Reassessing Tony Hoare’s ‘Billion Dollar Mistake’ for Null Pointers
TL;DR The author revisits Tony Hoare’s label of null references as a “billion dollar mistake,” arguing the claim is hyperbolic…
Nightshade tool poisons images to deter unauthorized AI model training
TL;DR Researchers behind the Glaze project released Nightshade, a tool that modifies images so they become unsuitable for training generative…
Jackery debuts a solar-powered gazebo at CES, sales planned in California
TL;DR Jackery, known for home battery products, showed a solar-powered gazebo at CES and says it will start selling the…
Govee unveils ceiling-focused smart lights: Sky Ceiling Light and Ultra
TL;DR Govee introduced two ceiling-targeted smart fixtures at CES 2026: the Sky Ceiling Light and the Ceiling Light Ultra. Both…
How a Christmas beach moment with my partner changed Google Photos use
TL;DR During a Christmas beach trip in India, the author learned a little-known Google Photos shortcut from their partner that…
Was It Really a Billion Dollar Mistake? Reassessing Null Pointer Costs and Trade-offs
TL;DR The author revisits Tony Hoare’s “billion-dollar mistake” label for null pointers and argues that null dereferences are among the…
FreeBSD Home NAS, Part 3: WireGuard VPN, Linux Peers & Routing
TL;DR The author continues building a home NAS on FreeBSD 14.3 by adding a WireGuard VPN to link an office…
US Strike on Venezuela Revives Fears of a Potential Greenland Takeover
TL;DR The US military action in Venezuela and the detention of Nicolás Maduro prompted online calls from MAGA figures for…
15 Best Electrolyte Powders (2026): Tasty and Effective Picks
TL;DR Wired updated its roundup of electrolyte powders in January 2026 after tasting products and consulting experts, naming Liquid I.V.…
Maybe Comments Should Explain ‘What’ — Rethinking Comments in Code
TL;DR A blog post challenges the common rule that comments should only explain why, arguing there are situations where comments…