Best stories

I’ve been a part of this community for fifteen years. Despite the yearly bemoaning of HN’s quality compared to its mythical past, I’ve found that it’s the one community that has remained steadfast as a source of knowledge, cattiness, and good discussion.

Thank you @dang and @tomhow.

Here's to another year.

PocketBase is an open-source backend solution that combines a database, API, and admin panel. It aims to provide a simple and efficient way to build and deploy applications with a focus on ease of use and developer productivity.

The European Union Council has approved a new 'chat control' mandate, which will expand the mass surveillance of online communications under the guise of protecting children from sexual abuse. This move has raised concerns over privacy and civil liberties.

The Linux Kernel Explorer is a web-based tool that allows users to explore the Linux kernel source code interactively. It provides a user-friendly interface to navigate the kernel's file structure, view code, and search for specific functions or variables.

The petition calls for the recognition of open-source work as volunteer work in Germany, allowing contributors to open-source projects to benefit from tax advantages and social security benefits typically granted to volunteers.

Hi! Recently smart-glasses with cameras like the Meta Ray-bans seem to be getting more popular. As does some people's desire to remove/cover up the recording indicator LED. I wanted to see if there's a way to detect when people are recording with these types of glasses, so a little bit ago I started working this project. I've hit a little bit of a wall though so I'm very much open to ideas!

I've written a bunch more on the link (+photos are there), but essentially this uses 2 fingerprinting approaches: - retro-reflectivity of the camera sensor by looking at IR reflections. mixed results here. - wireless traffic (primarily BLE, also looking into BTC and wifi)

For the latter, I'm currently just using an ESP32, and I can consistently detect when the Meta Raybans are 1) pairing, 2) first powered on, 3) (less consistently) when they're taken out of the charging case. When they do detect something, it plays a little jingle next to your ear.

Ideally I want to be able to detect them when they're in use, and not just at boot. I've come across the nRF52840, which seems like it can follow directed BLE traffic beyond the initial broadcast, but from my understanding it would still need to catch the first CONNECT_REQ event regardless. On the bluetooth classic side of things, all the hardware looks really expensive! Any ideas are appreciated. Thanks!

Qualcomm has announced same-day upstream Linux support for its upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 platform, providing developers with early access to the latest hardware and enabling them to optimize their applications for the new platform.

ReplaceyourBoss.ai is an AI-powered platform that helps users automate and streamline their job search process, including creating resumes, cover letters, and networking. The platform uses artificial intelligence to personalize and optimize job applications, providing users with a competitive edge in the job market.

The article discusses a new chip designed specifically for AI inference, which is more energy-efficient and faster than traditional processors. It highlights the potential of this technology to revolutionize AI-powered applications and devices.

GitLab discovers a widespread supply chain attack targeting the npm package ecosystem, with malicious packages designed to steal sensitive information and gain unauthorized access to systems. The article details the investigation and steps taken by GitLab to address the issue and protect its users.

The article examines a leaked credit report that reveals financial details about Meta (formerly Facebook), including its debt levels, cash reserves, and revenue sources. The report provides a comprehensive look at the company's financial health and raises questions about its future direction.

This article explores the potential impact of large language models (LLMs) on human voice and expression, raising concerns about the risk of losing our unique voices and authentic communication in the face of increasingly sophisticated AI technology.

The article discusses the Hacker News Vector Search dataset, which is a collection of Hacker News posts and comments that can be used for vector search and natural language processing tasks. The dataset includes various features such as post text, comments, user information, and timestamps.

This article explores the intersection of privacy and eroticism, examining how our evolving digital landscape has both enhanced and complicated our understanding of intimacy, consent, and personal boundaries in the realm of sexuality and relationships.

A 250MWh sand battery system is set to be built in Finland, designed to store energy for both heating and providing ancillary services to the grid. The project aims to demonstrate the viability of using sand as a low-cost, high-density storage medium for large-scale energy storage applications.

The article discusses a controversial claim made by the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) about the future of technology, suggesting that the next major breakthroughs will come from specialized hardware rather than general-purpose computing platforms.

The article discusses the development of ImgurUK, a proxy service that allows users to access Imgur content in the UK despite regional restrictions. It highlights the technical implementation, benefits for users, and insights into the motivation behind creating this service.

The book 'The Nerd Reich' explores the rise of nerd culture and how it has become a dominant force in society, influencing everything from politics to entertainment. It examines the impact of this shift on the world at large, offering insights into the changing dynamics of power and influence.

The article explores the prevalence of bad code in large companies, highlighting the challenges of technical debt, complex legacy systems, and the need for a cultural shift towards better software development practices.

Molly.im is a personal website and blog that covers a range of topics, including technology, design, and personal reflections. The site provides a platform for the author to share their thoughts, experiences, and creative work with readers.

The article explores the feasibility of Dutch universities reducing their reliance on Microsoft products and services, considering the financial and operational implications of such a move. It discusses the potential benefits and challenges universities may face in transitioning to alternative software and cloud solutions.

Most good posts die in /newest, buried under low-quality submissions.

HN depends on people visiting /newest and upvoting or flagging what they see.

A few minutes there each day probably does more for HN than commenting.

It’s anonymous, thankless work, like Reddit’s old “Knights of New,” but it makes a difference.

https://news.ycombinator.com/newest

https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

Mixpanel, a data analytics company, experienced a security incident that resulted in unauthorized access to some customer SMS data. The incident was detected and mitigated, and Mixpanel is working to notify affected customers and improve security measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The article discusses a mysterious black fungus found growing in the Chernobyl nuclear reactor, which appears to have the ability to consume radiation. Researchers are investigating the fungus's potential applications in radiation remediation and shielding.

The article explores the rise of 'local rags' - small, community-focused news outlets that aim to provide more targeted and personalized coverage compared to larger, national media outlets. It discusses the benefits and challenges these local news sources face in an increasingly digital media landscape.

Pakistan expects its rooftop solar power output to exceed grid demand in some areas as early as next year, highlighting the country's push to increase renewable energy generation. The government aims to have 60% of the country's energy come from renewable sources by 2030.

The article discusses the author's gratitude for various aspects of their life, including their family, their work, and the small daily pleasures they experience. It emphasizes the importance of cultivating a mindset of gratitude and appreciating the simple things in life.

Study: https://mmd.iammonline.com/index.php/musmed/article/view/111...

The article discusses the potential implications of the GNU General Public License (GPL) on AI models trained on code licensed under the GPL. It explores the possibility that the GPL could propagate to the AI models, potentially affecting their distribution and usage.