Hacker News
1Deep learning gets the glory, deep fact checking gets ignored
- This case study contrasts two papers on enzyme function prediction: one using AI that received high attention despite containing serious errors, and another that meticulously documented these errors but received little recognition, highlighting issues with AI evaluation and current publishing incentives in scientific research.
Model reliability issues
Discussion of how transformers and AI models often perform well in testing but fail in real-world applications, with many noting they've experienced models that confidently output wrong resultsResearch reproducibility
Debate around whether AI should first prove it can reproduce existing research before attempting novel discoveries, with emphasis on data contamination risks and validation challengesData leakage concerns
Arguments that data leakage should be assumed present until proven otherwise in AI systems, especially with large datasets where manual verification is impossible
2Merlin Bird ID
- Merlin Bird ID is a free global bird identification app that helps users identify birds through sound recognition, photo matching, and a step-by-step wizard. The app works offline, allows users to build a life list of spotted birds, and provides location-based bird lists powered by eBird's extensive database of bird observations.
Sound ID technology
Discussion of Merlin's sound identification capabilities, using spectrograms and machine learning. Users praise accuracy in identifying multiple birds, mimicry, and offline functionality. Researchers highlight domain-expert approach.Personal birding experiences
Users share how Merlin transformed their birding hobby, morning routines, and connection with nature. Many describe learning to identify birds by sound and sight, with some expressing surprise at becoming bird enthusiasts.App improvement suggestions
Users request features like individual bird tracking, better desktop integration for DSLR photos, and iNaturalist bridge. Some report technical issues on specific devices, while others praise app stability.
3FFmpeg merges WebRTC support
WebRTC streaming support
Community excited about FFmpeg adding WHIP/WebRTC support, enabling easier self-hosted streaming. Discussion covers infrastructure needs, player compatibility, and potential for democratizing video broadcasting without requiring massive budgets.Security considerations
Concerns about WebRTC security vulnerabilities and their potential impact on FFmpeg implementations. Discussion includes past WebRTC security issues, best practices for containment, and recommendations for limiting attack surface.Technical implementation
Details about WHIP protocol implementation, SCTP vs QUIC discussion, and compilation requirements. Users share experiences with building from source and integrating with various streaming services.
4Why I wrote the BEAM book
- The author shares their decade-long journey of writing the BEAM Book, a comprehensive guide to Erlang's virtual machine. Despite two cancelled publishing deals and multiple rewrites, persistence and community support led to its completion. The book aims to help engineers understand and troubleshoot BEAM systems in production environments.
Publishing technical books
Discussion of challenges in publishing niche technical books, with many authors sharing experiences of working with publishers vs self-publishing. Key factors include editor support, marketing reach, and creative control.BEAM adoption
Debate on why Erlang/Elixir/BEAM isn't more widely used despite success stories like WhatsApp. Reasons cited include lack of corporate backing, marketing challenges, and the specialized nature of use cases requiring BEAM's capabilities.BEAM architecture
Discussion of BEAM's unique features, comparison with alternatives like Kubernetes, and whether modern tools can replicate BEAM's capabilities through different approaches.
5IRS Direct File on GitHub
- This is a GitHub repository link for the IRS Direct File project, which appears to be a public initiative by the Internal Revenue Service to provide direct tax filing capabilities, though the specific details are not visible in the URL alone.
Direct file cancellation
Discussion about the program being killed by current administration, with debate around political motivations and lobbying influence from tax preparation companies like TurboTax, plus speculation about program's future.Technical implementation
Details about the Fact Graph implementation in Scala, XML-based knowledge structure, and discussion of Java coding patterns, particularly around reactive programming and nested code complexity.Tax filing complexity
Comparison between US and European tax systems, with focus on why US lacks simple pre-filled tax portals and discussion of lobbying influence on tax code complexity.
6DiffX – Next-Generation Extensible Diff Format
- The article discusses the limitations of Unified Diffs in modern software development and proposes DiffX, a new extensible diff format that's backwards-compatible with existing tools. DiffX aims to standardize parsing rules, support multiple commits, handle binary content, and provide structured metadata while maintaining compatibility with current systems and tools.
Format design concerns
Criticism of mixing JSON with key-value pairs, hierarchical meta format, and length-delimited sections. Users suggest format is overly complex and inconsistent, making it harder to parse and edit than existing formats.Problem scope validity
Debate over whether issues DiffX aims to solve (encoding, multi-commit support, metadata) are real problems needing solutions. Some argue these are internal SCM concerns rather than patch format issues.Existing solutions
Discussion of whether Git's format-patch and other existing tools already solve the stated problems, questioning the need for a new format when established solutions exist.
7The Right to Repair Is Law in Washington State
- Washington has passed two right-to-repair laws ensuring residents can access tools, parts, and information to fix electronics, appliances, and wheelchairs. This legislation, supported by various advocacy groups and tech companies, reflects a growing national movement with eight states now having similar laws. The US Army is also seeking right-to-repair provisions in its contracts.
Parts pairing and security
Discussion of security implications, TPM attestation, and whether manufacturers can still notify users about non-OEM parts, with clarification that dismissable notifications are allowed under the lawWheelchair repairability
Debate about wheelchair repair costs and restrictions, with firsthand account of $14k wheelchair requiring expensive repairs through manufacturer and inability to perform basic maintenanceBill exemptions
Significant discussion about categories exempt from the law, including game consoles, vehicles, and agricultural equipment, with concerns that these exemptions limit the law's practical impact
8Precious Plastic is in trouble
- The post describes critical challenges faced by Precious Plastic, an open-source plastic recycling initiative. Despite its global impact with 1,100 organizations across 56 countries, the project struggles with workspace issues, financial sustainability, a lawsuit in New York, software development complexities, and maintaining long-term team commitment.
Project competence concerns
Criticism of PP's management decisions, including giving away €100K donation, having no insurance, poor machine designs, and lack of accountability. Many view it as well-intentioned but incompetently run.Plastic recycling effectiveness
Debate over whether small-scale recycling is worthwhile vs industrial solutions, with discussion of degradation issues, landfilling vs incineration, and the need to focus on reducing plastic production rather than recycling.Machine practicality
Questions about PP's machines being too small, expensive and impractical compared to commercial alternatives, with debate over their open source value proposition and actual utility in real-world applications.
9Cockatoos have learned to operate drinking fountains in Australia
Bird intelligence
Discussion of avian cognitive abilities, with focus on parallel evolution of intelligence in birds vs mammals. Users note high neuron density in bird brains and examples of tool use in cockatoos, corvids and keas.Cockatoo behavior
Stories of cockatoos being destructive pranksters, comparing them to "flying toddlers with bolt-cutters". Multiple anecdotes shared about their clever antics, mischievous nature, and ability to manipulate humans.Water fountain usage
Discussion of why cockatoos prefer drinking fountains over natural water sources - theories include cleaner water, better vantage point for predators, mental stimulation from operating the mechanism.
10Cloud Run GPUs, now GA, makes running AI workloads easier for everyone
- Google Cloud announces general availability of NVIDIA GPU support for Cloud Run, offering pay-per-second billing, instant scaling, and fast startup times. Now available across multiple regions without quota requirements, this feature enables cost-effective GPU acceleration for AI applications while maintaining Cloud Run's signature simplicity and reliability.
Cost and billing concerns
Users worry about uncapped billing on GCP, comparing prices with alternatives like Modal/RunPod. Many prefer services with billing limits or prepaid credits to avoid surprise charges. Google's pricing is higher than competitors for GPU instances.Cloud Run service experience
Mixed feedback on Cloud Run - praised for ease of use and scale-to-zero capability, but criticized for mysterious scaling behavior and cold start delays. Google VP acknowledges it's best for bursty workloads rather than steady-state usage.GPU availability and performance
Discussion of difficulty getting GPU instances on major cloud providers, with users turning to alternative providers. L4 GPU performance adequate for inference but limited compared to more powerful options like H100s.