Hacker News
1Perplexity is using stealth, undeclared crawlers to evade no-crawl directives
- Cloudflare reports that Perplexity AI is using stealth crawling techniques to bypass website restrictions and robots.txt directives. Unlike well-behaved bots like ChatGPT, Perplexity modifies user agents and IP addresses to circumvent blocks. In response, Cloudflare has de-listed them as a verified bot and implemented protective measures.
User agency vs crawling
Debate over whether LLMs accessing content on user's behalf should be treated differently from web browsers, with arguments about scale, caching, and user intent vs automated crawlingWebsite owner rights
Discussion of content creators' right to control access to their work, protect business models, and prevent AI companies from disintermediating them from their audienceDetection and enforcement
Challenges of identifying and blocking AI crawlers, with debate over technical solutions, stealth methods, and whether effective enforcement is possible without damaging legitimate access
2Show HN: I spent 6 years building a ridiculous wooden pixel display
- A unique art project features a 1000-pixel display that draws one pixel at a time, taking up to an hour to complete each image. Users worldwide can participate by voting on upcoming images and submitting their own artwork to be displayed on kilopx.com.
Display improvements
Suggestions for enhancing the project included moving the pen after completion, showing attribution for in-progress work, adding a history gallery, and exploring multi-color options using cube faces for RGBK/CYMKSpeed optimization
Discussion of ways to increase refresh rate by optimizing column/row operations, using rotating mechanisms, and alternative approaches like thermal paper or marble-based systemsSimilar projects
Users shared related mechanical display projects including a 30-pixel punch card display, kinotrope implementations, motorized pin art displays, and commercial installations by Breakfast design studio
3Writing a good design document
- A guide on writing effective design documents, emphasizing clear organization, persuasive writing, and concise editing. The document should flow logically, anticipate reader objections, and use short paragraphs with single ideas. Regular practice and ruthless editing are key to improvement.
Three-layer structure
Design docs should have: 1) Problem statement/goals/requirements 2) Functional spec describing external behavior 3) Technical spec for internals. Each layer builds on previous, enabling early detection of flaws.Document culture
Writing design docs is essential as it clarifies thinking and convinces the author first. Some push back on docs but writing exposes sloppy thinking. Reading docs together in meetings ensures alignment.Document examples
Many seek concrete examples of good design docs but few are publicly available. Posts often focus on abstract tips without showing real examples. Some suggest studying antirez's docs or AWS Lambda PR/FAQ.
4Mastercard deflects blame for NSFW games being taken down
- Mastercard denies responsibility for NSFW game removals from Steam and Itch.io, stating they allow all lawful purchases. However, Valve indicates Mastercard's rules influenced payment processors' decisions, leading to game removals due to concerns about brand damage and objectionable content.
Mastercard's rules and blame deflection
Discussion of contradictions between Mastercard's public statement about allowing legal transactions and their Rule 5.12.7 which gives them discretion to block transactions that may damage their brandPayment processor regulation
Debate about whether payment processors should be regulated as common carriers, requiring them to process all legal transactions, with some arguing for government oversight and others warning of potential downsidesAlternative payment methods
Discussion of potential workarounds like crypto, cash, gift cards and Steam becoming its own payment processor, with analysis of technical and practical limitations of each approach
5Job-seekers are dodging AI interviewers
- The article discusses the growing trend of AI-powered job interviews, where candidates face virtual interviewers instead of humans. While hiring managers embrace this technology to streamline the recruitment process, many job seekers find it impersonal and frustrating, with some choosing to avoid companies that use AI interviews. The technology's future seems secure despite mixed reactions.
Dehumanizing interviews
Discussion of how AI interviews waste candidates' time, make them feel unvalued, and signal poor company culture. Companies defend AI screens as efficiency tools while candidates see them as disrespectful hurdles.HR problems
Debate about HR departments being overwhelmed by applications, but using wrong approaches. Focus on referrals and basic qualification screening would work better than AI tools. HR seen as perpetuating broken hiring practices.Resistance strategies
Discussion of how candidates could boycott AI interviews, though many lack this luxury in current job market. Suggestions include using AI agents to interview AI, or avoiding companies that use such tools.
6Tesla withheld data, lied, misdirected police to avoid blame in Autopilot crash
- Tesla was found to have withheld crucial crash data and misled authorities in a wrongful death case involving Autopilot. The company had access to collision data within minutes of the crash but denied its existence for years, only admitting to having it when forensic evidence proved the data transfer to Tesla's servers.
Tesla's data handling practices
Discussion of Tesla deleting crash data locally after upload and failing to provide it to investigators, with debate over whether this was malicious or standard practice, and criticism of their lack of transparencyDriver vs Tesla responsibility
Debate over whether Tesla or driver bears more responsibility, given Autopilot marketing vs warnings, with some arguing Tesla misled users while others say drivers must take responsibility for proper useLegal and financial implications
Discussion of $329M verdict's impact, whether civil penalties are sufficient deterrent, and calls for criminal liability, with debate over if fine is "pocket change" or significant for Tesla
7So you want to parse a PDF?
- The article explores the complexities and challenges of parsing PDF files, highlighting the contrast between the ideal theoretical process and real-world difficulties. While the specification outlines a straightforward approach, actual PDF files often deviate from standards, requiring parsers to handle various inconsistencies and errors.
Computer vision approach
Discussion of converting PDFs to images and using computer vision/OCR to parse them, with many noting this approach, while seemingly absurd, often works better than direct PDF parsing in real-world scenarios.Structured data formats
Debate about moving away from layout-focused formats like PDF toward machine-readable formats like JSON/XML/HTML, with arguments for content-first approaches that would be easier to parse programmatically.PDF parsing challenges
Technical discussion of PDF format complexities, including issues with xref tables, incremental saves, and how different PDF viewers handle malformed documents, highlighting why parsing PDFs is notoriously difficult.
8Tokens are getting more expensive
- The article discusses the challenges AI companies face with pricing models. While many startups adopt flat-rate subscriptions hoping to profit from declining LLM costs, they face issues as newer models consume more tokens and users demand cutting-edge performance, making sustainable pricing increasingly difficult without switching to usage-based models.
Metered vs unlimited billing
Users prefer predictable unlimited plans over metered billing, but companies struggle with "whale" users consuming excessive resources. Discussion focuses on need for usage caps, cost transparency, and tools to monitor/control spending.Model selection and pricing
Debate about whether users always choose the most powerful models (SOTA) or if many opt for cheaper, less capable alternatives. Data shows diverse model usage patterns, with cost-effectiveness often trumping raw capabilities.Cost visibility and control
Users frustrated by opaque pricing and token usage metrics across platforms like GitHub Copilot, AWS, and Claude. Call for better real-time cost tracking, usage limits, and clearer pricing structures.
9UN report finds UN reports are not widely read
- A UN report reveals their documents aren't widely read, with only top reports exceeding 5,500 downloads. UN chief Guterres highlighted concerns about the increasing volume of meetings and reports, suggesting reforms to reduce their number while maintaining quality amid ongoing financial challenges.
Scale and impact
Debate over whether small-scale direct help (like soup kitchens) or large-scale policy/institutional work has more impact. Some argue UN's broad reach matters more, while others say bureaucracy limits effectiveness.Bureaucratic inefficiency
Discussion of how organizations tend to create endless loops of referrals and communication rather than taking direct action. UN specifically criticized for excessive bureaucracy and meetings with limited outcomes.Report readership
Debate about whether low readership of UN reports matters. Some argue reports only need to reach key decision-makers, while others say it indicates systemic issues with accessibility and impact.
10Objects should shut up
- A frustrated user criticizes the excessive and unnecessary noise notifications in modern devices, particularly focusing on their car's LPG tank alerts and various home appliances. They argue that devices should only make sounds for critical emergencies and that noisy alerts should be opt-in rather than default.
Vehicle safety features
EU-mandated car safety features like lane assist and attention monitoring are causing frustration due to false alarms, constant re-enabling, and potentially dangerous steering interventions. Many drivers feel these make cars less safe.Notification fatigue
Users are overwhelmed by constant alerts, beeps and notifications from devices and software. Most are unnecessary, reduce focus, and stem from developers overvaluing their product's importance to users.Device lights
Bright blue LEDs on devices for power/charging indicators are causing issues in homes, especially at night. Users resort to covering lights with tape. Many wish for dimmer, less intrusive status indicators.