Lag0s

Week Summary

Technology

Earth has captured a temporary 'second moon,' a small asteroid named 2024 PT5, which will orbit until November 2024.

Research indicates that larger AI chatbots are increasingly prone to generating incorrect answers, raising concerns about their reliability.

Meta's Chief Technical Officer discussed advancements in AR and VR technologies, particularly focusing on the Orion AR glasses.

The author reflects on their experience with Rust, proposing several changes to improve the language's usability and safety features.

The Tor Project and Tails OS have merged to enhance their efforts in promoting online anonymity and privacy.

OpenAI is undergoing leadership changes, with key executives departing amid discussions about restructuring and the company's future direction.

Git-absorb

The concept of critical mass explains how significant changes occur when a threshold of acceptance is reached, impacting technology and society.

WordPress.org has banned WP Engine from accessing its resources due to ongoing legal disputes, raising concerns about security for WP Engine customers.

PostgreSQL 17

Hotwire Native is a web-first framework that simplifies mobile app development, allowing developers to reuse HTML and CSS across platforms.

Radian Aerospace is progressing on a reusable space plane, completing ground tests and aiming for full-scale flights by 2028.

A groundbreaking diabetes treatment using reprogrammed stem cells has enabled a patient to produce insulin independently for over a year.

Apple is developing a new home accessory that combines features of the iPad, Apple TV, and HomePod, expected to launch in 2025.

SpaceX's Starlink service is set to surpass 4 million subscribers, reflecting rapid growth and significant revenue projections.

TinyJS is a lightweight JavaScript library that simplifies dynamic HTML element creation and DOM manipulation for developers.

Josh W. Comeau Launches New Version of His Blog
In September 2024, Josh W. Comeau announced the launch of a new version of his blog, which he had been developing over the past few months. While the design remained largely similar, he aimed for a more refined look, with significant changes occurring behind the scenes. The blog had evolved into a complex application, comprising over 100,000 lines of code, and the migration process was both challenging and educational. Comeau intended to share insights about the new technology stack he employed, hoping to assist others interested in starting their own blogs or utilizing similar technologies. The core stack of the new blog includes several advanced technologies such as Next.js, React, MDX, Linaria, and MongoDB, among others. Comeau acknowledged that this stack might seem excessive for a blog, but he had specific reasons for his choices. He required robust MDX support for his posts, aimed to minimize context-switching with his course platform, and sought to gain experience with the latest React features. A significant change in the new blog was the transition from the older Pages Router to the newly introduced App Router in Next.js. This new routing system reimagines how routing and rendering work in React, offering a more powerful and flexible approach. Comeau shared his experiences comparing the two systems, noting both the benefits and challenges of the migration. Content management on the blog is primarily handled through MDX, which combines Markdown and JSX, allowing for the inclusion of custom React components within blog posts. This flexibility enables Comeau to create interactive content without being limited by traditional Markdown. He discussed the advantages of using MDX over a full React approach, particularly in terms of writing experience and data accessibility. The blog's styling transitioned from styled-components to Linaria, a CSS-in-JS library that compiles to CSS modules, making it compatible with React Server Components. Although Comeau faced challenges integrating Linaria with Next.js, he found it to be a powerful tool. He also expressed excitement about Pigment CSS, a new zero-runtime CSS-in-JS tool that he plans to explore in the future. Comeau revamped the code snippets on his blog with a custom-designed syntax theme and switched to Shiki for syntax highlighting, which operates at compile-time and does not add to the JavaScript bundle size. This change allowed for better performance and flexibility in supporting multiple programming languages. The blog features interactive code playgrounds powered by Sandpack, enabling users to experiment with code snippets directly on the site. Comeau also created reusable components for interactive demos, utilizing libraries like React Spring and Framer Motion for animations. For data management, he implemented a like button that stores user interactions in MongoDB, ensuring anonymity through hashed IP addresses. He opted for a fetch and Route Handler solution over Server Actions, finding it more straightforward for his needs. Comeau emphasized the importance of cohesive design across components, investing time in ensuring that elements like code snippets and side notes worked harmoniously together. He also introduced a dynamic rainbow feature on the homepage, which users can customize in real-time, showcasing the capabilities of PartyKit for real-time interactions. The blog now includes a search feature powered by Algolia, enhancing user experience. Comeau refined the icons used throughout the site, adding micro-interactions for a more engaging interface. He also prioritized accessibility by implementing rem-based media queries, reflecting his commitment to creating an inclusive web experience. In his reflections on the App Router, Comeau noted both its advantages and drawbacks, particularly regarding development speed and performance. He expressed optimism about the future of the App Router and its potential once the Next.js team addresses current issues. Overall, Comeau's blog serves as a testament to his journey in web development, showcasing the technologies and design principles he values while providing insights for others looking to build their own projects.
Josh W. Comeau Blog Josh W. Comeau USA Web Development

Month Summary

Technology

OpenAI is considering a new subscription model for its upcoming AI product, Strawberry, while also restructuring for better financial backing.

Telegram founder

The startup landscape is shifting towards more tech-intensive ventures, with a focus on specialized research and higher capital requirements.

Boom Supersonic's XB-1 demonstrator aircraft successfully completed its second flight, testing new systems for future supersonic travel.

announced the uncrewed return of Boeing's Starliner, with future crewed missions planned for 2025.

OpenAI's SearchGPT aims to compete with Google Search by providing AI-driven information retrieval, though it currently faces accuracy issues.

Tesla is preparing to unveil its autonomous robotaxi technology at an event in Los Angeles, indicating ongoing challenges in achieving full autonomy.

The US Department of Justice is investigating Nvidia for potential antitrust violations related to its AI chip market dominance.

Apple plans to use OLED screens in all iPhone 16 models, moving away from Japanese suppliers and introducing new AI features.

Amazon S3 has introduced conditional writes to prevent overwriting existing objects, simplifying data updates for developers.

Chinese scientists have developed a hydrogel that shows promise in treating osteoarthritis by restoring cartilage lubrication.

Nvidia's CEO is working to position the Nvidia as a comprehensive provider for data center needs, amidst growing competition from AMD and Intel.

OpenAI

Nvidia Blackwell

Amazon is set to release a revamped Alexa voice assistant in October, powered by AI models from Anthropic's Claude, and will be offered as a paid subscription service.