Hacker News
1Hacker News front page now, but the titles are honest
- This appears to be a satirical tech news feed with humorous headlines about common technology industry trends and frustrations. Topics include Rust rewrites, academic paywalls, dependency issues, AI development, privacy concerns, and various developer struggles, all presented with tongue-in-cheek commentary that pokes fun at typical tech culture and corporate behaviors.
Storing data in space transmission
Discussion about how data exists "in space" during transmission delays, like Mars rover commands taking 20-90 minutes to travel. Users explored storing data in transit using delay-line memory concepts, with examples from NASA's optical communications achieving gigabytes of data in flight.Honest hacker news titles humor
Users enjoyed the brutally honest AI-generated headlines that translate typical HN titles into snarky truths like "Please star my repo so I can get a job" and "Rich developer spends $15k to run a model slightly faster," with requests to see original titles on hover.LLM prompting and snark generation
Technical discussion about how to prompt LLMs to generate snarky content, with users asking for details on the prompting techniques used to capture "Hacker News truth" and create humorous, brutally honest headlines from typical tech news.
2History LLMs: Models trained exclusively on pre-1913 texts
- Researchers from University of Zurich and Cologne University are developing time-locked large language models trained exclusively on historical data up to specific cutoff dates (1913-1946). These "History LLMs" serve as windows into past thinking, embodying the textual culture of their era without modern hindsight contamination, enabling scholars to explore historical discourse patterns and understanding how people thought before major events occurred.
Time-locked models as historical conversation partners
Users are fascinated by LLMs that don't know future events, enabling authentic period conversations. Discussion covers comparing to sci-fi concepts, potential for philosophical insights, and real-world applications like CIA simulations.Restricted access concerns
Tension between researchers wanting to prevent misuse vs public demand for open access. Users argue historical bias should be studied openly, comparing to existing historical texts, while creators cite reputational risks.Testing LLM capabilities with historical knowledge
Interest in using these models to test if AI can make scientific breakthroughs like relativity or quantum mechanics from period-appropriate data, as a benchmark for genuine reasoning vs memorization.
31.5 TB of VRAM on Mac Studio – RDMA over Thunderbolt 5
- Apple introduced RDMA over Thunderbolt in macOS 26.2, allowing Mac Studios to cluster and share memory for AI workloads. A $40,000 four-Mac cluster with 1.5TB unified memory was tested using Exo 1.0 software, showing impressive performance on massive AI models but experiencing stability issues and management challenges with macOS clustering compared to traditional Linux solutions.
Hardware limitations and future expectations for M5 Mac devices
Users discuss desired improvements like QSFP links, neural accelerators, 1TB unified memory, higher bandwidth, and overclocking capabilities. Debate centers on power efficiency vs performance, with some arguing against wasteful power consumption for marginal gains.Apple's server strategy and enterprise capabilities
Discussion about Apple's inconsistent approach to server features, adding RDMA while lacking basic enterprise tools like remote management. Users speculate about internal Apple server hardware and question the coherence of their datacenter strategy.Performance scaling and network bottlenecks
Analysis of why adding more nodes yields diminishing returns (32% improvement with 2 nodes, <50% with 4 nodes). Discussion covers Thunderbolt 5 vs Ethernet performance, RDMA benefits, and the mesh topology requirement limiting cluster size.
4GPT-5.2-Codex
- OpenAI released GPT-5.2-Codex, an advanced AI coding model optimized for complex software engineering tasks. It features improved long-context understanding, better performance on large code changes, enhanced Windows support, and stronger cybersecurity capabilities. The model helped discover vulnerabilities in React and will be deployed gradually with safeguards, starting with paid ChatGPT users and a trusted access pilot for security professionals.
Codex vs Claude comparison for code quality
Users debate whether OpenAI's Codex excels at finding bugs and reasoning while Claude is faster at raw coding. Many praise Codex's methodical problem-finding abilities and request OpenAI not compromise quality for speed.Model competition and market positioning
Discussion around OpenAI's strategic position versus Anthropic, Google, and others. Users question why OpenAI is expanding into coding when competitors dominate different niches, suggesting they should focus on general-purpose LLMs.Benchmark accuracy and astroturfing concerns
Users provide comparative benchmark data showing Claude still leads on some coding tasks while questioning OpenAI's selective benchmark reporting. Some suspect coordinated promotion of new releases.
5Firefox will have an option to disable all AI features
- The user praises Firefox Translate and image captioning features but criticizes automatic tab groups for high CPU usage. They strongly oppose link preview summaries as unnecessary dumbing-down and are most offended by sidebar buttons for cloud chatbots, feeling Firefox shouldn't promote problematic AI companies despite funding needs.
Mozilla's focus vs. core browser development
Users criticize Mozilla for jumping on fads like AI instead of focusing on Firefox's core functionality. Many want better extensibility, XUL API replacements, and Manifest v2 support rather than new AI features that distract from browser fundamentals.AI features necessity and user demand
Debate over whether AI features are essential for Firefox's future competitiveness. Some argue AI integration is required to attract mainstream users, while others believe it's unnecessary hype that alienates Firefox's privacy-focused user base.Opt-in vs. opt-out implementation
Discussion about how AI features should be implemented - whether they should be disabled by default requiring user activation, or enabled by default with opt-out options. Users prefer explicit consent and control over AI functionality.
6GotaTun – Mullvad's WireGuard Implementation in Rust
- GotaTun is Mullvad's new WireGuard implementation in Rust, replacing wireguard-go to improve reliability and performance. After rolling out to Android users, crash rates dropped from 0.40% to 0.01% with better speeds and battery life. Plans include security audits and expansion to all platforms in 2026.
Performance improvements and battery issues
Users report significant WireGuard performance boosts on Pixel devices (from 100mbps to 500mbps+) with GotaTun, but some experience battery drain bugs that prevent deep sleep. Discussion includes MTU optimization suggestions and comparisons across different Android devices.Go vs Rust for networking software
Debate over language choice for VPN implementations, with Rust offering better performance, memory safety, and embedded use cases, while Go provides easier development. Multiple WireGuard implementations in Rust are discussed as alternatives to the unmaintained BoringTun.Mullvad's advantages and VPN provider comparison
Users praise Mullvad for privacy focus and technical innovation like GotaTun, but note limitations for streaming services and geo-blocking compared to competitors like NordVPN that prioritize bypassing restrictions over privacy.
7Amazon will allow ePub and PDF downloads for DRM-free eBooks
- Starting January 20, 2026, Amazon will allow readers to download DRM-free Kindle titles as EPUB or PDF files. Authors can opt into this by logging into KDP, going to the "Kindle eBook Content" page, and selecting "No, do not apply Digital Rights Management" for their titles.
Amazon account bans and lost libraries
Users report losing entire Kindle libraries due to account bans over old shipping issues, even when Amazon made the error. Appeals take months with no resolution. Remote device wiping compounds the problem, highlighting risks of DRM-locked digital purchases.DRM-free alternatives and workarounds
Discussion centers on avoiding DRM through alternative stores like Kobo, removing DRM with tools like Calibre, and supporting publishers like Tor that offer DRM-free books. Many users have switched ecosystems entirely after Amazon's restrictions.Limited scope of Amazon's change
Amazon's new policy only applies to books where publishers explicitly enable downloads, making it largely symbolic. Most books remain DRM-locked, and the change requires publisher opt-in rather than being retroactive or default.
8How China built its ‘Manhattan Project’ to rival the West in AI chips
- Chinese scientists in Shenzhen have built a prototype machine capable of producing advanced semiconductor chips for AI and military applications, using reverse-engineered technology from Dutch company ASML's extreme ultraviolet lithography machines.
China's industrial mindset and capabilities
Discussion about China's "can do" philosophy that anything not made by God can be manufactured domestically, with debate over whether this represents unique Chinese thinking or universal industrialization attitudes. Comments explore China's complete industrial supply chains versus Western selective specialization.Chinese competition in consumer markets
Concerns that Western companies abandoning consumer GPU markets due to AI focus will create opportunities for Chinese manufacturers to enter with cheaper alternatives, potentially disrupting established players like Nvidia through aggressive pricing and utility-focused business models.Skepticism about Chinese technological progress
Debate over Western underestimation of China's EUV lithography capabilities, with some arguing China has already achieved significant progress while others remain skeptical about technical feasibility and timeline claims for domestic chip manufacturing.
9Noclip.website – A digital museum of video game levels
Technical implementation and browser compatibility
Discussion covers how noclip.website implements game renderers in WebGPU, mobile Safari compatibility issues, and browser support challenges. Users explore the open-source nature and technical achievements.Nintendo 64 graphics techniques
Focus on Rare's innovative use of vertex colors and texture blending on N64, particularly in Banjo-Kazooie and DK64. Users appreciate how simple rendering pipelines can create beautiful, evocative visuals.Nostalgia and gaming memories
Users share emotional responses to revisiting classic game environments like Ironforge, Besaid Village, and Mario 64, discussing how older games remain engaging despite dated graphics.
10Ask HN: Those making $500/month on side projects in 2025 – Show and tell
- A user is asking for new and old ideas that have come up this year, referencing a recurring annual discussion thread. They provide links to previous years' discussions from 2017 through 2024, suggesting this is a tradition of collecting ideas or insights at year-end.
Simple, no-subscription business models
Users praised JustFax Online's one-time payment model over subscription services. The fax service earns €500+/month with straightforward pricing. Comments emphasized frustration with complex subscription models and appreciation for simple "pay for service" approaches.Monetization strategies for side projects
Discussion covered various revenue models: Dead Chef's Society dinner club ($126k revenue), Chrome extension with premium features (100k+ users), grant funding through NLnet, and digital product sales on Etsy ($1000+/month from sewing patterns).Marketing and customer acquisition
Entrepreneurs shared acquisition tactics: SEO and LLM traffic for fax services, organic growth through newspaper coverage and Facebook groups for dinner events, Reddit/ProductHunt launches for apps, and social media/UGC videos for multiple SaaS platforms.