1. Karpathy’s Pelican (twitter.com)

We're starting to leave the territory where you'd test an LLM by e.g. "create an svg of pelican on a bicycle". As one idea to generalize it, I was interested what Opus 5 would do if I gave it the first paragraph of the Lord of the Rings, a 1M token budget (~$10) and asked for

5. 'Crush this lady': how eBay harassment campaign led to $56M payout (www.ft.com)

Employees’ cyberstalking of Boston couple involving macabre deliveries ended in jail time and financial settlement

A disturbing harassment campaign by eBay employees against a Boston couple included sinister deliveries and resulted in jail sentences and a hefty financial settlement. The case highlights the extreme lengths to which some individuals will go in the digital age.

6. SwiftUI After 7 Years: A Story of Mediocrity (ykvm.com)

Back in 2019, SwiftUI was announced as the future of Apple development. Seven years later, it still feels like a beta version struggling with stability, performance, and many other aspects. What’s actually wrong with SwiftUI?

SwiftUI was introduced as a promising tool for Apple developers, but after seven years, it still faces significant issues with stability and performance. The article examines the shortcomings that have prevented it from living up to its initial potential.

7. Show HN: Kakehashi – Experimental userspace to run macOS binaries on Linux ARM (github.com)

Userspace macOS translation layer for Linux ARM64. Contribute to wie-project/kakehashi development by creating an account on GitHub.

A new project called Kakehashi aims to create a userspace translation layer that allows macOS binaries to run on Linux ARM64 systems. Developers interested in cross-platform compatibility can check out the project on GitHub.

8. How the words we teach English language learners changed (pudding.cool)

Differences between “essential vocabulary” lists, 1953 vs. 2023

A comparison of essential vocabulary lists for English language learners from 1953 to 2023 reveals significant changes in language teaching priorities. Understanding these shifts can provide insights into evolving educational approaches and cultural influences.

9. Developers are attached to tools because tools encode trust (stackoverflow.blog)

The tools themselves are new and their capabilities are in constant flux. If your kitchen knife kept changing shape, weight, and edge, you’d have to relearn it every time; that’s a hard tool to build trust in. But it also points to a flaw in how you use that tool, the process around it, and the way the tool reinforces the process.

Trust in development tools is crucial, yet their ever-evolving nature can complicate that relationship. The comparison to a constantly changing kitchen knife highlights the challenges developers face in adapting to new capabilities while maintaining effective processes.

11. EU Age Verification Project Mandates Hardware-Bound Attestation (linuxiac.com)

The EU’s age verification project confirms hardware-bound attestation is mandatory, raising concerns over Linux, custom ROMs, and open-source access.

The EU’s new age verification initiative requires hardware-bound attestation, which could impact users of Linux, custom ROMs, and open-source software. This regulation raises significant questions about accessibility and privacy for tech enthusiasts and developers.

12. Running Kimi K3 on MI355X at Better Performance per Dollar Than B300 (www.wafer.ai)

The fastest open source LLMs for enterprise.

Discover how the Kimi K3 running on MI355X outperforms the B300, offering superior performance for enterprises at a better cost. This analysis highlights the advantages of using open-source language models in business applications.

15. Meshdiff – visually compare two STL versions in the browser, client-side (meshdiff.com)

See exactly what changed between two 3D model versions — added material, removed material, dimensional drift. Free, in-browser, STL/3MF/OBJ.

Meshdiff allows users to visually compare different versions of 3D models directly in their browser, highlighting changes like added or removed material and dimensional shifts. It’s a handy, free tool for anyone working with STL, 3MF, or OBJ files.

16. Show HN: Bor – Open-source policy management for Linux desktops (getbor.dev)

Bor v0.8.0 is out. This release adds three new policy types — Thunderbird, Microsoft Edge for Business, and Firewalld zones — alongside a full web UI overhaul, finer-grained RBAC, and a dedicated security hardening pass. The complete changelog is on the GitHub release page.
Thunderbird policy type Mozilla Thunderbird can now be managed on enrolled desktops with the same mechanism used for Firefox ESR. The agent writes the managed policies.json that Thunderbird expects, merged from all bound policies, and removing the last policy restores the original file.

Bor is an open-source tool designed for managing policies on Linux desktops, featuring a lightweight agent and a central server for real-time updates. The latest version adds support for more applications, enhancing its capabilities for centralized desktop management.

17. A big win for Android interoperability (www.openhomefoundation.org)

Google gatekept key Android features, and the European Commission asked what we thought about it. Now Alphabet must open 11 Android features to all.

The European Commission has mandated that Google must make 11 key Android features accessible to all developers, marking a significant shift in how Android operates. This decision could enhance competition and innovation in the mobile ecosystem.

19. Linux desktop market share has hit over 10% in North America (old.reddit.com)

Posted in r/linux by u/LOST8080 • 3,299 points and 415 comments

Linux desktop usage in North America has surpassed 10%, sparking significant discussion among users on Reddit. This milestone indicates a growing acceptance of Linux systems in mainstream computing.

20. Norway Salmon (www.abc.net.au)

Norway's salmon industry is a global behemoth 18 times the size of Tasmania's. But the country's success holds a warning for Australia.

Norway’s salmon industry dominates the global market, dwarfing Australia’s efforts. The insights from Norway’s experience could serve as crucial lessons for Australia as it navigates its own seafood industry challenges.

21. Folding Paper Globes (foldingglobes.com)

Free print-ready folding paper globe templates: the Moon, Mars, Earth at night, and more. Download, print, cut, fold, glue.

Download free templates to create your own paper globes of the Moon, Mars, and Earth at night. Perfect for educational projects or hands-on fun, these easy-to-follow instructions make crafting simple.

25. When transit passes were designed by hand (letterformarchive.org)

In the 1930s–60s, Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company offered trolley and bus riders a weekly burst of color and hand lettering. About 300 of these tickets are now in our collection.

Milwaukee’s transit passes from the mid-20th century featured vibrant colors and unique hand lettering, reflecting the era’s artistry. A collection of around 300 of these tickets showcases the creativity behind everyday travel during that time.

26. Show HN: NixOS-DGX-Spark – Nix and NixOS on the DGX Spark (github.com)

Use Nix and NixOS on your DGX Spark! Contribute to graham33/nixos-dgx-spark development by creating an account on GitHub.

NixOS-DGX-Spark offers a way to use Nix on NVIDIA’s DGX Spark systems, providing USB images and a dedicated module for installation. It’s a practical resource for those looking to enhance their DGX experience with NixOS, whether on the DGX Spark or Asus Ascent GX10.

27. Fasttracker II clone in C using SDL 2 (16-bits.org)

Homepage of 8bitbubsy. ProTracker 2 clone, Fasttracker II clone, source codes and so on...

A new Fasttracker II clone has been developed in C using SDL 2, offering enthusiasts access to source codes and related tools. Check it out for a fresh take on classic music tracking software.

28. Californians' data deletion requests, DROP, become enforceable Aug. 1 (www.nbcsandiego.com)

Starting Aug. 1, registered California data brokers must honor requests to stop selling consumers' personal information.

Beginning August 1, California data brokers will be legally required to comply with consumer requests to halt the sale of their personal information, marking a significant step in data privacy rights. This new regulation aims to give individuals more control over their data in an increasingly digital marketplace.

29. Ursula K. Le Guin: A Rant About "Technology" (2005) (www.ursulakleguin.com)

Ursula K. Le Guin on the presence of technology in her work

Ursula K. Le Guin reflects on how technology influences her storytelling and the themes within her literature. Her insights challenge conventional views on the role of technology in creative expression.

30. Autoregressive Language Model on the 6502 Processor (mattbeton.com)

A language model on a 1975 MOS 6502 processor, using a tiny Mamba-based language model and custom 8-bit ternary inference engine, used to generate text on a BBC Micro from the 1980s.

A language model has been successfully implemented on a vintage 6502 processor, showcasing how a small Mamba-based model and a unique 8-bit inference engine can generate text on an old BBC Micro. This project highlights the intersection of retro computing and modern AI techniques.

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