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2026/02/01

  1. Defeating a 40-year-old copy protection dongle from dmitrybrant.com
    807 by zdw 1d ago | | |

    Article: 17 min

    The article discusses the process of defeating a 40-year-old copy protection dongle used for an older accounting software package. The author, involved in helping a friend's accounting firm transition from using legacy software, discovered that running this software requires a hardware dongle attached to the computer’s parallel port. After examining the disk image and disassembling the executables with Reko, the author found clues suggesting the copy-protection routine communicates over the parallel port. The routine was eventually patched by brute force, allowing the software to run without the physical dongle.

    This discovery could lead to better understanding of older software protection mechanisms, potentially influencing the development of more robust security measures in future systems.
    • The author discovered the compiler itself requires the dongle and injects copy-protection logic into executables.
    • Disassembling the executable with Reko revealed clues about how the routine communicates over the parallel port.
    Quality:
    The article provides detailed technical information and avoids sensationalism.

    Discussion (258): 1 hr 12 min

    The discussion revolves around the historical use of dongles for software protection, their limitations, and the shift towards more advanced digital rights management (DRM) systems. The community acknowledges the inconvenience and simplicity of early copy protection mechanisms while also discussing the moral and legal implications of bypassing such protections.

    • Dongles were widely used in the past for software protection
    • The effectiveness of dongle-based copy protection is limited
    • Dongles are inconvenient and often break
    • The use of dongles is outdated
    Software Development Reverse Engineering, Security
  2. Teaching my neighbor to keep the volume down from idiallo.com
    783 by firefoxd 1d ago | | |

    Article: 11 min

    The article recounts a personal experience of the author teaching their neighbor to keep the TV volume down by exploiting interference between two remote controls with similar frequencies. The story highlights the use of an RF (radio frequency) remote control and its potential for causing unintended consequences in shared living spaces.

    • Switching to Dish Network and the discovery of an RF remote control
    • Experiencing interference between two devices controlled by similar frequency remotes
    • Teaching a neighbor about volume management through unintended consequences

    Discussion (348): 1 hr 20 min

    The comment thread discusses various issues related to living in apartment complexes or shared spaces, including noise disturbance from neighbors, lack of consideration for others' privacy, and the impact of activities like smoking on non-smokers. It also touches on technological solutions such as TV-B-Gone devices to mitigate these issues.

    • Sound insulation in apartment buildings is inadequate and needs improvement.
    • Neighbors should be more considerate of each other's living conditions.
    Counterarguments:
    • Some people have different lifestyles that may involve more noise, such as early morning workouts or hobbies requiring loud equipment.
    Entertainment Television
  3. Netbird – Open Source Zero Trust Networking from netbird.io
    713 by l1am0 1d ago | | |

    Article:

    The article discusses how to prevent malware infections and suggests running antivirus scans on personal devices or asking network administrators to check corporate networks for misconfigured or infected devices.

    • Ask network administrators to check for misconfigured or infected devices in shared networks.

    Discussion (274): 54 min

    The comment thread discusses various alternatives to Tailscale for network connectivity, focusing on self-hosted solutions and zero trust networking. Users share opinions on the pros and cons of different services, with a general sentiment leaning towards neutral. Key themes include the importance of sovereignty considerations, the desire for open-source alternatives, and the need for efficient and secure network management.

    • Tailscale offers a user-friendly experience for home lab setups.
    • Netbird provides efficient and stable performance in active user scenarios.
    Counterarguments:
    • Concerns over the sovereignty implications of using US-based services like Pangolin.
    • Headscale's limitations in terms of scalability and feature set compared to Tailscale.
    Security Cybersecurity, Network Security
  4. Show HN: NanoClaw – “Clawdbot” in 500 lines of TS with Apple container isolation from github.com/gavrielc
    494 by jimminyx 22h ago | | |

    Article: 12 min

    NanoClaw is a lightweight personal assistant application that runs securely in Apple containers, offering core functionality with a codebase easy to understand. It provides AI-driven assistance for tasks like message management, scheduling, and web access.

    The use of AI in personal assistants can enhance productivity and convenience for users, but raises concerns about privacy and data security.
    • Runs securely in Apple containers with filesystem isolation
    • One process, a few source files, no microservices or message queues
    • Customizable to fit individual needs through code changes

    Discussion (199): 47 min

    The comment thread discusses a personal project utilizing the Claude Code SDK, focusing on its utility, security concerns, and the quality of AI-generated content. Users express mixed opinions about the value of artisanal code versus AI-driven development, with some appreciating simplicity and others emphasizing reliability and human oversight.

    • The project is useful but has significant security concerns.
    • The project's documentation quality raises questions about its reliability.
    Counterarguments:
    • The project is a personal weekend project by an individual developer, not intended for widespread use.
    • Some users appreciate the simplicity and lack of complexity in setup compared to larger projects like OpenClaw.
    Software Development AI/ML, Cloud Computing, Security
  5. My iPhone 16 Pro Max produces garbage output when running MLX LLMs from journal.rafaelcosta.me
    409 by rafaelcosta 1d ago | | |

    Article: 16 min

    The author discusses their experience with a machine learning model (MLX LLM) on different Apple devices, encountering discrepancies in results between an iPhone 15 Pro and an iPhone 16 Pro Max, which led to the discovery of potential hardware issues.

    This issue could affect users' trust in Apple devices for machine learning tasks and highlight the importance of thorough hardware testing before release.
    • They suspected a hardware defect in the Neural Engine or related ML systems on the newer device.
    • The issue was resolved by testing the model on an older device, confirming it to be working correctly.
    Quality:
    The article provides a detailed account of the author's experience, including technical insights and debugging process.

    Discussion (196): 27 min

    The comment thread discusses the quality and capabilities of various mobile calculators, with a focus on comparing third-party apps to Apple's default Calculator app. Users express opinions about the features and performance of different calculators, while also discussing issues related to floating-point arithmetic in iOS devices.

    • The quality and capabilities of various calculators on mobile devices are diverse.
    • Apple's Calculator app has limitations compared to other third-party options.
    Counterarguments:
    • Some users defend the default Calculator.app by pointing out its built-in features, such as history tracking and currency conversion capabilities.
    Technology Software Development, Artificial Intelligence, Hardware
  6. What I learned building an opinionated and minimal coding agent from mariozechner.at
    399 by SatvikBeri 1d ago | | |

    Article: 1 hr 10 min

    The article discusses the author's experience in building a custom opinionated and minimal coding agent, detailing its components, design philosophy, and features compared to existing tools like Claude Code, Codex, Amp, Droid, and opencode.

    Social implications are minimalist design may influence future tool development, emphasizing control over context engineering for better user experience and security.
    • Unified LLM API for multi-provider support
    • Agent loop with event streaming capabilities
    • Minimal terminal UI framework with differential rendering
    • Customizable system prompt and tool definitions
    • Full YOLO mode without permission checks
    Quality:
    The article provides detailed insights into the development process and showcases a unique approach to building a coding agent.

    Discussion (168): 46 min

    The comment thread discusses various opinions on minimalist design and security concerns in agent-based tooling, with a focus on context management and AI model integration. There is agreement on the benefits of minimalism but debate over its practicality, while security discussions highlight varying perspectives on sandboxing and credentials management.

    • Security concerns are paramount, especially regarding credentials management.
    Counterarguments:
    • Some argue that overly minimalistic approaches may not solve real-world problems effectively.
    Software Development Coding Tools, AI Integration, Terminal User Interfaces
  7. Adventure Game Studio: OSS software for creating adventure games from adventuregamestudio.co.uk
    393 by doener 1d ago | | |

    Article: 7 min

    Adventure Game Studio is an open-source software for creating graphical point-and-click adventure games, offering a platform to create and play games on multiple platforms. It features an active community for support and showcases user-created games.

    • Integrated tools for graphics, scripting, and testing
    • Games can be played on Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
    • Suitable for all skill levels with an active support community

    Discussion (83): 14 min

    The comment thread discusses the continued relevance of AGS, an adventure game development tool that has been around for over two decades. Users share personal experiences with creating games using AGS and reminisce about classic adventure games from their past. The conversation also touches on other game development tools, cross-platform compatibility, and nostalgia for older gaming platforms.

    • AGS is still actively developed and supported
    • AGS has a vibrant community of creators
    Game Development Software Tools, Gaming Community
  8. Ian's Shoelace Site from fieggen.com
    374 by righthand 1d ago | | |

    Article: 9 min

    Ian's Shoelace Site is an extensive online resource dedicated to all aspects of shoelaces, including lacing techniques, knotting methods, and information about shoelace construction. The site offers a variety of content such as tutorials, photos, interviews, and articles, making it a valuable resource for anyone interested in shoe tying or shoelace customization.

    • Over 100 step-by-step lacing tutorials
    • 25 shoelace knots including the Ian Knot
    • Information on correct tying for straight and secure shoes

    Discussion (68): 11 min

    The discussion revolves around the Ian knot, a fast and secure shoelace tying method that prevents accidental granny knots. Participants share personal experiences with various shoe lacing techniques, emphasizing efficiency and security. The conversation also touches on alternative methods like the Berluti knot and the use of elastic laces for convenience.

    • Alternative methods like the Berluti knot offer better security
    Counterarguments:
    • Some find it difficult to unlearn their current method
    • Alternative methods may be more time-consuming
    Internet Websites/Online Resources
  9. List animals until failure from rose.systems
    352 by l1n 1d ago | | |

    Article:

    This is an interactive game that challenges players to list as many animals with Wikipedia articles as possible within a time limit, with the condition of not having overlapping terms. The game adjusts the time for each animal listed.

    • No overlapping terms allowed.

    Discussion (185): 27 min

    The comment thread discusses an interesting game that challenges players to list animals without repetition, using a dataset from Wikidata. Players share strategies and techniques to improve their scores, note inaccuracies in the game's responses, and suggest improvements such as adding features like a leaderboard or showing missed animals for improvement.

    • The game offers an interesting challenge for listing animals without repetition
    • There are various strategies and techniques to improve one's score
    Counterarguments:
    • The game's responses contain inaccuracies and misunderstandings about taxonomy
    • Players note the game's limitations in recognizing specific animal names
    Games Educational Games
  10. Two kinds of AI users are emerging from martinalderson.com
    315 by martinald 21h ago | | |

    Article: 14 min

    The article discusses the distinction between two types of AI users: power users who actively adopt new AI technologies like Claude Code and MCPs for various tasks, particularly in finance roles; and those primarily using ChatGPT or similar tools. It also critiques Microsoft's Copilot, highlighting its limitations compared to other AI tools, and argues that this could pose an existential risk to enterprises due to poor performance and restricted functionality.

    AI adoption disparities may widen the gap between small companies and enterprises, potentially leading to a shift in productivity dynamics within organizations.
    • Impact on enterprises as senior decision makers may write off AI or spend a fortune on consulting services.
    Quality:
    The article provides a balanced analysis of AI adoption and its impact on different user types, with clear distinctions between power users and non-technical users.

    Discussion (297): 1 hr 29 min

    The discussion revolves around the impact and potential uses of AI tools, particularly in software development and productivity. There's a consensus on their ability to speed up processes for non-technical users but concerns about code quality, maintainability, security risks, and over-reliance without proper oversight. The debate highlights both the benefits and challenges associated with integrating AI into professional workflows.

    • AI tools can significantly speed up development and productivity, especially for non-technical users.
    • There is a risk of over-reliance on AI-generated code without proper verification or understanding of its limitations.
    Counterarguments:
    • AI-generated code may not be of high quality or maintainable, especially in complex systems.
    • There is a need for human oversight and verification when using AI tools.
    Artificial Intelligence AI in Enterprise, AI Adoption, AI Productivity Impact
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