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How to Use CSS to Improve Web Accessibility


freeCodeCamp | By Elizabeth Lola

September 18, 2024

Web
  • CSS plays a significant role in web accessibility by enhancing the user experience and improving readability for users of all abilities.
  • To make your website more accessible, you can update focus styles to make interactive elements stand out, avoid content shifts by allocating space for dynamic content, reduce motion for users with sensitivities, and customize contrast options using media queries like prefers-contrast.
  • You can also enable dark mode, use rem units for responsive typography, and employ animations thoughtfully to create a more inclusive experience.
  • Additionally, CSS allows you to highlight nested elements, tailor the color scheme based on user preferences, and ensure that text scales correctly with changes in font size, making it easier for users with disabilities to navigate your website.

Introduction to Chakra UI


Refine.dev

September 17, 2024

Web
  • When testing React components, especially those from frameworks like Chakra UI, we use a method called fireEvent to simulate real-life interactions such as clicking buttons.
  • This helps us ensure that our components behave as expected when users interact with them, for example by checking if a button's onClick function was actually called after being clicked.
  • We also test more complex components like modals or forms in the same way: we render the component, perform actions on it (like opening a modal), and verify that the desired outcome happens.

Boosting Azure DevOps Security with GHAS Code Scanning


Microsoft Devblogs | By Developer Support

September 17, 2024

Cloud
DevOps
Algorithms
  • Code Scanning with Azure DevOps and GitHub Advanced Security helps detect vulnerabilities and bugs within source code by using CodeQL, a powerful static analysis tool.
  • It works in three steps: first, creating a database of extracted and structured code; second, running queries against this database to find potential issues; and third, reviewing the results to prioritize and address vulnerabilities.
  • To integrate this into Azure DevOps, you configure GitHub Advanced Security for your repository, then create and run a Code scanning pipeline, which generates security alerts and allows you to analyze and fix issues found in your code.
  • This process can be automated through a pipeline, requiring less effort over time, and helps boost the security of your Azure DevOps projects by catching potential problems early on.

Top Frameworks for Building Admin Panels and Dashboards in 2024


Refine.dev

September 18, 2024

Web
Cloud
Security
Backend
  • Admin panels and dashboards are essential tools for managing data and operations within organizations.
  • They provide a centralized hub for monitoring, analyzing, and controlling various aspects of business operations.
  • There are several frameworks available in the market for building admin panels and dashboards, including Refine.js, Angular ngx-admin, Vuetify, Laravel Nova, Django Admin, and Blazor.
  • Each framework has its own strengths and weaknesses, and the choice of which one to use depends on factors such as the type of product being built, the audience, and personal preferences.
  • For example, Refine.js is a comprehensive solution for building CRUD applications and offers a wide range of features and customization options, while Vuetify is highly focused on accessibility and provides good mobile responsiveness out of the box.
  • Other frameworks like Angular ngx-admin and Laravel Nova offer strong support for accessibility and security.
  • When it comes to SEO optimization, it may not be critical for most admin panels, but it can still be relevant in certain cases such as public-facing apps or content visibility.
  • Additionally, performance considerations like page speed and mobile responsiveness are also important for both usability and SEO.

Compile and run C in JavaScript


Bun

September 18, 2024

Web
Hardware
  • bun:ffi allows you to use C libraries and system APIs from JavaScript with minimal overhead, just 2 nanoseconds per call in this case.
  • This makes it useful for tasks such as converting short videos 3x faster using ffmpeg, securely saving and loading passwords with the macOS Keychain API, or building glue code that binds C or C-like libraries to JavaScript.
  • It's a low-boilerplate way to use C libraries without needing a separate build step, but it's not recommended for large projects like PostgresSQL or SQLite where more advanced optimizations are needed.

Upgrade Livestreams With Twitch Enhanced Broadcasting and NVIDIA Encoder


Nvidia | By Brian Choi

September 17, 2024

AI
Hardware
  • At TwitchCon, NVIDIA and Twitch announced several new features to help livestreamers improve their video quality and creative workflows.
  • The Twitch Enhanced Broadcasting feature allows streamers to send multiple versions of encoded video with different resolutions or bitrates directly from NVIDIA GeForce RTX-equipped PCs or workstations, ensuring the highest-quality video a viewer's internet connection can handle.
  • Additionally, NVIDIA's AI-powered Broadcast app enhances microphones and webcams by removing noise and echo, and transforming any home office into a professional studio without the need for specialized equipment.
  • Streamers can also use AI to edit and enhance their video footage on popular apps like Adobe Premiere Pro, and even convert standard dynamic range (SDR) videos into HDR10 quality with NVIDIA's RTX Video feature, making their content look cleaner and sharper than ever before.

The 8 best Trello alternatives in 2024


Zapier | By Jessica Lau

September 16, 2024

  • If you're looking for alternatives to Trello, there are many options available such as ClickUp and Wrike for project management software, Baserow and OpenProject for open-source solutions, or Microsoft To Do and Things for task lists.
  • Notion and Coda offer all-in-one productivity apps that can also be used for project management.
  • Some of these alternatives have free plans that allow you to test them out before committing to a paid version.
  • It ultimately depends on your specific needs, so it's recommended to try out different options until you find the one that works best for you and your team.

Introducing the SQL Console on Datasets


HuggingFace

September 17, 2024

Web
Database
Backend
  • The Hugging Face Hub now allows users to run SQL queries on public datasets with just one click from the new SQL Console badge, making it easier to query and discover datasets.
  • The console uses DuckDB WASM, a database engine that runs solely in the browser without any dependencies, allowing for fast querying of datasets up to 3GB in size and sharing of reproducible results with a simple link.
  • With full DuckDB syntax support and built-in functions for tasks like regex and JSON parsing, users can perform complex queries on their datasets, convert data formats, and even export results as Parquet files for further use.

Honoring #IconsOfQuality: Beth Marshall, Senior Quality Engineer


Browserstack | By BrowserStack Team

September 18, 2024

AI
  • Beth Marshall is a Senior Quality Engineer at Lloyds Banking Group, with a unique background in law and software testing.
  • She believes that learning should be a continuous journey, not a daunting task, and emphasizes the importance of staying curious and resilient.
  • As part of the Quality Engineering Centre of Excellence, Beth's team focuses on test automation, training, and community engagement.
  • To keep up with new trends in software testing, she recommends following newsletters, LinkedIn, talks, and community events, while focusing on fundamentals to build a solid foundation.
  • She's excited about AI innovations and how it can augment testing roles, but also believes in the importance of human touch and fact-checking.
  • Beth prioritizes learning, clear communication, and assumes good intent in others to stay productive and effective in her role, and encourages everyone to do the same.

The 7 best landing page builders in 2024


Zapier | By Harry Guinness

September 17, 2024

AI
  • When choosing between a landing page builder and a website builder, consider your needs carefully.
  • Landing page builders are great for creating single-page marketing sites with a clear call-to-action, but they can be expensive and limiting if you plan to expand your site into a full website or online store.
  • AI-powered features in landing page builders can be useful, but apps that rely solely on AI often fall short compared to template-based builders.
  • If you're just starting out, consider using a template-based website builder like Wix, Squarespace, or Shopify for more flexibility and potential cost savings, especially if you plan to eventually build a full website or online store.

Improving GitHub Copilot Completions in Visual Studio for C# Developers


Microsoft Devblogs | By Mika Dumont

September 18, 2024

Backend
  • A new update to Visual Studio 2022 makes GitHub Copilot code completions even better for C# developers.
  • The update includes more relevant context from all semantically related files, even if they're not open in your editor, which helps reduce incorrect suggestions and provides more accurate ones.
  • This means that when you're trying to call a method defined in another file, GitHub Copilot will suggest the correct method name instead of an incorrect one.
  • The goal is to improve the Copilot experience for C# developers, and feedback from users is welcome to help make future improvements.

The Important Differences between URI VS URL


Refine.dev

September 18, 2024

  • When it comes to creating website addresses or URLs, there are some tips to keep in mind for better search engine ranking.
  • First, use hyphens instead of underscores to make your URL more readable.
  • Then, keep your URL short and include important keywords without overstuffing them, as this makes it easier for people to remember and share the link.
  • Lastly, switch from HTTP to HTTPS, which is considered more secure by search engines and can improve your website's ranking.

A Day in the Life of a NOC Engineer at Agoda


Agoda | By Agoda Engineering

September 18, 2024

DevOps
Backend
  • As a Network Operations Center (NOC) engineer at Agoda, my main job is to monitor and maintain the company's real-time operations through a dashboard that helps us stay on top of performance issues.
  • When major problems arise, we quickly notify relevant teams and set up a "war room" where engineers from different departments work together to resolve the issue as fast as possible.
  • Through our excellent visibility tools, we can identify the root cause of problems and focus on fixing it before it affects users.
  • The collaboration between teams is key at Agoda, allowing us to learn from each other's strengths and weaknesses to improve system reliability and efficiency.
  • To handle incidents effectively, I stay calm under pressure by following established playbooks and being flexible in my approach.
  • My advice for aspiring NOC engineers is to keep learning both technical skills and soft skills like communication, as these are equally important for success in this field.

New Function Calling Available in .NET for Semantic Kernel


Microsoft Devblogs | By Sergey Menshykh

September 17, 2024

AI
  • Semantic Kernel has released a new function-calling capability in version 1.20, which makes it easier to use and more extensible than before.
  • This feature allows users to pass plugin descriptions into a model for dynamic planning, enabling the AI model to create a step-by-step plan based on user input and function descriptions.
  • The new system is designed to be reusable across all AI connectors and supports features like automatic function choice and prompt template configuration.
  • It also includes support for multiple required functions and exposing specific function choice behaviors.
  • With this update, users can now easily integrate with various AI models and create more complex plans by combining different functions and plugins.

Keys to a resilient Open Source future


Google Open Source | By Open Source Programs Office (noreply@blogger.com)

September 18, 2024

AI
  • Google believes AI plays a crucial role in improving open source security by automating tasks and reducing the workload on developers.
  • They have successfully used AI to write and improve tests that help identify vulnerabilities, with their tool OSS-Fuzz identifying over 12,000 issues and achieving a 90% fix rate.
  • To make a meaningful difference at scale, Google is focusing on three key areas: simplifying security best practices, developing an integrated platform that automates security tasks, and leveraging AI to accelerate and enhance security.
  • By maintaining this focus and collaborating with the community, Google aims to ensure that open source software remains secure and reliable for future generations of developers.

How SonicJobs Uses AI Agents to Connect the Internet, Starting With Jobs


Nvidia | By Kristen Yee

September 18, 2024

Web
AI
  • Companies in the US spend $15 billion annually on talent acquisition, but only about 5% of job seekers who click on a job listing actually apply for it due to a frustrating process that involves redirecting to the company's website and filling out multiple forms.
  • A startup called SonicJobs has developed AI Agents that allow candidates to fill out applications directly on job platforms, boosting completion rates to 26%.
  • The CEO of SonicJobs explains how they use traditional AI combined with large language models to create a seamless experience for both job seekers and employers, and discusses the importance of fine-tuning their technology to achieve better results.

JavaScript Timer – How to Set a Timer Function in JS


freeCodeCamp | By Tantoluwa Heritage Alabi NB

September 16, 2024

Web
  • In JavaScript, timer functions are used to control when your code runs, preventing it from executing everything at once, which can enhance user experience and create smoother interactions or animations.
  • You have several options for setting timers, including setTimeout, setInterval, clearTimeout, clearInterval, and setImmediate, each with its own purpose: setTimeout executes a function after a specified delay (e.g., 3 seconds), setInterval repeats a function at specific intervals (e.g., every second), clearTimeout cancels a previously scheduled timeout, clearInterval stops an interval from running again, and setImmediate runs a function as soon as possible after the current code block finishes.

Rolls-Royce in transformation: An interview with Nikki Grady-Smith


Mckinsey

September 17, 2024

Performance
  • Rolls-Royce is undergoing a transformation to become a more efficient and competitive company.
  • As its chief transformation officer, Nikki Grady-Smith oversees various aspects of the business, including strategy, sustainability, procurement, government relations, and communications.
  • To achieve this goal, she has aligned the organization behind four strategic pillars: portfolio and partnerships, advantaged businesses and strategic initiatives, efficiency and simplification, and digital and low carbon.
  • One of these pillars is focused on sustainability, particularly in aviation, where Rolls-Royce is exploring sustainable aviation fuels and investing in technologies like UltraFan to reduce its environmental impact.
  • Grady-Smith emphasizes the importance of partnerships with suppliers, customers, governments, and regulators to drive growth and achieve long-term targets.
  • With midterm goals set for 2027, she is excited about the company's potential for future growth and the opportunities it presents for creating a more sustainable business that can achieve extraordinary performance.

Hybrid Cloud Journey using Amazon Outposts and AWS Local Zones


AWS Architecture | By Arun Chellappa Ganesan

September 18, 2024

Cloud
Backend
  • Athenahealth used AWS services to create a hybrid cloud environment by strategically dividing their deployment between Amazon Outposts and Local Zones, and regular AWS Regions.
  • This approach allowed them to reduce the load on legacy systems, enhance service delivery, and maintain efficient operations while accelerating their transition to a hybrid cloud-based infrastructure.
  • By leveraging microservices running in AWS Regions that access on-premises databases with low latency through Outposts and Local Zones, Athenahealth can be more agile, efficient, and responsive to the evolving needs of its healthcare providers and patients, ultimately improving health outcomes for clinicians and patients alike.

Accounting for cognitive bias in human evaluation of large language models


Amazon Science

September 16, 2024

Backend
  • Large language models (LLMs) are so good at generating fluent text that it's easy to overlook their quality, and even consider them more truthful or useful than they actually are - this is a cognitive bias.
  • To ensure we can accurately evaluate LLMs, scientists suggest breaking down content into individual facts for evaluation rather than rating overall fluency.
  • This approach, along with several others, has been compiled into the ConSiDERS framework, which stands for consistency, scoring criteria, differentiation, experience, responsibility, and scalability - these principles help ensure that human evaluation of LLMs is reliable, reproducible, and accountable for factors like bias, safety, and user context.

Eureka: Evaluating and understanding progress in AI


Microsoft Research | By Brenda Potts

September 17, 2024

AI
Data Science
Robotics
  • Researchers have been trying to figure out how to evaluate and compare the capabilities of state-of-the-art AI models, which are being released at an increasingly fast pace.
  • They've created a framework called Eureka that allows them to test these models in depth across various tasks, such as understanding images and language, and identifying areas where they excel or struggle.
  • The study found that while some models perform exceptionally well in certain areas, they often have limitations in others, like being unable to accurately reason about objects in images or detecting toxic content in text.
  • Additionally, many models are not fully deterministic, meaning their outputs can vary even when given the same input, which raises concerns about their reliability and stability.
  • The researchers hope that by sharing Eureka with the open-source community, they can help accelerate progress in AI development and identify areas where new technologies and architectures are needed to overcome current limitations.

12 examples of corporate social responsibility done right


Zapier | By Luke Strauss

September 18, 2024

  • Many companies are now prioritizing corporate social responsibility (CSR) to make a positive impact on society while growing sustainably.
  • CSR involves weaving ethical, environmental, and social considerations into business practices, such as sourcing materials responsibly, reducing waste, and supporting local communities.
  • Companies like Patagonia, Allbirds, and Rent the Runway have successfully implemented CSR by creating long-term goals, committing to sustainability in production and treatment of employees, and integrating giving directly into their business model.
  • Other companies, like Hive and BLK + GRN, focus on educating consumers about social issues and promoting sustainable products from minority-owned businesses.
  • The four main categories of CSR are environmental, philanthropic, ethical, and economic responsibility, and implementing CSR strategically is crucial to success, as it can improve a company's reputation, attract new customers, and lead to certifications like being a Certified B Corp.

How to use VLOOKUP in Google Sheets


Zapier | By Cecilia Gillen

September 16, 2024

  • If you're getting an error message while searching for something on Google Sheets, make sure to double-check your search value for any typos or extra spaces before trying again.
  • For help with using Google Sheets, check out our related articles and guides, including a complete guide to getting started, a comparison of Google Sheets versus Excel, tips for saving URLs directly into the spreadsheet, and tutorials on finding and updating rows in Google Sheets.

How we use Lakera Guard to secure our LLMs


Dropbox | By Brooks McMillin,Adrian Wood,Mark Breitenbach,Aditya Damani

September 18, 2024

  • If you're interested in joining Dropbox, check out our current job openings and get an idea of what it's like to work there by following us on Instagram and Facebook at @LifeInsideDropbox.

Honoring #IconsOfQuality: Michael Bolton, DevelopSense


Browserstack | By Shweta Chhillar

September 16, 2024

AI
  • Michael Bolton is a seasoned testing expert with over 35 years of experience who's been helping teams tackle tricky testing problems by uncovering hidden truths about software before they become costly surprises.
  • As a Lead Consultant at DevelopSense, he focuses on improving testing practices and has co-authored Rapid Software Testing to prepare testers for uncertain and high-pressure conditions.
  • Michael is concerned about the misuse of automation tools and AI in testing, advocating for critical thinking and caution when adopting new technologies.
  • He emphasizes the importance of finding problems that matter before it's too late and advises beginners in software testing to "prepare, develop your skills, and strap in" due to strong headwinds in the field.

How to automate ChatGPT


Zapier | By Elena Alston

September 17, 2024

AI
  • ChatGPT is a powerful tool that can perform many tasks such as writing code, solving complex problems, and translating languages, but it's even more useful when combined with automation through Zapier's ChatGPT integration.
  • With this integration, you can build custom AI assistants in other apps like Slack or Gmail to answer questions and solve issues at scale.
  • You can also use ChatGPT to nurture and qualify leads by generating AI-driven messages and summaries, generate content such as blog posts and emails, create images and analyze graphs and charts using DALL.E 3, summarize business information, get event reminders and prioritize your workload, and even transcribe and translate audio files.
  • By harnessing the power of ChatGPT with automation, you can maximize your productivity and efficiency in various tasks at work, from content creation to customer communication.

More on the mysterious [default_interface] attribute in Windows Runtime classes


Microsoft Devblogs | By Raymond Chen

September 18, 2024

  • When you create a Windows Runtime class with only static members or instance methods inherited from a base class, the MIDL compiler may think it's an empty object and ask for clarification.
  • If your intention is to have instances of this class but no direct interface, you can add the `[default_interface]` attribute to indicate that the generated default interface is okay even if it doesn't contain any useful methods.
  • However, if your class actually has a meaningful interface implemented through inheritance or implemented interfaces, it's better to use that as the default interface instead of adding `[default_interface]`.
  • Adding `[default_interface]` to a class with instance members is redundant but harmless, resulting in two interfaces: an empty default interface and one containing the instance members.

Inside Salesforce’s Scalable Time Series Forecasting AI Platform


Salesforce | By Scott Nyberg

September 16, 2024

Database
Cloud
AI
DevOps
Backend
Hardware
Algorithms
  • Salesforce uses data centers worldwide and needs accurate demand forecasting to ensure its infrastructure scales effectively without incidents or budget overruns.
  • To tackle this challenge, the Infrastructure Data Science team built a new configuration-driven Time Series Forecasting Platform that can handle over 70 forecasting use cases, generating millions of forecasts daily.
  • The platform's capabilities are made possible by hiding engineering tooling behind a simple YAML interface, allowing data scientists to focus on modeling and model maintainers to ensure seamless infrastructure operations.
  • This approach treats models as "cattle" rather than "pets," enabling rapid experimentation and easy management of the high volume of simpler, personalized models needed for time series forecasting.
  • The platform ensures high availability and accuracy through safety guarantees, extensible model selection, and flexible compute backends, making it an efficient tool for managing time series forecasts at scale.

What is OpenAI o1? And how does it compare to GPT-4o?


Zapier | By Harry Guinness

September 17, 2024

AI
  • OpenAI has released a new series of models called o1, which are designed to be better at working through complex tasks and harder problems that require logical reasoning compared to their previous model GPT-4o.
  • The o1 models use a technique called Chain of Thought reasoning (CoT), where they break down what you've asked them to do into multiple simpler steps before creating an output, allowing them to think more carefully about the problem.
  • While this approach makes the o1 models significantly better at complex challenges than GPT-4o, it also comes with a higher price tag - $15 per million input tokens and $60 per million output tokens for the o1-preview model, compared to just $5 per million input tokens and $15 per million output tokens for GPT-4o.
  • The o1 models are available through ChatGPT and the API, but their high cost may make them less accessible to some users, and existing LLMs will still have their uses until OpenAI's new system to automatically route prompts to the most appropriate model is developed.

How to Handle Side Effects in Jest – A Guide to Effective Mocking


freeCodeCamp | By ِAya Nabil Othman

September 16, 2024

Backend
  • Unit testing is a fundamental practice in building software applications that helps identify bugs early and makes code maintenance easier by isolating and testing individual components of your application in isolation.
  • You can use Jest, a popular testing framework, to test these components effectively by focusing on their main logic without affecting external dependencies or causing side effects.
  • External dependencies are modules or functions outside your own codebase that your application interacts with, while side effects occur when a function modifies some state outside its scope.
  • To handle these challenges, you can use mocking in Jest, which involves creating a fake version of a function to control its behavior during testing.
  • By applying the Arrange-Act-Assert pattern and using mocks to simulate external dependencies and manage side effects, you can write reliable tests that ensure individual parts of your code work correctly and maintain code quality by isolating and managing dependencies effectively.

New AI Innovation Hub in Tunisia Drives Technological Advancement Across Africa


Nvidia | By Fatima Tambajang

September 17, 2024

AI
  • A new AI innovation hub has been launched in Novation City, Tunisia, to help drive the adoption of artificial intelligence across Africa.
  • Built with the NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute (DLI), this hub provides training, technologies, and business networks for developers, aiming to train 100,000 African developers over three years.
  • The hub offers complimentary access to DLI courses on topics like generative AI, data science, and accelerated computing.
  • Located in Sousse, Tunisia, the hub is part of a broader effort to strengthen the country's ecosystem in STEM fields, which have been emphasized in the nation's education system for centuries.
  • With the support of various organizations, including French and German development agencies, the Tunisian government, and NVIDIA, this initiative aims to foster collaboration between academia, industry, and government, ultimately positioning Tunisia as a digital leader in Africa.

Introducing the AssemblyAI piece for Activepieces


Assembly AI | By Niels Swimberghe

September 19, 2024

  • Activepieces users can now use AssemblyAI's Speech AI features to transcribe and analyze audio without needing to code.
  • The AssemblyAI piece for Activepieces allows you to supply audio, choose what actions to take with it, and connect the results to other services in your flows.
  • Each action has easy-to-use input parameters, making it simple to integrate AssemblyAI into your processes.

How to add Google Analytics to WordPress


Zapier | By Juliet John

September 17, 2024

  • You can automatically track your site's performance by gathering data from other connected apps using Zapier and Google Analytics 4 integration.
  • This allows you to monitor form submissions, payments, or other key metrics in a more holistic view of your site's activity.
  • With pre-made templates available, you can easily get started with automating your data analytics for a better understanding of your website's performance.

23 is a go, keeping pace with Java


Trino | By Manfred Moser, Mateusz Gajewski

September 17, 2024

Backend
  • The team behind Trino is upgrading it to require Java 23, as they did with Java 22 and 21 before, in order to take advantage of new features and improvements that will become available.
  • They've already been using early access binaries for months and plan to execute the same steps as last time: wait for Eclipse Temurin binary packages, test everything works with Java 23, change the container image, cut a release, adjust based on community feedback, switch the requirement to Java 23, and then celebrate.
  • This process will likely take some time and they invite the community to track progress, discuss next steps, and work together through the Java 23 tracking issue and contributor calls.

What are Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions?


Mckinsey

September 17, 2024

  • To achieve net zero emissions and mitigate climate change, organizations need to focus on reducing their Scope 3 emissions, which are greenhouse gases emitted across the value chain, both upstream and downstream.
  • These emissions can account for up to 90 percent of a company's total emissions, making them a crucial target for reduction.
  • Companies in various industries, such as consumer goods, logistics, and semiconductors, are working to reduce their Scope 3 emissions by implementing strategies like supplier collaboration, product specification changes, partnerships with new technologies, end-of-life solutions, green portfolio strategies, and value chain integration.
  • For example, retailers can work with suppliers on decarbonization, while food-processing companies can decrease upstream emissions by sourcing lower-carbon products.
  • Additionally, logistics companies are shifting toward greener shipping practices, exploring alternative fuels, and developing collaborative partnerships to accelerate shipping decarbonization.
  • By addressing these Scope 3 emissions, organizations can significantly contribute to their overall carbon footprint reduction and help achieve the goal of net zero emissions.

Minced oaths: how *not* to swear in English


Duolingo | By Aroline Hanson, Ph.D.

September 16, 2024

  • Minced oaths are alternative words or phrases used to express strong emotions without offending others.
  • They're often shortened, misspelled, or mispronounced versions of taboo words and are commonly used in informal conversations.
  • Examples include "gosh," "darn," "drat," and "oh my" to replace more explicit language.
  • Other minced oaths start with sounds like "d", "s", or end with a "k" sound, such as "shoot," "what the heck," and "heck." There are also alternatives for specific words like the "f-word," using phrases like "fudge" or "frig." To avoid religious taboos, minced oaths can be combined to create more complex expressions, like "Shut the front door!" These alternatives can help you express strong emotions without offending others and are useful in polite company, at work, or around people who may not appreciate explicit language.

The evolving role of experiences in travel


Mckinsey

September 17, 2024

DevOps
Algorithms
  • The way people travel is changing, with more and more people choosing destinations based on specific activities or experiences they want to have, rather than just visiting a place for its attractions.
  • The market for travel experiences is huge, worth over $1 trillion, and it's growing rapidly, especially among younger generations who are eager to splurge on unique experiences.
  • However, the current system of booking these experiences can be frustrating, with many travelers overwhelmed by too many options and struggling to find what they're looking for.
  • To solve this problem, stakeholders across the travel industry need to work together to create a more seamless and enjoyable experience for travelers, while also providing opportunities for operators and platforms to profit from this growing market.

Fine-tuning LLMs to 1.58bit: extreme quantization made easy


HuggingFace

September 18, 2024

AI
Hardware
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Global Energy Perspective 2024


Mckinsey

September 17, 2024

Performance
AI
Backend
  • The world's energy transition to meet Paris Agreement goals faces significant challenges, with global emissions projected to remain above the 1.5°C pathway even if all countries deliver on current commitments.
  • Despite progress in renewable energy and declining emissions by 2050, emissions are still meaningfully above net-zero targets across all scenarios.
  • To meet growing energy demand, both renewables and fossil fuels will form part of the energy mix for the foreseeable future, with fossil fuels projected to continue playing a role until at least 2030.
  • A major bottleneck is the slow build-out of low-carbon technologies, including grid infrastructure, which must grow threefold by 2050 to accommodate intermittent renewable sources.
  • Furthermore, the deployment pipeline for several technologies falls short of 2030 targets in the European Union and the United States, with concerns over project economics and long-term returns hindering investment decisions.

How the OpenSearch Software Foundation Will Ensure Long-Term Sustainability of the OpenSearch Project


Linux Foundation | By andrewb@proximabiz.com (The Linux Foundation)

September 17, 2024

  • The Linux Foundation has officially launched the OpenSearch Software Foundation, which will be responsible for maintaining and developing the powerful search software used by developers worldwide to build applications such as search engines, analytics tools, and databases.
  • This move marks a shift from OpenSearch being hosted by AWS to community control under the Linux Foundation, allowing it to benefit from neutral governance, transparency, and cost-effectiveness.
  • With its versatility and scalability, OpenSearch is widely used in various industries, including e-commerce, finance, and healthcare, for tasks such as log analysis, real-time application monitoring, and business intelligence.
  • The new foundation will enable community-driven development, ensuring the project stays up-to-date with the latest tech trends, and a governing board will be created to support its continued growth and success.

It rather involved being on the other side of this airtight hatchway: Posting completions to somebody else’s I/O completion port


Microsoft Devblogs | By Raymond Chen

September 17, 2024

  • When trying to control another process, it's actually more efficient and powerful to already have certain rights such as being able to write data in the victim's memory or having a vulnerability that allows you to do so directly.
  • This bypasses the need for more complex steps like duplicating a handle, which is still a very powerful tool that can be used to steal or replace any handle from another process, but it's not always necessary if you already have other forms of access.

The 7 best AI image generators in 2024


Zapier | By Harry Guinness

September 18, 2024

AI
  • Getty Images offers a Generative AI image generator with 500 free credits as part of its Creative Cloud Photography Plan, which is surprisingly good at creating stock-like photos and comes with indemnification from any legal claims.
  • It's less fun to use compared to other options like Midjourney or DALL·E 3, but more practical for companies due to its focus on commercially safe images.
  • Other options include Shutterstock's AI image generator built with OpenAI, which has a similar approach but wasn't liked as much in testing.
  • Google Imagen is also an option, but its results aren't quite on par with the other apps yet.
  • There are several other AI image generators available, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, and some are even free to use.
  • However, there's still uncertainty around the legal and ethical implications of using AI-generated images, including issues like bias and lack of clear laws protecting artists whose work was used for training models.

When the money runs out: K–12 schools brace for stimulus-free budgets


Mckinsey

September 18, 2024

  • As the $190 billion Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) fund expires in September 2024, K-12 district leaders are reflecting on their spending priorities over the past three years.
  • Despite believing that stimulus funding was effective, districts wish they had spent more on addressing learning loss, mental health challenges, and student behavior issues.
  • With a projected 5-8% budget decline when ESSER ends, districts expect to prioritize supporting students and staff, including recovering learning loss, supporting mental health, and addressing absenteeism.
  • They plan to maintain current spending on instructional staff and administrative tools but decelerate in pandemic-related priorities like large programs and facilities maintenance.
  • Districts will also focus on innovation, increasing spending on AI-driven teacher and student solutions, while vendors of educational products may face a bumpy ride as schools consolidate contracts and look for high-impact solutions.
  • Philanthropic organizations can play a crucial role by providing evidence-based interventions and technical assistance to support districts in allocating resources effectively.

Introducing Replit Agent


Replit

September 16, 2024

AI
  • Replit Agent is an AI system that helps users build software by configuring their development environment, installing necessary tools, and running code.
  • This means you can take your app idea from concept to deployment in just a few minutes, using either your laptop or the Replit mobile app.
  • The Agent acts like a virtual pair programmer, making it easier for anyone to start building software with minimal setup time.

Inside Bento: Jupyter Notebooks at Meta


Facebook

September 17, 2024

UI/UX
  • Meta's engineers use something called Bento to work with Jupyter Notebooks, which is a platform where you can mix code, text, and multimedia in one document.
  • A feature of Bento allows users to run notebooks directly in their browser without needing a remote server.
  • In this podcast episode, the guest Steve talks about how his team built various features on top of Jupyter, including scheduling notebooks, sharing them with colleagues, and running them locally using WebAssembly.

Unleash Your Innovation: Announcing the Databricks Generative AI Startup Challenge with Over $1 Million in Credits, Prizes, and Potential Venture Funding


Databricks

September 18, 2024

AI
  • If you're an entrepreneur or startup with a new and exciting use case for Generative AI built on Databricks, then there's a challenge waiting just for you - it seems that someone has announced a competition or task specifically designed to test out your innovative idea.

How to run .NET apps natively on Arm64 devices


Microsoft Devblogs | By Mark Downie

September 17, 2024

Coding
  • If you're developing .NET applications and want to take advantage of Arm-based processors' performance and power efficiency, Visual Studio 2022 has a new feature that allows you to run your apps natively on Arm64 devices.
  • This means your app will use the Arm64 CPU instead of x64 emulation, resulting in improved performance and battery life.
  • To enable this feature, you need to install the Windows 24H2 update, specify the supported architectures in your app manifest file, and select the "Prefer native ARM64" option in Visual Studio 2022's Properties page.
  • Once set up, you can run and debug your .NET apps natively on Arm64 devices without changing your code or build configuration, giving your users a better experience with improved performance and reliability.

A Quick Introduction to Meta's Stylex


Refine.dev

September 16, 2024

Web
Backend
  • Stylex is a tool used to apply styles to Next.js apps by creating and defining CSS-in-JS styles for pages and components.
  • It uses variables that can be edited to toggle between light and dark modes, making it flexible for handling global styles or theme changes.
  • This makes Stylex a powerful toolbox for producing reusable, extendable, and performant styling as needed in large applications.

Top Front-End Frameworks in 2024 Worth Your Time and Effort to Master


Refine.dev

September 16, 2024

  • When choosing between different frameworks, consider what you want to build and how you prefer to work - some frameworks have their own unique vibe that suits certain types of projects.
  • Think about which one has the most in-demand jobs available, as well as the size and helpfulness of its community and learning resources, so you can choose the best fit for your goals and learning style.

Stay effortlessly organized with Zapier's Dropbox integration


Zapier | By Nicole Replogle

September 16, 2024

  • File management can be overwhelming with tasks such as downloading attachments, creating files across multiple apps, and sharing them with colleagues, while also remembering to back everything up.
  • Cloud storage apps like Dropbox make it easier to store and collaborate on files, but a solid file management system is still necessary to avoid the hassle of finding specific documents or contracts.
  • Zapier's automated workflows can help streamline your file storage by automating tasks such as saving files to Dropbox automatically, cleaning up your file storage, managing social media files, sending notifications for new files in Dropbox, and creating tasks and database items from new files.
  • These Zaps can be set up with pre-made templates and can integrate with thousands of apps, making it easy to automate almost any task at work, saving you time and reducing stress.

How to use Meta's Facebook Business Manager [2024]


Zapier | By Ryan Kane

September 18, 2024

  • To test and optimize your Facebook ads, create multiple ad creatives to see which ones your audience responds to best.
  • Once you have a ready ad, click "Create Your Ad" to launch it.
  • You can also connect Facebook to other apps using Zapier's integrations, allowing you to automate tasks such as sending leads to your CRM or adding contacts to a custom audience.
  • This helps streamline your workflow and make the most of your advertising efforts.

Introducing Netflix’s Key-Value Data Abstraction Layer


Netflix | By Netflix Technology Blog

September 18, 2024

Performance
Algorithms
  • Netflix uses a Key-Value (KV) data abstraction layer to power its search function and various other applications such as streaming metadata, user profiles, and real-time analytics.
  • To improve performance, it implemented client-side compression which reduced payload sizes by 75%, smarter pagination that predicts operation SLOs based on byte limit rather than item count, and adaptive pagination that dynamically tunes limits based on observed data to minimize read amplification.
  • Additionally, the server can detect if processing a request might exceed its latency SLO and send a response early or stop processing further results to prevent SLO violations.
  • The KV abstraction layer also enables dynamic configuration of clients through in-band messaging called signaling, allowing for seamless exchange of configuration settings between client and server.
  • As Netflix continues to innovate, the KV abstraction remains a central component in managing data efficiently and reliably at scale, ensuring a solid foundation for future growth.

Innovating at the speed of light: A CosMc’s story


McDonald's Tech Blog | By Global Technology

September 18, 2024

Web
UI/UX
  • In less than a year, McDonald's new small-format concept, CosMc's, evolved from a paper idea to a living brand by leveraging a dedicated team, great partners, and lots of cross-functional hard work.
  • To achieve this goal in just 10 months, the team used various techniques such as Design Thinking, Service Blueprinting, Behavioral Prototyping, and breaking down work into smaller teams called "squads".
  • They also brought on external partners to help with experience design and engineering, which allowed them to create a clear product vision and roadmap.
  • Through testing early and often, they were able to iterate and improve the concept, eventually getting to fully working end-to-end software just a few weeks before opening.
  • With CosMc's now up and running, the team continues to innovate and design new customer-experience concepts at an aggressive pace, driven by their culture of innovating at speed.

How UltraCamp uses AI to build thoughtful customer connections


Zapier | By Krystina Martinez

September 17, 2024

AI
  • UltraCamp, a company that provides management software for camps and retreats, uses automation tools like Zapier and AI to simplify tasks and improve customer success.
  • Their Digital Experience Strategist, Spencer Mroczek, says their customizability is their greatest strength, but it also means complexity, so they use AI to do the "drudgery work".
  • They've implemented various Zaps that use AI to automate tasks such as creating personalized training documentation for new customers, onboarding sales reps with real-world examples, and generating social media content.
  • These automations have saved UltraCamp time and improved customer success, allowing them to focus on what matters most - supporting camps and their transformative programs.

Snappy, Not Crappy: An Android Health & Performance Journey


Reddit | By /u/beautifulboy11

September 16, 2024

Performance
Mobile
Backend
Data Science
Coding
Algorithms
  • The story of Reddit's Android app transformation began around late 2021 when the app was struggling with slow load times, frequent crashes, and poor performance due to its massive size and complex architecture.
  • The team knew they had significant work to do and set out on a journey to improve stability and performance, starting by identifying key metrics such as crash rates, startup time, and app size.
  • They broke down the app into smaller, more manageable pieces, adopted a modern tech stack, and implemented various tools and frameworks to monitor and analyze performance issues.
  • Through a series of projects and initiatives, they were able to reduce app start times from 12 seconds to under 3 seconds, decrease app size by over 50MB, and improve overall user experience.
  • The team also worked on making the developer experience better, introducing new metrics and tools for observability, and implementing more robust testing strategies.
  • Their efforts paid off, with significant improvements in performance and stability, as well as a cultural shift towards prioritizing quality and performance across the company.

Airbyte’s journey until 1.0 | Airbyte


Airbyte

September 16, 2024

AI
  • The Airbyte team has just launched their version 1.0, which includes many innovative features such as AI-powered connectors and a marketplace where users can find and connect to various data sources.
  • They're excited about this milestone, but also looking forward to continuing to improve and expand their platform, with the goal of building even more tools and capabilities through collaboration with their community and user feedback.

Build a More Open Lakehouse With Unity Catalog


StarRocks | By Sida Shen

September 16, 2024

AI
Game Dev
  • Databricks has made Unity Catalog, a tool for working with data and AI, open source and donated it to the LF AI & Data group.
  • This means that Unity Catalog can now be used by anyone, making it easier to work with different types of data formats and computing engines in a single place.
  • This is significant because it's not just about providing new tools, but also represents a shift towards using open architecture, which allows for greater flexibility and collaboration.

24 new Chrome themes from our Rising Artists Series


Google Chrome | By Meirav Rotstein

September 17, 2024

  • Google has partnered with six up-and-coming artists to create new and unique themes for Chrome users.
  • These themes allow you to personalize your browsing experience by giving your Chrome browser a fresh look that reflects your style or personality.
  • You can try out these different themes to find one that suits your taste, making your browsing experience more enjoyable and fun.

Meet the students of Notion


Notion | By Maya Bakir

September 17, 2024

  • You can sign up for free and also check out some useful school templates on our website to get started quickly and easily.

Observability in Semantic Kernel


Microsoft Devblogs | By Tao Chen

September 17, 2024

AI
  • Semantic Kernel allows developers to observe and monitor their application's behavior by emitting logs, metrics, and traces that are compatible with OpenTelemetry standard.
  • This means you can use your favorite tools to track how your services interact with Semantic Kernel, including events like kernel function execution time, token consumption, and error messages.
  • The observability features include logging meaningful events and errors, metrics for monitoring performance, and distributed tracing to track activities across different services.
  • By following the OpenTelemetry Semantic Convention, Semantic Kernel's logs and telemetry data are structured and easy to analyze, providing a consistent and meaningful observability experience for AI solutions.

Using AI for requirements analysis: A case study


Thoughtworks | By Birgitta Böckeler, Adhavan KP

September 17, 2024

AI
  • Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in requirements analysis means using computer programs to help identify and document what a system or product should be able to do.
  • This process involves gathering information from stakeholders such as users, customers, and developers to create a clear understanding of the project's needs and goals.
  • A case study on this topic would likely involve examining how AI tools were used in a real-world scenario to streamline requirements analysis, improve accuracy, and reduce the time it takes to complete the process.

Author Talks: Get in the race


Mckinsey

September 18, 2024

  • To use this content, you need to scan a QR code with your device's camera and download an app associated with it.
  • This will allow you to access and read the content stored within the app.

Security best practices for the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform


Databricks

September 18, 2024

  • At Databricks, we understand how important data is for our users and we work closely with our product and security teams to provide a secure environment where they can safely store, manage and utilize their valuable information.

Preparing for AI


Oreilly | By Mike Loukides

September 17, 2024

Web
AI
  • The key to using AI effectively is to view it as an assistant, not a replacement for human creativity and judgment.
  • First, understand what AI can and can't do, and focus on adding value beyond what AI can produce.
  • To partner with AI, use effective prompts that provide detailed information, such as chain-of-thought or structured prompts.
  • Learn to check the output of AI for accuracy and nuance, using techniques like critical thinking and fact-checking.
  • Be cautious about giving personal or confidential information to AI, which may be used to train future versions of the model.
  • Ultimately, use AI as a tool to augment your own creativity and decision-making, rather than relying solely on its outputs.
  • This requires discipline and attention to detail, but can help you succeed with AI and stay ahead in a rapidly changing job market.

How to send an email newsletter in Gmail


Zapier | By Deb Tennen

September 16, 2024

AI
  • Using Gmail for email marketing might be okay if you only send newsletters occasionally or want to make a one-time invitation look nice, but for most businesses, it's better to use a real email marketing tool.
  • Instead of relying on Gmail, you can automate tasks like creating to-do lists and saving attachments by connecting Gmail to Zapier, a no-code automation tool that lets you set up workflows between apps.
  • This way, you can free up time and focus on more important things while still getting the job done efficiently.

Pinterest Tiered Storage for Apache Kafka®️: A Broker-Decoupled Approach


Pinterest | By Pinterest Engineering

September 17, 2024

DevOps
  • Pinterest Tiered Storage for Apache Kafka has been open-sourced on GitHub and welcomes feedback and contributions.
  • Decoupling from the broker allows new features to be rolled out without needing to upgrade broker versions.
  • Planned feature additions include integration with PubSub Client and Apache Flink, support for more remote storage systems such as HDFS, and support for Parquet log segment storage format to enable real-time analytics.
  • The project's development was made possible by contributions from Ambud Sharma, Shardul Jewalikar, and the Logging Platform team, and is now available on Pinterest Engineering Blog and their GitHub repository.

How to Use the JavaScript Selection API: Build a Rich Text Editor and Real-Time Element Detection


freeCodeCamp | By Asfak Ahmed

September 16, 2024

Web
Backend
  • The JavaScript Selection API is a powerful tool that allows developers to interact with and manipulate user-selected text on a web page.
  • It enables you to get details about the currently selected text, modify or manipulate selections programmatically, detect when users make a selection, store, replace, or delete selections of text, and apply custom styling to the selected text.
  • With the Selection API, you can build advanced features such as highlighting text, copying selected text, annotating text, creating multiple ranges, detecting selection changes, working with forms, and more.
  • The API also allows developers to create a rich text editor by detecting the text selected by the user, programmatically modifying the selected content, and allowing users to make in-place edits with simple UI controls.
  • Furthermore, you can use the document.execCommand() method to apply basic text formatting like bold, italic, and underline to the selected content, and detect which HTML element was clicked using the click event and accessing the event.target property, making it easier to create dynamic and interactive web applications.

A new tech-driven era of impactful marketing and sales


Mckinsey

September 18, 2024

AI
  • Marketing is at a crossroads with the rapid development of data and new technology, particularly generative AI (gen AI), which has the potential to reach $4.4 trillion in economic value.
  • Companies are struggling to navigate this brave new world, but two leaders, Salesforce and Solo Brands, are embracing gen AI to fuel growth and customer engagement.
  • They're using gen AI tools to personalize campaigns, improve customer service, and streamline tasks such as writing copy or researching SEO keywords.
  • The key is to pair technology with human insights to create a strong impact, rather than relying solely on automation.
  • By leveraging data and experimenting with different use cases, companies can unlock the full potential of gen AI and stay ahead in the market.

Introducing Community Tools


HuggingFace

September 16, 2024

AI
Backend
Hardware
  • Hugging Face has released a new feature called Community Tools that allows you to turn any Space on HuggingFace into a tool that can be used by models directly from HuggingChat.
  • This feature expands the modalities available in HuggingChat, enabling users to understand images, generate videos, or answer with a text-to-speech model.
  • You can create community tools by turning an existing Space into one, creating your own custom tool using Python, enhancing your assistants with Community Tools, or creating a Retrieval Augmented Generator (RAG) tool on your own documents.
  • This feature is still experimental, and users are encouraged to share their feedback with Hugging Face if they encounter any issues or unsupported Spaces.

How AI project management can boost productivity


Zapier | By Allisa Boulette

September 18, 2024

AI
DevOps
Backend
  • Artificial intelligence (AI) in project management is a tool to make your job easier by automating routine tasks and providing valuable insights for informed decision-making.
  • AI combines machine learning, natural language processing, and predictive analytics to help with efficiency, resource allocation, and overall project outcomes.
  • By leveraging historical data and sophisticated algorithms, AI can predict potential risks, suggest optimal resource allocation, automate routine tasks like status reporting and scheduling, and provide real-time updates.
  • This allows you to focus on creative and critical thinking tasks while reducing errors and increasing accuracy.
  • With the right tools and a well-planned rollout strategy, you can integrate AI into your workflow to improve productivity, elevate decision-making, and reduce unnecessary meetings and costs.

Shared accountability and adaptability: Keys to a successful CIO journey


Mckinsey

September 18, 2024

AI
DevOps
Security
Algorithms
  • Javier Polit, Chief Information and Digital Officer at Costco, discussed his approach to being an effective CIO by understanding the business and its goals, building strong partnerships with executives and working teams, and prioritizing technology-driven growth through digital transformation.
  • He emphasized that delivering value requires more than just having the latest technology, but rather harnessing it to power business objectives and creating a collaborative culture where tech and business leaders work together towards common goals.
  • Polit's key strategies include educating non-tech leaders on technology, investing in building an organization that can learn new things quickly, and focusing on joint accountability and shared success between tech and business teams to drive digital solutions and growth.
  • He also highlighted the importance of proactive business approaches and continuous investments in cybersecurity to protect the enterprise from increasing cyber threats and sophisticated attacks.

How to Set Up ESLint, Prettier, StyleLint, and lint-staged in Next.js


freeCodeCamp | By Naveed Ausaf

September 16, 2024

Web
Backend
Coding
  • In this tutorial, you learned how to set up linting and formatting tools in your Next.js app, including ESLint for JavaScript code, Prettier for code formatting, Stylelint for CSS/SCSS stylesheets, and TailwindCSS plugin for ESLint.
  • You installed the necessary packages, configured each tool's settings file (e.g., .eslintrc.json, .prettierrc.json), and set up scripts in your package.json to run these tools automatically during the build process and when committing code changes.
  • Additionally, you learned how to use Husky to run lint-staged on staged files in Git, which checks for formatting and linting errors before allowing a commit, and how to install VS Code extensions for ESLint, Prettier, Stylelint, and TailwindCSS to provide syntax highlighting and auto-formatting on file save.

Announcing the new Python Data Science Extension Pack for VS Code


Microsoft Devblogs | By Rong Lu

September 18, 2024

Web
AI
  • This content discusses tools and resources to help you get started with data science using VS Code (Visual Studio Code).
  • It includes features such as cells for coding and rendering plots, creating presentation-friendly versions of your notebook by exporting to HTML or PDF, and more.
  • Additionally, it introduces two specific tools - GitHub Copilot, an AI pair programmer tool that helps write code faster, and Data Wrangler, a data viewing and cleaning tool.
  • You can install the Python Data Science Extension Pack from the VS Code extension marketplace and provide feedback on other essential extensions for the data science workflow.

Dropbox vs. OneDrive: Which should you use? [2024]


Zapier | By Miguel Rebelo

September 17, 2024

AI
Security
Algorithms
  • When choosing between OneDrive and Dropbox for cloud storage, both services have their strengths and weaknesses.
  • For personal users, they're equivalent, but if you work with audio, video, and images, Dropbox's features are better.
  • As a business, Microsoft users will prefer OneDrive due to its seamless integration with Windows and other 365 apps, while non-Microsoft shops may benefit from Dropbox's flexibility and native integrations with Google and Microsoft office applications.
  • Additionally, OneDrive has a more generous free plan, but Dropbox offers more storage space as you move up the tiers.
  • Dropbox also excels in user experience, search functionality, and collaboration features for creatives, especially with its Replay tool for reviewing audio, video, and image files.
  • Ultimately, the decision between OneDrive and Dropbox depends on your specific needs, whether you're a personal or business user, and the types of projects you work on.

Announcing the General Availability (GA) of Microsoft Entra External ID extension for Visual Studio Code


Microsoft Devblogs | By Sameeksha Raina

September 17, 2024

Backend
  • The Microsoft Entra External ID extension for Visual Studio Code has been improved with new features and bug fixes to make it easier to develop and create external tenants, customize sign-in experiences, and more.
  • Thanks to feedback from developers, many updates have been made, such as IntelliSense, resource auto-refresh, and enhanced UI and error messages.
  • With over 3,500 unique installations since its public preview, the extension continues to grow in adoption and is expected to become even better with continued collaboration from the developer community.

How Shopee 3xed Their Query Performance With StarRocks


StarRocks | By Ma Teng

September 19, 2024

Performance
Hardware
  • The team behind Data Studio was looking for a better way to handle complex analytical queries, which were taking too long to produce results.
  • They found StarRocks, a powerful query engine that can execute multiple parts of a query simultaneously across many machines, making it much faster than their current setup.
  • In tests, StarRocks outperformed Presto by 2-3 times when using the same amount of computing resources, and it handled complex queries with many nested subqueries and joins very well.
  • The team is now considering switching to StarRocks as a solution for Data Studio's query performance issues due to its high-speed querying capabilities and ability to optimize resource utilization.

What is a lead magnet? + 9 examples


Zapier | By Judith Meyer

September 16, 2024

  • To build a client base for your business, you need to attract potential customers with something valuable, known as a lead magnet.
  • This could be gated content, such as eBooks or webinars, exclusive deals, free consultations, or even access to a proprietary tool related to your industry.
  • To create an effective lead magnet, start by understanding the problems your target audience is experiencing and what they would find valuable enough to exchange their email for.
  • Then, decide where the lead magnet should live, such as on a dedicated landing page, and help people find it with keyword research and content targeting those keywords.
  • Once you have your lead's email address, segment them to personalize the experience and automate email marketing to nurture them towards becoming customers.
  • Finally, repurpose your lead magnet into other marketing campaigns to get even more value out of it.
  • By using targeted lead magnets and a well-planned lead generation funnel, you can build an email list that drives business growth, like my husband's architecture consultancy did.

NVIDIA AI Aerial Launches to Optimize Wireless Networks, Deliver New Generative AI Experiences on One Platform


Nvidia | By Ronnie Vasishta

September 18, 2024

AI
Robotics
  • NVIDIA has launched "AI Aerial", a powerful computing platform designed to optimize wireless networks for the next generation of technologies such as generative AI on mobile devices, robots, and autonomous vehicles.
  • This platform allows telecommunications providers to transform their services beyond just voice and data by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to improve network performance, reduce costs, and create new revenue opportunities.
  • With AI Aerial, telecom operators can support a range of innovative applications including teleoperations for manufacturing robots, computer vision in agriculture and logistics, generative AI-driven co-pilots, and more.
  • The platform is also part of the "AI-RAN" (Radio Access Network) innovation center, where leading companies like T-Mobile, Ericsson, Nokia, and others are collaborating to drive industry-wide adoption and accelerate commercialization of AI-RAN technology.

Large language model evaluation: The key to GenAI success


Thoughtworks | By Parag Mahajani

September 18, 2024

  • Large language models are being evaluated as a crucial step towards achieving General Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), which aims to create intelligent machines that can perform any task a human can.

Proton Mail vs. Gmail: Which is right for you? [2024]


Zapier | By Miguel Rebelo

September 17, 2024

AI
  • When choosing between ProtonMail and Gmail, consider your needs: if you care about complete privacy and security for sensitive conversations, use ProtonMail, but be aware it may limit convenience and flexibility.
  • If you prioritize a user-friendly experience with additional features like AI tools, choose Gmail.
  • You can even use both services: keep Gmail as your main inbox for everyday tasks, and use ProtonMail for sensitive negotiations or confidential information that requires extra protection.
  • Just remember to keep sensitive conversations on ProtonMail private by not forwarding them to Gmail.

Beyond the balance sheet: North American asset management 2024


Mckinsey

September 18, 2024

AI
Algorithms
  • The North American asset management industry has been recovering after a tough year in 2022 but still faces challenges.
  • Despite record assets under management of $132 trillion as of June 2024, revenues and profits were flat or declining due to stagnant sales of high-fee active equity mutual funds and rising costs.
  • However, there are opportunities for growth, such as private capital companies stepping in to fill the void left by banks' reduced lending activities, insurers shifting their investments towards private capital, and wealth intermediaries increasing allocations to private markets.
  • These trends could bring $8 trillion to $10 trillion of new managed assets into the industry over the next decade.
  • To thrive, asset managers can focus on tapping into durable sources of demand, creating privileged access, managing complexity and cost, and unlocking the potential of technology, such as AI, to make investment and distribution more efficient.

Google Open Sources Smart Buildings Simulator and Dataset to Accelerate Sustainable Innovation


Google Open Source | By Open Source Programs Office (noreply@blogger.com)

September 17, 2024

AI
  • Google's goal is to make carbon-free energy by 2030 and achieve zero emissions across their operations and value chain by 2040.
  • They're sharing tools and data with others to help reduce the environmental impact of buildings worldwide and create a more sustainable future.
  • They invite researchers, developers, and industry professionals to join their mission by exploring open-source resources on GitHub and collaborating to use AI and data to make buildings more energy-efficient, comfortable for occupants, and environmentally friendly.

Numat CEO Ben Hernandez on mitigating the risks of hazardous chemicals


Mckinsey

September 17, 2024

  • Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are highly porous materials made from metal ions and organic molecules that can capture, interact with, or release various targets.
  • Companies across industries are exploring MOF applications in storing gases, separating chemicals, delivering drugs, and protecting against hazardous chemicals, including chemical weapons.
  • Numat, a Chicago-based company, is using MOFs to develop filtration technologies for defense equipment, including reactive garments that capture and destroy chemical agents, making them safer and lighter than traditional suits.
  • To bring MOF solutions to the defense market, Numat has had to adapt its approach by developing universal dual-use platforms that can be applied across multiple markets and applications, while also navigating complex procurement cycles and regulatory requirements.
  • With government funding as an accelerator, but not a distraction, Numat is working closely with end-users, procurement professionals, and the DOD's science and technology groups to advance MOF innovation and growth in defense and commercial applications.

Customizing LLMs for Enterprise Data Using Domain Adaptation: The Wix Journey


Wix Engineering

September 15, 2024

AI
  • The team from Wix Engineering was trying to improve their question-and-answer system using artificial intelligence models, but they weren't getting the results they wanted.
  • They decided to explore a technique called LLM domain adaptation to make their models better at answering specific questions.
  • In this post, they gave an overview of what they've learned so far and promised to share more details in a future post and meeting on September 16th.
  • They also thanked the many people who contributed to the project, including AI researchers, engineers, and curators.

From Research to Reality: A Product Designer's Journey in Shaping a New Feature


Hubspot | By Lindsay Derby

September 16, 2024

  • As a product designer at HubSpot, Lindsay Derby shares her experience of tackling a new project by taking a research-driven approach to truly understand the needs and pain points of their target users.
  • She explains that this process involves conducting user interviews and surveys to gather insights, followed by design thinking workshops where she collaborates with users to validate assumptions and prioritize features.
  • After gaining initial feedback through concept testing and iterative refinement, Lindsay works closely with the engineering team to bring a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) to life, which is then tested in private beta with a small group of users before planning for a public beta launch.
  • By constantly gathering user feedback and incorporating it into the design process, Lindsay and her team aim to deliver a valuable solution that meets their customers' needs and makes a meaningful impact.

Announcing LangChain v0.3


Langchain | By LangChain

September 16, 2024

Backend
  • LangChain has been updated with several new features and changes, including moving some integrations to their own packages for better management and testing.
  • The documentation has also been revamped and simplified tool definitions have been added for easier usage.
  • New utilities were introduced for interacting with chat models and dispatching custom events, which can be accessed through Python and JavaScript APIs.
  • To update code, users should refer to the how-to guides provided for both languages.
  • LangChain is now recommending the use of LangGraph for building stateful applications with LLMs and an out-of-the-box agent solution is available.
  • Future improvements will focus on multi-modal capabilities and documentation reliability, and user feedback is welcomed on GitHub.

Multi-Project Launch Configuration


Microsoft Devblogs | By Nayana Srikanth

September 18, 2024

Coding
  • Visual Studio has introduced a new feature called Multi-Project Launch Configuration to simplify your workflow when working with multiple projects.
  • To use this feature, first enable it by going to Tools > Options > Preview Features and checking "Enable Multi Launch Profiles".
  • Then, open your Visual Studio solution that contains multiple projects, right-click on the top-level item in Solution Explorer, and select "Configure Startup Projects".
  • From there, you can choose the action for each project, such as starting or debugging, and save the profile.
  • Once saved, the launch profiles will be available in a dropdown list at the top of your Visual Studio window, allowing you to easily switch between different configurations for debugging.

Unifying Parameters Across Databricks


Databricks

September 17, 2024

Database
  • We're adding a new feature to our SQL editor called named parameter markers, which makes it easier to write safe and reusable SQL queries by letting you specify what each part of the query means, making your code more readable and maintainable.

The 9 best AI video generators in 2024


Zapier | By Miguel Rebelo

September 17, 2024

AI
  • The AI video maker market has expanded with new companies and models arriving, offering various tools to create videos using generative AI.
  • Some notable options include Runway, Stable Video, Pikai, Luma Dream Machine, PixVerse, and Sora by OpenAI, each with its own strengths and limitations.
  • These tools allow users to create videos without having to manually record or edit footage, saving time and increasing production value.
  • While some models struggle with simple camera movements or interactions between objects, they can still produce impressive results, especially when used with careful prompts.
  • For those who want to explore more options, there's also a list of AI video alternatives like Canva, Kapwing, Virbo, invideo, Typeframes, Munchi, and HeyGen that offer similar features and subscription plans.

Use the FARM Stack to Develop Full Stack Apps


freeCodeCamp | By Beau Carnes

September 18, 2024

Web
Database
Security
Backend
  • The FARM stack is a set of powerful technologies used to build modern web applications, consisting of FastAPI for creating fast and scalable backends, React for building dynamic and responsive frontends, MongoDB for storing data in a flexible way, and Docker for containerizing the entire application.
  • This tutorial walks through building a Todo List application using these technologies, starting with setting up the project structure and backend environment, then implementing the Data Access Layer, FastAPI server, and API endpoints, followed by setting up the React frontend to display and interact with todo lists and items.
  • By completing this tutorial, you can gain hands-on experience with FARM stack development and Docker containerization, and create a full-featured web application that is fast, scalable, and easy to maintain.

How batteries will drive the zero-emission truck transition


Mckinsey

September 18, 2024

Web
Backend
Hardware
Algorithms
  • To reduce emissions from heavy-duty trucks, many companies are investing in battery electric vehicles (BEVs), which have zero tailpipe emissions and lower operational costs over time.
  • Currently, BEVs are considered the most viable alternative to diesel engines due to advancements in battery technologies, with prices dropping by over 80% in the past decade.
  • While other options like hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (H2-FCEVs) and renewable fuels exist, they have their own set of advantages and disadvantages, such as higher upfront costs for BEVs but lower operational costs in the long run.
  • To capture the BEV market, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) need to offer technologically leading and commercially attractive vehicles by mastering battery technologies, which require high energy density, low cost, and long cycle life.
  • OEMs can source batteries through direct purchasing, partnerships, or in-house production, with each option having its own set of risks and benefits.
  • As the industry shifts towards zero-emission powertrains, investing in BEV trucks will be key to the transition, and OEMs need to adapt to potential technological, regulatory, and business model changes to stay competitive and profitable.

Bun v1.1.28


Bun

September 18, 2024

Web
  • Bun, a new JavaScript runtime, has fixed several issues in its latest version.
  • One issue was with it loading and printing messages about a .env file when it shouldn't be doing so.
  • Another issue occurred on Windows where Bun couldn't read some files to the end.
  • Additionally, Bun's optimization for React 19 production mode didn't work due to changes in React, but it has been disabled until further updates are made.
  • Lastly, a crash that happened with a specific JavaScript function called TextDecoder has also been fixed by disabling another feature called DOMJIT, which speeds up certain functions, to prevent future crashes.

12 operating principles that shape our innovative culture


Duolingo | By Duolingo Team

September 16, 2024

  • At Duolingo, we have core principles that guide everything we do to provide high-quality education for all.
  • We prioritize our learners' needs and experiences above all else, making data-driven decisions to ensure effective learning.
  • We value teamwork, simplicity, and innovation, testing ideas rigorously before implementing them.
  • Our team is encouraged to be transparent, kind, and collaborative, with a focus on growth and development over just talent.
  • We believe in taking the long view, embracing challenges as opportunities for growth, and celebrating success together as one team - we don't just live by these principles, but are defined by them, striving for excellence in everything we do.