billziss

I tried an oMLX quant of your model (suzu89/Swift-Qwen3.8-27b-oQ8-mtp -- not mine) and liked it. It certainly seems to cut down on thinking compared to stock Qwen3.8 27B in my (limited) testing.

A couple of questions:

- Have you tried the peculiar-ragdoll/Qwen-Sharp-Chat-Templates with it? They replace the default chat_template.jinja with one that encourages less thinking.

- When are you releasing Swift-Qwen3.8-Flash-Next? :)

I had the original ChatGPT app and I was also "upgraded" to the new unified ChatGPT/Codex app.

The old ChatGPT app had been very wonky lately and not working correctly. For example, I was unable to switch the mode to "Thinking" as it was stuck on "Auto". I was forced to use the web version for the last few weeks.

So today I was offered the new unified app and decided to try it. Within 5 minutes I had regretted this decision. I ended up deleting the new app, but the old app is also gone.

It does not understand English either :)

While I agree with you that AI companies are overvalued, I think 10 million developers at $200 per month makes 2 billion.

    >>> f"{10_000_000 * 200:_}"
    '2_000_000_000'

It was done silently. I am one of the affected developers and my software is the open source file system driver WinFsp:

https://github.com/winfsp/winfsp

It is not just VeraCrypt that has been affected by this. There is a bunch of Windows driver developers that have been suddenly kicked out of the "Partner Center" without explanation.

https://community.osr.com/t/locked-out-of-microsoft-partner-...

My specific driver is an open source file system driver (WinFsp). This is a software only driver that requires attestation signing. There was a period a few years ago when Microsoft required WHQL testing for Windows Server (which I did), but they seem to have dropped this requirement.

The linked OSR thread has a lot of other driver developers including a lot of them maintaining drivers for hardware devices.

With Microsoft removing our access to the hardware section of the partner center, we are not able to submit drivers for either attestation or WHQL testing.

I have been a user of ChatGPT4 from the very beginning and like others I have found it extremely useful in multiple subjects. It is particularly good on topics that there is a lot of prior art and it can sometimes provide surprising insights.

OTOH I have found that it not as good on topics that there is not a lot of prior art in the public domain or in topics like advanced mathematics which often have a formal and unintuitive presentation.

For example, I have acquired recently an interest in probabilistic logic and when discussing results with it, I have found that although it has knowledge of the subject, it cannot really apply that knowledge in a creative way. It will often make logical mistakes and when these are pointed out, it will first apologize and then continue to make the same mistake.

So as far as I am concerned I am unconvinced that it can reason yet.

Thanks for your answer.

I am using real data of course, but I am also seeking a deeper understanding and ideally one based on first principles. This is why I asked this question.

It seems to me that if we could correctly characterize the dependence of the returns we could perhaps arrive at the correct theoretical answer that also coincides with practical observation. Mandelbrot almost gets there, but his use of multifractal trading time seems brilliant but also somewhat arbitrary (at least in the papers of his I read).

The single most important programmer's book that I have ever read is the UNIX Programming Environment by Kernighan and Pike.

I read this as a teenager in the late 80's and it was an epiphany for me to discover what was possible to do with rather simple tools.

HUBFS is a file system for GitHub and Git. Git repositories and their contents are represented as regular directories and files and are accessible by any application, without the application having any knowledge that it is really accessing a remote Git repository. The repositories are writable and allow editing files and running build operations.

I had a similar problem a few years ago. While I never found the perfect machine here is how I have been introducing my now 10 year old son to the world of computers:

- I bought him a Kano computer kit when he was about 7. The kit retailed for about $250 at the time and a kid could assemble it "like LEGO". It came with educational software that introduced him to programming languages, etc. (Unfortunately I do not think they make this kit anymore.) Verdict: MINOR SUCCESS.

- I tried to introduce him to Python (around 7.5) by following an online book about game programming. He did not show much interest. Verdict: FAILURE.

- I introduced him to MakeCode (arcade.makecode.com) around 8. He got absolutely hooked and it is still his favorite platform today. I bought him some cheap hardware (Meowbit) to put his programs on and he loves showing off his games to his friends and everyone else. Verdict: MAJOR SUCCESS.

- I introduced him to Godot when he was 9. He showed strong interest, built a few games in it and even understood enough of the Python like language that Godot has. He used this series of YouTube videos to learn about Godot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvPTSZl2WCc. Verdict: MEDIUM SUCCESS.

- We are currently building Ben Eater's 8-bit computer (eater.net/8bit) and he absolutely loves it. He is able to follow along with the videos and understand the material at a good level. He has named the computer "Terry". This project does require a lot of my own time. Verdict: MAJOR SUCCESS.

We have also tried other projects (e.g. Raspberry-pi with Raspbian, Arduino, Robotics kits, etc.) although nothing that he showed major interest at the time. I think you have to try with different things to see what will capture your child's imagination.

> you should reconsider your moral compass

My moral compass is very well calibrated. I do not go around making character attacks, nor do I interject my politics in unrelated discussion.

Heroic Labs service looks interesting. So I decided to look at their Terms of Service:

> "You represent, warrant, and agree that You will not use the Services in a manner that is illegal..."

Fair enough.

> "... or otherwise inconsistent with these Terms. In addition, you will not use the Services in a manner that Heroic deems, in its sole discretion, objectionable."

So they can decide that I violated their TOS for any reason they see fit.

This is not the way to build a business relationship. Based on this I would never consider becoming their customer.

EDIT: Links to the TOS:

https://heroiclabs.com/tos.txt https://archive.is/aUd50

I, for one, am glad that you chose to comment as I had never heard of ATS before. Thank you.

I am the author. Please let me know if you have any questions.

I only have only one real tip for you: learn to get in the zone.

When I am in the zone I have an intense desire to create a beautiful masterpiece in my chosen art and revel in its elegance and beauty. When I am in the zone outside distractions are eliminated and my mind is fully focused on the task at hand. When I am truly in the zone matters such as health, family, children, work and (when I was younger) even hunger or the need to sleep disappear; all that remains is the task. My brain has maximum cycles to iterate again and again until I achieve greater understanding and/or arrive at a solution.

I do not have very good general tips on how to get in the zone. I have some things that work for me, although not always. They include:

- Real-world isolation: These days where everyone is at home, I go to a corner in my garden where my family knows not to bother me.

- Virtual-world isolation: No emails. No browsing. No notifications of any kind. Phone on silent. Absolutely no Slack, Teams, etc!

- Friction-free programming environment: If the build takes 20 minutes, then it will be hard to remain in the zone. If the Mac has stuck keys get them fixed or buy a laptop from a different brand.

- Headphones with some favorite music: For programming I like trance, the more repetitive the better. I often use this youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/MrLemilica2

- Review previous work on the subject: This acts as a brain warm up for me and usually puts me in the right mood.

- Some times work better than others: When I was younger it was far easier to get in the zone at night. These days I do not have that luxury because of family.

- Work on a problem that excites you: It is much easier to get in the zone when the subject matter interests you. It is harder (although still possible) when the subject is less interesting.

- No context switching: Choose a task and stick to it for at least a few hours.

- Get the non-enjoyable tasks out of the way: (This may not work for everyone.) I like to complete tasks that I do not enjoy (e.g. administrative or legal) first. I can then continue my work care-free instead of having this niggling thought in the back of my mind: "do not forget to respond to the lawyer".

Like others I found the recording profound at first. The birds at the end cheapened the experience for me because they made me question the authenticity of the sounds heard and whether this was leaning closer to an actual representation or an artistic interpretation. Perhaps somewhere in between.

Assuming that this is leaning closer to an actual representation of the sounds heard on that morning (with the dubious addition of some birds for "dramatic effect") one thing that I found particularly interesting is the noise/buzz that can be heard immediately after the guns are silenced. Could it be that this noise represents the people cheering for the end of war captured by the crude recording device of oil drums + film?

I wrote my first website in 1995 and started using Javascript in 1996 (only I think it was called Livescript back then)?

I was not impressed. On the client side I would use it for very few things and when I tried the server side version I decided that I would rather stick with Perl and CGI. Although I did not like Perl, I could get things done with it. (Oh, I just remember: also Cold Fusion!)

My opinion of Javascript has not improved over the years. I worked with Javascript for a while and in complex enough problems that my name ended up on 2-3 patents and patent applications. I no longer work on the web, but I have occasional need for Javascript and I always hate my time with it.

This will be an unpopular opinion, but frankly I am perplexed by its popularity, because it is neither simple nor elegant.

I am the LxDK author. Please let me know if you have any questions.

I have an implementation of nested coroutines for C in this file:

https://github.com/billziss-gh/winfuse/blob/master/src/winfu...

This uses the macros coro_block to introduce a new coroutine block, coro_await to invoke a nested coroutine, coro_yield to suspend the coroutine block and coro_break to exit it.

The implementation is fairly simple in about 17 lines of code (omitting file headers/comments). I use it extensively in the implementation of a Windows kernel driver that implements the FUSE protocol (work in progress).

https://github.com/billziss-gh/winfuse

EDIT: For an example use see the implementation of READ:

https://github.com/billziss-gh/winfuse/blob/d44307105b0f1a56...

Any comparisons of Mermaid vs other tools? Why do you like Mermaid?

I use Plantuml myself and I find that I regularly have to fight with the layout engine to get diagrams to looks the way I want them too.

This looks nice and I certainly appreciate the battery life.

To the people that are excited because this is outside some regulatory limits. A few years ago there were no or few drone regulations and people abused this; the result was strict national and city regulations to the point that flying a drone is almost impossible (legally) in some cities in the US.

If people abuse the regulatory limits expect more strict regulations. I fly drones and I support such regulations.

BTW, a 249g drone would likely take down a small airplane.

I was curious, so I dug out the watch. It is a Glycine Airman 2000. See here for a review from 1999:

https://www.timezone.com/2002/09/17/the-glycine-airman-2000-...

EDIT: A couple of differences from the watch presented in the article:

- My watch has a transparent back.

- My watch is 42mm and not 40mm (I may be wrong on this last one).

Agree. The Garmin MARQ Aviator is beautiful. They just need to make a solar version that does not require charging and then I am a buyer.

Interesting. So would a mechanical watch be ok, but an electronic one not ok?

Good catch!

From the Garmin MARQ Aviator page:

> Smartwatch mode: Up to 12 days > GPS mode: Up to 28 hours > GPS with Music: Up to 9 hours > UltraTrac™ mode: Up to 48 hours

I think this likely has to do more with individual habits rather than anything else. But I find that watches that I do not use all the time are more likely not to be ready to be used when I need them.

For example, I have an old Suunto Ambit watch that I used for outdoor activities and/or exercise. I found that because I was not wearing it all the time, it was not charged most of the time that I needed it.

Zulu time where I mostly fly is 8 hours off local time. If the watch is a regular 12 hour watch you have to do a mental calculation for time and as a pilot you learn that the less mental calculations the better, when a lot of things are happening in the cockpit.

It is true that the 24 hour display is cramped. But I got used to it after 15 years with this watch.

I cannot find the exact version that I have online, but this one is the closest:

https://www.jomashop.com/media/catalog/product/g/l/glycine-a...

I have mine on a nato strap.

I am no fighter pilot, but I (used to) fly airplanes, floatplanes and helicopters. A watch with a 12 day battery life makes little sense to me as I find it too easy to forget to charge it. Even if you put it on a checklist, it may be too late to charge it when you are about to go.

For my flights I mostly use an automatic Glycine 24hr watch with a second dial set on UTC for "Zulu" time. If the watch is running at the beginning of the flight (confirmed with a checklist) it will continue running during the flight.

I have to admit that this Garmin MARQ looks lovely though :)