"We ran out of columns" – The best, worst codebase
The author reflects on their experience working with a complex and dysfunctional codebase, which included peculiar solutions such as the "Merchants2" table due to column limitations in SQL Server and a manually maintained "calendar" table that affected system access. Despite its chaotic structure, the codebase fostered creativity and allowed for rapid problem-solving, such as a significant performance improvement made to the Merchants Search page. The author cherishes the direct connection with users and the enjoyment of working in a messy yet functional environment, contrasting it with the rigidness of more modern "enterprise design" patterns.
Back dating Git commits based on file modification dates
Simon Willison explored back-dating Git commits based on the original modification dates of files from Tim Berners-Lee\'s WorldWideWeb application code, which he copied to a GitHub repository for easier browsing. He created a Python script to group files by their modification dates and perform back-dated commits by setting specific environment variables before committing. After finalizing the script and committing the changes, he pushed the results to his GitHub repository.
An FPGA built with 7400 series logic [video]
The text discusses a presentation by Simon Burkhardt on building an FPGA using 7400 logic chips, detailing what an FPGA is and how it functions. It highlights the scarcity of knowledge regarding FPGAs and their architecture, emphasizing Burkhardt\'s personal experience inspired by Ben Eater\'s 8-bit CPU project. The presentation covers the development of a simple FPGA model, offering insights into its low-level workings.
Primitive Recursive Functions for a Working Programmer
The text discusses the misinterpretation of "Turing completeness" in programming, arguing that many misconceptions ignore the practical implications of primitive recursive functions (PRFs), which can solve many common computational problems without needing full Turing machine capabilities. It explains that while Turing machines may not terminate, PRFs are always terminating and can still express powerful functions; however, there exist functions computable by Turing machines that cannot be captured by PRFs, illustrating the limits of each computational model. Finally, it underscores the importance of properties such as determinism, well-defined semantics, purity, and simplicity in designing effective configuration languages that are often seen as non-Turing complete.
Tzero: Social Timeboxing for IRC Channels
Tzero is a timeboxing management tool designed for IRC channels that functions as a bot, allowing users to start and manage timeboxes using commands such as `begin`, `list`, and `summary`. The tool supports features like multi-channel access, persistent state, and privacy for individual users. It is open-source, licensed under the MIT License, and does not depend on any external Python libraries.
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