Hacker News
1“Normal” engineers are the key to great teams
- The article challenges the concept of "10x engineers" and argues that great engineering organizations are those where ordinary engineers can consistently deliver value, rather than relying on exceptional individuals. It emphasizes building systems for normal people and focusing on team productivity over individual brilliance.
Critiquing software development stereotypes
Discussion challenges the notion that software engineering is unique/special, arguing consistent effort trumps "10x" performance. Many note the field has become toxic like finance, with inflated egos and unsustainable work practices.Team dynamics vs individual performance
Debate over whether high-performing teams are built through exceptional individuals or good teamwork. Some argue 10x engineers carry teams, while others emphasize sustainable team practices and systems over individual brilliance.Career motivation and rewards
Discussion explores why highly productive engineers work so hard without proportional compensation. Many note intrinsic motivation, pride in craft, and love of problem-solving matter more than money once basic salary needs are met.
2The Lost Art of Logarithms
- This is an online book-in-progress by Charles Petzold exploring the history, utility, and applications of logarithms. The book covers topics from basic concepts to advanced applications in trigonometry, astronomy, earth mapping, and various mathematical phenomena, spanning historical context and modern uses.
Teaching logarithms
Discussion of how logarithms should be taught through their historical context and original motivating problems rather than as inverse exponential functions, with recommendations for books and teaching approaches.Analog calculation tools
Exchange about slide rules, abacuses and other analog math tools, with focus on their continued relevance and unique benefits compared to digital tools, including discussions of where to find them.Practical applications
Discussion of real-world uses of logarithms in data analysis, random number generation, mental math tricks, and why log transforms often normalize data distributions in nature.
3Samsung Q990D unresponsive after 1020 firmware update
- Multiple Samsung soundbar users are reporting issues with their devices becoming unresponsive after a recent update. The soundbars are not responding to remote controls or physical buttons, displaying "TV eARC" message, and cannot be reset even through standard troubleshooting methods like factory reset or power cycling.
Samsung's poor firmware practices
Multiple comments discuss Samsung's lack of proper firmware rollout strategies, including no staged releases, inadequate testing, and missing failsafe mechanisms. Past incidents of firmware bricking devices are cited.Device ownership and control
Users express frustration over losing control of their purchased devices due to forced updates, online dependencies, and inability to revert to working states. Many advocate for offline-first approaches and minimal connectivity.Smart TV frustrations
Discussion of Samsung TVs becoming slower and less usable over time through updates, with features being removed, ads being added, and apps becoming unstable. Many users opt to disconnect TVs from internet or use external devices.
4Y Combinator urges the White House to support Europe's Digital Markets Act
- Y Combinator urged the Trump administration to support Europe's Digital Markets Act, arguing that the legislation aligns with American innovation by limiting tech giants' anticompetitive practices. The law targets six major companies as "gatekeepers" and aims to create opportunities for smaller startups in AI, search, and consumer apps.
Digital privacy and data control
Discussion of restricting companies' data collection/sharing practices, with calls for strict regulations on what data can be collected, how it can be used, and preventing transfer between entities.Alternative app stores
Debate around DMA's effectiveness in enabling alternative app stores, with mixed views on benefits to users vs developers. Some see it as crucial for user freedom while others worry about security risks.Monopoly regulation
Discussion of breaking up big tech companies vs regulation, comparing historical US antitrust actions to current approaches, and whether DMA-style rules are sufficient to address market dominance.
5IO Devices and Latency
- This content explores the evolution of computer storage technologies, from magnetic tape drives in the 1950s to modern solid-state drives (SSDs). It discusses how each technology improved data access speed and efficiency, with a particular focus on their different mechanisms for reading and writing data, and their respective advantages and limitations.
Interactive visualizations
Discussion praised the article's interactive animations and D3.js visualizations that help explain storage latency concepts, with the author noting it took 200+ hours to create the complex visuals.SQLite with NVMe
Debate about using SQLite with NVMe storage for better latency vs traditional client-server databases, with focus on single-writer limitations and whether the latency benefits outweigh scaling challenges.Local vs network storage
Discussion of tradeoffs between local NVMe storage and network-attached storage in cloud environments, covering reliability, maintenance, IOPS limits and replication challenges.
6Ex-Facebook director's new book paints brutal image of Mark Zuckerberg
Facebook's lack of idealism
Discussion centers on Facebook never being idealistic, with examples of early questionable practices like real name policy enforcement, contact scraping, and treatment of 3rd party developers. Many note Zuckerberg's ruthless approach from the start.Meta's response to criticism
Discussion about Meta's attempts to suppress the book and claims about fact-checking, seen as hypocritical given Facebook's own issues with content moderation and fact-checking policies.Toxic work culture
Debate about extreme work expectations at Meta, particularly regarding an employee sending talking points while in labor. Discussion splits between blaming leadership versus individual responsibility.
7TinyKVM: Fast sandbox that runs on top of Varnish
Performance and capabilities
Discussion of TinyKVM's near-native speed (99.7%), ability to run static code without file/network access, and advantages over WebAssembly for specialized CPU instructions, particularly for cryptography and ML workloads.Memory management
Focus on TinyKVM's efficient memory handling through copy-on-write sharing, instant state resets, and implications for running memory-intensive applications like LLMs, where 6GB weights required only 260MB working memory per instance.System architecture
Exploration of how TinyKVM operates with its tiny kernel, handling of system calls, and comparisons to other technologies like Firecracker, gVisor, and containers, with debate around I/O limitations and use cases.
8The Church FAQ
- The author bought a former Methodist church building in Bradford, Ohio for $75,000, renovating it extensively over two years. The building now serves as office space for their company, Scalzi Enterprises, includes a library in the balcony area, and hosts community events and family gatherings, though it's not available for commercial rentals.
John Scalzi recognition
Users recognize author John Scalzi and discuss his sci-fi works, particularly "Old Man's War". Discussion reveals he's still active, writing new books, and present on social media platforms like Bluesky and Mastodon.Church building details
Discussion of the building's features, including its humorous sign messages, $75k price, beautiful architecture with stained glass, and ongoing renovation plans. Comparisons made to other repurposed churches.Cult references
Humorous speculation about the potential for cult formation, sparked by Scalzi's mentions of organ restoration and basement gatherings, despite his explicit statement against starting one.
9I-cant-believe-its-not-webusb: Hacking around lack of WebUSB support in Firefox
- A Raspberry Pi Pico can be programmed to bypass WebUSB restrictions by emulating a U2F security key, allowing web pages to interact with USB devices without user consent. This technique exploits the key handle functionality of U2F to transmit arbitrary data between the device and web browser.
Privacy and security concerns
Debate over WebUSB's security risks, with Mozilla/Apple rejecting it due to device vulnerabilities, fingerprinting risks, and user consent issues. Some argue these concerns are overblown while others see them as critical browser security issues.Developer experience
Discussion of WebUSB's convenience for developers vs native apps, especially for device configuration and firmware updates. Some praise its ease of use while others worry about web dependency and prefer offline tools.User permission models
Debate over how to implement secure user consent for hardware access, with suggestions ranging from strict installation requirements like Apple's approach to more complex permission dialogs similar to IE's trusted sites.
10Meta is trying to stop a former employee from promoting her book about Facebook
- Former Meta policy executive Sarah Wynn-Williams' tell-all book faces legal challenge as arbitrator sides with Meta, ordering halt to book sales and promotion. The memoir reveals details about Facebook's China plans and leadership, but Meta disputes its accuracy and claims it violates a non-disparagement agreement.
Book quality concerns
Discussion about whether the book is substantive or just gossipy, with some defending its value as a primary source while others express skepticism about tell-all books that only have a few newsworthy revelations.Streisand effect
Meta's attempts to block the book's promotion are backfiring, driving more interest and purchases. Many users expressing intent to buy specifically because Meta wants to suppress it.Meta's whistleblower pattern
Discussion of multiple former Meta employees who have spoken out against the company, suggesting a pattern of internal issues and subsequent attempts to silence critics.