A Rant from the Old Forge: On the State of Software Development
6 mins
Once upon a time, building software meant writing code, compiling it, and running it - on any platform, with minimal fuss. In this sharply opinionated piece, a veteran developer reflects on the simplicity and elegance of past development practices, where tools were lean, dependencies rare, and source code reigned supreme. Today’s software world, by contrast, is tangled in dependency hell, plagued by fragile build systems, bloated binary blobs, and unnecessary complexity. With passion and precision, this article challenges the modern obsession with packaging and platform-specific toolchains, calling instead for a return to sane, portable, long-lived software practices. A must-read for anyone who's ever sighed while waiting for npm install to finish.
Production Process of Cement: An Overview
9 mins
Cement is the invisible backbone of modern construction - yet few understand the intricate journey from raw rock to the fine grey powder that holds our buildings together. This article offers a detailed look behind the scenes of cement production, from blasting limestone in quarries to the high-temperature chemistry inside rotary kilns. Each step, from raw material grinding to the final packaging stage, is part of a precisely orchestrated industrial process balancing mechanical engineering, thermodynamics, and chemical transformation. Whether you're curious about the role of gypsum, the formation of clinker phases like alite and belite, or how modern plants reduce emissions through calciners and dust filters, this overview connects the dots with clarity and technical depth.
Should You Accept Tracking Cookies on Webpages?
7 mins
This article explores the technical foundations, financial implications, and ethical questions surrounding tracking cookies on modern websites. From how they work and why they exist, to the real difference they make in supporting free content, you'll gain a clear picture of the trade-offs involved. Whether you're a privacy conscious user, a curious web reader, or a content creator wondering how others fund their work, this short article explains why your cookie choices matter - and how they shape the future of a free and open web.
CMPs: A Privacy Risk Masquerading as a Solution
5 mins
While promising transparency and control, most CMPs are embedded from third-party domains, in theory allowing silent collection of metadata across sites in the same way as the very trackers they claim to regulate. The irony: users are asked to trust a system that itself introduces new risks, all without meaningful technical guarantees. This article dissects how CMPs, especially certified ones, operate within an ecosystem that relies on trust instead of technical safeguards - a flawed model in a world where trust alone is no protection. We explore how true privacy must be built on browser-level enforcement and origin isolation, not legal promises or banner overlays. If we want real control over our data, it’s time to move beyond privacy theater.
Pandoc and nbconvert recipes
10 mins
A mini summary on how to turn your Jupyter notebooks and Markdown files into clean, portable HTML and Markdown documents using nbconvert or pandoc. This mini guide offers practical command-line examples and dives into powerful customization options, including embedding images, compressing large outputs and building your own Jinja2 templates. Whether you are preparing technical reports, blog posts, or self-contained visualizations these tools make it easy to generate high-quality output tailored to your needs. Going beyond the basics, the article also shows how to write custom Python preprocessors for image resizing and output tweaking—ideal for those looking to optimize file size and presentation. If you want fine-grained control over how your notebooks are rendered and shared, this collection of recipes provides a flexible and extensible starting point.
Diode based passive RF frequency doublers - the basics
11 mins
How can a simple passive circuit generate higher frequencies without oscillators or phase-locked loops? This short article explores the fascinating basics of diode-based RF frequency doublers—circuits that exploit nonlinearities to produce harmonics, often with surprisingly broadband behavior and no need for biasing or active components. From a quick dive into the Shockley equation to typical basic circuit configurations like anti-parallel diode pairs and single-diode harmonic generators, this short article walks through both the math and the intuition behind passive frequency multiplication. Ideal for RF enthusiasts, circuit designers, or anyone curious about how this stuff works on a basic level.
Recovering 18650 Lithium Cells from Damaged Battery Packs
19 mins
Salvaging lithium-ion cells from old battery packs can be a practical way to repurpose valuable components for hobby electronics, robotics, or backup power projects. This article walks through the careful and methodical process of identifying, testing, and recovering 18650 cells from discarded equipment like laptops and garden tools—highlighting key voltage thresholds, safety procedures, and the tools required to do so responsibly. But make no mistake—working with lithium cells is not without serious risks. Improper handling can lead to fires, explosions, and long-term instability. This project log focuses on safety-first recovery strategies, how to spot dangerous cells, and when to dispose rather than reuse. If you're an experienced DIYer with the right equipment and an eye for caution, this deep dive into battery salvage may be just what you're looking for.
Overridable Library Code with Weak Linkage in ANSI C (GCC Microcontroller Edition)
11 mins
Want to write embedded libraries that are both flexible and cleanly overridable? This article dives deep into how weak linkage in ANSI C (via GCC) enables you to provide default implementations—like handlers, configuration values, and hooks—that can be easily overridden by the application, without modifying your library code. You'll learn how to use __attribute__((weak)) for functions and globals, when to prefer traditional function pointers, and how linker flags like --gc-sections help exclude unused code. With a complete AVR-ready Makefile setup, this guide is a practical reference for anyone writing modular microcontroller firmware.
Evolution of Internet Content Creation Across Generations (1993–Present)
24 mins
In just three decades, the internet has transformed from a vibrant network of personal webpages and forums into a landscape dominated by ultra-short videos, algorithmic curation, and passive scrolling. This article traces the evolution of online content creation—from thoughtful, long-lived expressions to impulsive, ephemeral media—and examines what we've gained and lost along the way. If you've ever wondered why the internet feels faster but emptier, this deep dive connects the dots.
In Defense of Imagination: Why AI Art Is Not Theft, and What It Enables
7 mins
As AI-generated images and texts spark fierce debate in the art world, this article offers a different perspective: that AI is not stealing creativity, but unlocking it for countless people who’ve long had ideas but lacked the tools to express them. We explore what makes true art irreplaceable, what types of creative work are genuinely at risk, and why society must support those displaced by change. Rather than marking the end of human creativity, AI may just be its newest, most inclusive chapter.
