The hottest Testing Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Adding a new RISC-V extension (to spike)

Fprox’s Substack • 2 HN points • 14 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Testing
  1. The post describes how to extend the RISC-V ISA simulator Spike to implement a new instruction for vector AES-128 encryption.
  2. It covers steps like adding the new opcode in riscv-opcodes, declaring the new instruction in riscv-isa-sim, and testing the program.
  3. The process involves modifying opcode header files, updating the simulator, and building a test program to implement and verify the new instruction.

Test fast, fail fast

Yong’s Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 11 Jul 23
💼 Business Testing
  1. Identifying and targeting the right customer base is crucial for business success.
  2. Understanding customer needs and preferences is essential to provide a compelling value proposition.
  3. Iterative testing, learning from mistakes, and adapting to customer feedback are key to aligning products with the appropriate customer base.

A story about validating language models

Simplicity is SOTA • 0 implied HN points • 14 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Testing
  1. Validating language models for inappropriate content is crucial to maintain trustworthiness.
  2. Building confidence in a model's performance through rigorous testing can prevent potential issues.
  3. Structuring data outputs for human review can significantly improve efficiency in evaluating model responses.
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Combine, async/await, and Unit Testing

Jacob’s Tech Tavern • 0 implied HN points • 22 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Testing
  1. Combine and async/await can be used together to write robust and maintainable software with modern language features.
  2. Testing @ObservableObject view models, Combine publishers in async methods, and Combine publishers converted to AsyncSequence are key in achieving unit test mastery.
  3. Understanding the interoperation between Combine and async/await is a powerful skill for writing unit tests and marrying the two concurrency approaches.

Securing Ronin

Ronin’s Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Testing
  1. Part 2 of the editorial series by Phuc Thai delves into security processes on Ronin.
  2. Ronin Evolution Proposals undergo a detailed staged process before deployment.
  3. Ronin employs rigorous testing, shadow forks, audits, and bug bounties to prioritize security.

Nobody Gets Fired For Choosing Java

Money in Transit • 0 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Testing
  1. Choosing the right programming language for your payment application is about business requirements, not your engineers' taste.
  2. Java is a standard choice for its reliability in the financial sector.
  3. Programming languages matter because they impact hiring, constrain program writing, and guide engineers.

The Art and Science of Testing Smart Contracts

Athena Scale • 0 implied HN points • 20 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Testing
  1. Smart contracts must be properly tested before being deployed to production to avoid costly mistakes.
  2. Designing the architecture of smart contracts is crucial and ensures all team members are aligned.
  3. Testing on testnet and mainnet is essential to uncover issues and differences between environments.

E2E Browser Tests Generation Using LLMs

Iceberg • 0 implied HN points • 06 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Testing
  1. E2E browser tests can be made easier to write and maintain using LLMs
  2. Using natural language instructions and website structure can simplify test creation
  3. Challenges with LLMs include pricing, integration issues, and the possibility of flakiness

Weekly Digest #2 : The Plan for Rails 8

monoRails - a Ruby on Rails newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Testing
  1. Rails 8 is planning new features like a background worker, cache backend, framework for mobile notifications, and more development tools.
  2. The article discusses the internal workings and design decisions of Sidekiq, a popular background processing tool for Ruby.
  3. Understanding the Rails router is important for developers to grasp the concepts of routing, named routes, and different types of routes in a Ruby on Rails application.

Yes, IO is possible in a functional world

Reflective Software Engineering • 0 implied HN points • 12 Nov 22
🕹 Technology Testing
  1. Isolate IO side effects to maintain purity in domain logic, improving testability and readability.
  2. In functional programming, keep domain code side-effect free and contain side effects in the outer layers for simplicity and easy testing.
  3. Centralizing side effects through repositories can simplify code, improve maintainability, and make it easier to reason about.

Supply of Rapid Tests

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 21 Aug 21
🏥 Health & Wellness Testing
  1. Abbott destroyed millions of rapid test products due to a mistaken prediction of decreased demand, leading to supply shortages when demand surged again.
  2. Public health recommendations, like CDC's guidance on testing, heavily influence the demand for rapid tests.
  3. Vaccine mandates and the requirement for negative tests are increasing the demand for testing, highlighting the importance for governments to act promptly to ensure sufficient supply.

Resetting expectations

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 13 Aug 21
🏥 Health & Wellness Testing
  1. The previous plan of waiting for a vaccine and declaring victory is no longer feasible with the emergence of the Delta variant.
  2. In dealing with the Delta variant, it is important to flatten the curve to prevent overwhelming hospitals and buy time to vaccinate more people.
  3. Policies to address the Delta variant should include restrictions on non-essential gatherings, rapid testing in schools, encouraging mask-wearing, and providing support for those who cannot be vaccinated.

Taking variants seriously

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 26 Apr 21
🏥 Health & Wellness Testing
  1. Variants of the virus have higher reproduction numbers and spread more effectively in certain environments, posing a significant threat.
  2. Considering variants as new viruses could prompt more focused and proactive measures like containment and targeted testing and vaccination.
  3. Efforts to combat new variants require heightened focus on genomic testing, international collaboration, and strategic allocation of resources to areas where variants are emerging.

Let's check in on Slovakia

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 13 Apr 21
🌍 World Politics Testing
  1. Slovakia conducted mass testing twice on its population in a short period and implemented continuous weekly testing to bring down COVID-19 cases. They made testing mandatory for certain activities and made isolation voluntary for family members with a positive case.
  2. Slovakia's approach relied heavily on regular testing and isolation of cases and household members, showing significant success in managing outbreaks and decreasing case numbers.
  3. The success of Slovakia's testing strategy was facilitated by its small size, efficient decision-making process, and strong community adherence to regulations. A small group of epidemiologists made decisions quickly, and the country swiftly mobilized resources for mass testing.

A rapid screening Regime is just as sensitive as PCR testing

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 26 Mar 21
🏥 Health & Wellness Testing
  1. A new study shows that rapid antigen tests can be just as effective as PCR tests at identifying infected individuals if used at least twice a week.
  2. PCR tests have higher sensitivity than rapid antigen tests, but with frequent testing, the differences become insignificant.
  3. Frequent rapid antigen screenings (twice a week) can be more effective and cost-efficient compared to weekly PCR tests.

Is LTC screening worth it?

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 24 Mar 21
🏥 Health Politics Testing
  1. A report questions the worth of routine asymptomatic COVID-19 testing in LTC facilities in Ontario due to low positivity rates and perceived costs and burdens.
  2. The report overlooks the potential benefits of preventing outbreaks through testing, especially considering the high-risk nature of LTC facilities.
  3. Suggestions in the report about transitioning to rapid antigen testing are met with skepticism regarding the claimed higher costs and operational challenges.

Running out of things to say

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 19 Mar 21
🏥 Health & Wellness Testing
  1. The author of the newsletter is taking a break due to running out of things to say after consistent writing for a year, but shares interesting articles from other sources.
  2. The shared articles cover various topics related to Covid-19 such as the importance of data, testing failures, new testing methods like rapid screens, and the need for continued testing even with vaccines available.
  3. The post also links to a new book called 'Economics in One Virus' by Ryan Borne that takes an economic perspective on situations arising from the pandemic.

There is no such thing as no risk

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 24 Feb 21
🏥 Health & Wellness Testing
  1. There is no such thing as a perfectly safe event - caution is always required, and risks are unavoidable.
  2. Even with considerable precautions taken, events can still be risky - the event at issue saw 2.5% of attendees infected.
  3. Testing for COVID-19 is crucial, but flaws in testing protocols can lead to false negatives, impacting event safety measures.

Missing infectiousness information for vaccines

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 09 Dec 20
🏥 Health & Wellness Testing
  1. Vaccines must be evaluated for their ability to prevent people from spreading the virus, not just protecting the individual.
  2. It is crucial to gather information on infectiousness alongside vaccine trials to understand their full impact.
  3. Strategies like frequent testing of early vaccine recipients and vaccinating hard-hit regions first can provide valuable insights on the spread of vaccinated individuals.

Pre-emptive warnings to take care

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 02 Nov 20
🏥 Health & Wellness Testing
  1. NOVID app offers a different approach to COVID-19 exposure tracking by focusing on self-protection rather than just protecting others.
  2. The app allows users to prepare for potential exposure by managing their contact budget and taking preventive measures.
  3. NOVID can serve as a valuable early warning system for communities like schools or workplaces to take extra precautions and drive further information through rapid testing.

Bringing local outbreaks under control

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 30 Sep 20
🏥 Health & Wellness Testing
  1. Local outbreaks can be controlled with widespread testing and proper data transparency.
  2. Facing challenges with social distancing, universities and prisons have shown success in handling outbreaks through testing and transparency.
  3. Commitment to high data transparency is crucial in dealing with outbreaks and implementing effective testing strategies.

Why the best isn't best

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 31 Aug 20
🏥 Health & Wellness Testing
  1. The precision of a test doesn't always make it the best choice, especially in cases like testing for infectious diseases.
  2. Having the best test can sometimes be a disadvantage, like with PCR tests that can be too sensitive, leading to unnecessary costs and false positives.
  3. Lowering the sensitivity threshold of tests, like PCR, can be more beneficial in identifying active infections and informing isolation decisions.

Test Week: Scale and Speed

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 19 Aug 20
🏥 Health & Wellness Testing
  1. Widespread testing for Covid-19 requires cheap tests and fast results to isolate infected individuals quickly.
  2. Lowering costs and increasing speed of testing are essential for successful mitigation of Covid-19 spread.
  3. Using a strategic testing approach, combining low-cost, rapid tests with high sensitivity tests, can significantly enhance the effectiveness of mitigation strategies.

Test Week: The Information Gap

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 17 Aug 20
🔬 Science Testing
  1. Testing for a virus like Covid-19 helps solve the information problem for pandemics, potentially saving costs and impacting decisions like diagnosis, clearance, surveillance, and mitigation.
  2. The effectiveness of tests relies on the prevalence of the virus in the population; when prevalence is low, test results can be noisier and less useful.
  3. Contact tracing complements testing by providing additional information, especially in increasing the value of imperfect tests by identifying those more likely to be infected.

What if it’s worse?

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 12 Apr 20
🏥 Health & Wellness Testing
  1. Immunity from COVID-19 is a critical assumption in policy discussions, but what if this assumption is wrong? If immunity is not guaranteed, the virus may never go away.
  2. Investing in extensive testing, especially HAVE tests, can still be valuable even if immunity or a vaccine is not a solution. Testing can help contain the spread of the virus and eventually eradicate it.
  3. The possibility of not achieving permanent immunity emphasizes the need for testing as a hedge against uncertainty. Testing, regardless of immunity status, plays a crucial role in managing the pandemic.

Health Before Wealth: The Economic Logic

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 25 Mar 20
🏥 Health & Wellness Testing
  1. During a pandemic, the concept of trade-offs between public health and economy shifts. The pandemic alters the production possibilities set, making it crucial to prioritize health over wealth.
  2. In a pandemic, the production possibilities set shows that there is a significant 'bite' where choosing between preserving public health or the economy becomes an either/or situation.
  3. Implementing widespread and accessible testing for COVID-19 can help reduce the economic impact while maintaining public health, weakening the trade-off between the two.

Real-time magic, no elixirs: optimizing Sera with AnyCable

AnyCable Broadcasts • 0 implied HN points • 01 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Testing
  1. The project successfully migrated a critical GPS tracking service from Elixir to AnyCable, enabling real-time features and smoother maintenance.
  2. The team optimized the infrastructure using AWS ECS, Fargate, and CloudFormation, delivering improvements in performance, scalability, and resource management.
  3. AnyCable deployment was streamlined within the project's infrastructure, bringing in monitoring features and helping speed up the CI/CD pipeline.

Multi-tenancy vs. Cables: Introducing Action Cable command callbacks

AnyCable Broadcasts • 0 implied HN points • 05 Jul 22
🕹 Technology Testing
  1. Solving multi-tenancy in web applications involves carefully managing tenants' requests within the execution context, like web requests or background jobs.
  2. Action Cable uses an event loop and a thread pool executor to handle incoming messages, indicating the importance of understanding the execution context for persistent connections.
  3. Rails 7.1 introduces command callbacks for Connection classes in Action Cable, offering a clear and standardized way to execute code before, after, or around channel commands, resolving issues like multi-tenancy setup in a structured manner.

Manage BA.2—And Our Expectations

Are You Okay? • 0 implied HN points • 18 Apr 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Testing
  1. The Omicron BA.2 variant is highly contagious but generally not causing more severe illness than previous versions in vaccinated and boosted individuals. Symptoms can range from mild cold-like to more severe, and testing is crucial to differentiate between COVID and other common illnesses.
  2. Rapid antigen tests are effective in detecting contagious levels of the virus, and isolation guidelines recommend staying isolated for at least 5 days after a positive test, preferably until a negative test is obtained.
  3. Vaccination, boosting where eligible, staying home when sick, and seeking medical advice are crucial steps in managing COVID. Understanding that exposure may be inevitable, a balanced approach to precautions is recommended to protect oneself and others.

Prep For The Holidays

Are You Okay? • 0 implied HN points • 14 Dec 21
🏥 Health & Wellness Testing
  1. Get vaccinated and boosted to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.
  2. Don't travel or socialize if you have symptoms; get tested and isolate if needed.
  3. Maximize ventilation, consider wearing masks indoors, and use rapid antigen testing for added protection during holiday gatherings.

Giddy-up for Fall

Are You Okay? • 0 implied HN points • 01 Nov 21
🏥 Health & Wellness Testing
  1. The state of the pandemic in the US is improving, with falling COVID cases, hospitalizations, and deaths due to widespread vaccination and population immunity.
  2. Vaccines and booster shots are crucial for preventing severe illness from COVID, especially for high-risk individuals, and studies show they are effective against death and hospitalization.
  3. The approval of vaccines for kids ages 5-11 is on the horizon, potentially offering relief to parents and helping pave the way for a return to normalcy for children.

Test, Triage, And Trust the Vaccine

Are You Okay? • 0 implied HN points • 23 Aug 21
🏥 Health & Wellness Testing
  1. COVID testing options include rapid antigen tests with high sensitivity for symptomatic adults, and PCR tests for early and late infection detection.
  2. The CDC recommends testing and isolation protocols for fully vaccinated individuals who are sick or exposed to COVID-19, with different requirements based on symptoms.
  3. Vaccinated individuals can still infect others, but likelihood is lower than in unvaccinated individuals; Booster shots are not universally necessary but could benefit some high-risk groups.

Double Down to Dig Ourselves Out

Are You Okay? • 0 implied HN points • 04 Feb 21
🏥 Health & Wellness Testing
  1. Staying vigilant against COVID-19 is crucial as new variants are more contagious, even if not more lethal. The race is between the virus's ability to mutate and our ability to mitigate risks and vaccinate.
  2. Increasing vaccine doses and implementing widespread testing are key strategies. Vaccinating large populations can save lives and reduce virus mutations, while frequent at-home testing helps identify and isolate asymptomatic carriers.
  3. Universal mask-wearing and enhancing risk mitigation efforts are important. Layering measures like double masking in high-risk environments and adhering to strict mitigation rules will help curb the spread of the virus.
  4. Host community forums could be pivotal in discussing vaccination opportunities and developments.
  5. Ensuring collaboration in implementing vaccination, testing, and preventive measures is crucial for overcoming the pandemic.

Mind the Mutations

Are You Okay? • 0 implied HN points • 10 Jan 21
🏥 Health & Wellness Testing
  1. Viruses naturally mutate to survive and reproduce, and the COVID-19 variants are more contagious but not more lethal.
  2. We need to strictly adhere to mask-wearing, social distancing, and other risk mitigation measures to prevent the spread of the virus.
  3. The Pfizer vaccine is effective against the current variants, and widespread vaccination and testing are essential to combat COVID-19.

Kill Software Early, for Profit

How to SWE • 0 implied HN points • 23 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Testing
  1. Software needs to be rewritten when it becomes outdated and too complex to maintain.
  2. Companies avoid rewriting software due to cost, but it is necessary to stay competitive.
  3. To avoid the costly death of software, create living documents, write rigid automated tests, and have squishy implementations.