Idle/Random/whatever Thoughts of a Demented/Idle/Whatever Mind

1. Why you should never use !! in Kotlin - Using double-bang operator(!!) is a bad practice; multiple alternatives cover every other possible case. Using it is a hack and a shortcut that will backfire while not saving you much time at the time of writing using it. You shouldn’t use it unless you're writing a short personal script. My Take : The double-bang operator (!!)  which throws null pointer exception in Kotlin might very well be considered " Billion Dollar Mistake ." While it offers a concise way to assert that a variable is not null, I believe it's preferable to have slightly more verbose code that explicitly handles nullability and avoids potential runtime exceptions. Null pointer exceptions have plagued programmers for decades, and introducing a feature that can easily lead to them seems counterproductive. I'm uncertain whether all Kotlin linters currently check for excessive or inappropriate use of the !! operator, but if yours don't, I strongly re...

1. Llama 3.3 -  Llama 3.3 70B model offering similar performance to the Llama 3.1 405B model, allowing developers to achieve greater quality and performance on text-based applications at a fraction of the cost.  My Take : Meta continues to impress with each new release. Their recent claim that the 3.3 70B model performs as well as the 3.1 405B model is particularly noteworthy. This rapid progress suggests that these powerful models could soon be running on personal computers or even directly in web browsers.Meanwhile, OpenAI's recent move to introduce a $200 monthly subscription for advanced access to its models raises questions about its long-term strategy. While the initial novelty factor might justify such a premium, it seems excessive, especially for users in regions like India. It's likely that we'll see highly capable language models running on mobile devices within the next six months, potentially even before desktop deployment. My experience with a Llama 3.2 1B mod...

1. C++ Pitfalls - this article, explains some of the pitfalls you can fall into when programming in C++ and shares their experience with them. This includes Operator precedence, Arithmetic conversion rules, Right bit-shift, Implicit conversions and Order of evaluation.  My Take : We've all read about JavaScript's quirks, leading to unexpected outputs. But let's remember that such behaviors aren't unique to JavaScript. Even languages like C and C++ have their share of ambiguities and compiler-specific behaviors. While it's tempting to dive deep into these intricacies, I've found that focusing on clear, consistent, and unambiguous code is often more practical. However, understanding these nuances is essential for any experienced programmer. It helps us avoid pitfalls and write robust, reliable code. Remember, mastering a language isn't just about writing "Hello World." It involves delving into its intricacies, including its counterintuitive and ambi...

1. AI Makes Tech Debt More Expensive - The core argument is that generative AI significantly widens the gap between codebases with low and high tech debt. Companies with clean code can leverage generative AI to write code much faster, while companies with messy legacy codebases struggle to adopt these new tools. This widens the gap between the two codebases, making tech debt even more expensive for companies with outdated systems. My Take : Legacy systems inevitably accumulate technical debt. A common analogy for this is the state of urinals over time: missed targets lead to increasing mess, keeps pushing people away from urinals and leading to more mess in turn. AI-powered coding tools could potentially accelerate the accumulation of tech debt. However, skilled engineers can leverage AI to reduce and even eliminate it. Ultimately, AI is just a tool, and human judgment remains crucial for making informed decisions. I hope AI will be used responsibly to drive positive outcomes. 2. Make...

 1. Booleans are a trap : Booleans, while seemingly simple, can introduce complexity and limitations into domain modeling. When used to represent complex states, booleans can lead to unclear code and potential errors. To avoid these pitfalls, consider using enums or enum sets. These approaches provide a more expressive and maintainable way to model complex states in your applications. My Take : I wish I had learned this earlier in life. When working with Google Docs, I realized the limitations of booleans. Expanding boolean-based behaviors often led to adding more fields, making the system complex. Enums would have provided a simpler solution. The problem wasn't just the booleans themselves, but also the need to pass them through multiple layers of the stack, often requiring additional parameters. Another important aspect of enums is the inclusion of an " enum not specified " state. This state explicitly indicates that an enum value hasn't been set, which can be usef...

1. One Company A/B Tested Hybrid Work. Here’s What They Found. - Recent research has revealed that a hybrid work model, where employees work from home three days a week, can significantly boost employee satisfaction and reduce turnover rates. This not only improves employee morale but also saves companies millions of dollars in recruitment and training costs. To successfully implement a hybrid model, businesses should prioritize rigorous performance management systems, coordinate team and company-wide schedules, and secure leadership support. Moreover, executives should experiment with different management practices to optimize their approach and maximize the benefits of hybrid work. My Take : There have been too many debates about remote work versus office work. I would have loved to see data comparing the effectiveness of remote, hybrid, and office-based work. I've worked at companies that mandated office work, like Tata Elxsi, where we didn't have laptops and had to rely on...

1. Transforming CSV Files into Graphs with LLMs -  This is a step by step guide including code to transform csv files into graphs. There are prompts, python code and samples provided in it.  My Take : This is an excellent approach to streamlining data cleaning, a task that often consumes a significant portion of a data engineer's time. By leveraging the power of LLMs, we can potentially reduce this effort significantly. However, it's important to note that not all LLMs are equally effective for this purpose. Fine-tuning LLMs specifically for data cleaning tasks could further enhance their capabilities. I'm eager to learn more about this promising technique and its potential applications. Do let me know if have something interesting to share.   2. SOFA Start Often F*** Achievements - The SOFA principle advocates for starting numerous projects and finishing few. This approach prioritizes gaining diverse experiences and skills over completion. By frequently initiating new ...

1. Why Founders Need to Focus More on Sales and Marketing - Harvard Business School senior lecturer Mark Roberge argues that every aspect of being an early-stage founder involves sales. But many founders lack an understanding of how to incorporates sales into their ventures. This talks about how to hire for early sales roles, design compensation, and lay a strong foundation for a growing sales team. Hiring the right salesperson is crucial, as they should be skilled in both product knowledge and customer interaction. Scaling sales requires a strategic approach, considering factors like product-market fit and customer retention. The sales compensation plan can be a powerful tool for aligning sales behavior with business goals. While AI is making strides in automating certain sales tasks, the human element of building relationships and understanding customer needs remains indispensable. My Take : IMHO a startup is like an elephant from the story of blind men and an elephant . There are d...

1. ROS : ROS (Robot Operating System) is a versatile open-source framework that simplifies robot development. It provides a modular architecture, robust communication mechanisms, and a vast ecosystem of tools and libraries. This comprehensive platform empowers developers to create efficient and innovative robotic systems, from hardware abstraction to high-level behavior control. ROS's flexibility and adaptability make it suitable for a wide range of robot applications, while its active community fosters collaboration and knowledge sharing. My Take:  I recently discovered ROS, which has been around since 2007. It's remarkable that such a powerful tool has existed for so long. Over the years, ROS has evolved into a comprehensive platform, offering a vast array of algorithms to simplify robot development. The ability to run ROS on Raspberry Pis further enhances its capabilities, making it a versatile choice for a wide range of robotic projects. 2. Should we be worried about vega...

My career began with Tata Elxsi, right after completing my BE in Computer Science, marking a significant milestone in my career. It was my first taste of the corporate world, and while not everything was perfect, the experience I gained there has been invaluable. I'm particularly grateful to JRD Tata and Ratan Tata for his vision in establishing Tata Elxsi as a pure electronics and software technology services company. In a landscape dominated by consulting firms, Tata Elxsi's focus on technology and product innovation was refreshing. The company's history in India is a testament to its commitment to technological advancement. Founded in 1989 as a joint venture between the Tata Group and France's Thomson-CSF, Tata Elxsi has played a pioneering role in India's IT industry. Though what it started with and how is diversified into a variety of different fields is an amazing story by itself. He was the true visionaries who managed to build not just one but a spectrum of ...

 1. Stem cells reverse woman’s diabetes - Scientists have achieved a breakthrough in treating type 1 diabetes by using reprogrammed stem cells. A woman was successfully treated by receiving a transplant of these cells into her abdominal muscles. Following the transplant, she was able to maintain stable blood sugar levels without insulin for over a year. This is the first time such an approach has shown to be effective in reversing type 1 diabetes. While this is a promising development, more research is needed to confirm its long-term safety and efficacy in a larger group of people. My Take : This is a groundbreaking discovery. My father, along with millions of others, suffers from diabetes. Unfortunately, due to genetics, I'm likely to join them soon. However, this news offers hope not only for me but also for countless individuals who endure daily injections. I sincerely hope that the cost of this treatment remains affordable. Perhaps the government could intervene to ensure acce...

 1. Google says it’s made a quantum computing breakthrough that reduces errors - Google researchers have made a breakthrough in quantum error correction, which could pave the way for useful quantum computers. The main challenge in quantum computing has been the high error rate of the hardware, which prevents them from executing long and useful algorithms. The new research demonstrates that it is possible to add components to reduce these errors, which was previously thought to be impossible due to engineering limitations. This bolsters the idea that error correction is a viable strategy for building a useful quantum computer. My Take : While these advancements may seem incremental, they are crucial for the development of quantum computers. However, it’s important to avoid overhyping their implications, as was the case with the early hype surrounding GenAI being AGI. Despite this, the progress made with GPTs represents a significant leap forward in the field of AI. Similarly, these...

1. The Genius Behind the Quantum Navigation Breakthrough - This is the World's First Unhackable Quantum GPS. Using the coldest atoms in the Universe, it may revolutionise the way we navigate. This Youtuber to got to go behind the scenes and see their device up close to try and understand just how important this breakthrough is. My Take : This video goes into more details about how quantum navigation works as well hits the home run in explaining why its really needed. I had also mentioned about Quantum Navigation in a previous post where IEEE had covered it. This video goes to explain more details of it and if you are a physics nerd, you would enjoy it.   2. Forget ChatGPT: why researchers now run small AIs on their laptops -  This article talks about the different small and locally runnable LLMs which various scientists are using for not just poetry but also for medicine. The locally runnable LLMs have the distinct advantage of preserving privacy, fine tuning using the open...

 1. Our Memories Are Stored in Triplicate - This is an article about how the brain stores memories. It discusses what part of the brain is involved in memory storage and how different types of neurons are involved. The article also discusses how memories can change over time. Some important points are that memories are stored in multiple copies and that different copies are used for different purposes. Also, early-born neurons are involved in long-term memory and late-born neurons are involved in short-term memory. My Take : The research on the brain is fascinating, as it delves into the least understood part of our body. It reminded me of the 3-2-1 backup rule for data, emphasizing the importance of preserving memories. The most intriguing aspect is how memories can evolve over time, a phenomenon we all experience to some degree, particularly when reflecting on past experiences. 2. The Illustrated AlphaFold - This is an article about how AlphaFold3 works. It discusses the goals ...

1. A Single Gold Bar Is Worth $1 Million for the First Time in History - It discusses why the price has gone up and what this means for the future. The price of a single gold bar has recently reached $1 million for the first time ever. This is because gold is seen as a safe investment during times of economic uncertainty. The article predicts that the price of gold will keep going up. My Take : Gold has always been seen as a safe investment in India. We have seen the Gold Bond which were introduced by Government of India which has become too popular to be supported by GoI. E-Gold is a safe way to keep gold especially since for folks who are buying to for purely investment purpose and not holding black money in India. I hope that the space becomes more reliable and competitive. Though folks would say that Gold does not give the best returns always, which is true but the fact also is that it provides safety in terms of investment unlike stock market, at least till we are able to create ...

 I've watched enough scam bait videos on YouTube to know that this is a common tactic used by scammers. They try to create a sense of urgency and fear to get you to give them money. It's important to remember that real government agencies or service providers will never ask for personal information or payments over the phone. If you're unsure, verify the information through official channels. Recently, I was the target of a particularly egregious robo-scam. A robotic voice, claiming to be from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), informed me that my phone numbers were about to be blocked due to a violation. I was supposed to press a number to proceed. When I did I was connected to the scammer, who seemed completely unaware of my name, proceeded to mention another phone number that was allegedly registered against me. The audacity of this person was astounding. They not only accused me of wrongdoing but also demanded a payment to prevent my numbers fr...

 1. With ‘Digital Twins,’ The Doctor Will See You Now - This article talks to a computer scientist, Amanda Randles, who is creating digital twins of people’s circulatory systems. It discusses what digital twins are and how they’re created. It also goes into the challenges and future possibilities of this kind of research. Some important points are that digital twins can help doctors diagnose and treat diseases more effectively, and that they are becoming more and more realistic. My Take : This is such an interesting development IMHO that it could end up predicting heart attacks to a degree that preventive care for it can actually be performed much before catastrophic situation arises. By making it a part of annual checkup, I think we can make preventive healthcare more effective. 2. What Is Analog Computing? - This is an article about analog computing. It discusses what analog computing is and gives examples of analog computers. Analog computers represent a physical system with m...

source: Marklines.com  1. Samsung's Solid State Battery with 9 minute charging, 600 miles range for EVs and 20 year lifespan - Samsung is shaking up the EV battery game with their new solid-state design. Boasting a massive 600-mile range on a single charge and crazy-fast 9-minute charging, these batteries promise to revolutionize electric vehicles. Samsung also hints at a 20-year lifespan, putting range anxiety to rest. However, expect to see this tech first in pricier EVs, and remember, Chinese battery makers are hot on their heels with similar claims. My Take: The progress in the space of battery technology has been amazing and I now dont believe that Hydrogen and fuel cell technologies need to really leapfrog over things to be viable alternative to these kinds of technologies. I wonder if these techs could reach out cell phones as well to get rid of the daily charging required. I wonder if Samsung would first put these into these into their Galaxy lineup or will they wait for ...

Courtsey: https://www.isro.gov.in 1. ISRO conducts flight experiment of Air Breathing Propulsion System : ISRO successfully conducted its second flight test for air-breathing propulsion technology. The experiment involved mounting the propulsion system on an RH-560 sounding rocket, India's heaviest in this category. Launched from Sriharikota, the test aimed to demonstrate the technology's functionality at hypersonic speeds. Prior to the mission, extensive ground tests were carried out to ensure proper performance. This successful flight, along with data collected from over 110 parameters, paves the way for further development of air-breathing engines by ISRO.  My Take: ISRO's accomplishments are undeniably impressive. Their ability to achieve significant milestones with relatively modest budgets compared to agencies like NASA is a testament to their efficiency and innovative approach. It's encouraging to see that ISRO has managed to operate largely free from political ...