Why firing developers because of AI is the worst move you can make now, selling resources from your home server is a bad idea and how to build internal tools developers want to use?Playing and programming on a printer, simple yet useful AI Assistant based on SQLite & cron jobs …
INFO: You’ve got a home server running quietly under your desk. It works great, although it does consume a fair amount of electricity. So, why not make it pay for itself—or even turn a profit? You've got a fast connection and stable power, so what's the catch? The author examines the technical, legal, and practical aspects of operating a hosting business from a home server. Topics include responsibility for customer data, compliance with regulations like GDPR and PCI-DSS, hardware and network requirements, and the serious security risks involved. It’s a timely warning for anyone thinking they can make money by monetising spare resources in their homelab.
2. Coding Without a Laptop – Two Weeks of Work with AR Glasses and Linux on Android
INFO: Some time ago, we shared a story about a developer who ditched his monitor and started coding using AR glasses. This time, someone went even further—ditching the computer altogether in favour of an Android smartphone, with Linux installed on top. He created a fully functional development environment that fits in a pocket using a setup based on Void Linux, i3, Termux with X11, and a foldable keyboard. The author discusses performance, weak spots, usability while travelling, and the image quality through the AR glasses.
3. How Do Passkeys Work—And Are They Phishing-Proof?
INFO: The author shares a personal experience of falling victim to a phishing attack—even with two-factor authentication (2FA) enabled—to show that one-time codes from authenticator apps can still be intercepted. As a safer alternative, he introduces passkeys: a login method designed to be far more resistant to phishing. He explains how to set them up, store them (e.g., in 1Password), and use them in real life with services like LinkedIn or WhatsApp. The article also addresses the current limitations of passkeys, including inconsistent implementation across platforms and the fact that they rarely replace passwords entirely.
4. GitHub Copilot Now Free and Open Source (4-Min Video)
INFO: Microsoft has open-sourced GitHub Copilot—meaning the tool’s code is now available under the MIT license. This lets you run it yourself, for example, on a local language model if privacy is your priority. However, this does not mean the Copilot service itself is now free. It’s an interesting move from the company, and the video explains the changes it brings for developers.
5. Are Binary Formats Better Than JSON in the Browser?
INFO: Internet speeds at home keep improving, but so does the amount of data web apps transfer, so pages can still feel slow. While popular for its human readability and ease of parsing, JSON has its downsides. The article explains how binary formats have outpaced JSON in many areas: they’re faster to transmit, deserialize, and help improve overall app responsiveness. This is a great place to start if you’ve never encountered binary formats in web development.
6. What Is HDR and How Does It Work in Photography?
INFO: Many new smartphones have HDR mode enabled by default when taking photos. But what does it mean, and how does it work? This article explains the technique behind HDR—short for High Dynamic Range—and what it does to your pictures. It’s aimed at photography enthusiasts who enjoy understanding how some algorithms work behind the scenes.
INFO: This year’s I/O conference focused heavily on generative AI announcements—from the new AI Ultra service and advanced UI design tools (Stitch) to improvements in Astra and Gemini. Google also revealed physical prototypes, including Android XR glasses, Project Beam (formerly Starline), and a proprietary AI-powered video tool built on Veo, Imagen, and Gemini models.
INFO: The author tested over 35 AI image generation tools to select the 10 best based on quality, realism, graphic styles, features, and ease of use. The list includes Pollo AI, Leonardo AI, ChatGPT with GPT-4o, Stable Diffusion, and Adobe Firefly. This review not only highlights the strengths and weaknesses of these generators but also introduces you to some new tools you might not know about.
9. Junior Developers in the AI Era – Why Their Role Still Matters
INFO: Has the rise of artificial intelligence wiped junior developers off the job market? According to the author, the challenges juniors face today aren’t entirely due to AI. While AI has indirectly influenced the situation, the root cause lies with recruiters and recruitment processes. What exactly is the issue? Find out more in the article—it’s a fairly detailed read.
10. How Perplexity Gains Users and Drives Its Growth
INFO: More and more, especially in the IT world, users choose Perplexity—an AI-powered alternative—over the “default Google” search engine. How is this new search engine growing its user base so quickly? What techniques does the company use? This article is mainly aimed at startup founders and marketers, but it might also interest you.
11. The First Interstellar Software Update – The Story of Fixing Voyager 1 (38-minute Video)
INFO: In November 2023, Voyager 1 (the space probe) stopped sending telemetry data, even though it still responded to signals from Earth. Engineers spent months analyzing the issue and then developed a fix, writing code for a computer over 50 years old, often using pen and paper. The video shows the entire process of diagnosing and solving the problem, as well as the behind-the-scenes work of creating the update sent across space. It's an excellent watch for anyone interested in embedded systems, low-level debugging, and space technology.
12. Why Firing Developers Because of AI Is the Worst Move You Can Make Now
INFO: AI capabilities are growing every day, but according to the author, letting programmers go to replace them with AI is a short-sighted and strategically flawed decision. Instead of limiting their teams’ potential, companies should invest in developers and support them, not replace them, with AI technology to build better, more intuitive, and tailored products. More details in the article.
INFO: OpenAI has released its developer-focused agent. This tool generates code and helps with debugging, refactoring, and creating pull requests. Users can track the agent’s progress and verify every step through logs and tests. ChatGPT and CLI integration allow daily tasks to be combined with AI support without leaving the current work environment.
14. How to Choose Titles for Your Blog (or Anything Else)
INFO: A publication’s title should attract readers who will appreciate your content, and discourage those who won’t. The author explains how a title sets the context, signals the style, and filters the audience, illustrating these points with examples. While not directly IT-related, this knowledge can be beneficial if you write articles for your blog or other projects.
15. What Running a Tech Startup Was Like in the 1980s
INFO: Robert Gaskins, co-creator of PowerPoint, recalls the realities of building a startup before the internet era, from manually securing reviews in computer magazines and endless delays in Windows development, to tough strategic choices like dropping support for MS-DOS. Despite facing over 30 competing products and the looming threat of shutdown, the team managed to survive and deliver the first version of PowerPoint for Mac. Later success with the Windows version secured the software’s leading position for decades. The article offers interesting stories about the software’s origins and a fascinating look at how much the IT industry has changed over the last 40+ years.
16. “Developer Success Playbook” – from GitHub (PDF, 38 pages)
INFO: A concise playbook explaining how GitHub approaches improving the productivity of its developer teams. The authors describe their three-step process for driving improvements and share the key metrics they monitor for better results. It’s worth a look, especially if you influence how teams work in your organization and want to make a difference.
17. The History and Evolution of Atari’s Asteroids Game
INFO: Released by Atari in 1979, this arcade game was groundbreaking due to its vector graphics and unusual control system, which utilized buttons instead of a joystick. Its success led to ports on multiple platforms and countless clones. A must-read for fans of vintage technology, it is a must-play.
INFO: The author reflects on the dependence on large language models and their impact on learning and developing personal skills. Examples from their lives illustrate how using tools like Claude, Gemini, or o3 for coding, problem-solving, or writing emails can affect thinking processes. This is thought-provoking content to consider.
19. Have I Been Pwned with a New Interface and Features – HIBP 2.0 Launched
INFO: The personal data breach checking service has been completely revamped, featuring a new look, faster performance, and many added functions. Now you can read detailed information about each breach, not just its name and the scope of stolen data. The option to search by phone number and username has been removed from the free service but remains available in the paid API. More details are in the article.
20. Detecting Malicious Unicode Characters in Source Code
INFO: The creator of the CURL application reveals a new, clever type of attack that uses Unicode characters to stealthily hide malicious code fragments, such as domain names embedded in source code, that are invisible to the human eye. No existing tools detected this threat, so the CURL team developed its detection mechanism.
21. Walter Module – One Board, Many IoT Possibilities (Video, 16m)
INFO: Walter is an open-source, ultra-low-power board that combines GPS, LTE-M, NB-IoT, WiFi, and Bluetooth in a single solution optimized for real-world IoT applications. The video demonstrates how it works in practice, including its energy consumption. This device may be of interest to you if you develop IoT devices, trackers, or other gadgets that require mobile communication with low power consumption.
22. Adding Mastodon Comments to a Static Blog Site
INFO: Instead of using services like Disqus that show ads or require fees, the author shows how to implement a comment system based on Mastodon’s public API. Comments are loaded directly from the related Mastodon post using JavaScript, so no backend is needed.
23. How to Build Internal Tools Developers Want to Use
INFO: The author shares insights from over five years of experience working on internal tools used by more than 1,000 developers. They discuss challenges related to the adoption process, which can sometimes be difficult (in simple terms: no one wants to use the tool), and offer potential solutions to this problem. This is an interesting approach to the topic.
24. BrowserBee – a Chrome extension that lets you control the browser using text commands
INFO: This extension allows you to perform tasks in the Chrome browser using natural language commands by combining the power of large language models (LLMs), such as backends from OpenAI or Anthropic, with Playwright automation. BrowserBee runs locally in your browser (except for queries sent to the cloud-based language model), so it can also interact with sites where you are already logged in. The extension can navigate websites, fill out forms, click links, and more—an interesting approach to task automation.
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