The hidden reasons behind collapsing software quality (plus 4 more critical insights) 🤔
Here is this week's digest:
Ask HN: How Do You Journal?
Explore diverse journaling approaches from digital tools like Obsidian and Org Mode to classic pen and paper. Discover effective strategies such as using customizable templates with prompts (gratitude, goals), practicing stream-of-consciousness writing, and implementing robust periodic review systems (daily, weekly, monthly) for deeper reflection. Key advice includes starting simple, prioritizing consistency over perfection, reducing barriers to entry, and leveraging the inherent slowness of physical writing for enhanced introspection and emotional processing.
Ask HN: Went to prison for 18 months, lost access to my GitHub. What can I do?
A user, recently released from prison, faced the complex challenge of recovering their GitHub account after personal items were stolen and passwords, including 2FA recovery codes, were compromised. The discussion highlighted the strictness of 2FA policies versus personal identity proof. Key advice for recovery included pursuing legal avenues, escalating support requests with comprehensive "hard proofs" (such as old phone numbers, billing receipts, SSH keys), and exploring ecosystem-specific support (e.g., RubyGems.org). For prevention, strong recommendations were made for robust 2FA backup strategies like using multiple Yubikeys, secure password managers for TOTP codes and passkeys, and securely storing physical recovery codes.
Ask HN: Why did COM/SOAP/other protocols fail?
Older interoperability protocols like COM, SOAP, and CORBA often struggled for widespread adoption due to excessive complexity, poor developer experience, and inherent security vulnerabilities. While they persist in specific enterprise and industrial automation environments, they failed to conquer the broader internet.
Simpler, more flexible alternatives, notably JSON over HTTP (often loosely termed "REST"), prevailed due to their ease of implementation, adaptability, and a "worse is better" philosophy. Key insights highlight the shift from complex distributed object models to more straightforward message-passing architectures. Modern RPC systems like Cap'n Proto are re-exploring distributed objects with improved lifecycle management and security models.
Ask HN: Why is software quality collapsing?
Software quality is perceived to be declining due to misaligned incentives that prioritize new features over stability, leading to significant technical debt and resource bloat. Key contributing factors include economic pressures (hardware cheaper than developer time), growing software complexity, and a pervasive "ship fast" culture. To address this, engineers are encouraged to become "grumpy advocates" for quality, pushing back against unreasonable timelines and fixing bugs proactively. Users can also support quality by choosing and funding well-built open-source alternatives and holding companies accountable with their purchasing decisions.
Ask HN: Any advice on pivoting out of VC-backed tech?
Exploring a career pivot from VC-backed tech to Main Street businesses means shifting to a focus on stable, 'boring technology' over hype. While compensation is generally lower, Main Street often values experts who can implement foundational tech practices like version control and testing to simply 'Make It Work'. Be prepared for financial constraints and a general 'comfort with the way things are done', but this path often offers a greater sense of direct impact and freedom from the relentless hype cycle. Consider niche industries where tech provides a genuine edge, and prioritize work that truly motivates you beyond mere process optimization.
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