TL;DR summary of stories on the internet
SnowflakeOS is a user-friendly Linux distribution based on NixOS, perfect for beginners. It promises simplicity, immutability, and reproducibility in its design. However, it is important to note that SnowflakeOS is still in development and not suitable for daily use yet. Potential users should keep an eye on its progress and updates to experience its full […]
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In this intriguing article, the author explores how the genome encodes the form of an organism. Unlike simplistic metaphors like a blueprint or program, the author suggests a new analogy inspired by machine learning and neuroscience: that the genome encodes a generative model of the organism. This model consists of latent variables that specify the […]
Drylands across the globe, from Australia’s southeast to the deserts of northern China, are defying expectations of desertification by becoming greener due to increased CO2 levels. Scientists warn that while this unexpected vegetation growth is a result of more efficient photosynthesis, it may also deplete scarce water resources and negatively impact desert ecosystems. Despite increased […]
Amazon’s renowned Leadership Principles are more than just guidelines; they are a total way of life at the company. The clash between employees and the CEO over a return-to-work mandate unveils a potential crisis in the Amazon Way, an integral part of the $2 trillion company. The principles are evolving and giving rise to controversy […]
I recently started a podcast called Complex Systems with Patrick McKenzie, covering topics like trading and the tech industry. A recent incident knocked out banking operations worldwide, affecting large U.S. banks. The issue was caused by a configuration bug in endpoint monitoring software called CrowdStrike Falcon, highlighting vulnerabilities in security tools. The incident had a […]
The author shares a story of experimenting to call Rust code from Go for high-performance cryptographic functions. The blog post documents the author’s journey and challenges faced in replacing assembly code with Rust. The post highlights the complexities of writing and reviewing assembly code and explores the potential of using Rust as a higher-level language. […]
William Woodruff, in partnership with the Homebrew maintainers, conducted an audit of Homebrew and its related repositories last summer. The audit revealed non-critical issues that could allow attackers to load executable code and compromise the integrity of Homebrew. The audit, sponsored by Open Tech Fund, aimed to secure internet infrastructure. Homebrew, a package manager for […]
Docker-OSX allows users to run Mac OS X in Docker with nearly native performance, featuring X11 Forwarding, iMessage security research, and iPhone USB functionality. Users can conduct security research on macOS using Linux and Windows. The project is maintained by Sick.Codes and offers different versions for various macOS releases, including Catalina, Big Sur, and Monterey. […]
This content dives into the implementation of a garbage collector for the Lox language VM, focusing on mark-and-sweep algorithms and differences between Rust and Lox semantics. The author shares experiences and challenges faced while trying to reconcile these differences, offering two approaches for implementing a GC without using unsafe. The first method explores traditional reference […]
A stunning floor mosaic from an ancient Roman villa near Naples, Italy has been unearthed underwater, dating back to the third century C.E. The villa was located in Baiae, known as the Las Vegas of ancient Rome, where indulgence and debauchery were rampant. The mosaic, made of colorful marble in the opus sectile style, shows […]