The hottest Software Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Today’s Top 5 HN posts

Top 5 HN Posts of the day • 19 implied HN points • 31 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Software
  1. The post shares the top 5 HackerNews posts for the day, providing a quick glimpse of interesting tech topics being discussed.
  2. Each of the top posts have direct links to read the full content and engage with the HackerNews community.
  3. In addition to the top posts, there is a bonus section featuring a job opportunity for a Founding Engineer role at a technology startup.

Databricks just dropped an LLM bomb – DBRX 💣

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 19 implied HN points • 31 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Software
  1. Databricks has released a new powerful open-source language model called DBRX. It aims to outperform existing models in areas like reasoning, coding, and math.
  2. DBRX has shown better performance than other popular models, including Meta’s LLaMA and Google's Gemini Pro. This showcases Databricks' advancements in AI technology.
  3. The release is generating excitement in the AI community, highlighting the competitive landscape of language models and their capabilities.

The "Kill Chrome Olympics" Has Started

Alex's Personal Blog • 32 implied HN points • 10 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Software
  1. Competition in AI is heating up, with new models like Grok 4 emerging and pushing the boundaries of what's possible. This is exciting for anyone wanting better and cheaper AI tools.
  2. The costs for advanced AI subscriptions are rising, with new entries charging up to $300 a month. This might surprise people since we usually hear that AI is getting cheaper.
  3. There are new players in the browser market, making it a competitive landscape. Google, while a giant in the field, faces challenges as it balances innovation with protecting its current profits.

Prompt engineering is spaghetti code

Sunday Letters • 59 implied HN points • 08 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Software
  1. Prompt engineering is not a lasting software discipline; it may fade away as technology improves. It's a reaction to a lack of computing resources, trying to make every use of AI efficient.
  2. Using AI tools should be approached like programming: break tasks into smaller pieces to handle them better. This is more effective than creating complex prompts that are hard to manage.
  3. It's better to focus on making something work well before worrying about cost or optimization. Don't stress about minimizing resource use until the solution is working reliably.

Kosmik Year in Review

Kosmik’s Newsletter • 39 implied HN points • 26 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Software
  1. Kosmik 2.0 aims to be a desktop in the cloud, providing an environment where users can organize files and tools in a more visual and collaborative way.
  2. The concept of a digital desktop is changing, with a shift towards cloud-based storage and a need for a more flexible and fluid way to organize files and assets.
  3. Kosmik is evolving as a product, with a focus on web technologies to improve speed, product quality, and roadmap, along with securing funding to ensure long-term growth and development.
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Must Learn AI Security Compendium 10: Challenges of Enhancing AI Language Models with External Knowledge

Rod’s Blog • 59 implied HN points • 12 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Software
  1. Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) enhances AI language models by combining them with external knowledge sources, improving the quality and accuracy of generated responses.
  2. RAG offers benefits such as access to current information, increased contextual understanding, and reduced risk of incorrect data, but it also comes with challenges like data integration and semantic relevance.
  3. The future of RAG includes developments like fine-grained relevance ranking, domain-specific knowledge bases, real-time updates, and ethical considerations to ensure responsible use.

The Silent Infrastructure Behind AI: Why Vector Databases Are Booming

philsiarri • 22 implied HN points • 21 Aug 25
🕹 Technology Software
  1. Vector databases store information in a way that captures meaning, helping AI search for similarities instead of exact matches. This means a sentence or an image can be turned into a special numeric form that AI understands better.
  2. Traditional databases are good for exact searches but struggle with the complex needs of AI. Vector databases are designed for quick and efficient searches involving high-dimensional data, making them much better for AI applications.
  3. Many companies like Pinecone and Weaviate are leading the way in vector databases, which are being used in various areas like e-commerce, fraud detection, and customer support to improve how we find and use information.

Permissions Required to Migrate to the New Simplified Pricing Model in Microsoft Sentinel

Rod’s Blog • 59 implied HN points • 07 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Software
  1. To migrate to the new simplified pricing model in Microsoft Sentinel, you need specific permissions like "Microsoft.OperationsManagement/solutions/write" on the "SecurityInsights(<workspace name>)" solution resource.
  2. Support is considering updating documentation or the built-in role for easier migration to the new pricing model.
  3. Stay updated on resolving the permission issue by following the provided links to Microsoft Security Insights show and joining the MSI Show Discord Server.

A Quick Way to Verify the Connection Between Microsoft Defender External Attack Surface and Microsoft Sentinel

Rod’s Blog • 59 implied HN points • 13 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Software
  1. Check for custom tables starting with 'EASM' to verify connection between Microsoft Defender External Attack Surface and Microsoft Sentinel.
  2. In Microsoft Sentinel, tables will show up in the Custom Logs Solutions area.
  3. Connecting EASM to Microsoft Sentinel involves three steps: setting up EASM, configuring permissions, and enabling the connection.

Track Major New Features for Microsoft Security Products Using RSS Feeds

Rod’s Blog • 59 implied HN points • 12 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Software
  1. Keeping up with changes in Microsoft products can be challenging, especially with frequent updates to security products.
  2. Rod Trent provides weekly newsletters covering major announcements and important enhancements in Sentinel, Defender, and Azure OpenAI.
  3. Microsoft now offers RSS feeds for their security products, making it easier to stay updated on new features.

Properly Setting Up the New MDTI Solution for Microsoft Sentinel

Rod’s Blog • 59 implied HN points • 30 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Software
  1. The Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence solution requires careful setup, even though the process may seem straightforward at first.
  2. Proper RBAC (Role-Based Access Control) settings are crucial for successful configuration of the solution within Microsoft Sentinel.
  3. Follow a particular order of installation and configuration steps to ensure the Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence Solution works smoothly.

Randomness- A billion dollar problem in Software Engineering [Math Mondays]

Technology Made Simple • 59 implied HN points • 22 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Software
  1. Randomness in software engineering introduces unpredictability and can be used for various reasons like generating different outputs and introducing randomness into systems.
  2. Careful consideration is needed when using randomness in software engineering to avoid security risks and unnecessary complexity.
  3. To test the randomness of a system, consider using Diehard tests, which are intuitive and effective in evaluating randomness.

Microsoft Sentinel SOC 101: How to Detect and Mitigate Drive-by Download Attacks with Microsoft Sentinel

Rod’s Blog • 59 implied HN points • 04 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Software
  1. Drive-by download attacks exploit vulnerabilities to download malicious code without user knowledge. They can lead to data breaches and install malware.
  2. Mitigation strategies include user education, enforcing security policies, monitoring network traffic, and using SIEM services like Microsoft Sentinel.
  3. Microsoft Sentinel can help detect drive-by download attacks by collecting relevant data, enriching it, analyzing with rules and ML, visualizing results, and automating incident response.

Markdown imports and exports

Pine • 19 implied HN points • 21 Apr 24
🕹 Technology Software
  1. Pine now allows you to import and export files in markdown format. This makes it easier to move your content in and out of the platform.
  2. When you use markdown, a horizontal line separates the card title from the body. If there's no line, the file name will be used as the title.
  3. The deck dropdown menu has quick access options for smoother navigation and usability. You can find what you need without searching too hard.

Release Notes — February 17th 2023

tldraw • 58 implied HN points • 17 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Software
  1. You can now link to a chosen location of a multiplayer project.
  2. Improvements include a smoother eraser tool appearance and better scribble-selecting features.
  3. Several fixes were made, including properly filling X Box shapes and adjusting the appearance of error screens.

Release Notes — May 26th 2023

tldraw • 58 implied HN points • 26 May 23
🕹 Technology Software
  1. Enhanced presence features like cursor names, viewport following, snapshot links, and a laser pointer added
  2. Introduction of people menu for changing name and color, zooming to other users, and following users
  3. New tools like Laser Tool, snapshot links, text label alignment, text pasting, checkbox shape introduced

The Sequence Research #490: A Practical Deep Dive Inside DeepSeek-R1

TheSequence • 70 implied HN points • 14 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Software
  1. DeepSeek-R1 is a new AI model that performs well without needing to be very big. It uses smart training methods to achieve great results at a lower cost.
  2. The model successfully matches the performance of a larger, more expensive model called GPT-o1. This shows that size isn't the only thing that matters for good performance.
  3. DeepSeek-R1 challenges the idea that you always need large models for reasoning, suggesting that clever techniques can also lead to impressive results.

Workplace AI just had a terrible week

Make Work Better • 92 implied HN points • 26 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Software
  1. Microsoft's Copilot AI has faced serious criticism recently, with many users finding it unreliable and disconnected from actual business needs. Less than 4% of IT leaders reported that it provided significant value, raising concerns about its effectiveness.
  2. There are issues with Copilot accidentally accessing and sharing sensitive company information. This has created trust problems, as employees worry about privacy and data security.
  3. Next year, companies are moving towards 'agentic AI', where AI not only assists but takes on tasks autonomously. This shift aims to improve efficiency, but it's crucial to ensure these systems remain secure and trustworthy.

Vulnerability Management and Developer Toil

Resilient Cyber • 119 implied HN points • 02 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Software
  1. Vulnerability management is crucial for security but often overwhelms developers with too much information. It’s important to focus on vulnerabilities that really pose a risk, instead of just following strict checklists.
  2. The number of vulnerabilities has exploded in recent years, but most are never exploited. Organizations need better ways to prioritize which vulnerabilities to address based on actual risk, rather than just severity scores.
  3. Security teams should work more closely with developers to reduce friction and support their efforts. Improving communication and providing context can make security a partner, not a blocker.

A Tale of a Close Partnership

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 39 implied HN points • 20 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Software
  1. AMD has partnered with Lamini to help startups create and run generative AI products using AMD GPUs. This collaboration started in September and aims to address the GPU shortage in the AI industry.
  2. Lamini disclosed that they have been exclusively using AMD GPUs for the past year, showcasing their commitment to this partnership. They even highlighted their continuous use of AMD hardware at an AI event.
  3. Together, AMD and Lamini have developed the LLM Superstation, a powerful supercomputer equipped with 128 AMD Instinct GPUs. This setup allows businesses to train large AI models more effectively.

Edge 437: Inside BlackMamba, One of the Most Important SSM Models Ever Created

TheSequence • 112 implied HN points • 08 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Software
  1. BlackMamba combines two powerful AI techniques: mixture-of-experts (MoEs) and state space models (SSMs). This helps it process long sequences and solve various AI tasks more effectively.
  2. The Mamba SSM is known for its efficiency, and BlackMamba builds on that strength while improving performance with MoE strategies.
  3. The creator is starting a new company focused on AI evaluation and benchmarking, looking for team members with expertise in these areas.

Stop begging for JSON

Artificial Ignorance • 88 implied HN points • 12 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Software
  1. Using AI tools has gotten better with structured outputs, which ensures that AI responses follow a specific format. This means developers can rely more on AI results.
  2. OpenAI introduced features like JSON mode and Structured Outputs, making it easier for developers to get the correct data structure from the AI. This reduces errors and makes integration smoother.
  3. Even with improvements, some challenges like inconsistent names and types in data still exist. Developers need to be aware and manage these issues when using AI.

Building a Better What's New Page for Microsoft Sentinel

Rod’s Blog • 59 implied HN points • 22 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Software
  1. Customers are frustrated with the outdated 'What's New' page in Microsoft Sentinel, which is lagging behind in updates.
  2. To address the issue, various sources like Microsoft Sentinel blog, community blogs, and Docs 'What's New' page are being utilized for the most current information on features and enhancements.
  3. Efforts are being made to convert the Docs 'What's New' page into Markdown using a PowerShell script for integration into Microsoft Sentinel workbooks, keeping the content up-to-date.

April Progress Prizes / Updates

Vesuvius Challenge • 38 implied HN points • 23 May 25
🕹 Technology Software
  1. New techniques for analyzing scroll shapes are improving the way we handle and segment data. This means we can understand and work with historical documents much better.
  2. There have been exciting updates in scroll deformation methods, which can help in restoring the original shapes of ancient scrolls. This makes analyzing them easier and more accurate.
  3. The new developments in fiber analysis provide important information that can help reconstruct ancient writing surfaces. This can lead to better ways to unroll and study papyrus materials.

Micro-Benchmarking a RISC-V SBC (CanMV K230)

Fprox’s Substack • 20 implied HN points • 23 Aug 25
🕹 Technology Software
  1. Micro-benchmarks help you measure how fast different instructions run on the RISC-V K230 chip. This is important for understanding the chip's performance.
  2. Data values can change how fast instructions execute, especially for operations like division. It's crucial to consider these variations in performance measurements.
  3. The RISE development image is a stable and feature-rich option for developers working with the CanMV K230. It makes connecting and running programs easier compared to earlier images.

The 6 reasons why your AI strategy is stalling

Dev Interrupted • 28 implied HN points • 10 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Software
  1. It's not just about having the right tools for AI, but having a solid foundation of knowledge and data. If your information is messy or outdated, the AI won't work well.
  2. Your infrastructure needs to be set up for AI to work smoothly. If it's too complex or manual, it can slow everything down rather than speeding things up.
  3. Governance is important for AI. You need to make sure there are clear rules and oversight to build trust in the system and ensure AI helps rather than harms your workflow.

The Most Amazing Week in Gen AI Releases

TheSequence • 84 implied HN points • 15 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Software
  1. Several major tech companies like OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft launched new AI models in a single week. This shows how quickly AI technology is progressing.
  2. OpenAI's Sora model allows users to create videos from text descriptions, but it has some limitations. It's an exciting step for video generation!
  3. Google's Gemini 2.0 has improved capabilities, allowing it to handle more complex tasks and interact more effectively with users.

Clouded Judgement 11.20.25 - The AI Platform Wars

Clouded Judgement • 8 implied HN points • 21 Nov 25
🕹 Technology Software
  1. AI companies are shifting their focus from just improving model quality to creating strong platforms. This means they're not just making better models but also figuring out how to distribute and integrate their services more effectively.
  2. Google is bundling its new Gemini model with all its services, making it a central part of its ecosystem, while OpenAI is creating a super app with ChatGPT to attract users directly to its platform.
  3. Anthropic is aiming for a trusted spot in the enterprise market by prioritizing safety and reliability, while Meta is pushing open-source models to make competition tougher at the base level, encouraging differentiation at higher moments.

Computer self-help

My Home Office Hacks • 5 implied HN points • 15 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Software
  1. Try fixing problems yourself by searching online before calling IT or going to a store; many issues have simple step‑by‑step solutions.
  2. Use built‑in command‑line tools like sfc /scannow and DISM (e.g., DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth) to repair system issues, and run Command Prompt as administrator then reboot.
  3. Learning to follow instructions and try fixes on your own saves time, reduces downtime, and builds confidence working from home.

Duplicating Published Decks

Pine • 19 implied HN points • 11 Apr 24
🕹 Technology Software
  1. You can now duplicate published decks in your own Pine workspace. This makes it easier to use existing materials and adapt them for your needs.
  2. When duplicating, you can choose how to manage existing decks, like merging new cards or replacing them completely. This gives you control over your content updates.
  3. There are other improvements, like faster loading times for your workspace and better thumbnail generation for sharing on social media. These updates make the platform more user-friendly.

Moderator

davidj.substack • 35 implied HN points • 05 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Software
  1. When moderating a discussion, it's important to let the conversation flow naturally instead of trying to control it too much. This approach helps participants engage more actively.
  2. In regulated industries like banking and healthcare, there's a cautious approach to adopting AI technologies. Firms often take their time to evaluate the security risks before implementing new tools.
  3. Startups focusing on specific use cases often create better tools compared to big companies adding features to existing products. However, larger firms have more resources to advance AI development over time.

My End of 2024 Update

Human Programming • 77 implied HN points • 03 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Software
  1. Human programming research is shifting focus to work with AI models instead of humans. This means developing systems that help AI operate more efficiently.
  2. The author has been involved in several software projects, including a consulting role where they created tools to enhance AI and web products. These experiences allowed them to explore different collaborative environments.
  3. They plan to take some time for exploration and research in AI, particularly focusing on self-modifying programs. This will allow them to deepen their understanding of both AI concepts and practical product development.

RDEL #34: How do developers adopt new tools? (with Monica Bajaj, VP Developer Experience at Okta)

Research-Driven Engineering Leadership • 19 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Software
  1. Engineers build trust in tools through factors like usability, testing, documentation, support, flexibility, security, maintainability, and extensibility.
  2. Biggest challenges in tool adoption include lack of usability, cost, integrations, and organizational support.
  3. Managers can evaluate tool effectiveness by considering the effort (onboarding, adoption, integration, customization) and impact (productivity, quality, cost).

The Future of P4: One Perspective

Systems Approach • 353 implied HN points • 15 May 23
🕹 Technology Software
  1. P4 language is more than just Tofino chips, it has many backend targets like SmartNICs and IPUs.
  2. The distinction between 'open' and 'closed' forwarding pipelines is crucial, even fixed pipelines can be flexible.
  3. P4's value lies not just in quantifiable metrics, but also in its ability to abstract packet forwarding pipelines effectively.

Winter is Here, And So is Gemini

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 39 implied HN points • 07 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Software
  1. Google's Gemini is finally here after a delayed launch, and it aims to outperform other models like GPT-4 in language tasks.
  2. Gemini has three versions: Ultra for complex tasks, Pro for various tasks, and Nano for efficient on-device use.
  3. The Gemini Ultra version scored impressively high in tests, even beating human experts at some language understanding tasks.

Technical documentation

Only Wonder Knows • 39 implied HN points • 07 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Software
  1. Documenting early in a project has many advantages.
  2. Creating a good document structure, like a clear index and introduction, is essential.
  3. Reviewing your document before finalizing is crucial to catch errors.

The AI Agent Economy: Emerging Trends and Early Signals

philsiarri • 22 implied HN points • 07 Aug 25
🕹 Technology Software
  1. AI agents are becoming more common and helpful in our daily lives. They can now do tasks with little help from people.
  2. Microsoft is improving its Copilot tool to support more tasks and connect with various apps. This makes it a better assistant.
  3. OpenAI is working on a project that lets different AI agents work together on a task. This teamwork makes them even more efficient.

Weekly Notes

Rethinking Software • 99 implied HN points • 07 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Software
  1. Different voting strategies can impact both worker democracies and government systems. It’s interesting to see how this science is evolving, especially in companies without managers.
  2. Nature has unique ways of organizing itself which can inspire how we think about teamwork and collaboration. Reading about these ideas can spark new ways of working.
  3. Management often sticks to the status quo with common excuses. It's important to question these justifications to improve work and foster innovation.