HN points • 11 Aug 24
🕹 Technology Software Development System Design Architecture Project management Engineering Practices
  1. Designing software is like laying the foundation of a house. A good structure makes it easier to build and change things later.
  2. Planning your work is crucial. Just like you wouldn't install plumbing before your walls are up, you shouldn't write code before having a solid plan.
  3. Create a clear process to develop your software. Start with architecture, build the basics, and then refine. This helps you deliver updates quickly and efficiently.

Data Science Weekly - Issue 549

Data Science Weekly Newsletter • 159 implied HN points • 31 May 24
🕹 Technology Data science Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Data Engineering Cloud Computing Software Development
  1. Mediocre machine learning can be very risky for businesses, as it may lead to significant financial losses. Companies need to ensure their ML products are reliable and efficient.
  2. Understanding logistic regression can be made easier by using predicted probabilities. This approach helps in clearly presenting data analysis results, especially to those who may not be familiar with technical terms.
  3. Data quality management is becoming essential in today's data-driven world. It's important to keep track of how data is tested and monitored to maintain trust and accuracy in business decisions.

What makes a GREAT GitHub Repo README?

The Open Source Expert • 79 implied HN points • 12 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Open Source Software Development Version Control Web Development Coding Practices
  1. A good GitHub README should be informative and engaging. Include key elements like a description, features, and visuals to attract users.
  2. Avoid adding things like a table of contents or large documentation directly in the README. This can overwhelm visitors and is often redundant.
  3. It's essential to get feedback on your README from others, especially new users. Their fresh perspective can help you improve it significantly.

Resilient Cyber Newsletter #1

Resilient Cyber • 119 implied HN points • 18 Jun 24
🕹 Technology Cybersecurity Artificial Intelligence Software Development Data Privacy Cloud Computing
  1. The SEC's case against SolarWinds could change how Chief Information Security Officers are viewed in the industry, potentially discouraging talented people from taking on these roles.
  2. Organizations need to actively prepare for cyberattacks through tabletop exercises, which can help teams respond better during real security incidents.
  3. Microsoft's cybersecurity issues have raised concerns regarding national security, highlighting the need for stronger security practices and accountability in tech companies.

Strong Code Ownership

Rethinking Software • 299 implied HN points • 07 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Software Development Agile methodologies Productivity Collaboration
  1. Strong code ownership means a specific developer is responsible for certain sections of code, which helps improve quality and pride in their work.
  2. Just like in the story from Xiaogang, allowing ownership in software can motivate developers and increase productivity.
  3. Some teams might mix strong and collective code ownership to accommodate different personalities and work styles, benefiting everyone involved.

The Sequence Opinion #480: What is GPT-o1 Actually Doing?

TheSequence • 161 implied HN points • 30 Jan 25
🕹 Technology AI Machine Learning Deep Learning Software Development Data science
  1. GPT models are becoming more advanced in reasoning and problem-solving, not just generating text. They are now synthesizing programs and refining their results.
  2. There's a focus on understanding how these models work internally through ideas like hypothesis search and program synthesis. This helps in grasping the real innovation they bring.
  3. Reinforcement learning is a key technique used by newer models to improve their outputs. This shows that they are evolving and getting better at what they do.

Announcing the 2025 Cyber 150

The Security Industry • 21 implied HN points • 13 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Cybersecurity Data security Investment Software Development Threat intelligence
  1. The 2025 Cyber 150 list highlights the fastest growing midsize cybersecurity companies, showcasing how many of them have expanded significantly over the last year.
  2. Dopple was the standout performer, increasing its headcount by 217%, which shows that some companies can grow rapidly even in a competitive market.
  3. Overall, these companies have raised a total of $8.6 billion in funding, and their success attracts even more investment, allowing them to grow and hire more employees.

What Are Non-Human Identities and Why Do They Matter?

Resilient Cyber • 159 implied HN points • 28 May 24
🕹 Technology Cybersecurity Identity Management Cloud Computing Data Breaches Software Development
  1. Non-Human Identities (NHIs) are the machine-based accounts used in businesses, often outnumbering human accounts significantly. They include things like service accounts and API keys, which are essential for modern tech operations.
  2. NHIs are a major security risk since they can have lots of permissions and are often left unmonitored. This makes them a target for hackers looking to exploit weak points in security systems.
  3. It’s important for companies to have strong governance around NHIs. Without proper controls, these machine identities can lead to security gaps and make it easier for attackers to gain access to systems.

AI Is A Car That Everyone Expects To Be A Spaceship

Beekey’s Substack • 59 implied HN points • 24 Jul 24
🕹 Technology AI Machine Learning Data science Automation Software Development
  1. AI has made great improvements, especially with tasks that involve generating human-like responses and art. However, many people are getting carried away with the hype about its capabilities.
  2. Machine learning allows AI to recognize patterns in data, but it doesn't actually understand content like a human does. This means it can make mistakes that a human wouldn't.
  3. The idea of creating Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) from current AI is questionable because we still don't fully understand how human intelligence works. It's not just about being faster; something fundamental is still missing.

Data Science Weekly - Issue 547

Data Science Weekly Newsletter • 179 implied HN points • 17 May 24
🕹 Technology Data science AI Machine Learning Data Visualization Software Development
  1. Learning Rust programming can be made easy with exercises designed for beginners, even if you know another language already. You’ll work through small tasks to build confidence.
  2. Data scientists need to learn how to work with databases to scale their analytics. Many face challenges when transitioning to this part of their work.
  3. There are helpful tools, like Data Wrangler for VS Code, that simplify data cleaning and analysis. These tools help generate code automatically as you work with your data.

Data Science Weekly - Issue 541

Data Science Weekly Newsletter • 279 implied HN points • 05 Apr 24
🕹 Technology Data science AI Machine Learning Software Development Data Engineering
  1. AI agents have unique challenges that traditional laws may not effectively solve. New rules and systems are needed to ensure they are managed properly.
  2. JS-Torch is a new JavaScript library that makes deep learning easier for developers familiar with PyTorch. It allows building and training neural networks directly in the browser.
  3. Data acquisition is crucial for AI start-ups to succeed. There are strategies outlined to help these businesses gather the right data efficiently.

v0.0.1: Open Source GitHub repo review

The Open Source Expert • 79 implied HN points • 08 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Open Source GitHub Software Development Project management Community Engagement
  1. Getting a repo's setup right is important. A good description and a clear README help users understand the project quickly.
  2. Having key documents like a Code of Conduct, License, and templates for issues and pull requests makes collaboration smoother.
  3. Using labels for issues helps keep everything organized, making it easier to find what you need in a busy project.

sqlmesh model kinds - 1

davidj.substack • 59 implied HN points • 06 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Data Modeling Software Development APIs Machine Learning Databases
  1. There are different types of models in sqlmesh, such as full, view, and embedded models, each having unique functions and uses. It's important to choose the right model type based on how fresh or how often you need the data.
  2. SCD Type 2 models are useful for managing records that change over time, as they track the history of changes. This can make analyzing data trends much easier and faster.
  3. External models in sqlmesh allow you to reference database objects not managed by your project. This can simplify data modeling and documentation, as they automatically gather useful metadata.

Neural Network Fail Compilation

Top Carbon Chauvinist • 59 implied HN points • 21 Jul 24
🕹 Technology AI Machine Learning Data Analysis Automation Software Development
  1. AI systems, like large language models, struggle with reasoning and can often give wrong answers to simple questions. They rely on patterns rather than true understanding.
  2. Generative AI can produce flawed code and lead to increased mistakes in programming. This raises concerns about the overall quality and security of software.
  3. AI tools can create misleading or totally false news articles. Their results can be unreliable, which poses risks when using them for information or news reporting.

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.

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.

We Went to Render ATL!

Permit.io’s Substack • 99 implied HN points • 20 Jun 24
🕹 Technology Software Development Conferences Networking Tech community User Experience
  1. Connecting with other tech enthusiasts at conferences is really fun and important. It's all about making friends and sharing ideas.
  2. Render ATL is a big event that shows how frontend development has become super important in the tech world. It started small but now covers all kinds of development topics.
  3. The main goal of participating in events is to help people learn about tech and authorization. It's about making things easier for developers so they can focus on what makes their apps special.

Software code reviews, and other empty rituals that waste time

Respectful Leadership • 54 implied HN points • 30 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Software Development Code Review Engineering Practices Team Management
  1. Code reviews take up too much time and energy without giving enough value back. Instead of focusing on comments from reviews, teams should focus on writing tests to catch real problems.
  2. It's better to trust the skills of experienced engineers rather than rely on code reviews. If engineers are good, they won’t need to second-guess each other's work.
  3. Instead of worrying about all possible issues, focus on real problems that can be tested and fixed. Don't waste time on imaginary problems that are unlikely to happen.

The curious case of the missing period

Tjaart’s Substack • 368 HN points • 20 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Email Bug Fixing Programming Software Development
  1. A missing period in an email was a perplexing issue that affected only specific customers due to the line length limitations in the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP).
  2. The bug was traced back to the SMTP client code and the line length rule, which duplicated periods at the beginning of lines longer than a certain limit, causing them to disappear.
  3. The issue showcased the importance of understanding underlying protocols like SMTP to troubleshoot and fix unexpected problems efficiently.

Authorization in microservice architecture, P2: The approaches

Hung's Notes • 59 implied HN points • 18 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Microservices Authorization Access Control Software Development System Design
  1. Fine-Grained Authorization (FGA) is a better way to manage user permissions in a system. It allows specific users to have certain actions on specific resources, making access control simpler and more organized.
  2. Relationship-Based Access Control (ReBAC) focuses on the connections between users and resources instead of just roles. It builds a graph to show these relationships, but it can be complicated and difficult to maintain.
  3. Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) uses attributes of users and resources to determine access, making it flexible and easier to implement. It allows for clear policy definitions without needing to change how users interact with the system.