2026/02/09
Article: 10 min
Discord is implementing global age verification starting next month, requiring users to prove their adulthood through facial scan or ID for full access. Unverified users won't have access to age-restricted servers, channels, and content filters.
Discussion (1882): 6 hr 11 min
The comment thread discusses Discord's decision to require age verification for access to age-restricted servers and channels, with opinions divided on the necessity of the policy and potential privacy concerns. Users also explore alternative platforms like Stoat, IRC + Mumble, Signal, Zulip, and Matrix as possible replacements.
Article: 38 min
The article explains why the sky appears blue due to the scattering of light by nitrogen and oxygen molecules in Earth's atmosphere. It also discusses how different wavelengths of light are scattered differently, with blue photons being scattered more than other colors because they have a closer frequency to the resonant frequencies of nitrogen and oxygen molecules' electron clouds.
Discussion (248): 54 min
This discussion thread revolves around a detailed article explaining why the sky appears blue, incorporating scientific principles and historical context. Participants engage with questions about color perception, evolution, and technology's role in understanding natural phenomena, fostering an environment of curiosity and learning.
Article: 38 min
The article is a detailed comparison of various online community platforms, evaluating them based on criteria such as functionality, openness, security, safety, and decentralization. It also discusses the importance of choosing the right platform for building a successful community.
Discussion (379): 1 hr 14 min
The discussion revolves around the appeal and features of Discord, with comparisons to alternatives like IRC, Mumble, Matrix, XMPP, and others. Key points include Discord's voice chat feature as a main draw, especially for gaming communities, while IRC is praised for its simplicity and client options. Matrix offers flexibility but struggles with user experience polish. The conversation also touches on centralization concerns and the importance of features like voice and video chat in alternatives.
Article: 6 min
This article describes a project that converts an inexpensive analog clock into a Wi-Fi connected clock using an ESP8266 module and Arduino programming. The clock automatically retrieves the local time from a NTP server, adjusts for daylight savings, and keeps accurate time by reconnecting to the NTP server every 15 minutes.
Discussion (188): 32 min
The comment thread discusses various DIY clock projects and the use of different technologies for timekeeping. Participants share opinions on overengineering, the feasibility of using ESP boards, and the challenges associated with GPS integration in indoor environments. The community shows a high level of agreement but moderate debate intensity. Topics include global time signal stations, radio-controlled clocks, and alternative methods to WWVB for clock synchronization.
Article: 10 min
GitHub is experiencing service disruptions, and users can subscribe for updates via email, SMS, Slack, webhook notifications, or Twitter.
Discussion (401): 55 min
The comment thread discusses the declining reliability of GitHub, particularly since its acquisition by Microsoft, and concerns about the integration of AI features like Copilot. Users express frustration with frequent outages, impact on productivity, and suggestions for moving to alternative hosting services or self-hosting solutions. There is a growing sentiment that GitHub should be broken up or regulated due to its market dominance and lack of quality service.
Article: 2 min
An article detailing a custom-developed algorithm, CacheTVS, used to find the longest line of sight on Earth, with the Hindu Kush to Pik Dankova being identified as the longest at 530km. The second and third longest lines of sight are also mentioned, from Antioquia to Pico Cristobal in Colombia (504km) and Mount Elbrus in Russia to the Pontic Mountains in Turkey (483km). An interactive map is provided for users to explore more lines of sight.
Discussion (175): 34 min
The comment thread discusses an impressive project by Tom and Ryan that successfully developed an algorithm using Rust and SIMD to find the longest line of sight on Earth. The team has provided interactive maps showing the longest lines of sight from various locations, along with detailed technical breakdowns about their approach and findings. There is a consensus among users regarding the project's value for both educational and recreational purposes, although some feedback suggests improvements in visual presentation could enhance user experience.
Article: 2 min
Sandboxels is a browser-based game that allows players to customize their gaming experience with various settings, mods, and features. It offers options for color customization, save management, language selection, units of measurement, themes, and more.
Discussion (49): 4 min
The comment thread discusses a game that was originally built by R74N and is now hosted by Neal. Users express enjoyment of the game, compare it to other games like Noita and Powder Toy, and discuss its features such as sedimentary layers consisting of various materials. There's also a mention of nostalgia for older platforms like fsgforums and a closed-source concern regarding future updates.
Article: 10 min
GitHub experienced multiple outages on the same day, leading users to subscribe for updates via email, SMS, Slack, webhooks, or Twitter notifications.
Discussion (278): 48 min
The comment thread discusses widespread dissatisfaction with GitHub's performance and reliability since its acquisition by Microsoft. Users express concerns about forced AI integration, frequent outages, and declining core functionalities. Self-hosted alternatives like GitLab, Gitea, and Forgejo are highlighted as more reliable options. The community debates the impact of Microsoft on GitHub and considers migrating to self-hosted solutions.
Article: 9 min
This article discusses a study that validates hard-braking events (HBEs) as an effective indicator for assessing road segment crash risk, offering a more frequent alternative to historical crash data.
Discussion (545): 2 hr 32 min
The discussion revolves around insurance companies using surveillance technology to assess driver risk, with hard braking events serving as a proxy for driver competence and road design impacting driving behavior. Telematics devices provide feedback on driving habits, while there's debate over whether insurers should lobby for road improvements based on data analysis.
Article: 30 min
The article compares Claude’s C Compiler (CCC), an AI-generated compiler built entirely by the language model Claude Opus 4.6, against GCC in terms of compilation speed, binary size, runtime performance, and correctness on various benchmarks including SQLite database operations and Linux kernel compilation.
Discussion (350): 1 hr 56 min
The discussion revolves around the capabilities and limitations of AI in software development, specifically focusing on an AI-generated C compiler that can compile a Linux kernel. There is agreement on the impressive nature of AI's progress but disagreement on its quality, potential plagiarism, and ethical implications. The conversation also touches on concerns about job displacement due to automation.