Technology
Hardware, software, networking, and development
#2432: The Hidden Cost of Flexibility in Chip Design
The economics and engineering of ASICs vs. CPUs and GPUs, from transistor placement to hyperscaler strategy.
#2399: When Permanent Means Surviving 400°C
Why do industrial markers like the Edding 780 outperform art store Sharpies? It’s all about chemistry, adhesion, and surviving harsh conditions.
#2370: Morse Code and Telegrams: The Tech That Won’t Die
Morse code and telegrams, relics of the past? Think again. Discover where these technologies still thrive and why they refuse to fade away.
#2365: Building a Custom Home Alarm Panel with ESP32
Discover how to build a tactile, local-control alarm panel for Home Assistant using ESP32, Omron buttons, and Zigbee sensors.
#2364: The $1000 Military Clock You Can Build for $30
Learn how to build a precise dual-timezone clock using an ESP32 microcontroller, LCD displays, and USB-C power.
#2363: The Chasm Between Breadboard and Pacemaker
How do tiny computers power everything from hobbyist projects to life-saving medical implants? The engineering constraints are worlds apart.
#2361: The Cognitive Load of Logs
How Claude Code transforms Linux system administration by automating log analysis and proactive maintenance.
#2358: ESP32 vs Raspberry Pi: The Microcontroller Mindshift
Why your smart thermostat doesn’t run Linux—and why that’s a feature. The surprising differences between microcontrollers and single-board computers.
#2345: Why File Naming Conventions Are More Than Just Style
Discover how file naming conventions like snake_case and camelCase impact development workflows, CI/CD pipelines, and filesystem compatibility.
#2338: Who Keeps Matplotlib Running?
How does a team of just 15 people maintain Matplotlib, the backbone of global scientific visualization?
#2330: Offloading Attention: The Case for Ambient Notifications
How USB lights and DIY setups are rethinking notifications to reduce screen overload and tap into your peripheral vision.
#2327: Why AI Developers Chose Discord Over Slack
Discover why Discord became the go-to platform for AI developers, outpacing Slack with its community-first design and informal vibe.
#2326: Voice Control Simplified: Home Assistant’s Local Stack
Discover how to build a reliable, vendor-agnostic voice control system for Home Assistant without relying on Amazon or Google.
#2323: Why Nitrogen Changes Everything
Discover the physics of Guinness’s nitrogen foam, the engineering behind the widget, and why it feels so different from other beers.
#2322: How Licensing Laws Invented a Takeaway
How Ireland’s iconic "three in one" dish became the ultimate post-pub comfort food.
#2319: The Rise of the Dodgy Box: Streaming Piracy’s New Era
How the dodgy box became the go-to device for streaming piracy, and why authorities are cracking down now.
#2301: Inside Podcasting's Simple, Powerful Infrastructure
Explore the elegant simplicity of podcasting’s RSS backbone and how it empowers creators with independence and control.
#2299: The Open-Source vs. Commercial Tension in Self-Hosted Media
Dive into the world of self-hosted media managers: Plex, Jellyfin, and Emby. Why do millions choose to run their own servers?
#2292: Inside the Walled Garden: China's Parallel Internet
Explore China’s parallel internet ecosystem—how the Great Firewall works, the apps that dominate it, and the surprising innovations it fosters.
#2275: From Catalogs to TikTok: The Psychology of Remote Shopping
Explore how remote shopping, from mail-order catalogs to TikTok Shop, taps into the same psychological impulses across eras.