skysight-inc/HackerNews huggingface dataset:
>So even if the "experiment" would have stopped right then and there and they would have switched to pure capitalism, what kind of development would you have expected?

this is exactly what was done when the things hit the rock bottom. It was a choice - either continue the "experiment" and everybody dies from hunger ... or pause the "experiment". They paused it. It is called "New Economic Policy" - remotely similar to what China does today. Allowing limited capitalism. As result the country almost immediately rocketed into economic recovery.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Economic_Policy
> [0] Please don't comment about the voting on comments. It never does any good, and it makes boring reading.

Despite the quoted item, I couldn't see how to understand the (incorrect?) use of downvoting comments as disagreement rather than to discourage unwanted behaviour which doesn't contribute to a discussion. In any case, a comment as to why is always helpful.

[0] https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
Then another famine was created to sell wheat to pay Americans for factories. It is usually shown as Ukrainian genocide, but when you look at absolute numbers, large areas of greater Russia and present-day Kazakhstan were affected to the same extent.
How classy of you
People who use a bike to commute and run errands are different than people who use the bike for exercise.

In the Netherlands, the average biking speed in Amsterdam is 14.9 km/h. "In the popular cycling regions Drenthe and Overijssel the average speed is highest: 15.8 km/h." - http://www.holland-cycling.com/blog/260-amsterdam-has-slowes... [1]

9 mph = 14.5 kph, so nearly 1/2 of the cyclists in Amsterdam cycle "awfully slow" by your scale. The point is, they do bike. Though the average trip length was a bit over 5km, not 24m.

[1] This was by 55,000 cyclists who voluntarily participated in National Bike Counting Week, so may not reflect the general population.
Yes, also satellite. Here's what I am using: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tooway (from a local reseller)

Never understood this Netflix thing. Guess because I'm not into TV series and the movies I watch are likely not there. But I can stream Youtube just fine. If that helps. ^_^
Russia was not poor and corrupt under the Tsar, it was the Bolshevists that caused it all? Really?

Yes, heroic efforts are possible, see Japan or South Korea. Doesn't change what I wrote, especially since the OP comment was about a time shortly after the revolution. Nobody is disputing the horrible and stupid things that happened in Russia at the time. Nothing worse than people on a mission to save the world at any cost.
There's a double standard because the US and China have different standards. Apple has defended the rights of its users when it can. If Apple received a U.S. Supreme Court order to hand over user data, Apple would follow that order, even if Apple disagreed or felt it was unethical. Same for China. Apple's alternative is to leave China, a la Google. One can argue that leaving is the ethical choice. One can not argue effectively against a "double standard".

As for me, I'm happy that Apple will at least transparently defend user rights to the greatest of their ability in China, which would not be the case with Xiaomi or another local company that would fall over backwards to please the government.
Oh that's hard to answer, sorry! - I didn't keep a record of which things I got from here or elsewhere, or from mentions in the stuff I learnt about here. Or from searching topics I learnt about on here. And I was checking out everything I could get from "best programming/mathematics books" lists online for a couple of years before coming here regularly. Youtube videos too - e.g. Matt Might's "Winning the War on Error: Solving Halting Problem, Curing Cancer" and Rich Hickey's talks were..elevating; Julia Evans, Doug Crockford I probably heard about on here. I googled quite a few AskHN lists of fav books, books that changed your life, books you wished you'd read earlier, books you wished your co-workers had read etc and looked at anything that sounded interesting. Sorry I can't be more specific. Well, what is great depends on the reader too. Good luck!
You get a type error, which was actually funny, given that the message used to say something like "expecting type T, got type T".

Funny enough, what you describe is theoretically possible in JavaScript, but strangely enough, it seems to work... it's something I've long been trying to come up with a POC exploit for.
Ahhhhh, calling the libertarians crypto-racists.

Internet, never change!
In Switzerland, the current target interest rate (set by the Swiss National Bank) is -1.25 to -0.25 percent, with current rates around -0.75%.

This means banks need to pay the SNB on their funds deposited there. Many of them pass that on to their customers: Deposits don't earn any interest to speak of, and for large sums (starting from 1M or so), banks commonly charge interest. At some points, the yield on Swiss Gov't bonds was even negative.

If you can offer a safe (and bank-accepted) way to store that money, you stand to make a killing.

On the other hand, even in that environment, mortgages aren't free. Rates range from 0.5 to more than 2%. Part of that is the banks' margin, part of it comes from fixing the interest rate for some (2-10) years.

[1] https://www.snb.ch/en/iabout/stat/statpub/zidea/id/current_i...
How to do one thing ok, and 10 things strangely.
By coincidence, I just had breakfast with someone whose company adopted Elm; they made a great case for it. I'm excited to check it out.

But I'd add that popular languages have related problems. Java, Python, and Ruby are all ones I've used in production, and I'd say every one has a big problem pushing the language forward. They all have failed me differently in that regard, and I'd still happily use any of them again in the right circumstances.

The talent situation is interesting as well. With a popular language I can find more people who claim to know the language. But of the people who show up, a lot more of them will not be particularly good. In practice, given the work necessary to get somebody up to speed on our domain, our chosen libraries and frameworks, and our own code base, helping them learn a new language doesn't seem like much on top of that.

The big things that keep me from picking novel languages for long-lived production code are libraries and production considerations. It's such a huge advantage to be able to download a decent library rather than having to code everything from scratch. And I don't want to be the company pushing a language into unknown performance territory. It's noble work, but it can be expensive and introduce a lot of volatility that I really don't need.
You can enforce code style through linting and CI. In some projects I've worked on, code doesn't get merged if it doesn't pass code style checks.
If you watch the video review, the one point it got was for robustness and quality of build which they thought should preclude the need for repair work for a while.
> The screws will get loose and will introduce unwanted vibrations

Which is what they invented thread-locker and lock-washers for
> It's good quality, and you can still see other participants during a presentation.

I regularly use Hangouts, Slack calls and Zoom and I totally agree. Especially quality of Slack calls is awful. Just earlier today we had a call, where audio was delayed ~2s while video was perfectly fine.

And Zooms grid view is so nice. I wonder why their competitors don't offer the same functionality.
Or, for those who prefer to listen to a lecture:

Lenin and the Russian Revolution - Professor Catherine Merridale FBA -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRIzW7A9lhs&feature=youtu.be

The Fate of the October Revolution Under Stalin - Professor Bob Service -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5eP_HoNUx8

If you only want to listen to one choose the first one, it's really good.
In general I agree with you, but the IoT is the soul of planned obsolescence. They flip a switch, and you’re the proud owner or a brick. A tractor, a PC, a cellphone? Sure, make it repairable. A networked speaker? I say that’s not a battle worth fighting.

It’s also worth noting that history is full of disposable products, but since they tare need to break or be disposed of, we focus on the outliers which remain. The old bread mixer which can run until the end of time is memorable, the cheap blender is not.
I apologize for my misleading statements. From my amateur reading of the coverage at the time, I had no idea of this; I appreciate the additional information.
I don't have access to article but the keyword is "likely" in the abstract. And doesn't take away from the fact this article used a misleading video to bolster it's argument. Climate Change is real but understanding the impact is something that is still uncertain.
Hey Apple, I think Amazon's recommendation engine might have misplaced this product suggestion.
https://www.amazon.com/Simplicity-Infant-Toddler-children-Cu...
> Can we re-write parts of libraries like Vue or React in something that compiles to wasm, so that you get better performance as the user?

For React, we would love to do this although it's not clear what parts of React would benefit from being moved to wasm right now.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg Opens Up About #MeToo, Voting Rights, and Millennials
Do you have a family? What is the job of your partner? Do you have a school nearby for kids?

This sounds like something which would be hard to do with a family.
> Not liking being told what not to do does not imply that you want to actually do it though. Maybe I don't want to leave the house today, but that doesn't mean I will accept being locked up.

So you agree with the contents of the code of conduct but your not going to following them just to be difficult?
So none of the convenience of a bank, but all of the centralization.
> Point out that a clever solution is not that useful or applicable and you get a lot of downvotes

I have exactly the opposite impression, that this is one of the easiest ways to get cheap upvotes. So much so that we have to moderate to prevent such subthreads from choking out others.
It's not really trickery then, if it's both dramatic and accurate. Where would you like the origin point to be? Starting at 0 would flatten the loss over the same time span and would be both misleading about the importance of the loss and might be used to temper the climate change argument.

The loss amount itself isn't even as important as what it means or how scientists are interpreting it. If the ecological impact of a loss of this magnitude needs to be represented, this chart does exactly that. If the impact were unimportant or negligible, the chart would be altogether unnecessary.
> So, if one isn't careful, it's possible to write a very clean, very nice Lisp DSL which is totally incomprehensible to anybody but the author, and thus hell to maintain over time.

You can't really call it a "very nice" DSL if it is incomprehensible and unmaintainable :)

What you have described is one issue, but it really doesn't have a lot to do with lisp DSLs. You can make that mistake in any language.

A problem that is more specific to lisps is that since it really is possible to write beautiful programs, there is a temptation to spend a lot of time designing DSLs or otherwise refactoring your program to make it very clear, concise and maintainable - but without actually making it more useful. You may spend hours (or weeks) improving your code without actually improving functionality at all.

This is less of a temptation in Java, for example, because it's such a rubbish language to program in in the first place there's very little temptation to spend time refining your code. You just accept that your program is never going to feel like a work of art no matter what you do, and get on with actually producing a useful solution.
No earlier records (or very spotty).
> On the other hand the language in the CoC itself is evidence that it comes from busybodies.

And just what evidence is that? You inferring something is not evidence.
RestControl – modern framework for testing REST api
It's not exponential, it's sigmoidal. Technological progress is slowing down and becoming more specialized. Most of what we have today we also had 25 years ago, if you ignore electronics.
Hello! I would like to present RestControl, modern framework for testsing REST api in expressive and elegant way.

Project is in alpha phase so some features is missing, but together with my friends from QA, we'are working on improvements and new features. Current project roadmap you can find on github.com

Take care and thanks for any sugestions and ideas!
But as you wrote, "At the end of the process above I still couldn’t start a Ruby project from scratch, or write more than tiny amounts of Ruby."

This matches my experience; I was in a Python shop, and got tasked with interfacing our code with a Ruby app developed externally, plus with running it on our servers. For small things, it became easier to learn enough Ruby than to bother the external devs.

That said, I wouldn't say I know Ruby, the way I know other languages, even ones I never used a lot. For example, I probably wrote fewer lines of Go than Ruby, yet I'd say I know it better, since I know the core parts rather than a few random bits and pieces.
another thing worth noting is that many projects need to support multiple platforms, which means multiple different compilers. good luck getting a large project to build on clang or gcc and msvc without warnings. i've run into cases at work where it seems like i'm going to get a warning from at least one of the compilers no matter what i do (barring complicated #ifdef/#pragma salad).
Wow, this looks very cool!

Why is this not more popular? Coconut seems like something many people, including me, would want to use for every Python project of sufficient complexity. What's the catch?
I have to ask...what is your expectation of working on a development team? How do you feel team members should learn from each other? What process would you use to help get junior developers up to speed faster?

These are the questions that periodic pairing answers with the lowest possible negative impact to members time.

Now, if you get into an environment that is 100% pairing all the time, or two people at the keyboard taking turns with an egg timer, etc...that can be a huge pain and I'd totally understand not wanting any part of it.

Watching somebody code while you drink a cup of coffee at your desk and offering the occasional "you know, if you do such-n-such it will be a little cleaner" or "I think there's a function that already does what you're writing"...is pretty low-impact.

EDIT: I read through your comment history and see that you were with Pivotal. IIRC they are a pairing all the time shop (I seem to remember seeing a presentation at some point). I can completely understand how that would suck.
Life size actually - the article has been changed, there's a picture with a person in it now.
Just wanted to let you know that I created a community of young coders you might be interested to join :)
https://forum.coderyouth.club or https://coderyouth.club for information.
Why would you use this over web sockets?
Well you're right, but that doesn't change the r^2 value or the curve function. Not trying to do science here.
Emacs as a devops editor (2016)
>Safety deposit boxes are quite cheap, around $20/year. It will probably become a norm to store most of your coins in cold storage in a bank. Physical security is expensive, and banks are good at it.

Still doesn't change the fact that I can kidnap your family and hold them ransom until you go to your safety deposit box and get the bitcoin to send to me. The problem is with the non-reversible nature of the payment system, and the fact that it exists outside the realm of a justice system, not with physical security.
Any optician can do exactly the same thing during a simple check of your eyes.
In this case I can’t see the benefit of this type of screening. The tool used by the optician is just a cheap lantern, but only the tool needed by the computer is way more expensive.
I'm afraid it's easier to get started as a Javascript developer than a Rust developer. What if it's easier to learn JS optimization quirks than to become an average Rust developer ?
It's a recognizable guesture and makes for an iconic picture. Also, perhaps it's a message to the future that this is how things used to be.
...perhaps except for messaging apps. Messaging apps in America are almost all trying to emulate WeChat's success as a standalone platform in China.
Awesome, your comment means a lot to me. Deciding what functionality to open source is very hard and it is good to hear you like what we are doing.
@ThrowMeDown01

Under Tsar Russia had a chance. Now it no longer has any because it is now dead and wasted away, just like your account (UPD: It's unblocked, so now Russia is in worse state than your account). It's an empty broken shell.

And that, kids, is the result of communism. You die on that stuff.
What's the connection between Flight Sim Labs and Retina-X?
This is huge!

Imagine affordable STD test kits adjacent to the pregnancy testers on the shelves of your local store.

The prostitution story looks a lot different if every encounter can realistically incorporate a predicated broad-spectrum STD test of both parties.

Edit: Usual dating would be a lot less risky as well. Has it become standard practice for couples to both get tested before becoming intimate yet?
Top Startup Locations in 2018
I think I struggle with similar things.
It's hard, sometimes, when you have a day off to continue to want to push yourself to study up on the latest technologies or create side projects you can stick with.
I do think it's important to _make_your_own_deadlines_ ...because then, nobody else will ever be setting them for you.
I wonder if we all have a period in life where we sit and think "well what the hell am I doing with my life"...usually those moments come, make me reflective, and I have to then start to re-situate things... that's a motivator too.
I don't know, but keep at it, grit is important, you got this.
And you're definitely not alone.
Mar's Law: "Everything is linear [power law] if plotted log-log with a fat magic marker".
Isn't it more an indication of how little substantial difference there is between most mainstream languages?
I'm pretty sure nothing Google-related works in China. Youtube/search/gmail etc. are all blocked.

They have Android phones but no Google services on them. They do sell ads there but to companies targeting Chinese people outside of China.
Well, Norway discovered oil and managed to distribute the profits evenly (I think). Not many oil-rich countries did that.

And regarding Eastern Europe, it was not always poor, for example the Czech part of Czechoslovakia was more prosperous than Austria both before and immediately after WW2, but that changed during communism and Austria is still much more prosperous nearly 30 years after the fall of communism.
How can we make this happen? I've been thinking of this as a potential startup idea. What hardware/software can we build that would make companies feel comfortable with many remote workers, and also ensure those remote workers are able to collaborate and work efficiently?
That can happen with onsite jobs too. My solution is I don't check work email and barely check Slack after work.

If I worked remote I'd do that I do now - request a work only laptop.
The Trouble with HomePod Reviews
I am struggling with same problems for 10 years, I am diagnosed with ADHD and taking medication for long time...
But ... even I am diagnosed i dont think i have got ADHD - maybe i can call it depression. In fact its caused by not enough fulfilling relationships. Its fixable in one day... sounds easy but its so hard..
HN kinda saved my life. I have lurked since about 2015. In that time, I have learned so much, which has been a big confidence booster.

I never felt like I belonged anywhere before I found HN. I don't post much, but I love reading all the different opinions in the comments. I don't know anywhere else where there is (largely) civilized debate about such a wide range of fascinating topics.
SpaceX Remote Monitoring System
Nice post. About the article: it must have taken some balls (for lack of a better expression) to turn down the position as von Neumann's assistant.
> You probably can’t use it (Elm) on the server side

Some people mention this as a disadvantage. I think it would be cool to have a decent DSL dedicated to just frontends.
That's what I meant by "it takes planning to..."

If bike commuting is important to you, then look for a home (and/or job) in an area that's bike friendly. I didn't end up with a 10 minute bike commute by accident, though it did take some compromises. Instead of a 2000 sq ft 3 bedroom house in the next county, I ended up in a 1000 sq ft 2 bedroom condo close to work. The condo was a bit more expensive, but I'm saving more money overall by not paying for an expensive car (~$700/month average [1]).

It's within easy biking and/or walking distance of 2 train stations, as well as schools, restaurants, grocery store, etc. And due to the proximity of the train station, several transit oriented developments are being built nearby so the area is becoming even more walkable.

Bike infrastructure is woefully in adequate in this country, so the onus is on individuals to make it work, since housing in many areas is so bike-unfriendly that it may never be made bikeable.

[1] http://newsroom.aaa.com/2015/04/annual-cost-operate-vehicle-...
I agree. It is very unsettling to hear that a stranger "stalked the st out of you" and i would prefer direct help.

> Regarding suicidal thoughts, they ARE normal for many people and perfectly rational given their conditions and length of suffering. It's not an attitude problem or something therapy or pills can fix. Sometimes those things can help COPE temporarily but it's not a fix of the root cause. I know it's hard to understand that if you have never been there and there was a time I would swear I could NEVER think that was valid but experiences changes you. In my view nobody wants to die, even when they claim so, they just want the pain to end and can't find a way here in life...sometimes because there simply IS no way...others because they can't get the real and tangible help they need.

i agree alot. I had a hard time in my 20's. My parents live in another country. I was living in this "new" city on my own with problems i couldn't handle. I was always on the brink of being homeless.
I didn't want to take counseling mainly because they wouldn't fix the root of my problems: No income, but a lot of debts.
What if i took 3 Months of therapy? I would still have my debts. It is important to find the root cause and tackle it directly.
Don't get me wrong: Therapy can help alot. But the therapist is not going to get a job for you.
I had to do it on my own. It was even hard to get out of bed for me. But i did. Because of the wake up call.

We live in a society where 90% of the people have to work for their status. If you don't work, you don't have money. I don't like the idea of "making a living". Living should be a human right. But the reality is: it isn't. You have to work in order to have a place to sleep or get food. Living on Food stamps only keeps you alive. You are not part of society. In hindsight, i did miserable comparing to all my friends (most of them PhD students). But i am a huge success comparing to the vast majority of people who are living in 3rd world countries. Back then i had forgotten how lucky i am to be born in a rich country. Today i still live a simple life, cause i use every extra penny to pay my debts, but i am grateful for what i have! And one day, i can have a vacation. Something i didn't have in 8years.