MurphyA/hacker-news huggingface dataset:
by WorldMaker | 2025-06-25 18:47:14+00:00
PowerShell lends itself really well to writing cross-platform shell scripts that run the same everywhere you can boot up PowerShell 7+. It's origins in .NET scripting mean that some higher-level idioms were already common in PowerShell script writing even before cross-platform existed, for instance using `$pathINeed = Join-Path $basePath ../sub-folder-name` will handle path separators smartly rather than just trying to string math it.

It's object-oriented approach is nice to work with and provides some nice tools that contrast well with the Unix "everything is text" tooling approach. Anything with a JSON output, for instance, is really lovely to work with `ConvertFrom-Json` as PowerShell objects. (Similar to what you can do with `jq`, but "shell native".) Similarly with `ConvertTo-Json` for anything that takes JSON input, you can build complex PowerShell object structures and then easily pass them as JSON. (I also sometimes use `ConvertTo-Json` for REPL debugging.)

It's also nice that shell script parameter/argument parsing is standardized in PowerShell. I think it makes it easier to start new scripts from scratch. There's a lot of bashisms you can copy and paste to start a bash script, but PowerShell gives you a lot of power out of the box including auto-shorthands and basic usage documentation "for free" with its built-in parameter binding support.
by serial_dev | 2025-06-25 18:47:28+00:00
Sure!

What I mean is that before that, I just thought it’s simply too hard for me and the others are smarter or they come from better school. Then, after going through practically 3-5 books for each topic, practically “drilling” exercises, I finally understood why the others “just get it”. It was hard to get myself to sit down, focus, work, practice… but once I worked on a topic for long enough and got better, I realized it’s not magic, I don’t need special talents, and I can just sit down and study most things.

Then, the classes and exams didn’t give me anxiety anymore, I started to enjoy them, treat exams as challenges rather then the step before receiving another failed exam notification…

I studied Physics but switched to software engineering and this experience helped me add another tool to my toolbelt when something gets difficult.

Some perseverance, some time, and we can learn many things. And as you get better, you start to enjoy things.
by krackers | 2025-06-25 18:47:35+00:00
There's several ways to arrive at the same bound besides the explicit birthday paradox calculation:

* nC2 pairs of objects, each of which has a 1/k chance of matching. Since expectation is linear and it's also known that E[x] = p(x>=1) + p(x>=2) + ..., we have that p(x>=1) = E[x] - epsilon (since we can assume probability of two collisions and above is small) and so probability of collision is ~n^2 / 2k.

* Alternatively you can use union bound to see that probability of at least one match is bounded-above by sum of probabilities of any single event, so is <= n^2 / 2k, with goodness of approximation given by fact that probability of multiple events occurring simultaneously is low.

(The two are effectively the same proof, as indicator random variables can be used to show P(union of indicators) <= E[X], which is effectively a special case of markov inequality)
by npteljes | 2025-06-25 18:47:40+00:00
I have the same experience - but with gif. Mind you, me and my circle are not native English speakers.

The debate itself is old. "Since the 90s" Wikipedia says, and keep in mind the format was is from 1987 - so I would say the debate is on from the get-go. Appropriate, too, if you think back, arguing about this kind of stuff was pretty common. Emacs vs vim, browser wars, different kinds of computers, tribalism everywhere.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pronunciation_of_GIF
by KineticLensman | 2025-06-25 18:47:56+00:00
But getting to the sun in the first place (from Earth) is a massive hassle as you have to lose the Earth's significant orbital speed to 'fall' inward [0]. Perhaps better just to use that fuel to head out. Operating a solar sail really close to the sun would also be challenging because of the massive heat.

[0] https://www.nasa.gov/solar-system/its-surprisingly-hard-to-g...
by mattzito | 2025-06-25 18:48:12+00:00
That's because it's a bit of a nesting doll situation. As you can see here:

https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli/tree/main

If you scroll to the bottom, it says that the terms of service are governed based on the mechanism by which you access Gemini. If you access via code assist (which the OP posted), you abide by those privacy terms of code assist, one of the ways of which you access is VScode. If you access via the Gemini API, then those terms apply.

So the gemini CLI (as I understand it) doesn't have their own privacy terms, because it's an open source shell on top of another Gemini system, which could have one of a few different privacy policies based on how you choose to use it and your account settings.

(Note: I work for google, but not on this, this is just my plain reading of the documentation)
by trhway | 2025-06-25 18:48:59+00:00
Our civilization has been driven by expansion. Without it we'd probably collapse into a neurally-connected well-organized ant colony without need for further technological/social/economic progress (which would naturally select/cull out corresponding features in our brain). And, i'd guess that is possible one of the forms of the Great Filter stopping many civilizations.

At 53 and good health, i'm contemplating that my end in 30-40 years would be me buying a one way to Mars and just exiting the habitat out without suit after enjoying a dinner with a Martian sunset view, breaking, even in such a small way, the chains of "We come from the earth, we return to the earth" :)
by programmertote | 2025-06-25 18:49:06+00:00
I've been using Windows since 95, and I dislike the fact that Windows nowadays hide a lot of options in context menu. That means I almost always have to click on 'Show more options' to do what I need. Also, Windows Explorer is laggier and it feels like they just slapped a web-page like UI on top of an existing (legacy) code base. I feel like Microsoft hired a bunch of UX/UI designers who never properly learned the principles of UI and try to do the right (logical) thing for the users.

With people talking about ads and such, I'm reluctant to get a new computer with Windows 11.
by ericmay | 2025-06-25 18:49:11+00:00
> 1. What if someone bought a coffee?

Why would you kick out a paying customer? If they're being disruptive though it doesn't matter if they bought a coffee. Businesses can deny services and request that you leave the premises. There is very little potential for litigation for discrimination.

> 2. Minimum wage employees shouldn't have to play the role of enforcers. A mentally-ill/drug-addled person can snap and cause a dangerous scene. Getting the cops involved is possible, but time-consuming and a pain.

That's just life. There's no other answer here. You deal with uncomfortable situations and that's all there is to it.

> It's America-centric because we don't have a social safety net for people. In the UK, for example, the NHS has avenues for people to get treated. The homeless you do run into tend to pose a much lower risk, anecdotally.

It would be nice if you knew more about the social services that we do offer people in the United States before claiming something like this. Turn off the news and social media and do your own research instead.

Now that isn't to say (and I honestly don't know one way or the other) that social services in the United States couldn't be better, but that's tangential to the conversation in my opinion.

> We do have coffee shops, but as others have pointed out, many are getting rid of seating. I think a membership route is the only way to enforce something more exclusive.

I emphatically say fuck that. I will go to a coffee shop, buy coffee, sit down and enjoy the coffee, preferably with some friends, and if someone wants to come in and be belligerent and threatening then we'll call the cops or participate in physically kicking them out if the employees can't handle it. I will not live in a world where others are going to disrupt normal everyday experiences and ruin everyone else's lives just because they're assholes or drugged out. Nope. Not me and not the town where I live.
by bastard_op | 2025-06-25 18:49:15+00:00
I usually feel with chatgpt picking a model is like "Which of the three stooges would you like to talk to, curly, larry, or moe (or worse, curly joe)?" I usually only end up using o3 because gpt-40 is just that bad, so why would I ever want to talk to a lesser stooge?

If paying by API use it probably makes more sense to talk to a lesser stooge where possible, but for a standard pro plan I just find the lesser models aren't worth the time to use in frustration they cause.
by benatkin | 2025-06-25 18:49:23+00:00
The comment you're replying to still holds.

> the USA is the place that i would expect to have the most malls

It's just that a lot of the malls have been augmented or replaced by strip malls. They have the same kinds of stores and they are still close enough to each other that it's convenient. Many have security, though it's more for the property than it is for the employees or guests, and there are large ones all over the place. You can go to Target and get a $14 can opener that you were hoping to pay $5 for but they made sure not to carry any cheap can openers, and notice there's a cell phone store nearby and go and get locked into a contract where you pay more than double. Don't forget to get some boring, expensive, and unhealthy food on the way out.
by jjice | 2025-06-25 18:50:47+00:00
It also gets really down on itself, which is pretty funny (and a little scary). Aside from the number of people who've posted online about it wanting to uninstall itself after being filled with shame, I had it get confused on some Node module resolution stuff yesterday and it told me it was deeply sorry for wasting my time and that I didn't deserve to have such a useless assistant.

Out of curiosity, I told it that I was proud of it for trying and it had a burst of energy again and tried a few more (failing) solution, before going back to it's shameful state.

Then I just took care of the issue myself.
by VINTORA | 2025-06-25 18:51:42+00:00
Hello!

VINTORA is a professional tool designed to automate the process of managing firmware updates across server networks. System administrators and IT teams often waste valuable time manually handling BIOS updates, downloading firmware from multiple vendor websites, and running complicated update procedures. VINTORA simplifies this entire process by centralizing firmware management into a single application.

The platform automatically scans the network, detects servers, identifies their vendor models, and reports current BIOS and BMC firmware versions. VINTORA currently supports Dell iDRAC, HP iLO, and Supermicro IPMI based hardware, with plans to expand vendor support as development progresses. All detected servers are displayed in a clean, organized dashboard, showing their current firmware status and allowing administrators to easily take action where needed.

VINTORA allows updates to be applied directly from local firmware files or pre-downloaded vendor packages. This eliminates much of the manual downloading, matching, and flashing typically required during firmware maintenance. Detailed logs are provided for every update operation, allowing teams full visibility and traceability over update activities.

The tool is built for sysadmins, DevOps teams, IT departments, managed service providers, and data centers that need a more efficient way to keep server hardware updated and secure. VINTORA removes the risk of missing updates or handling complex vendor-specific tools manually.

I created VINTORA after seeing how tedious and fragmented firmware management can be when working with enterprise hardware at scale. The goal is to provide a reliable, simple, and professional solution that handles the hard parts of firmware maintenance automatically.

Right now, I am actively developing the web-based dashboard, vendor plugin system, detailed reporting, offline update packs, and portable USB version for field technicians or air-gapped environments. I am looking for early feedback, beta testers, and anyone interested in helping shape the direction of the platform.

If your team still handles firmware updates manually and you want a better way to manage hardware across your network, I’d love to hear from you.

I have created a test account for people to use as the app has different levels with different levels of Features. Please message me for a link to the app as well as the account details. Thank you!

Please note that windows defender might flag the program at the moment.
by api | 2025-06-25 18:51:52+00:00
I wish LM Studio had a pure daemon mode. It's better than ollama in a lot of ways but I'd rather be able to use BoltAI as the UI, as well as use it from Zed and VSCode and aider.

What I like about ollama is that it provides a self-hosted AI provider that can be used by a variety of things. LM Studio has that too, but you have to have the whole big chonky Electron UI running. Its UI is powerful but a lot less nice than e.g. BoltAI for casual use.
by matiasmolinas | 2025-06-25 18:52:24+00:00
We're researching what Microsoft's Mustafa Suleyman calls the shift from "AI" to "AIs" - moving beyond single models to collaborative agent ecosystems.

Current experiments: • LLMunix - Pure markdown operating system where Claude interprets markdown documents as functional OS components. Everything is either an agent or tool defined in markdown specs. • EAX Router - Intelligent LLM routing that automatically selects optimal models based on task requirements. Implements the "right model for the right job" principle with cost/latency/quality optimization. • EAX Marketplace - Decentralized auction protocol where AI agents bid on tasks competitively. Creates natural specialization and discovery mechanisms - the "AI council meetings" Suleyman envisions. • SAL-CP - Self-aware communication protocol enabling rich context sharing between agents. Agents communicate not just what they're doing, but how they're thinking and what they need from collaborators. • Framework Core - Foundational tools for building adaptive agent systems with memory-driven learning and behavioral constraints. • Agent Examples - Practical implementations showcasing multi-agent coordination patterns and real-world applications. Research focus: Moving from hardcoded agent chains to dynamic, market-based coordination. Our hypothesis: competitive and collaborative agent ecosystems will be more resilient, efficient, and adaptive than current rigid architectures. All experiments are permanently alpha status - we're focused on exploring concepts and generating research insights rather than production deployment. Apache 2.0 licensed. Looking for researchers interested in multi-agent coordination, LLM routing strategies, auction mechanisms, or markdown-based system architectures. What coordination patterns do you think will emerge as AI becomes truly collaborative?
by knuckleheadsmif | 2025-06-25 18:52:31+00:00
The desktop metaphor absolutely was in the Xerox Star and that was copied by the Lisa team (and carried over to the Mac) after they viewed it when Star was first announce. That’s well documented. The Star also had limited pull down menus mostly a single menu item on the top right of every window that was hamburger-like in design that had items in it.

The Xerox Development Environment (TAJO/XDE) was more windows like where windows were processes and shrunk down to the bottom of the screen when closed. Star was developed using Tajo but are completely separate systems with very different user interfaces. For example Tajo used cut/copy/paste and any window could be set overlapping where as Star use a MOVE, COPY where use selected the object pressed the verb action button, and then selected the destination (use that was modal!). Also Star choose to have non-overlapping tiled windows (except for modal dialogues & style sheets.) The windowing was changed in later versions to allow any window to overlap.

What’s even more confusing is that Xerox had lots of systems including smalltalk, interlisp, star, Cedar & Tajo at the time Lisa was released. They also had lots or prototypes systems including Rooms and the Alto for that matter.

Apple absolutely also did their own research and design that was unique. And in cases the duplicated earlier research but came to a different conclusion (for example the number of buttons on a mouse.)

I think Apple did more with direct manipulation than others did taking it to more extremes — but you can still see that in other earlier systems.
by nemothekid | 2025-06-25 18:52:33+00:00
One of the headaches of system design in this area is how do you deal with backups. Lets say you do regular backups to s3, glacier, tape, stone tablets.

When you tell your customer "we have deleted all your data", are you loading all your backups and scrubbing their data from there as well? Probably not as it would probably be too expensive, and depending on your size, your backups may cease to be backups as users request for data deletion daily.

Ok, then you might say when you restore backups, you reference all the data to a master "deletion" list and before a backup is restored then you reference that deletion list. Still though you are dependent on the company promising to reference the deletion list. When someone "really really" needs data from a week ago and gets a one off backup, it has deleted customer data in it.

Next, my idea was you encrypt all user data with a user specific key, and when the customer requests to delete that, you just delete the key. Perfect. Up until it's time to backup the encryption keys database and you are back at square one. I understand this solution is probably 95% of the way there but if anyone knows any designs which, when implemented, are fairly foolproof and don't require your customers to be "smart" (e.g. have them hold the encryption key).
by awongh | 2025-06-25 18:52:49+00:00
Are there any real proposals that deal with this issue for a vehicle that would carry humans and go fast? Something that's not "energy shields".

Edit to add: we basically understand the physics of accelerating something to a high speed, what it would need to be made from, etc., afaik all within the realm of possibility- if we could gather and direct that much energy and then wait long enough to decelerate at the other end.

It seems like the questions that are completely unaswered are: keeping people alive and healthy for that long, and how the ship could survive if it hit something.
Show HN: Simple screen recorder (100% client-side, in-browser)
by rikroots | 2025-06-25 18:52:52+00:00
Hi HN,

I built this tool because I often needed to record my screen to report bugs or explain issues — but I didn’t want to install anything, sign up, or share my data with some third-party service.

So I made a lightweight screen recorder that runs 100% in the browser. No installs, no sign-ins, no analytics — just open the page and start recording. Videos are saved locally to your device.

Key features: - Capture multiple screen areas and arrange them on a canvas - Add a picture-in-picture “talking head” overlay - Record in landscape, square, or portrait formats - Customize the background with a color or image - Download the video directly as MP4 or WebM

It’s built with plain JS/HTML/CSS and uses no frameworks. Open source and self-hostable. Try it here: https://kaliedarik.github.io/sc-screen-recorder/

It works best for bug reports, walkthroughs, async team updates, or quick video demos. Would love feedback, especially from folks who care about minimal, privacy-respecting tools.
Anyone else spend way too long finding the right focus music?
by samuraikmc | 2025-06-25 18:53:09+00:00
I've been getting increasingly frustrated finding good background music for work. Ads interrupting flow, spending forever choosing playlists, inconsistent audio quality, among many other smaller peeves.

Curious if others have similar issues, so I put together a quick survey about how people use music for focus and workouts: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScxfFY5_mueTHuZr2_hZqPcMWI6esjSY9Pk6U0Q4d_Ss4lKYg/viewform?usp=dialog

It should only take about 3 minutes and covers what platforms you use, your biggest frustrations, and what an ideal solution would look like.

Happy to share the results back with the community once I get enough responses!
by msgodel | 2025-06-25 18:53:30+00:00
Everything on the web is a robot, every client is an agent for someone somewhere, some are just more automated.

Distinguishing en mass seems like a waste to me. Deal with the actual problems like resource abuse.

I think part of the issue is that a lot of people are lying to themselves that they "love the public" when in reality they really don't and want nothing to do with them. They lack the introspection to untangle that though and express themselves with different technical solutions.
by kstrauser | 2025-06-25 18:53:41+00:00
Nearly everyone in the world throws out stuff someone else could gladly reuse. “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” is an old saying.

I’m not claiming I’d throw out a Windows 10 PC. I’d personally install Linux on it instead. But I can certainly imagine someone seeing nothing worth salvaging from a 10 year old PC and tossing it, and I can’t say they’re objectively wrong for doing it. Should they personally ship it to another country at some cost in fuel?

I think people are downvoting at your feigned incredulity at something not bizarrely “wrong” to a lot of people.
by PaulHoule | 2025-06-25 18:53:56+00:00
For free thinkers: https://archive.ph/TthE4

Great quote by the way:

Okay okay okay, fine, you are a private credit fund, you do not want to sell your loans to JPMorgan because that sets a bad precedent, I get it. But you are in the middle of the Pluralsight restructuring, you have already marked your loans down to 50, and JPMorgan lobs in an unsolicited bid to buy whatever you’ve got at 90? And you say no? Really? I would have been very tempted to call them back and say “hey guys, guess what, today is your lucky day.”

I can only hope that somebody at JPMC spit out their coffee this morning for getting called out. But really, there are two ways you get people to stop obnoxious behavior like their solicitation: (1) they lose money or (2) lose face.
by mattzito | 2025-06-25 18:54:06+00:00
I am very much not a lawyer, and while I work for Google, I do not work on this, and this is just my plain language reading of the docs.

When you look at the github repo for the gemini CLI:

https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli/tree/main

At the bottom it specifies that the terms of service are dependent on the underlying mechanism that the user chooses to use to fulfill the requests. You can use code assist, gemini API, or Vertex AI. My layperson's perspective is that it's positioned as a wrapper around another service, whose terms you already have accepted/enabled. I would imagine that is separate from the Gemini app, the settings for which you linked to.

Looking at my own settings, my searches on the gemini app appear, but none of my gemini API queries appear.
by runako | 2025-06-25 18:54:42+00:00
As a person who uses LLMs daily, I do in fact do this. Couple problems with this approach:

- there are billions of people who are not accustomed to using software this way, who are in the expected target market for this software. Most people cannot tell you the major version number of their mobile OS.

- this approach requires each individual to routinely perform experiments with the expanding firmament of models and versions. This is obviously user-hostile.

Anyway, my hot take here is that making things easier for users is better. I understand that is controversial on this site.