How to choose a textbook that is optimal for oneself?
A student using the textbook "Mathematical Analysis" by Zorich finds the problems in it excessively difficult and unnecessarily advanced for their current learning level, suggesting that such an approach is not optimal for learning. Experts recommend focusing on textbooks with problems aligned to the student\'s current foundational skills, which allow for more productive learning through deliberate practice that incrementally increases in difficulty. Choosing the right textbook involves evaluating pre-requisites, the level of difficulty of problems, and the availability of solutions for feedback.
A brief interview with Tcl creator John Ousterhout
Dr. John Ousterhout, a notable figure in computer science, created the Tcl scripting language which is unique for its embeddable nature and "everything is a string" philosophy. Despite its initial success in the 1990s, particularly with the Tk toolkit for GUI applications, Tcl did not transition to the Web era, leading to its decline. Ousterhout reflects on a significant career decision, wondering if Tcl could have become the primary browser language instead of JavaScript had he joined Netscape.
Typst: An easy to learn alternative for LaTex
Typst is a new markup-based typesetting system designed to be as powerful as LaTeX while offering ease of use, fast compile times, and friendly error messages. The repository provides the Typst compiler and CLI for local compilation, with detailed installation and usage instructions available. Additionally, Typst emphasizes simplicity, power, and performance through core design principles, and encourages community contributions and collaboration through its Discord server and other channels.
1989 Networking: NetWare 386
In September 1989, Novell released NetWare 386 V3.0, the first 32-bit network operating system requiring at least a 386 processor, significantly simplifying installation and maintenance through dynamically loadable modules (NLMs). Although limited in some areas like supported protocols and available drivers, NetWare 3.0 could support up to 250 users compared to NetWare 2.x\'s 100-user maximum. Despite its $7,995 price tag, the release marks a milestone in networking history, made possible to run again after 35 years thanks to software preservation efforts.
Robot dog cleans up beaches with foot-mounted vacuums
A robot dog named VERO, developed by the Italian Institute of Technology, uses foot-mounted vacuums to autonomously clean cigarette butts from beaches in Genoa. VERO navigates various terrains, like sand and stairs, detecting and collecting cigarette butts with high efficiency using onboard cameras and neural networks. This innovation demonstrates the first concurrent use of robot legs for both locomotion and task execution, suggesting broader applications beyond litter collection, such as agricultural and construction tasks.
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