skysight-inc/HackerNews huggingface dataset:
Also, if you haven't heard from us with a yes/no by the end of the day on 3/27, please check your spam folder. Especially if you have a yahoo mail account.
Finally someone who understands what and how are tables used for (hint - not styling). Each element in HTML has its own semantic meaning, that is why I don't like using tables for presentation and styling instead of CSS.
I'm giving away my startup idea to a deserving Haxor
Hey all. I have been searching for a potential partner for my startup, but as of yet have had no luck. I have several ideas for products, but some are time sensitive. This one in particular is especially time-sensitive, so I am forced to give it away or just not see it come to fruition.

Hackers Help! Post your reason for getting the idea, and I will select the best one tomorrow morning. Thanks a lot. This is a great idea that I would hate to see die.
Is that where Ruby got this tendency from? I haven't used Ruby yet, but I see this style of development talked about in conjunction with Ruby.
what bothers me most about the PHP community is that it's taken for granted that you should have to do all that yourself from scratch every time.
I'm curious?
Meritocratic News:  Social news fueled by the submitters' puzzle solving ability.
Unfortunately - Google missed both.
I really think I have something here. I just want to make sure it gets in the right hands.
There's no voting here. Rather, the point score of a submission is equal to the submitter's Numbrosia Puzzle score from the last hour divided by the number of submissions made by that submitter.

Note that it makes sense to delete submissions when adding new ones so that the set of submissions associated with you is not too large (otherwise, the score of each may be too low).
I live in france and before uk this sort of shit makes me sick like they really have a fucking clue in politics as to how to develop and what to develop in tech, fuck me the politicians in the uk didnt get fucking email until about 2001
Thanks that's useful. Now why can't that be added to this page? I guess I am on Hacker News so I should just roll my own search engine for this.
"There are many kinds of "rich" beyond money. One of the most important is doing what you love every day. You don't have to "believe" anyone, but listen and go with your gut."

Thanks edw519,
I think this is going to be one of my primary concerns when I set out. If I have to work part time doing tech work to make ends, so be it - but under no circumstance do I want to be stuck doing something I loathe... I only have this one life (best I can tell anyways) and I will be danged if I am going to spend it unhappy :)

-Matt
So the Apple Design Process doesn't involve _external_ usability testing? I guess I kind of already knew that ... since they're so secretive and all...
Functional programming vs. "OO" programming (or, How to entirely miss the point)
Summed up:

...I can give my impressions of the funtional aspects of what I call free-floating functions.

What I mean by a free-floating function is a function that is not tied to a class. For example:

doSomething(thingToDo);

as opposed to

ThingDoer.doSomething(thingToDo);

The thing I've never liked about languages that allow free-floating functions is that they lead to sloppiness and confusion. Where does the magic non-name-spaced function exist? How can I access it? What do I need to import/include to get to it? What happens if there are different doSomething() funcions I want to use?
I find that a plain text file longer than about a dozen pages in a terminal window -- containing more than a handful of sections and subsections -- becomes a pain in the neck to efficiently navigate around (during both reading and writing). A non-technical person might be reading such a document using Notepad.

So, we're talking about a doc that's getting a little too cramped being just a plain text file, and which might grow longer as time goes by.
I want to remind everyone that ideas aren't necessarily worth anything by themselves unless you have a team or person to build and implement that idea properly. Most smart VCs won't even listen to your idea if they have to sign a NDA first.
oh and you know they blew 600 million on a computer system to tie the UK health department together, (bog standard shit) didnt even work at that silly price.
who doesn't love a great idea.
I would say that there are two important things to consider:

1. Understanding how a compiler works without getting bogged down by programming language details - This means that you should try and look at compilers written in Standard ML or Ocaml (my favorite), since that would be much easier to follow. For example -- a datatype can be much more succinctly expressed as
type any_value = Int | String | Float

rather than across 4 classes (as in the Java case).

2. Start small, and understand it in chunks. For these, a lot of web based resources are ideal. For example, to understand regular expressions, it would be nice if you were able to visualize them, and play around with them visually -

http://osteele.com/archives/2006/02/reanimator

I would also look at simple examples of interpreters, and build up from that, looking at examples of toy compilers:

http://min-caml.sourceforge.net/index-e.html

These will help, of course alongside a book like Appel's or the Dragon Book.
These real-world images come as a nice complement to two great Free programs, Celestia - http://www.shatters.net/celestia/ - and Stellarium - http://www.stellarium.org/
My point exactly. I don't have the necessary capabilities to produce this idea, so instead of watching it die, I am giving it away. Also, I expect to be flamed. People might criticize, but who cares. I would rather see it be persued than never happen.
Aha, but continuations are useful even without side effects. That's the beauty!

(let ((p (call/cc (lambda (k) (cons 1 k)))))
(print (car p))
(if (< (car p) 10)
((cdr p) (cons (+ 1 (car p)) (cdr p)))
'finished))

Can you understand what it does? No (set!) in sight!

Bonus:

(define (mark initial)
(call/cc (lambda (c)
(define (return value)
(c (cons value return)))
(cons initial return))))

(mark x) returns a pair of values. The car is x, the cdr is a (return) function. When you call (return y), the (mark x) call returns again, this time returning y instead of x. Here's an infinite loop example:

(let ((pair (mark 1)))
(let ((value (car pair)) (return (cdr pair))) ; unpack the pair
(print value)
(return (+ value 1)))) ; jump back to the (mark 1) call, this time returning value+1

Here's a Ruby implementation of mark:

def mark(initial)
callcc do |c|
ret = lambda{|value| c.call([value,ret])}
[initial, ret]
end
end

(I used ret instead of return because return is a Ruby keyword)

Example in Ruby:

value, ret = mark 1
puts value
ret.call(value + 1)
"There is high-level advice that provides some useful guidance to everyone. I get the impression this is the sort of advice he was reaching for first."

Bingo! ;)

Thanks, azanar
Corporate Debt (The Concise Encyclopedia of Economics)
That day came a long time ago for me, and yet I still feel like I have a long way to go. There's a big difference between having paying customers and having a steady stream of new customers.
Things Geeks Do For Spring Break
We used Appel's book in college, and it wasn't too bad (in the hands of decent professor, of course). Appel glosses over some subjects, but you really have to if you want to implement the base compiler in a single semester and still maybe have time to implement some of the more interesting features in the second half of the book.

About half our class didn't finish the base compiler. Fortunately for us, we were using the Java version of the text, so most of the students already knew the implementation language; I know a course at another school using the ML text, and none of them finished their compiler, because they had to learn the language at the same time as coding the compiler.

Here's an online book that covers interpretation of programming languages in Scheme (touching on functional language compilation in several places):

http://www.cs.brown.edu/~sk/Publications/Books/ProgLangs/200...
I think you should just release the idea here. I think releasing it to a single person is going to severely limit the chances of it becoming a real thing. If it's a good (or great) idea, multiple people might be interested in building something based on your idea.
I think that #4 - "Keep it simple" is such a key part of creating secure applications. I think that as software is modified and grows and expands and more people touch the source we add in complexity that often blows away the security of the software. We need to make sure that we consistently apply our security conscious programming skills throughout the entire project.
Have invitations already gone out?
The Coming Exodus
Thanks apathy,
I checked out Git a little while back. I definitely think that I need to learn more about both Git and SVN. From what little contact I have had with companies, SVN seems to be the most widely deployed for those on *nix platforms - that likely has something to do with the ~5yr jump that SVN has (?) though...

Thanks for the encouragement!

-Matt
Good idea. I'm a bit hesitant now because if the idea sucks I will look like an idiot. But hey, good idea!
Just release it already!!! Stop procrastinating :-) It's probably crap anyway :-) The longer the build-up, the harsher the come-down!
Respect for giving it away instead of letting it die.

Not many people would do that.
How To Analyze Data Using the Average
Ideas can be good, they can be bad. Any clues on your concept?

I'll shoot out this idea I had so it doesn't make you look like an idiot if you release it.

Take the onboard heads-up display technology from F-16 fighter jets/certain GM cars and integrate it onto the dashboard of a car with the digital radio and a lyric database - and voila - Drive-time Karaoke (bouncing ball optional) - Lawsuits (e.g. I" had to sing along to Since You've Been Gone, Officer") would stop a company from selling this but I wouldn't mind developing a workable prototype
Cringely: Blu-ray Blues--Apple holding off on Blu-ray in favor its own HD distribution?
Kottke.org is ten years old today
I am excited to criticize your idea to help you get off the 'one great idea' concept.

There are great ideas, but execution is how you get any leverage on them.
giving it away would be posting it... sans essay contest
Screwed by Sprint - Out of Contract Sprint T1 Corporate Customer Gouged on Local Loop Costs
I might be off base, but I read this thread as saying: "I have an idea that I think is worth a lot of money, but I don't have the [time|skills] to complete it myself. I want to find as few other people as possible to make the idea a reality so that I can profit while sharing the rewards with only one other person.". If this were really about just getting the idea out there and seeing it thrive, you would just come out and release the idea to the world. Some people who look at it might not do much, and some might give it wings. The only benefit of hiding it (with just one other person) is the expectation of personal gain that may not accrue if many people could start-up the idea on their own. I apologize if this is wrong or sounds overly cynical.
I'm going to point out that in practice, #8 (Practice Defense in Depth) rarely works.

The reason is simple: it's Hard to bulletproof any one security control, and the cost of getting controls even slightly wrong is the same as not doing it at all.

It can be tricky to come up with an example of a system that met a real-world security requirement only because a stack of security controls held together despite breaks the individual controls. Windows XP SP2 is a famous anti-example. Secure runtime: good! Security development lifecycle: better! Memory corruption vulnerability: often still game-over!

For assessors of applications (I'm one), the words "defense in depth" are usually blood in the water. It's code for, "we made a bunch of assumptions here, but that's OK because use modsecurity".
http://docutils.sourceforge.net/ is quite nice: A rich set of features, easily extensible by custom directives, Python, and a hell lot of export formats (LaTeX/PDF, HTML, S5 slideshows, ...).
"The only system which is truly secure is one which is switched off and unplugged, locked in a titanium lined safe, buried in a concrete bunker, and is surrounded by nerve gas and very highly paid armed guards. Even then, I wouldn't stake my life on it."

(the original version of this is attributed to Gene Spafford)
i think that any php developer who uses any substantial framework would disagree with you.
John Conway and Naming as infection
Source control, DBs, and Documents - Check, Check and Check :) I had my suspicions here - now I have some confirmations. I know the basics here, but I definitely could stand to be more proficient.

School has taught us nothing of Source Control; I don't even think it has been MENTIONED - likely because we have not participated on a project that has a complexity that would really justify it (other than the practice).

SQL doesn't seem too terribly difficult (the class was a cake walk), but I need much, much more practice in it so I can stop referencing docs every time I need to do something more complex than 'SELECT *....'

As far as the documents are concerned - guess I need to break out the old text book again :) I did it, and I made good in it, but I hated it. I will not lie, I despised use cases, requirement specifications and UML diagrams, but I guess I need to get over that and learn to like it - or at least tolerate :)

I have to admit complete ignorance on automated builds and depolyable code. I guess I need to get my butt in gear and get familiarized. My university (Troy University) has only taught using MS technologies (I use Linux personally - thank god my Q6600 runs XP smokin' fast virtually) and so the extent of our deployment has been zipping up the solution files and the compiled executable and submitting it to the teach (heaven forbid you send something ending with '.gz' - I was actually told I sent a corrupted file one time).

I guess I need to get my ideas out and working. I have been hashing around in my head very similar projects to what you are suggesting... I actually purchased a domain a while back for doing just that, but, well, just haven't done it. I really like RoR, but my webhost (FriHost) doesn't support RoR, so I guess I will be limited to python if I really want an opened deployment :)

Thanks for taking the time to respond with so much valuable info!

-Matt
CMU always had a great time with this. Chalked digits of pi went all across the campus.
http://piday.spacebar.org/2003/
Don't ever worry about your idea being stupid. We all spout out stupid ideas (I do it all the time) and learning how to spot the duds without becoming cynical is a skill you learn with practice.
Why We're Powerless To Resist Grazing On Endless Web Data
What is Identity 2.0?
You may have seen this before but seeing as Sxip is back in the news due to an acquisition of them by Ping Identity I think it's a good refresher on what's going on in the field.
I can't help but want to provide a counter-example to your second point -- I was accepted last year despite having attended a school that most Americans haven't heard of.
I want a HUD integrated into VR goggles with a GPS system so it can act as sat nav for people who are walking and cycling, etc. It could also allow you to meet with people who aren't physically there, but merely "there" online. You would see their avatar projected onto the surrounding urban environment, and they (seated at home on their computers) could move around a virtual world directly modeled on the real one. This could also be the future of tele-working.

Anyone wanna give me a million $$ and call me Jesus Startup Almighty? Thought not ;) Ideas are two-a-penny, implementation and marketing are everything.
How to Quit Drinking Alcohol
Is this hacker news? I think people hack better with a little bubbly.
I say, spit it out. It's nearly impossible to succeed without risking failure.

Silencing the voice in my head that cares about embarrassment was the most useful skill I learned in my 20's. It still takes work, though.
"'If you can hack, you'll do fine."

Thats what I am hoping for. It can just become overwhelming for a young-buck (such as myself) when seeing all these frameworks and libraries and trying to figure out which ones my future employer will want used. In my CS studies, we have focused on a lot of 'whats under the hood' (aka linked lists, binary trees, etc,.) and so when I see these frameworks, I cannot help but think "which one do I use? Can't I just write the algorithm myself?!"

If I am understanding you correctly, if I can do this (know what is going on under the hood), then the rest of the cards will fall into place (?).

Thanks ajross!
OK, so here's the idea.

Initially I was looking to add a flex developer to my team because it would perfectly suit flex/Air. But I am learning that now so this shouldnt be a problem in the future.

I was looking to develop a widget-based game creation system, based on customizing a pre-set group of parameters. its limited at first, but as the community grows so will features.

Games are output into a widget, shareable amongst other websites (our favs - facebook, myspace, etc).

Of course there would be ranking and normal community features involved, as well as an air-based arcade where you can play your own custom games and other user's games as well.

users can completely skin their game, and depending on how long they spend on it, it could become quite an extensive game. The only limits would be user creativity.

This is one of my favorite ideas, being a gamer, but I am so focused on my other ideas that I think this is going to suffer. Without being able to have a team to dedicate to it, I have to give it up. Enjoy! Flame me if you want, or say it's been done b4! (kinda like my idea for peanut butter and jelly singles...hahaha)!
Zynga?
Thanks wehriam,
Of all of the things that I am 'sure of' as a result of my education, my ability to learn something foreign would have to be it.
I remember my first C class - swearing that there was no way this voodoo magic could ever make sense and actually be put to work and then by the end of the class having to reference the examples less and just knowing more.

Thanks for the encouragement,

-Matt
TechCrunch misses the point of FriendFeed
An explanation (in Scheme) of how the puzzle works (PDF):

http://delivery.acm.org/10.1145/1320000/1317276/p25-clinger....
Here's what'll happen when you release your idea in this forum:

- If anyone calls you an idiot, they're the idiot.

- You WILL receive much constructive criticism and compliments on your idea. Probably better feedback than you'd get anywhere else.

- Some of us may take the idea and run with it.

- Some of us may discuss yout idea here.

- It mat just die here.

So, what are you waiting for?
I forgot to add an important feature. I would monetize the games and do a profit-sharing with the users by creating In-game or widget based overlay ads. As well as traditional advertisement. Also, concerning monetization, I would have sponsored events where users compete on creations for leading brands. the winning project is of course distributed branded by that product mainstream. There are unlimited options with respect to money.
You mean like this? :)

http://terminator.wikia.com/wiki/Image:T-800a_Clothing.jpg
Kudos for letting your idea out. Have you seen Sproutbuilder's beta yet?

Having worked with Flex extensively - I think it would take at least 3-6 months to prototype.
I pride myself on my interpersonal skills - I just think it is easier and more productive to be friendly (or at least amicable). Hopefully I can carry this with me into the development arena as you suggest, though I don't think it will be too much of a stretch :)
As for #4, 'sneaky, sneaky!' Thanks for the tip. Though I don't think I could intentionally obfuscate my work (just seems dirty), I think that there are other ways of leveraging in a similar manner and I will definitely be keeping this in mind.

Thanks dusklight!
I'm not sure where the idea is hiding in this description. Game-making systems are an old idea, so that's not it:

http://www.garrykitchen.com/product_history/garry_kitchens_g...

Sharing things between websites is, well, pretty old too. So that's not the idea.
As eBay is destroyed by scammers, its annoying Republican CEO goes to work for John McCain
Because Twitter was a useless waste of time too. That doesn't mean it won't be popular with people.
Ask HN: Is Apple becoming the next Sony?
In today's edition of "I, Cringely", (http://www.pbs.org/cringely/) Robert Cringely suggests that Apple is deliberately withholding Blu-ray support on their hardware in order give itself a leg-up in its own iTunes-based HD video distribution.

This type of behavior got me thinking of another company that blurs the borders between the content and hardware industries: Sony. Sony started buying movie studios after it lost the VHS vs. Betamax war, believing that it could win next time if it only controlled the content. The problem with Sony now is that the tail often wags the dog. The hardware division often makes questionable decisions (PS3 Blu-ray) in order to satisfy the content division.

Did Apple bite the forbidden fruit and become "tainted" when it launched the iTunes music store? Will Apple eventually buy Pixar and/or Disney outright in order to have full control of the content? Can we expect to see stupid decisions (a la Sony rootkit) result from the left hand, which affects the reputation of the right?
Reverse Engineering the future
It would be similar to Zynga, with a few major differences. Zynga games can be created/edited by experienced developers. i want to create the basic framework, and libraries and just have wizards and online creation so a 10 yr old can make his own game.

I planned on targeting a more mainstream audience with respect to game creation. Simple tools, but robust design features, as well as an extensive library of props can go a long way.
That does seem like one of the sillier objections.
most PHP developers don't use frameworks. there have been no "substantial frameworks" for nearly all of PHP's history, and the attitude among common users is that PHP isn't responsible for helping you out with security.

it doesn't help that coding style in nearly every PHP book I've seen is insecure and unmaintainable.
I have done this on a limited basis, but everyone wants me to start now and wants to pay me crap. I understand that I will have to start lower because of my lack of experience, but on the other hand, I didn't go to school (and pay for school) to start working for $9/hr from some small company. I have had multiple companies try to hire me on for less than I would make working at McD's - all because they are going to be 'paying me with experience'.

I think this sentiment is where you second note comes to play: I am not going to take these jobs :) I guess I will do what I've been doing and just keep my feelers out until the right thing comes along.

Thanks angstrom,

-Matt
Aw man, you spoiled it! I was having a great time watching everyone foam at the mouth in anticipation of this vaporware idea! I was hoping it was a joke and there was no idea (I guess that would be a troll, nevermind).
Chicago Startups Visualized
'It is named after physicist Richard Feynman, who once stated during a lecture he would like to memorize the digits of π until that point, so he could recite them and quip "nine nine nine nine nine nine and so on."'

Over the past month or so, I did exactly that.

Thanks for the article! It gave me a great Pi Day goal.