neilpanchal

I was involved in writing software for a small Fab and there is a big gap in the MES software space. If you want to start a new Fab, you need a manufacturing execution system (MES) to process wafers. This whole MES industry is ripe for innovation. For small Fabs, it’s not possible to afford MES-3000 from Applied Materials ~ multi-million $ license fees and it’s a beast of a system. I’ve had to deal with this ancient dog of a MES written in Coldfusion. Had several conversations with coworkers - “Wonder what the market is like for modern SaaS MES”. It’s a complex problem if you want to auto load recipes and control equipment with SECS/GEM, implement PCS, and run a Fab in the manner like Intel. This is one of the problems with scaling the Fab. Think automotive factory scaling but with expensive precision equipment and garbage software ecosystem.

I am thinking for sale, after one year make it open source? Another option is to make it free for personal use, and paid for commercial use. Font licensing is too complicated and I want to simplify it just as if I were to purchase the font for myself - unlimited use for anything and everything. No one should have to worry about using fonts for obvious use cases such as embedding in avionics, etching on nuclear power plant control panels and designing submarine bailout signs.

Unlikely. Explicitness and the binding between the code you see with the eyes and the keys on the keyboard shouldn’t be violated IMHO. Ligatures add ambiguity (“what’s this symbol? Which keys were pressed to create it?”), great for manuscripts and literature but not so great for code I personally think.

Thanks for the feedback. Double-storey ‘a’ does make things busy. I’ll see what I can do with optional single storey ‘a’ as a stylistic set. The problem with stylistic sets is no one uses them and they’re not well supported in programming tools. I’ve got automated font file generation script in Glyphs app that generates all variants as separate fonts, so users can download whatever they want. I’ll try to create a single storey ‘a’ as an option, definitely for italics which are still under development.

I've been working on a new typeface[1][2] for code - Berkeley Mono. I've taken some inspiration from Jet Brains Mono, SF Mono, Bit Stream Vera, Andale Mono, OCR-B, Univers, Eurostile and Monogramma from the 50's, and weird things like the German License Plate slashed 0. Anyone interested in beta testing? neil@berkeleygraphics.com.

[1] https://neil.computer/notes/introducing-berkeley-mono/

[2] https://neil.computer/notes/berkeley-mono-december-update/

I still have some time to test - let me try this out! One thing I already proved is with 2GB ram, the system performs as predicted ~20 GB/s. But, I resonate with your definition of benchmarking - to test utlimate performance but also real world usage.

Update:

Ok, so I used the ':' syntax in the --filename option, I got something that makes sense. FIO created invidual files for each thread. I test numjobs: 4, 8, 16 and it plateaus around 8 jobs. Adding additional files+jobs actually makes things worse.

  neil@ubuntu:~/mnt/disk$ ls
  dummy0  dummy10  dummy12  dummy14  dummy2  dummy4  dummy6  dummy8
  dummy1  dummy11  dummy13  dummy15  dummy3  dummy5  dummy7  dummy9
  neil@ubuntu:~/mnt/disk$ sudo fio --name=read_test \
  >         --filename=/home/neil/mnt/disk/dummy0:/home/neil/mnt/disk/dummy1:/home/neil/mnt/disk/dummy2:/home/neil/mnt/disk/dummy3:/home/neil/mnt/disk/dummy4:/home/neil/mnt/disk/dummy5:/home/neil/mnt/disk/dummy6:/home/neil/mnt/disk/dummy7:/home/neil/mnt/disk/dummy8:/home/neil/mnt/disk/dummy9:/home/neil/mnt/disk/dummy10:/home/neil/mnt/disk/dummy11:/home/neil/mnt/disk/dummy12:/home/neil/mnt/disk/dummy13:/home/neil/mnt/disk/dummy14:/home/neil/mnt/disk/dummy15 \
  >         --filesize=20G \
  >         --ioengine=libaio \
  >         --direct=1 \
  >         --sync=1 \
  >         --bs=512k \
  >         --iodepth=1 \
  >         --rw=read \
  >         --numjobs=16 \
  >         --group_reporting

I get around ~22GB/s with 8 jobs, ~15 GB/s with 16 jobs. Thanks for correcting, I'll post an update to the misleading 157 Gb/s... uff.

Updated the article: https://neil.computer/notes/zfs-raidz2/#note-5

Interesting. I turned off lz4 compression and it didn't make any difference - still getting around 80 GB/s on a 30 second test. I also checked the content of the dummy file, it is random and takes about the same time as using `dd` to pipe data from `/dev/random`. It's a mystery and it's related to RAM (see note 3). I think this would be an interesting question to ask on SO!

See note 4: https://neil.computer/notes/zfs-raidz2/#note-4

I am not sure, I think some of it is cached in the RAM. I did a longer sustained test and I am getting about 70 GB/s with a 200GB file - this is definitely larger than 64GB RAM. Is it to do with lz4 compression? Fetching smaller blocks from disk and then decompressing it, thus inflating the bandwidth?

The initial file was created with fio rw=randwrite, so the dummy data is random.

I think its even more impressive that ZFS can do this. I verified with ext4 fs on a single NVMe drive and no matter what knobs I turn, I am getting around around 3.5 GB/s.

Edit: See note 2 at the end of the article, I posted the raw results of another 100GB file test.

Edit 2: See note 3. I rebooted the VM with 2GB ram (instead of 64GB) and it matches almost exactly as per your prediction ~ 20GB/s. But, it still doesn't explain the absurd 80GB/s sustained reads of a 100GB file with only 64GB ram.

Duly noted.

Facepalm. I noticed that too and ranted about it: https://neil.computer/notes/apple-ux-ui-is-regressing/

Thank you!

A typeface: https://neil.computer/notes/introducing-berkeley-mono/

Made in Australia - RM Williams

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19ef5pqWLrE

They spoke with great clarity and enunciation for sure. No filler words. I suspect, it also has to do with how audio was recorded, processed and mastered. It’s got that warm fidelity as if it went through a low pass filter.

But wait! there's more (Google Meet and Microsoft Teams): https://neil.computer/notes/oh-sorry-i-was-on-mute/

Kit cars such as https://www.factoryfive.com/. I am sure electric chassis will pop up in the future.

Check out Bollinger motors [1]. Electric chassis, all analog, no screens. Here is a shot of the interior: https://bollingermotors.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/CLOSE...

[1] https://bollingermotors.com/

Reduce motion actually retains the animation time - just that the motion is replaced by fading animation. So you still have to wait 200ms to watch the window fade instead of morph.

I think it needs to be said. The entire field of design has been trashed in last 20 years. The decline started in the 90’s and the final straw came in late 2000’s. By entire field, I mean the full spectrum: Industrial design (touch screens) to Graphic design, typography (see Dropbox redesign) to branding (see how Pentagram destroyed the LoC logo). I don’t think I can buy a new car anymore.

I’ll say it again, be it hostile - designers aren’t raised and educated in user centric design. MacOS is full of transitions that are over 200ms. iOS is worse. I could go on and on. It’s gotten so bad, it’s appalling really.

Sure. I guess I am speaking about the larger trends. Firefox just recently went full rounded corners on the tab 'buttons'. Google did the same 2-3 years ago. Purple-gradients has been the trend that began with Stripe and spread around in design circles, landed at Apple sometime in 2018.

All I can see these days is purple-magenta gradients and babyfication of UI with rounded corners. Designers follow this recipe without independent thought or opinion about graphic design. I'd love to see UI based on the International style (aka Swiss typographic style) typified by the designers of the bygone era of 1970's and 80's. Ultra functional and less about aesthetics.

I wrote about Diskprices.com[1]. They've got a pretty awesome FAQ that cuts through the layers and sheds light on something I've always found as the root cause of too much design - i.e, modern corporations have too many full-time designers. If you study the history of corporate design, it wasn't the case at all.

[1] https://neil.computer/notes/the-design-of-diskprices-com/

Do people remember borders? They seperate two elements or layouts. The full-on assault for removing borders is preposterous. Step back from the fashion realm and look at it this way - it is a line segment that seperates two elements and provides context to your eyes. There is a reason why artwork is usually framed - in that it provides a seperating element between it and the background wall. Borders should be made cool and trendy, not the opposite. This is just one small fragment of the many issues with post-2010 design assault.

Thanks TIL, I had no idea. I'll stop giving medical advice I guess.

100%. I've been thinking about writing an article about McMaster-Carr's design and user experience. I've been using it for 10+ years. It's so much deeper than the web design - the moment you place an order, their return process, obtaining technical specs, datasheets and alternate unit system measurement, the entire experience of shopping on McMaster-Carr. Furthermore, their physical catalog design is also exceptional - from typography to layout, it's the pinnacle of what good design is and exemplifies what's wrong with everything today.

I just fear one day some new intern, engineer, designer or manager is going to join and ruin it. It will be a sad day.

Agreed, there is a bit of selectivity and careful consideration. These are misuses and illfits. Wearing military boots to a wedding is an impedence mismatch so to speak, not really a fault of military boots.

You gotta compare apples to apples.

I kinda disagree. These aren’t very good examples. Also the dough mixer is for restaurants, not military use. :-) Although I want one now.

Here is a kitchen scale I bought. Made in Switzerland, no less. It’s bloody beautiful: https://neil.computer/notes/mettler-toledo-ml3002e-teardown/

Does that mean all consumer grade stuff is bad? No. Leatherman tools and 3M consumer grade stuff is usually great. Nalgene bottles. Does that mean all pro quality stuff is great? No. I’ve bought restaurant quality containers, made in California, no less, but are not BPA-free.

My philosophy is quite tangential to the points you’re making:

- Search for stuff in auxiliary / parallel industries.

- Used surplus stuff is usually below consumer grade prices even if it was slightly worse, you're still equal. 9/10 times it is actually the opposite - 10x the quality, performance and durability of consumer grade crap on Amazon.

- Some cheap crap is actually good. Victorinox $30 knife is excellent value and used by professional chefs. The same cannot be said for an outdoors knife, you want it to be overbuilt. Cheap $30 outdoor knives would not stand a chance. Always buy generic drugs, they're exactly the same.

There are atleast 100 more examples I can write about that were a net positive buys. Just last week I bought U-Line tape dispenser. Same price as consumer grade ones, so why not?

- Orthogonal search usually yields frugal jackpots. No one would ever find any use for the life raft bag in the marine parts store.

Average consumers want stuff that is objectively worse for them. Touchscreens were an excellent idea for a phone, now they want it everywhere in their cars. Overall, with the throw-away culture consumers are addicted to, it’s hard to not blame them. Have you ever dealt with customer service? You might be surprised. We are soooo addicted to wasteful culture. You’re just promoting this and doubling down on it.

Let’s see in last 20 years: Quality went downhill, durability is an after thought, repairability is non existent and consumers want bigger box - literally larger than the item because they choose it based on how good the box looks. If it were any other reason, it’s a waste of packaging and businesses know this. Businesses are not looking to waste money on extra packaging unless it led to better sales. This is a direct evidence of the utter shitshow consumer culture embodies.

Anyways, I fancy things that are engineered with deliberation and specification. Tested and qualified against requirements. Usually military, aviation, marine or medical grade goods are designed and engineered in such a way.

Author here. I need to push back on this. This whole post is tongue in cheek, totally over-the-top and my way of doing things. I thought that was obvious including a lofty claim of an average consumer. People seem to be hung up on that. No one is calling you an idiot - and no, I have no romance for US military. Bought plenty of things from Swedish, Canadian and Swiss military and other industries. You’re unnecessarily painting a character picture that’s going with your biases, borderline politicizing it with gun ownership - I’d like you to think about this and reconsider how you judge people.

For what it’s worth - I’ve also bought overkill items and they’ve turned out to be a disaster. For instance, for the TPI fan in the example - I had to get an industrial fan controller because it was too damn loud and restaurant grade containers that are not BPA-free.

Ken Burns’ documentaries are profoundly life changing and shocking. Every person should learn about the history of war, especially during this time.

I remember a quote from one of his documentaries - “How can you cut the flesh open and join with the other person? It’s an impossibility. You may love somebody very much but how near can you get to them? You’re always, unfortunately, sort of strangers.” It’s profound and captures the essence of his view of the world. It was so deeply animalistic and visceral. Bacon is one of my favorite artists - from motif, substance, contrast, beauty, gore, etc to the realization into thick impasto style, composition, giant canvas, color harmony and his technique of “painting by chance” as he describes it - exceptional and extraordinary on many levels.