Published: 2025-03-15 | Origin: /r/programming

The author recounts taking down two production servers over the past week due to issues stemming from old, unsupported software, despite prior testing of code changes. They highlight that technologies like Rails 6.x, Ubuntu 18.04, and PostgreSQL 13 are outdated, reflecting on how quickly software can become obsolete. The author emphasizes that the real challenges in software engineering lie not in building applications or learning languages, but in naming things, navigating interpersonal dynamics, ensuring clear communication between systems, and dealing with

Published: 2025-03-14 | Origin: /r/programming

The author reports ongoing steady progress in their project, with notable developments shared since mid-February, including 313 commits totaling 1653. They are focusing on completing individual source files, which minimizes context switching and highlights quirky behaviors influenced by the original engineers of the components. One specific observation involves the peculiar way Microsoft Visual C++ generates code for while loops, converting them into a combination of if and do...while statements. This revelation came while analyzing the code for `dcmemcard.cpp`, particularly

Published: 2025-03-14 | Origin: /r/ruby

The content appears to be a corrupted or improperly formatted text file, likely containing binary data or non-readable characters. It includes a mix of characters, symbols, and encodings that do not form coherent sentences or meaningful phrases. As a result, it is difficult to summarize or extract any relevant information from this content.

Published: 2025-03-14 | Origin: /r/ruby

The article by Adam McCrea, originally published on Sidekiq's Wiki, discusses the scalability of Sidekiq, a background job processing tool. It emphasizes that while scaling can be as simple as adding more servers, proper optimization and server sizing are crucial for efficiency. McCrea outlines key architectural components of Sidekiq and introduces essential terms related to its operation. He provides recommendations for new applications, suggesting that limiting the number of queues (preferably two or three) can simplify scaling

Published: 2025-03-14 | Origin: /r/ruby

The blog discusses performance optimizations for generating JSON in Ruby, specifically focusing on the json gem. Notably, @byroot's blog series highlights that a significant amount of time in JSON generation is spent in the `convert_UTF8_to_JSON()` function, which converts Ruby Strings to JSON Strings. A lookup table method introduced by @byroot has been implemented in the gem, but further attempts have been made to optimize this process using SIMD instructions, despite the complexities and portability issues involved. The post compares

Published: 2025-03-14 | Origin: Hacker News

The author is working on a font characterized by reversed letterforms set against a vertically striped background, drawing inspiration from Schaefer Versalien and modifying elements from their stencil font, Arugula. The focus is on the technical aspects of kerning, particularly between the letters L and T. Traditional kerning methods, like using GPOS lookups, are ineffective due to the nature of the font's design, where overlapping black parts lead to undesirable visual effects. Instead, the author proposes using GSUB

Published: 2025-03-14 | Origin: /r/programming

The content discusses bflat, a tool that combines C# with Go-inspired technology to create small, self-contained, native executables. It integrates the Roslyn C# compiler and NativeAOT (formerly CoreRT) for high-performance ahead-of-time compilation. bflat allows for the generation of both native executables and shared libraries, supporting various operating systems and architectures, with future support for musl-based Linux planned. Users can download specific compiler versions based on their host system and integrate them easily into

Published: 2025-03-14 | Origin: Hacker News

The author of Tinyhack.com shares their experience of helping a company recover data from a variant of Akira ransomware without paying the ransom. They provide detailed insights, including the full source code for their solution, available on GitHub. The specific variant dealt with is from late 2023, while earlier versions had vulnerabilities that were patched after a decryptor was created. The author typically avoids ransomware cases but felt this situation was solvable upon an initial assessment. They mention that brute-forcing based on file

Published: 2025-03-14 | Origin: /r/ruby

The content discusses the new Rails 7 method `invert_where`, which inverts all conditions in ActiveRecord queries, allowing users to easily fetch data that doesn't meet certain criteria. However, it comes with some caveats, particularly concerning default scopes, which can lead to unintended results if not handled carefully. Users are advised to consider the following best practices: 1. **Use Explicit Conditions**: Prefer `where.not` for better clarity and control over queries. 2. **Isolate Inversions**:

Published: 2025-03-14 | Origin: /r/ruby

Remote Code Execution (RCE) is a highly severe security vulnerability that allows attackers to gain unauthorized access to a web server, likened to having SSH access. One common type of RCE is command injection, where user input is passed directly to the server's shell, enabling the execution of arbitrary commands. This vulnerability is critical and should be addressed immediately during penetration testing, as bots actively search for exploitable servers online. To prevent command injection in Ruby on Rails, developers should be cautious when using certain

Published: 2025-03-14 | Origin: /r/programming

The project described involves creating an application inspired by the nostalgic experience of identifying interesting number sequences, reminiscent of early internet culture on image boards like 4chan. The creator expresses excitement about tackling coding challenges while building a two-factor authentication (2FA) app that alerts users when "cool" 6-digit authentication codes appear. This app is designed to add some fun to the mundane task of re-authenticating with various services. To promote the app and their subscription service, the creator offers a limited-time

Published: 2025-03-14 | Origin: /r/programming

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Published: 2025-03-14 | Origin: Hacker News

A Canadian woman attempting to enter the United States from Mexico for TN-1 status has been detained for 10 days while awaiting deportation. This situation raises concerns about the risks associated with traveling from Canada to the U.S. via Mexico, and whether it's safer to fly directly from Canada using TSA preclearance to avoid potential denials of entry. The Canadian authorities reportedly denied her entry due to concerns about possible illegal work. A commenter expresses frustration with border patrol agents, sharing their own experience with

Published: 2025-03-14 | Origin: Hacker News

Briar is a secure messaging app tailored for activists and journalists, facilitating safe communication without relying on central servers. It allows for direct synchronization between users' devices via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or memory cards, making it functional even during internet outages. When the internet is available, it uses the Tor network for added privacy. Briar also features Briar Mailbox for sending messages to offline users securely. The app focuses on preventing surveillance and censorship through encrypted connections, providing private messaging, public forums, and

Published: 2025-03-14 | Origin: Hacker News

Apple and Google are set to enhance messaging security with the upcoming addition of end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) RCS messages for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS. This update comes from new RCS specifications announced by the GSM Association, which include E2EE based on the Messaging Layer Security (MLS) protocol. This marks the first time interoperable encryption will be available across different platforms. Apple has been collaborating with mobile operators and tech providers to implement this feature

Published: 2025-03-14 | Origin: Hacker News

In the episode of "Signals and Threads," host Ron Minsky engages in discussions with engineers and researchers at Jane Street, exploring various technical topics such as clock synchronization, reliable multicast, and reconfigurable hardware. He speaks with In Young Cho, who initially aimed to become a doctor but found her way into a trading role at Jane Street, where she now leads machine learning efforts. They discuss the integration of trading, research, and software engineering, highlighting the distinct skills needed and how they often overlap in

Published: 2025-03-14 | Origin: /r/programming

Firmware encryption is increasingly common in modern devices, primarily driven by new regulations like the EU's Radio Equipment Directive and manufacturers' efforts to protect their devices from competitors and attackers. While encryption enhances security, it complicates the tasks of reverse engineers and security testers, as dumping firmware becomes more challenging. Cryptography is complex, and it’s advised against creating custom encryption algorithms. Fortunately, there are reliable libraries available for implementing cryptographic algorithms, but correct usage of these tools is crucial. In practice, when

Published: 2025-03-14 | Origin: /r/programming

The blog post by Benjamin Dicken, dated March 13, 2025, explores the significance of non-volatile storage in modern computing, discussing its role in preserving essential data, such as photos and medical records. Non-volatile storage retains data without needing continuous power, unlike volatile storage types like CPU registers and RAM. The article celebrates the launch of PlanetScale Metal, a product that utilizes locally attached NVMe drives for enhanced database performance, offering faster queries, lower latency, and unlimited IOPS compared

Published: 2025-03-14 | Origin: Hacker News

Hyperion is the tallest known living tree in the world, a coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) located in California, measuring 116.07 meters (380.8 feet) tall as of 2019. Discovered on August 25, 2006, by naturalists Chris Atkins and Michael Taylor, its height was first recorded at 115.55 meters (379.1 feet) by Stephen Sillett later that year. Hyperion is situated in a remote

Published: 2025-03-14 | Origin: /r/programming

The discussion focuses on the concepts of authentication (AuthN) and authorization (AuthZ), along with protocols like OpenID Connect (OIDC) and OAuth. Authentication is presented as the process of verifying identity, illustrated by showing a school ID to enter a school. Examples include logging in with a username/password or using biometrics. Authorization, on the other hand, is about determining what actions a user can perform, such as accessing specific areas like a science lab based on user roles (e.g.,