[15th December 2024] Interesting Things I Learnt This Week

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 recommend adding such a check.

2. How browsers REALLY load Web pages — Robin Marx - This talk is a deep dive into how browsers decide when to load a specific resource, and all the ways in which you can influence them to modify their behaviour. It looks at a lot of different waterfalls and discuss why each looks the way it does, how to diagnose these issues yourself with advanced tools (like WebPageTest, Debugbear, Chrome netlogs and Wireshark) and how to solve common problems. 

My Take: This talk is likely of interest primarily to those with a deep technical interest in web technologies. While most developers can probably manage by adhering to recommended practices and relying on linters to avoid common pitfalls, this presentation delves into the intricate details of how browsers protect users from potentially bad server behaviors. It also underscores why Apache remains a gold standard in web servers. I suspect there are countless similar, lesser-known nuances. In my opinion, every web developer should be aware of these underlying mechanisms. Without this understanding, we risk becoming mere "code monkey" easily replaceable by large language models (LLMs) capable of generating code without much understanding.

 

3. India witnessed 6 startups achieve unicorn status in 2024; here are the names -  India's startup scene boomed in 2024 with six companies reaching unicorn status, a significant jump from just two in 2023. These high-fliers include lending platform Moneyview, electric vehicle maker Ather Energy, ride-hailing app Rapido, travel tech company RateGain, fintech platform Perfios, and AI startup Krutrim AI, which became the first Indian unicorn of the year in January. Notably, RateGain was the only new-age listed company to join the club in 2024.

My Take: The fascination with "unicorn" companies is widespread, reminiscent of my children's obsession with unicorn-themed toys, bedding, clothing, cakes, and parties. I'm pleased to see Ather, RateGain, and Perfios achieve this status. I particularly admire Ather, arguably the leading electric two-wheeler company, for its measured yet impactful growth. They revolutionized the market, and I'm somewhat surprised it took them this long to reach unicorn valuation. Perfios embarked on an ambitious mission to transform personal finance in India, a notoriously challenging endeavor where many end up simply becoming lenders. I'm glad they pursued a more diverse approach. However, I suspect a significant portion of their valuation still stems from their lending activities. RateGain was a new name to me, but their success in helping hotels establish an online presence and avoid vendor lock-in is commendable, justifying their unicorn status. While Moneyview has also achieved this milestone, their aggressive advertising tactics, if their YouTube ads are any indication, may attract regulatory scrutiny from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). As for Krutrim AI, lesser the said, the better it is I guess. Regarding Rapido, I've encountered predominantly negative feedback. From riders to drivers (or "captains," as they're referred to), the sentiment seems largely unfavorable. The Bangalore subreddit, in particular, is rife with negative experiences. Maybe thats what makes them deserve the unicorn status.

 

4. Needle-Free: New Nano-Vaccine Effective Against All COVID-19 Variants - It discusses the development of a new nano-vaccine for COVID-19. The nano-vaccine is effective against all major COVID-19 variants. It is administered as a nasal spray and does not require cold storage. It is also less expensive than other vaccines.

 My Take:  While the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic may be behind us, and widespread vaccination campaigns may be winding down, this particular development focuses not on COVID-19 itself, but on a novel nano-vaccine technology. This innovative approach involves a nasal spray administration and eliminates the need for cold storage, a significant logistical advantage. It's reasonable to expect researchers to explore applying this method to vaccines against other diseases. The fact that this research is originating from Portugal, rather than the United States, is also encouraging, given the  new Trump administration is very much against vaccines.