Microsoft subtracts C/C++ extension from VS Code forks (theregister.com | comments) Microsoft has removed the C/C++ language extension from forks of Visual Studio Code, impacting developers using alternatives such as Cursor and Codium. This decision restricts access to the extension, which has raised concerns from the developer community about compatibility and support for C/C++ projects.

• And this is why I'm using Zed today. I'm deadly serious. I was a huge proponent of VSCode at first but I've soured on it, and now I don't want my workflow to depend on it in any way. Awesome software, but I don't trust the upstream org further than I must.

OpenVSX, which VSCode forks rely on for extensions, down for 24 hours (open-vsx.org | comments) OpenVSX, a vendor-neutral extension marketplace for Visual Studio Code (VSCode) and its forks, experienced an outage lasting 24 hours. This incident impacts users who rely on OpenVSX for downloading and managing extensions, highlighting potential risks associated with centralized software ecosystems.

• This is why I've been learning neovim for the past couple weeks - the vscode reliance on Remote SSH extension felt like lock in
• I'm sure some (many?) will disagree with me but: VSCode is Android. Or rather, VSCode's source is AOSP and the marketplace, plugins, etc are Google Play Services. I say that with maximum derision.

I wrote to the address in the GPLv2 license notice (2022) (mendhak.com | comments) A developer reached out to the contact listed in the GPLv2 license notice, expecting a response in relation to the license. Instead, they received a GPLv3 license, highlighting an unexpected update in licensing status that may affect users of the original software.

• > Writing the address on the envelope was awkward, as I haven’t used a pen in several years; it took a few attempts and some wasted envelopes... Wow -- I mean, sure, I don't use a pen that often, but I'm sure I hand-write something at least once a month...

I Tried to Buy an Actual Barrel of Crude Oil (2015) (bloomberg.com | comments) Tracy Alloway details her attempt to purchase a physical barrel of crude oil, exploring the complexities and absurdities of trading commodities in modern markets. The narrative offers an amusing glimpse into the logistics and unexpected challenges faced in the commodities industry, revealing how such a simple request spiraled into a series of complications.

• This is right up there with the futures trader who accidentally ordered a barge full of coal delivered to his manhattan office.
• I want to buy pork bellies and frozen concentrated orange juice.
• She’s an entertaining writer & co anchors a podcast called Odd Lots, for those unaware. Entertaining and informative on various niches of money & markets.

Tarpit ideas: What are tarpit ideas and how to avoid them (2023) [video] (ycombinator.com | comments) Dalton Caldwell and Michael Seibel delve into the concept of 'tarpit ideas'—startup ideas that can bog founders down and hinder progress. They provide insights on identifying and avoiding such ideas to foster successful entrepreneurial ventures.

• Why do I feel like YC videos are targeted at really slow people? The combination of discussion in slowmotion and exaggerated gestures reminds me of elementary school. I’m sure there are valuable ideas in there, but I just don’t have the patience to watch.

You Can Be a Great Designer and Be Completely Unknown (chrbutler.com | comments) Christopher Butler argues that true design greatness often goes unrecognized in today's attention-dominated culture. He reflects on the nature of exceptional design, suggesting that visibility does not equate to quality. Many effective designs remain unnoticed as they serve human needs without seeking fame. He emphasizes valuing integrity over recognition.

• This is well written. It also seems to describe society at large, especially our current society. So many things work so well, they become invisible. After time, people dont even realize how much is working behind the scenes to make everything work well and they assume we dont need those things.

On loyalty to Your Employer (talentstuff.com | comments) The piece emphasizes that while employers provide salaries, they are not families or friends, highlighting the importance of professionalism over personal attachment in workplace relationships. It underscores that employees should prioritize their job responsibilities, as employers can replace staff quickly when necessary.

• I write from a new grad perspective, but as said, put your well-being and the well-being of those you care about above all. Meanwhile don't beat yourself up if you are young (bonus if you just relocated for work) and spent too much time at work or feel "loyal" to your employer. Wind down, of course, but don't beat yourself up.

Cars and Key Fobs: Attacks on Car Remotes (stanford.edu | comments) Key fobs represent modern convenience in car access, employing Remote Keyless Systems (RKS) to allow users to unlock and start cars without physical keys. However, security vulnerabilities exist, enabling attackers to exploit rolling key protocols and perform replay attacks. Several methods can manipulate these systems, revealing the potential risks tied to keyless technology.

• For the time being, I just store my keys in a little cast iron dutch oven, sitting on top of the fridge. It's extremely effective as a shield for the 125kHz LF wake-up signal, and I've been unable to elicit a response when they're in there, even with a relay setup that reliably wakes them up from several feet away otherwise.

Mark Zuckerberg Says Social Media Is Over (newyorker.com | comments) During his testimony at Meta's antitrust trial, CEO Mark Zuckerberg argued that the landscape of social media has changed since its inception. He highlighted the impact of regulatory changes and public perception on their evolution.

• I’ve noticed my kid (12) primarily uses group chats over social apps. Some of his chats have several dozen kids in them. It could be social media got so bad that the protocols became the best alternative. An old programmer like me sees a glimmer of hope in a sea of noise.

Daily driving a Linux phone, but why? (thefoggiest.dev | comments) This post reflects on the author's experience using a Linux phone, specifically the PinePhone Pro, emphasizing that the choice is philosophical rather than functional. The author argues that using open-source devices can enhance privacy and security despite potential performance drawbacks, comparing it to outdated technology and reassessing lifestyle choices in a digital age.

• Anyone using PostmarketOS on a phone? And I mean as a daily driver, with no other phone. I have been following it for years and would like to switch someday, but that moment hasn't happened yet. Currently I use Sailfish from Jolla on a Sony phone. For a linux phone, it serves my needs. I would be open to change.

Show HN: I reverse engineered top websites to build an animated UI library (reverseui.com | comments) An innovative animated UI library has been reverse-engineered from leading websites, designed to seamlessly integrate trending animated components into projects. This library aims to simplify UI development, providing a collection of versatile animations for developers seeking to enhance user experience.

• Would love if the site had some more information about how the components are implemented, eg does it use tailwind so they're easily modifiable, is there a light mode and a dark mode for each, can you update the animations to fit your needs, etc. They look good though!

OpenAI releases image generation in the API (openai.com | comments) OpenAI provides image generation capabilities within its API, enabling developers to create and manipulate images programmatically. This enhancement allows for more dynamic content creation and opens the door for innovative applications across various industries.

• I generated 5 images in the playground. One using a text-only prompt and 4 using images from my phone. I spent $0.85 which isn't bad for a fun round of Studio Ghibli portraits for the family group chat, but too expensive to be used in a customer facing product.

Creating your own federated microblog (fedify.dev | comments) The tutorial provides a step-by-step guide for building a federated microblog utilizing the ActivityPub protocol, akin to established platforms like Mastodon and Misskey. It leverages Fedify, an ActivityPub server framework, to help developers create a decentralized blogging platform.

• This is really useful, thanks. I've recently been playing around selfhosting a small single user activitypub server to see how it works. I can't understate how satisfying it's been to wallow in compared to a static site or serverless setup. It unexpectedly tickled that special "oooh, a _system_" part of my brain, a lot.

A Tour Inside the IBM Z17 (ibm.com | comments) The IBM z17 is designed to tackle modern enterprise demands, providing enhanced security, performance, and scalability. It integrates advanced AI capabilities and features robust encryption, making it suitable for managing large-scale data while ensuring compliance and stability in mission-critical environments.

• I don't mean this in a condescending way at all, but really out of sheer curiosity: Who uses mainframes nowadays and what for? I find mainframes fascinating, but I'm so unfamiliar with them that I don't know what or why I'd ever use one for (as opposed to "traditional" hardware or cloud services).

Instant SQL for results as you type in DuckDB UI (motherduck.com | comments) MotherDuck introduces Instant SQL, a feature in preview that allows users to execute ad-hoc SQL queries and receive real-time results while typing. This tool aims to enhance user experience in the DuckDB Local User Interface by allowing for immediate interaction with SQL queries.

• I just watched the author of this feature and blog post give a talk at the DataCouncil conference in Oakland, and it is obvious what a huge amount of craft, ingenuity, and care went into building it. Congratulations to Hamilton and the MotherDuck team for an awesome launch!

AMD Publishes Open-Source Driver for GPU Virtualization, Radeon "In the Roadmap" (phoronix.com | comments) AMD has released an open-source driver aimed at supporting GPU virtualization, which allows enhanced management of multiple virtual environments using the same graphics processing unit. Additionally, insights into future Radeon development plans were shared, indicating a strategic roadmap for upcoming products.

• Anyone else find it funny that AMD releases new GPU features while people still can't get basic ML stuff working? It's like building a fancy garage before fixing the broken car.
• If AMD does deliver on client dGPU virtualization it would be amazing.
• That's pretty sick. Nice to see such things trickle down to consumer GPU's.

Scientists Develop Artificial Leaf, Uses Sunlight to Produce Valuable Chemicals (lbl.gov | comments) Researchers have engineered an artificial leaf using perovskite and copper that harnesses sunlight to generate valuable chemicals, emulating the natural photosynthesis process. This innovation aims to advance the field of renewable energy by creating a sustainable method for chemical production.

• So can I make a realistic plant mech mobile suit now?
• Something I'm curious to know: How does the efficiency of this new process compare to using regular solar panels to generate electricity and then using that electrical energy to synthesize the same chemicals?

One quantum transition makes light at 21 cm (bigthink.com | comments) A specific quantum transition produces light at a wavelength of 21 cm, recognized for its significance in astrophysics. This emission is crucial for studying the universe's structure and composition, enabling researchers to explore cosmic phenomena and map dark matter distribution across galaxies.

• Loved this article! I initially was confused by how this transition would work with the conservation of angular momentum (since the electron would be flipping from spin ±½ to the opposite one). But then remembered that photons are spin 1 particles, so the math works out. Neat.

Three Fundamental Flaws of SIMD ISAs (2023) (bitsnbites.eu | comments) Single Instruction, Multiple Data (SIMD) Instruction Set Architectures (ISAs) face three significant flaws that undermine their efficiency and effectiveness, particularly in modern computing environments that demand high parallelism. The article evaluates these weaknesses, suggesting potential areas for improvement in future ISAs.

• The three “flaws” that this post lists are exactly what the industry has been moving away from for the last decade. Arm’s SVE, and RISC-V’s vector extension are all vector-length-agnostic. RISC-V’s implementation is particularly nice, you only have to compile for one code path (unlike avx with the need for fat-binary else/if trees).